Museum, Chamber receive ‘mini grants’

The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce and Marblehead Museum & Historical Society will be two of the local organizations receiving $58,000 in mini grant funding as part of its mission to encourage the 34 cities and towns of Essex County as a tourism destination, the North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau announced recently.

The Chamber plans to use its grant to produce the 2023 Marblehead Visitor’s Guide & Map, while the Museum will use its grant to produce rack cards. The program is funded through a portion of the funding the North of Boston Convention gets from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

“We are happy to assist in these multimedia projects designed to draw more visitors to the north of Boston,” said Nancy Gardella, executive director. “Our organization and members have been working tirelessly to bring individual travelers and group tours to Essex County. We want to recognize these champions in our industry.”

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Ballot order drawing

Marblehead Town

Clerk Robin Michaud will be conducting a public drawing at 9 a.m. Friday, May 19 in the Select Board’s Meeting Room at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St.

The purpose of this drawing is to determine the order in which names will appear on the ballot for the June 20 annual town election.

League Candidates Nights

Given the large number of candidates and contested races, the Marblehead League of Women Voters will host two Candidates Nights on Tuesday, May 23 and Wednesday, May 24 in the library of Marblehead High School, 2 Humphrey St. Both nights will begin at 7 p.m.

The 2023 municipal election on Tuesday, June 20 will feature 27 candidates running across seven contested races.

Voting by mail allowed

No-excuse early voting by mail is available for the June 20 town election. Ballots can be requested using the state Vote by Mail application. A written request including the voter’s name, voting address, mailing address and signature is also acceptable.

Applications for both mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on the fifth business day before the election, which in this case is June 12. More details about absentee ballot eligibility can be found on the state’s website.

The deadline for voter registration is June 9. Town Clerk Robin Michaud emphasizes that all ballots must be returned to her office by the close of polls on Election Day. As there is no drop box, ballots must be hand-delivered or mailed.

For comprehensive voting information, visit the state’s website at https://bit.ly/3o4Tvkt.

Rotary Club camperships

Marblehead Rotary Club

Co-Presidents Nancy

Gwin and Blair Lord of the Rotary Club of Marblehead announced the availability of funds for local children in need of financial assistance to attend summer camps.

The Rotary Club raises funds for camperships through its annual summer lobster raffle, with over $219,716 awarded to more than 380 children in the past 23 years.

Gwin and Lord said the goal is to help children attend their chosen camp, with popular local options including the Marblehead Park and Recreation Department’s playground camp, YMCA’s Children’s Island and Camp Rotary. Camperships may be up to $500 per child, and children living in Marblehead can receive assistance twice.

Call or email Ellen Winkler at 781-6316404 or ewinkler@ emwinklerlaw.com with questions or to request an application for a campership. Each household needs to fill out one form.

Applications will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hydrant flushing

The town’s Water Department’s annual hydrant flushing program is underway and will continue through the end of the week. The flushing is conducted between midnight and 7 a.m. each day, according to an email from the Water and Sewer Commission.

“It is possible that some properties may experience discolored water early in the morning,” the email reads. “If you should encounter this, please run cold water only in the kitchen sink until the water runs clear (approximately 20 minutes). Please refrain from using the hot water or doing laundry until the discoloration is gone.”

Contact the Marblehead Water Department at 781-6310102 if the problem persists. The hydrant flushing was expected to begin at the Swampscott and Salem borders and then move to the downtown area.

Nominate an unsung hero

Marblehead’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council is set to hold its Unsung Hero event in June. This annual event salutes the unsung heroes in the special education community who make significant contributions, often beyond their expected responsibilities.

These heroes can be anyone from the school or local community who have demonstrated exemplary work in supporting special education. Every nomination should detail one individual, sharing a brief story of their impact on the special education community or an individual within it. To nominate an unsung hero, visit bit.ly/3M3CZtf.

Council on Aging speaker series

Join Mike Michaud, fleet captain at the Boston Yacht Club, as he delves into the captivating history and importance of Marblehead’s renowned sailing tradition.

Discover the secrets behind this picturesque town’s sailing legacy on Wednesday, June 21 at 1 p.m.

The event is part of the Marblehead Council on Aging Speaker Series and will take place at the Marblehead Council On Aging. “Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the fascinating world of Marblehead’s sailing heritage,” said organizers.

Birdwatching program

Mass Audubon is hosting a free bird-watching walk at Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary on Friday, May 26, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Participants will learn about bird migration, breeding behavior and basic identification skills. Although the event is free, registration is required at bit.ly/3Mnmtpy. The event is made possible by the Marblehead Cultural Council.

Community Golf Day rescheduled

The Marblehead Select Board invites you to participate in the Community Golf Day, which has been rescheduled to Monday, Oct. 23, at Tedesco Country Club, 154 Tedesco St. Registration begins at 10 a.m., with an 11 a.m. tee-off, rain or shine.

The $175 player fee includes a round of golf with a cart, a box lunch, a post-play celebration with awards, hors d’oeuvres and beer or wine. To learn more, visit bit. ly/3ZWr8Sm. The event supports the Marblehead Counseling Center, which has served Marblehead, Swampscott and surrounding communities since 1969. MCC provides mental health counseling, family support services, community education and charitable assistance.

Appointed vacancies

The town is currently seeking volunteers to fill several vacancies on appointed boards, commissions and committees. Potential candidates should submit a letter of interest and a resume to the Select Board, Abbot Hall, 188

Washington St., or via email at wileyk@ marblehead.org.

For more information, contact the Select Board’s Office at 781-631-0000. Below is a list of open positions:

» Task Force Against Discrimination, oneyear term. Affordable Housing Trust Fund, one-year term. Water services, operations ‘exceptional’

In celebration of National Drinking Water Week, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has recognized 61 public water systems and operators, including the Marblehead Water Department, for their exceptional service to the public. The awardees have demonstrated outstanding compliance records, spearheaded conservation efforts and maintained a strong commitment to water quality, according to MassDEP.

“Reliable access to quality water is critical to people’s daily lives,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “We are proud to partner with and honor this year’s award recipients in recognition of their round-the-clock efforts to operate superior water systems that provide this vital service — keeping Massachusetts residents safe and improving our resiliency.”

Pride Flag Raising

The Marblehead Pride Flag Raising Committee has announced the 2023 Pride Raising Flag Ceremony to be held on the lawn at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., on Saturday, June 3, at 3 p.m. A rain date is scheduled for the following weekend, if necessary.

In its letter to the Select Board seeking approval for the flag raising, the committee expressed gratitude for the town’s continued support in hosting this event at Abbot Hall in previous years and said it looks forward to future collaboration.

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