07.06.23 - Volume 1, Issue 32

Ota to see discrimination complaint through

LEIGH BLANDER

Newly elected School Committee member Brian Ota will not drop a discrimination complaint he has filed against Superintendent John Buckey, he told the Marblehead Current.

“I am continuing on” with the complaint, Ota wrote in an email.

Upon being sworn in two days after the June 20 election, Ota filed a “disclosure of appearance of conflict of

interest” with the Town Clerk revealing that he had filed a discrimination complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, a copy of which was obtained by the Current. Ota had not mentioned his complaint, which under the MCAD process is confidential, during the School Committee campaign.

The complaint

Ota’s contract as Glover School principal was not renewed after the 2021-22 school

year.

“I was a successful principal at the Glover School and was not rehired,” Ota lists as the reason for his discrimination complaint.

Explaining the possible conflict of interest with his campaign, Ota wrote, “The School Committee has two jobs: approving the budget and evaluating, hiring or firing the superintendent.”

Asked by the Current if he felt he should have let voters know about his complaint during the

election, Ota replied, “No.”

Ota said he contacted the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission before he announced his candidacy.

“They gave me recommendations as to how to deal with this issue if I win the election,” Ota explained. “I have and will continue to follow their recommendations.”

Ota said one of the recommendations was to file the

Festival of Arts expands offerings, attracts big crowds

DITCH THE DRIVE

Commuters brace for Sumner shutdown

Project brings potential gridlock, forces locals to consider alternatives

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

Marblehead commuters are advised to prepare for major disruptions as the Sumner Tunnel, a vital transit link for North Shore residents working in Boston, is scheduled to close for two months, beginning Wednesday, July 5.

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Marblehead was electric over the long Fourth of July weekend, with thousands of people crowding into town for the 57th annual Festival of Arts.

From 11 exhibits to 16 Crocker Park concerts to a new 5K walk-run, street performers and more, the town was alive with excitement and pride.

“This year’s Festival of Arts kicked off with amazing arts submissions, gorgeous custom-painted cod (and whales), the phenomenal artisans marketplace, a record number of attendees at Concerts @ Crocker and a nonstop buzz throughout the community,” said Jodi-Tatiana Charles, who took over as the Festival’s president this year.

Charles introduced several successful new events, including Hidden Orbs, with artists

BY JESSICA BARNETT

When did you first feel that Marblehead’s longtime weekly newspaper had shifted away from its super-local focus?

For me, it was when Tri-Town real estate ads seemed more prevalent than Marblehead real estate listings. And when there was a review of a Haverhill

restaurant but nothing about Marblehead’s dining offerings. But especially, it was when I realized I knew very little about what was happening right here in our own town.

While — theoretically — we all know the value of local reporting, perhaps many of us didn’t truly appreciate how the lack of local journalism

would impact our sense of community and our spirit of local democracy.

It’s absolutely genius that our nation’s Founding Fathers embedded freedom of the press into the First Amendment of the Constitution, that they so clearly understood that accurate information affects our voting decisions and, thereby, our

Opened in 1934, the 1.5-mile passage plays a key role in reducing traffic congestion between East Boston and downtown Boston. This 90-year-old tunnel, only second to the Holland Tunnel in New York in terms of age, will be out of service from July 5 to Aug. 31. The reason: a comprehensive maintenance project that includes replacing the ceiling, installing a new ventilation system and repairing the overhead arch among other things. An equivalent closure is also planned for the following year.

“It’s not going to be fun for anyone driving into Boston from the North Shore this summer,” said Marblehead Select Board Chair Erin Noonan. “The state is pushing all these mitigation strategies because they are doing whatever they can to get people not to drive in.”

Noonan’s husband, Patrick, works in the Back Bay three days per week. He usually drives to the Wonderland MBTA station and hops on the Blue Line.

“I try walking a bike on [the Blue Line] and then just bike across the downtown,” he said. “It’s like a 10-minute bike [ride to work].”

Massachusetts Highway Administrator

democracy. Local democracy also relies on our sense of community, on our knowing each other and understanding each other’s needs, wants and points of view.

Knowing and understanding each other is the foundation for caring about each other and for building a strong community.

Two of the founding principles

of The Marblehead Current are accurate, fair, hyper-focused Marblehead reporting to (1) contribute to an informed electorate and (2) to strengthen our sense of community.

In its first year, it’s been rewarding to hear praise for The Current’s excellent

Newly elected School Committee member Brian Ota did not mention his discrimination complaint against the superintendent during his campaign.

day of the Festival of Arts wrapped up.

COURTESY PHOTO / MARBLEHEAD FESTIVAL OF ARTS Alice Crowe and her dad, Dylan, dance at a Crocker Park concert Saturday night. Alice is a third-generation ’Header.

Marblehead mother and son launch mobile Bubble Bar

BY MELISSA STACEY

The following is an interview with Maria Tilkens owner of Bubble Bar Boston, conducted by Discover Marblehead. To learn more about the mobile bar and how you can book them for your next event, go to bubblebarboston.com

Tell us about Bubble Bar Boston. Bubble Bar Boston is a unique mobile bar experience, a fun and memorable vintage experience from which to enjoy your favorite libations, run by myself and my oldest son, Alexander. When our bar trailer and vintage 1948 Dodge truck roll up to your party in the Boston area, people are going to talk and take pictures. It’s like a magnet. Our Bubble Bar will be the first thing your guests visit and where you will find them all at the end of the event. From custom curated cocktails, delectable grazing boards, bistro tables, vintage umbrellas, fresh fruit-infused waters and garnishes to die for, we set the scene for a night to remember. About a year ago, we had an addition to our family, Petunia,

The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to News in Brief. Send yours to info@ marbleheadnews.org.

Memorial for ‘Marblehead Forever’ winner Wayne Butler

On July 8, a memorial service will be held for Wayne T. Butler, who died in October at 91, at the Old North Church, 35 Washington St. The service will begin at 2 p.m., followed by a reception. All who knew Butler are welcome to attend. RSVP to Sandra Butler at 617-620-4973 or sandybutler711@gmail.com.

Butler dedicated his postretirement years to serving Marblehead. His passion for the town led him to volunteer at Abbot Hall, where he served and led the Marblehead Historical Commission for several years. At one point, Butler’s efforts in organizing the extensive

our “bubble bike.” Petunia is a vintage-inspired tricycle serving chilled champagne and beer. Perfect for smaller events, more compact spaces or to have indoors.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Follow your heart and your success will follow. Albeit with a tremendous amount of hard work and tenacity.

What is your favorite spot in

collection of physical objects and historical documents donated to the town earned him the prestigious “Marblehead Forever” award.

MHTV wins ‘Overall Excellence’

Marblehead’s local television station has done it again. For the ninth time, MHTV has been awarded top national honors from the Alliance for Community Media for its production quality and commitment to communityfocused programming. The Overall Excellence award recognizes a station’s entire range of responsiveness to community needs and the development of diverse community involvement.

The MHTV crew Pam Evans, outreach coordinator; Jon Caswell, programming manager; Joan Goloboy, executive director; Jess Burton, sportscaster/content

disclosure report.

Ota declined to provide documentation of his correspondence with the Ethics Commission.

Marblehead? Without a doubt the rocks by the lighthouse. Looking out across the ocean makes you feel like anything is possible. The ocean certainly soothes the soul.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? When we lived in Malibu, we had access to the 21st Century Fox wardrobe department. I was able to try on all of Rose’s dresses from

producer; and James Maroney, production manager earned an “overall excellence” award from the Alliance for Community Media Foundation.

“It’s a tremendous accomplishment by the staff, which includes Jon Caswell, James Maroney, Pam Evans and Jess Burton,” said MHTV Executive Director Joan Goloboy. “Day after day, they are focused on providing ‘truly local’ coverage of Marblehead news, sports and information. The award also recognizes the commitment of our talented volunteers — some of whom have worked alongside us for many years.” Goloboy adds, “We continue to successfully convey the distinctive character of Marblehead to the contest judges. Winning this honor —nine times now — is very special.”

wrongful dismissal complaint against the district?” He continued, “If your answer is ‘no,’ I respectfully ask that you recuse yourself from all budget discussions and/or votes until your complaint is concluded.” CP_MBHC_20230705_1_A02

Committee Chair Sarah

“Titanic” and Alexander used to visit and borrow items for all his Halloween costumes.

The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. Discover Marblehead is dedicated to the promotion of Marblehead. Our mission is to highlight local businesses, tourism, community events and attractions through social media, email marketing and community outreach. To learn more, visit discovermhd.com.

Citizen Police Academy

The Marblehead Police Department, in collaboration with the Council on Aging, is accepting applications for its eighth Citizen Police Academy. The fall session, which runs Sept. 8 through Nov. 3, will be held every Friday from 9 a.m.noon at the Council on Aging, 10 Humphrey St.

Participants will also have the opportunity to visit the Marblehead Police station and the Michael Ruane Judicial Center in Salem.

Interested Marblehead residents who are at least 18 years old can apply. However, class size is limited and applicants are required to attend all sessions and submit to a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check.

Applications will be accepted until the class is full. Learn more at bit.ly/46kKAwD.

decision not to reveal his complaint to voters. “I have no concerns and believe

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Community Editor - Will Dowd  wdowd@marbleheadnews.org

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Thomson - Secretary Richard Weed - Treasurer

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DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

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DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS

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FOUNDERS

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DESIGN AND PRODUCTION North of Boston Media Group Marblehead News 217 Humphrey St.  Marblehead, Massachusetts 01945 781.910.8658 info@marbleheadnews.org www.marbleheadCurrent.org

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proactively followed all required steps with the state

and

town to properly make sure no ethical violation existed,” Fox said.

COURTESY PHOTO: MERISSA CONLEY

Mother and son Maria and Alexander Tilkens own Bubble Bar Boston.

‘Everything’s on the table’

School board to revisit layoffs, demise of freshman sports

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Some of the school employees laid off after last month’s failed override could possibly get their jobs back, according to School Committee Chair Sarah Fox.

The committee, with two newly elected members, voted unanimously to take another look at staffing and program cuts approved at Town Meeting, based on news that the school district had approximately $500,000 in surplus funds as the 2023 fiscal year ended June 30.

That money comes, in part, from salaries for staff members who retired or resigned unexpectedly.

“Everything’s on the table,” Fox answered when asked about restoring positions that had been cut, after a School Committee meeting June 29.

Fox asked Assistant Superintendent of Finance Michelle Cresta to use some of the leftover cash from FY 23 to prepay FY 24’s out-of-district special education costs, thereby making money available to restore some of the cuts.

“That frees up money in next year’s budget that we could then charge our administrators with coming back to us very quickly about what could be prioritized to come back to our budget,” Fox said. New member Jenn Schaeffner made a motion for the School Committee to revisit the budget cuts. She said she wants to look for more “non-student-facing

line items.”

“We owe it to ourselves and to our students that we at least look at what our options are,” Schaeffner said.

Fox added, “We’re trying to lessen the impacts on students. I, for one, am done with students paying the price of adults.”

Asked when they learned about the surplus school funds, Fox and Schaeffner answered, “Tonight.”

However, Cresta and Superintendent John Buckey said they’ve been talking to Fox about the surplus and prepaying tuitions for about a month. And, they added, the surplus should not be a surprise because there has been a surplus every year for the last four years.

Cresta strongly advised against revisiting the FY 24 budget or using any of the surplus. For one thing, she said, if staff is rehired, there won’t be any funding to keep them in FY 25.

She added, “My concern is going into next year, if we use some of that surplus in a roundabout way to offset recurring costs next year, you’re going into next year with an unbalanced budget. We’ll be reducing our special ed tuition budget, which will roll forward the following year.”

Buckey sided with Cresta, saying, “I think Michelle’s approach is prudent.” He also worried about the message being sent to the community.

“I think we feed a narrative in the community that, ‘Oh, it was scare tactics all along. They’ll find the money, they have hidden accounts in the school department,’ and for us to come back and undermine the superintendent, undermine the leadership team asking them to go back and look [at the FY24 budget] as if they had not, is a mistake,” Buckey said. Play ball?

Schaeffner also made a motion to reinstate freshman sports as of Thursday night, without identifying where the funds to do so would come from.

“I’m going to dig in here on freshman sports,” she said. “It’s an urgent situation, and I

feel very strongly about it. I’m confident that we’re going to be able to find the funds.”

Her motion lost on a 2-2 tie vote. (School Committee member Meagan Taylor was not at the meeting.) The topic is expected to be discussed again at the committee’s next meeting, most likely July 6.

Meanwhile, former Marblehead Select Board member and business owner T. Michael Rockett told the Current Thursday night that he would fund the $16,000 for freshman sports.

“I think it’s the most important thing for kids,” Rockett said. “I’m willing to pay whatever it is.”

Rockett called freshman sports a “political football.”

“I think they picked this because it’s easy,” he said. “They thought when they picked something like this, they would get the override.”

He continued, “I was a kid that grew up in special ed. Thank God we had sports. I’m not saying it’s more important [than academic programs]. All I’m saying is I’m going to fund this.”

The School Committee also asked Cresta to find out how much the district would have to raise student user fees to support freshman sports. Buckey said the actual cost for freshman sports is closer to $40,000 when you add in money for transportation and officials.

BYC sailing program is open to all

The Boston Yacht Club in Marblehead is running a sailing program open to all individuals, including both members and nonmembers. The club aims

to encourage people from the town to experience the joy of sailing during the summer season. The program offers a variety of courses designed to

teach the art of sailing.

Kevin Dooley, the BYC sailing director, is leading the program and ensuring that there is something available for everyone, from beginners to intermediates.

For beginners, the program provides instruction in sonar fundamentals, introducing them to the basics of small keelboat sailing.

Intermediate sailors will focus on practical seamanship for safe day sailing with the BYC Charter Fleet. Additionally, there are Sonar Spinnaker classes available, where participants can learn

Alan Lipkind Secretary

about spinnaker trim and downwind handling techniques.

Classes on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. will concentrate on teaching safe and efficient day sailing strategies.

BEGINNER

» SONAR

FUNDAMENTALS:

A comprehensive introduction to small keelboat sailing.

Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Eight hours of instruction over four classes or Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. - Eight hours of instruction over two classes.

INTERMEDIATE

» CHARTER PREP: A

the Unrestricted District. The new construction will be within the side yard setback, reduce the open area to less than required and exceeds the 10% expansion limits for nonconforming buildings. 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=enlwRXd3V2xmdHE3cy92SklTU1BTUT09 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

review of fundamentals and practical seamanship for safe day sailing with our Charter Fleet.

Thursday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Four hours of instruction over two classes.

» SONAR SPINNAKER:

An introduction to spinnaker trim and downwind handling techniques.

Thursday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Four hours of instruction over two classes.

RACING

FUNDAMENTALS: An introduction to racing and performance boat handling.

Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Six hours of instruction over two classes or Friday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Six hours of instruction over three classes.

» SAILTREK CRUISING

WEEKEND: A focus on safe and efficient day sailing strategies. Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. Six hours of instruction over two classes.

For more information about the sailing courses or assistance with registration, please reach out to BYC sailing director Kevin Dooley at kdooley@byc.org.

TUT09 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

NOTICE

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

School Committee members (from left) Brian Ota, Alison Taylor, Jenn Schaeffner, Sarah Fox and Superintendent John Buckey talk about the budget June 29.

Fire Department acquires new ballistics vests

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

Amid rising gun violence in the United States, the Gun Violence Archive reports more than 300 mass shootings so far in 2023, putting this year on track to become the deadliest year for mass shootings in recent history.

In the face of this somber trend, fire departments and law enforcement agencies across the country, including Marblehead’s, are proactively adopting strategies, enhancing training and equipping themselves to better respond to active shooter scenarios.

“In an active shooter situation, we will be involved on the side of emergency medical services,” said Fire Chief Jason Gilliland. “We don’t proclaim to be doing anything as far as mitigating the shooter — we will support the police in an emergency medical service role.”

The Marblehead Fire Department recently added 10 new ballistics vests and helmets to its equipment, sourced through the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. This purchase brings their total

count to 14. The ballistics vests, fitted with steel plates on the front and back and soft armor on the sides, are designed to protect firefighters when they accompany police into an active shooter situation.

Equally vital to the vests and helmets are the life-saving supplies that accompany them, like tourniquets and chest seals, used to prevent victims from bleeding out. Firefighter Matthew Christensen, the EMS coordinator, dedicated significant time to compiling these medical kits.

As Christensen showed the kits at the Ocean Avenue headquarters, he expressed a sentiment shared by many in the department: “We hope all this stuff collects dust and expires.”

In Massachusetts, firefighters are trained to become emergency medical technicians (EMTs). An EMT’s primary role is to provide immediate medical care and support, prioritizing patient safety, stabilization and transportation. They work to mitigate further harm and improve outcomes until care can

be transferred to more advanced medical providers.

When responding to emergencies, law enforcement and first responders establish a three-zone security perimeter: the cold, warm and hot zones. The cold zone serves as a safe gathering place for responders to plan, while the hot zone is the epicenter of the action where police are actively neutralizing threats.

“The police stop the killing, and we stop the dying and evacuate the casualties. We’ll go in with an officer,” said Gilliland. “They’ll have this kit on them, which is a triage kit. They’ll be able to classify the casualties from most critical to least critical.”

Significantly, the concept of the warm zone has become

a game-changer in such emergencies. With their ballistics gear, firefighters and paramedics can now venture beyond the safe confines of the cold zone into this intermediate area, despite the inherent risks. Their proximity to the scene enables them to deliver immediate, life-saving aid to victims, applying trauma bandages and tourniquets to stem life-threatening bleeding.

The primary objective within the warm zone is to buy time — to halt bleeding until victims can receive advanced medical treatment or be moved to the safety of the cold zone. This tactical shift is redefining emergency response measures, potentially increasing the number of lives saved in the process.

In March, Christensen and Gilliland took the Active Attack Integrated Response Trainthe-Trainer Course, offered by the Northeast Homeland Security Planning Region at the Lynnfield Police Academy. This specialized program strengthens the coordination and response capabilities of various emergency response agencies during an active attack or shooter events.

“The lessons learned from past tragedies, such as Columbine, have highlighted the need for a coordinated response that goes beyond neutralizing the shooter,” said Gilliland. “The objective is to minimize the time between neutralizing the threat and providing life-saving medical assistance to increase the chances of survival.”

Jonathan Gulliver emphasizes the state’s preference for residents to opt for public transport during the shutdown, whenever feasible. He cautioned, “Traffic impacts are inevitable, regardless of your point of origin. But those traveling from the North Shore and East Boston are bound to face the most severe effects.”

As part of the state’s efforts to ease roadway congestion, the MBTA plans to suspend fares on the entire Blue Line in both directions for the closure’s duration. All fare gates between Bowdoin and Wonderland will be open, an extra train will operate during the midday period to accommodate additional riders and parking facilities along the line will lower their fees to $2 per day.

The closure coincides with ongoing issues faced by the MBTA service, including staffing shortages and track defects that are causing train delays. This spring, officials concentrated repair efforts on the Blue Line’s

slowest sections to enhance its performance ahead of the Sumner Tunnel closure.

Michael Goldman, a Marblehead resident and political consultant who regularly commutes to Boston, anticipates altering his travel routine and testing less congested routes during the construction.

“This tunnel was built seven to eight decades ago and is showing signs of significant wear and tear,” said Goldman. “The sheer volume of vehicles it handles and the limitations on maintenance

is a repeat petition within two years of an unfavorable action, the petitioner also requests a determination in accordance with MGL 40A sec 16 that specific and material changes in the conditions upon which the previous unfavorable action was based. 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/87 87 83 472 82 ?pw d=e nlwRXd 3V2 xmdH E3c y92 SklT U1 BTUT 09

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 send to lyonsl@marblehead.org and the comments, will be included in the record. Alan Lipkind Secretary

have made it essential to shut it down.”

To further promote public transit use during the shutdown, the MBTA plans to lower fares on the Newburyport/Rockport Line of the commuter rail to $2.40 per ride, regardless of the destination. Additionally, parking costs will be reduced or waived entirely, and ferry services will be enhanced, including a free East Boston ferry and a new weekday ferry from Blossom Street in Lynn.

“You can’t build a temporary tunnel, so it’s a choice between

closing it down completely or enduring several years of construction,” said Goldman. “It’s a difficult decision for the government because they need to balance the time taken for repairs and the inconvenience caused to the public. It will affect my commute and force me to consider alternate routes.”

He added, “It’s not an exciting prospect, but I understand the need for it.”

Reporting and writing from the State House News Service contributed to this story.

TRAVEL OPTIONS

Travelers are encouraged to Ditch the Drive and use alternative means of travel.

MassDOT has created a menu of safe, efficient commute options while the tunnel is closed for repairs. Travelers can utilize MassDOT 511 to help review traffic conditions and visit bit.

ly/3PCSb3N to plan their public transit trips. Additional details on travel options are below:

MBTA BLUE LINE

Free trips on the MBTA Blue Line will be available for commuters.

MBTA PARKING

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=enlwRXd3V2xmdHE3cy92SklTU1BTUT09 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

Reduced rates of $2/day at MBTA parking lots and garages along the Blue Line. Additional free parking near Wood Island Station.

FERRY SERVICE

Free ferry service in East Boston to provide alternative transportation. For a reduced charge, people can use the ferry service from Lynn, Winthrop, Salem and the Boston Seaport to accommodate increased demand.

COMMUTER RAIL

Reduced Zone 1A Commuter Rail fares along the Newburyport/Rockport line. Parking costs at Salem and Swampscott commuter rail lots will be $2 per day. Free parking is available at all MBTA lots north of Salem.

DISCOUNTED TRAVEL

Registered participants in the Resident Discount Program will receive discounted toll rates on the Tobin Bridge and Ted Williams Tunnel.

LOGAN AIRPORT TRAVEL

Discounted Logan Express service and additional MBTA Silver Line SL1 service for travelers to and from Logan Airport.

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD BOARD OF APPEALS

The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday July 25,

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

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

CURRENT PHOTO / WILLIAM J. DOWD

Firefighters Matthew Lunt (left to right), Jake Morris, Matthew Chirstensen, Chief Jason Gilliland and Mark Tentindo showcase their

ballistics vests and helmets.

Opinion

The Spirit of Marblehead

Reflecting on the echoes of laughter that filled the streets of Marblehead or scenes of people peering over art across town, we’re left with a deep sense of pride. The recently concluded 57th annual Marblehead Festival of Arts, one of the cornerstones of our Fourth of July celebrations, served as a shining testament to our community’s spirit, dedication and hard work.

One cannot overlook the tireless planning and meticulous execution that went into this event. Our tranquil seaside town became a buzzing epicenter of activity as preparations commenced, transforming it into a vibrant canvas for local artists and artisans and a stage for volunteers and attendees alike.

We share in Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer’s sentiment that teams from every corner of the town made this festival a resounding success. Police, fire, department of public works crews and the health department lent their utmost support, ensuring the smooth running of logistics and the safety of every individual in attendance. Their roles are a testament to the spirit of cooperation and the shared sense of responsibility that embodies Marblehead.

Volunteers, the heart and soul of the festival, worked tirelessly. Building stages, hanging art, setting up booths and dealing with last-minute details, they all put their best foot forward and dedication to a single cause. Their commitment and spirit are the lifeblood of the festival, driving its success year after year.

As one walks around the festival, it becomes clear that it is not just an art show, but a celebration of community spirit and dedication, represented in every piece of art, every Crocker Park performance and every activity that took place.

“After all, we are fundamentally an art festival. It is crucial to immerse oneself in local art to truly comprehend the community. Our town is brimming with artistic flair and culture,” said Festival Director Jodi-Tatiana Charles. “When I was younger, my dad told me, ‘Whatever country you go to, you always go to the museum, the churches, and you go to the restaurants. Those three things will really make you understand why the people are who they are.”

She added, “And this town is all about those three things.”

In essence, what makes the Marblehead Festival of Arts remarkable is its cohesion, the sense of unity that it cultivates within our town. It paints a living picture of what we can achieve when we work together with a shared love for our town, culture and traditions.

Let us remember the unity and the dedication that made this festival possible. This year’s festival was not just a celebration, but a tribute to Marblehead’s spirit.

Making memories it’s OK to forget

BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM

What memories did you make this past holiday? How long will they stay with you? (“Not long — I don’t remember what I ate for breakfast this morning,” I can hear half of you joking. Or maybe that’s just me.)

Celebrating the Fourth of July here in what should be designated the nation’s capital of such celebrations (get on that, elected representatives!) made me nostalgic for the Fourths of my childhood. And it got me thinking about why I don’t remember many specifics about those long-ago moments in time, though I remember I loved them. More on that in, well, a moment.

My childhood Fourth of July celebrations were simpler affairs than here. Running barefoot through the darkening backyard holding a lit sparkler. Trying to throw mine farther than my siblings and watching the arc of light as it traveled through the air. Worrying someone might step on a still-hot metal end. Shrugging and throwing another one.

My dad loved fireworks. We’d search out the best official displays in neighboring towns. And sometimes he would light off his own. Nothing extravagant — roman candles, firecrackers. One tube he stuck in the ground shot little balls of colored fire in the air — red, yellow, purple, pop, pop, pop.

I can see in my mind’s eye, though, like I was still there, one Fourth when my sister Lisa tied a black trash bag to a big branch on our old apple tree and lit the end. We laid on our stomachs, chins propped in our hands and watched wide-eyed as the bag dripped drops of fire onto the ground. Needless to say, this was the era of riding in the way-way-back without seatbelts, so please don’t try this at home!

However, I was mesmerized by each drop, shaped like a big tear as if the bag itself was crying. I can still see it exactly. It’s a flashbulb memory. If I’m reading the science right, it’s a good thing I don’t have more of those related to the Fourth of July. Turns out, flashbulb memories — memories you hold in photographic detail and are retrieved easily — usually occur when there are three conditions in place:

Barnett

From P. A1

reporting and commitment to outstanding journalism. It’s also been meaningful that so many of Marblehead’s excellent writers, thought-leaders, experts, historians and newcomers to town are sharing their ideas, insights and observations by contributing letters to the editor, articles, columns and news releases — giving us all a special opportunity to know each other better and to enrich the Marblehead community. More than we had hoped or expected, the Marblehead Current is not only a reliable news source, it has also become an important forum for sharing ideas.

In that spirit of building community and connections, the

lETTERS POlIC y

We want to hear from you

The Marblehead Current loves to get letters to the editor. There are just a few rules you need to know. Generally, letters should not exceed 500 words. The Marblehead Current reserves the right not to publish submissions over the word limit and may instead return the letter to the writer for editing.

Letters must include:

1. The author’s name. Unsigned letters and form letters will not be

Turns out, flashbulb memories — memories you hold in photographic detail and are retrieved easily — usually occur when there are three conditions in place: The event holds an element of surprise, it is significant, and it’s emotional.

The event holds an element of surprise, it is significant, and it’s emotional.

Often, the memories can be recalled so clearly because there’s a public aspect to the associated event, shared by others and repeated in the media. Where you were when you heard about JFK’s assassination is a common one.

Beyond shared tragedy, positive but heightened emotional moments can become flashbulb memories — when you first held your newborn baby in your arms, for example.

Maybe I was scared by the tear drops of fire, and that’s why I remember them so vividly. Or I wasn’t really scared but excited by the sense of adventure — even danger — of being near such a homemade “firework.”

I have a couple other stand-out childhood Fourth memories. It’s family lore that one year another older sister took me to see fireworks without telling my parents, who for a few harrowing hours thought I’d gone missing. That same night, my baby brother tripped over the hose and broke his collarbone, but no one noticed until he wouldn’t stop crying in his crib because they were focused on finding me.

Mostly, my Fourth memories are hazy and happy. No drama, just fun.

This year, I was wowed as always by the Festival of Arts, despite the weather. But at some point, I’ll try without success to remember exactly what we did to celebrate in 2023. I won’t be able to conjure a flashbulb memory. And that’s perfectly OK with me. Some memories aren’t made to remember in detail. Even — maybe especially — the fun ones.

Virginia Buckingham is the president of the Current’s board of directors. Her column appears weekly.

More than we had hoped or expected, the Marblehead Current is not only a reliable news source, it has also become an important forum for sharing ideas.

Current has also served as the presenting partner of the Festival of Arts, promoted reading in cooperation with Saltwater Books, celebrated teachers and helped us celebrate the ones we love.

The Current has kept us informed through its Town Meeting Guide, Election Guide and overall coverage of the town.

In this first year, The Current itself has been guided by those two primary founding principles.

Now, we’re eager to show what we can do in year two.

But for that, we need another kind of contributor — financial

contributors.

As a nonprofit that values news for people over profits, we do rely on financial support from the community.

We ask you to be a financial contributor to the Current in any amount either by sending a check made out to “The Marblehead Current” to 217 Humphrey St., Marblehead, MA 01945; by clicking through the QR code in our newspaper edition or by clicking on “Donate” at marbleheadcurrent.org.

Let us show you what we can do in year two. We can’t do it without you.

number (not for publication) for verification purposes.

4. If letters seek to introduce into a discussion purported facts that are not commonly known, writers may be asked to provide the source for those purported facts.

published.

2. The name of the street the author lives on in Marblehead. Only the street name will be published next to the author’s name — not their full address.

3. For every letter, we will need an author’s daytime/cell phone

5. Letters must be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday to be published in the following Wednesday’s print edition of the Marblehead Current. Letters will be published to our website at the earliest opportunity, after verification. Email submissions to info@marbleheadnews.org. While the Marblehead Current will make every effort to let writers have their say, it reserves the right not to publish letters.

EVERy THING WIll BE OKAy

Make your own Joe Froggers this summer

BY LINDA BASSETT

Uptown. Downtown. Old Town (a term only for tourists). You have to love Marblehead’s institutions. Banks where everybody knows your name.

Restaurants that consider you a regular after the second visit. Shops where the proprietors remember your preferences. A new book store! Art galleries. The Chamber. Two (!) Rotary Clubs. Baseball: peewee to semipro. The Little Theatre, our own Broadway. You have to love our unabashed patriotism. The sparkle of Independence Day fireworks. Abbot Hall where the clock chimes 76 times in celebration. Stalwart ownership of the American Navy.

Rocky expanses, washed by cold salt water, called beaches. Traditions. Holiday Pops. Lobster rolls in summer. Garden parties in three seasons. And Joe Froggers, the “Marblehead cookie” all year round.

Everyone here knows the story of Joe Brown and Lucretia Thomas Brown, the couple who, centuries ago, lived on Gingerbread Hill, a lively neighborhood of bakeries and a popular tavern.

Joe Brown tended to the seafarers with music and drink; his wife Lucretia baked wedding cakes.

They teamed up on cookies: she baked, he marketed.

Recently, Marblehead Museum Director Lauren McCormack posed a tentative question about their molasses cookie in a newsletter article — while also correcting racial stereotypes and acknowledging the Browns’

Open public landing’s bathrooms

To the editor:

I used to feel good about our local form of government. The citizens of Marblehead could put together a warrant article to be presented and voted on at the Town Meeting. Once a majority voted in favor of the matter, the warrant article became law. Then it was, I thought, up to the Select Board, together with the town administrator, to see to it that the law is properly administered. Today, that good feeling has left me.

Back in 1995, Putt Mace, Karen Martin, myself and others went before the Select Board with a proposal to keep the State Street public restrooms open all year. The board loved the idea, as did everyone at the May 6, 1996, Town Meeting, where Article 32 was unanimously adopted. It did not require tellers to count the votes. Not one person raised a hand in opposition to the article.

Anyone who has visited the public landing will have noticed the sign on the restroom doors stating “closed for the season.” At first, it was Parks and Rec that followed through with the decision on Article 32. The State Street restrooms were kept open. After a few years, it ended. Responsibility passed to another town department. Ask what happened, and all the excuses given (lack of insulation, pipes freezing, vandalism, too expensive to heat, etc.) can be summed up under the headings of poor management and poor maintenance.

dignity. The question: was Lucretia Thomas Brown the originator of the Joe Frogger cookie?

Noted food historian Sandra Oliver, who mined the depths of early New England cooking in her book “Saltwater Foodways,” found no evidence of the cookie. She did, however, highlight a galley-produced pancake called a “Joe Flogger” with an “L.” But McCormack’s speculation lit a spark. Could Lucretia have actually “invented” the Joe Frogger? Not the traditional molasses cookie, but a sturdier version popular with sailors for its longevity at sea. Might Lucretia have improved on the cookie by using the techniques that had created the “ship’s biscuit,” a seaworthy brickshaped cracker used to thicken shipboard chowder? (The forerunner of hardtack.) The ingredients and technology were right there. Did Lucretia apply them to a sweet? Might she eventually be the first recognized for it, many, many generations later? A thought worth considering.

Meanwhile, find the cookies at Maria’s. Or bake your own. I am not an accomplished baker, so this recipe is adapted from Nancy Baggett’s “The AllAmerican Cookie Book” where Marblehead is recognized as their point of origin.

JOE FROGGERS COOKIES

MAKES ABOUT 30 (3 1/2 TO 4 INCH)

COOKIES

This detailed recipe works for occasional bakers. The cookies store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks; or, freeze for up to 2 months. They have not been tested at sea.

`

3 1/4 cups all-purpose white flour

` 2 teaspoons ground ginger

` ¾ teaspoon ground cloves

Will pipes freeze in winter?

Sure, if there is no heat. The furnace supplying that heat needs to be maintained or replaced when unreliable. The same can be said of each and every house in Marblehead.

Lack of insulation? It is a small solid brick building designed with a furnace meant to heat the restrooms in the colder months.

Too expensive to heat?

Restroom temperatures do not need to be kept above 50 degrees. How about installing an air-source heat pump system? Again, where is the management?

And what about vandalism?

Not surprisingly, vandalism results when restrooms are closed, not when open? Why is that? Think about it.

People head for a restroom for one reason and one reason only — to relieve themselves. What possible reason could there be for locking the doors?

Sure, lock the doors after hours at the bank, at Crosbys, etc.

Theft can occur there. But in a restroom? What’s to steal?

I can imagine a locked-out citizen needing to perform a necessary, time-sensitive bodily function, which is not limited by the season or controlled by clocks, when confronted with a locked restroom door, to think:

“What the …k! I live in this town. I pay taxes in this town.

Am I being told to go behind a tree?” Vandalism, as a result, should not be a head-scratcher.

And what about security cameras? The management question again. I was told by a Harbors and Waters Board member that security cameras were not an option due to legal

` ¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg

`

½ teaspoon ground allspice

` 1 teaspoon baking soda

`

¼ teaspoon salt

`

1 cup light or dark molasses

` 3 tablespoons dark rum

` ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening

`

¾ cu packed light brown sugar

¼ cup sugar for topping

`

1. In a large bowl, stir together flour, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

2. In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together molasses, rum, shortening and brown sugar until smooth, about two minutes.

3. Beat half the flour mixture into the molasses mixture until smooth. Now vigorously beat in

issues and a need to have the cameras monitored 24/7. Upon researching the matter, I found that there are no legal barriers to installing surveillance cameras in plain view in the public areas outside the restrooms where people do not have an expectation of privacy. Monitoring 24/7? Not so. The town has failed in administering the 1996 Town Meeting vote. Not only have the restrooms not been open in the winter, they were closed all spring. The first opening was this past Monday. Despite the 15 to 20 people fishing for squid on the public dock until 2 or 3 a.m., the restrooms are closed to them after 11 p.m., resulting in widespread urination in the public parking area. I think it is time for a group of volunteers to have a chance to see if they can administer the matter better. They can’t do a worse job.

Phil Blaisdell Front Street

An ode to voting

To the editor: Then Marblehead Forever!

God bless the good old town. Not voting shames her noble ancestry. She was first in Revolution, was first in ‘61. Yet most voters didn’t care that they were free.

Eric Reines Green Street

‘What hateful behavior is’

To the editor:

the remaining half of the flour mixture until evenly blended and smooth. If needed, add the extra 1 to 2 tablespoons flour to make the dough slightly stiff but not dry.

4. Divide the dough into three equal portions, placing each one between sheets of waxed paper. Roll each portion a quarter-inch thick. Stack the rolled portions, with paper still attached, on a baking sheet. Refrigerate for 4 to 8 hours. (Alternatively, freeze for 45 minutes.)

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

F. Spray 4 baking sheets with nonstick spray.

6. Working with each portion of dough at a time, remove the waxed paper from each side.

Cut out the cookies using a 3 to 3 1/2 round cookie cutter. Transfer

cookies to a baking sheet, spacing about 1 1/2 inches apart. Sprinkle tops with sugar. Gather and reroll any scraps of leftover dough; continue cutting out cookies until all the dough is used.

7. Bake cookies, one sheet at a time, in the upper third of the oven for 9 to 12 minutes, until nearly firm in the center and slightly darker at the edges. (For crunchy cookies, overbake slightly; for softer cookies, under-bake slightly.) Halfway through cooking, reverse the sheet pan for even browning.

8. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack; let stand for 1 to 2 minutes until cookies slightly firm up. With a spatula, transfer them to a wire rack to stand until cool.

the recent events surrounding Grace Community Church. All around the country, we see incidents of people getting angry with others because they disagree. There’s no reason to expect Marblehead, being full of humans, to be exempt from common behaviors. But we have been mostly free from public angriness in response to private disagreements.

But now, simply because Grace Community Church chose not to allow someone to use their property as a platform without permission, they were bullied and shamed. They were lectured, in a public forum, on what their beliefs are supposed to be.

The protest in question — and all the statements made to the press by the participants — are protected by the Constitution. That doesn’t make them reasonable, or good civic behavior.

If we really want to fight against hateful behavior, we need to be clear about what hateful behavior is. Removing a flag placed on your property without permission is not a hateful act. Declining to participate in a particular movement or celebration is not a hateful act.

It is not helpful or accurate to use labels like “hate” or make broad accusations, equating anyone who differs from our views with people who actively try to harm people. We cannot truly have freedom of association, assembly or speech if we’re going to bully people who choose not to associate, assemble or speak the way we want them to.

Tom Kenney Elm Place

Thanking the McCarthys

To the editor:

On June 17, Nancy and Brian McCarthy hosted a garden tour of their beautiful property on Peach’s Point to benefit the Marblehead Museum. Despite the rain, over 300 visitors enjoyed the beauty and history of these storied gardens. We would like to thank the McCarthys, their gardener Rick Elder, both Museum and Marblehead Garden Club volunteers, Maura Phelan and the “parking boys,” and our outstanding and tireless Executive Director Lauren McCormack for their time and energy in making this event a success.

Thanks also to Council on Aging Executive Director Lisa Hooper, shuttle driver Ann Martin, and to Dave Rodgers and the VFW for parking.

Marblehead Museum is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting Marblehead’s past as a means of enriching the present. The money raised through this event will help us continue to offer lectures, programs, exhibitions, school programs and online research capabilities to the Marblehead community and beyond.

For more information about the museum, please visit marbleheadmuseum.org.

Christine Nuccio Dameys Way Amy Drinker Gregory Street

Marblehead’s cookie the Joe Frogger

lETTERS TO THE EDITOR

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

Dr. Eileen Mathieu, a Marblehead resident,

has been recognized for her instrumental role in local environmental advocacy with the 2023

Commonwealth Heroine Award.

Mathieu was presented the award in a late June ceremony organized by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women in the Great

Hall of Flags atop Beacon Hill. The award celebrates women who make impactful contributions to their communities.

Mathieu, a physician and active environmental leader in Marblehead, was

nominated by a group of state representatives, including Rep. Jenny Armini, Democrat of Marblehead, who praised Mathieu for her dedicated efforts towards enhancing the community and the environment.

“Eileen is that rare leader who builds consensus with sharp intelligence, patience, careful listening, discernment, deep care and a belief in the power of individuals to change the direction of their communities,” said Armini.

In her roles on Sustainable Marblehead’s Clean Energy and Public Policy Committee and the town’s Green Marblehead Committee,

Mathieu has been central in focusing the town’s attention on the climate crisis and driving policy development.

One of Mathieu’s major achievements includes her integral part in the creation of Marblehead’s Net Zero Roadmap. This comprehensive plan sets the town on a course to achieve its climate goals a full decade before the state’s 2050 deadline.

“Eileen embodies Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s famous line: ‘Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.’ And they are,” said Armini. “Thanks to Eileen, Marblehead and the Commonwealth have a brighter, more sustainable future.”

An active member of the community, Mathieu also enjoys sailing, cycling and bird watching. Despite her accomplishments, Mathieu remains humble and credits her achievements to the collective efforts of her team.

“Everything I’ve done has been done with a team, a corps of people who’ve pulled together to make a difference,” Mathieu told the Marblehead Current.

Established in 1998, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women annually organizes the awards, aimed at promoting equal opportunities for women in the Commonwealth and celebrating those who make a difference in their communities.

Dy NAMIC DOZEN

Success begins early for these Magicians

Boys lacrosse seniors complete sensational scholastic careers in state semifinals

BY JOE McCONNELL

For the 12 graduating seniors on the Marblehead High boys lacrosse team, the last three years saw unparalleled success, especially for nine of them who were on the varsity in each of those seasons.

These Magicians compiled a 50-6 three-year record (21-1 this spring) that culminated with a Division 2 state semifinal appearance last month. Imagine what they could have done if COVID didn’t cancel their freshman campaign.

Jack Aneshansley, Sam Annese, Baxter Jennings, Connor Sheridan, Connor Cronin, Eddie Johns, Aiden Tardie, Carter Laramie and Finn Maniaci have been together on the varsity for three years. Connor Murnane and Zander Danforth joined them in their junior year, while Nick Whitaker came aboard with the big club this spring.

“I told them at the banquet last night (June 29) that ‘what if we had that extra year of development together,’ but they still did a fantastic job with the hand that was dealt to them,” said coach John Wilkens, who just completed his 22nd year on the Marblehead sidelines.

Wilkens added, “They are a highly successful bunch of athletes for what they have done at the high school, with many of them winning the school’s first [football] Super Bowl championship. It’s pretty impressive.”

Wilkens credits their winning ways to “mental fortitude,” and much of that was developed in the youth lacrosse league, with many of them getting started in the sport when they were in kindergarten participating in youth clinics.

The players then matriculated into playing in the inter-town league as early as first grade, and also in seven-on-seven competitions. These games provided them tremendous competition against their friends every Sunday morning.

They moved up to play on fifth-and-sixth-grade and

DESERVING HONOREES

Johnson, Selvais win 2023 Sterny’s Way scholarships

BY JOE McCONNELL

Marblehead High School graduates Tamia Johnson and Cody Selvais are the recipients of this year’s Sterny’s Way Scholarships. The $1,000 scholarships are given annually in memory of David Stern, a Marblehead youth sports coaching legend and supporter of the arts who died in 2009.

Johnson receives arts scholarship

Johnson is the Sterny’s Way Arts Scholarship winner after completing an impressive four years at MHS. She excelled academically, graduating with a 3.31 GPA, while serving as a leader inside and outside the classroom as a three-year class officer and

BIENNIA l TRADITION

Large crowd expected for start of Halifax Race

BY LAURIE FULLERTON

A favorite town tradition will take place on Sunday, July 9, when the Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race returns after a four-year absence.

Hosted by the Boston Yacht Club and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht

Squadron of Canada, the 39th biennial running of this beloved ocean race marks a renewal of a friendly rivalry between two countries that dates back to the first race in 1905. Considered to be one of the premier ocean races on the Eastern

seaboard, the race was postponed in 2021 because the Canadian border was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Understandably, there has been a surge of interest among both

Jack Aneshansley then and now

Connor Cronin, then and now

Baxter Jennings, then and now

Sam Annese, then and now

Finn Maniaci, then and now

Carter Laramie, then and now

Eddie Johns, left, and Connor Murnane, then and now

Aiden Tardie, then and now

Connor Sheridan, then and now

Nick Whitaker

Zander Danforth

Cody Selvais Tamia Johnson

LACROSSE, P. A10

Angels claim championship

BY JOE MCCONNELL

The Marblehead Babe Ruth Angels, composed of players ages 13 to 15, won the 2023 championship after beating their Swampscott counterparts, 8-7, in a hard-fought game.

Carter Sahagian pitched six solid innings for the Angels before Sean Heenan closed it out in the seventh to secure the title.

The Angels finished first in the regular season. They then came out on top in three straight playoff games, beating the Orioles, A’s and Swampscott to account for the postseason title.

Race

From P. A9

American and Canadian teams for the race’s return this year. The many U.S. entries include teams from Ohio, Maryland, New York, and throughout New England.

Skipper Beth Berry and her all-female crew from Annapolis, Maryland, plan to race on board the Tartan 41 “Kyrie,” and a youth-oriented team from the Oakcliff Sailing Center in Oyster Bay, New York, will compete on board the Farr 40 “Blue.”

Further, there are 15 Canadian vessels coming this year whose home ports are not only in the Maritime provinces of Canada like Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, but also Newfoundland, Ontario and Alberta, with skipper Matt Stokes on board the J133 “Bluebird III.” Stokes comes from as far away as the Canadian Rockies, while the boat is based in the Bras d’or Lakes on Cape Breton.

“We certainly see a pent-up demand for this race,” said Ed Bell, a member of the Marblehead-to-Halifax Committee. “This race has always

Scholars

From P. A9

The coaching staff all agreed that this group of Angels played terrific all season long, relying on great pitching, timely hitting and superb speed on the bases to top the competition throughout the spring season. a participant on several sports teams. She was also involved in many clubs and activities, including the Peer Mentor Program. As a peer mentor, Johnson played an important role in helping freshmen get acclimated academically and socially to high school.

The Boston resident attended Marblehead public schools since the fourth grade through the METCO program.

At MHS, Johnson’s activities and accomplishments were many. She was a committed member of the cheerleading, gymnastics and lacrosse teams, serving as captain of both the

Lacrosse

From P. A9

seventh-and-eighth squads against other North Shore and EMass opponents. There was also a select team of 20 players — several of them were among

been a big deal for our town, for the sailors and for the clubs.”

The race remains a challenge

cheerleading and gymnastics squads this past school year.

As captain of the fall cheerleading team, Johnson created halftime routines for both the varsity and JV clubs. She led fundraising efforts on the gymnastics team, and also videotaped both the boys and girls lacrosse teams games to help the coaches improve their respective squads performances.

Johnson volunteered at several food shelters and nursing homes, including My Brother’s Table in Lynn, the Lafayette Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Facility in Marblehead, Community Servings in Jamaica Plan and Cradles to Crayons in Quincy. She also worked as a gymnastics instructor and camp counselor at the

this year’s senior class — that competed statewide.

Marblehead made it to the state semifinals twice, when they were in the sixth and eighth grades. Only four of those Marblehead players on those clubs — Cronin, Annese, Sheridan and Laramie — went on to attend MHS.

to ocean sailors in part because of the Bay of Fundy tides, crossing Cape Sable Island off

Marblehead-Swampscott YMCA. While at MHS, Johnson developed a deep passion for the film industry through her coursework in film and studio production, and film studies. Johnson will now take her talents to the West Coast this fall, where she will be attending San Diego State University to major in film, new media and television production.

Selvais earns sports scholarship Selvais, the winner of the Sterny’s Way Sports Scholarship, had a similarly impressive MHS career. As a member of the National Honor Society, Selvais graduated with a 4.1 GPA and earned a spot on the high honor roll every quarter throughout his scholastic career.

Cronin, who was named to the All-American team this year, made the MBYLL (Mass. Bay Youth Lacrosse League) all-star team all four years from fifth to eighth grade.

When this year’s boys lacrosse seniors entered high school, they had to sit out a year, because of COVID. It just made them

the tip of Nova Scotia, the cold Labrador Current, fog and cold.

Many competitors also aspire

He also received the 2022 Principal’s Award, the 2033 Excellence in Mathematics Award and the Margaret Jancsy Award for leadership, while serving as a role model to other students.

Selvais served as a three-year member of the MHS Debate Club and was a two-year member of the Student Council and Marblehead Community Outreach Club.

Like Johnson, Selvais found time to give back to the community as a peer mentor and a member of the Best Buddies program. He founded a mental health support group for fellow students to help those struggling with remote learning and other academic and social challenges created by the COVID19 pandemic. Selvais was a four-year

cherish the next three years even more, while working hard to get the most out of the sports seasons to bring acclaim to the high school.

Four earn awards

At the June 29 banquet, Wilkens presented Cronin with the MVP award after his

to break the speed record, which is currently held by the 68-foot yacht “Prospector.” Prospector finished the 2017 race in 28 hours, 28 minutes and 50 seconds, topping the previous record of 30 hours, 46 minutes and 52 seconds, set in 2011.

Onshore spectators will have a bird’s eye view of the start after 1 p.m. on Sunday when 71 boats in five divisions will vie for position.

If the wind and weather are favorable, the yachts will start near Halfway Rock and head west toward the shore, turning south just off Marblehead Neck before turning again at Tinkers Rock to set a course for Halifax.

On shore, the best places for onshore viewing will be Chandler Hovey Park and Castle Rock.

It is predicted that a large spectator fleet will be on the water along the starting course. There will also be two Royal Canadian Navy vessels, HMCS Glace Bay and HMCS Moncton, to escort the racers to Nova Scotia. Yachting enthusiasts can follow the progress of the race on the website marbleheadtohalifax.com. Each competitor will be equipped with a GPS transponder. The progress of each yacht can be tracked on the MHOR website, and you can replay the racing sequence during and after the race ends.

For more information go to marbleheadtohalifax.com.

member of the baseball program, and he also played football and basketball on the JV level. He also volunteered in the town’s youth sports programs, including as a coach of a 12-yearold boys flag football team for four years.

Selvais will attend UMassAmherst this fall, majoring in marketing.

About Sterny’s Way Sterny’s Way Inc., a 501(c) (3) charitable organization, appreciates the community’s continued support to fund a $1,000 scholarship to a student who has shown dedication to the arts (music, dance, fine arts, etc.), plus a second $1,000 scholarship to a former Marblehead Youth Softball or Marblehead Youth Baseball player.

record-setting season. Cronin now owns the school’s singleseason scoring record with 131 points (81 goals, 50 assists), as well as the career mark with 269 points (153 goals, 116 assists). Johns and Jennings secured Unsung Hero awards, while goalie Maniaci took home the Most Improved trophy.

COURTESY PHOTO

The Marblehead Babe Ruth 13-15-year-old Angels are shown together after beating Swampscott in the playoffs to secure the 2023 championship. They are, from left, back row, coaches Tom McGovern and Tom Griffin, Charles Conlon, Landon Dosch, Collin Allen, Andrew DellaCamera, Quinn Maguire, Joseph Gerace, Tommy McGovern, Carter Sahagian, Graham Tips and Sean Heenan. Front row, Wes Goldberg, Zachary Chipman, Alec Griffin and manager Brian Heenan.

This map shows the route Ocean Race competitors will take to get to Halifax.

This Gunboat 55, ‘Thirst,’ will be part of the Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race in the multihull division.

EXCLUSIVE: Current goes behind the scenes

BY LEIGH BLANDER

With just hours to go before the Marblehead Festival of Arts launched on July 1, hundreds of volunteers were scrambling around town building stages, hanging art, setting up booths and juggling last-minute details.

With thousands of visitors, 400 volunteers, nearly 600 pieces of art and dozens of live performances, the Festival is a massive endeavor every year. Ever wonder what it’s like to pull it all together, especially as the clock ticks down to the first events? The Marblehead Current was granted exclusive access to go behind the scenes in the days and hours leading up to the Festival.

“These are the bewitching hours,” laughed Jodi-Tatiana Charles, the Festival’s executive director who spent the last few days before July 1 helping set up exhibits, meeting with the police and fire chiefs to review safety plans, speaking with merchandise reps and editing the 100+page program guide. She also did an interview with iHeartRadio along with volunteer Brian Wheeler promoting the Crocker Park concerts.

Oh, and she brought hundreds of empty bottles to the transfer station the morning after the Festival’s champagne reception at Fort Sewall.

“I’ve been getting about four-and-a-half-hours of sleep a night,” she said. “I pulled an all-nighter Saturday night.”

Festival planning happens year-round,

organizers say. For Wheeler, who oversees all the live performances, the pace picks up in January. “Little by little, I put together a canvas to see which acts should go where,” he said.

On Friday, June 30, he and about 25 other volunteers assembled the 20’X30’ stage at Crocker Park, along with scaffolding for speakers and poles for lighting. Wheeler has been involved with the Festival since 1975.

High above Marblehead, Bill Smalley was guiding a handful of volunteers in the attic of Abbot Hall as they carried several large flats to an elevator and down to the main hall, where they’ll display about 80 pieces of art. Smalley, who is the Festival’s facilities director, has been volunteering with the event since 1976.

“It’s always very hectic these last few days,” he said. “We don’t get a rehearsal. We go live Saturday morning. But we

know how to put the fires out.”

Artist Kirsten Bassion of Marblehead was in charge of the 11 art exhibits at six locations, along with

several programs.

“This has been bonkers,” she said with a goodnatured smile. “These are 12-14 hour days. There are a lot of things to juggle.

Just toss me another ball.”

Bassion, who owns The Clay School in Beverly, oversaw dozens of volunteers and spent final days before the Festival hanging shows, installing lights in exhibit spaces and preparing to emcee the awards ceremony at Abbot Hall on June 30, where she handed out 90+ awards. On the Tuesday before the Festival, she sat on his dining room floor, coordinating all the ribbons.

Lindsey Feinswog and Sylvia Kane were huddled over their laptops in Feinswog’s kitchen, with her 140-pound Newfoundland, Kevin, sprawled nearby. The women were the Festival’s director of events and oversaw the following: Hidden Orbs, 5K Run/ Walk, Chalk This Way, Kite Festival, Sand Sculptures, Children’s Festival, Art on the Avenue, Model Boat Building, Redd’s Pond Regatta and the Street Festival.

“Each event has its own chair and support staff,” Kane pointed out. She and Feinswog spent the last few days before the Festival making Costco runs (to buy water for the 5K), coordinating last minute details and making sure all ordered items, like port-a-potties, sound systems, etc., were delivered on time.

“I never knew how much work it is,” said Feinswog, who’s been attending the Festival for years. “It’s a massive undertaking, a massive festival. And it’s run by volunteers. Without community members making it happen, events like this will go away.”

The Current asks: What were your favorites?

Designer of the Marblehead Festival of Arts logo Fiona Barr and her mom, Susan Barr, said their favorites this year included the photography, painted cods and whales and the children’s exhibits.

Marc and Rhea Levin walk the streets of Marblehead early on Saturday, July 1. The couple is originally from Connecticut, now living in Tampa, but their kids are what bring them to Marblehead each year. They love to walk down to the harbor and listen to the music at Crocker Park.

Jen Cipriano, (from left to right) Olivia Cipriano and Emilia Cipriano,of Virginia, visit mother and grandmother, Debby Fletcher who lives in town. Jen grew up in Marblehead and appreciates the nostalgia of the festival. She and Debby love recognizing the names of

Kate Clayman (behind), Chelsea Huggard, left, and Tatum Krishnamurthi are from Swampscott and came to Marblehead to

snapped their photo).

CURRENT PHOTOS / CLAIRE TIPS Bree Sullivan, left, and Lori Lichtman, originally from Marblehead but visiting from Brooklyn, enjoy the Festival of Arts, especially the music at Crocker Park.

CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER

Smalley, left, guides volunteers on how to move the flats from the Abbot Hall attic downstairs to the main room, where they later displayed art work.

Festival Executive Director Jodi-Tatiana Charles (right) works with Kirsten Bassion and Ted Tobey before hanging an exhibit at St. Michael’s Church.

Volunteers Sylvia Kane and Lindsey Feinswog huddle over their laptops coordinate last-minute details of events.

Kirsten Bassion sits on her dining room floor to organize and label 90+ ribbons for every winner in the Marblehead Festival of Arts.

2023 Marblehead Festival of Arts Awards

LITERARY FESTIVAL

Adult Fiction

» First Place: Sara Reish

Desmond: “Small Secrets”

» Second Place: Emily C. Hanlon, “At the Intersection of Love and Hate”

» Honorable Mention: Norman Birnbach, “Shrine to the Cult of Joy”

» Honorable Mention: Joseph Puleo, “Door in the Mist”

» Honorable Mention: Tonya Walker, “Ice Water”

Adult Nonfiction

» First Place: Paula Tully Gold, “The Little Yellow House”

» Second Place: Joan Cutler, “I Ironed the Pillowcases Today”

» Honorable Mention: Bob Baker, “The Jones Mobius”

Adult Poetry

» First Place: Laurie Rosen, “Deep Into November I’m Not Usually This Lighthearted”

» Second Place: Robert Shuman, “Migrant Angels”

» Honorable Mention: Dena Gilby, “Italy Nights”

Student Fiction

» First Place: Mercedes Joyce, “Steady Noises”

» Second Place: Niko King, “Heal Me”

» Honorable Mention: Hudson Moore, “Story of the Past; A Note from the Future”

Student Nonfiction

» First Place: Max Arbo, “The Headstone with Three Names”

» Second Place: Isabella Miller, “Memory Lane”

» Honorable Mention: Isabella Miller, “Forgotten Treasure”

Student Poetry

» First Place: Nina Johnson, “Who Am I Now”

» Second Place: Anna Marsden, “My Best Friend, Lucy”

» Honorable Mention: Damilola Graciella Olabisi, “Roots”

» Marblehead Current Best of Show

» Max Arbo, “The Headstone

Festival

hand-painting ceramic orbs and hiding them along Marblehead walking trails for people to find. There was also Chalk This Way, when artists decorated sidewalks with chalk art.

More than 300 people from across the North Shore and beyond joined the Festival’s inaugural 5K walk/run. ‘Headers Scott Snyder and Kylynn McKinley topped the men and women runners, respectively. See the full results list at my.raceresult.com/251568/.

The Literary Festival made a successful return for the first time since before COVID, with an impressive lineup of authors and journalists, including the Current’s own Kris Olson. More than 120 people submitted pieces to the Literary Festival’s writing contest. The Current presented its Best of Show award to Marblehead High

with Three Names”

CRAFTS

» Best of Show: Michael Kaufman, Sculpted Stool

» Carol Moore Award: Kiki Taron, Kinney, Five Whales and a Shy Octopus, Three-Bowl Set

» Deborah Ekholm Frost Award: Elizabeth Stubbs, Three Oranges

» Honorable Mention: Joseph Petty, Turtle Tea Pot

» Honorable Mention: Pat Flaherty, Confetti

» Honorable Mention: Madeleine Marino, Abstract Jellyfish Bubble Vase

» Outstanding Work: Andrew Carr, Gravestone

» Outstanding Work: Anne Taylor, New Zealand

DIGITAL ART

» Best of Show: Todd Zalewski, “By-Catch: The Unwanted Fish and Other Marine Creatures Caught During Commercial Fishing for a Different Species”

» Honorable Mention: Lisa Mckenna, “Talk to Me”

» Outstanding Work: Gretchen Langton, “The Child”

DRAWING

» Best of Show: Nicole Alexandrou, “Claustrophobia”

» Honorable Mention: Todd Zalewski, “Shells on Devereux Beach”

» Honorable Mention: Adrienne Kelliher, “Birdhouse”

» Lee R. Smith Award: Linda Lea Bertrand, “Keep Up with Trends”

» Outstanding Work: Teri Gambardella, “Wind Through the Pines”

» Outstanding Work: Amy Hourihan, “The Fruit Lady”

MIXED MEDIA

» Best of Show: Stephanie Verdun, “Springtime at My House”

» Don Howard Award: Jack Walsh, “Just Another Butt on the Street”

» Honorable Mention: Adrienne Kelliher, “Over the River”

» Honorable Mention: Tammy Nohelty, “In the Beginning”

» Outstanding Work: Judy Robinson-Cox, “Shangri-La”

» Outstanding Work: Marc Morin, “1945”

PAINTING

» Best of Show: Fred Callori, “Disconnected”

» Edward D. Carey Award: Amy Hourihan, “Heineken and Raybans”

» Honorable Mention: Brianna Berg, ”Main Street, Essex”

» Honorable Mention: Barbara Naeser, “Pond Is Not Safe”

» Honorable Mention: Annette Sykes, “Reflections of Marblehead I”

» Honorable Mention: Nancy Brown-Birmingham, “Dusk”

» Honorable Mention: Claire Donnelly, “Nun for You”

» Outstanding Work: Elaine Caliri Daly, “Cathedral”

» Outstanding Work: Todd Zalewski, “Marsh Wren at Nahant Thicket”

PHOTOGRAPHY Color

» Best of Show: Kristin Horgan, “Dancing in the Dark”

» Outstanding Work: Anne Roberts, “Vietnamese Grandmother”

» Outstanding Work: Eyal Oren, “Layers of Smoke”

» Honorable Mention: Mark Katz, “Racers Row”

» Honorable Mention: Jose Calderas, “Rustic Blooms”

» Honorable Mention: Jerry Wishnow, “Silhouette – Noto, Sicily”

» Honorable Mention: Eyal Oren, “Salute for Glover’s

Birthday”

» Photojournalism Award: Anna Wolfe, “Cooling Down the Town I”

» Samuel Chamberlain Award: Bryan Woodard, “Solitude”

Black-and-White

» Best of Show: Owen Taupier, “Fine Food”

» Outstanding Work: Kristin

Horgan, “Sólheimasandur”

» Outstanding Work: Patricia

Scialo, “Campobello Island”

» Honorable Mention: Todd

Belfbecker, “Make Way for Turkeys”

» Honorable Mention: Herb

Goldberg, “Backstage”

PRINTMAKING

» Best of Show: Sammia

Atoui, “Bather”

» Honorable Mention: Sammia Atoui, “Beach Walk”

» Outstanding Work: Amy

Hourihan, “Snags Lid”

» Outstanding Work: Kate Hanlon, “Alice, Watering”

SCULPTURE

» Best of Show: Jack Walsh, “The Root”

» Beverly Seamans Award: James Caulfield, “Zena Waiting for the School Bus”

» Honorable Mention: Michael D. Schrenko, “A Proud

American”

» Outstanding Work: Judy Robinson-Cox, “Picnic on Petrified Rock”

» Outstanding Work: Daniel Zampino, “Lord of the Dance in Redstone”

SENIOR ART

» Best of Show: Claudia

Kaufman, “Grape Bunch”

» Bob and Ruth Sinclair

Award: Herb Goldberg, “Quiet Corner”

» Honorable Mention: Ron Harrison, “Spearing Fish”

» Honorable Mention: Karen Hosking, “Audubon Sanctuary

Triptich”

» Honorable Mention: Susan K. Burgess, “All Quiet on the Marsh”

» Louise Remick Brown

Award: Catherine Derosier, “Did This Poem Take a Lifetime or an Hour”

» Outstanding Work: Marcia Hostetter, “Morning Light”

» Outstanding Work: Eleanor Fisher, “Owl”

STUDENT ART

» Best of Show: Edie Mae, “Self Portrait”

» Debra and Jack Highberger

Award: Jamie Halliotis, “My House”

» Honorable Mention: Johra Warab, “Junior Prom”

» Honorable Mention: Rachael Albert, “Sneakers”

» Honorable Mention: Keliane Salem, “Inspired by Yellena James”

» Honorable Mention: Charlotte Horton, “Oceanside”

» Nordia Kay Award: Nate Aniello, “Ocean’s Treasure”

» Outstanding Work: Angelo Knight, “A Ripple in the Ocean”

» Outstanding Work: Shawn Stolartz, “Portrait Study 1”

PAINTING THE TOWN

» Best of Show: Kate Hanlon, “The Meeting Spot”

» Outstanding Work: Elaine Caliri Daly, “Refreshing”

» Honorable Mention: Corrine Commoss-Abercrombie, “Fort Beach, Low Tide”

» Honorable Mention: Susan K. Burgess, “Down the Hill, High Street”

SCHOLARSHIPS

» Senior Art Scholarship: Anna Bobowski

» Senior Art Scholarship: Caroline Linde

» Bill Smalley Senior Art Scholarship: Elinor Ferris

School student Max Arbo for his essay titled, “The Headstone With Three Names.”

Performing Arts Chair Brian Wheeler outdid himself with a stellar lineup of Crocker Park concerts, despite downpours on Sunday that moved performers into the park’s gazebo. Los Sugar Kings and Jambalaya Horns rocked the Saturday night crowd, getting people to their feet dancing under a nearly full moon along the harbor.

Arts & Exhibits Director Kirsten Bassion handed out ribbons to more than 90 award winners June 30 at Abbot Hall.

The Festival also presented three student scholarships, including the new Bill Smalley Senior Art Scholarship for a deserving student at Essex Technical and Agricultural High

The Current had a team of reporters covering several aspects of the Festival, including an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the days and hours

School. Smalley has volunteered with the Festival since 1975. (See the complete list of winners in this week’s edition of the Current.)

leading up to the big event. Enjoy our articles and photos here, and for more, up-tothe-minute coverage, visit MarbleheadCurrent.org.

From P. A1

People explored 11 arts exhibits across town at the Festival.

Festival of Arts President JodiTatiana Charles shows off this year’s volunteers’ T-shirt.

St. Michael’s lobster rolls are a Festival of Arts staple.

Festival of the Arts exhibition highlights

A look at the best of shows and their creators

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

The Marblehead Festival of the Arts exhibitions featured 389 artworks in just about every conceivable medium, all displayed across half a dozen exhibits.

“It was started for the artists, with the intention of focusing on the art and showcasing the talent of artists,” said Kirsten Bassion, the Festival’s director of exhibitions. “It provides a beautiful platform for them to highlight their work.”

Bassion invested 12 to 14 hours a day in the week leading up to the festival.

“The exhibitions certainly do not run themselves. It requires a team of dedicated individuals to invest significant amounts of time,” said Bassion. “There is the art intake, the judging process, the pick-up and drop-off logistics and managing six locations and 11 shows.”

Festival President JodiTatianna Charles said one of the primary objectives when she assumed the role of president was to encourage a concentrated focus on the exhibits.

“After all, we are fundamentally an art festival. It is crucial to immerse oneself in local art to truly comprehend the community. Our town is brimming with artistic flair and culture,” she said. “When I was younger, my dad told me, ‘Whatever country you go to, you always go to the museum, the churches, and you go to the restaurants. Those three things will really make you understand why the people are who they are.”

She added, “And this town is all about those three things.”

The Best of Show lineup

Kate Hanlon’s “The Meeting Spot,” an oil on canvas piece, won the “Painting the Town” award. Her piece is a familiar sight for ‘Headers, capturing individuals on a wooden bench atop Crocker Park, overlooking moored boats in Marblehead Harbor.

Kristin Horgan’s color photograph, “Dancing in the Dark,” was declared the winner in the photography category. The black, silhouetted clouds billowing over a girl standing at the water’s edge as the sun retreats took the best of show.

The digital art category was dominated by Todd Zalewski’s “By-Catch: The Unwanted Fish and Other Marine Creatures

Caught During Commercial Fishing for a Different Species.” His creation employed striking, contrasting visual

elements to shine a light on the environmental impact of

commercial fishing, standing out as a powerful commentary on sustainability issues.

Michael Kaufman, with his walnut wood “Sculpted Stool,” emerged victorious in the crafts category. The piece blends function and form to create an elegant object of everyday utility.

Nicole Alexandrou clinched the top spot in the drawing category with her charcoal piece “Claustrophobia.” The artwork was lauded for its powerful visual narrative, conjuring feelings of unease and introspection.

The mixed media category saw Stephanie Verdun’s “Springtime at My House,” made of stitched painter paper and vellum. The artwork captured the essence of spring, weaving an abstract tapestry of textures and colors.

The printmaking category was swept by Samia Atoui’s “Bather.” Her dynamic woodblock print portrayed a sunbather in an expressive mosaic style, fusing form, color and mood.

The painting category saw the crowning of Fred Callori’s oil on canvas piece, “Disconnected.”

The painting, lauded for its thick and thin brushstrokes, depicted a poignant scene with a balance of sadness and happiness that elicited a strong emotional response from the viewers.

In the sculpture category, Jack Walsh’s “The Root,” an intriguing blend of wood and glass, emerged as the winner.

Claudia Kaufman’s still life “Grape Bunch,” an oil on canvas piece, took top honors in the senior art category.

Salem residents Ali Habashi and Eryn Rush stumbled upon the festival.

“We didn’t even know what was going on until we were looking for something to do today,” said Ali Habashi. “And we just said, ‘Why don’t we go into Marblehead,’ and we went and were like, ‘Oh, look, a Festival’s going on.’”

Marblehead resident Charlene Tyler said each exhibit has high notes, but she added it’s also about community.

“It’s gratifying to see that creative individuals get a fair chance, a good possibility of being selected,” she said. “People attend and recognize the work of their neighbors and friends, creating a sense of camaraderie. After all, this festival is about us, it’s a representation of our community.”

Local author Paul Korins autographs new children’s book at Mud Puddle Toys

BY CLAIRE TIPS

Children’s book author Paul Korins held a book signing for his latest release “Unlikely Friends” at Mud Puddle Toys on Saturday, June 24. Korins, who lives in Marblehead, spoke about the plot of the book and the message he hopes readers will take away from the story.

“It’s about two friends who are unlikely friends,” said Korins. “One is an artist and the other one is an athlete, a star pitcher, and they have fathers who want to push them in a direction that they don’t want to go.”

Though the two friends have different interests, Korins continues, they bond over the way their fathers treat them.

No particular childhood story of Korins’ inspired the plot of the book. Instead, he said

today’s problem with bullying needs to be talked about, so he incorporated the idea into his

story as a message. “Bullying is so prevalent today I think it’s important to bring it up.”

Korins described his process for writing the book. While he traditionally uses an outline to

map out the plot of a story, he doesn’t always know what the final product will look like until it is done.

“When I get an idea, I sort of run with it and see where it takes me,” he said. “That’s why it’s kind of fun to write a book because I don’t necessarily know the ending.”

What the public should understand after reading “Unlikely Friends” is “to let kids follow their own dreams,” Korins said. “I mean, you have to encourage them, no question, but don’t push them in a complete direction that they shouldn’t go.”

Korins and his wife moved to Marblehead in 1997, following their daughter who moved here just before them. “We would never leave [Marblehead],” said Korins. “It’s the best town we’ve ever lived in.”

Marblehead resident Tom Blackler (standing) and his grandchildren Lilly Blackler-Tocchio (left to right), Zakk Blackler-Tocchio and Luke Blackler-Tocchio, meet author Paul Korins at his book signing on June 24.

COURTESY PHOTOS

A collage of all the best of show pieces from the Marblehead Festival of the Arts exhibitions.

People peer over the photographs in the Old Town House during the opening day of the Marblehead Festival of the Arts.

Chet Strout and his grandson, Liam, look at a ‘Wizard of Oz’ quilt in Abbot Hall on the opening day of the Marblehead Festival of the Arts.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

From Cuban missile crisis to Council on Aging

INTERVIEW BY LEIGH BLANDER

» Name: Dana Denault

» Age: 85, turning 86 on July 12

» Place of birth: Fall River

What is your fondest childhood memory? I grew up in a small town, Westport, just outside of Fall River, and I enjoyed Horseneck Beach. It’s a beautiful beach. I spent a lot of time there, a lot of my friends were lifeguards. My high school girlfriend lived at Westport Harbor. My high school days were very enjoyable.

How long have you lived in Marblehead? I moved to Marblehead in the early ’60s after marrying my first wife, Harriet, who was from Salem. [Harriet passed away in the 1970s.] I lived there for most of my life, except when we moved to Hawaii for a year when I worked for the Naval Investigative Service in the late ’60s. I moved to the Bertram House in 2021.

What jobs have you had and what was your favorite?

luCK y 13

I served as an officer in the Navy on active duty for three years. Then I worked for NIS. I left that job in the late ’60s and became the director of admissions at Emerson College in the ’70s, then went to Curry College in admissions and finished my college admissions duties as the associate dean of admissions for the University of Denver. I retired in 1999.

What is the biggest change you’ve seen in the world? The U.S. government has gotten itself into so many different battles. I left it when we were in the Vietnam War. We’ve gone from there to Middle Eastern issues. It seems like our government is embroiled in so many events.

What is your biggest accomplishment? I enjoyed my admissions experience at Curry College where I was for over 10 years and where I had three very, very competent assistants working for me. We were able to increase the enrollment there and find some excellent students.

What moment in history is most vivid in your memory?The Cuban missile crisis. I was on active duty on a ship in Guantanamo Harbor. I remember seeing the American invasion force of Bay of Pigs crossing Guantanamo Harbor. We were told to stand by and keep our engines running, in case we had to transport civilians who worked at Guantanamo Bay.

What piece of advice do you have for young people today? I would recommend that as you’re moving through your educational career that you do your job and maintain a balance in terms of your beliefs and criticisms. Everybody’s allowed to make their own decisions, but be reasonable about it. Don’t overextend yourself in your particular career or get involved in movements that have consequences on your career.

What are your secrets to living a long life? Moderation. Eat, drink and exercise… all of it in moderation. And keep tabs on your health. I’ve been fortunate enough to have excellent

doctors. I’ve gone through three open heart surgeries successfully. I feel wonderful. Denault visits the Marblehead

Dollars for Scholars awards $46K

At its awards ceremony on June 3, Marblehead

Dollars for Scholars honored 13 high school seniors with scholarships totaling $46,000.

Over the summer, the local non-profit organization will award an additional $138,000 to rising college sophomores, juniors and seniors who must reapply for their scholarships each year.

The presentation of scholarships at the annual awards ceremony is the fulfillment of the organization’s mission to support deserving high school graduates in their pursuit of higher education, Dollars for Scholars President Jac Bentley said.

“We are so proud of their achievements and we wish them continued success in college,” he said.

Woodland trails are beckoning

BY ROBERT FRENCH

It’s a lovely summer Saturday in Marblehead, and woodland trails are beckoning. You’re just lamenting that your Saturday is almost fully booked when you recall that a conservation area is just a two-minute drive away.

Despite your busy schedule, you can fit in a leisurely hike in its woodland hills before coffee.

If you already know about Marblehead’s natural open space, you’re one of the fortunate few.

Many ‘Headers don’t realize that within the town’s four square miles of land, there are a dozen natural open spaces and a total of five miles of trails. For almost every household, there’s an open space within a half-mile from home.

It’s not an accident that

Marblehead has such natural riches. The stewardship of the land and maintenance of the trails are the result of continual volunteer work by your neighbors, friends and fellow residents, organized through the Marblehead Conservancy. “Our Open Space” is a new series of columns from the Conservancy where you’ll learn how to find

open spaces near you, how they came to be preserved, how to find your way around them, what plants and animals inhabit them and some special activities to help your kids enjoy them. So, where are these hidden gems? If you’re a “drive-aroundand-look” kind of person, be on the lookout for brown, wooden signs with the words

“Conservation Area” on them (see photo). There’s one at every trail entrance, along with the name of the area, its size in acres and a small QR code that you can scan with your smartphone to call up a trail map. Some even offer printed trail maps on waterproof paper.

If you’re a regular visitor to the Marblehead Farmers’ Market, stop by the Conservancy’s booth to get a free map, talk with volunteers about the open spaces or visit the Kids’ Corner for interesting postcards and stickers.

If you’re a

Council on Aging at least once a week to help serve lunch. He served as president of the COA’s Board of Directors after his retirement.

Listed with the endowed scholarships they received, members of the Marblehead High School Class of 2023 are, from left, front row, Maya Mahoney (Bradley Sheridan), Emma Burbage (Patricia Kammes), Claire Davis (Harold and Elizabeth Shattuck), Piper Crane (Helaine Hazlett), Nica Mele (Deborah and Thomas McNulty) and George Percy (Ronald Magee); back row, from left, Christopher English (Ida and William Sevinor), Lily Echchouini (F. Reed Cutting), Alba MehuTormo (Gabrielle and George Grader), Teaghan Kay (Jean Howe), Grace Cuzner (Capt. Richard Bridgeo), Nathalya Benjamin (Harold and Elizabeth Shattuck) and Tamya Johnson (Bradley Sheridan).

COURTESY PHOTO

“look-before-you-leap”

person, check out the Conservancy’s website at marbleheadconservancy.org for lots of information and downloadable maps that you can print or save to your phone.

To jump right in, search for Hawthorn Pond on your phone’s map, and navigate there to give it a try. Your kids will enjoy the boardwalks and the pond with its turtles, ducks and frogs. A full loop around the area’s circular trail takes you through some woods, over some gentle hills and near wetlands and the pond itself. The total distance around is just under half a mile. For a trail map, either visit the Conservancy website (marbleheadconservancy. org), look for a map box at the entrances on Hawthorn Road and the Rail Trail or scan the QR code on this page.

Enjoy your hike, and stay tuned for more info in the next “Our Open Space” column.

Dana Denault

Robert French is the president of the Marblehead Conservancy.

Ducklings enjoying duckweed on Hawthorn Pond.

Love 101: Giving of Self

BY BOB BAKER

The mission statement for Love 101 is Father Gerrry Barry’s axiom, “We are all walking each other home.” The most powerful application of that is Abraham Lincoln’s, “No one stands taller than when they stoop to help a child.” The point being that the highest, most loving form of helping each other along life’s journey is giving of self, figuratively and/ or literally as much hands-on as possible. An example being that when you come across a moaning man battered to a pulp by the side of a country road and for some reason you’re without your phone, you don’t just ask him if he takes Amex or toss him a C-note, turn up the tunes and head off to the polo match. You leap your ass outta the car, tourniquet the bleeding with your best ascot, somehow struggle him to the car and gun it to the nearest ER.

In effect, what you’re doing is reaching out in human-tohuman fashion, ‘humbling’ yourself in a way, going out of your way to demonstrate your caring for them. The highest form of this ‘stooping to help’ is when it’s done voluntarily,

happily-enthusiastically and frequently.

nnn

My high school-and-everonward buddy Skip Chard all but invented “random acts of kindness.” When I was working in New York in the ‘60s, I heard from my parents that Skip voluntarily cleared the impossible hodgepodge of furnishings and overflowing paper cartons in the cellar for the price of ... not telling me about it ... de-guilt-tripping me, as it were. He was a townwide legend in Greenwich for handyman jobs and painting for friends male and female suddenly single by way of divorce. His price: “Pass it on when you get a chance.”

nnn

Peg, the love of my life from college years, in her letter telling me she was getting married, said we should never let our meaningful friendship cease: “... and when we get together, Bobby, no matter if our grandchildren are there, let’s hold each others hands so we know, just so we know.” I subsequently met her terrific husband Jim Ritchie and went to their wedding in New Canaan in 1960. I visited Peg and Jim at their townhouse in Brooklyn Heights; Peg came to visit wife Nancy and me in Cambridge in 1963 — she and Nancy liked each other right away; in 1967,

she came from Cambridge by T and bus (no matter how much I insisted, she refused to let me “go to the trouble” of picking her up and taking her back) to visit Nancy, son Richard and me in Marblehead — yes, each time at some point we sat there on a couch holding hands, talking with Jim or Nancy or Rich ... or whoever else deserved to experience firsthand a sweet and enduring — I’ll give it a name — loveship. (Sad-sad tragic note: Peg, Jim and their three children perished when Jim’s Piper Apache collided with another plane in dense fog over Long Island Sound in June 1969. They were en route to their summer place on Bailey Island, Maine.)

nnn

My totally selfless, live-life-tothe-fullest son Rich lost a fouryear smackdown with esophageal cancer in August 2016. In the year prior to his passing, he’d been on medical leave from his job at United Airlines and was living in Haverhill. Because I’d seen so little of him in that time, I asked his best buddy Mike to fill me in on what Rich had been up to. Mike emailed me: “I need to tell you Rich helped someone, somehow seven days a week all over the North Shore, he was constantly giving people rides to the (AA) halls, new and old members ... didn’t matter, what mattered is Richie was saving their lives in the simplest but

most profound way ... Richie was a saint of the people in AA ... nothing ever expected in return.”

nnn

Rufus Titus was a good guy in every way imaginable. A good guy to have on your team, whether it was Blue Cross Blue Shield where he held key positions, the Marblehead’s Board of Assessors he was elected to, the Visiting Nurse Association he was president of, the Marblehead Yacht Club he was commodore of or the Marblehead Rotary where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. But as a human being, he was an even ‘gooder’ good guy: he was smart, caring, with an easygoing generous nature.

Before his passing in May, in a half-dozen recent years — in his upper 80s yet! — he assumed, in his inimitable good-guy fashion, the highly demanding (twice every school day) responsibilities of a crossing guard at the corner of Pond, Elm and Green Streets — his gift of ‘stooping’ to provide happy “Hi Rufus!” memories for countless Marblehead school kids.

nnn

nnn

Dan Smith, who passed away in January, was a creature of brightness. He had a smile that could light the night, an agile brightness of mind that won him great success in the corporate

Marblehead’s best bets July 5-12

Farmers’ Market

SATURDAY, JULY 8, 9 A.M.-NOON

‘Mirages in the Dark’

FRIDAY, JULY 7, AT 7 P.M. AND SATURDAY, JULY 8, AT 3 P.M. AND 7 P.M.

Adult contemporary dance company Illusions in Motion will perform at the Marblehead Little Theatre. Its production, “Mirages in the Dark” tells the story of a lover’s journey through the light and dark corners of life. More info and tickets at mltlive.org.

Blackout Poetry for Teens

TUESDAY, JULY 11, 2:30 P.M. AT ABBOT

PUBLIC LIBRARY

Get a creative boost from some of your favorite teen authors and find your voice through poetry.

Learn about the erasure format and compose blackout poems using passages from books in the Young Adult collection. Registration is not required. For more information, visit abbotlibrary.org or call Abbot Library at 781-631-1481.

world and a personality that, even in his 80s, had an irresistible boy-next-door gleam about it. In addition to sitting on the board of the Marblehead Counseling Center, Dan devoted literally hundreds of hours to Hospice of the North Shore (now Care Dimensions). He was co-chairman of the annual auction and regatta for three years; and in the purest form of giving-of-empathetic self he regularly visited hospice patients in their homes as a volunteer and worked at the front desk of Kaplan Family Hospice House. Lines from the poem “Hopi Prayer” in a moving celebration of life arranged by Dan’s wife Bobbi in April play to the endless love implicit in Dan’s bright smile: “I am the swift uplifting rush/ Of quiet birds in circled flight./ Do not stand at my grave and cry:/ I am not there, I did not die.”

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A passage from a letter from hard-boiled author Ernest Hemingway to his friends Gerald and Sara Murphy on the passing of their son Baoth in 1935 ends on a promise of endless love parallel to the lines in “Hopi Prayer”: “Very few people ever really are alive and those that are never die; no matter if they are gone. No one you love is ever dead.”

No one you love is ever dead ... true, right on, yes yes yes.

Highlights at the Farmers’ Market this week include the Celtic Trio performing, Salem Sound Coastwatch, Crepe du Jour and craft vendors Katherine Bagley, Elizabeth Kinder, Wendy Austin, Shayna Loeffler and Adam Cohn. Of course, there will be plenty of fruits, veggies, flowers and more.

Tee off for a good cause

MONDAY, JULY 10

The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce holds its annual Marblehead Open Golf Tournament at Tedesco Country Club. More info at MarbleheadChamber. org.

WOODFORD

HARBOR MYSTERY

THREE MURDER MYSTERIES

LOCAL AUTHOR BETTY BREUHAUS WEAVES TALES OF DASTARDLY SKULLDUGGERY, LOCAL LORE, AND EVEN MURDER IN THIS SMALL TOWN!

IS THE PAST PAST AVAILABLE AT THE DRIFTWOOD

MARBLEHEAD GARDEN CENTER

BLUE CANOE

ALL AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

‘First Strike’ - Captured 6/2/2023 at 7:00pm on Marblehead Harbor

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