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IN THIS ISSUE
FORUM
MAGICAL NIGHT
Letters to the editor
Harlem Wizards give hoops programs a lift
Page 13
EARLY TRADITION
TOPS OF ’23
’Headers favorite books, movies
Colonial holiday customs Page 6
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December 13, 2023
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VOLUME 2, ISSUE NO. 4`
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CRIMINAL CASE
Former local priest indicted for allegedly assaulting boy in 1970s BY LEIGH BLANDER
Richard Losch was an Episcopal priest, Tower School teacher and Boy Scout leader in Marblehead.
A former Marblehead Episcopal priest, Boy Scout leader and assistant headmaster at Tower School is set to go on trial this summer for allegedly raping a 12-year-old Marblehead boy whom he took across state lines to a Boy Scout camp in New Hampshire in 1976. On Aug. 18, a New Hampshire grand jury indicted Richard Losch, now 89, on a charge of aggravated
felonious assault. His alleged victim, who asked to be identified as Jack to protect his and his family’s privacy, spoke to the Current recently. “I am coming forward in order to give Losch’s other victims the opportunity to seek justice and healing,” Jack said. Losch now lives in Livingston, Alabama, where he has worked at two churches for years. Contacted by the Current, Losch said, “On the advice of my attorney, I have no comment to make other
than that the charge is totally false, and I deny all allegations of wrongdoing.” St. Michael’s Losch was a priest at St. Michael’s Church in Marblehead from 1969 to 1986, where Jack often attended service with a friend in the ‘70s. Losch is the second known priest at St. Michael’s accused of sexually assaulting a young boy. In 2014, Franklin Huntress pleaded guilty to assaulting a 14-year-old boy in New Hampshire
HOLIDAY SPIRIT
Town holds inaugural community menorah lighting on first night of Hanukkah
in the 1980s. Huntress was also arrested in London in 1994 and charged with sexual abuse of a child. Huntress, who lives in Marblehead, retired in 1995, but worked until 2001 at St. Michael’s, according to a report in Marblehead Patch. Asked about the allegations against Losch, St. Michael’s Rev. Tom Ortung, who started working in Marblehead last month, said, “My LOSCH, P. A2
INDEPENDENT REVIEW
Four at Glover placed on leave
Teachers union threatens litigation after student restraint incidents BY LEIGH BLANDER CURRENT PHOTOS / WILLIAM J. DOWD
On Dec. 7, more than 100 people watched as Rabbi Michael Ragozin of Congregation Shirat Hayam in Swampscott, right, joined Select Board member Jim Nye in lighting a menorah’s first candle to widespread cheers and applause.
values like freedom, compassion and self-governance. “Our country and our town have led the uneven struggle toward the universal
In what was a tumultuous week for Marblehead schools, interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness placed four staff members at the Glover School on paid leave after what she called “recent incidents involving the restraint of a general education student.” The district is bringing in an outside attorney to review its student restraint policy. The staff will remain on leave during that process. In a Dec. 6 press release, McGuinness wrote, “The safety and security of all of our students and staff is our top priority. The district will take whatever measures are necessary to ensure that all of our schools are safe and welcoming learning environments for all.” The Marblehead Education Association, the union representing the town’s teachers, encouraged its members to wear black at Glover School last week in solidarity with the staff on leave.
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GLOVER, P. A7
BY WILLIAM J. DOWD Over 100 community members gathered outside the National Grand Bank to celebrate Marblehead’s inaugural community menorah lighting ceremony, ushering in the first night of Hanukkah. Interim Select Board Chair Moses Grader expressed his delight in welcoming residents and visitors to this new tradition, emphasizing its significance against the backdrop of rising global antisemitism and the importance of publicly celebrating Jewish heritage and faith. “I am delighted today to say to you all happy, happy Hanukkah,” Grader began, acknowledging Cantor Sarah Freudenberger for initiating the celebration alongside the National Grand Bank’s president, Jim Nye, also
Interim Select Board Chair Moses Grader addressed the crowd at Marblehead’s first-ever community menorah lighting. Grader’s speech highlighted the importance of unity and the celebration of Jewish heritage, particularly in light of rising global antisemitism.
a Select Board member. In his speech, Grader talked about the spiritual connection shared by Christianity, Judaism and Islam through Abraham. He tied this common ancestry to American
ABBOT HALL
Property tax rate is dropping, but bills are going up BY WILLIAM J. DOWD Owners of the median singlefamily home in Marblehead can expect to pay $244 more on their fiscal 2024 tax bill compared to the fiscal 2023 bill. Property taxes on the median single-family home, valued at $928,400, will be about $8,318 in fiscal 2024 based on the tax rate of $8.96 per $1,000 of assessed value set by the Select Board on Dec. 4. That actually represents a $1.04 decrease over fiscal year 2023’s tax rate of $10 per $1,000
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valuation. However, there has been a robust 16% growth in the town’s total assessed value, which rose from $7.9 billion to $9.17 billion. Town Assessor Karen Bertolino said demand in Marblehead’s red-hot housing market accounted for most of the $1.26 billion bump. The Select Board also voted to maintain a single tax rate for all property classes after considering options to shift more of the tax burden onto commercial property owners. Interim Select Board Chair Moses Grader, who is filling in
during Select Board Chair Erin Noonan’s extended leave, said Marblehead has historically declined to adopt a split tax rate in order to avoid overtaxing local businesses. Bertolino’s analysis found residential property comprises about 95% of Marblehead’s tax base, while commercial, industrial and personal property make up the remaining 5%. “It’s not going to move the needle,” said Board Assessors Chair John Kelley regarding how little a split rate would lower bills for homeowners.
BY THE NUMBERS Property values increased subimproved properties — for fiscal stantially across all classes in 2024: Marblehead: » Residential led the way with $31 » Residential: Up from $7.5 billion million. to $8.7 billion » Commercial followed with $9 » Commercial: Up from $273 milmillion. lion to $308 million » Personal Property added $5.8 » Industrial: Up from $18 million million more. to $19 million » Industrial saw no growth. » Personal property (utility com- That new growth translates into panies’ infrastructure like wires the tax base growing by the followand underground pipes) Up from ing amounts: $90 million to $93 million » Residential: $316,198 When it comes to new growth » Commercial: $93,993 — the increase in a municipality’s » Personal Property: $58,517 tax base due to newly added or » Industrial: $0
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A2 Wednesday, December 13, 2023 Marblehead Current
SCHOOL NEWS
Another change in MPS administration? BY LEIGH BLANDER There may be another change coming to the Marblehead schools. Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Michelle Cresta is a finalist for the position of director of finance and operations in the ManchesterEssex Regional School District, Interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness announced in a Saturday morning email to families.
Finalist interviews are scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 14. “Ms. Cresta is a talented professional who has served our district with distinction,” McGuinness wrote.
COURTESY PHOTO
Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Michelle Cresta
She added, “We extend our support and gratitude to Ms. Cresta as she moves forward as a finalist in this interview process.” Cresta started working in Marblehead in 2019 and served as interim superintendent after the controversial ousting of former superintendent John Buckey in August. Other recent changes in MPS include: McGuinness started work as interim super last month, Glover School Principal Hope
Doran left Dec. 5 on an extended medical leave, Veterans School Principal Matt Fox is replacing Doran at Glover through the end of the calendar year, and Assistant Superintendent Julia Ferreira will take over for Fox at Vets. Also, McGuinness placed four Glover staff members on leave during an outside investigation of the district’s student restraint policies after recent incidents at that school.
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Community Editor - Will Dowd wdowd@marbleheadnews.org
Consulting Editor - Kris Olson kolson@marbleheadnews.org
Sports Reporter Joe McConnell
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Intern - Benji Boyd
‘RED FLAG’
Parent raises concern about ‘challenged book’ project BY LEIGH BLANDER The mother of an eighthgrade student asked the School Committee on Dec. 7 to respond to an English assignment focused on readings on the American Library Association’s list of most frequently challenged books. Melanie Andrews’ child, along with a classmate, initially chose “The Bluest Eye” by Nobel Prizewinning author Toni Morrison. Written in 1970, “The Bluest Eye” tells the story of an 11-yearold Black girl who believes that she is ugly and that lighter skin and blue eyes would make her beautiful. She lives in a violent family and is raped by her father. “I did what most parents would do — I Googled the book,” Andrews told the School Committee. “I found several references to incest, rape and that the book was told from the
perspective of a pedophile. This was my first red flag.” Andrews continued, “I emailed the teacher and was told that Nobe Prizethe book was winning author appropriate Toni Morrison, for the ages 13 author of ‘The to 17-plus. Red Bluest Eye.’ flag for me number two. I asked the principal if the health curriculum addressed the issues of incest, rape and molestation and was told no. Red flag number three.” After reading a graphic selection from two pages of the book, Andrews said, “As a district, if we are going to have lesson plans with challenged book lists, we need to have school safeguards in place and not just put the onus on parents to
do the jobs of our teachers.” Andrews offered several recommendations, including providing assignments in advance to parents. “These assignments need to be well planned and executed, not carelessly included so Marblehead can jump on the bandwagon with the latest national controversy of the day,” she said. School Committee Chair Sarah Fox thanked Andrews and asked her to follow up with contract information. Andrews emphasized that she does not want the book banned. “My intention isn’t to take this book off the curriculum,” she said. “My point of approaching the school board is… as a district I think we need to have thoughtful conversations about these kinds of assignments in school and with parents. It’s about giving our kids the right materials, especially if
some of the topics in these books aren’t going to be covered in health class. I don’t know if these teachers are qualified to lead discussions on these topics.” “The Bluest Eye” is a frequent target of the national conservative parents’ rights organization Moms for Liberty and has been pulled from some schools around the country. The Veterans School project permission slip, which Andrews said parents only had two days to sign, encouraged students to “choose books that are at appropriate reading levels.” The form continued, “We encourage you to discuss titles with your child. We are happy to assist your student in selecting a book as well.” Andrews said her child will not be reading “The Bluest Eye.” The family had not settled on a book for the project yet.
CONTRIBUTORS
Jo Ann Augeri Silva Stephen Bach Bob Baker Linda Bassett Nicole Goodhue-Boyd Laurie Fullerton Mark Hurwitz John Lamontagne Christine McCarriston Eyal Oren Pam Peterson Chris Stevens Linda Werbner BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Virginia Buckingham - President Gene Arnould Jessica Barnett Ed Bell Francie King Robert Peck Donna Rice Richard Weed - Treasurer EDITORIAL BOARD
Ed Bell Virginia Buckingham Kris Olson Will Dowd Robert Peck Joseph P. Kahn DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Kathryn Whorf DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Marion Warner Greely
Losch From P. A1
main concern is that we be as supportive as we can be in this community, and for me that means creating a safe space to be able to voice their concerns.” Ortung added that there are parishioners at St. Michael’s who remember Losch. Grooming accusations Losch was also Jack’s Boy Scout leader of a troop based out of St. Stephen’s Church, and he was Jack’s math teacher at the Tower School, where he also served as assistant headmaster. Losch was at Tower from 1969 to 1983. Tower declined to comment for this article. Jack said Losch groomed young boys at Tower and the Boy Scouts — first by telling inappropriate stories. In what he calls his “survivor statement,” Jack wrote, “We were told how FL [Father Losch] and his younger brother did not own bathing suits when they were children. FL, his brother and all of their friends swam naked because it was ‘more fun.’ This supposed fact of increased fun was apparently magnified further when practiced in the Scouts. Naked swimming (a.k.a. skinny dipping) on an overnight camping trip was, according to FL, an incredible experience. We heard many stories exhorting the undefinable amazingness of skinny dipping in the Scouts.” Losch also told stories about taking pictures of naked boys, according to Jack. “FL told us that, on a past Scout overnight, he took pictures of the boys when they were swimming naked,” Jack wrote. “When he worked at Scout camp, FL told us that he typically showered with the boys because ‘It’s more fun to shower with the Scouts.’” In the summer of 1976, Losch took Jack and three other boys to the Indian Pond Boy Scout Reservation in Piermont, New Hampshire. They were the only people there, according to Jack. “At some point before the overnight, I realized that I was ‘supposed to’ skinny dip when we went swimming,” Jack wrote. “I had been ‘successfully groomed.’” Three of the four boys did take off their bathing suits while Losch watched them swim at the camp, Jack said. That night, Jack discovered there were only four beds for the four boys and Losch. Losch allegedly told Jack to share his bed. Later that night, Jack said Losch fondled him, put his hand over his mouth and then violently raped him. ‘Pure evil’ “What FL did to me was pure evil. Evil that forever changed who I was and who I would become. It instantly ended my childhood. It permanently changed the physical structure
CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER
Richard Losch was a teacher and assistant headmaster at Tower School from 1969-1983, according to his LinkedIn page.
Some current parishioners at St. Michael’s knew Richard Losch when he served there in the ’70s.
of my brain. It shattered my little boy’s soul,” Jack wrote. Jack continued, “I often feel afraid. I am claustrophobic. I have night terrors. I have flashbacks. I am terrified of suffocation. When emotions overwhelm me, I disassociate. For a significant periods of my life, I abused ETOH [alcohol] and/or other substances. Jack added, “I was betrayed by my teacher, my Scout leader and my chaplain,
a priest. Much later, I would realize that I was also betrayed by the church, my school and the Scouts.” Jack said he didn’t tell anyone about what happened at the Scout camp for years and finally confided in his brother. The Boy Scouts of America sent a statement to the Current. “Father Richard Losch’s registration in Scouting ended in 2014. In 2020, a proof of claim was filed alleging sexual abuse of a Scout by Father Losch. The BSA added him to its Volunteer Screening Database, precluding him from future registration in Scouting.” Moving south In 1986, Losch left the area and moved south. He worked as a principal and math teacher at two schools in North Carolina and became a rector at St. James Episcopal Church in Livingston, Alabama. The Episcopal Church in Alabama tells the Current it has launched what is called a Title IV investigation into Losch. “The Diocese instituted its Title IV process under Episcopal Church Canons on learning of certain allegations against Richard Losch. This process is ongoing and confidential,” Debbie Donaldson, missioner of communications for the Alabama Diocese, wrote in an email. She declined to say when that investigation started. “He is no longer serving as a priest in our diocese, but we cannot comment further on this matter due to the confidential nature of the ongoing Title IV investigation,” she added. MPD gets involved Jack and a Marblehead clergy member went to the Marblehead Police in November 2021 to file a report about the alleged abuse. The report led to the New Hampshire grand jury’s indictment. Marblehead Sgt. Sean Brady spoke with Jack and then contacted the other boys, now adults, on the 1976 camping trip. The men said they could not remember much about the trip, according to Brady’s police report. “To my knowledge, we have had nobody else come forward, and I wouldn’t state there is a concern that there are other victims,” said Police Chief Dennis King. “But I would encourage any victim of sexual abuse to come forward and would not rule out there being other victims based on the type of crime that allegedly was committed.” King added, “Our job is to create a feeling of safety, non-judgment and show sincere interest to help someone that may have been sexually abused come forward.” Losch’s final pre-trial conference is scheduled for May 20, with jury selection beginning on June 3. SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the largest support network for people abused by clergy. For more information, visit snapnetwork.org.
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Marblehead Current Wednesday, December 13, 2023 A3
‘INCREDIBLE ADVOCATE’
Pediatric neuropsychology center opens to support kids, parents BY LEIGH BLANDER When Emily’s fourthgrade daughter started struggling in school for the first time, she knew something was wrong. She just didn’t know what. Colleagues referred her to neuropsychologist Hoa Lam Schneider, who trained at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital. “We were wondering if there were learning issues and if we should change schools,” said Emily, who asked that her last name not be used to protect her children’s privacy. “Hoa gave us guidance on the whole process,” she said. “She met with my daughter, and we had lots and lots of conversations afterwards. She wanted to make sure that all our questions were answered. She checked in with us quite a bit throughout the year. She was willing to talk to the school.” Emily added, “She’s an incredible advocate and did a really nice job of not leading us, but guiding us.” Schneider has now opened a clinic in Marblehead, Essex Pediatric Neuropsychology. “As part of my practice, I offer assessment and treatment planning,” Schneider told the Current. “I assess children who may have learning disabilities, developmental concerns, attention challenges or social-emotional challenges.” Schneider continued, “I really try to answer why parents think their child
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Hoa Lam Schneider sees patients at her Essex Pediatric Neuropsychology center on Atlantic Avenue.
might be having trouble — to determine what type of thinker they are, what type of learner they are and what would be the best thing to help them thrive.” She sees patients ages 2 and older. First, she meets with the family for a 75-minute intake to learn more about their child. Next, she evaluates the child on a different day. For younger kids, the assessment takes about three hours. For older kids, it can take a full school day. “If it’s a younger kiddo, it’s play-based,” Schneider explained. “Some of it looks like school with brainteasers, puzzles, drawing tasks. Sometimes, it’s talking… about school and friendships. Most kids like it. I really get to know them as a whole person.” Families get feedback and a treatment plan about three weeks later. Schneider explained why assessments are so important. “They give you more
clarity on what may be going on and why it’s happening,” she said. “When you’re focusing on the ‘why,’ that’s how you can tailor interventions so they’re most successful for that child. It gives more clarity on what is going on and gives more of a roadmap on what we can do about it. Parents might hear a diagnosis that might be really scary. This gives them more power on how to advocate for their child.” Schneider cannot prescribe medication, but she works with parents
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to develop treatment plans and offers referrals to prescribers or other medical doctors, if needed. Essex Pediatric Neuropsychology is located at 74 Atlantic Ave. To learn more, visit
essexpediatricneuropsych. com. Schneider does not accept insurance at this time, although she said some families are able to get reimbursed by their insurance companies.
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A4 Wednesday, December 13, 2023 Marblehead Current
Opinion EDITORIAL
Harder look at ADA issues welcome
We applaud town leaders for moving the issue of Americans with Disabilities Act compliance from the back burner to the front. And we hope the issue fares well during budget time. Sparking discussion is a new study of accessibility barriers at more than 40 public parks, beaches, cemeteries, schools and municipal buildings in Marblehead identified as needing improvement. The study provides a unique roadmap for the town to follow. To bring everything up to date, the program would cost an estimated $3.6 million, spread over a number of departments. Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer attended a recent meeting of the town’s Disabilities Commission, a group that historically has been operating in the background of current affairs. We hope to see them front and center when budgets are set for the next fiscal year. Town departments operate under a patchwork quilt of elected boards and commissions. It will take a village to make real progress. Schools led the list of public properties in need of access improvements. Thus, the School Committee needs to step up and include ADA improvements in its capital budget. The same goes for the Recreation and Parks Commission that controls the parks, beaches and the Judy and Gene Jacobi Community Center, which houses the Senior Center. Historic sites such as the Old Town House and Abbot Hall come under the Select Board, as do sidewalks. Cemeteries are under the elected Cemetery Commission. The study was conducted by the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Responses came from 190 residents. The town would be eligible for a number of grants to help fund various projects that would improve accessibility. The poor condition of sidewalks emerged as the top complaint from those who took the survey. The town has begun to pay attention to the sidewalks. Public Works Director Amy McHugh has received the results of a sidewalk survey, which she intends to share with the Disabilities Commission. The next phase is to develop a financial proposal to take to Town Meeting. Several years ago, then-Selectman Bill Woodfin proposed to spend $100,000 on sidewalks but was shot down. We hope Town Meeting will be more sympathetic to such an article this spring. One of the statistics that stood out to us was that 84% of the respondents did not know whom to contact in the town about accessibility issues. This tells us that the Disabilities Commission needs to be more visible. Administrator Kezer’s attendance at a recent meeting will help raise the commission’s profile to where we think it needs to be. The Disabilities Commission needs to be proactive in garnering coverage of its issues and initiatives. One success story is the Hoyer Lift at the State Street south pier. The lift is used to get disabled people aboard boats, thus giving them access to the water. The Disabilities Commission procured funding for the lift. The harbormaster oversaw its installation, and his staff helps boaters use it. As various departments begin to prepare their budgets for next year, we look to members of the Disabilities Commission to get on the agendas of boards and commissions — with the Collins Center report in hand — to lead the way to ADA compliance. It won’t be done in a day or even a year, but now is the time to begin the discussion.
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EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY
Of transitions and trust BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM If I had a nickel for every time my family rolls their eyes when I say, “trust the universe,” I guess I’d just have a pile of nickels, given that their value wouldn’t get me too far in these inflation-riddled times. However, I do. Trust the universe, that is. And I find as I grow older I do so particularly in times of transition, planned and not. First, what do I mean by the phrase? As one who bristles at the notion that “everything happens for a reason,” what’s the distinction with “trust the universe?” To me, the first signals some kind of master plan that we don’t impact with our own energy and actions. The latter philosophy acknowledges the interaction with our own choices, which hopefully are more and more informed by the wisdom that comes from lived experience. To get even more “woo-woo” about it, the “for a reason” approach seems to me to unfold outside of one’s own existence. The “trust” way is one’s existence, because we are all part of the universe. I have lots of cynical and quite funny friends from the political world who will say reading this, as one recently did, “Ginny, I think you’ve lost your edge.” Maybe so. Or perhaps, maybe I’ve gained it? In my family, we are undergoing a huge transition at an unusual time. With family and friends around us planning for retirement and winter escapes as their nest empties, my husband recently announced a major career change. He didn’t seek a new opportunity, but when presented it made total sense, even if the decision to give up his current role wasn’t an easy one. We look at each other in wonder and gratitude — who gets to start an entirely new fascinating career in their
60s — and trust that this is all unfolding as it should. Well, I do, anyway — he’s grounded in things he can touch and see, leaving all this universe talk to me. When I was a kid I had a framed print of the 1927 poem “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann on my wall. I probably have mentioned it before in these columns because I have come to believe that its message — even more than one writer’s assertion about what you learned in kindergarten — is actually all you need to know. “Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace can be found in silence.” “As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.” “Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.” There are many other pearls of wisdom in Ehrmann’s words, but these most of all inform my trust in transitions, be they positive or hard: “You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars ... and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.” There are plenty of times when I’ve questioned this, thought it unlikely, even false. Holding on to my belief that everything will be OK — just another way of saying trust the universe — isn’t easy, when things are not going well, or are fraught and painful. Yet, I’ve come to believe that when I look back some day, things will have worked out. And these final words from “Desiderata” will ring true — “With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.” Virginia Buckingham is the president of the Marblehead Current’s board of directors. Her column appears weekly.
I BEG TO DIFFER
Holiday spirit BY JO ANN AUGERI SILVA
For a variety of reasons, we’ve gone in search of holiday spirit this year. Search results: The harder you look, the more elusive it seems. As we continue looking, we are faced with the persistent question: What are we looking for? Will light finally dawn on Marblehead? Like most people in this country, we were raised in a Christian tradition, so at home and elsewhere we are surrounded by Christian “signs of the season:” carols in every venue, decorations of red on green Christmas trees, boughs of holly, creches and nativity scenes representing a variety of ethnicities. In our town, with a high representation of Jewish families, there is at least a nod to Hanukkah, with menorah lighting celebrations that mark a Jewish victory over oppression. There are few other nods to other cultures that celebrate the turn of the seasons or coming of the light locally or anywhere else in the U.S., at least that I can see. Still, it helps me to realize that cultural celebrations of light are taking place all over the world in one form or another, whether they’re readily noticeable or not. If you visited our home today, you’d think we were infused with holiday spirit. There are lights everywhere, and ribbons and bows and Santas and nutcrackers and carolers and whirligigs and holly and silver and gold and bright paper packages tied up with string and my favorite white roses. And one old Grinch, typing away about
What’s making the joy that should be inherent in this season so very elusive is the determined rage and fury present in so many parts of our fragile planet and to a lesser but still troubling extent right here in our town. Grinchy things. In my last column, I mentioned that attending Old North Church’s Festival Chorus was a mandatory event in our family for acquiring holiday spirit. Musically, it did not disappoint. As ever, director Maria van Kalken drew the very best from her musicians to make both difficult and catchy compositions come to life beautifully. I love to sing along when the program tells the audience to join in. Now, I’ve been told I have a decent voice, and some have been overly generous and called it lovely. Am I overreacting by taking offense at the person who plopped down in front of me halfway through the first section, first of all blocking my view, then when audience participation time came around, turning to shoot me a look that would frost Frosty and then — and then — taking their ears and folding them forward?! You will recall my Sicilian temperament when I say it was a good thing that person moved at intermission. I guess when one Grinch encounters another, sparks are destined to fly. But really, I’m not a Grinch. Deep in my heart, I love this season, for all it represents. As I’ve studied world religions, it’s been clear that all cultures have spiritual observances that mark the changing seasons. At this darkest time of year in our hemisphere, humans honor
the return of the coming extra light by burning candles and lighting bonfires and celebrating the birth of a deity or a triumph over the powers of darkness. I love that about humans, in all our cultures. So: What’s making the joy that should be inherent in this season so very elusive is the determined rage and fury present in so many parts of our fragile planet and to a lesser but still troubling extent right here in our town. The fire and light we hear and see in photos and videos from abroad are not welcoming. They are not celebrating the birth of life and light; they are inflicting death and destruction. No matter whom you sympathize with, the rage and killing overwhelm even the most positive soul. And here in the town we call home, the bickering and name calling is dispiriting at best. Sure, I’ll keep watching holiday movies, listening to carols and other music of the season, enjoying the lights and the roses as I choose and wrapping gifts for the people I love. I’ll keep hoping, impossibly, that warring factions around the globe and around the corner will find light shining in their dark streets and make it everlasting. Holidays were meant to be happy, after all. Marblehead resident Jo Ann Augeri Silva, a retired journalist, author, public relations professional and educator, was an editor of the Marblehead Reporter.
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FOOD 101
Potatoes, enhanced and fully loaded BY LINDA BASSETT
Does the kitchen offer anything more comfortable than a potato? Baked. Mashed. Roasted. Or layered in a casserole. Even fat steak fries offer interior tenderness after the first salty crunch. In summer we want our spuds cold and laced with mayo. But cool weather potatoes, in all their permutations, offer kindness against raging winds — and other insults of life. Especially nestled up to a fat juicy steak or Grandma’s meatloaf. They love a blanket of gravy, a pat of melting butter, a dollop of sour cream. They aren’t everyday fare, but those “enhanced” potatoes are worth the wait. Potatoes always seem like a lot of work. Busy home cooks are tempted to settle for a box of potato flakes. But what of potatoes in soup? Thick and smooth, or lumpy and textured. What of potato wedges, their edges slightly charred, alongside roasted meats? Time and work? Potatoes don’t need to be all work. Choosing the largest potatoes possible lowers the number that need peeling for many recipes. Both thickskinned russets and thinskinned yellow potatoes achieve gargantuan sizes. Idaho-grown russets with thick skin are perfect bakers. (At the market, all Idahos are russets; not all russets are Idahos.) The thinskinned potatoes labeled Yukon Gold don’t turn out a good classic baked potato, often don’t require peeling. They lend a nice buttery hue to the finished dish. Both need a quick scrub before using. A simple baked potato is easiest on the cook. Scrub the exterior and pierce the skin a few times so that the steam escapes through the holes in the oven. Place them, all naked like that, on the rack of a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for about an hour. Forget all the hocus-pocus about rubbing with oil or wrapping in foil. It doesn’t improve a potato. Slice the cooked potatoes open across
‘I have made a lot of mistakes ... and regretted most of them, but never the potatoes that went with them.’
the top, squeezing the sides gently to volcano all that fluffy goodness to the top. To make a somewhat virtuous baked potato, drizzle on some extra-virgin olive oil (in place of butter); salt and pepper to taste. The steam of the potato brings out the oil’s fruity flavor. Less fat; fewer calories. Great flavor. I recently ran across some deadly decadent “loaded mashed potatoes” on a restaurant menu. This pull-out-all-thestops spud is a combination of creamy, buttery mashed with the “loaded” baked version. It does require work. First, make the mashed potatoes. While keeping them warm, covered, in the oven, fry up some bacon. Drain on paper towels and keep that warm too. Then, slice the green part of a few scallions crosswise. Finally, use a carrot peeler to slice several strips from a wedge of cheddar. Dollop the warm potatoes with sour cream, and generously scatter the bacon, cheese and scallions. Eating this daily or even weekly would be a mistake, but keep in mind part of author Nora Ephron’s ode to potatoes. “I have made a lot of mistakes ... and regretted most of them, but never the potatoes that went
with them.” POTATO AND MUSHROOM SOUP Makes 6 servings. Any type of mushroom works in this soup, but a mixture of different types adds a wider dimension of flavor. Any combination of button, shiitake, porcini and portobello make a good mix. For further depth, soak dried mushrooms in hot stock, white wine or hot water until soft. Then chop the mushrooms finely and add to the pot. Strain the soaking liquid and add that, too. Garnish with fresh dill near the end of cooking, so it doesn’t fade. If fresh is not available, chop dried dill into some parsley to freshen the flavor. ` 2 tablespoons butter ` 2 tablespoons 100% olive oil (not extra-virgin) ` 1 1/2 pounds fresh mushrooms, chopped ` 1/2 cup chopped sweet onions ` 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock ` 8 small thin-skinned potatoes (e.g. Yukon Gold), roughly cubed ` 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley ` 1/2 cup sour cream ` 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill ` Salt and pepper
Thinly sliced green scallion and fresh dill, for garnish » Melt butter and the olive oil in a heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and onions, stirring until they are coated with butter. Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently, partly covered, for 20 minutes. » Add the stock and potatoes to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Partially cover again and simmer 20 minutes longer. The potatoes should be very tender. » Add the scallions, parsley and dill. Continue cooking over low heat for another 10 minutes. » Take 1/2 cup of the soup out of the pot. Whisk it in a small bowl with the sour cream. Stir this back into the pot until everything is heated. » Ladle the soup bowls and sprinkle them with thinly sliced scallions and chopped fresh dill. ROASTED POTATO WEDGES Makes 6 servings. This is equally good with Idaho or Yukon Gold potatoes. Cut into wedges and spread
them on a layer of paper towels, then cover with another layer of paper towels, pressing on them gently to dry. ` 6 medium large potatoes, cut into 6 large wedges ` 2 tablespoons olive oil (not extra virgin) ` 1 tablespoon melted butter ` 1 teaspoon paprika (optional) ` Salt, and black pepper » Preheat the oven to 400
degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, dull side up. » Add the dried potato wedges to a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and melted butter. » Line a heavy sheet pan with aluminum foil, dull side up. Spread out the potatoes, draining any extra oil and butter onto the pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Take the pan out of the oven and turn the potato wedges with a heatproof spatula. Put them back in the oven for 15 minutes longer. If they are ready, they will be browned and easily pierced with the tip of a knife. Otherwise, put them back into the oven for 10 minutes longer until ready. Season with salt, pepper and paprika.
PLAYING THE GAME
A reindeer nose tale BY BOB BAKER
Why would anyone rent a cabin on a lake way the heck off in Vermont in June when their home in summer world Marblehead is a mere 52 steps from the Atlantic Ocean whose water is guaranteed just as wet... if not wetter? The reason is... it’s 1970, and the “anyone” is me. My kickass K&E Boston creative team won the Vermont tourism account in March — in competition with 43 other ad agencies, including a number of New York bigs. “Little Switzerland” Vermont is a portfolio-caliber account creatives lust for. A weekend at Bonnie Oaks on Lake Morey in Vermont is a celebration, a symbolic showing of the flag as well as a fun time for wife Nancy, son Rich and me.
After supper on Friday, we head over to the rustic building housing a sizable rec room, replete with games, pool and ping pong tables, a pair of candy and snack vending machines and a jukebox. Nancy and Rich headed for the pool table, which had just been vacated. My eyes went “Bingo!” as soon as I crossed the threshold. There, over in that far corner, two guys playing chess. I asked if I could play the winner. I hadn’t played maybe a dozen times since I was 12, but I used to play a lot with my mother who’d taught me the game. It brought back such fond memories. The winner turned out to be a white-haired guy with a “Brooklyn” face — think Walter Matthau. “Next victim,” he welcomed. This guy by the name of Johnny Marks did not beat me. He bloody well torched me.
“Check... mate, Mister Man!” in about 4.2 minutes. We played a couple more games, and we both har-deharred a lot... mostly over the ineptitude of Mister Man. At blessed last, having sated his blood lust, Johnny Marks made peace: “Bob, how about you and your wife and son come over to our house for a drink? We have a house just down the road on the lake here.” We hopped in the car and went down to Johnny’s experienced old Victorian and met his very pleasant wife, Margaret. They fixed drinks, and we settled into the comfortably cluttered living room with a window on the lake. I asked Johnny what he did other than destroy people’s sense of self worth at chess. “I’m a songwriter, the oldfashioned Tin Pan Alley kind. We used to turn out songs like Babe Ruth hit home runs,” he said. With that, he went over to a
veteran upright piano, parked himself on the bench and proceeded to ripple the keys. “Yeah,” he said, “I wrote this one 30 or so years ago, which you never heard of…” dinky donky dinky donky “And then I wrote this one maybe 20 years ago, which you never heard of…” dinky donky dinky donky “But in 1949, I wrote this!” bum bum ba bum pa bum bum... bumpa bum ba pum ba bum We’ve all heard it once or twice: “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” What a wonderful, fun human being. We visited with him and Margaret a couple more times before returning to Marblehead. Despite our age difference, Johnny had that Old New York quality about him that my parents and aunts and uncles seemed to have: a heartiness and agelessness that transcended
numbers. I think of him now as a kind of long lost buddy I knew from high school. I even got a fun note from him when we got back to Marblehead inviting us to come visit him and Margaret in New York. They lived on West 11th Street in Greenwich Village, pretty near the $65-a-month rent-controlled overgrown closet with a Swiss watch kitchen at 12th and Hudson I had when I worked at Harper’s a few years before. Johnny and I could’ve ridden Rudolph down to the nearby White Horse Tavern, where Dylan Thomas, Jack Kerouac and Pete Hamill hung out. If we kept up with those serious topers, we could’ve followed our own red noses back to Johnny’s place. Whenever I hear “Rudolph,” I smile inside. Bob Baker’s a branding and creative services guy whose favorite game is life.
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A6 Wednesday, December 13, 2023 Marblehead Current
MARBLEHEAD CHRONICLES
Holiday traditions in the town’s early days BY PAM PETERSON In most of Colonial New England, Christmas wasn’t a popular holiday. Boston Divine Cotton Mather wrote in 1712 that the “Feast of Christ’s Nativity is spent in Reveling, Dicing, Carding, Masking, and in all Licentious Liberty ...by Mad Mirth, by long eating, by hard Drinking, by lewd Gaming, and by rude Reveling...” Christmas celebrations were frowned on, and caroling was condemned. But the town of Marblehead carried on, known for particularly notorious celebrations, despite officials’ best efforts to quash Christmas observances throughout the colony. In 173, a battle over the celebration of Christmas developed in Marblehead. Parson John Barnard of the First Congregational Church was opposed to Christmas celebrations, considering
them to be designed only for the conversion of pagans to Christianity. He also claimed that there was no reason to assume that Dec. 25 was Jesus’ birth date. St. Michael’s Rev. George Pigot took the view that there was every reason to follow the tradition of Dec. 25, based on Jewish holidays and writings. He published a pamphlet, “A Vindication of the Practice of the Antient Christian...,” in the Observation of Christmas-Day.” Dueling sermons and writings continued in Marblehead for several years, but so did Christmas celebrations in many homes. Many of the customs and traditions we celebrate over the holidays are the same as those that were celebrated in early Marblehead — at least the reveling and feasting. Though most people no longer shoot their own geese or raise their own pigs for Christmas dinner, the menus remain quite similar. Ham,
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goose, turkey or beef remain traditional Christmas dinner fare, and certainly cranberries, and cakes and cookies will never go out of style. Gingerbread is one of the constants for holiday celebrations, then and now. Martha Washington’s gingerbread recipe, which she served to the Marquis de Lafayette, calls for West India molasses, brown sugar and ground ginger. The tradition of decorating gingerbread houses is not Colonial, however, and it is thought that gingerbread houses first became popular after the Brothers Grimm published their story of Hansel and Gretel in 1812. One tradition that really conjures up the colonial season is candles in house windows. If you walk through town on a winter evening, these candles in the CHRONICLES, P. A7
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In Marblehead, the Colonial candle tradition of welcome continues.
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Youtopia aims to help women feel confident in their bodies BY MELISSA STACEY
The following is an interview with Danielle Blaisdell conducted by Discover Marblehead. Blaisdell is the owner of Youtopia Health and Wellness Coaching LLC located in Marblehead. To learn more about the wellness coaching program designed for women, visit youtopiacoaching.cohere. live/about. Tell us about Youtopia Health and Wellness Coaching LLC and why you started it. I have been a labor and delivery nurse and a fitness professional for the past 26 years. I believe today many people want and need a more personal touch than they can get from mainstream health care systems, fitness clubs or self-improvement apps. I felt called to start Youtopia Health and Wellness Coaching LLC to address these needs and connect with my clients in a deeper, more meaningful way. As a boardcertified nurse coach, I can take time with my clients to connect on a personal level. I value having meaningful conversations and listening deeply to what their needs are. Viewing health through a holistic lens considers the connections between the mind, body, spirit, emotional and
social components of a person’s health. Everything is connected. Nurse coaching is not one size fits all. Each client is a unique being with their own goals, motivations and desires. They are experts on their own needs and choices. I enjoy making genuine connections and guiding and supporting clients to discover what health means to them and create an action plan to bring their vision to life. Meeting with a personal coach regularly provides the client with an added level of accountability to not only achieve their goals but also have a lasting impact on their life. I’ve developed a passion for helping women feel confident in their bodies, navigate life transitions and prepare for the unique demands of pregnancy and beyond. It brings me so much joy to be a part of this transformational journey. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Danielle Blaisdell, owner of Youtopia Health and Wellness Coaching LLC, takes a holistic approach to help women feel confident and healthy.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is, “Progress over perfection.” What is your favorite spot in Marblehead? Fort Sewall. The views are so beautiful and bring me peace. My husband and I walk to Fort Sewall a few times
a week, sit on the bench and admire the beauty of the North Shore. It’s a sensory experience for me. The sights, the sounds of the waves, birds and boats going by, feeling the wind on my skin, and the smell of the ocean are so refreshing and rejuvenating.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? Fun fact: I once starred in a Bose training video with my husband. The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. To learn more, visit discovermhd.com.
BUSINESS
Jeweler opens storefront on Washington Street BY BENJI BOYD It’s been just over a month since local jeweler Daniel McEachern opened his store at 231 Washington St., and already the word is spreading about his custom designs, repair work and specialty jewelry. McEachern worked for Long’s Jewelers for 25 years, during which he personally crafted items for high-profile clients such as NHL players, and even made cufflinks for the Pope John 2. After running a successful Etsy shop for several years, McEachern opened his own local business, after seeing a need for a custom jeweler in town. The store’s hours are Tuesday
Daniel McEachern made custom cufflinks for Pope John 2.
CURRENT PHOTO / WILLIAM J. DOWD
Daniel McEachern designs and creates his own jewelry.
through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays and evenings by appointment. He specializes in fine jewelry,
such as wedding bands, engagement rings, earrings, bracelets and more. His services also include repairing and
Chronicles
Glover
windows are a cheerful reminder of our past. The lights in early times would have been lit just long enough to welcome family and visitors, sitting in the window in a dish of water to keep them safe. Decorations such as wreaths and boughs of evergreens and holly were seen in the 18th century, and apples and cranberries were often used because of their color and the fact that they kept so well. Some of the decorations seen at Williamsburg, Virginia, and at many Colonial homes, are in the spirit of the period, but are much more elaborate than what would have been available at the time, except to the wealthiest few. Pineapples and oranges were rare, imported treasures, meant to be displayed. Lavender, rose petals and pungent herbs such as rosemary and bay were scattered throughout the churches, providing a pleasant holiday scent. These flowers and herbs were chosen because they were aromatic, considered to be an acceptable alternative to incense, which was not approved of in early Protestant churches. Gathering together with family and friends remains our favorite holiday tradition now, as it was in the past. Best wishes for a happy season to all our friends and visitors in Marblehead.
It also sent a letter to McGuinness and the School Committee on Dec. 6 saying it is “exploring all possible legal remedies, including collective action, to ensure that our members are protected and that everyone who learns and works in our schools feels safe and supported.” The MEA wrote that the district “failed to provide a safe environment for all students and staff, as they are entitled to. We stand in solidarity with the affected families and students during this difficult time, as we believe that the district leadership has failed to take responsibility for their actions.” At the end of its regular Dec. 7 meeting, the School Committee met in executive (private) session to discuss the “litigation threatened in the MEA letter,” according to the agenda. Earlier in that meeting, McGuinness addressed the student restraint incidents by saying, “All of our students — whether they’re enrolling from California, from Portugal or from Boston — are all a meaningful part of the Marblehead school community once they enroll in our district, and we’re very fortunate to have them here. We respect and
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adjusting previously existing pieces, as well as working with customers to create custom designs. When Marblehead jeweler Bruce Rogers retired over the summer, McEachern felt that he could fill the void as a bench jeweler. Right now, McEachern is
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CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
Four Glover School employees have been placed on paid administrative leave while the district reviews its student restraint policies.
we teach and we care for each of our students equally.” Student restraints “State guidelines allow staff who have received proper training and certification to restrain students, but only as a last resort in specific situations when a student’s behavior poses a threat of assault, or imminent, serious, physical harm to self or others,” McGuinness’ Dec. 6 press release stated. McGuinness declined to answer questions about what methods the teachers use to restrain students. According to a Massachusetts Department of Education database, six Glover School students were restrained a total of 42 times in the 2021-2022 school year, resulting in 12 injuries. At the Brown School, seven students were restrained a total of 35 times, resulting in seven injuries.
Veterans and Marblehead High School had zero cases of restraints in 2021-2022. According to the DOE, Village reported fewer than six student restraints, or the number of injuries to staff and students was between one and five. In Swampscott, by comparison, the only school that reported student restraints was Stanley, which had fewer than six, or one to five injuries. Staff moves On Dec. 5, Glover School Principal Hope Doran went out on medical leave. Veterans School Principal Matt Fox has moved to Glover until winter break, and the district has started an “immediate search” for a longer-term replacement for Doran, McGuinness said. Assistant Superintendent Julia Ferreira, who used to work at Vets, will return there to cover for Fox.
building his inventory with handmade pieces and items from other vendors. He plans on advertising through social media and joining the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce, but already McEachern is impressed by the amount of people he’s seen walk through the door. “This has actually brought me back to what I enjoy doing — which is making jewelry,” he said. A Marblehead resident of 12 years, McEachern is looking forward to becoming more engaged in the community through his business and getting to know his customers. “I honestly look forward to meeting as many people as possible,” he said.
“The district pledges to move quickly and efficiently, and the district has plans and policies in place to ensure that there is no disruption to the school day or to student progress,” read the press release. On Dec. 6, McGuinness sent an email to Glover School parents reporting that a student experienced a medical emergency and local emergency crews responded. A few hours later, she sent the press release announcing the suspended staff and student restraint review. On Dec. 7, a Glover School Parent Council Organization virtual meeting before the School Committee meeting was overwhelmed when more than 100 people tried to log in. The PCO had to switch from Zoom to Google Meet and then to the School Committee’s Zoom account to accommodate all the parents. At the outset of that meeting, PCO President Sarah Magazine-Yount said, “I know the last few days have been very hard. I know there’s concern about the safety of our children and our dedicated faculty and staff. The Glover School is a special place, and I have every confidence that we’ll come through this together.” The MEA said it would be issuing a new statement midweek. Visit MarbleheadCurrent. org for continuing coverage.
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A8 Wednesday, December 13, 2023 Marblehead Current
NEWS IN BRIEF BY WILLIAM J. DOWD
Santa Paddle success
elaborate miniature holiday village replica of turn-of-the-century Marblehead, now on display at the Gerry 5. Curtis and her late husband built the sprawling scene with nearly 100 buildings and over 1,500 individual
Send yours news (150200 woirds) to wdowd@ marbleheadnews.org.
It’s a mini-Marblehead village on display The public is invited to view Chicki Curtis’
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Devereux School kindergartners gather with their donations at the Marblehead Food Pantry, displaying community spirit and support during the holiday season.
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MAA invites artists to apply for Variations 2024
Help Wreaths Across America honor veterans
Devereux kindergartners deliver donations
Giving Thanks this Holiday Season Wendy S. Webber
The Devereux School kindergarten class recently visited the Marblehead Food Pantry to deliver more than 80 bags of donated food items collected from the Devereux School community.
Association is inviting artists to apply for Variations 2024, an eightweek juried exhibition this spring showcasing 2D and 3D works across artistic styles/mediums. The jurors for Variations 2024 include Lydia Peabody, curator-at-large at the Peabody Essex Museum; Karen Haas, curator of photographs at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston; and Ariel Zaccheo, curatorial director at the Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco. The application deadline is Feb. 15. More info at bit.ly/3NkFCbh
Donations more than tripled for this year’s Santa Paddle fundraiser for the Marblehead Food Pantry during the Christmas Walk. This is the third year in a row for the event.
pieces. It depicts local landmarks like Abbot Hall, Old North Church, the Old Town House and more, all blanketed in white powder. It also
features model trains, skaters, carolers and other surprises. Visitors can take visit Saturday, Dec. 16, 1-5 p.m. at the Gerry 5, located at 210 Beacon St.
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Wreaths Across America volunteers will place holiday wreaths on nearly 2,000 veterans’ graves at Waterside Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 16, at noon. From 2 p.m.-6 p.m., join a Wreaths Across America celebration at the VFW, 321 West Shore Dr.
Garden club gifts holiday treats to seniors The Marblehead Garden Club gifted 84 holiday treat bags with baked goods, chocolate, mandarin oranges donated by Crosby’s Marketplace and handcrafted ornaments from Tower School students to the Marblehead Council on Aging, continuing its tradition of creating gift bags for local seniors.
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Marblehead Current Wednesday, December 13, 2023 A9
Sports MAGICAL NIGHT
Wizards give hoops programs a lift Tip-off Night featuring the Harlem Wizards was a great success, according to the Friends of Marblehead Basketball. Over 650 people thrilled to the Wizards high-flying dunks, dazzling dribbling and other on-court hijinks. Members of the Marblehead High School basketball teams were also introduced to the cheers of the pumped-up crowd. Thanks to the event’s sponsors, including National Grand Bank and Marblehead Youth Basketball Association, over $13,000 was raised for the Friends of Marblehead Basketball, which helps fund the needs of the boys and girls basketball program at all levels. “Yes, we raised money; yes, we exceeded our goals, but the name of the game Friday night was joy and the number of smiles in the gym far exceeded any goal we could ever set on a balance sheet,” lead organizer Nichole Thompson said.
COURTESY PHOTOS / VICTORIA DOSCH
‘Carrying’ is not allowed in basketball, especially when it is a member of the other team, as this member of the Harlem Wizards giving a lift to Marblehead High School math teacher Caroline Faherty should know.
Surrounded by his Harlem Wizard teammates, Rashawn ‘Springs’ Clemente demonstrates how he got his nickname.
Girls basketball player Ireland Doran claps after being introduced to the crowd at the Friends of Marblehead Basketball Tip-Off Night Friday, Dec. 8 at the Marblehead High School gym.
Harlem Wizard John ‘Big J’ Smith takes a selfie with a group of young fans at the Friends of Sporting sunglasses, Tishsean ‘Fresh Prince’ Emmanuel slams one home for the Harlem Marblehead Basketball Tip-Off Night Friday, Dec. 8 at the Marblehead High School gym. Wizards.
ON ICE
Girls hockey team splits first two games The Marblehead High School girls ice hockey team opened its season with a 3-0 win over Medford Thursday, Dec. 7, at the O’Keefe Center at Salem State. After a scoreless first period, Madi Reno got the Magicians on the board at the 9:38 mark of the second period.
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Marblehead would add two more goals in the third period. First, Ava Shultz found the back of the net on assists from Lizzie Demady and Ella Graham with 11:29 left in the game. Graham then put the game on ice with an empty netter with 1:10 to go.
Freshman goalie Scarlet Lee turned away all 41 shots she saw. In addition to Lee, Shultz and Reno, another standout in the game was defensive player Paige Waldman, according to coach Hadley Woodfin. In its second game of the season Dec. 9, the team dropped
a close game to Masconomet, 4-3. Marblehead’s first goal was scored by senior captain Shultz on an assist from Graham with less than a minute to play in the first period. The Magicians scored twice in the second period, the first coming from sophomore Madi
Graber, with assists from Teyah Fleming and Addie Co-Peeps. Seventh-grader Emma Johnson then tallied her first varsity goal, assisted by Graham, who was a standout in this game, according to Woodfin. Lee had 26 saves against Masco.
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A10 Wednesday, December 13, 2023 Marblehead Current
SEASON PREVIEW
Competition remains fierce for hockey Magicians BY JOE MCCONNELL The Marblehead High boys hockey team wrapped up coach Mark Marfione’s first-year behind the bench with a 13-5-4 overall record. They were 8-3 in the Northeastern Conference, and ended up as the 16th seed in the Division 2 state tournament, before losing to Norwood in a Round of 32 game, 5-2. A new season is about to begin for the Magicians against Gloucester at Salem State’s O’Keefe CenterDec. 14, starting
at 7 p.m. Two nights later, they will be at Haverhill’s Valley Forum to go up against Masconomet, beginning at 5:45 p.m. Marfione expects to carry 23 players on both the varsity and JV teams. “There’s a lot of competition for ice time between the two squads,” said Marfione. “I foresee [captain] Hogan [Sedky], a senior defenseman, having a big role on the team this year, while every other spot will be determined on who puts in the
work. We have a lot of capable players, and as always it will come down to attitude and work ethic to see who plays which role on the team.” Senior forward Charlie Grenier will be the team’s assistant captain. Junior Leo Burdge and sophomore Kyle Rushton will split the varsity goaltending chores. Marfione will once again have plenty of help behind the bench, with assistant coaches Kyle Koopman [defensive coaches], Tim Kalinowski [power play,
offensive coach]and Liam Gillis [penalty kill, defensive coach] taking care of their responsibilities to help out the head coach. “I have great assistants,” Marfione said. “We share most roles, while collaborating with each other during practices. Marfione expects to have a group effort from his team at the start of the season. “We haven’t established an identity as of yet,” he said. “Right now, we’re just working hard and trying to bring
consistency every day to the rink. I think we have a hardworking group that is committed to bettering themselves. We hope to get better every day.” There won’t be any easy games this year, according to Marfione, with Winthrop, the defending champs, heading up the list of many contenders for the NEC title. Marfione says of Gloucester prior to tomorrow night’s opener: “It’s always a battle with Gloucester, and it usually comes down to one or two plays that decides the game.”
GIRLS HOOPS
Magicians begin new year with win over Revere BY JOE MCCONNELL The young Marblehead High girls basketball team, under the direction of veteran coach Paul Moran, started the season off right with a 33-24 home win over the upstart Revere Patriots on Dec. 7. Moran’s Magicians ended last year with a 10-8 overall record after losing to rival Masconomet in the first round of a Division 2 state tournament game, 52-35. Since then, they moved on from three seniors — Isabelle Ferrante, Carlin McGowan and Stella Monaco — and last year’s team MVP Samantha Dormer, who transferred to Bishop
Fenwick. They have brought back a bunch of young players with only two seniors on the roster, both captains, center Kate Burns and point guard Katie Pyne, and after one game there are a whole bunch of positives from this young squad. Pyne and Burns “did a great job last year, and now this is their team,” said Moran. Pyne sank to two threes against Revere to end the game with six points. Burns also scored six points to go along with 10 rebounds. Tess Andriano led the way with eight points, including a couple of three-point bombs. Samara Dosch accounted for
four points. Ramona Gillette and Marri O’Connell chipped in with two apiece. Freshman Ainsley McDonald made a memorable varsity debut, coming off the bench to contribute five points to the winning cause. McDonald “gave us great offense,” remarked Moran after the Revere opener. The Magicians led at halftime, 22-15. “We have a lot of early season games with three coming up next week, but against Revere our bench didn’t panic after the offense was limited to just 11 second half points,” said Moran. “Juniors Olivia Goldwater, Sierra Leinberry and Maddie Forbes passed the ball well, while
grabbing their share of rebounds and playing good defense off the bench.” Moran went on to say that he has good depth this year with a varsity roster that is capable of going 7 to 10 deep. “We have some very competitive, multi-sport athletes,” he added. “We will always look to score on offense, while playing man-to-man defense to limit the opposition from getting any easy shots off.” Joe Field returns as one of Moran’s assistant varsity coaches, and he’ll be in charge of the forwards. Michelle Bradbury, new to Moran’s
staff, will specifically coach the backcourt personnel. Bradbury was Moran’s first captain, when he was the Swampscott coach in 1998. Alex Shube, another firstyear Marblehead coach, will lead the JV team into battle this year. Marissa Field will help out the freshmen in the program. The Marblehead girls were scheduled to play a non-league game against host North Reading on Dec. 11, before staying on the road to take on Northeastern Conference rival Beverly the next night after press deadline. They will then return home on Friday, Dec. 15, to face the Salem Witches, beginning at 7 p.m.
Girls soccer coach Lisa Wales sums up first year on the job BY JOE MCCONNELL The Marblehead High girls soccer team wrapped up its regular season recently with 9-8-1 overall record, 8-5 in the Northeastern Conference under the direction of first-year coach Lisa Wales. The Magicians, the 22nd seed, then lost to Westborough, the 11th seed, 1-0 in a Division 2 first-round state tournament game. “We had a highly competitive match against Westborough. Both teams had 11 shots on goal apiece,” said Wales. “Our coaching staff could not have asked for more effort in this tournament game. We played hard for 80 minutes, but it just
didn’t go our way. “I’m extremely proud of their effort this season,” added Wales. “Our schedule included four opponents, who made it to the state quarterfinals in their respective divisions, which shows just how strong the schedule was this year for us. We now look forward to building up the program even more so from here.” Talia Selby and Sadie Halpern made the NEC All-Conference team, and were also EMass second team all-stars. Kate Burns and Sydney Ball were conference all-stars. Seniors Grace Mortensen, Burns and Selby were this year’s captains. “They did a fantastic job leading our varsity team this year,” said
Wales. “Also, a special thanks to our other seniors Rachael Albert, Aoife Bresnahan, Sofia Grubor, Ava Larco, Cassidy Lubeck, Katie Pyne, Amelia Singer, Anna Sokolov and Kate Twomey for their dedication to the program. “We are also grateful for the support of our families, MYSA [Marblehead Youth Soccer Association] and the Marblehead community as a whole this past season,” said Wales. The JV team also had an outstanding season, recording a 12-1-2 record. They were led by coach Phil Witt. “It’s been a pleasure to coach these student-athletes this past fall, and to get to know them off the field, as well,” Wales said.
COURTESY PHOTO
The 2023 Marblehead High girls soccer captains were, from left, first row, Aoife Brenahan, Kate Twomey, Cassidy Lubeck, Grace Mortensen and Talia Selby. Top row, Ava Larco, Anna Sokolov, Kate Burns, Rachael Albert, Sofia Grubor, Katie Pyne and Ameila Singer.
CARBON-FREE POWER
Hydroelectric deal advances Marblehead’s emissions goals BY WILLIAM J. DOWD Marblehead will add carbon-free hydropower to its energy portfolio through a new six-year agreement to purchase electricity from two hydroelectric dams along the Housatonic River in Connecticut. The deal will supply Marblehead Municipal Light Department with enough renewable hydropower for about 6,000 homes and businesses annually, starting in 2024. The additional clean energy will account for around 4.7% of the town’s total electricity use, according to department General Manager Joseph Kowalik. Kowalik said the agreement would not significantly raise costs for local ratepayers. But he noted that the relatively
Menorah From P. A1
aspirations of our founding principles to become a deeply abiding home for all faiths,” he noted, calling for the celebration of religious diversity and dedication to democratic freedoms.
small share of the town’s electricity needs that will be met through the deal illustrates the challenge Marblehead and other towns face as they try to curb emissions while ensuring that the energy supply is still reliable and affordable. “We would love to do more of these types of carbon-free agreements on an ongoing basis if we could,” Kowalik said.
With the deal, Marblehead joins 14 other municipal power utilities in Massachusetts purchasing carbon-free hydroelectricity from FirstLight Energy, a clean energy producer, through a buying cooperative called the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co. In total, the participating municipal utilities serve more than 35,000 households and
businesses. For Marblehead, officials said the new six-year supply builds on efforts in recent years to reshape its power portfolio and prepare to meet a state law mandate of a zero-carbon electric grid by 2050. A new regulation also requires towns like Marblehead to derive 50% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The town has a mix of carbonfree and fossil-fuel-powered plants in its electricity portfolio, and contracts for those energy sources expire and renew on varying timelines. “It’s not like we’re continuously adding carbon-free energy. We add in a contract, and we may lose a contract,” Wolf explained. “We are 43% carbonfree right now. We’re adding new nuclear soon. By 2030, we’ll hit 50%.”
Grader’s remarks honed the historical significance of Hanukkah and the communal struggle for religious freedom. He drew parallels between the ancient recovery of Jerusalem and the ongoing endeavor in America to uphold the rights of various religious expressions.
“We pray with you that God’s light will illuminate and fill our lives,” he said. Rabbi Michael Ragozin of Congregation Shirat Hayam in Swampscott joined National Grand President and Select Board member Jim Nye in lighting a large menorah’s first
candle to cheers and applause. The crowd heard remarks from Rabbi Michael Schwartz of Temple Sinai; Rabbi Samantha Safran, director of Jewish life and learning at Epstein Hillel School and Rabbi Darryl Crystal of Temple Emanuel-El. Each highlighted the communal
COURTESY PHOTO / FIRSTLIGHT POWER
This photo shows the Falls Village Generating Station, a three-unit hydroelectric station located on the Housatonic River in Falls Village, Connecticut.
Fluctuations in the power mix mean hitting incremental goals requires planning and patching together various carbon-free sources over time. “It’s a moving target,” said Wolf. Kowalik said Marblehead’s carbon-free share stood at just 25% a decade ago but has gradually climbed through new long-term contracts as older ones expire. “As these contracts, what we call bilateral agreements, expire ... we want the new ones to be carbon-free,” Kowalik explained. Marblehead officials view the clean energy transition as imperative. “There’s an increased sense of urgency that I don’t think has been there before,” Wolf said. “Most people do understand the urgency now.”
aspect of Hanukkah, where lighting the menorah symbolizes the miracle of the oil that burned for eight nights in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. Such gatherings, they said, reinforce the sense of community and the importance of shared traditions and celebrations.
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A12 Wednesday, December 13, 2023 Marblehead Current
Headlight
Shining a light on the news you care about!
Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community 2023 - 2024 Issue
www.mhsheadlight.com
Meet Ms. Michtom! Ila Bumagin, Senior, Editor-in-Chief
Meet Ms. Rachel Michtom, Marblehead High School's new band teacher! Ms. Michtom directs Concert Band, Marching Band, and Jazz Band. Beyond that, she teaches History of Rock and Roll, piano, electronic music, and guitar classes. This position is Ms. Michtom's first full-time teaching job. She has a bachelor's from Lawrence in music and education studies, and a master's of music in music education. She was a substitute teacher in the Boston Public Schools last year. While her degrees are in flute, and that is her primary instrument, "Part of music education is learning about every instrument, so I'm proficient in every instrument in this room." (There were a lot of instruments in there.) This way, she can help any student in the moment. I asked if there was any instrument she wished she played, and she said the violin and shared, "I wish I stuck with it, strings are beautiful." I asked what her favorite thing about teaching is so far. She said, "I love teaching because I like getting to make a difference. I took band in high school as well, and my high school band teacher is one of my idols. Getting to create that space for other students that I had as a student is very important to me." As a music student, there is nothing quite like the community of the band or chorus room. It's fully appreciated. She explained how this has been easy in Marblehead, and she has received lots of support and welcomes from the Marblehead community. Her hopes for this year: "I know the band program has been through a lot in the last few years. I want to help rebuild it, and increase the number of people. Get students up from the middle school and build a strong band." In any high school ensemble, there will be varying levels of skill and experience. I asked how she handles that. She uses time in Magic Block (a free block all high school students
have) for individual lessons and occasionally runs sectionals. She says that the more experienced students will often lead and teach the others. In addition, "There will always be different groups and I do my best to make sure they feel comfortable." Marching band is the band at football games. They are much more popular in the Midwest and the South than they are here. However, Marblehead High School has a small but mighty marching band. She says, "It's been an interesting adjustment to have that be an expectation here. Marching Band is a separate class from the Concert Band. There are only 10 students in our marching band, which makes it hard to do marching performances at games. It's a different type of music, more pop and rock, and more about the feel and energy. Meanwhile, the Jazz Band focuses on jazz and swing and big band." Ms. Michtom is enthusiastic about all the ensembles and learning about the Marblehead community. She is from just outside Portland, Oregon, and she has lived all over the United States. She compares Marblehead and her Oregon hometown: "It's different in a lot of ways, but similar in demographics and emphasis on tradition, as well as academic rigor. But, it's also much older. There's of course a cultural difference. Interesting adjustment, especially living in the Midwest for a bit, too." I asked for a fun fact, and she did not disappoint. She said, "I was a founding member of a mariachi ensemble in college. We were invited to play at a minor league baseball game and got to throw the first pitch." Pretty awesome! Finally, I asked if there was anything that she wanted students and parents to know. She said the best way Marblehead can support the performing arts and the band is by attending the band concert. That's on December 19 at Veterans Middle School at 7:00 pm. Don't miss it! Welcome to Marblehead Ms. Michtom!
Alumni spotlight Grey Collins, Sophomore
Just last June, 2023 Marblehead High School graduate Griffen Collins was singing in the gym during the graduation ceremony. Last Saturday, he sang in the halls of the White House with his a cappella group the Beelzebubs. “It was a great opportunity to expand the Bubs audience and spread our music to people that haven’t been exposed to it yet. It
was also a highly memorable bonding and travel experience.” A freshman at Tufts University in Medford, Griffen (this reporter's brother) is taking full advantage of the music department, by participating in the Jazz Orchestra, Chamber Choir, and the well known a cappella group The Beelzebubs. “I was thrilled when I heard I had gotten in, and lots of alumni
December 13, 2023
of the group contacted me to congratulate me. That first week was an absolutely wild experience,” said Collins about getting into the group. The Beelzebubs are an allmale a cappella group founded in 1963. They have toured in Europe, Asia, South America, and North America, and they scored 2nd place in NBC’s "The Sing-Off" in 2009. They are also known for providing the arrangements and vocals for the “Dalton Warblers” in the TV series "Glee." Last Saturday the Beelzebubs, or the Bubs, performed at the White House for a second time. Griffen talked about how rewarding it is to be a part of the group. “It’s such an energetic tight knit group of people who love music and singing just as much as I do,” said Griffen. “It's a very collaborative group, and we love getting feedback from each other about the way we perform. We challenge each other.” At MHS, Griffen was very involved in the music department. He participated in Jazz Band, Choir, three musicals, and the Grizzlies and Jewel Tones a cappella groups. He credits his development as a singer to the musical community at MHS.
Griffin said it "definitely helped me develop my musicality, and my willingness to get onstage and just send it.” One of the founding members of the Beelzebubs also lives in Marblehead. Bill Duvel was one of the original twelve members of the Bubs in 1963, and I spoke with him about his experience. “It started as a group of guys who got together at Tufts and rehearsed in the basement of one of the dormitories,” said Mr. Duvel. “It was a common love of music that brought us together. We took as our motto ‘fun through song,’ and that carried us through 60 years.” Mr. Duvel, who was the President of the Bubs for two years and Music Director for three, talked about how the Bubs impacted his life. “It was one of the most satisfying aspects of my life to be a part of the group, and that really built a great deal of confidence in my ability to sing and provide leadership skills,” said Mr. Duvel. “And those leadership skills allowed me to do a better job professionally and get married and have kids and have grandkids and do that successfully, with a lot of internal satisfaction.” Duvel also offered some advice to Griffen: “My advice would be to stick with it, and jump in with both feet; don’t be afraid to take risks.”
Stephen Sanchez in concert Charlie Seliger, Sophomore
Stephen Sanchez, Tiktokdarling-turned-50s-pop-rocker, is new on the scene. Many only know him from his 2021 hit, “Until I Found You.” Nevertheless, on December 1st, the line for his show at Boston’s Roadrunner curved thrice around the venue. Mostly young people composed it, along with intermittent elderly women who clutched their tickets with brittle hands. What makes Sanchez’s emulation of the '50s successful enough to attract Elvis’s original fans? After a night in his presence, I conclude that his popularity can be attributed to nostalgia, dazzling showmanship, and sincerity. Beginning the show, stage lights pulsated, fog seemed to pour from the heavens, and a soft, evocative track played. A voice boomed through the speakers, inviting us back in time as a pilot might welcome passengers aboard. The eager crowd then came as close as can be to seeing Elvis in 2023. Each arm swing or hip gyration seemed to have been plucked from the past, and in the style of a true '50s rocker, Sanchez was always in motion. His crooning voice held a familiar warm tone; if Paul Anka and Frank Sinatra had somehow managed to procreate, Sanchez would be the result. He dominated the stage in saddle shoes and a silk button-down shirt, hair masterfully
slicked back. Shrouded in lingering mist, he may as well have emerged from a vault. The troubadour soared through his newest album, "Angel Face," frequently flaunting his falsetto. Yet somehow his tremulous voice wasn’t the highlight of the performance—instead, his energy. Merely listening to his music cannot begin to suggest the life he brought to the stage. He bounded to and fro, jammed with his accompaniment, and occasionally flung himself to the floor. Often I could barely hear him over cathartic cheers. Even the MIT student I’d been trying to edge past stopped canoodling with his girlfriend long enough to whoop enthusiastically, and near the front, a woman lost consciousness. Sanchez easily drove the audience to a frenzy. Without seeing his show, one could assume he’s simply taking advantage of a musical epoch. Yet what makes his music so endearingly vintage doesn’t appear to be the result of research or calculation, but the candor behind each lovestruck lyric. He seems to feel each word, so his audience feels too. Sanchez, currently small enough to still ogle at the crowd in amazement, will undoubtedly grow in popularity. If he subsequently strays to another era, I can only hope he embodies it with as much passion, legitimacy, and pizzazz as he has the late '50s.
Headlight Staff 2023-2024 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Ila Bumagin and Mona Gelfgatt
ASSISTANT EDITORS: Benji Boyd, Rachael Albert
TECHNOLOGY EDITOR: Kate Twomey
REPORTERS: Cole Barbeau, John Bender, Grey Collins, Tucker Crane, Aislin Freedman, Samuel Jendrysik, Anya Kane, Nina Lees, Georgia Marshall, Charlie Seliger, Livia Weiss FACULTY ADVISOR: Thomas Higgins
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PAGE TURNERS
Abbot Library’s top fiction books of 2023 Curious what Marbleheaders were reading in 2023? We asked Abbot Public Library Assistant Director Morgan Yeo to list the most checked-out fiction titles this year. Here they are, starting with the most popular fiction book in 2023. “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington, who became America’s greatest stud sire, “Horse” is a gripping, multi-layered reckoning with the legacy of enslavement and racism in America. “Mad Honey” by Jodi Picoult “Mad Honey” is a riveting novel of suspense, an unforgettable love story, and a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become ourselves. “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus Set in 1960s California, this blockbuster debut is the hilarious, idiosyncratic and uplifting story of a female scientist whose career is constantly derailed by the idea that a woman’s place is in the home, only to find herself starring as the host of America’s most beloved TV cooking show.
CURRENT ILLUSTRATION / WILLIAM J. DOWD
A collage of Abbot Public Library’s most checked-out fiction books in 2023. “The Lincoln Highway” by Amor Towles Spanning just 10 days and told from multiple points of view, Towles’ third novel will satisfy fans of his multi-layered literary styling while providing them an array of new and richly imagined settings, characters and themes. “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver The teenage son of an Appalachian single mother who dies when he is 11 uses his
good looks, wit and instincts to survive foster care, child labor, addiction, disastrous loves and crushing losses. “The Hotel Nantucket” by Elin Hilderbrand Fresh off a bad breakup with a longtime boyfriend, Nantucket sweetheart Lizbet Keaton is desperately seeking a second act. When she’s named the new general manager of the Hotel Nantucket — a once Gilded Age gem turned abandoned eyesore
— she hopes that her local expertise and charismatic staff can win the favor of their new London billionaire owner, Xavier Darling, as well as that of Shelly Carpenter, the wildly popular Instagram tastemaker who can help put them back on the map. “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt A luminous debut novel about a widow’s unlikely friendship with a curmudgeonly giant Pacific octopus reluctantly residing at
the local aquarium — and, when a mysterious grifter comes to town, the truths all three unlock about her son’s disappearance 30 years ago. “Trust” by Hernan Diaz At once an immersive story and a brilliant literary puzzle, “Trust” engages the reader in a quest for the truth while confronting the deceptions that often live at the heart of personal relationships, the reality-warping force of capital and the ease with which power can manipulate facts. “Small Mercies” by Dennis Lehane Set against the hot, tumultuous months when Boston’s desegregation of its public schools exploded in violence, “Small Mercies” is a superb thriller, a brutal depiction of criminality and power and an unflinching portrait of the dark heart of American racism. “This Time Tomorrow” by Emma Straub With her celebrated humor, insight and heart, Emma Straub cleverly turns all the traditional time-travel tropes on their head and delivers a different kind of love story — about the lifelong, reverberating relationship between a parent and child.
TOP PICKS
Abbot Library’s top movies of 2023 We also wanted to know which movies Marbleheaders checked out the most in 2023, so we sked Amber Santman, adult media selector at Abbot Public Library. Here they are, starting with the most popular movie in 2023. “Living” This film follows a civil servant in London in the 1950s who searches for meaning after receiving a terminal medical diagnosis. “The Fabelmans” Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother. “A Man Called Otto” Based on the comical and moving New York Times bestseller, it tells the story of Otto Anderson, a grumpy widower whose only joy comes from criticizing and judging
CURRENT ILLUSTRATION / WILLIAM J. DOWD
A collage of the most checked-out films of 2023.
his exasperated neighbors. When a lively young family moves in next door, he meets his match in quick-witted and very pregnant Marisol, leading to an unexpected friendship that will turn his world upside down. “Top Gun: Maverick” After more than 30 years of service as one of the navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is where he belongs,
pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. Training a detachment of graduates for a special assignment, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past and his deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who choose to fly it.
“Emily” Tells the story of Emily Brontë as a young woman struggling within the confines of social expectations and yearning for creative and personal freedom. “Marlowe” A gripping noir crime thriller set in late 1930s Bay City centers around a brooding, down-on-hisluck detective, Philip Marlowe, who is hired to find the ex-lover of a glamorous heiress, daughter of a well-known movie star. The disappearance is the first twist in a series of bewildering events, and soon Marlowe is embroiled in a deadly investigation and web of lies that he’s determined to bring to light. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” Evelyn Wang, a flustered immigrant mother, is contacted from a parallel universe and told that only she can save the world. The unlikely hero must learn to channel her newfound powers and fight through the splintering timelines of the multiverse to
save her home, her family and herself in this big-hearted and irreverent adventure. “Amsterdam” In the 1930s, three friends witness a murder, are framed for it and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history. “Armageddon Time” A deeply personal comingof-age story about the strength of family and the generational pursuit of the American Dream. “The Good House” A successful real-estate broker, mother, and raging alcoholic embarks on a life of denial and loneliness while resenting the intervention of her loved ones and becoming embroiled in a scandal in her New England town. This film is based on a novel by one former Marblehead resident, Ann Leary, and features another former Marblehead resident, Rob Delaney, as a member of the cast.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
OHDC in need of serious updating To be edited: “The Marblehead Select Board unanimously upheld a decision requiring Front Street homeowner Sally Thompson to relocate exterior electric air conditioning equipment on her historic home,” the opening words of your Nov. 22 story “Balancing Act.” As a local remodeler and resident, I have been at odds with the Old and Historic Districts Commission for more than 20 years. During the years when the federal government would grant up to $2,400 in dollar-for-dollar tax credits to replace windows with double-paned, energy-efficient units, the OHDC said no to Marblehead residents! They could use the single-paned Brosco windows to retain the historical integrity...but you cannot have that $2,400. OHDC would not accept the manufacturers’ ability to produce simulated divided light windows that would simulate the historical “look.” I am surprised the town has not been sued over this, especially when tax credits were on the table. OHDC overrides building code, too. For example, when it came to rebuilding a historical widow’s walk on a rooftop, they actually required the height to be six
inches lower than the building code to be “historically correct.” And they can tell you to use wood fascia material behind your gutters instead of PVC since we can all tell the difference from street level. Oh, and the gutters. Wood is required here, too, even though they are not large enough to handle the amount of runoff. Be sure to oil them yearly. (No one does.) Elevated compost piles are what they are for the most part. Want to change your front entry railing? Or the color of your front door? Check with OHDC bylaws first. Select Board member Moses Grader has stated there could be a “problematic precedent” allowing exceptions. I say the problematic precedent is in the OHDC bylaws. “The authority of the OHDC is very, very clear. It’s quite specific,” Grader stated. Specific and out of date. Homeowners in the historic district are really held hostage by these bylaws and should be the ones leading the call for a serious review and revision of the OHDC. A walk around the historic district will reveal who the scofflaws are, or at least reveal who the OHDC has allowed to not be held to their bylaws. (Hint: look for the aluminum gutters...) Time for some common sense here. Ross Reiley Kenneth Road
School board seems to have ‘major misunderstanding’ of its role To the editor: As a former school committee member in a different Massachusetts town, I watch the gyrations of Marblehead’s School Committee with bemusement. We vote for and send the school committee to do two things: evaluate measurable achievements and elicit best practice from the superintendent, and steward the financial resources of the town with an eye toward keeping within a planned budget. As an elected official, a school committee member does not set personal agendas but rather facilitates the educational agenda set by the educational experts that they hire and evaluate. A good school committee member is able to articulate the superintendent’s plan to the townsfolk so that the voters can understand the expenditures they are asked to endorse. Most of the job requires listening at least three times more than one speaks, because a superintendent’s work is grounded in educational research and best practice, which is not the purview
of a school committee person to know. The superintendent sets district goals, which are measurable, and the school committee simply tracks whether the superintendent reaches those benchmarks. In contrast, we have a collection of people on the Marblehead School Committee who talk over each other and believe their personal ideology is paramount. They are unprofessional, in the sense that they seem unable to get along with people with disparate views. The serial firing/loss of retention of the superintendent, the most important job of a school committee member, is a colossal waste of time and money, and this one function — developing, supporting and retaining educational leadership — totally eludes them. The article about a School Committee communication workshop ending with more dysfunction points to a major misunderstanding of what their role actually is. Lastly, they should not be communicating by email at all, unless it is to discuss public meeting dates. There needs to be far greater transparency, in open sessions wherever possible, because the trust in their governance has reached a new low. Amy Hourihan Fort Sewall Lane
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A14 Wednesday, December 13, 2023 Marblehead Current
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