Dollars for Scholars gift card fundraiser

SUBMITTED BY

NANCY MARRS

Marblehead Dollars for Scholars is pleased to announce its third annual gift card fundraiser, “Let’s Eat!”

Established in 1987 by concerned citizens and educators in Marblehead, this local non-profit that provides financial, need-based scholarships to college students will partner with a variety of establishments to raise scholarship funds, while also providing a boost to the local economy.

Throughout the month of March, eight businesses will donate 10% of all online or in-person gift card purchases to Dollars for Scholars. The vendors include: Shubie’s, The Landing, Sea Salt, Maria’s Gourmet, Caffe Italia Trattoria & Bar, The Barrelman, Mino’s Roast Beef and Soall Vietnamese Bistro.

The gift card fundraiser is a way to support local restaurants after several tough years due to the pandemic, and during the winter season when business may be slower. It is also a meaningful way to help local students finance their college education.

Marblehead Dollars for Scholars president Jac Bentley says the need for scholarship money is great, noting that in 2022 the organization awarded 56 scholarships totaling $205,000 to college students who graduated from Marblehead High School or who live in town.

“We are grateful to live in such a supportive community,” said Bentley.

“These businesses are generously donating 10% of their March gift card revenue to our organization, and this is absolutely a win-win for them and for our students.”

Organization founder and long-time board member Helaine Hazlett said the two previous gift card fundraisers have been successful, so it was an easy decision to do it again.

“We encourage everyone to support these generous local businesses and to think ahead to upcoming gift giving occasions and buy gift cards during the lot area, rear yard setback, side yard setback open area and parking and exceeds the maximum height located at 10 Hawkes Street in the Business residence district. The new construction will further reduce the open area. This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended, and Pursuant to Governor Baker ’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law G.L. c. 30A, §18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation. The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87878347282?pwd=enlwRXd3V2xmdHE3cy92SkITU1BTUT09, Dial in +1 646 558 8656, Meeting ID: 878 7834 7282, Passcode: 404568. Those only dialing in will not have access to the visual presentation at the meeting, but can follow along with the project materials available for download at https://www.marblehead.org under the zoning board of appeals page and the date of meeting. Members of the public attending this meeting virtually will be allowed to make comments if they wish to do so during the portion of the hearing designated for public comment. Interested persons may also submit comment in writing electronically and sent to lyonsl@marblehead.org and the comments will be included in the record Alan Lipkind, Secretary month of March,” said Hazlett. She suggested stocking up now on presents for birthdays and anniversaries, Passover, Easter and Mother’s Day. And for those who patronize the participating establishments regularly, consider buying a gift card for yourself and paying for your lunch or dinner that way.

Serving the people of Marblehead for 75 years, Shubie’s has employed dozens of high school students. Dougy Shube said he and his family love it when MHS students work for them for multiple years, as they get to witness first-hand their growth and the difference that education makes in their young lives.

“Education has always been a priority for my family, so partnering with Dollars for Scholars is a natural fit,” said Shube. “It’s a great organization that has helped so many students and families over the years and it’s a great resource for the community.”

Shube said gift cards can be used to purchase anything in the store and noted that indoor dining returned in January. “We love seeing everyone back at the foodbar for lunch, so come on in with a friend and catch up over a sandwich, salad or your

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD BOARD OF APPEALS

The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday March 28, 2023 at 7:45 PM on the request of Julius Sokol open area and exceed the maximum. This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, § 18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation. The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platfor m through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87878347282?pwd= receive a scholarship that can ease a financial burden, but more than that, it says we believe in you,” Simonelli explained. favorite Shubie’s treat.”

Marblehead Dollars for Scholars president Jac Bentley says the need for scholarship money is great, noting that in 2022 the organization awarded 56 scholarships totaling $205,000 to college students who graduated from Marblehead High School or who live in town.

Beautiful harbor-side restaurant The Landing is another local employer of MHS students that is happy to participate in the gift card fundraiser.

General Manager Robert Simonelli said that through work, students learn the importance of punctuality, teamwork and discipline, and some of his student employees go on to careers in the hospitality industry. He supports Marblehead Dollars for Scholars because of its mission to help local students pursue higher education, which increases the possibility of a successful future. “What a boost for a student to

“Let’s Eat!” is the local non-profit’s winter fundraiser and an important source of annual giving income that enables the organization to fulfill its mission. With the cost of college tuition and fees continually rising, the financial burden on families is great and the need for more scholarship dollars is real.

With the spring scholarship season on the near horizon, the Marblehead Dollars for Scholars board of directors hopes community members will support this yearly fundraiser and its participating vendors.

“We have always relied on the incredible generosity of the people of Marblehead who support our organization,” Bentley said. “Together, we can make a difference for the next generation as they pursue their dreams through education.” bookstores throughout New England. She has particularly enjoyed her visits to Beacon Hill Books on Charles Street, where the owners have created the type of can’t-wait-to-get-back atmosphere she hopes to bring to Saltwater Bookstore.

On a personal level, the time was also right for Cooper to reenter the local retail scene. Her children are now teenagers and may even be convinced to help staff the store, she said.

That the “perfect little storefront” became available did not hurt, either.

“I walked in and knew that that was going to be the place,” Cooper said.

Cooper plans to close on the property at the end of the month and hopes to be welcoming customers by sometime in May.

“Right now, we’re just working very carefully with our interior design plans,” Cooper said. “There’ll be a cozy, coastal type of aesthetic.”

The reading spaces Cooper envisions will include two cushioned window seats in the front of the store. Children will have spaces of their own to curl up with a new find. She is also paying careful attention to lighting and wallpaper.

“It should be pretty magical,” Cooper said.

Cooper said she loved going to Aster, which was located at 86 Washington St. She closed up the shop and ran the business out of her home for about a decade after her children were born.

“But I’ve always had that yearning to have a storefront again,” Cooper said.

Cooper said her life “took a little bit of a different turn” once the pandemic hit. She formed a nonprofit, Wildflower Seaglass, through which she could sell artwork she created out of sea glass collected from Marblehead beaches, donating 100 percent of the profits to local dog rescue groups.

Cooper plans to incorporate some of her philanthropic artwork into the Saltwater Bookstore as well, she said.

Cooper is also an active volunteer with the Marblehead Festival of Arts and will be one of three chairs for the Artisans’ Marketplace to be held July 3 and 4 on the grounds of Abbot Hall.

Cooper said the Saltwater Bookstore will soon have its own Instagram account, @ saltwaterbookstore, which will allow residents to contact her and stay in the loop on the store’s progress.

As for Lessor, she said that learning that Cooper shares her dream of bringing a bookstore back to Marblehead is not bad news at all.

“It would be wonderful to live in a community that has multiple bookstores,” she said.

Lessor added that she has very specific short- and long-term visions, and that she is confident that the two bookstores will be able to complement one another.

“If this town can hold multiple women’s clothing boutiques, bars, restaurants and hair salons, we can certainly add multiple bookstores,” she added.

Marblehead has been without a local bookstore since the end of 2019, when the Hugo family’s Spirit of ’76 bookstore closed after nearly 55 years in business.

Washington Street itself was also once home to a bookstore — Much Ado Books — owned by then-Marblehead residents Cate Olson and Nash Robbins.

By the mid-2000s, Much Ado had relocated to Alfriston, Sussex, England, where it was honored as Independent Bookshop of the Year for all of the U.K. in 2007. Much Ado is alive and well, as its website is promoting events throughout the spring.

In a recent column, the Current’s Virginia Buckingham described the “audible sigh” she lets out when passing by what is now a dentist’s office in the Spirit of ’76’s former home at the corner of Pleasant and School streets.

Soon, thanks to Cooper and Lessor, the only sighs coming from Buckingham and her fellow bibliophiles may be ones of relief.