11.22.2023 - Volume 2, Issue 1 by MHDcurrent

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SPORTS

ARTS

EVENT

Thanksgiving game preview

Red carpet for MHS students’ movie

Meet ‘Spotlight’ journalist Walter Robinson

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IN THIS ISSUE

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MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25

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NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.

November 22, 2023

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GROWING THE FAMILY

Keepers of the football flame

Celebrating 40 years, Gridiron Club seeks to increase ranks BY KRIS OLSON Along with turkey and pumpkin pie, many have long deemed football and family essential parts of Thanksgiving. But football and family are also central to the mission of the Marblehead Magicians Gridiron Club, founded in 1983. Given its name, one might have guessed the “football” part. But “family” is a key concept, too. Organized by the Gridiron Club, on senior night, members of the MHS football team,

cheerleading squad and band report to midfield with their parents. The moms get bouquets of flowers, and photos are taken, which are then made into plaques commemorating the dedication not just of the player but his support system as well. Perhaps more importantly, the Gridiron Club annually awards over $20,000 in scholarships to local student-athletes. “There are really no parameters on it,” said Evan Harris, the club’s president since 2013. “We do take care of football players, but we also take

care of other student-athletes and family members.” Harris calls handing out the scholarship checks and chatting with the winners his favorite presidential duty. A treasured possession is his box full of thank-you notes from the grateful recipients. Collectively, those nuclear families — and decades of their predecessors — also form a broader Gridiron Club “football family.” For that family, too, the week of Thanksgiving is a big one, even beyond the annual Thursday morning clash with

rival Swampscott. On Monday night, members of the Gridiron Club get together with their Swampscott counterparts for their annual old-timers’ banquet. The event was expected to have a bit more star power this year, with former Gov. Charlie Baker serving as special guest speaker. Then on Tuesday night, the Gridiron Club hosts a “steak feed” to allow the current Magicians and their coaches a last bit of bonding before the big game. These activities are

accomplished without a golf tournament or some other big fundraising event. Instead, the Gridiron Club has sustained GRIDIRON, P. A8

MARBLEHEAD RETURNS TO THE TOP

Magicians win Powderpuff classic BY JOE McCONNELL The Marblehead High powderpuff flag football squad sent Jacqui Bouchard, the team’s senior class advisor, off in style after an 18-year run along the sidelines with a 21-14 win over their Swampscott counterparts at Piper Field on Saturday, Nov. 18. Bouchard knows something about playing in this game, having suited up for it in 1993. She can certainly appreciate what it means to them. It’s only one game, but the players are willing to sacrifice for six weeks with daily weeknight practices just to compete in this annual tradition on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. And now to win it after Swampscott won the last two made this experience even sweeter. “We knew what we wanted to do, and we wanted to win it for (Bouchard), so she could leave on a good note,” said defensive coordinator Cam Comstock, who also plays on the boys basketball team. “We wanted to make her proud, and I think we definitely did that.” Comstock went on to say,

CURRENT PHOTOS / KRIS OLSON

The Marblehead High powderpuff flag football team celebrates its 21-14 win over rival Swampscott in the annual game at Piper Field.

Marblehead High powderpuff flag football fans cheer on the team to a 21-14 victory.

“Swampscott was a tough team, but we told the girls to follow the game plan, do their job and they’ll win, which they did.” The Magicians dominated the first half, leading at halftime, 14-0. The Marblehead defense limited Swampscott to only three first downs throughout the first two quarters of the game. At 4:11 of the first quarter, LeDaisha Williams, No. 80 in

your program, finished off the opening drive of the game with a short one-yard run to the endzone. Williams ran the ball three other times in that drive, compiling a big 38 yards to keep her offensive teammates moving in the right direction. Placekicker Rachel Albert tacked on the extra point to put the home team ahead, 7-0. With 17 seconds left in the CLASSIC, P. A9

BALANCING ACT

Resident loses fight over eco-friendly heating/AC system Case highlights tension between preservation, climate change measures BY WILLIAM J. DOWD The Marblehead Select Board unanimously upheld a decision requiring Front Street homeowner Sally Thompson to relocate exterior electric heat and air conditioning equipment on her historic home, despite her pleas of financial hardship. The Select Board rejected Thompson’s appeal of an order from the Old and Historic Districts Commission, demanding she move heat and air conditioning line sets attached to the outside of her house at 34 Front St. by March 2024. The OHDC said the highly visible line sets violated historic preservation rules prohibiting

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CURRENT PHOTO / WILLIAM J. DOWD

Sally Thompson, center standing, makes her case before the Marblehead Select Board to allow exterior heat and air conditioning units to remain on her home in the town’s historic district during an appeal hearing.

modern equipment in public view. Thompson installed the line sets in 2020 without seeking

approval from the OHDC, which she argues was closed at the time because of COVID-19.

In her appeal, Thompson cited, in part, financial hardship, saying moving the lines indoors

could cost up to $20,000. She noted other homes have visible exterior air conditioners, arguing, “It makes me feel like this has been a very arbitrary and capricious decision.” OHDC Chairman Charles Hibbard told the Select Board the commission worked extensively with Thompson over four hearings before finally issuing its order. “The commission reiterated their objections to the visible line sets and asked the owner to consult an HVAC contractor about moving them,” Hibbard said. “Based on the owner’s testimony, it did not appear to HISTORIC, P. A7

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A2 Wednesday, November 22, 2023 Marblehead Current

Select Board sets Town Meeting table BY WILLIAM J. DOWD On Nov. 15, the Select Board unanimously approved four motions to open the warrant for the 2024 Town Meeting. The motions set key dates for Town Meeting, which serves as the legislative body for the town and allows residents to vote on budgets, bylaws, home-rule petitions and resolutions. The Town Meeting will take place on Monday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in the Veterans Middle School Auditorium at Duncan Sleigh Square, 217 Pleasant St. The warrant is now open for voters to sponsor warrant articles — known as citizen petitions — until Friday, Jan. 19 at noon.

Residents pack Marblehead Veterans Middle School for the 2023 Annual Town Meeting. The 2024 Town Meeting will take place on Monday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in the same location.

Meanwhile, the cutoff for town government boards and commissions to sponsor warrant articles is Jan. 26 at noon. “The opening of the warrant is an exciting

time for our local democracy,” said Town Moderator Jack Attridge. “It allows citizens and the town to present articles for approval that eventually become the agenda for Town Meeting.” Attridge, who is set to preside over his second Town Meeting in May, encouraged residents to closely follow public meetings leading up to the civic gathering and to participate in the democratic process by attending on May 6. “Town Meeting is truly of the people, by the people and for the people,” he said. “I hope everybody plans to attend and make their voice heard.” Questions? Reach out to Attridge at Jack@ AllMarblehead.com.

COVID fraud charges dropped against monk, lawyer BY WILLIAM J. DOWD A federal judge has officially dismissed criminal charges against a Marblehead monk and his lawyer, formerly accused of defrauding pandemic relief programs. U.S. District Judge David Hennessy approved the prosecutors’ motion filed on Nov. 8 to drop charges against the Rev. Fr. Brian Andrew Bushell and Tracey M.A. Stockton.

The pair had been accused of fabricating employee numbers and payroll expenses to obtain $3.6 million in federal loans. In September, prosecutors charged Bushell and Stockton with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and unlawful monetary transactions. But in a brief filing, prosecutors said dismissing the charges was “in the interests of justice” without elaboration. Bushell, a Marblehead

native, founded the St. Paul’s Foundation, a monastic religious organization. He also ran the Marblehead Brewing Co. and Marblehead Salt Co. The Shrine of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Patron of Sailors, Brewers and Repentant Thieves, the religious entity with which Bushell and Stockton are associated, is suing the town of Marblehead for assessing property taxes on 120 Pleasant St. The shrine purchased that

property on Dec. 1, 2020, to expand an Orthodox Christian monastic complex that already included a contiguous property at 124 Pleasant St., the former Bang Tin Gallery, acquired in August 2017. For the past six years, the properties have been an “ongoing construction site” due to “administrative delays and work stoppages engineered” by the town, the shrine alleges in its complaint.

NeWS For PeoPLe, NoT For ProFIT. CO-CHAIRPERSONS

Jessica Barnett Ed Bell NEWSROOM Editor - Leigh Blander

lblander@marbleheadnews.org

Community Editor - Will Dowd wdowd@marbleheadnews.org

Consulting Editor - Kris Olson kolson@marbleheadnews.org

Sports Reporter Joe McConnell

jmcconnell@marbleheadnews.org

Intern - Benji Boyd 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 Kate Haesche Thomson - Vice President of Operations Gene Arnould Jessica Barnett Ed Bell Francie King Robert Peck Donna Rice Richard Weed - Treasurer EDITORIAL BOARD

GOOD GRADE

Honor for Veterans School BY LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead’s Veterans Middle School ranks 30th among Massachusetts middle schools, with a score of 94.09 out of 100, according to a U.S. News and World Report study out last week. “Overall, even without this recognition/ranking, I believe that the holistic experience our students have here at Vets is truly

comparable to the top middle schools in the state. We have an outstanding staff….involved families….and great students!” Principal Matt Fox wrote to the Current. New interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness added, “Vets is a special middle school. I’m very proud of the academic achievement illustrated in the student performance data

recognized by this ranking. It’s evidence of student commitment to hard work, talented educators and a standards-aligned curriculum culminating in middle school.” At a School Committee meeting in August, Fox reported a jump in enrollment at Vets to 238 seventh graders and 211 eighth graders. The survey’s rankings are based on federal government data on

the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years, including test results. Last year, the number of Veterans students scoring “meets or exceeds expectations” on the English Language Arts MCAS increased one percentage point over the previous year to 65%. Math scores rose five percentage points to 66% of students meeting or exceeding expectations.

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 FOUNDERS

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

North of Boston Media Group

NEWS IN BRIEF BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

invites residents to join a conversation on climate change near Red Rock Park in Lynn on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. Environmental scientist Sunil Gulab will lead a brief walking tour to discuss how climate change impacts local communities. State Rep. Dan Cahill, chair of the Legislature’s Joint Environment Committee, will also participate. Attendees are asked to dress for winter weather and wear comfortable shoes. The event will focus on how to support candidates in 2024 elections who are committed to combating climate change. Email 3rdEssexDems@gmail.com for more information.

The Current welcomes submissions (150200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to wdowd@marbleheadnews.org.

Hearing delayed for plans to demolish historic home The Planning Board announced a continuance for its hearing on plans to demolish the historic home at 84 Harbor Ave. on the Neck. Owners want to build a new house further back on the same lot, due to concerns about climate change and rising sea levels. The plan has prompted an outcry from some neighbors and residents who want the building preserved.

‘As-needed’ parking ban approved

Marblehead Police receive $48K for surveillance equipment The Marblehead Police Department has been awarded a $48,709 state grant to purchase new surveillance technology. The funds come from an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program administered by the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. Police say the money will be used to buy a solar-powered rapid deployment pole camera system for mobile video monitoring of public areas and large events. The camera can be quickly set up and provide live video feeds to police monitors.

Hazard mitigation plan input

The town is seeking input through Dec. 6 on its updated hazard mitigation plan. The plan outlines ways to reduce risks from natural hazards and climate change. The Federal Emergency Management Agency-approved plan allows the town to apply for pre-disaster mitigation grants. Residents can view the plan on the town’s website at Marblehead.org or at Abbot Hall. For more information, contact Rebecca Curran Cutting, town planner, rebeccac@ marblehead.org.

Resident lectures on pharmacology Marblehead resident Dr. Frank Massaro, director of pharmacy at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, was a keynote speaker at the 11th National Congress of the Italian Society of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapy in Verona on

COURTESY PHOTO / RICK DODGE

The Planning Board granted a continuance until next month to the owners of this historic home who want to demolish it and build a larger one farther back on the site.

Oct. 19. Massaro described U.S. clinical pharmacy education and practice to more than 200 pharmacists. He served as a visiting professor at the University of Pavia’s department of drug sciences, introducing methods for integrating scientific information with patient assessment skills to ensure safe and effective medication use. Founded in 1361, the University of Pavia in Lombardy is 30 miles south of Milan. Massaro was the first American pharmacist invited to teach there.

2023 gingerbread festival

The Marblehead Museum’s annual Gingerbread Festival runs Dec. 1-3 at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Participants can drop off homemade gingerbread houses Nov. 30 before the public showcase. Prizes will be awarded for creativity. Entry is free; tickets are $5-$20. Proceeds benefit playgrounds. Registration: bit.ly/47zalJj

Climate change event

The Third Essex Democratic Committee

The Select Board has voted to implement an “as-needed” parking ban during snow emergencies. During a declared snow emergency, on-street parking will be prohibited starting at midnight the day of the expected storm through 7 a.m. If a snow emergency lasts more than one day, the parking ban will be in effect each night of the emergency. Vehicles parked on streets in violation of the ban are subject to ticketing and towing. The town will notify residents of declared snow emergencies through its website, CodeRED phone alerts, social media, local cable TV and other available means.

Volunteer opportunities

The following is a list of vacancies on appointed town boards, commissions and committees. Anyone interested in serving should submit a letter of interest and resume to the Select Board at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St. or by email to wileyk@ marblehead.org. Call the Select Board’s office at 781-631-0000 for more information: » One vacancy on the Finance Committee for a three-year term. » One opening on the Historical Commission for a three-year term. » Three vacancies on the Cultural Council, each for three-year terms. » One opening on the Disabilities Commission for a three-year term. » One one-year vacancy on the Task Force Against Discrimination. » One vacancy on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for a one-year term. Leigh Blander contributed to this report.

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 22, 2023 A3

SCHOOL NEWS

Principals for a Day take over elementary schools BY LEIGH BLANDER If you happened to walk past the principal’s office at the Brown or Glover schools last week, you might have done a double take. Third-graders Grace Cummings and Georgia Olson were in charge at the Brown and Glover, respectively. The two students won the third annual Principal for a Day raffle organized by the nonprofit Friends of the Marblehead Public Schools. The two girls led morning announcements, visited classrooms and ate lunch with their “real” principals and a buddy of

COURTESY PHOTOS

Principal for the Day Georgia Olson with Hope Doran at the Glover School.

their choosing. “My favorite part of the day was having lunch in the principal’s office with my friend,” Cummings said. “I also got to observe my sister’s kindergarten

Principal for a Day Grace Cummings with Mary Maxfield outside the Brown School.

class.” Brown Principal Mary Maxfield gave Cummings straight As. “Grace was an excellent principal,” Maxfield said. “She worked hard,

helped children and made everyone feel safe and happy. If she chooses to be a principal someday, she will surely succeed at it.” In the morning, Maxfield asked Cummings

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for the 2024-25 school year. The grant process opens mid-December for any community member who has an educational enrichment idea. Grants for the 202324 school year included funding for socialemotional learning books at Brown and Glover, coding bots and Glover and an enhanced preschool playground at Glover. For more information, go to friendsofmarblehead.org.

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how she was feeling and Grace replied, “A little nervous.” Maxfield quickly responded, “That’s OK. I was nervous on my first day, too.” At Glover School, Olson was eager to take charge. “I’m most excited to supervise the first grade classrooms,” she said. Friends of the Marblehead Public Schools raised $4,000 through the raffle. The money will be used for grants

Site Plan Approval Public Hearing Marblehead Planning Board The Marblehead Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the application of Groom Construction Company Inc, for a site plan approval special permit for the construction of a new single-family structure located at 29 Pinecliff Drive within a Shoreline Single Residence District. This public hearing will be held under Section 200 -37 of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 7:00 pm and can be attended either in person at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington Street, in the select board’s meeting room, or remotely on zoom. Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, the public can listen and/or view this meeting while in progress via the remote participation platform Zoom through this link: https://us06web.zoom. us/j/85930238601?pwd=t31JYVvAvbu68ZLUL2yrTfrwTlTUkH.1 or Dial in +1 646 558 8656 US Meeting ID: 859 3023 8601, Passcode: 761248 project materials available for download at town of Marblehead website planning board page https://www.marblehead.org/ planning-board under the date of meeting. Interested persons may attend the meeting or submit comment in writing electronically and send to lyonsl@marblehead.org or rebeccac@marblehead.org and the comments will be read aloud and entered into the record. Robert Schaeffner, Chairman

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A4 Wednesday, November 22, 2023 Marblehead Current

Opinion EDITORIAL

Volunteering our thanks

This week family and friends will gather around the holiday table and count their many blessings. Thanksgiving arrives at a particularly meaningful time this year, with so many facing hardship and loss both at home and around the world. At the Current, we will be giving special thanks to our loyal readers, subscribers, advertisers and donors. Without your support, bringing you quality local journalism, week after week, would not be possible. We truly appreciate you. In that spirit, we also owe a debt of gratitude to the many volunteer-based organizations and programs that help make Marblehead a more caring, inclusive, eco-friendly and culturally vibrant community. A non-exhaustive list of worthy organizations would include: » SPUR Inc. (781-451-7787, info@spurnorthshore. org). Its primary mission: matching volunteers with “meaningful service and enrichment opportunities” throughout our community. An extra shout out to SPUR’s Holiday Cheer Drive, supplying winter essentials and holiday gifts to local children and their families, and to homeless adults in our area. » The faith leaders who make up the 20-member Marblehead Ministerial Association. Through counseling, education and spiritual guidance, in joyful times and in difficult ones, they serve as a reminder that diferent ways of worship need not divide us but inspire our better selves. » The Marblehead Counseling Center (marbleheadcounseling.org), a nonprofit mental health center providing a wide array of client services to individuals and families, including those of limited means. The holidays can be extra stressful, making the center an even more valuable resource at this time of year. » Organizations serving under-resourced families. Among these: the Marblehead Food Pantry (781631-5335); Family Table, run by Jewish Family &Children’s Service (781-693-138); the Little Free Pantry (littlefreepantrymhd@gmail.com); and two nonprofits making grants to individuals and families facing unexpected financial crises, Making Ends Meet (makingendsmeetmarblehead. org) and Marblehead Female Humane Society (marbleheadfemalehumanesociety.org), the town’s oldest charitable organization. » Organizations funding extracurricular programming at local public schools. High fives to Friends of the Marblehead Public Schools, which underwrites educational enrichment for grades K-12, and Friends of the Performing Arts (781-639-3140), which helps keep chorus, orchestra, band and theater programming humming. » Community-based groups striving to make Marblehead a “No Place for Hate” community. Kudos to the Marblehead Task Force Against Discrimination (781-631-0000), Marblehead Racial Justice Team (infomrjteam@gmail.com), Marblehead League of Women Voters Racial Justice Team (LWVMarblehead@gmail.com) and Marblehead High School’s Team Harmony, which promotes diversity and anti-bias efforts throughout our public schools. » The Marblehead Family Fund (mhdfamilyfun. org). It raises money to maintain and improve community playgrounds, most recently the new Hobbs Playground, a cherished resource for all young children and their families. » Sustainable Marblehead (sustainablemarblehead. org.), which aims to reduce waste and pollution and make Marblehead net zero carbon emissions by 2040, and the Marblehead Conservancy (marbleheadconservancy.org), dedicated to preserving our natural open spaces. » The Marblehead Animal Shelter (781-631-8664, marblehead-animal-shelter.org). A no-kill, nonprofit shelter run by Friends of Marblehead’s Abandoned Animals, it welcomes volunteers for cat feeding, cage cleaning and other pet-friendly duties. » Organizations devoted to our elderly population. The Marblehead Council on the Aging (781-6316225) is an advocacy group offering services and programming that promote healthy aging, while the Edith Dodge Memorial Fund (edithdodgemf.org) distributes holiday cards and gifts to residents over age 80 plus all senior housing residents. Please consider donating goods, time and dollars to these and other volunteer-driven nonprofits. Our community is made stronger by them, and by the individuals who run and fund them. They deserve our collective thanks as we enter this holiday season of celebration.

CORRECTION

Our Nov. 15 editorial incorrectly stated the number of drug-related fatalities in Marblehead in 2022. There was one.

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY

Get thee to a fire pit BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM Lest I be accused of being obsessed with fire, let me share that one of us eight Buckingham siblings once played with matches and lit a neighbor’s yard on fire and subsequently ran away from home. That sibling was not me! But if not obsessed, I am indeed, let’s call it, enthralled. Last year around this time I wrote a column about embracing the onset of early darkness. Wearing it like a cozy blanket. My theory was that if my attitude was one of welcoming the opportunity to retreat and reflect, then these days of waning sunlight would not be something to get through, but something to cherish. As I often do, I found a book with a wise author’s words to support my approach. Katherine May’s “Wintering” offered a guide through. This year, I need an additional strategy and another wise author. Thankfully, I’ve found both and one involves, you guessed it, fire. I’m a little late to the fire pit craze that took off over the course of the pandemic. Drive through a random neighborhood then, and you’d as likely see smoke rising from someone’s backyard as those ubiquitous strings of lights that transformed once quiet patios into social spaces. But as much as I’ve enjoyed gathering around our new fire pit with friends and family this summer, its use as a means to extend the light of day is, to me, a revelation. (H/T Duffy Byrne for noting kindly, and rather hilariously, that I wasn’t getting the benefit of UV rays from this exposure — science was never my forte!) In the 10 days or so since we turned the clocks back, I’ve successfully resisted putting pajamas on before dinner. And I’ve started a new, decidedly unscientific, ritual. At about 5 p.m. I take our pup April out in the backyard. I have a ball, some treats and a lighter. We spend about 45 minutes or so like that, me throwing the ball, April searching for it, the fire pit lit. There’s still plenty of bird activity to enjoy and puzzle over — a

pair of gulls flying away from the ocean, three blue jays vying at the feeder with multiple sparrows, twice now a red-bellied woodpecker there, too. I would have missed all of this if I stayed indoors. I search out the first visible star and make a wish, another ritual I skip in late fall and winter when I close myself inside too early. A shower of leaves falling, outlined by the flames, makes me laugh in delight. Now the book, another revelation, one Ann Patchett called a “Howling love letter to the world.” It sure is, starting with the title — “The comfort of crows, a backyard year” by Margaret Renkl. Crows? A comfort? Yes, Renkl argues convincingly. She writes about a tradition, new to me, that the “first bird you see on the first day of the new year sets the tone for the next 12 months.” The year she wrote the book, her first bird was a crow which she noted was “smart and brave and loyal.” More research revealed the association with death (thus a murder of crows) but she kept digging and found further links of crows with the traits of adaptability and transformation. Each chapter covers another week throughout the year and is accompanied by original color sketches of the natural world by her brother which deepen her written portrayal of seasons of joy and grief. My plan is to read a chapter per week to take that journey with her through these dark months and soon enough, into the lightening skies of spring. If you were wondering, the sibling who lit the neighbor’s lawn on fire ran away only as far as the downtown corner store where his godfather worked. Mr. Scully quietly called my mother. “Mrs. Smith,” he said, so my brother was none the wiser, “I have someone here for you.” She went and collected him. And as far as I know, he remains an upstanding citizen, father of two, with no pyromaniac tendencies today. I promise I have none either. Just an appreciation of extending my time outdoors a little bit longer. Happy Thanksgiving all, and thank you so much for letting me share my thoughts with you each week. Virginia Buckingham is the president of the Marblehead Current’s board of directors. Her column appears weekly.

FROM THE VAULT

Scandal at the Lee Mansion BY LAUREN McCORMACK From 1804 until 1904, Marblehead National Bank (no relation to today’s Marblehead Bank) owned the Jeremiah Lee Mansion and operated from inside the room that once served as the Lee family’s formal parlor. The head cashier of the bank and his family lived in the east side of the building. The bank was a respected business in town. In the fall of 1903, scandal erupted in town. For a week, word spread in the local newspapers and among residents that Marblehead National Bank’s head cashier, William Reynolds, had misplaced $19,000 of the bank’s funds. Though Reynolds swore he had not pocketed the money, he did admit to covering up the missing cash while he “attempted to trace” it in the books. Despite his protestations of innocence, declaring the missing funds an accounting error, Reynolds was forced to resign and had to call on two of his friends to help pay back the $19,000. While the bank initially claimed to be strong, the loss was too much to bear and it began liquidating shortly thereafter. The federal bank examiners and the district attorney looked into the case, but never prosecuted. Reynolds’ reputation, though, was in ruin and the bank closed after 100 years in business, leading to the sale of the Lee Mansion to the Marblehead Historical Society (now Marblehead Museum).

The roll-top desk William Reynolds used while living and working in the Lee Mansion. Marblehead Museum Collection. Donated in memory of Morrill S. Reynolds, Sr.

William Reynolds, Marblehead Bank’s last cashier, and the struggling bank made headlines in Marblehead, surrounding communities and as far away as Nebraska, Colorado and New York.

COURTESY PHOTOS / MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM

William Reynolds, Marblehead Bank’s last cashier. He and his family were the last people to live in the Lee Mansion, vacating around 1904.

This desk was recently donated to the museum by a direct descendant of William Reynolds. According to the family, this was the actual desk Reynolds used in the Lee Mansion while serving as bank cashier. Lauren McCormack is the Marblehead Museum’s executive director.

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 22, 2023 A5

BOOK BANS

American ideas, ideals and rights… at risk? BY KATHLEEN LEONARDSON Have you ever misplaced a book you were reading? Would you even notice if one book or article disappeared from your overladen bookshelves at home or your library? But what if that book was the one that saved you in your darkest moment? Or if that book opened your eyes to the experiences of unknown others... or held up a mirror to yourself? Or ignited an unquenchable love of literature or science? What would be lost, changed, diminished if that book disappeared? What if it disappeared because someone objected to a word or concept in that book? In America, ideas are the currency of innovation. And innovation leads to change, which can be uncomfortable. Ideas are recorded in books, articles, art and speech and incorporated into how we live our lives. Our mind-bending Big Bang exploding universe of

ideas and thought is another way to describe the results of unfettered American intellectual freedom and its fruits. Book bans seem like a blast from the past, a quaint attempt to control reality. Book bans originate in the urge to obliterate or censor a set of ideas, manifesting a fear of open and free debate. New ideas can seem overwhelming and frightening. Some prefer to remain unchanged, without the need to explain why or compete in the contest of ideas. But this country’s founders chose a form of government where debate and the free exchange of ideas is

central to decision-making by voters, legislators and everyday Americans. The First Amendment enshrines free speech as a foundational principle. Free speech guarantees freedom of thought or ideas. A decision based on limited information or flawed ideas is a bad decision — whether on a personal level or a national level. Education is the process of expanding awareness and human abilities. In our schools, educators choose ageappropriate materials for their students that contribute to this process. Parents have the individual right to opt out of a particular book for their child. However, a parent does not have the right to remove that book from the school curriculum or school or public libraries for all students — that is censorship. School districts and public libraries have thoughtful

protocols and procedures in place to handle book challenges. Book bans are not only an assault on our democracy, they are an insult to our democracy. They violate the First Amendment to the Constitution. For years, it was taken for granted that our democracy could run indefinitely on automatic pilot. We were wrong. Americans must act to safeguard our foundational principles and our democracy itself. What can you do? » Support our local library and librarians (use your library card, attend library programs, become a Friend of the Library, read and support the American Library Association Bill of Rights). Be prepared to stand with both school and public libraries against book bans. » Support state legislation to outlaw book bans and ask our legislators to support these

bills (see SD2673, An Act Regarding Free Expression). » Run for office; support candidates who support the First Amendment. » Have a plan and be ready to respond. » Book bans should concern us all. The League of Women Voters Marblehead recently passed a resolution opposing book bans and in support of the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, co-sponsored the program “Introduction to Intellectual Freedom” with Abbot Public Library and supports SD2673, an act regarding free expression (prohibiting book bans and supporting the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights). Marblehead resident Kathleen Leonardson submitted the above opinion editorial on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Marblehead.

GUEST COLUMN

I see you BY CHRISTINE McCARRISTON My colleague Linda was talking to me about the time her mother was in the ICU, remembering feeling desperate, vulnerable and scared but said those emotions were set aside briefly at times thanks to other patients’ family members who gave her hope and conversation. They were also desperate, vulnerable and scared but were able to provide some sunshine in those difficult days. They saw her and cared. She has since referred to the ICU as the I See You. Only two visitors at a time are allowed in the I See You, but there are often more than two who love the patient enough to sit and wait their turn to say hello and hold their hand. “We all stayed in the waiting room for a long while and the other visitors became like family,” Linda recalled. Linda’s mother had a rare diagnosis and there was a time when doctors told the family to prepare for the worst. Linda’s sister Debbie didn’t believe him, and it wasn’t merely a denial. She just knew her mother was still fighting. Debbie was right. Minimy, as her mother was known to her loved ones thanks to the first grandchild, died years later but she made it through that scary time. During those extremely difficult days, Linda said the families of other I See You patients who waited for hours and days in the waiting room alongside her family offered exactly what they needed: hope. Linda recalled the mom of one patient coming into the waiting room to report that her son had given her a thumbs up. Everyone in the room celebrated like it was their loved one who made such progress, Linda said. These families had never met before. They shared no memories, but the I See You waiting room bond is strong if you’re willing to let others in. “Every time anyone made progress, it was like all of us did.” The I See You brought so many moments of hope to Linda’s family. Her sister Chrissy will never forget the New Year’s Eve she spent in that waiting room. She was there at midnight with New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on TV in the background. It was just her and another woman in the room. “She still remembers when the ball dropped and, without a word, the woman came from across the room and hugged her,” Linda said, adding her sister needed that hug so much at that very moment. It gave her hope.

“We were so vulnerable and literally desperate,” Linda said, but the caring eased the desperation. Another ray of hope came from a former I See You family member. One day the door to the waiting room opened to reveal a small, elderly woman who walked in quietly but who quickly had the attention of everyone there. “I just want you to know, there is hope. We are on the other floor,” she told the families. Her husband had spent days in the critical care unit and now his health was heading in the right direction. She saw herself in that waiting room and wanted to help those who were where she had been. The woman was small in stature but provided the biggest source of light, a symbol of the power of hope to Linda and her family. Linda’s experience reminded me of the time years ago when I felt seen by nurses at a local hospital. My mother and sister were on two different floors, so I was going from floor to floor, room to room, throughout the day, checking on them and giving them updates on each other. After a couple of days of worry, upon exiting the elevator from my sister’s room to my mom’s, I sat on the floor. I needed a minute. A nurse walked by and stopped when she saw me. “Oh, you’re the one with two family members here, right?” she said with an empathetic look. “This is why I always said they should serve wine in the cafeteria.” She made me laugh and gave me the energy to get up and go again. Sometimes those I See You moments happen outside of medical facilities. Recently, a coworker passed my friend and I working on a project. Claribel stopped by our table on her way to get something and said smiling, “I am so happy to see you two back together.” I had been out of work for months; my coworkers missed me but also missed my work buddy and I together. Despite being in the thick of her work, Claribel stopped to really see us. We felt loved and seen in that moment. I love Linda’s term I See You. I believe we all need to be seen at some points in our lives. Thankfully there are people like Claribel and the elderly woman who went out of her way to share her husband’s progress knowing the positive impact it would have on others. Someone really seeing you is a gift, a gift we all need sometimes and one we can also give. Marblehead resident Christine McCarriston writes feature stories — and occasionally columns — for the Marblehead Current.

‘Currently a Paperboy’ cast and crew: front row, from left, Sienna Velandry, Gwyn Anderson, Aidan McKiernan, Foley Wyatt, Matias Watts Cruz, Quinn Schieb, Brady Weed; back row, Will Corsini, Jake Sogland, Izzy Sogland, Ava Genovesi and Rachael Albert

RED CARPET

Warwick to host sold-out screenings of movie by MHS students BY LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead, get ready for your close-up. The Warwick Cinema is screening “Currently a Paperboy,” a movie written, directed and starring Marblehead High School students, on Dec. 4-6. All showings sold out within 24 hours. The Warwick is putting out a red carpet on the first night. “It’s a dream come true. We worked so hard on it,” MHS senior Wyatt Foley told the Current about the movie in September. “It’s a coming-of-age movie,” Foley said. “It is an expression of me growing up in Marblehead and my observations about growing up.” The movie focuses on two brothers. “The older brother, Jackson, is going into his senior year. He plays football, he’s a jock,” Foley explained. “His younger brother, Willard, is just coming into high school, and they don’t get along.” In an effort to salvage their relationship, their mom forces Jackson to bring Willard out on a Friday night. “You know, anything can happen,” he added with a smile. MHS senior Brady Weed stars as Willard. Weed has performed in many plays and musicals, but this experience stands out. “This movie’s all us, every last bit of it,” Weed said. “We all came together and decided that yeah, we were gonna make a movie, and it was gonna be hard, and we would be pretty stressed about it sometimes, but we’d come out of it with a movie that we could watch and laugh at and talk about. And that’s what we did.” ‘Art in its purest form’ Foley, who is president of the MHS Film Club, co-wrote the movie with MHS seniors Gwyn Anderson and Alex Hersey last year. They held auditions in June and filmed for more than 60 hours over the summer.

COURTESY PHOTOS

MHS senior Wyatt Foley directs and films a scene from his movie, ‘Currently a Paperboy.’

“We shot all around old town, Abbot Hall and down to The Landing, Stramski’s, Seaside Park, the lighthouse. We shot the majority of it at the Hersey’s house and outside the Scoglands’ house.” Jake Sogland has a role and composed the soundtrack. Foley shot on a digital single-lens reflex camera and borrowed other equipment from MHS TV production teacher Henry Christensen. “It’s a budget-free film,” Foley said. “That’s why it’s so special. It’s art in its purest form.” “Currently a Paperboy” stars Brady Weed, Matias Watts Cruz, Sienna Velandry, Izzy Sogland, Will Corsini, Lani Gilmore, Alex Hersey, Dante Genovesi, Gretchen Smith, Sabrina Valendry, Keith Hersey and Nathaniel Weiss. Crew members include Alex Hersey, Gwyn Anderson, Piper Morgan, Quinn Schieb, Rachel Albert, Aidan McKiernan, Livia Weiss, Jacke Sogland, Gretchen Smith, Ava Genovesi, Evie Riegle, Micky McCormick, Gabby Hendry and Adelyn Cruikshank.

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SEASCAPES

Local photographer captures New England coast BY WILLIAM J. DOWD In his photography, Marblehead resident Fletcher Boland captures the everchanging personality along New Fletcher England’s Boland coastline. Boland first discovered his passion for photography after graduating from high school. “I started photography when I was probably 19,”

the Sudbury native told the Marblehead Current. “I started studying art first, starting off doing a lot of [metal] sculpture and then, you know, took some photography classes and really got into it.” In the years since, Boland has traveled the U.S. and abroad, honing his skills and photographic eye. But it was settling in Marblehead — where he joined the sailing community and made a home near the rocky coast — that his focus turned to the sea. “I like showing the untouched coastline,

FLETCHER BOLAND PHOTO

Marblehead photographer Fletcher Boland captures a calm sea as falling snow blankets a pebbled shoreline near Preston Beach.

seeing that natural slice of time,” Boland said. From the serene to the tumultuous, his images encapsulate the power of the sea in various states: A foggy beach scene with

gentle, lapping waves. A calm sea as falling snow blankets a pebbled shoreline. The power of the ocean as gale-force winds produce rough whitecaps and spray. A

tranquil beach scene where sand dunes and sparse greenery foreground a vast, open sky. He will also have a solo exhibition at the Marblehead Arts Association, opening Jan. 14 for a six-week run. The book, titled “Sea State,” includes but is not limited to 20 of Boland’s images of Marblehead’s windswept shores alongside scenes from Cape Cod, Maine and beyond. Boland also captured coastal views in Florida, Bermuda, France and the Mediterranean. “The title references

how mariners categorize the ocean’s surface conditions based on the size and shape of waves, which are dictated by wind speed, swell size and other factors,” Boland said. He’s looking for help turning his photographs into a book. “To help make the printing possible and spread the word, I’m launching a Kickstarter campaign [bit. ly/3MGOvMi],” Boland said. “The campaign closes Dec. 2, and each supporter will receive a signed copy of the book.”

Making trips to the pediatrician a little less stressful BY LIZZIE ASSA, PARENTING STRATEGIST The Current is proud to partner with columnist Lizzie Assa, founder of The Workspace for Children, a parenting strategist, play expert and mother of three who lives in Marblehead. Send your questions to Lizzie at AskLizzie@ marbleheadnews.org. Dear Lizzie, I’m often at the pediatrician’s with my kids, and the waiting room has become a test of patience. Can you suggest ways to make the wait less tedious?

Dear reader, With the arrival of the cooler months, many of us are spending a lot of time in the pediatrician’s waiting room. While this can be a challenging space for keeping little ones contained and entertained, I’ve gathered some tips to help make your visits less daunting. Involve your kids in preparing for the trip to the pediatrician. Say, “We might have to wait for a bit while we are at the doctor’s office today. Waiting can be so hard, even for the grownups! Last time you brought your favorite coloring book and that really helped. Do you have any ideas for this time?”

ANNOUNCING: A special, pre-holiday Instagram Live event with Ask Lizzie from the Marblehead Current and Mud Puddle Toys:

Involving your kids in coming up with a plan gives them back some control, which often helps with behavior. You can even encourage them to pack a small backpack of things to keep themselves occupied. Kids often thrive when trusted with genuine responsibility, and you may find yourself pleasantly surprised by how well they handle the task. Here are a few more

tips to help you manage the pediatrician’s waiting room during sick season: Pack a few small toys — whether it’s action figures, dolls or cars, these can be a great distraction. If you really want to keep the kids focused, try keeping these toys out of the usual rotation. Save them for trips to the pediatrician so that novelty is on your side. Sick kids usually mean extra screen time. If you are worried about overstimulation from too

` WHEN: Thursday, November 30 at noon ` WHERE: Tune in to instagram.com/MHDcurrent ` WHAT: Current columnist and nationally-recognized play expert Lizzie Assa will be broadcasting live from Mud Puddle Toys, answering your pre-holiday questions and providing gift ideas.

many screens but need an app to keep the kids entertained, try Pok Pok, an ad-free digital playroom that’s both engaging and calm. You don’t even need wifi to access it. It’s completely open-ended and your child can pace their experience. For a special offer, use the code 50WORKSPACE to get a free trial and a discount on their annual subscription. A good picture book of

short stories can be very helpful in a pinch. Bring one along that offers the same characters on various adventures. Our favorites include “George and Martha,” “Frog and Toad” or “Little Bear and Friends.” You can also consider downloading your child’s favorite songs or audiobooks, which, with child-friendly headphones, can provide a peaceful escape from a busy waiting room. Reusable sticker books are also a hit, allowing kids to create their own scenes in an immersive but quiet activity. There are so many options to choose from, so you can customize the books to meet your child’s interests. Finally, when all else fails? A packet of Post-it notes can always save the day. Even very young toddlers will have a blast sticking and unsticking Post-it notes to the wall. Bigger kids can make patterns, play counting games or draw silly pictures. Good luck, and remember, a little preparation can go a long way. Lizzie

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 22, 2023 A7

RELYING ON ‘TEAMWORK’

Marblehead, Swampscott sharing building commissioner BY WILLIAM J. DOWD Marblehead and Swampscott have entered into an intermunicipal agreement to share a building commissioner, buying Marblehead some time to figure out a permanent solution. “The current agreement runs through the end of the fiscal year to plug the vacancy and to act as a pilot program,” Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer told the Marblehead Current on Nov. 17. “I am confident that this agreement can also work in the long term.” The Marblehead Select Board appointed Swampscott Building Commissioner

Stephen Cummings as building commissioner unanimously this month. The appointment fills a vacancy created when former commissioner John Albright departed from the administrative role on April 30. The town’s former building commissioner, Bob Ives, had been filling in as an interim solution. Cummings has been hired to fill the role. Cummings brings over 25 years of construction and inspection experience to his new role as part-time building commissioner in Marblehead. Cummings has served as the building commissioner in Swampscott for the past two years. Prior to

COURTESY PHOTO / THE TOWN OF SWAMPSCOTT

Stephen Cummings was appointed as the new parttime building commissioner for Marblehead under an intermunicipal agreement with Swampscott, where he also serves as building commissioner.

that, he worked for five years as a local inspector in Salem,

where he became certified as a building commissioner during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before his time in Salem, Cummings owned his own construction company for 20 years. Between his construction business, inspector roles in Swampscott and Salem, and his building commissioner certification, Cummings has approximately 27 years of relevant industry experience that made him well-qualified to take on the building commissioner job in Marblehead, according to Marblehead officials. With the Select Board approving the inter-municipal

agreement, Cummings will devote 16 hours to Marblehead per week. Before the Select Board vote, Cummings said he relies on teamwork when asked about managing both towns. “If we have a good team, I think we can all work together and get it done,” he said. “I have very good time management.” Select Board member Moses Grader said he was “glad” Cummings emphasized teamwork. “Your position is a very leveraged position, so very important for us to fill that gap and make our team more efficient,” Grader told Cummings.

BOARD OF HEALTH

Internal dynamics, Transfer Station update top discussion BY WILLIAM J. DOWD Candid discussion about ongoing tensions among members opened the Marblehead Board of Health’s meeting on Tuesday. Board member Joanne Miller said, “What we’re kind of missing is: Working as a board is hard when you can’t talk outside of meetings.” Under the Open Meeting Law, a majority of officials serving on the same governing board cannot meet privately outside of an official public meeting and discuss board of health business. For a three-member board, a majority would consist of two members. Therefore, if two of the three board members were to meet in private and discuss business, this would constitute an unlawful meeting lacking proper public notice and access. “When you work with people, you often get a chance to know them by having conversations with them, and learning about them and learning their stories and what’s important to them and how they see things and what their perspectives are,” Miller said. She added they haven’t had the chance to carry that out. “And I just think it’s a really, really important part of working together, building trust through conversation,” Miller said. She went on to praise recent collaborative efforts by the board, including unanimous votes to expand to five members and approve making fentanyl test strips and narcan available in town. She also praised the idea for a public health advisory committee.

Historic From P. A1

the commission as if any efforts were made to do this.”

Preservation vs. climate change goals The dispute over Thompson’s air conditioning equipment highlights the balancing act Marblehead faces in preserving its historic Colonial aesthetic while also meeting the town’s climate change goals. The town seeks to maintain the charm and traditional architecture that defines its character, with bylaws governing visible changes to buildings. But Marblehead also has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040, requiring conversion to renewable technologies that may clash with historic appearances. This case encapsulates that tension — external placement risks blemishing Marblehead’s carefully manicured historic streetscapes.

increasingly frustrated over the years over delays to modernize the Transfer Station. “I would have loved to have been starting construction today,” Petty said.

Public health advisory committee WILL DOWD/CURRENT PHOTO

Dr. Thomas Massaro of Marblehead proposed a public health advisory committee in town.

“I think now with the news The Boston Globe was talking about what happened in Lynn this past week with millions of fentanyl pills that were confiscated ... now we’ve got these strips, and I’m really grateful that you lead with that,” Miller said, thanking fellow member Tom McMahon for originally proposing that measure. McMahon voiced frustrations over his difficulty getting items added to agendas. “I go into every meeting and my mentality is I have to insert this in somewhere. Helaine is going to object [and] obstruct, and I have to convince Joanne — and that’s my mentality every meeting and that’s never the way it should be,” he said, referring to Chair Helaine Hazlett. Hazlett said she looked forward “to healthy discussions, collegiality and addressing issues to improve the health of our residents.” She added, “It takes a lot of teamwork to do that.” Meanwhile, the future of public health was a main focus during Tuesday’s meeting.

Transfer Station

Public Health Director Andrew

According to Thompson’s attorney, Kenneth Shutzer, Mitsubishi mini-split units — those installed by Thompson — are advanced air conditioning systems that operate without traditional ducts. These systems consist of an outdoor unit, known as a compressor, which is connected to smaller indoor units that are typically mounted on walls in various rooms. This configuration allows for temperature control on a roomby-room basis rather than needing to cool or heat an entire building, leading to energy savings. These systems are more energy-efficient. They are capable of both cooling and heating a home and are designed to consume less electricity compared with older air conditioning models. Their efficiency is further enhanced by features such as precise speed controls, dual compressors and improved heat exchanger designs, which contribute to better performance and reduced energy wastage.

Petty said the trailer at the Transfer Station will be replaced starting Nov. 30. He estimated it will take 2 1/2 days to remove the old trailer, install the new one and get it operational. The work will cost a total of $6,000; $2,200 for the trailer and the rest for labor by local contractors. Petty said he hopes to keep the Transfer Station open for residents during the work but that it may need to close at times. The long-delayed renovation project at the Transfer Station has hit yet another snag. Petty told the Board of Health that while the town has submitted all necessary construction documents, it is still awaiting final permit approval from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to move forward with the project. Petty said the town’s hands are tied until MassDEP gives the green light. The town’s project engineer planned to get clarity on the timeline for permit approval. Once permitting is secured, Marblehead can initiate the bidding process, which Petty hopes to start early next year. Residents have grown

‘She’s being punished’

Mark Adams, chair of the Sustainable Marblehead Working Group for Green Homes and Buildings, has been advocating for more flexibility on renewable technologies in the Old and Historic District. “The woman whose case this was converted from oil or natural gas to electrical heating, which is absolutely the right thing to do,” said Adams. “She’s being punished for it.” He added prohibiting visible climate-friendly infrastructure imposes an unreasonable burden on residents trying to reduce their carbon footprints. “When Thompson pursued moving the air conditioning line sets indoors, her contractors told her it would cost an additional $18,000.” according to Adams. “The solution desired by the commission is not costeffective for most homeowners.” Adams proposed a Town Meeting warrant article that would require the OHDC to

Dr. Thomas Massaro, a retired physician and former public health official who lives in Marblehead, spoke in favor of an advisory committee focused on improving the town’s public health capacity. “I propose a subcommittee on the future of public health, or whether you call it a planning group or whatever, that would be advisory to you all who have the elected authority,” Massaro told the board. “It would develop background information to present issues to the board and the town for conversation.” Massaro argued the COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant gaps in the country’s decentralized public health system. He said Marblehead should assess its needs and plan for the future. “The federal government really was unprepared to deal with a crisis like it had, whether it was the White House or the Food and Drug Administration or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” Massaro said. “By and large, all things considered, I think the local jurisdictions, the local communities did a fantastic job.” He recommended the advisory committee conduct community health assessments, examine local data and engage residents. Members would focus on issues like health disparities, mental

update its guidelines to be more open to solar panels and heat pumps. Rather than go to a vote, Adams met with the OHDC and they came to an agreement to change the guidelines without needing the Town Meeting action. Specifically, the guidelines previously banned any visible solar panels but now allow them at the OHDC’s discretion. There is also no longer an outright ban on exterior heat pump lines. While approvals will still be evaluated carefully case-by-case, the changes show increased flexibility.

Marblehead an ‘outlier’ Schutzer claimed Marblehead is an outlier in banning visible pumps, noting “many other towns with historic districts allow exterior heat pump equipment.” He argued strict enforcement absent considerations like emissions reductions is against the spirit of Marblehead’s renewable energy initiatives.

health, climate change and better coordination with the medical community. Members have embraced the idea, but they haven’t taken a formal vote establishing a committee. Residents interested in serving should reach Petty at pettya@ marblehead.org.

In other business

The board unanimously approved Marblehead’s continued participation in the North Shore Public Health Collaborative, an intermunicipal partnership funded by the state. Petty said the collaborative has allowed Marblehead to share resources like disease surveillance, inspections and health education staffing across seven North Shore communities. He added plans to hire more shared staff, including a regional social worker and community health worker, are underway. In 2022, Marblehead had eight drug-related overdoses and a fatality. This year has seen eight overdoses, and two were fatalities. The board also discussed the distribution of free fentanyl test strips, with McMahon advocating for expanded accessibility. “The more you have, the better,” he said. “I think the fire station is by far the best ... because people that are doing drugs — the last place they’re gonna go is the police station.” The test strips are available at the fire and police stations and Mary Alley Municipal Building — with other locations being discussed. The Board of Health’s next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 12.

However, the Select Board maintained it must uphold the narrowly focused historical standards. Select Board members said the OHDC has clear authority over historic appropriateness under the bylaws. “The authority of the OHDC is very, very clear. It’s quite specific,” Select Board member Moses Grader said. “I don’t see arbitrariness here.” Grader expressed sympathy for Thompson’s situation but said allowing an exception could set a problematic precedent. He and other members found the OHDC followed proper procedures in enforcing the rules consistently. “If we were to make an exception in particular cases, that would smack of much greater arbitrariness,” he said. Thompson can still appeal to Land Court but currently faces potential fines if she does not move or conceal the line sets by March.

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Football From P. A1

itself by sending out an appeal by mail and email to everyone from parents just getting their kids started with the youth football program to former Magicians far removed from their playing days. The Gridiron Club continues to embody the vision of its founders, including Tremaine Robarts, Dick Farrell, Elliot Roundy, Bill Gillis, Dr. Robert Jackson, Dr. George MacDonald and its longtime president[d][e], William “Esso” Haines. Haines “molded me in his image” before passing the baton, Harris said. In addition to bleeding red and black, what united the founders was a deep appreciation of the role the game of football had played in their successful careers. Their names — and those of other members of the Gridiron Club family — grace the club’s scholarships. Gillis’ son, Bill Jr., said he can still remember during his childhood his father making sure he knew when he was in the presence of Marblehead

GRIDIRON CLUB

The Gridiron Club’s trove of Marblehead football memorabilia includes this photo of the 1918 MHS team that beat Swampscott 59-0, which is largest winning margin in the history of the rivalry, and an original ticket to attend a game at Seaside Park between Marblehead and Scott High School of Toledo, Ohio. Because Seaside had no fences, tickets had to be worn on attendees’ clothing, the Gridiron Club explains.

football greats, like Robarts, the first inductee into the Gridiron Club Hall of Fame, who went from Marblehead to Temple University and then played professionally. “I grew up in Marblehead with my dad telling me stories about these guys,” Gillis said. “[He’d say,] ‘Hey, look at that guy. He was a great player. He was tough as nails.’” Part of the Gridiron Club’s purpose is to ensure that others can continue to forge such an enduring connection to the history of Marblehead football. “These are real people,” Gillis said. “They lived in Marblehead. They grew up here, and they all had stories.”

As just one example, current coach Nick Broughton is a fourthgeneration member of the Marblehead program. His great-grandfather played in 1918, followed by his grandfather and father, too. In Gillis’ senior year, the team was not so legendary. It went 1-9 and may have been lucky even to get that one win, he said. “But those are still my best friends,” he said. “It didn’t matter if we won or lost.” He added, “There’s just something about [playing football]. It’s a shared commitment.” Given the program’s 2021 Super Bowl win, it can be easy to forget what dire straits Marblehead football was in only a

couple of decades ago. But as the saying goes, when times are tough, you find out who your true friends are. The Gridiron Club’s loyalty never wavered. The club supported the youth football club, paid stipends for coaches and bought equipment, even when many had written off the program, Gillis said. “They were giving out scholarships to kids who played when there were 18 kids on the varsity team,” he said. With the team’s recent success, the club is getting a just reward. Even as it celebrates its 40th anniversary, the Gridiron Club is also mourning the loss of Farrell, its historian, who had stockpiled a century’s worth of newspaper

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COURTESY PHOTO

President Evan Harris saves in the box at left all of the many thank-you cards from grateful recipients of Gridiron Club scholarships he has received over the years.

clippings and other memorabilia. Farrell, who was inducted into the Marblehead Football Hall of Fame in 2008, died on June 2 at the age of 90. The Gridiron Club displayed some of its memorabilia in the Old Town House before it was renovated. In the days ahead, the club hopes to find a new home for a mini-museum, according to Gillis. But there is already a virtual equivalent under construction on the Gridiron Club’s website, mhdgridiron. com, thanks to Gillis. The online archive currently contains a relative wealth of material from the 1930s, which Haines and the other founders considered the pinnacle of Marblehead football. The Magicians’ recent renaissance under Jim Rudloff is also well represented. But there are gaps, including from the 1980s and 1990s. The Gridiron Club would welcome donations of images and other memorabilia from this era or, better yet, new members who could also share from their own memories.

Every now and then, Gillis will find vintage Marblehead game film on eBay and buy it, though digitizing such finds to enable them to be shared online is a bit pricey, he said. While the online archive will continue to be a work in progress, another new function on the website is up and running: the ability to sign up new members and accept donations to its scholarship fund. Memberships start at $25. As you are out and about during Thanksgiving week, keep a lookout for the Gridiron Club’s displays with MarbleheadSwampscott football trivia at local bars and coffee shops. Scan the QR code to get the answer to the question, sign up to receive the Gridiron Club’s email newsletter list or join as a member. It is all part of trying to grow the Gridiron Club “family,” which will enable the club to perpetuate its philanthropy and preservation of Marblehead football lore. “Someone did it for us,” Harris said. “We’re doing it for them, and hopefully they’ll do it for the next generation.”

Delicious Homemade Authentic Greek Cuisine New Lunch Hours Open at 11:30 Tuesday-Sunday New Lunch Menu! A family owned and operated Greek restaurant with the goal of providing our customers with excellent service and superior quality food

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BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

FINAL-18 CP_MBHC_20231122_1_A09 Mon, Nov 20, 2023 3:37:01 PM

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 22, 2023 A9

Sports THANKSGIVING SHOWDOWN

Division title on the line Thursday Magicians, winners of three straight Thanksgiving games, ready to renew rivalry BY JOE McCONNELL The high school football season has once again come down to bragging rights in Swampscott and Marblehead. In recent years, both teams have had Super »Rivalry though Bowl games the years: to plan for, Full-page but the graphic, Page 11. Thanksgiving Day game was still a priority for coaches, players and their respective towns alike. This year marks the 114 th time both teams will be playing on the holiday, with Marblehead winning 58 of them. Six games ended in ties. Overall, they have played seven additional regular season games. The Big Blue won four of those contests, while two of those seven games were ties. The Magicians won last

year’s game going away, 48-7. This year’s game is scheduled to be played at Swampscott’s Blocksidge Field (Nov. 23, 10 a.m.). Both teams qualified for the playoffs. Swampscott (6-4 overall, 2-1 in the Northeastern Conference Dunn Division), the 12th seed in Division 6, lost to Lynnfield in a Sweet 16 game, 28-0. Marblehead (4-5 overall, 3-0 in the NEC Dunn Division) was the 14 th seed in Division 4. They defeated Middleborough in a Sweet 16 game on the road, 21-12, before dropping a 17-6 decision to host Grafton in an Elite 8 game. But a win on Thanksgiving by either squad would give them not just the aforementioned bragging rights, but also a conference divisional championship. With much on the line,

COURTESY PHOTO / EYAL OREN, WEDNESDAYS IN MARBLEHEAD

Marblehead senior football captain Andy Palmer (6), looks for the endzone during a game this year. He’s been been a reliable target for his young quarterbacks Colt Wales and Finn Gallup to go to in clutch situations to sustain many drives.

Marblehead coach Jim Rudloff likes the position his team is in right now, heading into Thursday’s game. Rudloff has seen his club bounce back nicely after losing its first four games this year.

“Our improved play over the past six weeks was really a result of the team getting healthy, and getting more varsity experience,” he said. But Rudloff is not taking

Classic From P. A1

first quarter, Talia Selby, on the first play from scrimmage, scampered 59 yards for six more points. Albert added the exclamation point once again to complete the team’s second drive of the game. The Big Blue cut the Marblehead lead in half to begin the second half at 11:43 of the third quarter. But the Magicians got it right back four minutes later on a 24-yard dash to the end zone by captain Maeve Mcllroy. Albert then nailed her third straight extra point. The Swampscott girls kept on battling. They finally made it a seven-point game again on a touchdown run from the three with just over four minutes left in the game. But then, the home team was able to kill the rest of the clock to secure Bouchard’s final powderpuff win as its senior class advisor. Comstock thought cornerback Eva Walton stood out on defense. “(Walton) held down her side of the field, to say the least,” he added. Williams was the most outstanding offensive player in this game, according to Comstock, who said, “(Williams) is a stud. She’s definitely the fastest girl I have ever seen. She’s also a national track star, who runs the 40 in 4.7-seconds.” This year’s Marblehead powderpuff flag football coaches are Charlie Sachs (special teams, line), Cam Comstock (defensive coordinator), Hogan Sedky (defensive coordinator), Bodie Bartram (offensive coordinator)

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

CURRENT PHOTOS / KRIS OLSON

A Swampscott blocker gets in the way of Marblehead’s Maeve Mcllroy, and even tries to pull her hair to slow her down during Saturday’s powderpuff flag football classic at Piper Field. The Magicians won the game, 21-14.

and Nick Lemmond (offensive coordinator). The Magician captains are Sophia Hallisey, Colette Rodrigues, Caroline Scroope, Genevieve Rogers, Aoife Bresnahan and Maeve Mcilroy. Christiaan Francoeur is the team manager. Comstock loved the entire coaching experience, and would like to do more of it, but in basketball, his sport of choice. “I like seeing people be successful, and after experiencing this win, I’d like to be a part of more victories as a coach in the future,” he said.

2023 MHS Powderpuff flag football roster This year’s Marblehead roster includes Jasmina Kurtovic (No. 1), Ava Genovesi (No. 39), Katherine Twomey (No. 2), Siena Day (No. 40), Clara Gallagher (No. 3), Kate Dulac (No. 41), Trinity Hobson (No. 4), Madeleine Cole (No. 42), Hannah Atkinson (No. 5), Sofia Grubor (No. 43), Rowan Bean

Running back LeDaisha Williams is shown scoring the first touchdown of the game.

(No. 6), Emiyah Setalsingh (No. 44), Madison Walker (No. 7), Caroline Jones (No. 45), Kathryn Pyne (No. 8), Aviva Bornstein (No. 46), Rose Alvarez Dobrusin (No. 9), Anna Sokolov (No. 47), Eva Walton (No. 9), Sadie Jennings (No. 48), Amelia Singer (No. 10), Sydney Hamilton (No. 49), Lauren Zisson (No.

11), Caroline Scroope (No. 50), Talia Selby (No. 12), Mona Gelfgatt (No. 51), Madeline Bontaites (No. 13), Ava Fagan (No. 52), Alexandra Carter (No. 14), Camille Chandler (No. 54), Maeve Mcllroy (No. 15), Madeleine Gill (No. 55), Avery O’Neil (No. 16), Eliza Ginivisian (No. 56), Lindsey Stafford (No.

anything for granted heading into the game against Swampscott, because he knows both teams have similar characteristics this year. “Swampscott is really just a carbon copy of us,” the veteran Marblehead coach said. “We both run similar schemes. Both teams employ successful spread offenses that can run and pass the ball equally well.” On defense, Rudloff says Swampscott is very disciplined with its 4-3 alignment up front. Their roster is also young and talented, just like his team. “(Swampscott) has a tremendous junior class coupled with some explosive seniors that will give us some problems,” the Marblehead coach added. While Rudloff has two young solidly effective quarterbacks FOOTBALL, P. A10

17), Lillian Church (No. 57), Cassidy Lubeck (No. 18), Alexus Harper (No. 58), Aoife Bresnahan (No. 19), Ava Larco (No. 59), Sophia Wallen (No. 20), Kate Burns (No. 60), Annabelle Smith (No. 21), Katherine Deiana (No. 61), Sophie Dack (No. 22), Meg Maguire(No. 62), Gwyneth Anderson (No. 23), Madeleine Conlon (No. 63), Abigail Ross (No. 24), Casey Killeen (No. 64), Clara Donova (No. 25), Rachel Albert (No. 65), Rebecca Vaynshteyn (No. 26), Shakayla Baxter (No. 66), Amelia Solano (No. 27), Sienna Velandry (No. 67), Sophia Hallisey (No. 28), Alyssa Gentile (No. 68), Chloe Stux (No. 29), Ruby Calienes (No. 70), Emily Tauro (No. 30), Amanda Gilliland (No. 71), Grace Mortenson (No. 31), Summer Doherty-Guy (No. 72), Lucia Levin (No. 32), Johra Warab (No. 75), Genevieve Rogers (No. 33), Alisa Colon (No. 78), Anais Disla Soto (No. 34), Peyton Downey (No. 79), Katelyn Cuzner (No. 35), LeDaisha Williams (No. 80), Colette Rodrigues (No. 35), Remington Tilkens (No. 36), Deyshalee Amadis (No. 37), Alysia Herrey (No. 38), Charlotte Howells, Mia Marchesi and Kawinthida Merrigan.

Sideline, administrative staff Advisor: Jacqueline Bouchard; Team Manager: Christiaan Francoeur; Coaches: Cameron Comstock, Hogan Sedky, Bodie Bartram, Nick Lemmond and Charlie Sachs; Athletic Trainer: Madeline Rowe; Athletic Director: Greg Ceglarski; and Principal: Michele Carlson.

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A10 Wednesday, November 22, 2023 Marblehead Current

HERO AMONG US

Celtics name team’s media center in memory of Heather Walker BY LEIGH BLANDER

Heather Walker at the Garden after her diagnosis. She received the Celtics’ Heroes Among Us award.

Heather Walker of Marblehead, who died in April of an aggressive brain tumor, was honored by the Boston Celtics last week. Walker worked as vice president of public relations for the team for years. The Celtics announced on Monday that they were renaming their media center in her honor. Walker was 52 when she died. “Heather Walker meant everything,” Celtics forward Jaylen Brown said. “She was

the person I worked with a lot early in my career with media stuff, everything I was doing off the court, in the community, or outside of basketball, Heather was handling and coordinating a lot of that stuff. “To know that she’s no longer with us is extremely sad, but for her to get the media center here in the building named after her, it’s great for her legacy and her family to be able to be proud about something.” Walker left behind her husband, Stephen, and their

Heather Walker’s family attended the naming of the media center in her memory. Left to right: Heather’s mom Barbara Michalowski, daughter Taylor Walker, husband Stephen Walker and daughter Sammy Walker. Back row, left to right: Heather’s brother, Roger Michalowski of Marblehead and Stephen Pagliuca, a Celtics co-owner.

two daughters. After her diagnosis, she raised nearly $650,000 for glioblastoma research. “For her not to be here is a loss

for this organization, for sure,” Brown added. “But it’s great to see that in her honor and her memory that we named the media center after her.”

GIRLS CROSS-COUNTRY

O’Connell completes season with second-place finish at All-States; girls end up 18th overall BY JOE MCCONNELL The Marblehead High girls cross-country team participated in the Division 2 All-State Championship Meet on Saturday, Nov. 18, at Fort Devens in Ayer. As a team, they finished 18 th out of 22 competing teams with a total score of 353 points. But individually, it was sophomore running whiz Marri O’Connell dominating a meet once again after coming in second with a time of 18:43 on the challenging Fort Devens. The Top 10 Division 2 All-State finishers are as follows: Maggie Kuchman of Holliston (18:38.71), Marri O’Connell of Marblehead (18:43.89), Emily Flagg of Whitinsville Christian (18:54.68), Lauren Raffetto of Canton (18:58.54), Caroline Collins of Nashoba (18:58.98), Georgia Brooks of Groton-Dunstable (19:20.83), Lily Sallee of Wakefield (19:29.26), Annabelle Lynch of

COURTESY PHOTO / ANGIE FISCHER

The Marblehead High girls cross-country team is shown together after Saturday’s Division 2 All-State Meet at Fort Devens in Ayer, where they finished 18 th overall. They are, from left, coach Will Herlihy, Angie Fischer, Philine Heuermann, Abbie Goodwin, Jesslyn Roemer, Marri O’Connell, Maren Potter, Cat Piper, Shannon Hitscherich and Willow Waddington.

Holliston (19:29.89), Margaret Bowles of Dover-Sherborn (19:32.30) and Kay Dickson of Minnechaug (19:36.64). “It was a difficult week of

practice for (O’Connell), but our greatest triumphs are often born from great adversity, and as a result this was the best race of her already impressive career,”

said coach Will Herlihy. “She pushed the lead pack throughout the race, and was starting to pull away from the second and third place runners, when the eventual

winner (Kuchman) made a move at around the last 600 meters of the race. “(O’Connell’s) time was a 31-second improvement on this course from last year’s championship meet, and it was also the fastest time for any sophomore in all three divisions, plus it was the sixth fastest time on the Devens course across all three divisions. It was the best individual finish for a Marblehead runner since Shalane Flanagan won the meet in 1999,” added Herlihy. O’Connell’s teammates also ran well on a tough course against their state peers. Senior Cat Piper (22:01) finished 87th . Maren Potter (22:04) was right on her heels to secure 91st place. Jesslyn Roemer (22:44), Shannon Hitscherich (24:09) and Abbie Goodwin (24:47) rounded out the Marblehead runners, finishing 117th , 161st and 175th, respectively.

BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY

Magicians finish among the elite statewide BY JOE MCCONNELL The Marblehead High boys cross-country team finished third in the Division 2 All-State Championship Meet at Fort Devens in Ayer on Saturday, Nov. 18. Northeastern Conference rival Danvers (92 points) took home the first-place team trophy, while Marblehead’s Isaac Gross came in second among the overall individual runners after finishing on top in the Division 2 state regional meet at Wrentham on Nov. 11 to lead his teammates to the title. The Top 10 All-State team finishers are as follows: Danvers (92), Ludlow (105), Marblehead (146), Groton-Dunstable (156), Walpole (172), Wakefield (193), Longmeadow (257), AmherstPelham (273) and Boston Latin Academy (274) and Melrose (325). The Top 10 All-State Division 2 individual finishers are as follows: Adam Balewicz of Nashoba Regional (15:33.29), Isaac Gross of Marblehead (16:04.50), Joseph Keroack of

Football From P. A9

— sophomore Finn Gallup and junior Colt Wales — he also likes Swampscott sophomore signal caller Jack Spear, who has thrown for over 250 yards several times this fall. Masconomet transfer running back Sam Nadworny also

Ludlow (16:10.25), Sean Moore of Danvers (16:10.90), Greyson Duane of Groton-Dunstable Regional (16:11.33), Nate Assa of Marblehead (16:13.12), John Garraway of Bedford (16:20.03), Will Cerrutti of Marblehead (16:21.66), Neil Aradhya of

Groton-Regional (16:24.02) and Jonathan Rooney of Danvers (16:24.51). A total of 190 runners participated in Saturday’s All-States. “This is only the third Marblehead boys team to finish in the Top 3 statewide

throughout at least the last 25 years,” said coach Brian Heenan. “The boys were led once again by Isaac Gross, who finished second overall. He is only the third Marblehead boy to finish in the Top 5 in that same time period. This race caps off his senior

season, one of the best seasons ever by a Marblehead runner. Isaac’s teammates Nate Assa and Will Cerrutti were close behind him to finish among the Top 10. “(Assa and Cerrutti) had their best races of the season on Saturday,” said Heenan. “Nate finished sixth, and Will was eighth. By placing in the Top 15, Isaac, Nate and Will all earned medals for their efforts.” Henrik Adams, Will Cruikshank, Jonah Potach and Ryan Blestowe also took part in the All-States for Marblehead. “This was the final high school cross-country meet for seniors Gross and Blestowe,” said Heenan. “It was great to see Ryan return to the lineup after battling an injury since the beginning of October. “Seniors Will Cronin and Xavier Grazado have also been training with the team during the postseason. This senior group led the team to a terrific year in what was supposed to be a rebuilding season, which is a testament to their work ethic and leadership,” added Heenan.

provides first-year Swampscott head coach Peter Bush with a diversified offense to keep opposing defenses off balance. Rudloff also had high praise for his seniors, who kept the younger players on the roster focused on the entire season. “Our seniors have been through a lot this season,” he said. “They have been through some

lows, and also some exciting games,” he said. “They have stuck together, while rallying the inexperienced younger players back to secure a playoff berth. They really have held this team together this year.” The coach added that it starts with his captains — Christian Pacheco, Chris DeWitt, Scott Campbell, Jake Scogland and

Andy Palmer — and they are all definitely responsible for putting the Magicians in a position to win the Dunn title outright. With Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day game at Swampscott still on tap, Rudloff is reluctant to turn the page to 2024. But he knows all signs point to a winning season. “Certainly, getting players back at many critical positions

is a positive,” he said. “But we are also still losing a very good senior class, which will be difficult to replace.” The Magicians are presently just hoping to make it three straight wins over Swampscott since the pandemic to end the season on an upbeat note with the NEC Dunn Division title in tow.

COURTESY PHOTO

Marblehead High boys cross-country runners are shown posing for a photo after coming in third as a team during Saturday’s Division 2 All-State Championship Meet at Fort Devens in Ayer. They are, from left, Nate Assa, Will Cerrutti, Will Cruikshank, Henrik Adams, Isaac Gross, Ryan Blestowe and Jonah Potach.

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 22, 2023 A11

M A R B L E H E A D vs S WA M P S C O T T 1909-2022

Marblehead leads series 61-52-7 and Thanksgiving Day series 57*-50-6 (Year/Victor/Score) • 1909 Swampscott 12-5 • 1909 TIE 0-0 • 1910 Swampscott 15-0 • 1910 Swampscott 37-0 • 1911 Marblehead 5-0 • 1911 Swampscott 6-5 • 1912 Marblehead 13-0 • 1912 Swampscott 12-0 • 1913 Swampscott 13-0 • 1914 Swampscott 16-7 • 1915 Swampscott 20-0 • 1916 Swampscott 13-3 • 1917 Marblehead 20-6 • 1918 Marblehead 59-0 • 1919 TIE 0-0 • 1920 TIE 7-7 • 1921 Marblehead 21-6 • 1922 Marblehead 20-0 • 1923 Marblehead 12-6 • 1924 TIE 10-10 • 1925 Marblehead 53-0 • 1926 Swampscott 23-0 • 1927 Marblehead 19-7 • 1928 Swampscott 26-0 • 1929 Marblehead 19-6 • 1930 Marblehead 26-0 • 1931 TIE 6-6 • 1932 Marblehead 6-0 • 1933 Marblehead 13-6 • 1934 Swampscott 38-7 • 1935 Marblehead 33-7 • 1936 Marblehead 14-0 • 1937 TIE 0-0 • 1938 Marblehead 21-0 • 1939 Swampscott 18-0 • 1940 Marblehead 27-0 • 1941 Marblehead 26-6 • 1942 TIE 7-7 • 1943 Swampscott 32-0 • 1944 Marblehead 19-8 • 1945 Marblehead 6-0 • 1946 Swampscott 20-6 • 1947 Marblehead 24-6 • 1948 Marblehead 24-0 • 1949 Marblehead 12-0 • 1950 Marblehead 26-6 • 1951 Marblehead 19-7 • 1952 Marblehead 32-19 • 1953 Marblehead 6-0 • 1954 Swampscott 13-6 • 1955 Swampscott 19-18 • 1956 Marblehead 19-12 • 1957 Swampscott 27-0 • 1958 Swampscott 41-6 • 1959 Swampscott 18-0 • 1960 Marblehead 12-6 • 1961 Marblehead 35-14 • 1962 Marblehead 7-0 • 1963 Swampscott 34-14 • 1964 Swampscott 20-6 • 1965 Marblehead 16-2 • 1966 Marblehead 22-21 • 1967 Swampscott 24-6 • 1968 Swampscott 40-0 • 1969 Swampscott 15-14 • 1970 Swampscott 31-7 • 1971 Swampscott 20-0 • 1972 Swampscott 29-0 • 1973 Marblehead 20-12 • 1974 Marblehead 24-0 • 1975 Swampscott 14-0 • 1976 Swampscott 20-0 • 1977 Marblehead 34-6 • 1978 Swampscott 25-6 • 1979 Swampscott 19-10 • 1980 Marblehead 13-6 • 1981 Marblehead 21-8 • 1982 Swampscott 20-6 • 1983 Swampscott 19-12 • 1984 Marblehead 21-20 • 1985 Marblehead 6-0 • 1986 Swampscott 14-0 • 1987 Marblehead 21-7 • 1988 Swampscott 12-7 • 1989 Swampscott 17-14 • 1990 Swampscott 19-7 • 1991 Marblehead 26-6 • 1992 Marblehead 18-13 • 1993 Marblehead 14-13 • 1994 Swampscott 33-6 • 1995 Swampscott 44-0 • 1996 Swampscott 19-0 • 1997 Swampscott 49-14 • 1998 Marblehead 9-7 • 1999 Swampscott 42-0 • 2000 Marblehead 34-20 • 2001 Swampscott 39-6 • 2002 Swampscott 41-0 • 2003 Swampscott 35-21 • 2004 Swampscott 25-7 • 2005 Swampscott 13-6 • 2006 Marblehead 6-0 • 2007 Swampscott 42-16 • 2008 Swampscott 21-13 • 2009 Marblehead 32-27 • 2010 Swampscott 21-20 • 2011 Marblehead 21-7 • 2012 Swampscott 25-16 • 2013 Marblehead 35-7 • 2013 Marblehead 51-13 • 2014 Marblehead 42-12 • 2014 Marblehead 21-14 • 2015 Marblehead 51-0 • 2016 Marblehead 27-6 • 2017 Marblehead 35-17 • 2018 Marblehead 31-14 • 2019 Marblehead 22-16 • 2020 Marblehead 34-7* • 2021 Marblehead 31-28 • 2022 Marblehead 48-7

(Points Scored) 1909 The September 24th issue of the Marblehead Messenger stated, “About 25 are trying out for the team and it is expected that a fairly good one can be formed considering the fact that this is the first attempt to play football” - MHS Football was *officially born. (*see below) The “Harvard Game” caught on much earlier in Marblehead and there are many references to games before 1909 at all levels. 1918 After a shortened six game season due to the Spanish flu pandemic, Marblehead’s rout of the Sculpins remains the largest point differential in the rivalry’s history.

1909 The first Swampscott football team was organized and nicknamed the “Sculpins.” Beginning that first season, Swampscott and Marblehead began a rivalry that continues to the present - one of the longest-running in Eastern Mass.

1909 Marblehead and Swampscott played twice this year; on October 27th and on November 15th. The teams also played twice in 1910, 1911, 1912, 2013, and 2014.

1910 Swampscott beat Marblehead in their first Thanksgiving game. After splitting the 1911 series, Marblehead challenged Swampscott to a third game, but the tie-breaker was refused.

1917 Marblehead’s 20-6 win broke a seven year Thanksgiving Day losing streak. Glover Broughton ran for a score and passed for another.

Evolution of the Game The term “touchdown” is a carry over from rugby origins - to score, the ball had to be touched down in the endzone. This rule was changed in 1889.

1912 Evolution of the Game Touchdowns, previously worth 5 pts, are now worth 6 pts, the field is standardized at 100 yards with two 10-yard end zones, and teams have 4 downs to gain 10 yards for a first down versus the previous 3 downs to gain 5 yards. An incomplete pass is no longer a 15 yard penalty, and an untouched incompleted pass no longer results in a change of possession.

1919 Punts by Walter Curtis allow MHD to hold the Sculpins to a scoreless tie. 1924 In front of a crowd of 10,000, Marblehead’s goal line stop on 4th and inches is negated by an offsides penalty giving Swampscott a new set of downs. Swampscott scores and ties the game. The Marblehead Messenger reports on a post-game melee at the Swampscott train station that resulted in “a party of Swampscott roughs” attacking the MHS cheerleaders “with no protection afforded them by the Swampscott police.”

1915 Swampscott’s offense puts up 20 unanswered points.

Evolution of the Game The “goal line” was original a rope (line) strung between two post that the ball had to be kicked over to score. The modern goalposts were placed at the “goal line” for this reason, until finally moving to the back of the endzone in 1974. 1927 Evolution of the Game Rusty Russell and his Mighty Mites at the Masonic Home in Texas first introduce the spread offense.

1929 Last Thanksgiving Day game at Seaside Park 1930 Reynolds Park (Green Street) becomes the home field for MHS.

1932 Evolution of the Game Although the forward pass has been legal since 1906, a forward pass can now be thrown from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage. Hash marks are introduced, which allows teams to use the entire field from sideline to sideline. 1934 Evolution of the Game The rugby-style ball is replaced with the modern football. The 1936 Blocksidge Field becomes new “pigskin” is much easier to handle and throw. Swampscott’s home field. 1937 Marblehead’s Bruce Remick and Stacey Clark slug it out against Swampscott’s Jim Benedetto and Dan Scioletti in a 0-0 tie. 1939 Evolution of the Game Riddell introduces the first plastic helmet. Also WWII Armed service (non-academy) teams played in 1939, the University of Chicago head in the NCAA. “Iowa Pre-Flight” was ranked #2 behind football coach Clark Shaughnessy modifies Notre Dame in 1943. the T-formation, putting the quarterback behind the center to receive the snap Future “Big Blue” coach Stan Bondelevitch played on directly - the modern QB position is born. the Chatham Army Airbase “Blockbusters” in Georgia. 1932 At Jackson Park, Mitto Glover scores the only TD on a reverse.

1930’s During the Coach Charles McGuinness-era, MHS football became known as “The Magicians” because of the high-scoring, creative offense that relied on speed and deception (similar to the modern “Wildcat”). McGuinness, so valued intelligence that he had the “smartest” player calling the plays - regardless of position. WWII 200 colleges dropped football and over 600 NFL’ers served. With 1,300 serving in all branches, Marblehead lost at least 10 former MHS players. One not counted on the Marblehead rolls is Pat McGuinness (d.1945), son of the former MHS head coach, as the family moved back to Washington in 1939. 1945 Last game played at Reynolds Park. 25 mph winds, driving rain, and ankle-deep mud resulted in a one score game on a 25 yard run by MHS’s Jack Baumann. Marblehead wouldn’t have a home field until 1948.

1940’s Evolution of the Game The single wing formation that dominated the first 40 years of the game, created by Pop Warner in 1906, is replaced by the double wing formation. The “Power -I” and “Wing-T” emerge in the 1950’s.

1948 Spanish War Veterans Stadium at MHS (now MVMS) becomes Marblehead’s home field.

1955 Marblehead’s comeback bid - fueld by a 95 yard kickoff return by Charlie Gilligan and a 5 yard score by Ronnie Conn - fell short when Doug Haley intercepted Conn’s pass on the Swampscott five yard line to preserve the win for the Big Blue. It was Haley’s second big play, earlier he had snagged a MHD lateral and gone 95 yards for what would be the winning TD for Swampscott.

1953 Marblehead’s 6-0 win knocked Swampscott out of the NEC Championship. George Crowninshield scored the only points in the contest. As time wound down, Swampscott marched to the Marblehead 18, but a 30 yard loss on a sack by Bill Gillis ended their comeback bid. 1956 FB Dick Mezquita leads MHD in a 19-12 win. 1961 Marblehead (3-3-1) faced an undefeated Swampscott team. Jake Healey scored four touchdowns and passed for one more. Daynor Prince 1962 Ken Eldridge returns a passed to Leo Tracey for a score and Bobby Gillis kickoff 88-yards and then kicks the recovered a fumble on the way to one of the PAT for the only scores in this 7-0 win. biggest upsets in the rivalry’s history. 1966 Despite a 21-6 Swampscott 3rd quarter lead (fueled by two touchdowns and two PATs by Dick Jauron), Marblehead, with QB Don “Toot” Cahoon, turned the tide scoring 15 points late in the game off of two touchdowns by Bobby Blood and a 2-point conversion rush by John Ormiston.

1962 Evolution of the Game Mouth guards are required in high school football.

1969 With a minute left, Mike Lynch kicks the winning field goal for Swampscott.

1973 A tie would give Swampscott the NEC title for the 7th straight year, a Marblehead win would result in a tie for the title with Swampscott - Marblehead’s first under coach Alex Kulevich. QB Brian Buckley led Dave Knight, Richie James, Bill Sahagian, and Ralph Rotman in the 20-12 win.

1970 Evolution of the Game Blocking below the waist becomes a penalty.

1974 Dr. Stanford W. Hopkins Field becomes Marblehead’s home field (named in honor of long-time team physician Stanford “Hoppy” Hopkins).

1970’s Evolution of the Game The Wishbone formation with the option and triple option are introduced.

1972 Swampscott wins the first Massachusetts Super Bowl.

1981 Rob Haley scored two touchdowns making it a 14-8 contest. Swampscott staged a late game comeback that was stymied by an 18 yard “pick six” by Doug Koopman.

1983 MHD, led by Jim Cairns and Jr. QB John McCarthy, puts up two late scores, but P.J. Ryan, Bob Serino, Eddie Toner, and Roger Baldacci close the door on the comeback bid.

1984 Andy Lewis’s 82 yard kickoff return, two on-side kicks, two “lonesome end” plays to Skip Likins and Peter Donovan, and a goal line stance allowed Marblehead to knock the Big Blue out of the NEC title race.

1986 After losing the previous two Thanksgiving Day contests to his former-player-now-MHS Coach Bruce Jordan, Coach Stan Bondelevitch beats Marblehead 14-0 in his last game coaching the Big Blue.

1985 In a late-November snow squall and with no time left on the clock, Ray Forbes hauled in the game winning touchdown pass from Bill Rockett.

1989 Trailing 14-10, Karl Nordin, Jeff January, and Jeff Leone lead a Big Blue scoring drive and then hold off MHD’s Steve Ledbury, Adam Rand, and Gerard Kulevich for the win.

1992 In the rain and mud at Blocksidge Field, Marblehead stages a come-back win on a go-ahead score by Jason Tarasuik.

1990’s Evolution of the Game Division 2, Glenville State is the first to use the zone read option out of the shotgun set.

1993 Late in the 4th quarter, Erik Hudak’s fumble recovery leads to a 75 yard scoring drive, capped off by Kevin Rockett’s game winning PAT. 1998 Brian Heaphy’s blocked punt late in the 4th quarter sets up Marblehead at the Swampscott 11 yard line. With 16 seconds on the clock, David Wise slips a 27 yard field goal over the cross bar to decide the game.

1995 Largest victory margin for Swampscott 1996 A hard fought game, but two interceptions returned for TDs by Peter Bush turned the tide for the Big Blue. Swampscott wins its first NEC title since 1973. Swampscott would lose to Mansfield in the Super Bowl.

2001 Last MHS game played at Dr. Stanford W. Hopkins Field. 2005 Chris Blydell’s blocked punt in the 4th quarter sets up Tyler Tennant’s 5 yard rush to win it for Swampscott.

2005 SSG Christopher N. Piper Field is dedicated. 2006 In a driving rain storm, DE Sam Perlow tips and intercepts a pass and rumbles 43 yards for the only score, ending a five year Swampscott winning streak. 2008 Despite a Thanksgiving Day loss, Marblehead completes its first winning season in 16 years.

2007 Swampscott wins its second Super Bowl title. 2008 Chris Cameron intercepts a pass inside the 10 yard line with under a minute left to save the game and the NEC title.

2009 In Jim Rudloff’s first year as head coach, QB Hayes Richardson and Will Quigley led an aerial attack that netted over 270 yards in the air. Marblehead secured a play-off berth and the NEC title (first one in 36 years), but lost in the Super Bowl to Bishop Feehen 12-6. 2011 Both teams enter at 8-1, with the NEC title on the line, Marblehead carries the day and takes home the championship. 2013 & 2014 The teams play twice in both seasons, with Marblehead taking all 4 contests

2010 Mike Walsh led a comeback for Swampscott after being down 14-0 at the half to take the lead on an 81-yard play by AJ Baker. Marblehead scores on the final play of game and elects to go for the win versus a tie. Brian and Ritchie Sullivan break up the 2-point conversion attempt. 2012 Underdogs - Brian Santry, Josh Rothwell, Aaron Cronin and the Big Blue Defense upset a talented Marblehead team led by Zac Cuzner and QB Ian Maag.

2016 Marblehead finishes the season undefeated, but loses in the Super Bowl to Falmouth. 2019 Swampscott loses on Thanksgiving, but wins their 3rd Super Bowl title.

2020* Played in the Spring of 2021, due to COVID19, Connor Cronin scores 5 TDs (3 on offense, 1 on special teams, 1 on defense). 2021 With 2.7 seconds left on the clock, Eli Feingold kicks the game-winning 37 yard field goal in the “Battle of the Undefeateds”. Marblehead goes on to win its first Super Bowl over North Attleboro, capping a perfect 12-0 season. Cronin scores 3 TDs, George Percy scores 1 TD, and Josh Robertson goes 14-18 for 290 yards and 5 TDs (1 rushing).

2021 Swampscott goes onto win their 4th Super Bowl title beating North Reading 14-7.

points 1,761 1,734 points 2022 With a 41pt differential, Marblehead takes the series lead in total points scored already leading in games won.

Photographs courtesy of Spenser Hasak/Lynn Item, Jared Charney. Archival images credited to Salem News, Lynn Item, and Marblehead Reporter.

…An Earlier Start to the Rivalry? The first description of a “foot-ball game” between teams from Marblehead and Swampscott on Thanksgiving Day appeared in the November 30th, 1894 edition of the Marblehead Messenger with other mentions of games through out the following decade. Game notices, descriptions, and even starting line-ups appear in the Messenger sporadically (more indicative of limited editorial coverage than the number of football

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games actually played) in 1901, 1902, 1904, 1905, and 1908 - with a deeply rooted tradition of some-level of football (club and high school) being played yearly on Thanksgiving Day between the two towns – much earlier than the recognized date of 1909. A 1905 article warns that, “If Swampscott refuses to play here next year the annual game between these teams will come to an end.”

www.mhdgridiron.com Celebrating 40 Years of Philanthropy

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Meet the creative behind Creative Spirit

BY MELISSA STACEY The following is an interview with Peyton Pugmire, owner of Creative Spirit, conducted by Discover Marblehead. To learn more about the workshops and other offerings provided by Creative Spirit, go to creativespiritma.com. Tell us about Creative Spirit and why you started it. I started Creative Spirit to provide fun, inspiring and safe opportunities for folks to connect with their innate creativity, which we all have. Over the years, I’ve offered expressive arts-based workshops exploring a range of topics, including intuitive painting, writing, collage and intuitive dance. I also partner with MacRae’s Sustainable Goods here in town to host themed, non-juried art exhibits in which everyone is permitted to show their artwork. I’m most excited about my brand-new offering — creativity coaching — which is a one-on-one coaching service designed to help individuals step into their creative dreams, work through any fears and bring to life a creative goal or

Peyton Pugmire started Creative Spirit to provide inspiring arts workshops and exhibits to the local community.

project. Read more about this offering at creativespiritma.com/ creativity-coaching. With the holidays just around the corner, I am thrilled to announce that Creative Spirit is presenting “A Christmas Carol” again. The staged reading in the historic Jeremiah Lee Mansion is back for the fourth year of holiday fun and theater magic. Come be entertained by this lively and theatrical reading

of Charles Dickens’ classic story about the power of love and generosity. Tickets can be purchased at creativespiritma. com/christmas-carol. What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? When I was thinking about starting Creative Spirit (and signing my first storefront lease), a lot of fear rose within me. I had a wonderful support

group around me who encouraged me to just do it and live my dream. After all, life begins at the edge of our comfort zone. What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? I love being outside in Marblehead. My favorite spot is on the water on our sailboat. What is something people would be surprised to learn

COURTESY PHOTO

about you? I’m a recovering perfectionist. And while I love to be creatively free, I also need things to be a certain way — especially when making art. It’s a beautiful dance of honoring my habits (fears) and just surrendering to divine flow. That’s what life is about. The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. To learn more, visit discovermhd.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Giving thanks, voicing concerns To the editor: The recent conflicts in Marblehead — the leadership of the School Committee and its lack of transparency, racism and the question of what flags to fly at our schools and how to manage town property — reflect the conflicts we are having as a country. As we approach Thanksgiving, I’d like to share my thoughts on these events with thanks and concerns. Thanks to the Marblehead Current for giving us a newspaper that reflects the values of democracy and good journalism, reporting the facts — good and bad, including letters to the editor that help readers understand how others in town think. Democracy depends on an independent press to hold officials and the government accountable. I was impressed with the editorial on Nov. 8, which provided a thoughtful, thorough explanation for filing a public records request in response to Sarah Fox’s suggestion that the Current

was providing a “roadmap” for complaints against the School Committee. Good journalism provides the facts; it doesn’t control readers’ responses. Thanks, too, to readers brave enough to take the time to write passionate, thoughtful letters. Here are some writers that stood out to me: » Mary McCarriston consistently criticized the School Committee for the way it operates, especially around the resignation of former superintendent John Buckley. Sometimes one can negatively view a person who writes repeatedly, but reading her letters, I realized how compelled she is to communicate what she sees as wrong and she uses specific examples to back up her opinions. I salute her bravery for continually putting her voice out there. » Erin Noonan for a thorough, detailed explanation about the Coffin School property that enabled the reader to see the difference between the town’s strategic thinking and the School Committee’s.

» The letter from the

unidentified writer had the most impact. It was rational, unbiased, educational and right on point. Yet, he or she did not feel professionally safe enough to sign his or her name to it! How scary is that? I repeat: How scary is it when an intelligent educational professional teaching our children does not feel safe enough professionally to reveal his or her name? I’m concerned about our town and our School Committee. I am a retired executive coach with a specialty in women’s leadership who ran a successful executive coaching company for almost 20 years, helping corporate leaders around the globe develop their leadership. High-performing teams require a leader who knows how to build trust through example, honesty, transparency, good communication skills and emotional intelligence, which includes the ability to own mistakes and learn from them. The situations with John Buckley and the Coffin School also cause concern about the committee’s

in her hometown at the Mary Alley Hospital. She was truly home, as taking care of fellow ’Headers was her calling and passion.

Lee and Barry were married at St. Michael’s Church in Marblehead on April 28, 1962, and settled in downtown where Barry and Lee’s father “Dubby” built a house. They welcomed two children into this home, Richard B. Weed, in 1963, and Elisabeth A. Weed in 1967. Lee worked as a nurse at the Mary Alley Hospital from 1961 until its closing in the 1980s, and then was named the general manager of the Mary Alley Walk-In Center established there until its closing in the late 1990s. Along the way she managed to be a wonderful mother as well as attend Salem State at night to earn a bachelor’s in nursing (summa cum laude she was always proud to point out). Lee took tremendous pride in

fiscal acumen. To help the School Committee and the chair improve their performance, it would be wise to provide individual leadership coaching and team-building training. We need to make sure the School Committee gets the help it — and we — desperately need. Ginny O’Brien Garden Road

To the editor: Flags are symbolic and have meaning to the person who displays them. My husband and I fly an American flag on our home; in June, we hung a pride flag. In Marblehead, the Black Lives Matter flag hangs in our high school; the colors of the pride flag are painted on the sidewalk near the visitors’ information booth. I assume we display these because Marblehead values inclusion. I read in the Marblehead Current that parents who send their children to MHS from their home in Boston were upset when an unauthorized individual

took down the BLM flag from a high school classroom. The parents said this act made their children feel unsafe and, further, one parent said, her child does not feel welcome in Marblehead. As residents of Marblehead, we are all hosts of a METCO program where students travel back and forth from Boston every day to be taught by our excellent teachers and, hopefully, to feel a part of the Marblehead community. By having this program, we are saying we want Black children to come into our town, to go to our schools. We want them. If true, which I think it is, why wouldn’t we do everything in our power to make these students, and their parents, feel included? Wouldn’t it be great if today’s METCO students chose to make their home in Marblehead in the future? Given the housing crisis this might be a tad unrealistic, but, let’s give it a shot by ensuring we are the kind of welcoming town we aspire to be. A flag is just a symbolic gesture, but it speaks volumes. Deborah Re Orne Street

her hometown of Marblehead, and loved to be in “service to others.” She was a long-serving vestry member, as well as a senior warden at St Michael’s Church. She was also a longserving member, director and director emeritus of The Marblehead Female Humane Society; and a founding member and officer of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor. She and Barry took special pride in organizing the Holiday Pops for many years. In Lee and Barry’s early retirement years, they enjoyed traveling to Florida in the winter and summer boating on the SeaWeed, which Lee insisted on naming. They loved spoiling their four grandchildren with dinners out, trips to Bonkers, ice

cream and Chinese food. They were also frequent fliers at The Boston Yacht Club where they had their own special table. Lee was predeceased by her daughter Elisabeth Prescott and her soulmate Barry F. Weed. She is survived by her son Rick Weed and adored daughterin-law Adrienne Sweetser, “second daughter” Diane Treadwell, sister Susan Byors, sister-in-law Patricia Weed, four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. A memorial service will be held at St. Michael’s Church on Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 11a.m., followed by a reception at the Masonic Lodge. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Marblehead Female Humane Society would be appreciated.

Flags signal our values

OBITUARY

Lee Bartlett Weed, 83 Lee Bartlett Weed, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, steadfast friend to many and a lifelong and proud ‘Header, passed away at her home on November 15 at 83 years old. Lee was born in Marblehead on April 7, 1940, to Doris “Snooks” and Charles “Dubby” Bartlett. She attended the Gerry School and Marblehead High School, where she met the love of her life, Barry Francis Weed. They graduated together from MHS in 1958. Lee graduated from The New England Baptist School of Nursing in 1961 and began work

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 22, 2023 A13

Shining a light on the news you care about!

Headlight

Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community 2023 - 2024 Issue

www.mhsheadlight.com

Connecting Rachael Albert, Senior, Assistant Editor The New York Times. Everyone knows them, most people love them, and the biggest part of their audience comes for the games. In 2022, the Times had a monthly audience of 145 million people, but the games alone surpassed this number by over 2,700%. The main reason for this is that you don't need to pay to access many of NYT games. While you need a subscription to do the crossword and the Spelling Bee, the Wordle, the Mini Crossword, and, more recently, the Connections are all free to play for anyone in the world. Wordle became popular in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when people found joy in exercising their brains for a few minutes every day and sharing their results with friends and family. With the Times' newest addition of the Connections, we see a similar phenomenon. But when did the craze start? Why are people, young and old, so drawn to it? My peers at Marblehead High School were happy to talk with me about the subject, and much of what they said had the same consensus: it's a fun challenge, a good way to exercise your brain, and it's a way to pass time in a boring class. If you haven't heard about Connections through your neighbors, family, or friends griping because they couldn't solve the puzzle that day, let me explain. You are given 16 words, and your job is to create groups of four based on what certain words have in common. You aren't given the categories, which is the challenge. It's up to you to figure out whether “oui” acts as a homophone for “wii,” ”we,“ and ”wee,“ or if you should group it with the words for “yes” in Spanish, English, and Japanese. The game was released on July 12, 2023, and quickly captured everyone's attention. The first I heard of it was from an English teacher at MHS, and after a rocky first few days of figuring out how the game worked, I was hooked, and my peers felt

similarly. Many jumped on the Connections bandwagon because they also do the Mini Crossword and the Wordle, and find that it is an easily accessible game to play on your phone or computer. Most report doing the Connections either all or most days, and usually complete it during school. While a few people said they do the Connections either in the morning or right before bed, the majority find time to do it during lunch or an uneventful class at school. We may see this and worry that students are missing important instructional time, but I find it reassuring that when kids are feeling understimulated in school, they are finding fun ways to exercise their brains on their own. The Connections is a game that takes only a few minutes out of their days and gives them a sense of accomplishment when they can complete the puzzle, especially without losing any guesses. High schoolers also feel that the Connections has become most popular with young adults, but also draws in older generations. The New York Times has found a market, and, as one teen stated, “Old people and young adults love puzzle games for some reason.” Though, the relationship that people have with the NYT Games is sometimes a lovehate one. It is natural for people to get frustrated when they can't solve their daily puzzles, but the categories of the Connections can be too subjective, some people say. For example, the category “things that are fun,” came up in a recent game, which can have many different answers depending on what kind of person you are. The categories also cover such a wide range that sometimes they can be rather obscure for many people. Not everyone knows that “OK“ is a magazine, or that ”rot“ is used to describe something nonsensical. Yet, everyone accepts that this is a part of the game and what makes it a challenge, because nothing is fun if you can get it every single time. You have a right to get upset, but remember that at the end of the day, it's all just fun and games.

NHS Thanksgiving Food Drive Livia Weiss, Senior As the air gets chillier outside and we settle into November, each day brings us closer to our favorite feasting holiday. Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and families across America are starting to plan the perfect array of festive recipes to fill their dining room tables, while giving thanks

surrounded by loved ones. Thinking of those without the same privilege is essential. This year, Marblehead High School’s National Honors Society has organized a Thanksgiving Food Drive for donating various foods to people in need. The National Honors Society is a volunteer-based organization that

November 22, 2023

encourages students to be more involved within their community. I spoke with their president, Gwyn Anderson, and she provided the following details for donating food items. Through next Tuesday, November 21st, NHS will accept donations of Thanksgiving-themed foods. This includes anything canned (ex: corn, cranberry sauce, green beans, etc.) or other non-perishables (ex: boxes of stuffing mix or instant, mashed potatoes, etc.) A bucket

in the lobby will be designated for donation drop-offs. The items will then be sent to the Marblehead Food Pantry. Now more than ever, recognition and perspective for others who may be struggling is crucial. Thanksgiving is about food and how a meal can bring out love, family, generosity, and gratitude. This year, you can help someone less fortunate eat a meal that will have them unbutton the top of their jeans, too. Full bellies and full hearts start with each and every donation!

MHS students look forward to Spanish trip Grey Collins, Sophomore Although the weather is getting colder, the hearts of Spanish students at MHS grow warmer with the anticipation of their upcoming February trip to Spain. The nine-day trip, led by MHS Spanish teacher Candice Sliney, will take place over February break. About 20 Spanish students and three chaperones are attending. I spoke to Mrs. Sliney to learn more about the trip, and how it will benefit the students at MHS. “I chose this particular tour because it has so much of the history and culture that I value and that I want our kids to learn about,” said Mrs. Sliney. The group, chaperoned by Elmer Magana, Monika Pasquini and Caja Johnson, will start their journey by flying into Madrid. They will spend the first four days in Madrid and Toledo, where they will spend much of their time visiting museums and exploring each city. “The first day we will go to the Prado Museum,” added Mrs. Sliney, “which is the most famous museum in Madrid with the most masterpieces. The next day we will go to the Reina Sofia Museum. Then we'll go all around Madrid.” Sliney thought that it was very important to go to the Reina-Sofia Museum because it has Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. “I asked them to add it (The Reina Sofia Museum) because it has one of the most important social protest works of art of the 20th Century which is Guernica.” She believes that seeing this painting on the tour is important because Spanish 3 students are taught about the Spanish Civil War and discuss the painting in class. Mrs. Sliney said that traveling to Toledo was also important because it was the center of the Spanish Renaissance and demonstrates the different cultures that shaped Spain; it is

where the modern Spanish language was created. “They were translating works from Arabic and Hebrew and putting them into Latin, and that’s when it was converted from Latin to Spanish in Toledo.” After visiting Madrid and Toledo, the group will go to La Mancha and Cordoba. They will next visit Sevilla, where they will do a bike tour and participate in a flamenco dancing class. Next, they will tour Granada, and will finish their trip by going to the mountain towns of “La Costa del Sol.” There, they will spend time touring art and pottery studios. “I am trying to create Global citizens,” said Mrs. Sliney about how this would benefit students. “That experience of putting yourself in someone else's shoes and knowing what it feels like to not have complete control of the language, and, despite that, still making connections with people is important for growth.” I also spoke to several students who are attending the Spanish trip about what they wanted to learn from the trip. “I am excited to go to Spain because I am really excited to explore the different cultures,” said Dylan Glass, a sophomore Spanish student. “I am most looking forward to going to La Costa del Sol, and I will also definitely try my best to speak with the locals.” I also spoke with Thomas Spencer, who is also going on the trip this February. He said, “I am excited to see a new culture and work on my Spanish skills in the real world.” He also talked about his concerns regarding the trip. “I think I know enough Spanish to communicate, but I am worried that I will forget it at the moment.” As their date of departure grows nearer, students and teachers look forward to the experiences, lessons, and new amigos that their trip to Spain will introduce.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING from all of us on the Headlight staff!

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, Livia Weiss, Benjamin Zaltsman

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HISTORIC WALK

Marblehead students join national Ruby Bridges Walk BY LEIGH BLANDER

Marblehead students joined the national Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.

Giving Thanks this Holiday Season

Wendy S. Webber

Students at the Brown, Glover and Village schools joined in the national Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on Tuesday, Nov. 14.On the same day in 1960, Bridges stepped into history books when she integrated William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, becoming a national icon for the Civil Rights Movement. She was 6 years old. Marblehead students first read Bridges’ book about her experience and then walked around their schools together.

Principal Mary Maxfield speaks to students at the Brown School about Ruby Bridges while holding a copy of the book that teachers read to students, ‘I am Ruby Bridges.’

CURRENT EVENTS

Marblehead’s best bets Nov. 22-29

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

REALTOR® GRI, CBR, ASP

A Night at the Gerry 5 VFA Saturday, Nov. 25, 7 p.m.

781-576-9414 cell/text

The Gerry 5 VFA, 210 Beacon St., invites the community to a special evening supporting two local causes. The Guy Ford Band will perform, and there will be food and drinks available for purchase. Tickets are $25. All cash proceeds go to the Marblehead Counseling Center. Also, everyone is asked to bring a non-perishable food donation for the Marblehead Food Pantry.

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2 Atlantic Avenue | Marblehead, MA 01945

Site Plan Approval Public Hearing Marblehead Planning Board The Marblehead Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the application of Thomas Groom/inclusive of Bessom Associates Inc, for a site plan approval special permit for the construction of a new single-family structure to replace an existing single-family structure located at 2 Nonantum Road within a Shoreline Single Residence District. This public hearing will be held under Section 200 -37 of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 7:00 pm and can be attended either in person at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington Street, in the select board’s meeting room, or remotely on zoom. Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, the public can listen and/or view this meeting while in progress via the remote participation platform Zoom through this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85930238601?pwd=t31JYVvAvbu68ZLUL2yrTfrwTlTUkH.1 or Dial in +1 646 558 8656 US Meeting ID: 859 3023 8601, Passcode: 761248 project materials available for download at town of Marblehead website planning board page https://www.marblehead.org/planning-board under the date of meeting. Interested persons may attend the meeting or submit comment in writing electronically and send to lyonsl@marblehead.org or rebeccac@marblehead.org and the comments will be read aloud and entered into the record. Robert Schaeffner, Chairman

Legendary journalist comes to Current event Wednesday, Nov. 29, 6 p.m.

Michael Keaton played him in the Academy Awardwinning movie “Spotlight.” Boston Globe editor-at-large Walter Robinson is coming to a special event and movie night with the Marblehead Current at the Scan for more Warwick information Theater. Meet Robinson and hear him speak about the power and importance of local, nonprofit news. Save your seat at marbleheadcurrent.org/ spotlight. This event is sponsored by Marblehead Collision.

Need a laugh? Friday, Nov. 24, 8 p.m.

The Beacon Restaurant presents Thanksgiving weekend comedy with Frank Santos and his R-rated hypnosis show. Must be 21 or older. 123 Pleasant St. More info at thebeaconmarblehead. com.

Christmas Walk kicks off Thursday, Nov. 30

Marblehead’s Christmas Walks begins with a holiday stroll, hot toddies and artist Stephanie Verdun at Liz Roach Studio, 84

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Washington St., 4-7 p.m. There will be a tree lighting and carols at St. Michael’s Church, 26 Pleasant St., at 6:30 p.m. The Christmas Walk festivities continue through that weekend. Check back next week for the full schedule.