FIRST WAVE
Christmas Walk traditions bring
BY SAOIRSE STALLINGS AND LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead embraced the holiday spirit last weekend with its beloved, annual traditions — including the tree lighting, the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus by lobster boat, a festive parade and, finally, the SUP Santas
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Marbleheader Sean Casey, 68, died Thursday, Dec. 4, leaving a proud legacy here in town. Casey had been battling cancer. Born and raised in Marblehead, Casey graduated from Marblehead High in 1975. He lived and worked as a regulatory consultant in Washington, D.C., for about 20 years and returned to Marblehead in 2008. Most recently, Casey was serving as a member of the Marblehead Town Charter Committee.
“He was the quintessential Marbleheader,” said Amy Drinker, who served with Casey on the Charter Committee. “He was considerate and honest, he
paddling across the harbor.
Hundreds of people braved subfreezing temperatures Friday night to hear students belt out holiday classics and watch Mrs. Claus flip the switch on the tree on Pleasant Street.
On Saturday morning, about 300 people packed State Street Landing to welcome Santa and
worked hard and he was mildly grumpy when he got annoyed. He served his community in so many ways. He really was a great person. This is terribly sad.”
Select Board member Jim Zisson also served with Casey on the Charter Committee.
“Sean and I hit it off and were soon connecting on all sorts of Marblehead topics both historical and present day. Over the past few months, Sean was going through medical issues and his responses to texts became shorter but always positive … and sometimes just a thumbs up emoji was all he could muster. But always positive. For example,
Mrs. Claus as they arrived by lobster boat. The North Pole couple was greeted by cheers and a live performance of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by the Marblehead High School chorus. Children perched on their parents’ shoulders to catch a glimpse of the holiday magic.
Lisa Cox, who recently moved to Marblehead with her family, was excited to take part in the tradition.
“We just moved here this past summer. Last year, we knew we wanted to move to Marblehead and came to see the parade, and now we get to come as locals,” Cox said.
The group’s children — Ciaran, Camden and Coley — shared their wish lists, which included sports gear, remotecontrol cars, paint and an Apple Watch. Mr. and Mrs. Claus chatted about their morning on the water.
This is a photo of a hiking trip in 1971, according to Dana Tufts of Marblehead. Left to right: Tufts, Tim Howes, Tom Colby, Ralph Colantuno and Sean Casey. COURTESY PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO / LAURIE SWOPE Santas ashore! More than 20 Santas paddle boarded across Marblehead Harbor on Sunday, raising money for the Marblehead Food Pantry.
CURRENT PHOTO / GREY COLLINS Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at State Street Landing on a lobster boat, in one of Marblehead’s most beloved traditions.
WALK, P. 6
CASEY, P. 7
Bench honoring Savanah Gatchell to be placed outside Veterans School
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The School Committee unanimously approved a cedar bench to be placed outside the Veterans School in memory of student Savanah Gatchell, who was killed in an alleged drunk driving crash in August. She was 13. A 16-year-old Marblehead boy, who was driving, is charged. Gatchell’s teenage sister, Allyssa, was at the Dec. 4 School Committee meeting and cried softly after the vote.
A bench honoring Savanah Gatchell will be placed outside Veterans School, where she was a student. The 13-year-old was killed in an alleged drunk driving crash in August. A 16-year-old Marblehead boy is charged.
Veterans School educator Elloree Jennings, who knew Savanah, led the effort for the bench and fundraised to cover all costs. Jennings fought back tears as she read notes from some of Savanah’s friends who support the idea.
One girl wrote, “I never thought Savanah would be gone so soon. We hung out one week before she died. I would never (have) guessed that I would never see her again. She was a beautiful girl that got her life taken away unjustly. I love you so much, Savanah, and no one will forget you.”
Another friend and Veterans School classmate wrote: “One day in the summer, these old ladies came up to us and asked us to take their picture. We were laughing about how cute that was.
We said that’s definitely going to be us in the future. The last thing she told me was ‘We need to appreciate people in our lives, so thank you for being in mine.’”
Staff from Glover, Brown, Village, Vets and the high school all contributed to the memorial, in addition to an anonymous donor.
The bench will be placed between two trees near the entrance to the Performing Arts Center. It will be engraved with the message: “Donated by the community of Marblehead in loving memory of Savanah Gatchell.” Jennings hopes it will be placed soon after winter vacation.
School board debates declining enrollment, passing grades
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Declining enrollment took center stage at another School Committee meeting on Dec. 4, as Superintendent John Robidoux presented more data to address concerns about the number of students leaving Marblehead schools.
“So, we’re down over 200 students since June 7 to when school opened in September,” said School Committee member Jenn Schaeffner. She said enrollment had dropped by 25 students in the prior week alone. That’s a drop from 2,754 to 2,511 students since June.
“I am very interested in what’s going on,” Schaeffner said. “What’s happening? Where are students going? Are we doing any kind of analysis? It does speak to a whole bunch of issues … certainly the budget. Are people leaving
because they’re not happy with the schools? I don’t know.”
Robidoux emphasized that it is important to examine annual data from the Department of Early and Secondary Education and not “throw out willy, nilly numbers” but “compare apples to apples.”
Robidoux confirmed that MPS enrollment has dropped about 3.88% a year since 2018.
“I’m hugely concerned that we’re down 200 kids,” Robidoux said. “What could we be doing differently?”
Robidoux said he will have more data at the School Committee’s next meeting about why students are leaving MPS (or deciding not to attend at all) and where they are going.
Competency determination and rigor
The committee also discussed
and ultimately approved a new competency determination, which is necessary now that passing the MCAS is no longer required for graduation in the state.
Among other criteria, the state recommends that all students secure passing grades in mandatory classes through the 10th grade.
In Marblehead, a passing grade is 60 or higher, according to Assistant Superintendent Julia Ferreira.
Schaeffner urged the administration and the committee to consider more rigorous standards.
“Do we want to consider a higher bar?” she asked. “I don’t think I’m crazy. Something higher than a 60.”
Schaeffner then made a motion to change Marblehead’s passing
grade to a 64. The motion did not move forward.
“I agree that we should have higher standards,” Robidoux said. “My thought is that the rigor associated with any of those grades is associated with the instruction and the teaching and learning in the classroom. I contend that we provide rigorous instruction to our students. A ‘B’ in Marblehead, in my opinion, could be seen and is likely more rigorous than a ‘B’ with the same number in a different district.”
The committee agreed to task Robidoux and Ferreira with investigating how districts similar to Marblehead define passing grades. The administration will also look at how many MHS students would not be able to graduate if the passing grade were moved to 64.
A bench, similar to this one, will be placed outside Veterans School in memory of Savanah Gatchell.
COURTESY PHOTOS
A bench honoring Savanah Gatchell will be placed outside Veterans School, where she was a student. The 13-year-old was killed in an alleged drunk driving crash in August. A 16-year-old Marblehead boy is charged.
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
The School Committee discussed declining enrollment and passing grades at its Dec. 4 meeting.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Last Thursday afternoon, about 20 Marblehead Youth Hockey players picked up their sticks for a street hockey game on the cement rink at Reynolds Field as part of noise testing for a $3.3 million refurbishment project.
The project, funded by the Larz Anderson trust, is in its early stages. The first goal is to build an open-air, refrigerated rink. At the same size of the current cement rink (70 by 170 feet), it will be 85% the size of a regulation ice hockey rink.
Recreation and Parks Commissioner Shelly Bedrossian, who is leading the project, says the surface will be ice 22 weeks a year and serve as a practice rink for Marblehead Youth Hockey and space for community skating, curling and other activities. The rink will be filled with modular turf the rest of the year for other sports and multi-generational programming.
Phase two of the project involves replacing the current playing field at Reynolds with either grass or turf. There is currently no funding for phase two. Phase three, which can happen concurrently as funding comes in, is developing an ADA and maintenance plan for the project.
Engineering and wetland surveys have been completed, and on Dec. 3 consulting firm Acentech conducted ambient noise tests to assess the impact on neighbors. Sub-surface
testing should be complete by mid-January, according to Bedrossian.
Bedrossian and other organizers have held several community meetings with neighbors to address their concerns, which include noise, traffic and parking.
Daniel “Flynnie” Kelley was making shots in the pick-up game last week. He’s been playing hockey since he was 3.
“I love hockey because it’s fast,” he said. Currently, he and other youth hockey players have to drive to Revere, or beyond, to get ice time.
“It would be great to be able to play here in town,” Kelley added.
Chris Connolly’s son, Chapman, plays Marblehead Youth Hockey. Chris is excited about having a sports facility like this close to home.
“We need an ice rink, and we need more reliable field space in town,” he said.
Bedrossian and Rec & Parks Commissioner Chris Kennedy met with the town’s DPW on Dec.
1 to strategize how town departments can work together on this project and maximize efficiencies.
A few examples include: Marblehead Municipal Light Department is helping with new sports lighting to reduce light leaks at the property.
certain materials.
» The Marblehead Tree Department is helping Recreation & Parks with tree planting and beautification.
The Department of Public Works has a large amount of fill that can be used to maximize savings.
» The sustainability coordinator made recommendations to help secure grants for ADA compliance and to help secure tax credits for using certain materials in the project.
» The town engineer will be involved in the subsurface investigation to provide historical data.
» The Transfer Station will help dispose of
» The Reynolds Field area will be discussed at the next Traffic Advisory Meeting to determine whether it can be added to the Complete Streets List. Rec & Parks’ goal is to have phase 1 completed by next November. People can follow progress at marbleheadma. gov/reynolds-fieldrefurbishment-project/.
Opinion
Cooler heads seem to be prevailing as town leaders resume following through on their pledge to minimize the harm caused by youth substance use in response to the town’s most recent tragedy, the crash that cost 13-year-old Savanah Gatchell her life. For that, we are grateful — the topic is too important to let the conversation get derailed by personality conflicts or breaches of protocol.
But before we turn the page, it is worth reviewing the conflict involving Board of Health member Tom McMahon, Police Chief Dennis King and Select Board Chair Dan Fox, as there are lessons for how to best get to a better place, not just on this issue but future challenges as well.
To review, McMahon came to his board’s Nov. 24 meeting armed with a statement and a seemingly damning statistic. Since 2017, the town had issued no fines under the state’s Social Host Law, G.L.c. 138, §34, McMahon reported. The law makes it a crime for adults to serve or provide alcohol to underage guests or to allow them to drink alcohol in their home or on other property they control.
When people are charged criminally, the state law provides for fines of up to $2,000, imprisonment for up to a year or both, though Town Clerk Robin Michaud indicated that the town’s fine schedule for civil violations is $150 to the adult in charge of the home and $25 to each underage person at the party.
McMahon then stated, “This lack of action comes from the style of the police chief. That style is counterproductive and ignorant. It needs to stop.”
King was not in the room at the time, nor did he apparently get a heads up that his practices would be a topic of discussion at the meeting.
That drew a rebuke from Fox, who criticized both the content of
EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY
EDITORIAL
Say it to my face
McMahon’s critique and the “method used to deliver it.”
“Publicly leveling unvetted accusations at a televised meeting does not foster cooperation; it undermines trust, damages working relationships and does a disservice to the public,” Fox wrote.
McMahon responded to Fox on Facebook. While he pledged that he was “ready to move forward… cooperatively with the Select Board and police chief,” his message also included a warning, “Saying that you won’t work for a solution because you don’t like my ‘methods’ likely won’t fly with Marblehead residents who want to see improvement, even if they don’t agree with my methods.”
However, those “methods” do warrant criticism, though perhaps not for the reason McMahon is thinking of.
The issue is not that he is being “impolite”; it’s that he has chosen a method that is doomed to undercut efforts to address a problem McMahon sincerely wants to resolve.
One of the more memorable lines from the 2024 presidential campaign was one candidate goading her opponent into a debate with the phrase, “Say it to my face.”
The “Say It to My Face” rule should be table stakes for town officials, especially ones paying lip service to wanting to collaborate with those who share a common goal — in this case, keeping young people safe.
As this situation illustrates, failing to do so is inefficient at best. Rather than having a real-time dialogue,
McMahon forced this conversation to be “asynchronous,” which is not the best way to engage the principals or the public in an important discussion.
McMahon explained that he deployed his chosen method because he feared that town leaders were once again going to “brush under the rug” the underage drinking issue. But ambushing the police chief in absentia was not the only way McMahon could have brought renewed attention to the issue. He could have followed the model of Congress, which quite often brings people before it — like college presidents, for example — when it wants to focus the public spotlight on a particular issue.
While King may not have relished appearing before the board to face tough questions, such a session would have arguably garnered more attention than McMahon’s soliloquy.
We cannot read McMahon’s mind, but one of the reasons political actors sometimes disseminate information in ways that preclude dialogue is that they are trying to control the message. To update an old saw often misattributed to Mark Twain, “Spin can travel halfway around the world while a nuanced understanding is still putting on its shoes.”
Is it fair to characterize McMahon’s data about the lack of citations since 2017 as “spin”? Well, for one thing, it lays at King’s feet years’ worth of enforcement (or lack thereof) that predates his arrival in Marblehead in the summer of 2021.
For another, as King would later
explain, local bylaw citations are not the only way the Social Host Law is enforced. Criminal complaints are also used. For example, King previously told the Current that a juvenile was charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor related to the 2022 crash that claimed the life of James Galante, a consequence not captured in McMahon’s report.
“When education and redirection will more effectively prevent future harm, we use those tools as well,” King added.
McMahon’s statistics may loosely fit into the category of information often described in journalism circles as “true but not accurate.” In other words, the information may not be incorrect, but the lack of context runs the risk of creating a misleading impression.
In his statement, McMahon apologized to two people, one member of the Recreation and Parks Commission and one member of the School Committee.
“They both care deeply about this issue and are dedicated to finding a solution,” he wrote, implying that others who have recently engaged on this issue do not share that commitment.
But there is little to be gained from dividing people into camps, those who are going about things in the “right way,” in McMahon’s view, and those who are not. In this battle, everyone is a potential ally.
All that said, McMahon has brought some important points to the fore. If it is, in fact, “the same houses over and over again” furnishing alcohol to minors, it is more than fair to scrutinize how such repeat offenses are being handled and explore whether a change in course might be prudent.
That is a conversation we should absolutely have. But as much as we can, we should have it face to face.
Let’s play patience BINGO again!
BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM
As I write this, I can count 16 lit candles in my immediate environs.
Extreme? So is the afternoon blanket of darkness which threatens to swallow my positive outlook whole starting at around 4 p.m. Such are the contradictions of this season of lights.
My son recently commented about his affection for the month of December noting how much nicer people are than usual. He lives in the city, and knowing his habits, I’m glad to hear Chipotle servers and Uber drivers are putting their best foot forward. Are the rest of us?
Not if the number of times I’ve been honked at in the past week are any indication. One driver I saw had a sense of humor about it, his car bearing the bumper sticker “If you hate honking, honk!” But the others? They seemed lacking in that one critical virtue that guarantees a better attitude leading up to the holidays — patience.
I know my patience in these final, frantic holiday and yearend-everything-must-getdone-now days could use some improvement, too.
It’s not just the jam-packed holiday to-do list at fault. Our technology-enabled instant gratification culture has done
plenty to make even the most patient saints amongst us in a hurry to gratify and satisfy.
What I didn’t know is that patience can be cultivated, like plants in a garden. While patience is in short supply, tips for developing it are endless, if you search for them on the Web. I’ll summarize the top tips I recently found.
First, though, let’s agree on which kind of patience we want to cultivate, now, right now, before that guy steals our parking spot. It turns out there are at least three kinds of patience — interpersonal patience, life hardship patience and daily hassles patience.
The first, the kind you need to have when your spouse forgets, again, to bring the trash cans in, is self-evident. The second, also known as perseverance, is how you get through hard times. It’s the third I’ll focus on here — daily hassles patience. Put more academically, it is the kind of patience which allows us to develop “the capacity to tolerate the discomfort that arises when things aren’t as we’d like them to be,” according to one mindfulness website.
Apparently, this kind of patience is readily cultivatable! Or so says clinical psychologist Scott Beam, Psy.D., in an article featured by the eminent Cleveland Clinic. “It’s kind of like dancing,” he said. “Some people are naturally better at it than others, but everyone can
improve with practice.” Here is a sample of tips I found with some of my non-academic color commentary.
» Stop multi-tasking (HAHAHAHAHAHHA)
Use a time-management tool (i.e., something more advanced than the alarm I set on my phone to go off five minutes before every scheduled meeting.)
Eat healthy (I feel like that tip is on every “be a better human” list, but sure.)
» Choose slow (Is that an actual choice?)
I felt my neck muscles
tightening as I scrolled through more tips, while simultaneously checking texts on my phone. Then I found these sort of more do-able ideas: Fake it ‘til you make it. Pretending you are patient makes you feel more patient. (I can do that!)
» Increase your tolerance for waiting by waiting longer.
(Hmmm, choose the longer line at CVS?)
Delay gratification by putting your online selections in a shopping cart to review later. (Defeats the point of Amazon Prime but sure.)
Regularly unclench your fists and/or teeth, and relax your shoulders (Your dentist and chiropractor will thank you.)
Be playful, don’t take yourself — or your unfinished tasks — too seriously.
Ah, I totally can embrace that last one. So, in that spirit, please see the very first, inaugural, one of a kind, “Everything Will Be Okay” Patience BINGO game, in print, and also linked here.
We will play the “coverall” version. When you do one of the items listed in the squares in the stressful, I mean, festive days ahead, “X” it out on the card.
When you’ve filled the entire card, yell BINGO as loud as you can, even if, especially if, you are in a public place.
Then laugh out loud, again (If you’ve filled the card, you have already done that at least once.) I promise you’ll feel more patient than you really are. If not, then I guess you can try improving your dancing. Wishing you happy, and patient, holidays.
*A version of this column first appeared in the Current in 2022. 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.
‘Prioritize tighter enforcement of social
host laws’
To the editor:
I am writing in reference to the article on Chief King’s response to criticism regarding lack of enforcement of Social Hosting Law. Chief King states, “When enforcing the Social Host Law, which we do in Marblehead, not every call meets the legal threshold for charges or fines… Many situations require careful investigation, documentation, parental engagement and, whenever it is appropriate, an arrest or diversion may occur.”
Maybe I am thinking of this too simplistically but if parties have been repeatedly rousted at the same addresses and property owners/renters contacted about underage drinking, wouldn’t that be enough to establish reasonable cause for charges? At the least, reason to open an investigation? It does seem improbable that Marblehead Police have not responded to a single call since 2017 that
has met the legal threshold for charges under the Social Host Law.
Is this a situation of underage drinking simply not being a priority? The truth is underage drinking is a recognized national public health issue. In any given month, a good chunk of kids ages 12-20 have engaged in binge drinking, which is defined as drinking five or more alcoholic beverages at a sitting (7.1% of males, 8.3% of females, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2024). Three percent of high school seniors engaged in high-intensity drinking (10-plus drinks in a row) during the previous two weeks (NSDUH, 2024). It should be noted, alcohol poisoning, which can be deadly, is associated with both binge drinking and high-intensity drinking.
Just shy of three quarters of underage drinkers said they did not pay for the last alcohol they drank but rather that it was given to them by an unrelated adult, family member or friend (NSDUH, 2024). Sounds like our community party houses.
Of course, it isn’t just the kids. There is always collateral damage when tragedy strikes. In Marblehead’s most recent
underage drinking fatality, one life was lost, and many more were irrevocably changed. My own family bears testament to the fact that some collateral damage can be worse than death, severe brain injuries and spinal injuries among them.
Although I agree with Chief King about providing intervention to kids caught drinking for the first time, I do not agree that grace should be extended to 40-something-year-old parents who repeatedly host underage drinking events. They deserve swift, decisive consequences.
I hope the Select Board will work with Chief King to prioritize tighter enforcement of the Social Host Law going forward. Enforcement is not the responsibility of the Board of Health, but having gotten the ball rolling, hopefully the Select Board and the Police Department will keep it rolling in the right direction on this important public health issue. If not, I’m sure we can depend on Tom McMahon to apply a little encouragement.
Laurie Barham West Shore Drive
Star of the Sea concerts are ‘jewel in the crown’
To the editor:
Do you want to hear exceptional live orchestra or Pops music from Boston Symphony Hall? Well, we have a “jewel in the crown” right here in Marblehead! Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish has a concert program that rivals Boston. A person doesn’t have to travel to Boston, pay for parking, make a reservation for tickets and pay high ticket prices. We are so fortunate to have inspiring music right here in our midst. I have now attended two of the three concerts this year and I get more and more impressed with the outstanding and professional quality of these programs. I am not a paid promoter. I just wanted to share the joy that I have received from these concerts and I think that you would, too.
Chocolate holiday dessert — still in the making
BY LINDA BASSETT
Childhood memories are often chocolate-coated. My brother and I would save up our change to buy candy at the corner store on the walk home from school. He would choose a Milky Way; I would get a dark chocolate Mounds bar. He liked his chocolate light and sweet. I liked mine with a dark jolt.
As I explored chocolate’s intensely deep flavor, a friend’s mom added a splash of coffee to hot cocoa drinks, sending me further along this direction. I sampled everything that came my way. Brownies studded with bittersweet chocolate chips. Sour cream chocolate-swirl cake. Chocolate-covered espresso beans. A bag of bittersweet chocolate bits meant for cookies never got as far as the dough: I ate them right out of a bag. Still do.
As a parent, I slipped cocoa powder into ground beef tacos.
Chocolate makes the beef taste beefier. Actually, most meat tastes meatier with added chocolate. The Mexican nuns,
who invented mole poblano, a stew that made use of the meat from elderly, tough turkeys, knew this.
For a long time, chocolate bread pudding has been my go-to dessert. Non-bakers, like me, can take this non-recipe, add to or subtract from a few basic ingredients, and make it their own. Chocolate chips, liqueurs, orange zest, walnuts, minimarshmallows, etc. Basically foolproof no matter what the cook adds, it always turns out well. It’s perfect for entertaining a house bursting at the seams with holiday guests.
Scoop it into a bowl and dollop with whipped cream.
MY CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING
As baking is not my strong suit, I start my bread pudding with a chocolate pound cake from the grocery store. I cut the cake and a loaf of French bread into cubes (crust or not crust, it’s up to the cook) — cut any size. I put them on a sheet pan in a low oven, about 200-250F degrees, until they are somewhat dried or even lightly toasted.
I add a little vanilla to the whipped cream topping. Follow along and stay loose. No mistakes to be made here.
1. In a large bowl, beat three extra-large eggs with whole milk (or light cream) until frothy. Add a touch of vanilla — or Sabra or Grande Marnier liqueur.
(The alcohol evaporates in the cooking.)
2. Add a small amount, about 2 tablespoons, of sugar (the liqueur is sweet). Continue beating until thoroughly blended.
3. Fold in the cake and bread cubes. Set aside for 20 minutes to absorb the liquid.
4. While the bread and cake
soak, butter a large enough baking dish to fit all the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350F.
5. Transfer the mixture into the baking dish. Place this baking dish into a larger one. Place the dishes (the smaller one inside the larger) on the middle shelf of the oven. Pour boiling water into the larger pan so that it surrounds the smaller baking pan, reaching halfway up the sides of the smaller one. (This avoids accidents.)
6. Bake at 350F for 20 to 25 minutes. Take the pudding out of the oven; add a handful of semisweet chocolate chips, about ¼ to ½ cup, poking them into the mixture. Return the pudding to the oven for 10 minutes until slightly crusty on top.
7. Use an ice cream scoop to dollop it into dessert bowls or cups. Top with unsweetened (or lightly sweetened) whipped cream while the pudding is still warm enough so the cream melts.
Linda Bassett lived in Marblehead for years and has worked as a cook, trained up-andcoming chefs, studied food history and led food tours. Her book, “From Apple Pie to Pad Thai,” is about local cooks and cooking.
Meet Good Life Travel Company
BY MELISSA STACEY
The following is an interview with Debbie Ellis, founder and travel advisor of Good Life Travel Company, conducted by Discover Marblehead.
As a boutique travel agency based in Marblehead, Ellis specializes in curated, stressfree travel planning, taking care of all the research, logistics and details so her clients don’t have to. From tropical winter getaways to December river cruise itineraries through Europe, she works with trusted partners worldwide to build personalized travel experiences. Learn more at goodlifetravel.org.
How did you end up in your current line of work? After selling a paint-and-sip/art studio I founded, I took time to explore my next chapter. At a travel expo, I saw a sign that read, “You could work from here,” next to a laptop on a Caribbean beach. It clicked. Travel advising blended everything I love: marketing, business building, connecting
with people and learning through global experiences, while helping others do the same. Now, I’m fortunate to explore multiple countries each year and share firsthand destination knowledge with my clients. Nothing beats personal experiences to offer real insight for something as important as a bucket list vacation.
What’s a personal motto or mindset you live by? I often say “Ready, fire, aim,” and I firmly believe that done is better than perfect. I don’t like to get stuck in perfectionism as momentum matters.
What’s your favorite spot
in Marblehead? Crocker Park. When I lived here in my 20s, I’d sit there to write, reflect and unwind. We had our wedding photos taken there, and over the years we’ve taken countless pictures, from dating, to babies to now. We have many pictures on the swings overlooking the harbor. It’s woven into our family story. Now, I am so happy to walk our dogs there often.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you? Although I can come across as extroverted, I don’t enjoy public speaking. I’m most comfortable, and at my best, one on one or in small, interactive groups.
The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. Discover Marblehead is dedicated to the promotion of Marblehead. Its mission is to highlight local businesses, tourism, community events and attractions through social media, email marketing and community outreach. To learn more, visit discovermhd.com
COURTESY PHOTO
Debbie Ellis is founder and travel advisor at Good Life Travel Company.
COURTESY PHOTO Chocolate bread pudding has been my go-to dessert for a long time.
Mary Ferris Marion Road
“We had a beautiful day. We heard there was something called gale-force winds. I kept saying to the elves, ‘What is a gale-force wind?’ And they go, ‘Not good.’ But we ended up with a beautiful day. Perfect, even,” Mrs. Claus said.
This year marks the final Christmas Walk for Laura Best, Mrs. Claus’ longtime “helper” of more than 40 years. She hinted at a reveal coming in 2026.
“There’s going to be a big surprise next year as I hand down the magic cape. There will be a special reward,” she said.
Glover’s Regiment led the parade, followed by community groups, local businesses, youth sports teams and people driving antique cars.
The weekend wrapped up
Sunday with the annual SUP Santas paddle, as more than 20 costumed Santas (along with a polar bear and one Grinch) crossed Marblehead Harbor from the Pleon Yacht Club to Riverhead Beach and State Street Landing. The event raises money for the Marblehead Food Pantry.
If yo u’re struggli ng to pay your bills or are experiencing asudden and unexpected financial hards hi p, we’ re he
Hundreds of people lined the streets for the Christmas Walk parade on Saturday
Marblehead High School singers perform holiday classics.
CURRENT PHOTO / GREY COLLINS
Santa and Mrs. Claus greet young fans at State Street Landing.
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
Pup Archibald Loguidice chills with the Grinch.
Petitions aiming to undo MBTA Communities Act fall short of state ballot
BY LEIGH BLANDER
It does not appear that any question related to the MBTA Communities Act will appear on the state ballot in 2026, according to Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s office. The MBTA Communities Act requires Marblehead and 176 other cities and towns to rezone for more multifamily housing.
After a town vote in July, Marblehead is noncompliant with the MBTA Communities Act, but town leaders are working with a state-funded consultant to draft a new compliance plan before Town Meeting in May. The Planning Board was expected to present an update at its meeting Dec. 9.
According to Debra O’Malley, Galvin’s communications director, organizers of 11 ballot petitions handed in “a significant number of signatures” to get on the ballot by today’s deadline. (The state required 74,574 certified signatures by Dec. 3.)
Two MBTA zoning-related petitions, filed by John T. Kolackovsky of Rockport, were
HOUSING & TAXES
not among them. One question would have repealed the MBTA Communities Act, the other would give local communities more control over zoning.
Reached by the Current Wednesday afternoon, Kolackovsky said he did not count the number of signatures he collected and has “no guess” as to whether he had enough.
O’Malley said the MBTA Communities Act-related petitions had a “very small number of signatures” on a “few handfuls of paper.” In comparison, O’Malley said other petitions delivered “10-15 boxes of signatures.”
According to the latest data from the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, 166 of the 177 cities and towns subject to the MBTA Communities Act have achieved either interim, conditional or full compliance with the law. Of those, 122 — including Swampscott, Salem and Beverly — are fully compliant.
In addition to Marblehead, the other 10 cities and towns
that missed July 14 deadlines to adopt zoning plans and have been deemed “noncompliant” are Dracut, East Bridgewater, Freetown, Halifax, Hanover, Holden, Middleton, Tewksbury, Wilmington and Winthrop. As a result of their noncompliant status, Marblehead and the other communities have lost access to a variety of state grant programs.
In addition, come January, the Attorney General’s Office is prepared to bring enforcement suits against any community that has failed to both adopt the required zoning and apply for a determination of district compliance from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, AG Andrea Campbell announced in July. What will be on the ballot?
According to Commonwealth Beacon, the following are some of the campaigns whose leaders felt confident about hitting the initial signature requirement and moving forward: reversing the state ban on rent control, cutting the state’s income tax from 5% to 4% over a three-year period, overhauling the state’s tax collection cap, re-criminalizing recreational marijuana, subjecting the governor’s office and Legislature to the public records law, reining in legislative stipends and allowing Election Day voter registration.
Any petitions that are determined to contain a sufficient number of certified signatures will be sent by Galvin’s office to the Legislature in January. If the Legislature does not pass an initiative through the normal legislative process by May 5, 2026, petitioners can begin collecting the additional 12,429 needed to place the question on the Nov. 3, 2026, state election ballot.
***This article includes reporting from the Commonwealth Beacon.
Town lowers property tax rate
Average bill still set to increase
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The Select Board voted to set Marblehead’s tax rate at 8.6 cents per thousand, the lowest it has been in recent memory, but many property owners will still see an increase in their tax bills starting in January.
“That’s the lowest rate I can recall,” said Select Board member Jim Zisson at a Dec. 2 meeting. One reason for the
COURT WATCH
Former
decrease is that $1,877,750 in debt incurred to build the high school more than 20 years ago has fallen off tax bills.
The board voted to set the same tax rate for residential and commercial properties, as it has for many years. Commercial properties total only about 4% of all taxable properties in town, according to Assistant Assessor Todd Laramie.
The total value of all property in Marblehead is assessed as $9.89 billion, Laramie said, up from $9.33 in fiscal 2025.
“As most people know, the sales market — not only in
Marblehead
Marblehead but all over the East Coast and New England — has been crazy,” he said about surging housing values.
“It seems to be mellowing out a little bit. So these fiscal ‘26
values are based on calendar ‘24 sales.”
The average residential property value increased by 6.07%, while the average commercial property value increased 4.29%, according to Laramie.
The average single family home jumped in value from $1,217,640 to $1,291,507 in FY 26.
That means the average tax bill will edge up from $11,019.64 in FY 25 to $11,094.04 in FY 26, an increase of about $74 or 0.7%.
The median single family value has increased from $956,000 last fiscal year to $1,010,100 in FY 26.
resident, accused of killing and dismembering wife, starts trial
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The first degree murder trial of former Marblehead resident Brian Walshe entered its second week on Monday. Walshe is accused
when explaining his new found fashion accessory the white scally cap, he jokingly explained unlike myself, he didn’t make for a handsome bald guy.”
Zisson added: “The lights are certainly burning dimmer in Marblehead with Sean’s passing. But hearing so many stories about Sean from back in the day is really heartening. And the pictures from back in the day…. as best I can tell he was born with that mustache!
Rest in peace Sean, we are all better for having you in our lives.”
Dana Tufts, vice president of the Friends of Marblehead Hockey, said Casey played a big role in youth hockey (including as a goalie when he was a kid).
“My father was a youth hockey coach back in the day and Sean was one of his favorites,” Tufts said. “Sean used to hang out at Bud Orne’s barber shop and
of killing and dismembering his wife, Ana, in their home in Cohasset New Year’s 2023. Police believe he disposed of Ana’s remains in several locations. They searched a dumpster on Paradise Road in
Swampscott.
The couple lived on Edgewood Road in Marblehead with their young sons from 2020-2022.
Walshe has pleaded guilty to dismembering his wife’s
body and misleading police. He told investigators last month that he found his wife unresponsive in bed on New Year’s and then hid her remains.
New growth (construction or physical improvements to a property) continues to slow. Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said the number of building permits has dropped. The town is limited in how much it can raise property taxes each year by Proposition 2 1/2, which states that a community’s total property tax revenue (levy) can not go up by more than 2.5% each year, plus revenue from new development. If the town wants to increase property taxes by more than 2.5%, it requires an override vote at Town Meeting and townwide election.
worked at Don Orne’s sports shop. Everyone thought very
highly of him.”
Tufts said Casey was heavily involved with Rec & Parks as well. “He mentored kids. He was
involved as a participant, and he would always help out other kids and counselors. He was a
right-hand-man kind of person. He was a good man.”
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
Sean Casey, wearing the cap, attended a Marblehead Town Charter Committee meeting in October.
COURTESY PHOTO
Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s office says questions aiming to undo the MBTA Communities Act failed to get enough signatures to make it to the state ballot in 2026.
Ana Walsh lived with her husband and young sons in Marblehead from 20202022. Her husband is charged with her murder.
COURTESY PHOTO
HOLIDAYTOY DRIVE
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The donation box is locatedtothe left of thefront door,facing thestreet.
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Sports
Hockey Header seniors not looking for ‘Miracles’ at Lake Placid, just wins
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Most of us experience history in textbooks, never actually visiting the sites that helped shape the fabric of the country or the world in general. We rely on the words of historians, teachers and family members from a generation or two back to give us the facts. Nowadays, we have video and audio tapes that assist in the learning process, as long as AI doesn’t intrude with any distorted views.
But when we actually get that opportunity to visit historical locations, it reinforces what we had already learned, giving us a greater appreciation of the past.
This Friday, Dec. 15, the Marblehead High boys hockey team will be in Lake Placid, New York, the home of arguably the greatest triumph in the history of all sports, to open up the season against rival Winthrop.
Today, everybody refers to that historic game as the Miracle on Ice. There have been movies made of it, but in February 1980, nobody had a clue on what they were about to witness. However, that’s the beauty of history, it’s often created from a totally unexpected event.
In brief, it’s centered around a group of elite college hockey players and their coach Herb Brooks. The Americans had to face professional teams representing their countries around the world. But they proceeded to shock them all by going unbeaten with a 6-0-1 record to secure the gold in the XIII Winter Olympics. Their most memorable victory was the 4-3 comeback win over the Soviet Union to begin the medal round, which led to another comeback triumph in the gold medal game against Finland, 4-2. The games took place at the Olympic Arena, but after the United States took home the gold, it was soon changed to the Herb Brooks Arena, and that’s where the Hockey Headers will open up the regular season. They will play two games against the Winthrop Vikings on Dec. 12 (7 p.m.) and Dec. 13 (1 p.m.).
The four seniors on this year’s Marblehead varsity roster talked to the Marblehead Current on playing in such an historic venue, and when they first became aware of the Olympic miracle that took place some 45 years ago, long before they were born, and in most cases their parents, as well.
Co-captain Hayden Gallo
“To have the opportunity to start our season off in Lake Placid is incredible. I grew up watching the Miracle on Ice, and just thinking about playing on that same ice surface, where the gold was won (by the United States) in 1980 makes it feel (even more) special. I’m excited to be able to experience that energy, and to play somewhere that’s so legendary in hockey history.
“On a personal note, my Uncle Matt (Waldman) grew up in Winthrop, and was in the third grade, when they won the gold. He remembers the Music Department at the Dalrymple Elementary School wrote a song about Mike Eruzione (the U.S. team captain, who was born and raised in town, and still lives there), and the entire school sang it in chorus class. There was a huge parade for him once he returned home with the gold medal. It started at the Belle Isle Bridge. My uncle says that it’s still a big deal in Winthrop all these years later. That’s how
Hayden Gallo can’t
get
rival Winthrop at the Herb Brooks
Northeastern Conference teams will play two games up there on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
impactful it was. It got my uncle involved in hockey, and his son Cam was a member of our 2024 state championship team. His daughters, Paige and Jane, are on the girls team right now.”
Co-captain E.J. Wyman
“I’m really looking forward to playing at this historic arena against the defending state champs. It will be a great test for us. The first time that I found
Marblehead Basketball to host 4th annual Tip-Off Nights
Community celebration marks first home games of the season for Girls and Boys teams
Friends of
Basketball is proud to announce the 4th annual Tip-Off Nights, taking place on Tuesday, Dec. 16 for the girls program and Thursday, Dec. 18 for the boys program. Both events begin at 7 p.m. in the Marblehead High School Field House and will mark the first home game of the season for each team. The goal of Tip-Off Night is to bring the Marblehead basketball community together and officially kick off a new season.
In keeping with tradition, the evening will feature special performances and community involvement, including the national anthem sung by Anya Kane, a 2025 MHS graduate and current American University student. At halftime, Girls and Boys Youth Basketball players, as well as members of the Unified Basketball team, are invited to participate on the court — highlighting Marblehead’s commitment to inclusivity,
youth development and community connection within the sport.
Fans can look forward to a lively atmosphere with concessions and shirt and spirit wear give-aways throughout the night. Families, alumni and basketball supporters across town are encouraged to come out and help launch what is anticipated to be an exciting and competitive season for both the girls and boys teams.
out about this magical gold medal run was by watching the movie, when I was around eightyears-old. My father was the one who told me about it.”
Senior J.J. Downey
“I’m excited to start the season at Lake Placid. It’s such an iconic venue. There’s something special about stepping onto that ice that makes you feel connected to the history of the sport. Now, it’s my
turn to feel the echoes of that Olympic glory. It’s going to be so surreal to finally experience it firsthand after growing up hearing stories from older generations about what this place meant to the hockey world. It’s going to feel like stepping into a moment that’s bigger than just one game, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.
“I first heard about Lake Placid when I was about 7 or 8, mainly from my grandparents. My first reaction was pure amazement. The Miracle on Ice felt larger than life. As I got older and started playing hockey, I began to really appreciate its significance.”
Senior Bowden Laramie
“Starting off the season at Lake Placid is an honor and a privilege, and getting to play Winthrop there makes it even better. Whenever you see them on the schedule, it’s one of those games that you circle right away, but opening up the season with them twice, and (playing the games) in the famous 1980 Olympic rink makes it (extra) special to look forward to.
“The first time that I heard about the gold medal run was when I was young. I asked my mom about a picture hanging up in our basement, one that was signed by Jim Craig (the starting 1980 Olympic goalie). She explained the whole story to me on how my great grandfather –her grandfather – had the photo signed by Craig. It was taken (during) the historic win (over the Soviets). It was our first win over them. My mom went on about that game, and also said to me that she competed and won a tournament there years later as a figure skater. She then told me to watch the movie, based on that 1980 miracle.”
Bowden certainly comes from a hockey family. His aforementioned great grandfather, grandfather and father all played the game, and brother Shamus is a freshman goalie in the program this year. His cousin Kellan is a junior on the varsity team.
Marblehead
COURTESY PHOTOS
Marblehead High boys hockey senior J.J. Downey.
Marblehead High boys hockey senior Bowden Laramie.
Marblehead High boys hockey senior captains E.J. Wyman, left, and
wait to
the season started this weekend against
Arena in Lake Placid, New York. Both
St. John’s Prep falls to rival Xaverian in another classic Super Bowl matchup
BY JOE MCCONNELL
A mere nine points was all that separated two of the state’s perennial heavyweights this year on the gridiron. But unfortunately, this year that margin of difference belonged to the Xaverian Hawks, who defeated their rivals from St, John’s Prep twice in a nineday span to take home the 2025 Division 1 Super Bowl championship.
The Eagles lost the Thanksgiving Day battle to the host Hawks by a mere three points, 21-18. The rematch last Saturday night at Gillette Stadium wasn’t much better, when Xaverian was able to hang on to win the state title game, 41-35.
By all accounts, it was another fine season for coach Brian St. Pierre’s team. Finishing up with an 11-2 record is nothing to be ashamed of, but these Eagles always have just one goal in mind each year, and that’s to carry the Harry Agganis state championship trophy back to
TOO OLD
their Danvers campus. They defeated everybody this fall, except for rival Xaverian, and those two games could have gone either way.
The good news coming out of Saturday’s loss to Xaverian is that the sophomore quarterback / wide receiver combination will be back next fall to light up the St. John’s Prep scoreboard, once again.
Highly-touted sophomore signal caller Chris Vargas was supposed to be on the sidelines for the Super Bowl game after sustaining a knee injury early in the playoffs, but he was back in there for the rematch with the Hawks, and nearly pulled off a thrilling comeback victory.
Marblehead’s Riley Selvais, his go-to target all season long, caught three passes from him on Saturday night for 81 yards, and one of those aerials accounted for a 48-yard first quarter touchdown.
Trailing 27-7 at halftime, Selvais gave his teammates an immediate lift by running the opening second half kickoff back
80 yards for another touchdown to cut the Xaverian lead in half, 27-14.
The Eagles went on to outscore Xaverian from that point on, 21-14, only to fall six points short of their intended goal.
Prior to the Super Bowl game,
St. Pierre had this to say about his star wide receiver from Marblehead: “His numbers speak for themselves,” said the Prep coach, who just completed his 12th season along the sidelines.
“Riley has set the single season record for receptions and yards. But his greatest attribute, and he has many, is his competitive nature. Riley loves to compete. He combines that with being a gifted route runner, who is very strong (gaining additional yards) after each catch. His football awareness is exceptional. There are not enough superlatives to say about Riley Selvais. To top it all off, he is a great teammate, who is universally respected and liked within our locker room.
Just an A+ individual.”
Season in Brief
The top-seeded Eagles advanced to the Division 1 state semifinals for the seventh year in a row, before dispatching Central Catholic, 48-7, to reach the title game for the fifth time in that span. The key driver: an offense that had outscored
opponents 400-153 after 11 games.
Prior to sustaining an apparent season-ending knee injury, sophomore quarterback Chris Vargas orchestrated the attack, completing 70 percent of his passes for 1,866 yards and 21 touchdowns with just one interception.
But senior quarterback John Budrow capably stepped in to spark a 48-32 win over Leominster in the quarterfinals (Elite 8) behind a school-record 354 rushing yards. It included five TDs by junior running back Maxwell Parent (1,183 yards, 14 TDs). Classmate Jordan Toribio (1,176 yards, 20 TDs) also did his part to bookend the Prep’s ground game, while sophomore receiver Riley Selvais (52 receptions, 1,053 yards, 12 touchdowns) anchored the air attack.
St. John’s often stifling defense has been led by senior linebacker Bo Minogue, senior defensive lineman Chibueze Anasiudu and junior linebacker Connor Quigley.
Marblehead FC players stay young at heart
BY LUCA TEDESCO
Soccer’s growth in the United States has been defined by youth participation. According to a 2023 survey, nearly two-thirds of the 14 million Americans who played any kind of outdoor soccer are under the age of 25. However, without the vast league systems present in European nations nor the society-defining role played by soccer in Central and South America, continuing to play the beautiful game can be a struggle for adults.
However, like many other things in life, in New England, it’s a little bit different.
Marblehead F.C. was founded in 1981 as one of the six charter members of the New England Over the Hill Soccer League. Originally started as an over 30s club, there are now four teams in different age groups in the OTHSL as well as a vibrant pickup soccer group with over 100 participants from Marblehead and the surrounding communities.
In the 44 years since the league’s founding, the OTHSL has grown into the largest adult soccer league in the country, with 277 teams and over 7,000 players taking part in games across Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, with age categories ranging from over 30 all the way up to an over 68 division.
“After college-age and up until you’re 30… locally it’s hard to find a game,” said Chris Kennedy, the player-manager for the over 40 side. “At this age, it’s very rare to be able to play in a league where you’re trying to achieve something. It’s not a beer league. It’s not a casual, pickup type thing. You’re trying to get promoted… you’re always fighting for something.”
While Kennedy’s over 40s team lost the Division 3 North final on penalties, the manager said “to be able to do that at this age and have your kids be able to see you do that at this age… it’s great to be a part of.” Similar to professional soccer leagues outside of the U.S.,
Players from the 2025 Marblehead FC over 48 team pose on the field at the Village School in Marblehead.
Players from the 2025 Marblehead FC over 40 team pose at Piper Field. The team lost the OTSH North Division 3 final to Charlestown FC on penalties in November.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Players from the 2025 Marblehead FC over 30 team pose at Piper Field. The team plays in the OTHSL North Division 3.
COURTESY PHOTO
St. John’s Prep sophomore wide receiver Riley Selvais of Marblehead enjoyed an all-star season that concluded last Saturday night in the Division 1 Super Bowl game against Xaverian at Gillette Stadium.
Holiday helpers: Local groups, volunteers step up this season
BY GREY COLLINS
On Sunday morning, while many Marbleheaders were enjoying the Christmas Walk and buying gifts for friends and family, others were out buying gifts for complete strangers and delivering them to SPUR’s offices, where young volunteers feverishly wrapped up the gifts for people in need around the North Shore. Their tireless efforts concluded a months-long process to support children and families in need around Lynn, Salem, Swampscott and Marblehead.
The annual SPUR Holiday Cheer Drive supports over 600 local children and adults experiencing homelessness, with winter essentials and holiday gifts to brighten their holiday season. This year, people around the North Shore signed up to sponsor specific holiday wishlists on the SPUR website and then they went out to buy the gifts.
“Each wish list contains something they want, something to wear, something they need, and something to read,” said Kim Nothnagel, director of communications & community relations at SPUR. However, since the rest is up to the volunteers who buy the gifts, it often ends up being a lot more than that. The sponsors take their gifts to SPUR’s office at 6 Anderson St., where volunteers wrap the gifts up and place them into beautiful handmade pillowcases, ready to be brought to the individuals.They get over a thousand volunteers every year for the project, who donate supplies and gifts and help wrap them.
“The wrapping is one of the most popular things we do,” said Bryan Lamoreau, director of volunteer engagement. But while the project ramps up in November and December, it
Wednesday, Dec. 10
5 p.m.: girls basketball vs. Manchester-Essex Regional High at Manchester-Essex Regional High gym
Friday, Dec. 12
4 p.m.: boys and girls indoor track, NEC Invitational, Reggie Lewis Center, Boston
5 p.m.: boys basketball vs. Danvers at Read Gymnasium, Salem Academy Charter School
6:30 p.m.: girls basketball vs. Danvers at Danvers High gym
7 p.m.: boys hockey vs. Winthrop
actually starts back in January when volunteers sew unique pillowcases to hold the donated gifts.
“We have a fantastic group of volunteers, they use donated fabric and they put together over 600 unique pillowcases, “ said Lamoreau. “Each individual then gets unique pillowcases, and they can put their head down at night knowing that someone in the community is thinking of them.”
Many pillowcases are catered to the interests of specific children, with Red Sox or Pixar themed pillowcases going to children who expressed interest in those subjects.
After the government shutdown in November threatened SNAP funding and left many families on the North Shore even more financially vulnerable, SPUR is trying their best to provide support.
“When SNAP shut down, many people were sent to private organizations like local food pantries to provide support as a sort of bandaid fix unfortunately,” said Nothnagel.
“That downtime creates lag in our systems that families are still really reeling from.”
Since there is more need in our communities this year, there
at Lake Placid Olympic Center, New York
Saturday, Dec. 13
TBA: boys basketball vs. TBD at Read Gymnasium, Salem Academy Charter School
9 a.m.: boys wrestling vs. Wakefield at Wakefield High field house
1 p.m.: boys hockey vs. Winthrop at Lake Placid Olympic Center, New York
7 p.m.: girls hockey vs. Auburn High at Hogan Ice Rink, Auburn Sunday, Dec. 14
the OTHSL has a system of promotion and relegation with the best teams in lower divisions “going up” to take the place of the worst teams in the upper leagues.
“It’s really unusual to be able to find an adult league that is this well organized,” said Eric Paquette, co-manager of MFC’s over 55 team. “We show up every week and there’s another team to play, there’s a field, there’s a ref, and you know it’s going to happen for ten weeks in the fall and ten weeks in the spring.”
Outside of the competition, however, the simple joy of getting to spend time playing and watching soccer is a truly special element of the club.
“We watch games together and we’re on the WhatsApp chat all day long,” said Kennedy. “It’s like a brotherhood. You go out
are still 20 adults experiencing homelessness who are without sponsors. But Nothnagel is confident that the community can step up and help them get back on their feet.
“We believe strongly and the data shows that meaningful intervention and support helps people build a bridge out of homelessness into safe permanent housing and a stable future,” said Nothnagel. “We really believe in what we’re doing and we know that our supporters do too. So we’re really optimistic that people are going to rise to the occasion. We’ve taken on more, but we’re confident that this community can do it.”
SPUR is just one of several local organizations working hard right now to make the holidays a little more festive for everyone. Volunteers with the Edith Dodge Fund have been working these last few months to bring more holiday cheer into the lives of Marblehead seniors.
For the 52nd year, Edith Dodge volunteers are delivering gifts of cookies or clementines to every person over 80 years old in Marblehead. There are more than 1,000 people over 80 living in Marblehead.
“It’s meant to bring a bit of
10:30 a.m.: girls hockey vs. Leominster at Salem State Rockett
Arena
Tuesday, Dec. 16
7 p.m.: girls basketball vs. Beverly at MHS gym
7 p.m.: boys basketball vs. Beverly at Beverly High gym
7:30 p.m.: co-ed swimming vs. Peabody at Peabody YMCA
Wednesday, Dec. 17
4:30 p.m.: boys and girls indoor track vs. Beverly at Beverly High gym
7 p.m.: boys wrestling vs.
joy during the many winter months,” said Joan Cutler, former president and board member at Edith Dodge. After months of planning, ordering gifts and preparing the routes, the project ramped up last week. On Tuesday morning, the VFW building on West Shore Drive was full of volunteers packing hundreds of containers of cookies and wrapping gifts.
“It’s chaos, controlled chaos,” Cutler said, describing the scene. After wrapping, volunteers drive the gifts to each house on their route to give them to the seniors. Seniors at the assisted living facilities in town also receive fleece blankets and cards from Edith Dodge. The Edith Dodge relies on donations, which have been dwindling over the last few years.
“We function strictly on donations, on the kindness of strangers and friends,” said Cutler. “After COVID, we took a big hit. Our donations have dropped down tremendously, and have not recovered.”
In this economic climate with the rising rent and cost of living in Massachusetts, Cutler says that older Marbleheaders living on a fixed income often suffer the most. She hopes that these small gifts can provide them
Gloucester at Gloucester High gym
7:30 p.m.: girls hockey vs. Newburyport at Salem State Rockett Arena
Thursday, Dec. 18
6 p.m.: girls basketball vs. Saugus at Saugus High gym
6:30 p.m.: boys wrestling vs. Pentucket at Pentucket High gym, West Newbury
7 p.m.: boys basketball vs. Saugus at MHS gym
7:45 p.m.: girls gymnastics vs. Peabody at Baker’s School of
with some holiday cheer and encouragement.
“In the midst of all the stress, it’s nice to get something that maybe you can’t afford to buy. Maybe you can buy the whole damn cookie company, but on the other hand, maybe you can’t. We want people to know that they’re remembered. They’re not forgotten.”
Making Ends Meet is another volunteer organization focused on helping Marblehead residents in need, and have been keeping busy this holiday season. Making Ends Meet is dedicated to helping Marbleheaders make it through financial crises, and in 2025, they have provided more than $10,000 in grocery gift cards to combat food insecurity in Marblehead residents, helped stock the Marblehead Food Pantry, and helped pay home energy costs. This holiday season, their “Adopt a Family” program is matching sponsors with the wish lists of children in need for Christmas gifts, and are providing gift cards to purchase food for holiday meals.
“It’s heartwarming to know how we’ve brought smiles and joy to so many Marblehead children!” Diane Vigneron wrote in an email to the Current.
Gymnastics, Salem
Saturday, Dec. 20
7:30 a.m.: boys wrestling vs. Mt. Hope High at Mt. Hope High, Bristol, Rhode Island
2 p.m.: girls hockey vs. Pope Francis at Smead Arena, Springfield
7 p.m.: boys hockey vs. Masconomet at Salem State Rockett Arena
Sunday, Dec. 21
3 p.m.: boys basketball vs. Bishop Fenwick at Bishop Fenwick gym, Peabody
there, you compete together. It’s a really wonderful group.” Marblehead F.C. is currently working on gaining nonprofit status. Club member Al Wilson writes that the goal of the nonprofit is “expanding equitable youth access to
community-wide soccer play of all ages in the North Shore.”
though the league teams can be selective, the club represents all of Marblehead every time they take to the pitch.
“We’re thankful to the
said Steve White, co-manager for the over 55s. “We’re thankful and appreciative to have been able to play locally for so many years.”
town,”
Members of the Marblehead FC squad that won the OTHSL Over 40 Division 1 championship reunite on the pitch.
CURRENT PHOTOS / GREY COLLINS
Savan Hod wraps Christmas presents at SPUR’s Holiday Cheer Drive on Sunday morning.
Emily Floyd wraps Christmas presents for SPUR’s Holiday Cheer Drive on Sunday with direction from Kim Nothnagel, director of communications & community relations at SPUR.
After touring Burlington ICE facility, Moulton says he’ll pursue changes
After a 90-minute oversight visit of the ICE facility in Burlington on Dec. 1, Congressman Seth Moulton (who represents the 6th District, including Marblehead) said he will pursue policy to “require humane conditions for detainees inside field offices like the one in Burlington,” according to a statement from Moulton’s office.
“The facilities in there are completely inadequate and inhumane for anyone to be staying here for an extended period of time,” Moulton said after his visit. He listed several findings.
This facility is not meant for detention but is being used that way.
When people are detained there, they lose access to certain rights they would get at a regular detention facility. For example, attorneys are not allowed to
visit clients that are detained in Burlington.
People sleep on concrete floors and benches — there are no cots or mats — with only an aluminum survival blanket.
The toilets are open with no privacy or ventilation.
The cells and cell area are cleaned by a janitor only once each day.
“Notably, ICE confirmed what we’ve been hearing from attorneys, clients and family members — they are moving individuals out of Burlington more quickly now compared to in June 2025,” Moulton’s statement reads. “That comes with its own challenges, including that these individuals are being moved to facilities further away, with less access to immigration lawyers to represent them.”
Local lawyer/yoga instructor pens self-help, fiction/fantasy novel
BY BELLA TRAVAGLINI
Over 10 years ago, while driving past the same yoga studio as she had done on the daily on her way to classes at Boston College Law School, Marblehead resident Anusia Gillespie decided that she needed an outlet to help manage the stresses of her studies. So, she signed up for a class, unaware at the time, of the world that simple decision would reveal for her.
Shortly after obtaining her law degree, now a certified yoga instructor, Gillespie had an epiphany of sorts, while in a meditative pose on a yoga mat when working as a commercial real estate finance associate in Boston. That life-changing moment inspired Gillespie to author a new book reflecting her newfound personal discovery.
“I had become a yoga instructor in 2015 and decided I would offer lunchtime yoga sessions partnering with the property management companies I was working with,” she said. “I had 100 participants in those classes! It was during one of those sessions that I had an awakening.”
Gillespie said that she had grown up believing success was about achievements and collecting badges. But on that mat, enveloped in introspection, everything changed for her.
“The self-realization was that all of this was external validation dressed up as identity, and no rung on that ladder was ever going to make me feel good inside. When I stripped that away, I had to confront big questions: without the badges, who am I? And what does success mean to me?” she said.
This inspired Gillespie to write a novel, “Soul Toll,” which somewhat parallels her own life’s trajectory. She regards her book as a self-help, fictionfantasy novel that sets itself apart from some of the drier, non-fiction sort.
Gillespie is bringing that book to life through a five-part yoga series, “Soul Flow,” offered at The Yoga Loft Marblehead through May.
In the book, protagonist Ember is an attorney and yoga
instructor — sound familiar?— whose meditation on her mother’s old yoga mat cracks her open to a fantasy world called “Resonance” where she strives to restore personal light, while antagonist NP Dunn works to prevent that from happening. His mission is keeping people’s noses to the grindstone with only one thing in mind — productivity.
As Gillespie describes, “Resonance is a hidden world that exists alongside the ordinary one, accessed through meditation, yoga and other mindful pathways, and is filled with travelers, mystical guides, enchanted mountain landscapes and dynamic experiences where inner journeys take physical form as they learn to fight for their light.”
Gillespie is collaborating with Yoga Loft instructor, Kristan Marden, in the series of 90-minute classes incorporating selected passages from the book. Participants will be encouraged to envision their own stories while engaging in 45 minutes of yoga with Marden, as Gillespie
weaves in selected narrations from her book to motivate yogis to envision what their own personal stories may be and what will help them achieve true fulfillment. All ages and levels are welcome and participants can enroll in as many classes as they like.
The pair held a pilot session this summer and it was sold out, said Julie Helmes, The Yoga Loft owner. It was the first such collaboration at the studio, curating a book-inspired yoga
class and feedback was positive, she said.
Helmes and Gillespie overlapped time at Marblehead High School, and reconnected when Gillespie began attending classes at The Yoga Loft a few years ago, when she and her husband had moved back to town following several years attending school and work abroad. Helmes decided to purchase “Soul Toll” as a holiday gift for her staff after reading it herself first.
Local shops, Saltwater Bookstore, Eat Well Kitchen, along with The Yoga Loft, are offering the book for sale and it’s also available on Amazon.com.
The dynamic Gillespie currently works as a legal AI executive tech expert guiding attorneys and others in the legal domain on how to unlock AI and safely use the evolving technology in their work. She said that she was inspired to go to law school while attending undergraduate school at Tulane University in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina devastated the region in 2005.
“To witness post Katrina, I realized that there weren’t any laws in effect to address what was happening,” said Gillespie.
“That’s when I decided that I wanted to explore law.”
She obtained her law degree and MBA from Boston College and practiced law for a time before deciding to pursue work as a consultant in the tech field; something for which she has an aptitude.
Following an impressive string of personal and professional achievements, Gillespie currently works for a major legal tech firm vLex, which was recently acquired by another legal tech stronghold, Clio, for $1 billion.
Gillespie, who lives in town with her husband, son and dog, said that she hopes that her book inspires her readers to pave their own path to find freedom.
The book’s preface opens with the Michael Singer quote: “In the deepest sense, you free yourself by finding yourself.”
For more information on Soul Flow, visit theyogaloftmarblehead.com/
‘SOUL TOLL’
COURTESY PHOTOS
The Yoga Loft held a pilot “Soul Flow” class earlier this year.
Anusia Gillespie holds her book, “Soul Toll.”
Congressman Seth Moulton speaks after an official visit to the ICE facility in Burlington.
COURTESY PHOTO
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
Get Cookin’ With Julia Child
Thursday, Dec. 11, 1-2:30 p.m.
Meet Julia Child, the beloved French chef, in a live performance at Abbot Library featuring an actress from Delvena Theatre Company.
Christmas Chorale
Sunday, Dec. 14, 3 p.m.
Learn more about Child’s life, from her privileged early years in California when she had no interest in food to becoming one of the culinary legends of all time.
After the performance, the cast will be available for Q&A. Register at abbotlibrary.org/events.
The Star of the Sea Concert Series, at 85 Atlantic Ave, invites you to an afternoon of sacred and seasonal music, presented as a free gift to the parish and the community of Marblehead. This year’s program includes Josef Rheinberger, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. The performance features the Star of the Sea Choir and 40-piece symphony orchestra, with soloists Holly Cameron and James Demler. Admission is free and all are welcome. A free-will offering will be accepted.
Community Menorah Lighting
Thursday, Dec. 18, 5 p.m.
Celebrate Hanukkah at this community menorah lighting outside National Grand Bank, 91 Pleasant St. There will be songs, inspiring words and a Hanukkah treat.
Hanukkah Party
Sunday, Dec. 14, 4 - 6 p.m. Join at the JCCNS for a Hanukkah party with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. There will be dancing, crafts, pizza and delicious Hanukkah treats. This event is free and open to the public. For more information and to register, visit https://loom.ly/gnTT1P4.
After-school Chess Club
Thursday, Dec. 11, 3:30 p.m.
Students in grades twofive are welcome to come to this informal chess club to practice by playing with others. Facilitator Ben Konoff and his daughter, Abigail, will help kids with the basics. Online registration is required, register at abbotlibrary.org/events.
Coffee at the Library
Friday, Dec. 12, 9:30 a.m.
Stop in to Abbot Library on Friday mornings to relax with a cup of coffee or tea. Find your next great read, chat with your neighbors or just enjoy a quiet morning. Locally brewed Atomic Coffee from Marblehead’s Blue Canoe Cafe will be provided, as well as coffee fixings and a selection of tea. Bringing your own mug is encouraged. No registration and no cost.
The Current welcomes 150–200-word submissions to News in Brief. Send yours to info@ marbleheadnews.org.
BY SAOIRSE STALLINGS
Wreaths Across America
Join Wreaths Across America Marblehead at Waterside Cemetery Saturday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m., to lay wreaths on veterans’ graves. Marblehead organizers surpassed their goals and raised $42,500 for 2,700 wreaths.
Havens Toy Drive
The second annual Mike Havens Toy Drive is underway. Drop off unwrapped toys at any of the following locations: Mud Puddle Toys (where you can buy gifts to donate at 20% off), The Beacon, Gerry Five, Shubie’s Council on Aging, Mariner Assisted Living, Marblehead Children’s Center, Landing Restaurant and Coldwell Bank. Then come celebrate at The Beacon on Friday, Dec. 12, with live music by the Brian Maes Band.
Drop-in Tech Help with All Computers Great and Small
Bring your devices to the library on Tuesday Dec. 16, 3-5 p.m. for personal, one-on-one tech help with Theresa Milewski, owner of All Computers Great
and Small. All tech and computer questions are welcome.
2026 Youth Winter Exhibit
The Marblehead Arts Association Youth Council is inviting young artists, both MAA members and non-members, to participate in an open exhibit of 2D and 3D artwork, with all mediums welcome. The deadline for online submission is Monday, Jan. 12, 5 p.m. Works must be dropped off at the MAA no later than Jan. 13 at 4:30 p.m. The show will be judged for
awards. Artists aged 18 and under are encouraged to partake in the exhibition and can submit multiple pieces. All work must be framed, wired or ready to display. To register, visit: form. jotform.com/251346688961167.
Holiday Pops at Abbott Hall
Saturday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m.
The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor presents the 27th annual Holiday Pops at Abbot Hall. Doors open with a champagne reception at 7 p.m. The performance begins at 8 p.m. Musicians and soloists will be performing under the baton of Dirk Hillyer and the Hillyer Festival Orchestra. For more information and to buy tickets, visit this link: rotaryclubof mheadharbor.org/.
‘Variations’ call for artists The Marblehead Arts Association is inviting artists across the country to participate in its exhibit “Variations” at 8 Hooper Street. Artwork will be juried for acceptance and judged for prizes in fine art, photography and 3D works. Awards will be presented at the opening reception on Sunday, April 19. For more information,
visit: marbleheadarts.org/ variations-2026/. Devereux School
Informational Gathering Marblehead’s Devereux School hosts its annual Informational Gathering on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. Meet the staff, tour the campus and see what the school has to offer. 44 Smith St. More information can be found here at devereuxschool.org/.
COURTESY IMAGES
Wreaths Across America Marblehead will be laying wreaths on the graves of veterans at Waterside Cemetery.
The MAA Youth Council is inviting young artists to participate in an open exhibit of 2D and 3D artwork for winter 2026.
Second annual Michael John Havens Toy Drive at The Beacon on Dec. 13.
Sean M. Casey, 68
Sean Casey, a lifelong Marbleheader, died on Dec. 4, of cancer.
He was born on January 8, 1957, to Anne and Ed Casey, and grew up in the heart of the Shipyard neighborhood. He was a graduate of Marblehead High School, Merrimack College and the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. In 1977, he was named as
a Truman Scholar.
He pursued a career in public policy consulting involving work in all 50 states and several foreign countries. He was most recently employed by Colleague Consulting of Maryland.
Sean’s interests included Marblehead’s history and government. He was a member of the town’s Charter Committee. His extensive research on Marblehead during WWII will be published at a later date.
Sean is survived by his
mother Anne Casey, his wife Shannon (Egan), his son Patrick, his daughter Hannah, his sister Cheryl Tremblay, his sister-in-law Hannah Karass, and his nieces and nephews: Tom Casey; Caroline, Christopher and Eric Tremblay; Max and Sean Karass; Deirdre and Christopher Piper and Seamus Piper. He was predeceased by his brothers Tom and Nick Casey, his sister-inlaw Colleen Piper and his father and mother-in-law Tom and Peg Egan.
Friends and relatives are invited to attend his visitation on Friday, Dec. 12, 4-8 p.m., at Eustis & Cornell of Marblehead, 142 Elm St. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10:30 a.m. at Eustis & Cornell. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sean’s memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for Sean’s family.
Credit card used for Pokemon cards; SUV gets stuck in sand at beach
Saturday, Nov. 29
» Vehicle stops, citations: 1
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 3
8:21 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Peach Highlands and filed a report.
1:54 p.m. Annoying phone calls were reported on Stonybrook Road.
1:55 p.m. A disabled vehicle was reported on West Shore Drive.
2:59 p.m. Officers investigated a general complaint on Evans Road and filed a report.
7:08 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Garnet Road.
Sunday, Nov. 30
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0
2:10 a.m. Officers investigated a report that one or more cars’ horns had been beeping for an hour on Broughton Road. They could not be located.
9:40 a.m. An officer was sent to the property of the now-closed Coffin School on Turner Road to investigate a report that had come through the School Committee that a bus being stored in what has become a storage yard for decommissioned town vehicles had been vandalized. The officer confirmed that a 2007 Blue Bird school bus with no registration plate had a smashed passenger window, along with damage to the turn signals, headlights and driver’s side mirror. It was unclear when the vandalism had occurred, and the security cameras had been removed. The officer apprised School Committee member Al Williams of his findings. Williams told the officer he would ask School Superintendent John Robidoux as to what the district’s plans were for the bus. A day later, Williams called the officer to report the district had donated the bus to the Fire Department to use in emergency response drills.
6:25 p.m. An officer investigated an abandoned 911 call from Broughton Road.
Monday, Dec. 1
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 3
11:28 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Susan Road.
12:06 p.m. An officer investigated an abandoned 911 call from Atlantic Avenue.
2:29 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Elm Street to investigate a report that a Hertz van may have struck a stone wall along Dunn’s Lane.
The homeowner reported that her neighbor had seen the van drive up Dunn’s Lane but had not seen it strike the wall. The officer’s report noted that the homeowner has a claim of ownership to the park on Dunn’s Lane, but the public has a right
of access to it. Constructed of loose stones, the wall had fallen down to the road. Due to the frequency of such issues, the officer advised the homeowner to install a trail camera or to put a barrier in the roadway to prevent vehicular traffic.
2:32 p.m. An officer rendered assistance on Broughton Road.
4:40 p.m. An officer went to Beacon Street to speak with a man whose credit card had been used to purchase a limitededition set of Pokemon cards for $600. The cards had then been delivered to a nail salon. The man had already notified the bank that issued the credit card of the fraudulent purchase and had also contacted his other banks. The officer advised the man to freeze his credit with the three major credit bureaus and to continue to monitor his financial accounts.
6:10 p.m. An officer spoke at the police station with a man who had received an email from Chase Bank, which is the bank he uses, about an inquiry he had allegedly made to take out more credit. The man had not requested any new credit, so he went to his Chase app on his phone to look at his account and discovered that the name on his account had been changed. The man contacted Chase Bank to speak with them, and the representative confirmed that somebody believed to be an authorized user on his account had requested the name change. The representative said they could send the man documentation of the name change authorization, but it would take 10 to 14 days. The man had also used SSA.GOV/ fraud to report that his Social Security number may have been compromised.
6:24 p.m. An officer spoke at the station with a woman who had been the victim of a loan scam. On Nov. 27, she had received a phone call offering her a loan. She provided the username and password to access her online bank account. She then started to receive multiple deposits into her account, which the scammer explained that she would need to send back using Apple gift cards. At that point, the woman recognized it as a scam and informed the bank about it.
Tuesday, Dec. 2 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0
7:43 a.m. Officers, firefighters and an ambulance crew responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Lafayette Street and West Shore Drive. The log indicates that at least one person was transported to the hospital with unspecified injuries.
7:56 a.m. Officers investigated a hold-up alarm on Pleasant Street, which proved to be a false alarm.
8:38 a.m. An officer took a
report over the telephone from a woman who said she had received a phone call about 45 minutes earlier from a man with a Southern accent who claimed to be a Middlesex County sheriff who said the woman was the subject of an arrest warrant for missing jury duty. The man asked her to meet him at a nonexistent address in town on “West Main Street” to pay her $1,000 bond. The woman told the man that she was not going to do anything until she spoke with a Marblehead officer, so the man passed the call to another man who claimed to be “Officer Sean Craig” from the Marblehead Police, which is not the name of anyone working for the department. “Officer Craig” told the woman that she could not hang up with him and that she needed to meet him right away to pay her bond. At that point, the woman hung up and called Marblehead Police. The officer advised her that this was a scam phone call and to block the number from which the call came. The woman said that she would, adding that she had not given the scammers any personal information.
9:35 a.m. An officer spoke with a woman about an annoying phone call she had received around 8 a.m. The woman explained that when she answered the phone, no one was on the other end of the line, which concerned her. She reported the incident to her phone carrier and had the number blocked. The woman said such calls have been a common occurrence for her, and she wanted police to be aware.
11:44 a.m. An officer spoke with a man who had a series of fraudulent charges totaling over $6,500 made on his credit card. The man had already canceled the account, but the company asked him to file a police report. The officer advised him that it might be a good idea to check his credit report. In addition, he advised the man to report the incident on identitytheft.gov.
Wednesday, Dec. 3
» Vehicle stops, citations: 2
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0
6:59 a.m. An officer pulled over a vehicle after watching it run a red light on Pleasant and Devereux streets. The driver acknowledged she had run the red light and explained that she was on her way to pick up her partner from work on Franklin Street. The officer initially let
her go with a warning, but it was later determined that she was not permitted to drive the vehicle. The officer caught up with her on Franklin Street and explained the situation, which left the woman “visibly shaken,” according to the officer’s report. The vehicle was eventually turned over to its owner.
10:53 a.m. An officer spoke with a woman who had been the victim of a months-long real estate scam. The woman explained that she had been looking for affordable housing in the local area and came upon a website through which she had learned of a purported “rent to buy” opportunity. She filled out an application and was put on a waiting list. Soon, however, she received an email from a man who said he had chosen her as the lucky recipient of a home he owned in Malden. The two set up a tentative move-in date of Aug. 1. Between February and August, the woman had paid the man $17,000 through Venmo. Once August arrived, the man reached out to the woman to ask for more money, which he said would go towards a garage he was going to build for her. While she complied and sent him additional money, she had begun to become suspicious. After the man told her that construction on the garage had begun, the woman drove to the property and discovered that was not true. She asked the man for her money back, and he sent her a $13,000 check, which she deposited into her bank account, only to have it bounce. She then sent the check back to the man and requested a proper one. A new check then arrived, and it proved to be valid. However, when she received a third check for $15,500, from the account of the “National Wild Turkey Federation Inc.,” that check, too, turned out to be fake. Since then, the man had continued to email her at least four times a day requesting more money for the garage. She provided the police with the two numbers the man had used to communicate with her. The officer said the information would be shared with detectives.
11:26 a.m. An officer spoke at the station with a man who reported having fallen victim to an online cryptocurrency scam. He had invested in cryptocurrency through a website but had since had multiple issues trying to withdraw funds for his account, in which $709,000 of his money was being held. That led him to conclude it had been a scam from the beginning. The man handed the officer a typed statement outlining his involvement with the company. The officer told the man that he would document what he had been told and that he could request a copy of the report for his records. The officer advised the man to monitor his credit
and bank accounts and to be sure to report any fraudulent activity. He suggested that the man might want to report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau. He also suggested the man might want to contact an attorney.
4:23 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Pleasant Street and filed a report.
5:08 p.m. Peace was restored after a general complaint on Washington Street.
5:51 p.m. Services were rendered after a general complaint on Arlyn Road.
6:24 p.m. An officer investigated an abandoned 911 call from Pleasant Street.
Thursday, Dec. 4
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1
10:16 a.m. An officer was dispatched to Ocean Avenue to investigate a report of a neighbor dispute. A man reported that his neighbor had cut down branches of a tree on his property without his permission. The man claimed the branches did not overhang his neighbor’s property. The officer took a look at the property line and the “very large” tree. The officer could not discern how far the cut limbs had been protruding from the tree. The officer informed the man that this was a civil issue and that he should contact an attorney if he felt it was necessary.
10:19 a.m. An officer assisted a resident on Jersey Street and filed a report.
11:22 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Mohawk Road and filed a report.
11:42 a.m. A vehicle crash was reported on Watson and Pleasant streets.
12:02 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Washington Street.
12:13 p.m. An abandoned 911 call was received from Jersey and Sewall streets.
2:03 p.m. An officer investigated an abandoned 911 call from Johns Road.
5:10 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Garden Road and Atlantic Avenue.
Friday, Dec. 5
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0
9:15 a.m. An officer was dispatched to Rowland Street to investigate a past breakingand-entering attempt. A woman reported that, sometime around 9 p.m. the night before, a man had tried to open and break into her garage side door. She stated that she was sitting on her couch when she noticed her motion lights turn on by the side
Shining a light on the news you care about!
Headlight
Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community
Draw your Art into the Limelight: Marblehead High’s newest club
Maximilian Kane, Reporter, Junior
A new club is coming to MHS! Limelight is an upand-coming student-led club at Marblehead High. Niko KingMahan, a current junior, recently started this exciting new environment for artists of all kinds. Limelight is a “literature and art anthology” designed for any and all students looking to submit. What this means is it is a place where students are able to submit all kinds of artwork for them to not only be stored but also shown off to the community.
Where do I find the work?
Limelight, at the moment, is still in its infancy. A website has been created, where future works will be put on display. Additionally, submitted works will be added to Limelight’s social media accounts and posters around the school and town. The club also hopes to eventually have print editions.
How did Limelight begin?
“I had the honor of attending the school of the New York Times this past summer, in New York City. There, I met a whole cast of colorful characters, including many teenagers who worked on or had been published by their school's literary magazines,” says KingMahan. “I met Eileen, a girl from the DC area who had started a similar magazine at her school. When I mentioned our high school did not have one, she encouraged me to consider starting it.” Niko then returned to her already busy life here in Marblehead. Like many juniors, she was absolutely swamped with work. Recently, the idea came back to mind. “I realized that, like creative writers, the artists at Marblehead High School don’t really have anywhere to post their work, other than that big
art show at the end of the year. I decided to mix the concept of a literary magazine with that of an art anthology— and that’s where I got Limelight.”
How do I submit?
To submit, any and all students should refer to the Google Form link posted in the Limelight Google Classroom. This could be any kind of artistic work, including short stories, poetry, drawings, paintings, music, short films, etc. Then, the artist’s work will be reviewed by a Limelight editorial staff member for school appropriateness and any edits that need to be made. After this process, the artist will be contacted and work with the editor on finalizing the piece. Finally, the piece will be submitted to the anthology. If the work is especially noteworthy, it may even be posted on the socials!
What does the future look like?
“I mainly want it to have a lasting impact on writing and the arts in Marblehead,” said King-Mahan. “I think that if you want to pursue art or writing, you should have a testing ground for putting your work up. There are so many creatives that are completely unknown simply because they never had a place or platform to which they could post their work.” Niko’s goal for Limelight is for the club to have a lasting impact long after her graduation next year. She and the rest of the Limelight staff hope the staff and community will continue to grow for years into the future.
If you are a student with any interest in this emerging community, either through a desire to join the staff or submit a piece, join the Limelight Google Classroom with the code I7vs2tzt. Good luck, Limelight!
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Grey Collins
Teagan
Winter arrives in Marblehead
Freedman, Reporter, Junior
Marblehead just got its first dusting of snow this winter, officially kicking off the season of cold noses, slippery sidewalks, and everyone pretending they definitely didn’t almost wipe out on the way to school. With the flurries comes the welcome return of hot chocolate, fuzzy blankets, and classic holiday movies. Yes, including the eternal debate starter, Die Hard Around town, firewood is disappearing fast, and ugly sweaters are making their grand comeback (some more questionable than others). Holiday countdowns have begun, and grocery stores have already transformed into wrapping-paper wonderlands.
If you haven’t yet, it’s time to dig out your hats, boots, and that one glove that always seems to go missing. Winter has arrived, bringing frosty mornings and plenty more snow on the horizon.
And of course, winter also brings the hopeful whisper of snow days. While they’re rarer than they used to be, the excitement never fades. There’s something nostalgic about waking up, peeking outside, and wondering if the world has slowed down just enough for a day off. A snow day always feels like Marblehead’s way of pressing pause and giving everyone a moment to appreciate the simple beauty of winter.
Evan Eisen, Assistant Editor, Senior
Getting to write almost weekly in the Marblehead Current and Headlight newspapers has been a great honor. I enjoy being able to share my thoughts, opinions, and perspective as a 17-year-old high school student on local and national news. It’s incredible that everyone at Headlight has the opportunity to share their voice in a popular medium like the Marblehead Current and that its readers continue to read our articles. A lot of you must be wondering how we work to get articles out each week? Well, let me pull back the curtain for you!
We at Headlight meet every Wednesday to decide what topics we want to cover and who will write the articles for the week. We usually focus on covering big sports games in town, like the Thanksgiving football game and other town events, like the annual Christmas Walk. The writers for the week will spend the time brainstorming and coming up
Headlight Staff 2025 - 2026
with the articles you read, like this one.
During our next meeting on the following Wednesday, the writers share their articles with the editors. During Thursday and Friday, the editors look through and make any changes that help make the articles ready to be published. The editors than use a software called Adobe Indesign that helps with formatting and creating the layout of our newspaper every week.
Once we have the articles edited and formatted together on one page, we than send it to our friends at the Marblehead Current, who add our page to their issue and get it printed. After, it’s just a matter of waiting for Wednesday to come around for when we can open our mailboxes and see our news articles in the paper.
That’s how it’s done. Through collaboration and intuition, we at Headlight make something that we can be proud of and is truly something special!
ASSISTANT EDITORS: Evan Eisen, Anna Cruikshank, Georgia Marshall
REPORTERS: Maya Berman, Piper Browning, Nathaniel Carper-Young, Madeline Duffy, Teagan Freedman, Maximilian Kane, Sophie Li, Eve Magen, Mary Prindville
SOCIAL MEDIA: Anna Baughman
FACULTY ADVISOR: Mr. Higgins
Look behind the curtain
of her apartment. Through a crack in her window, she said she could see a male around 5-foot-6 with long, dark, curly hair walk up her driveway and towards her garage. She then noticed her other motion lights turn on by the back of her apartment facing her garage. She said that the man had his hand on the doorknob of the garage side door but walked away after the motion lights turned on above him. The woman said that the man left and did not return, and that she did not call right away because she thought it could have been her upstairs neighbor and that she was scared to open her door. The officer asked the woman if there were cameras from any of the apartments that could be facing either the garage
or the driveway, but she said there were not. She then told the officer that she wanted to report this incident in case it was to happen again to someone else nearby.
10:48 a.m. An officer investigated the report of a vehicle crash on West Shore Drive.
1:35 p.m. An officer investigated the report of a minor vehicle crash on Atlantic Avenue.
2:02 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Barnard Street and Atlantic Avenue.
5:12 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on West Shore Drive and Pitman Road.
7:50 p.m. An officer responded to Devereaux Beach after a 911 caller reported that their car was stuck in the sand. The officer did not immediately see any vehicles in the parking lot,
so he put his cruiser in park and walked down towards the water. As he approached the ocean, he observed a blue Honda CRV with its hazard lights on stuck with its tires roughly 3-4 inches under the sand, with the ocean’s waves hitting the side of the vehicle. Moments later, he was approached by the driver, who only spoke Spanish. Using Google Translate, the officer learned that the man had been trying to take a picture by the ocean, which prompted him to drive his car from the upper parking lot down through the public beach. The man added that he knew what he did was wrong and promised never to do it again.
The officer then stood by until a tow truck arrived to help pull the vehicle from the water. Moments later, the driver’s brother arrived to give him a ride back to his residence.
Breed: Domestic shorthair
Size: Small
Age: Kittens
Sex: Female
The Marblehead Animal Shelter recently took in a litter of kittens that volunteers dubbed the “Seven Dwarfs” Of those seven, two identical black female kittens — Dopey and Bashful — are still searching for their forever home.
Dopey and Bashful are now about 22 weeks old and have been traveling between the shelter and foster care. Their foster mom describes Bashful and Dopey as “such loving kittens.”
“Like all kittens they like to sleep, eat and play,” volunteers report.
Bashful and Dopey are in great health, friendly and are ready for their home, according to the shelter. They are spayed and up to date on their vaccinations.
If you are interested in Dopey and Bashful, you must be registered with a veterinarian’s office. You then must fill out an adoption application online at marblehead-animal-shelter.org.
YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN BLACK