CP_MBHC_20230301_1_A01
IN THIS ISSUE
OUTDOORS
HISTORY
SPORTS
Sprocket Rockets gearing up for spring
Taft and his ‘Summer White House
Indoor track team enjoys success
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MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25
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NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.
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March 01, 2023
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VOLUME 1, ISSUE NO. 14
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MARBLEHEADCURRENT.ORG
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ON SOCIAL @MHDCURRENT
TOWN MEETING
Three override requests on warrant BY WILLIAM J. DOWD AND LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead officials will present Town Meeting this May with three requests to override Proposition 2 1/2 and raise taxes, according to the 2023 town warrant released Friday afternoon. While no dollar amounts have been attached yet, the warrant’s publication officially confirms
that there will be not one but two general override requests in addition to a debt-exclusion override. Towns pass general overrides to permanently increase the tax base to cover deficits with operating budgets, while debtexclusion overrides are one-off requests to fund specific capital improvement projects. The overrides must pass by a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting
on May 1 and then by a majority vote in a town election in June. “Once approved, the general override amount becomes a permanent part of the tax levy limit and increases by 2.5 percent each year after its acceptance,” the Massachusetts Division of Local Services explains. Marblehead officials argue a general override is needed to plug a looming budget deficit,
caused by the cost of town services outpacing revenues. To this point, the town has managed to avoid requesting an override by identifying other sources of funding, most notably what is known as “free cash.” However, that revenue source has dried up in recent fiscal years. One can find the general overrides — absent dollar amounts — under the warrant’s
WILDLIFE
Marblehead photographer lifts the curtain on natural world
Article 31 and Article 32, with the Marblehead Finance Director sponsoring one and the Marblehead School Committee sponsoring the other.
Schools override, capital request School Committee Chair Sarah Fox told the Current that the “leadership team and School WARRANT, P. A5
School openings drawing interest Applications coming in for MHS principal, assistant superintendent BY LEIGH BLANDER AND WILLIAM J. DOWD
Cuzner often escapes during what photographers call the golden hours when the light is just right. “My family loves to sleep in, and I love to get up early,” he said. “I’ll get a coffee just before sunup, and I’ll make my way into the woods.” Cuzner will retreat back into the woods when he finds “pockets of time here and there.”
The searches for a new Marblehead High School principal and assistant superintendent for teaching and learning shift into high gear this week. Superintendent John Buckey has already 26 applications for the assistant superintendent job and eight for the principal position. Current principal Dan Bauer and assistant superintendent Nan Murphy are both leaving at the end of the school year to become superintendents in other districts. For both positions, Buckey said he is “looking for someone to build upon the good work of those who have preceded them. Both Dan and Nan have big shoes to fill. Education is about relationships. I want someone who will prioritize getting to know our students and staff first.” Job descriptions have been posted for both the assistant superintendent and principal
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COURTESY PHOTOS / RICK CUZNER
Marblehead photographer Rick Cuzner captures the Milky Way from Castle Rock.
Astrophotography captures the night sky in all its glory BY WILLIAM J. DOWD A snowy owl roosting among the dried-out driftwood and grass of Devereux Beach. A coyote keeping low to the ground as it stalks prey. A deer foraging for food on a forest floor. The Milky Way’s stars littering the night sky. Rick Cuzner’s photographs lift the curtain on a natural wood seemingly hidden in plain sight. But with enough
patience and interest, one can lift this veil, too, he says. For the past 15 years, Cuzner has taken thousands of nature photographs that have captured the wild animals who call Marblehead home. “It’s a good stress relief running around in the woods,” Cuzner said. “I love hiking. I love nature. I love the wildlife.” The Marblehead native’s family lives in a home near Steer Swamp, where
ARTS
New Festival president: ‘Everyone has a story’ BY LEIGH BLANDER For Jodi-Tatiana Charles, the town of Marblehead is her office, whether THE LAW OFFICES OF
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BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW
she’s making calls from a bench at Fort Sewall or leading a meeting at a table in the Muffin Shop. She seems to know most people in town and is quick to start
FIGHTING FOR OUR COMMUNITY
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conversations with passersby. “Everyone has a story,” she said. Charles is a marketing strategist, author, speaker, podcast host, marathon runner and — now — the new president of the Marblehead Festival of Arts. The festival will run July 1-4 this year. “I love community building,” she told the Marblehead Current. “It’s the way I was raised.” Charles’ parents immigrated from Haiti and settled in Brockton, where she grew up. Marblehead, though, is definitely home to Charles. She’s been here for more than a decade. “People here come through for each other,” she said. Charles has volunteered with the MFoA for a decade, leading children’s programs and working on the annual champagne reception. She took over as president of the festival in October.
“It’s the longest running communitybased festival in the state with all volunteers,” she said. “We have more than 400 volunteers. I want to make sure the legacy and history live on.” Charles has been working about 45 hours a week on the festival, meeting with volunteers on popular events like Painting the Town and the Devereux Beach sand sculpture contest. She’s also bringing back some old favorites, including the literary festival and writing competition. People can expect some new additions this year, too. “We’re adding a 5K race this May,” Charles said. “That’s the art of physicality.” Also new, artists will paint 2-to-4-inch CHARLES, P. A8