Library transformation gets underway

than 1% went to non-whites,” Moulton told the Marblehead Current. “In Mississippi, only two out of over 3,200 home loans administered by the VA went to Black borrowers. And these are just a couple examples. There are many others that illustrate the injustices faced

GrOWING Sha DE Tree fans help town build out canopy Inventory will help town plan for future

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

Several initiatives to further cultivate and grow Marblehead's "urban forestry and tree canopy" are afoot.

As the springtime approaches, Sustainable Marblehead is raising awareness about Marblehead's tree fund and urging members of the public to send in donations.

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

A bundled-up crowd gathered in the Abbot Public Library courtyard the morning of March 8 to celebrate the start of a $10 million renovation to the public library’s Pleasant Street building.

The event brought together elected officials, contractors, employees and

BY KRIS OLSON

The spotlight may shine on Gywneth Anderson, Molly Grant and the rest of the cast of “Beowulf.” But Elizabeth Erskine may be the real star of the show, according to those involved with Marblehead High School’s entry in the state drama festival.

The ever-patient Erskine, the production’s prop designer, has had to see her handiwork — mostly swords fashioned out of discarded smartboard boxes — undone when one of her classmates brings a bit too much exuberance to one of the play’s battle scenes.

residents weeks after the project kicked off in late January.

“Our motto throughout this campaign has been ‘Our 17th-century town deserves a 21st-century library,’ and we are truly thankful for everyone who has supported us in that vision,” Gary Amberik, chairman of the Abbot Public Library Board of Trustees told the small crowd fanned out before him. “Today, we celebrate the start of the transformation of the Abbot Public Library.”

More than 30 years have passed since the library’s building underwent significant upgrades. Once the renovation concludes, Amberik pointed out the following upgrades to

"Every spring in April, Sustainable Marblehead's tree group collaborates with the tree warden to do tree planting," the nonprofit organization's executive director, Louise Yarmoff, told the Marblehead Current. "So, the more people know about this tree donation fund, the more money he will have to buy trees to replace all the trees that do die and have to be taken down."

Jon Fobert, Marblehead's tree warden, said the town established the tree-donation fund in the mid-1970s after disease decimated the Dutch elm tree population in town. Many trees that were planted in the aftermath need to be replaced today.

But her persistence and the hard work of the rest of the cast and crew paid off, as MHS’ “Beowulf” advanced out of the preliminary round at Beverly Middle School March 5 to this weekend’s semifinals.

The Marblehead cast and crew will be taking its show on the road to Norwood High School with their sights set on advancing to the state finals in Boston March 30 through April 1.

Overseeing the production is first-time director Tom Rash. A postal worker by day, Rash was coaxed into the role by his partner, English teacher Ashley Skeffington, MHS’ regular drama supervisor, who is taking a year off.

Rash has a degree in theater but said what ultimately got him past his reticence to pursue the position was his realization that Marblehead is rich with young artistic talent Marblehead, and many of his cast members would have cut their teeth in the Marblehead Little Theatre or North Shore Children’s Theatre’s youth productions.

He is “very glad” he pushed that initial hesitancy, Rash said.

“I’m having such a good time,” he said. “The kids are extremely