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November 01, 2023
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| VOLUME 1, ISSUE NO. 47
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A2 Wednesday, November 1, 2023 Marblehead Current
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IN THIS ISSUE
LOCAL NEWS
SPORTS
BEST BETS
Pedestrian struck by vehicle, seriously injured
Magicians keep playoff hopes alive with win
Music, dining, art & fitness in Current Events
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November 01, 2023
| VOLUME 1, ISSUE NO. 47
| MARBLEHEADCURRENT.ORG
| ON SOCIAL @MHDCURRENT
BEACON HILL
Locals speak out on gun reform push State Rep. Armini: ‘I am fed up’ after latest mass shooting BY WILLIAM J. DOWD The mass shooting that left 18 people dead and 13 injured in Maine reignited calls for gun reforms across the nation — including in Massachusetts. The shooting in Lewiston was the deadliest in Maine’s history. Police say an Army reservist opened fire inside a bowling alley and a bar last week
and then took his own life. His body was found after a two-day manhunt. On Oct. 18, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed major gun control legislation. The final vote was 120-38. It now heads to the state Senate. Locally, gun control advocates strongly praised the House’s action. “This comprehensive bill
will close loopholes in our laws and help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people,” said Marblehead resident Diann Baylis, a board member of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, in an interview on Friday. Baylis called the bill “a critical step forward” in the fight against gun violence. She has been active in the movement for
years, testifying in support of Massachusetts’ red flag law in 2018. Angus McQuilken, a longtime gun control lobbyist who helped found the MCPGV and pass the state’s assault weapons ban in the 1990s, agreed the new bill would strengthen Massachusetts’ national leadership on the issue. “Gun violence is an
BIG REVEAL
Architect unveils giant forest troll as newest Halloween installation
epidemic in this country and Massachusetts is not exempt,” he said. “We must continue to lead with the most effective gun laws in the nation, and this bill will help achieve that.”
Opponents of gun bill Marblehead resident Phil Mancuso, a National Rifle
GUNS, P. A5
BANNER BANTER
Policy talk begins after BLM flag taken, returned BY LEIGH BLANDER
Tom Saltsman’s latest Halloween installation is a giant Nordic forest troll.
BY LEIGH BLANDER People lined up down Pleasant Street Sunday evening to see architect Tom Saltsman’s newest Halloween installation — and the big reveal did not disappoint. Saltsman built a giant, mythical forest troll in his driveway, with an eerie woodland inside his garage. The installation will be available for tours on Halloween 4-8 p.m. and again Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4, 4-8 p.m. “He started working on it in early September, planning and making
models and sculptures,” Saltsman’s wife Brooke Trivas told the Current. A paper outside Saltsman’s driveway explains the piece’s backstory. “In the dark recesses of Norway’s forest, mythical trolls lurk. Large, humanoid beings with grotesque, rugged features: forest trolls are part of the spirit and folklore of the wilderness. If touched by the first rays of sunlight, their rugged features to turn to stone. “The forest troll is a testament to the enduring connection between folklore and the untamed realms of
COURTESY PHOTO / BROOKE TRIVAS
nature.” The owner of a design and construction firm, Saltsman has been creating awe-inspiring Halloween pieces in his driveway and garage for nearly 20 years, attracting people from around Massachusetts and beyond. He’s even been on national TV. Last year, he designed and built a 20-foot Egyptian goddess with the head of a cobra and body of a woman. Other highlights from over the years include a red-eyed dragon that blew smoke, a
In response to a Black Lives Matter banner at Marblehead High School being removed by an “unauthorized person” and then returned, a School Committee subgroup began discussions about a possible flag policy in the district. At a virtual meeting on Friday, more than 25 people Zoomed in and several spoke. “The powerful statement of conscience of Black Lives Matter is very important when systemic »A Marblehead racism permeates educator weighs our institutions,” said Mimi Lemay, in. Letters, Page 7. a mother of three in Marblehead and leading LGBTQ rights advocate. She continued, “I come to urge the board to unequivocally defend the ability of our schools to display flags that symbolize inclusion and safety in response to the challenges faced by our students with marginalized identities, such as the Black Lives Matter and the Pride flag. The BLM flag was first put up at Marblehead High a few years ago, as part of a student-led initiative. In 2021, a local woman started a petition to get it taken down, accusing BLM of being antisemitic. Thensuperintendent John Buckey, along with local
HALLOWEEN, P. A8 FLAG, P. A4
COZY QUARTERS
Artist brings ‘world’s smallest house’ to Charter School BY LEIGH BLANDER How small is too small for a house? That’s the question sixthgraders at the Marblehead Community Charter Public School pondered last week, as they checked out what has been dubbed the world’s smallest house, created by artist Jeff Smith. Smith’s tiny house, built with reclaimed wood, is 25 square feet with a 3-foot-tall ceiling. It fits in the back of a regular minivan and has wheels so it can be rolled around easily.
BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW
“Having a house this small creates magical opportunities,” Smith told the Current. “You can roll it out of a parking lot and into the woods. You can sleep on the beach somewhere. Think of all the different places you get to under the radar. Imagine waking up in this weird place.” The Charter students are studying tiny houses this trimester. They’ve met with an architect to learn about blueprints, design and construction. On Oct. 26, they met with Smith to learn about his tiny house, which he started building in 2015. He also made
a short film about his project. The eight-minute movie can be viewed at youtube.com/ watch?v=C_B8oTKkBAs. “I was interested in the tiny house movement, but I also noticed there was something smug about it,” Smith said. “Sort of like when someone buys an electric car, they act like they saved the world a little bit. Everyone was trying to build the best tiny house. What was missing to me in this experiment was, ‘What’s the smallest tiny house you can make?’” HOUSE, P. A5
Artist Jeff Smith sits in the tiny house he built. It features a sink, ‘toilet,’ table and more.
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A4 Wednesday, November 1, 2023 Marblehead Current
CARRYING ON TRADITION
Town appoints two ‘measurers of leather’ Select Board surprised by excitement for position BY WILLIAM J. DOWD Marblehead has appointed two new “measurers of leather” to fill a vacancy left by the retirement of John Smidt, the latest keepers of a quirky, ceremonial tradition dating back centuries. The Select Board unanimously approved Amy Egelja and Bryan Ruocco to serve as the new honorary leather measurers after their interviews. The measurer of leather was a local official who verified the dimensions and quality of leather being bought and sold in a town to ensure fair trade and commerce. Select Board member Jim Nye called it a “difficult decision” between two qualified candidates, while Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said he felt the dual appointment was a “big win” for the town. Egelja cited her three decades of experience in the footwear industry and deep Marblehead
WILLIAM J. DOWD/CURRENT PHOTOS
Bryan Ruocco shows a historically accurate leather canteen and other leather creations to the Marblehead Select Board during his interview for town measurer of leather on Oct. 25. Ruocco was appointed to the ceremonial role along with resident Amy Egelja.
Newly appointed Marblehead Measurers of Leather Dr. Bryan Ruocco and Amy Egelja pose together following their appointment to the ceremonial role by the Select Board on Oct. 25.
roots as qualifications. “I’ve always felt a real affinity to the town’s history of footwear and shoe making,” she told the board. Ruocco took up leathercraft
as a hobby after moving to Marblehead, demonstrating his intricate leather bags, canteens and pouches. He is a member of Glover’s Regiment and started crafting with leather by making
water canteens. “I saw the measurer role was open and thought how neat would that be?” he said in his interview. Select Board Chair Erin Noonan said the vacancy generated immense buzz, with residents submitting impassioned letters of interest for a purely ceremonial role.
“It’s been sad to see some of the great local footwear brands disappear, but I have a real love for the history,” Egelja added. Ruocco noted his enthusiasm for old leather regulations, even across municipal lines. “I’m actually allowed to go into other towns and measure leather,” he told the Select Board to chuckles.
HOME SICK?
Veterans School principal: Absenteeism too high BY LEIGH BLANDER Veterans School Principal Matt Fox is asking to partner with families to improve students’ attendance rates. “The last couple of years, even taking into account the impact of COVID, have been very challenging for our attendance numbers,” Fox wrote to parents last week. More than 17% of Vets students were “chronically absent,” which is a state designation that means a student has missed at least 10% of the school year, which is more than 18 days of school. Fox said 47% of students missed at least 10 days of school. Absenteeism seems to be a bigger problem in Marblehead than in surrounding towns, he noted. “Comparing ourselves to similar schools on the North Shore, we have the highest percentage of students that meet [the chronically absent] threshold,” he said. “Middle
Flag
From P. A3 rabbis and social justice activists, pushed for it to remain. The issue was raised again when someone removed the flag earlier this month. It was returned on Monday, Oct. 23. Acting Superintendent Michelle Cresta then asked the School Committee to consider creating a policy around flags on school property. At Friday’s meeting, Cindy Tower Loewen, a member of the Marblehead Racial Justice Team, asked. “By not being able to have a BLM banner, what message are we sending to our Boston families? What message are we sending to METCO headquarters? What message are we sending to anyone who is a person of color and feels isolated already?” Sharman Pollender, who has a senior at MHS, also spoke. “As a person of color… I find that flag offensive. My children do not define themselves by their skin color.” Nyla Dubois agreed, saying “I feel like all of the flags should come down, there should be no flags. It’s a slippery slope. First you have a BLM flag, then the LGBTQ flag. I know there was an
More students are staying home from the Veterans School, and the principal is concerned.
schools in North Andover, Ipswich and Hamilton-Wenham
only averaged 5.6% of their students being chronically
absent.” As of Oct. 23, the 33rd day of
school, 15.1% of Vets students had missed at least three days, or 10% of the current school year. “While we hope that the percentage will decrease as the year progresses, we seem to be continuing our recent trend,” Fox wrote. At a Board of Education meeting on Oct. 24, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley said, “The break in routine of school-going culture during the pandemic is the root cause of the problem [statewide].” Riley acknowledged that students miss days when they are sick, and often miss significant time when they are out with COVID-19. Fox asked parents to consider absenteeism when planning getaways. “We would greatly appreciate your assistance in making sure that vacations and trips do not occur during scheduled days of school,” he wrote.
Israeli flag. Maybe there will be a Palestinian flag.”
Hearing from students
Cresta said she was looking forward to hearing from students. MHS senior Shakayla Baxter, who is a student of color, told the Current, “I was astonished that someone would even take the BLM flag down. Doing it on purpose or not, it’s still upsetting. As a student of color at Marblehead High, seeing that flag up makes me feel like there is at least one person in the school that cares about students that look like me. It makes students of color feel seen in a town that’s predominantly Caucasian.” School Committee member Jenn Schaeffner, who leads the policy subgroup, said she had done some research on other districts’ flag policies and liked the way the Hadley schools handle the issue. Hadley’s policy reads: “It shall be the policy of the Hadley School Committee to only permit the flying of the American flag or banners, and the Massachusetts state flag or banners on school grounds, and/ or in school buildings. The policy continues, “Any
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The BLM flag at Marblehead High School was removed by an ‘unauthorized individual’ and then returned several days later.
group/organization wishing to affix a flag or banner on school grounds and/or school buildings must submit a written request to the School Committee. Requests will be reviewed and approved or denied on a caseby-case basis.” Schaeffner said she would write a draft policy, run it by the attorney for the district and then present it at another meeting. “We don’t need to rush this; we need to be methodical,” she said. “We’ve got some work to do. There are going to be a couple iterations.” New policies have to be
discussed in three public meetings before they can be adopted. In the meantime, Cresta told the Current, “There is no plan to remove any banner or flag at this time.” Schaeffner closed the discussion about the flag policy by reading from a prepared statement. “Many community members are hurting, and our priority is to support all of them,” she said. “A core tenet of inclusion is that we stand for a community where individuals of all identities and backgrounds are appreciated
and respected, and we recognize our shared humanity. We will strive to treat each other with respect and care, even when we disagree. We must support each other’s safety and wellbeing, as everyone in our schools should feel safe. I am confident that the School Committee, superintendent, teachers and staff are working to support and safeguard our schools while making us stronger and moving us forward. Each of us should strive to be inclusive rather than divisive and to support all of our students in their growth and learning.”
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Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 1, 2023 A5
STATE MANDATE
In MBTA-zoning meeting, residents raise concerns over impacts to schools, traffic Law aims to create housing opportunities BY WILLIAM J. DOWD More than 150 people Zoomed into a virtual public meeting Oct. 26 to discuss new state zoning requirements that mandate denser, multi-family housing. The meeting, led by the Planning Board, aimed to gather community input on how best to comply with the law which requires MBTA communities to adopt zoning changes allowing multifamily housing by right in certain districts. An in-person public meeting is set for Thursday, Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m. at the Veterans School Performing Arts Center. Marblehead is classified as an “adjacent community” under the law since it borders two MBTA communities with train stations, Swampscott and Salem. As such, the town must rezone at least 27 acres at a minimum density of 15 units per acre, with the ability to construct around 900 total units. Residents raised concerns through the chat function about impacts on traffic, town infrastructure, parking, schools and Marblehead’s historic character. “This will affect the character of the town. This will affect traffic and will affect the schools,” Thomas Peach wrote in the chat. “It will not matter
Guns From P. A3
Association certified instructor, voiced opposition to the gun legislation, arguing it would do nothing to curb crime while harming lawful gun owners. He did find the bill’s ban on guns in polling places, government buildings and K-12 schools acceptable. But Mancuso took issue with the bill’s expansion of the state’s red flag law allowing courts to temporarily confiscate guns from individuals deemed dangerous, saying it violates the Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches and seizures. “Mental health is a major crisis in the United States that is not being addressed,” Mancuso said. He argued the bill ignores the need to provide institutional mental health care, noting the state began closing mental institutions in the 1970s. The legislation also cracks down on so-called ghost guns — homemade firearms without serial numbers. Mancuso said such weapons are already regulated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which requires they be marked with a serial number and manufacturer information. In Massachusetts,
House
From P. A3 Smith claims the house is habitable, and he has lived in it for a few days at a time. So, what makes it a house, instead of a box on wheels? “It has a working stove, a working toilet, a working sink, a fire extinguisher, stairs to the roof and a fold-down table,” he said. About that “toilet”: It’s literally a hole in the floor covered by a frisbee. Under the hole is “an old steel case desk drawer filled with kitty litter.” Smith admits the toilet is more conceptual, and he doesn’t recommend people use it. The water supply for the sink is a quart of water.
where it goes in town. Unlike larger towns we have no ‘disused’ areas suitable to this sort of development.” Others saw benefits like housing options for seniors, affordable units and increased tax revenue. One woman said the mandate should be broken up. “For many reasons, I recommend spreading several districts across the town; to minimize traffic, putting at least one zone near the Salam or Swampscott line,” wrote someone named Nancy. Some argued the mandate should be opposed entirely, and one resident suggested the town join a lawsuit to stop the
individuals must also register homemade guns with the state. “Criminals who will commit crimes will commit crimes,” Mancuso said. “They’re trying to scare everybody (about) ghost guns.” Mancuso predicted the bill would drive Massachusetts gun dealers out of business because of new state licensing requirements while doing nothing to reduce crime or prevent shootings by criminals flouting existing gun laws. Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Bob Erbetta and intelligence analyst said he acquired extensive firearms training over his decades-long military career. He voiced skepticism over whether lawmakers spearheading the gun legislation understand the technical distinctions between different classes of weapons. “They haven’t analyzed this thing from the beginning,” he said. “I think people are just spouting off sound bites.” Erbetta calls for more nuanced solutions targeted at the root factors driving violence, rather than broad measures he sees as unduly restrictive for responsible gun owners. While opposing major elements of the legislation, Erbetta does believe more targeted laws could help curb violence.
Students seemed impressed with Smith’s work. “It had some storage solutions; for example, it had a folding table, which I thought was interesting,” said one sixthgrader. “It had me thinking about storage solutions and get a little more creative and make it feel bigger than it actually is. We have thought about adding in sliding doors and windows, and we want to use a murphy bed instead of a regular bed to save space. We also want to add on a porch to have more outdoor space that can be used for dining and stuff.” The students will complete their own tiny house designs and build models. There will be 22 models on display at Charter’s exhibition on Nov. 20.
mandate’s implementation. The Planning Board emphasized the zoning changes must be adopted by December 2024 or Marblehead risks losing state funding and facing potential lawsuits. However, rezoning does not necessarily mean development will occur. “This is a zoning mandate, not a construction mandate,” said Planning Board member Marc J. Liebman. “Rezoning simply allows denser housing in permitted areas but does not require building.” In her presentation, Town Planner Becky Curran Cutting said Marblehead already has
various multifamily housing at high densities scattered around town. But to comply with the law, the town needs at least one zoned district of the minimum size and density that allows multifamily use without any additional discretionary review or approvals. Possibilities include expanding existing districts that permit multifamily by special permit, applying “Smart Growth” overlays — which generally promote walkable, sustainable development near public transportation — in pedestrianfriendly areas and rezoning large open parcels or underutilized buildings.
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Ghost guns and ghost gun parts are displayed on a table in Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office at a press event.
He voiced support for expanding the state’s red flag law, and he also felt banning guns from sensitive public places like schools, government offices and polling stations was appropriate. “The answer is yes. That makes sense,” he said, though he argued that off-duty law enforcement should be exempt.
‘Like many parents, I am fed up’ State Rep. Jenny Armini, Democrat of Marblehead, pointed to evidence that states with the strongest gun laws have the lowest rates of gun deaths. “That’s not debatable,” she said. “Technology is creating new firearms and devices at a dizzying rate. Keeping Massachusetts safe requires
constant vigilance.” Armini disputed claims that the bill improperly burdens lawful gun owners or infringes on Second Amendment rights. “I have yet to hear how any of these provisions create an undue burden on law-abiding gun owners,” she said, while defending the constitutionality of reasonable gun regulation. Armini, one of 120 co-sponsors, also echoed the urgency. “Like many parents, I am fed up. I have witnessed our nation transformed by gun violence,” she said. “Guns are the number one killer of kids ages 1 through 25.” Nearly 4,000 children under 19 are fatally shot each year nationwide, according to federal data. Armini pointed to several
Cutting said the board will continue gathering input at an upcoming in-person public workshop. Draft zoning proposals will then be presented at future meetings before going to Town Meeting for a vote in May. “The more feedback we receive, the better we can tailor recommendations specific to Marblehead’s needs,” Cutting said. Some residents criticized the virtual format for lack of public speaking and transparent conversation. In the chat, another called it “borderline comical” and said “this typing crap is not conducive.” In response, Planning Board Chairman Robert Schaeffner explained the challenges of managing public comment in a large Zoom format but said an in-person meeting will allow more discussion. Cutting said the board will review all feedback and consider locations residents recommend exploring further. She encouraged residents to reach out via email at RebeccaC@marblehead.org to stay informed of future zoning meetings and proposals. The Planning Board aims to have a draft rezoning plan completed by early next year to meet the 2024 compliance deadline.
factors behind the bill, including a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down certain restrictions on the concealed carry of firearms. She also cited the proliferation of untraceable “ghost guns” in Massachusetts, with state police reporting a 75% increase in ghost gun seizures in 2022 compared to 2021. “We are in the midst of a public health crisis and it is unrelenting,” Armini said. “Thoughts and prayers are not enough.” Marblehead Police Chief Dennis King did not take a position on the legislation, saying, “my job is to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth, as passed by the legislators, and not comment on them or generally endorse them.” “My opinion doesn’t matter, nor do I make it matter in my approach,” he told the Current. “Politicians can decide political issues.” McQuilken, the veteran gun control lobbyist, argued the bill builds on a Massachusetts tradition of firearms regulation. “We have a system that allows lawful gun ownership for people determined by police to be suitable, while screening out dangerous individuals,” he said. “This law will make that system even more effective.”
Sixth-graders wheel the ‘world’s smallest house’ into the Charter School.
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A6 Wednesday, November 1, 2023 Marblehead Current
Opinion EDITORIAL
A welcome caution flag
The reminder that the creation of new School Committee policies involves a methodical process is a welcome one. The three “readings” still to come regarding a yetto-be-drafted policy governing what types of flags or banners can be displayed inside and outside Marblehead school buildings will provide an important opportunity to listen to the community and debate the pros and cons of different approaches to an issue that has roiled more than a few communities across the state and beyond. While we take Acting Superintendent Michelle Cresta’s point that the current discussion is not necessarily about whether the Black Lives Matter banner at Marblehead High School gets to stay, the new policy could have the effect of requiring the banner come down, depending on where it lands. At Friday’s School Committee policy subcommittee meeting, member Jenn Schaeffner presented the town of Hadley’s flag policy, which reads that before any flag or banner other than the U.S. or Massachusetts state flag can be displayed, the proponent needs to submit a written request, which then is approved or denied on a “case-by-case basis” by the School Committee. We would be interested to hear what the town’s principals think about such a process. On the one hand, they might welcome being relieved of the responsibility of making what can be a challenging, divisive decision. However, as suggested by a letter from a Marblehead educator published on Page 7 of this week’s Current, those closest to students — the teachers and building administrators — may be most attuned to their needs and the impact decisions about banners and flags will have on the communities they are trying to cultivate. Were the Marblehead School Committee to model its policy after Hadley’s, it seems to us that it would be important to supplement it by articulating the criteria that will be used to determine whether a banner request will be approved. As the current debate over the Black Lives Matter banner has unfolded, we have been struck by voices like those of MHS senior Shakayla Baxter, a student of color, who told the Current, “Seeing that flag up makes me feel like there is at least one person in the school that cares about students that look like me.” A similar sentiment was echoed at Friday’s meeting by Renee Sidman, the former president of Congregation Shirat Hayam, whose Black foster daughter noticed that she looked different and did not feel welcome while attending school in Marblehead. The Black Lives Matter banner “would have been a huge, important flag for her to see,” Sidman said. Any process to approve banners must be informed by the perspectives of those most affected by the decisions: the students and their families. During Friday’s meeting, Schaeffner referenced the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Shurtleff v. Boston, in which the court ruled unanimously that the city of Boston had violated the Constitution by rejecting an application to fly a Christian flag in front of city hall. What might have salvaged Boston’s flag policy, the court noted, was if the city had “done more to make clear it wished to speak for itself.” Wherever the Marblehead school district’s flag policy lands, the district will be “speaking for itself” about its values. The discussions to come will be all about trying to refine a shared vision about what those values are. In a deeply divided world, we do not underestimate the size of that challenge. Earlier this year, in response to what they called “a disturbing new trend where towns and school districts are banning the Rainbow Flag specifically or flags more generally,” the ACLU and Gilbert Baker Foundation wrote an open letter, explaining why, in their view, such flags and symbols are an important form of protected free speech in school settings to support LGBTQ+ students and instill a sense of community. “Removing the LGBTQ+ Rainbow Flag sends a message to students, allies, and faculty that this community is not to be celebrated or protected,” the groups wrote. “Such a message fosters an unsafe environment for many students.” While certain affiliates have regrettably muddied the waters with indefensible comments supportive of Hamas’ attack on Israel, as Baxter and Sidman’s comments show, the same can be said of “Black Lives Matter.” Schaeffner closed Friday’s discussion of the flag policy by reading from a prepared statement. “A core tenet of inclusion is that we stand for a community where individuals of all identities and backgrounds are appreciated and respected, and we recognize our shared humanity,” Schaeffner said. She continued, “We must support each other’s safety and well-being, as everyone in our schools should feel safe.” Those principles lay a solid foundation for the discussion to come. The devil may still be in the details of whatever policy is drafted. But the process to tackle this challenging topic is at least off to a promising start.
EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY
The games we play BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM I recently saw a headline about a new study that showed that running as little as two miles three times a week could extend your life. That seems doable, I thought, until I asked my knees, who immediately protested that it was not doable at all (you idiot, they added!). Thus, I’ll stick with the original guidance I’ve tried to follow in recent years that a regular walking routine is the key to a healthy aging body. Yet, I am reaching that age where the health of my mind is increasingly on my mind at least as much as my mobility. What to do for that? On Instagram, Maria Shriver offers weekly brain teasers — three people walk into a bar and seven people are related to two of them, tell us why, or something like that. I haven’t spent time trying to crack them because just reading them makes my blood pressure go up, and that can’t be good, right? I do Wordle almost every day. I have since midpandemic when the man of my dreams (kidding, David!) created the five-letter puzzle for his girlfriend and then sold it for more than six figures to the New York Times. I’ve long screwed up tracking my actual completion rate, I think yesterday it said I was on day five, even though it was about day 1,005. But I look forward to completing it as part of my morning routine. My average result is solving it in four tries, and I share my yellow and green square emoji efforts with one of my sisters and two friends. There’s some nice element of bonding in that. I also assume that completing Wordle helps bond, or at least, jostle, some aging neurons in my brain. There’s some research to back up that assumption. Dr. Anne Corbett, of the University of Exeter Medical School, led one study that found “the more regularly people engage with puzzles such as crosswords and Sudoku, the sharper their performance is across a range of tasks assessing memory, attention and reasoning. The improvements are particularly clear in the speed and accuracy of their performance. In some areas
I may be able to make my brain function as if it were eight years younger if I do even more puzzles? Okay, I’m in. the improvement was quite dramatic — on measures of problem-solving, people who regularly do these puzzles performed equivalent to an average of eight years younger compared to those who don’t. We can’t say that playing these puzzles necessarily reduces the risk of dementia in later life but this research supports previous findings that indicate regular use of word and number puzzles helps keep our brains working better for longer.” I may be able to make my brain function as if it were eight years younger if I do even more puzzles? Okay, I’m in. Recently, I stumbled upon a miracle of confidence building called the mini-crossword in the print edition of the Sunday New York Times. I’ve never been able to even pretend at the full Sunday crossword, but the mini? I do it in pen! And then I learned there’s a mini every day on the New York Times games app and those have now been added to my morning routine post Wordle. What else? My sister recommended “Connections” in which you tag related words in a series of four, like “pot, ladle, broth, and beans” which would be grouped under “soup” for instance but most aren’t that straightforward and thus it’s a challenge. I tried Sudoku for the first time last week, too. I’m not drawn to numbers like I am to words but I’m guessing they fire a different set of neurons so I’m game to try. Like so much in life, though, experts advise against relying on quick fixes. Games are just one piece of the cognitive function puzzle, they say, along with diet and exercise. Sigh. These experts are clearly practiced at conveying hard truths. They must be related to my knees. Virginia Buckingham is the president of the Marblehead Current’s board of directors. Her column appears weekly.
PLAYING THE GAME
The starbright thrill of truth BY BOB BAKER All kinds of truth: feel good, justice is done, where else would you be?, oh yeah, kickass, mistake corrected, real deal, heartbreaker, ‘bout time, puzzle solved, joy to the world!, never could’ve guessed, one of a kind, what a hoot, rip-roaring, rollicking, wow ... try some on: Connor Cronin, waterboy for the Marblehead High football team in 2016. Five years later, his 83-yard lightning bolt catch-and-run that takes your breath away and seals Marblehead’s win over North Attleboro in the 2021 Super Bowl. » Four-year-old Kate, blonde pigtails flying, bouncing up the woods path at Ripley Point in Maine to greet me in the misty back-when: “You happy to me, Daddy!” » A partial response to a very, very wrong perception of me: “The Truth will win.” » The quite attractive and personable 60ish administrator who briefed me on discharge from Salem Hospital a few months ago turned and looked at me as she was leaving the room. “I wish you were younger,” she said, with a smile that might’ve been a wink. Despite my thousand years, I took not ageism offense, but gave her a wink back — even though she was out of sight. I threw in a
mental pat on the back while I was at it. » Jim Velleco, who passed away in April, was a brilliant architect with an elegant sense of style and wit, a man of quiet demeanor and Old World graciousness, a wellread appreciator of the arts and music, a man of exceptional warmth, generosity and impish humor who is survived by his lovely and charming wife of many years, Linda, his excellent son, Tony, and Tony’s wife, Melanie. I never saw an obituary of Jim, who went out of his way for me and spent hours producing a computerized visualization of a Marblehead Naval Memorial I had, so as just a small expression of appreciation, I wanted to utter a few truths for others to know about this selfless, starbright man. » Another good way to spell “heart” is “H-A-R-T” (as in Pete and Mimi). » May 1958. My senior year at UConn, at my “Gatsby” cottage. Sitting holding hands with Peg at the end of the dock at 6 a.m., Andover Lake shrouded in mist — “our music,” Beethoven’s Sixth, The Pastoral, sounding forth from the hi-fi in the cottage behind us. Almost as if on cue, as the strings in the symphony sought ever higher heights, a golden cast of sunlight overtook the mist and gradually
the mist rose — to a postcard of the cottages across the lake. Nobody held hands like Peggy did. Or ever will. » The visit and sail of the USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides,” to Marblehead in 1997 was an event of two days duration that was “one for the ages.” Along with pageantry (and in a way, outshining it), there was an incredible welling up and outpouring of unabashed patriotism and the very best of the human spirit. For two whole days, time stood still, and we were allowed to swim in the purity of an idealized better time. Weather from heaven, patriotic electricity, unrehearsed courtesies. Everything slowed… to a hush. The impossible grandeur of the majestic vessel that ought long ago have been but a ghost of memory. So many who would scarce darken the inside of a house of worship save for weddings and funerals would recall it as a “religious experience.” Celebration. Tears of joy and pride, newfound neighbors at every turn. Tower bells, cannon thunder, bands, bunting, flags waving, tens of thousands of voices at full throat. Marblehead in all its feisty glory. Two days for ever. Bob Baker is a branding and creative services resource in Marblehead whose memoir in progress is “Outlucking Gatsby: From Greenwich to The Green Light.”
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WHY I GIVE
NeWS For PeoPLe, NoT For ProFIT. CO-CHAIRPERSONS
Jessica Barnett Ed Bell NEWSROOM
‘Unofficial mayor’ relies on independent, nonprofit news BY DOUG HILL
Editor - Leigh Blander
lblander@marbleheadnews.org
Community Editor - Will Dowd wdowd@marbleheadnews.org
Consulting Editor - Kris Olson kolson@marbleheadnews.org
Sports Reporter Joe McConnell
jmcconnell@marbleheadnews.org
Intern - Benji Boyd CONTRIBUTORS
Stephen Bach Bob Baker Linda Bassett Nicole Goodhue-Boyd Laurie Fullerton Mark Hurwitz John Lamontagne Christine McCarriston Eyal Oren Pam Peterson Chris Stevens Linda Werbner BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Virginia Buckingham - President Kate Haesche Thomson - Vice President of Operations Gene Arnould Jessica Barnett Ed Bell Francie King Robert Peck Donna Rice Richard Weed - Treasurer EDITORIAL BOARD
Ed Bell Virginia Buckingham Kris Olson Will Dowd Robert Peck Joseph P. Kahn DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Kathryn Whorf DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Marion Warner Greely FOUNDERS
Jessica Barnett Ed Bell Leigh Blander Will Dowd David Moran Kris Olson DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
North of Boston Media Group Marblehead News 217 Humphrey St. Marblehead, Massachusetts 01945 781.910.8658 info@marbleheadnews.org www.marbleheadCurrent.org Marblehead Current is published every Wednesday by Marblehead News Group, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It is mailed to all homes and businesses in Marblehead, MA 01945.
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LETTERS POLICY 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 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.
Growing up in a military family, and then as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, I had never had a hometown or ever felt the need to claim one. In my very first visit to Marblehead, I fell under its spell and declared that someday I would live in this town. When I moved permanently to Marblehead some 38 years ago, I soon discovered that what was most special about this town was its strong sense of community. Those of us who live here share an enormous sense of pride, being both grateful and giddy that this is where we chose to reside. For the first time in my life, not only did I have an intense interest in my town, but I wanted to get involved. A year ago, the Marblehead Current appeared in my mailbox. I was extremely grateful as I realized just how much I had truly missed my local newspaper. I was delighted to see the
Doug Hill
familiar names of talented, proven journalists who had been so successful in bringing us local news in the past. The Current is part of a new initiative in journalism following a not-for-profit model, which comes with a whole set of key challenges — and fundraising leads the list. I immediately contributed financially as I see the value in this venture and I
want it to succeed. The Current celebrates the stories and news that make Marblehead so special. The quality of the writing, the vast range of articles and the strong journalistic integrity of our reporters has quickly galvanized us as a community. We greatly value the Current and want it to not only survive but to thrive — especially now, a time when independent printed newspapers are struggling and then steadily disappearing. It has become readily apparent that for the Current to continue to arrive each week in our mailboxes, we have to raise a substantial amount of money. Marblehead, in my experience, has proven to be a very thoughtful and most giving community that rallies around and financially supports the causes they value. I remain confident that this spirit of generosity will continue on
behalf of our Current, which has already, in one short year, greatly enriched our town. If you want the Current to keep shining a light on Marblehead, please donate and help us keep the lights on. There are so many ways to give. If you have already donated, thank you. Could you possibly dig a little deeper? Consider becoming a sustaining donor. Could you contribute matching funds to motivate your neighbors and friends? Do you have a business in town? How about advertising with us? Go to MarbleheadCurrent. org/donate, mail a check to 217 Humphrey St. or stop me when you see me out walking to find out how you can help. Doug Hill, fondly known to many as the “unofficial mayor of Marblehead,” has lived here for nearly 40 years. We are grateful for his time, energy and financial support of the Current.
FROM THE VAULT
Cats and bears, oh my! On the morning of Jan. 29, 1855, the ship Favorite, a cargo vessel out of New Orleans heading for Boston, ran aground near Baker’s Island. According to one newspaper article, the crew was rescued by quick-acting Marbleheaders. The cargo and vessel were a complete loss, however. One piece that survived and was likely scavenged by the rescuers or later salvagers was a cast iron cathead. A cathead is a large wooden beam that comes out at an angle from either side of the bow of a sailing ship. The beam is used to support the ship’s anchor when weighing or lowering it. Many of these beams had cats’ or lions’ heads carved at the end or, as with this example, iron heads attached to the wood. This example is elaborately painted to better resemble a real cat. However, according to reports, our “cat” wasn’t the only animal on board the Favorite. On Feb. 8, 1855, the New York Daily Times
Article 16 -- No Title
New York Daily Times (1851-1857); Feb 8, 1855; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times pg. 8
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
COURTESY PHOTO / MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM
A New York Daily Times article about the abandoned bear.
The painted iron cathead recovered from the wreck of the Favorite in 1855.
reprinted a story from the Boston Journal. A rescue vessel sent from Boston arrived at the wreck after the crew had been taken off. On board remained a bear the crew had abandoned!
As the ship’s captain approached the animal, the bear “saluted with a hearty stroke from his paw.” He showed no sign of aggression and “allowed himself to be taken to more comfortable quarters on board the steamer,” which brought the bear safely back to Boston. Since it was donated to the Marblehead Museum in 1916, the cathead has been on display in the Jeremiah Lee Mansion.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
How will children remember community’s response? To the editor: I was in my first year of teaching when the Sandy Hook shooting happened. A decade later, I’ve nearly lost count of all the times I have stood in front of a classroom in the wake of some terrible event; all the subsequent shootings, the Boston Marathon, Syria, Ukraine, the pandemic, the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, the BLM movement, the MeToo movement, the Jan. 6 insurrection… the list goes on. A barrage of painful, often complicated situations that kids– not unlike adults– desperately want to make sense of. History happens. Tragedy happens. And when parents aren’t in the room to help their children navigate these issues, the teachers step in as best they can. I will not pretend that this isn’t a precarious situation for us. We are only human. We have our own biases and we have to acknowledge that as educators, we are in a position of power. If we aren’t careful, students run the risk of simply replacing their own beliefs with those of their teachers without any critical consideration. That is why
we tread carefully when these things come up in the classroom. That is why we always try to encourage critical thinking in our students. That is why long ago, I adopted the mantra multiple truths can exist at once. To that end, here are some truths: 1. There is nothing controversial about a teacher telling their students that innocent civilians — white, Black, brown, Jewish, Muslim, Arab, Israeli — do not deserve to suffer as they are suffering now. 2. Over the last couple weeks, our kids have been bombarded with violent images and horrible stories, many of which are being molded into talking points to fit specific narratives. Our job is to protect students. So when those narratives become antisemitic, islamophobic, racist or generally hateful, we have the responsibility to call it out. 3. Despite those responsibilities, most of us are not talking with students about what is happening in Israel and Gaza. It’s not that we are unprepared to do so. Read the first paragraph. We have plenty of practice talking about difficult things. One of the main reasons we aren’t holding space for those discussions is because there is a certain reputation in this community. These days, it seems
that everything the school does happens under a microscope. Statements of solidarity invite scrutiny. People in surrounding towns place bets on how quickly Marblehead parents will rally to oust their next school administrator (and in case you are curious, no, that is not an exaggeration). Parents post about what the schools are doing and openly bully one another on Marblehead Facebook pages. If a teacher has the audacity to say something that someone disagrees with, emails are sent to admin. Meetings are had. People are reprimanded. 4. There is a reason I am submitting this letter anonymously. 5. We aren’t here to indoctrinate your kids. But when things go wrong, we desperately want to be there for them as they bear witness to the times. Right now, with the existing culture in this town, that is not an option for many of us. 6. We should be able to stand in solidarity with the innocent people of Israel, and offer love and support to our Jewish students. We can condemn Hamas. 7. We should be able to recognize that the murder of innocent people in Gaza is an atrocity, and offer love and support to our Arab and Muslim
students. We can condemn the Israeli government. 8. We should be mindful of the continuing struggle for equality that continues in our own country. Regardless of anyone’s social media tirade about whether or not a banner should hang in a school cafeteria, there is absolutely no question as to what we must convey to our students of color; what happened in 2020 was not just a passing fad. Their lives really do matter. And as far as teachers are concerned, the lives of our students matter a whole lot more than any of your diatribes on social media. I ask this community to recognize how complicated this is, and how simple it is. We need to be there for our kids. We need to set examples. We need to teach them the difference between fights and arguments. We need to offer grace not only to our teachers, but to one another as we navigate the nuances and learn more about what is unfolding all around us. We need to inform one another in good faith. We need to listen in good faith. And as we watch this mutual annihilation from across the sea in a country where most of us are lucky enough to exist in relative safety, I ask LETTERS, P. A12
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Halloween From P. A3
spaceship, a 22-foot hulking gorilla that turned his head and made noises, a ghost ship and an 18-foot skeletal man that seemed to walk when the wind blew. Asked when they decided on this year’s theme,
Trivas answered, “We had a conversation right after last Halloween about the inside. Then we didn’t talk about it again until August. In August, we looked at each other and said, ‘Well, it’s time.’ Then he started doing sketches.” Saltsman works full time and dedicates dozens of
hours in the evenings and on weekends working on his Halloween projects. This year was no different. “He’s spent a lot of time working on really beautiful models of ideas,” Trivas said. “He’s really interested in the process and in exploring the materiality of things. People lined up on Pleasant Street to check out Tom Saltsman’s newest Halloween creation.
Children’s Workshop Montessori “Reading is one of the greatest gifts a school can give to a child.” Every child in our school learns to read and write.
“It’s Magical” info@marbleheadmontessori.com 781-631-8687
Inside there’s a lot of play on different effects and how that might create a sense of space and light and depth.” She continued, “He does find a lot of joy in exploring those things and trying to get it right. If it wasn’t fun and it wasn’t
exploratory, joyful and creative… it wouldn’t look the way it does.” Trick or treat On Oct 26, hundreds of families came out for the Chamber of Commerce trick-or-treating event. The storefronts along Washington Street
and Atlantic Avenue were draped in festive decorations, providing a spooky backdrop for costumed kids, including tiny witches with pointy hats, pirates with eye patches and swords, Baby Yodas, Mandalorians, princesses and even a small orange construction cone. Residents and shopkeepers handed out candy from baskets, cauldrons and pumpkin buckets as shoulderto-shoulder crowds of families navigated the sidewalks. The Marblehead Museum’s annual jacko-lantern contest also drew crowds of families admiring the creatively carved pumpkins on display. William J. Dowd contributed to this report.
When Housing Inventory Falls Selling Opportunity Rises!
BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW
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Sports
ALSO IN THIS SECTION AROUND THE COMMUNITY Government | Education | Police Library | Obituaries | Religion Senior News | Business
MHS FOOTBALL
Magicians secure playoff berth
Marblehead heads to Middleborough for a Sweet 16 game as the 14th seed in Division 4 BY JOE MCCONNELL Marblehead High football coach Jim Rudloff kept on saying during his young team’s four-game losing streak to start the season to wait until the Northeastern Conference divisional schedule kicks in. The veteran Magicians coach knew what he was talking about, because since the slow start they have rattled off three straight wins, and as a result they are in the Division 4 playoffs as the 14th seed after their latest win last Friday night at home against Danvers, 17-7. They had to wait until Sunday, however, for the final proclamation by theMassachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association and, according to the Division 4 bracket, are scheduled to play at Middleborough (6-2, third seed) in a Sweet 16 game Friday night, starting at 7 p.m. The Magicians (3-4) were ranked 18th in the Division 4 power rankings with a 2-4 record going into the Danvers game. Danvers at 5-2 was fourth in Division 5. They moved down one spot to fifth after their loss to Marblehead, who needed that requisite third win to stay in the playoff hunt as one of the Top 16 teams in their division. Playing three Division 2 schools certainly didn’t hurt their chances to jump from 18 to 14 in just a couple of days. “We certainly didn’t want to wait to start playing well, but the reality was that we had to play three Division 2 teams, before getting into (conference) play. This win against Danvers gave ourselves a chance at a playoff berth,” said Rudloff after Friday night’s game. Rudloff labeled that win over Danvers as “a team win.” “I really do feel like it was a team win, and I’d hate to name
Marblehead High football senior captain Christian Pacheco (55) levels Danvers quarterback Travis Voisine during last Friday night’s game at Piper Field, while his fellow captain and classmate Scott Campbell (52) charges in to lend a hand.
COURTESY PHOTOS/ EYAL OREN, WEDNESDAYS IN MARBLEHEAD
Marblehead High junior cornerback Julius Galante (19) leaps in an attempt to wrestle the ball away from a Danvers wide receiver during last Friday night’s game at Piper Field. The Magicians won, 17-7.
anyone as a top performer on both offense and defense, because so many kids played well,” he said. “But I’d point out that Greg Motorny, our kicker and punter, had an excellent game.” The coach also mentioned that Jake Scogland, who had a sack and an interception on defense, and offensive lineman Javery Monegro, making his first varsity start, also played well. Senior linebacker Cam Waldman, and sophomores Owen Dulac (strong safety) and Julius Galante (cornerback) were also singled out by Rudloff for having “strong games when called upon.” The Magicians needed everybody in this “extremely physical game,” according to Rudloff. “We had a lot of players come out on both sides of the ball, who just needed either a play or a series off,” he added.
“But having kids on the sidelines ready to go in and play at a moment’s notice was a good step forward for us.” The Marblehead offense scored two first half touchdowns to lead at halftime, 14-0. They were held to just a field goal in the second half, but thanks to the defense nothing else was needed. Halfway through the first quarter, junior quarterback Colt Wales hooked up with senior captain Andy Palmer for a 20-yard touchdown on fourth down. The scoring play completed a 61-yard drive on just six plays. Wales and the Magicians then put what turned out to be a dagger in the side of Danvers late in the first half, when the junior signal caller located senior Brooks Keefe down the sidelines, and Keefe did the rest knocking down Danvers defenders enroute
to a 45=yard touchdown. Surefooted Motorny followed with his second extra point of the game to give his teammates that needed insurance touchdown at the break. After Danvers had two second half drives deep in Marblehead territory halted by the defense, they finally got on the board early in the fourth quarter, when quarterback Travis Voisine scampered the final 15 yards for six points. The extra point was good to trim the deficit in half, 14-7. Motorny then got three of those points back with a 28-yard field goal to make it a twopossession game, once again. When he was in there, Wales was credited with seven completions for 119 yards. Sophomore Finn Gallup had three completions for 14 yards. Palmer caught three passes for 46 yards. Besides his touchdown reception, Keefe rushed for 15 yards. Wales ran for 32 yards on five carries. Chris DeWitt had one carry, but it was a huge gain for 32 yards. Danvers star senior running back Owen Gasinowski was held to 63 yards on 20 carries. Voisine completed 12 passes for 57 yards. “We essentially turned up our focus during the bye week,”
said Rudloff. “We wanted to improve our defense. We tackled everyday in practice for those two weeks. It was very physical out there, and I think it really paid off in this game against Danvers. The players did a phenomenal job in executing what they were asked to do. We were able to create turnovers, which put our offense into a position to succeed. “Offensively, we still can’t seem to consistently execute mistake-free football,” added Rudloff. “You hate to make excuses, but even with that extra week we seem to keep having kids go in an hour after practice each day with different ailments and maladies. Hopefully now that we are in the playoffs, we can get the same group of coaches and players on the field for a week and see what happens.” The top 16 teams in Division 4 are as follows: Duxbury (6-1), Holliston (5-3), Middleborough (6-2), Tewksbury Memorial (5-3), Norwood (6-2), Grafton (6-2), Scituate (5-3), Somerset Berkley Regional (6-2), Westwood (6-2), Wayland (6-2), South High Community (6-2), Burlington (5-3), Canton (5-3), Marblehead (3-4), Ashland (4-4) and Bedford (5-3).
FUN & GAMES
Council on Aging hosts Boccerama with players from across North Shore BY LEIGH BLANDER The Marblehead Council on Aging’s bocce team hosted players from COAs in Swampscott, Beverly and Wenham to close out the 2023 season. They called the event Boccerama. “I liked the overall camaraderie between the groups,” said Pat Bibbo, who coordinates bocce teams and games here in Marblehead. “Starting in May, our travel team played home and away matches with Beverly and Wenham. We played Beverly six times and Wenham five times. We won seven of our matches, lost two and tied two. “Although the matches are competitive, we’ve become a friendly group with a deep respect for each other,” Bibbo added. “We hadn’t met the Swampscott folks prior to Boccerama.” More than 50 people from the four communities competed.
BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW
Seniors from four Councils on Aging competed in Marblehead’s Boccerama recently.
“The majority of the games were pretty even and with only one game, as a result of our having one court, being played at a time. This made it fun as the other players watched and cheered adding to the upbeat day. Bibbo continued: “We kept scores of games while they were going on but had no official winners. We probably all finished pretty even as far as wins and losses.” He is already looking forward to next year’s Boccerama.
Judy Fox of Marblehead took a turn at Boccerama recently.
COURTESY PHOTOS
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BOYS SOCCER
Magicians prep for the playoffs Formidable regular season foes present bpost-season challenges BY JOE MCCONNELL The Marblehead High boys soccer team (5-8-4) has found its groove, and just in time with the state tournament right around the corner. Faced with a gauntlet of formidable opponents this season, the Marblehead boys met the challenge, and have come away well-positioned for a playoff berth. Last Friday, Oct. 20, the Magicians traveled to Peabody (7-3-5) to square off against the Tanners, a Division 1 team they had defeated earlier in the season, 2-1. Throughout the early minutes of the game, it felt very much like a chess match, with each team sizing up the other for this rematch. The visitors were very patient early on, keeping the ball on the ground. They attacked from the left side initially to split the defenders to advance the ball through. Unfortunately, they struggled to capitalize on that strategy, despite coming through with some excellent combinations across to their midfielders and forwards. With nine minutes left in the half, Peabody launched a tremendous kick that forced goalie Rory Zampese to miraculously catch it, while his body was past the goal line. The ball, however, remained in play on the other side, averting certain disaster. But it was no surprise to the team that Zampese came through again. He has lifted them all season long with his acrobatic play and command of the field. Peabody was extremely disciplined, while excelling by playing the ball out of the backfield. They frequently changed direction until they saw an opening. But eventually, Marblehead caught on to Peabody’s scheme, which focused on chipping the ball across the field to their powerful striker. He did an exemplary
Marblehead boys soccer captain Riley Schmitt (7), playing defense against Peabody during the Oct. 20 game, has been an unstoppable force in front of the opposing net this fall.
COURTESY PHOTOS / RICH BIBBINS
Marblehead boys soccer seniors Riley Schmitt, Odin Colwell, Leonardo Rappone and Jack Burke with junior goalie Rory Zampese, second, right, on Senior Day, Oct. 23, before the start of the Masco game.
job getting through seams in the defense, but the visitors were still able to contain him throughout most of the game, with the likes of sophomore fullback Adam Loughlin, junior Colin White, junior Oliver Murtagh and senior Riley Schmitt dominating at that end of the pitch. With 10 minutes remaining in the contest, Peabody took the ball to the right corner, kept it in play and crossed skillfully to the center to account for the backbreaking goal after the Magicians had managed to hold off their relentless attack for 70 minutes. In the final few minutes, a wild play resulted in Marblehead coming within inches of tying up the game. On that play, forward Kyle Hart surged through the middle near the goal line and struck the ball hard, only to have it blocked, before it hit the crossbar and eventually out of bounds.
Magicians settle for bitter tie against Masco on Senior Day On Monday, Oct. 23, the Magicians honored their four
seniors — captain Jack Burke, Odin Colwell, captain Riley Schmitt and Leonardo Rappone — on Senior Night prior to the game against NEC rival Masco. The stands were filled with the town’s youth soccer players. They were there to cheer on the Magicians, who were ready to take on the always-formidable Chieftains (12-1-4). And the game did not disappoint. Masco, a perennial Division 2 juggernaut, has learned over the years that the Magicians come prepared to play. They have entered each contest with the intensity of a playoff game, notably pushing an undefeated Masco team to the brink in 2021, before beating them in an upset, 1-0 the next year. In the early minutes of this game, both teams moved the ball well. As the half progressed, the Magicians began anticipating the path of the ball, and had several chances to intercept it inside the 18. Hart, in particular, showed considerable stamina trying to force mistakes. Offensively, each team had few quality chances, and when they did the shots sailed high or simply hit the side of the net.
The game turned with 2:39 left in the half, when Ilan Druker was tripped up in the box that drew a penalty kick. Druker calmly stutter-stepped on the approach, before shooting low to the left side, while goalie Marco Russo dove right to account for the first goal in the game. Midway through the second half, the game had reached a heightened pace. The fouls increased, but many were overlooked, albeit when the Magicians drew a yellow card for a slight bump. With 16:45 left, Masco penetrated the middle, and had an advantage, but left-footed Scarpacci overpowered the ball, and it sailed just over the frame. In the 81st minute, Masco finally had a legitimate threat. Their captain Jack Wexler was knocked down at the 10, leading to a penalty kick. But Zampese read Wexler’s approach perfectly, and blocked the kick on his downward dive to keep his teammates ahead, 1-0. A short time later, forward Max Dressel broke free at midfield and outpaced two Masco defenders, before seeing right-winger Jack Burke streaking down the other side. He then placed a beautiful pass at his feet, and Burke did the rest, outmaneuvering the Masco fullback, which ultimately drew a corner to put his teammates in position to break the game wide open. Burke’s well-placed ball looked as if it would drop into an opportune spot, but Masco’s
Russo dove forward to punch the ball away. The final few minutes were frenetic, with Masco stepping up the pace and Marblehead reacting quickly to clear the ball as often as possible to kill the clock. But an unfortunate series of events, which included a flop, poor clock management by the referee and a non-call on a flagrant midfield shove to the ground, left Marblehead fans incredulous. But the final five minutes somehow turned into six and then seven, giving Masco a huge and unfair advantage. The game should have already ended, but this sequence of events was sufficient to give the visitors time to score, which they did. The goal was on target to tie up the proceedings at one, and that was the way it ended, much to the disappointment of the home team. But as they have done all season, the Marblehead boys played a tremendously competitive game against a powerful opponent. They are battle-tested, resilient and determined. They were able to bounce back after the tie to defeat Winthrop (6-12-1), 1-0 two days later. They then faced host Melrose on Oct. 27 after press deadline to wrap up the regular season. As of Oct. 24, the Magicians were ranked 26 th in the Division 2 power rankings. Troy Miller supplied the content for this report.
MHS SPORTS NOTEBOOK
Magicians golf team takes state sectional BY JOE MCCONNELL The Marblehead High golf team won the program’s firstever Division 2 North state sectional title at the Stow Acres Country Club on Oct. 24. They were able to secure four out of the top six scores to end up with 311 points, just ahead of Northeastern Conference (NEC) rival Gloucester (312) and Middlesex League foe Reading (313). Jacob Hershfield led the pack with a 74. Charlie Grenier was five over par throughout the front nine, and then shot even par on the back nine to account for a total of 77. Simon Quicken finished with a 79, while Marty Ryan wrapped up the top four Marblehead golfers on this historical day with an 80. Matt Mahan (84) and James Bickell (89) also competed in the state divisional sectionals for the locals. “This was a great win for the team,” said coach Bob Green. “My message to them was to embrace the moment, and they did. “Jacob Hershfield played great shooting a 75; Charlie Grenier rebounded in the back nine to get back to even par to help keep the team in contention for the title; Simon Quicken’s back was hurting, but he pushed on to secure a 79; and Marty Ryan double bogeyed the ninth hole
COURTESY PHOTO
The Marblehead High golfers hold the Division 2 North state sectional championship banner, while coach Bob Green clutches the trophy after winning the program’s first-ever state title at the Stow Acres Country Club on Oct. 24. They are, from left, Green, Matt Mahan, Simon Quicken, Charlie Grenier, James Bickell, Marty Ryan and Jacob Hershfield.
and triple bogeyed the 10th hole, but still shot an 80 (+8) to finish in the top four for us,” added Green. These Marblehead boys have since moved on to the Division 2 state championships on Oct. 30 at Brockton’s Thorny Lea after press deadline.
Girls soccer completes regular season The Marblehead High girls soccer team (9-8-1) lost to nonleague St. Mary’s of Lynn, 3-0 on Oct. 28. “We had a good first half, giving up just one goal with 45 seconds to go before halftime,
which was unfortunate,” said first-year coach Lisa Wales. Goalie Kate Burns made 11 saves, coming up big several times, to keep things close on the scoreboard,” Wales added, “and Kate Twomey did an exceptional job on one of St. Mary’s top players all game long.” Two days later, Masco then defeated the Magicians by the exact same score, 3-0. “Burns once again had a terrific game in net, making 14 saves against a team that is currently ranked first in Division 2,” said Wales. The Magicians got back on
the winning track with a 6-0 triumph over the Winthrop Vikings on Oct. 25, Senior Day. Goalie Rachael Albert only had to make three saves to record the shutout. The team’s leading scorer this fall Sadie Halpern paced the offensive attack against Winthrop. That was her 10 th goal this year. Senior Sofia Grubor played very well to account for one goal and two assists. Her classmates Cassidy Lubeck and Katie Pyne were able to get their first goals of the season. Sophie Robinson also chipped in with a goal. Sydney Ball, Ashley Mortensen and Halpern were credited with one assist apiece. Non-league Lynnfield took care of the Magicians the next day, 3-1. The Marblehead girls trailed early on, 2-0, before trimming the deficit in half just before halftime on a goal by Halpern, and it was assisted by Sofia Grubor. Burns ended up with three saves in net. “We came out strong in the second half, and controlled the play, but were unable to translate it into any goals,” said Wales. “Our team did not give up. They worked tirelessly to get back into the game. We just couldn’t convert on our opportunities. First-year player Ainsley McDonald continues to impress at the center-back position.”
As of Oct. 27, the Marblehead girls are ranked 20 th in the Division 2 power rankings. They will now be scrimmaging Hamilton-Wenham later today (Nov. 1, 4:30 p.m.) at Piper Field to stay sharp for the upcoming state tournament.
Volleyball team beats rival Swampscott to end regular season The Marblehead High volleyball team (7-11) lost to Danvers in three sets on Oct. 24. Deysha Amadis came up with eight kills, and Reese Friedman collected nine assists to lead the offense against the Falcons. On defense, Alyssa Gentile chipped in with 11 digs. Sydney Faris was close behind with nine. Two days later, the Magicians ended the season the right way with a close win over longtime neighboring rival Swampscott, 3-2. Greta Sachs and Sammy Walker were the leaders in kills with 10 and 7, respectively. Eva Burke also enjoyed a fine match with 28 assists and four aces. Megan Parkman came through with 20 digs to go along with two aces. The Marblehead girls are now getting ready for a play-in state tournament game as the 35th seed in Division 2, according to the Oct. 27 power rankings. There are 55 teams statewide in this division.
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Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 1, 2023 A11
PASSION AND PURPOSE
After three paralyzing accidents, Marblehead man changes lives of others BY LEIGH BLANDER It’s been an exciting few months for Thomas Smith of Marblehead, months he could not have imagined as he was recovering from three separate paralyzing accidents — two playing hockey and one car crash. He was even told by doctors that he would never walk again. But in September, he walked, with forearm crutches, down the aisle as he married the love of his life at Abbot Hall. And in October, he and his foundation donated $100,000 to the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. “The research will help restore hand function to people paralyzed from the neck down,” Smith told the Current. The Thomas E. Smith Foundation has donated $1.25 million to people around New England living with paralysis since it launched in 2019. Jake Thibeault is one of those people. As a student at Milton Academy, Thibeault was paralyzed in a hockey accident at age 18. “He broke his neck,” Smith said. “We did his whole home modification, working with a design team, an architect and contractors. We bought him an FES bike, too.” FES bikes are stationary bikes with a computer that supplies the electrical impulses for a patient who is undergoing therapy. “It made a tremendous tremendous difference just having Tom as a mentor,” Thibeault said. “And he helped me get equipment that will help
Jake Thibeault became paralyzed in a hockey accident and received a donation from the Thomas E. Smith Foundation to remodel his home and buy special exercise equipment.
But he never gave up, enduring grueling physical therapy and workouts. He can now walk using forearm crutches. “The paralysis is in my right leg,” he said. “By the grace of God, I made another one-in-amillion recovery.”
At their September wedding, Thomas Smith walked down the aisle to marry his bride, Rachael.
Thomas Smith, far right, with his wife, Rachael, are shown with former Bruin legend Zdeno Chára and his wife, Tatiana, at the recent Great Sports Legends Dinner, where Smith donated $100,000 for paralysis research.
me get closer to walking again. It was truly amazing.” Thibeault now serves on the foundation’s board.
Legends Dinner in New York City, where they delivered the $100,000 check to the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. “It was the largest singular paralysis fundraiser held anywhere in the U.S. in a single day,” Smith said.
Bruins partnership
Smith’s foundation partners with the Boston Bruins Foundation, raising money and awareness for the paralysis community. “That’s how we got hooked up with Zdeno Chára,” Smith said. Chára and Smith recently attended the Great Sports
Inspirational journey
Smith grew up playing hockey and hoped to go pro. Then, on Aug. 2, 2008, he was paralyzed in a hockey accident. “Doctors said I made a
one-in-a-million recovery,” he said. They cleared him to play again. He was injured a second time in October 2009. “The doctor said I had a better chance of winning the lottery five times in a row” than being reinjured, he said. Smith was paralyzed from the waist down and spent months in the hospital. Out of the hospital, Smith and his father were driving to a physical therapy appointment on Jan. 11, 2010 when their car was struck by a distracted driver at Bell Circle in Revere. “I didn’t walk for almost three years,” Smith said.
Passion and purpose
Smith’s foundation has grown well beyond anything he ever could have imagined, he said. “I tell people the first 20 years of my life was all hockey,” he said. “When that got ripped away, I had to find my purpose.” Smith continued, “The first 20 years, I lived with a passion and the last 14 years I have lived with a purpose… to do something greater than myself and make a global impact on something we need to find a cure for, which is paralysis.” To learn more about the Thomas E. Smith Foundation, visit thomasesmithfoundation.org.
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A12 Wednesday, November 1, 2023 Marblehead Current
STILL SEARCHING
Finding Marblehead’s next building commissioner proves difficult
BY WILLIAM J. DOWD
Months after John Albright departed the building commissioner post, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer says Marblehead continues to struggle to fill the vacant position permanently. Albright left April 30 after failing to pass three statemandated exams within the allotted time frame, despite receiving extensions due to COVID-19 disruptions. The town appointed interim commissioner Bob Ives, but finding a qualified permanent replacement remains an elusive goal, one mandated under state law. “It’s been a challenge trying to identify a candidate that meets the credential requirements and has the right experience,” Kezer said. “We’ve been advertising and recruiting for months but
CURRENT PHOTO / WILLIAM J. DOWD
The Marblehead Building Department operates out of the Mary Alley Municipal Building on Widger Road.
the candidate pool is very small.” There is no impact right now on wait times right now, according to Kezer. In Massachusetts, municipal building commissioners must be certified inspectors and pass additional exams within one year of appointment. This specialized skill set has hindered Kezer’s search to replace Albright. “The licensing requirements make it a hard position to fill.
We’re competing with the private sector that can pay commissioners much more,” Kezer told the Marblehead Current. “It ebbs and flows with the economy, and right now demand exceeds the number of qualified people able to fill openings.” Ives previously served as Marblehead’s commissioner from the early 2000s until retiring in 2016. He agreed to
come out of retirement to help fill the vacancy temporarily. “I’m glad Bob Ives stepped up to provide us continuity,” Kezer said. “But it’s not a permanent solution and we need to find the right person to take on this important role.” As head of the town’s Building Department, Marblehead’s commissioner leads a team of about seven people responsible for enforcing the state building
code and the town’s zoning bylaws. This involves thoroughly examining building plans, issuing permits, conducting inspections and ensuring compliance with various laws and regulations related to public safety and accessibility. Kezer called it a “critically important position” for Marblehead. The town has solicited applications broadly but received scant interest in the $86,654 to $112,651 salaried job. Kezer has consulted other municipal leaders and few have managed to fill commissioner vacancies. “The pool of available candidates is very small right now and everybody’s looking for them,” Kezer said. “We’ll keep trying but I’m concerned we may need to explore hiring a consultant or firm if this remains unfilled.”
NEWS IN BRIEF The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to News in Brief. Send yours to wdowd@ marbleheadnews.org.
‘As-needed’ parking ban approved The Select Board has voted to implement an “as needed” parking ban during snow emergencies. During a declared snow emergency, on-street parking will be prohibited starting at midnight the day of the expected storm through 7 a.m. If a snow emergency lasts more than one day, the parking ban will be in effect each night of the emergency. Vehicles parked on
Letters
From P. A7 you to consider what your children will remember about the way this community responded to this moment in history. A Marblehead educator (Editors’ note: The Current has granted this letter writer’s request for anonymity based on a legitimate fear of professional consequences. We have verified the sender’s identity.)
streets in violation of the ban are subject to ticketing and towing. The town will notify residents of declared snow emergencies through its website, CodeRED phone alerts, social media, local cable TV and other available means.
COVID-19 clinics scheduled across area Area health departments have scheduled COVID-19 vaccination clinics throughout November and into December to provide Moderna’s 20232024 formula vaccine. Clinics will take place in Marblehead, Danvers,
Beverly, Salem and Peabody. The first clinic is set for 9-11 a.m. Nov. 7 at the Marblehead Senior Center, 10 Humphrey St. Further clinics are scheduled for: » 3-5:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Danvers Council on Aging, 25 Stone St. » 2:30-5 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Beverly Senior Center, 90 Colon St. » 1-3 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Salem Community Life Center, 401 Bridge St. » 1:30-4 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Peabody Council on Aging, 79 Central St. The clinics are open
BOH and related comments To the editor: First, I’d like to commend the Health Board members and our Health Director for all their efforts and contributions to the BOH mission (much of it on their own time and expense). It is understandable that their dedication and emotional commitment can result in some spirited interactions that may “not
LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD CONSERVATION COMMISSION The Marblehead Conservation Commission will hold a VIRTUAL (zoom) public hearing beginning at or after 7:00 PM on November 9, 2023 on an application filed by Michael Kaczynski (owner) for maintenance and repairs of an existing masonry retaining wall at 297 Ocean Avenue (Map 912, Parcel 24a) in an area subject to the Wetlands Protection Act and the Marblehead Wetlands Protection Bylaw. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Superseding Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c.30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: engineers@marblehead.org For any questions, please call (781) 631-1529. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the hearing. The link to the agenda is: https://www.marblehead.org/conservation-commission Chairman Marblehead Conservation Commission DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WATERWAYS REGULATION PROGRAM Second Notice of License Application pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 91 Waterways Application No. 23-WW01-0009-APP Applicant: James L. III and Meredith Tedford Project Location: 10 Harvard Street, Marblehead, Essex County Notification Date: October 25, 2023 Public Comments Deadline: November 24, 2023 Public Notice is hereby given of the Chapter 91 License Application by James L. III and Meredith Tedford for authorization to construct and maintain a wooden pier, gangway and floating dock and for after-the-fact authorization for filling of tidelands and installation of a seawall for shoreline stabilization in filled and flowed tidelands of Marblehead Harbor, Marblehead, Essex County. The proposed project has been determined to be a Water-Dependent Use project. The Department will consider all written comments on this License application received by November 24, 2023 (Public Comments Deadline). Failure of any aggrieved person or group of ten (10) citizens or more to submit written comments to the Waterways Regulation Program by the Public Comments Deadline will result in the waiver of any right to an adjudicatory hearing in accordance with 310 CMR 9.13(4)(c). The group of citizens must include at least five (5) citizens who are residents of the municipality in which the proposed project is located. A public hearing may be held upon request by the Municipal Official. Project plans and documents for the application are on file for public viewing electronically at: https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/EEA/PublicApp/ (enter 23-WW01-0009-APP in the Search Page in the “Record ID” field). If you need assistance, please contact alice.doyle@mass.gov or if you do not have access to a computer, please leave a voicemail at (617) 292-5929 and you will be contacted with information on alternative options. It is recommended that documents and correspondence be filed electronically with the email address specified above when possible; alternatively, comments may be mailed to Alice Doyle at MassDEP Waterways Regulation Program, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02114.
to individuals 12 and older who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past two months. Appointments can be made online via a link and QR code provided by health departments. Those needing assistance can call the Peabody Health Department at 978-538-5926. The clinics aim to improve regional vaccination rates and provide residents easy access to the updated COVID-19 boosters before winter. They are sponsored by the health departments of Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott.
look good” but as long as some positive results are affected, I say carry on folks, with vigor! For this reason, also I concur with the suggestion that maybe two more members should be added to the current board to provide a better and broader balance. To the reported comments and suggestions about Narcan and fentanyl: it is praiseworthy we have the various means and methods available to readily save lives. But the fact that there’s a need is disturbing. The question we should be asking is, is there a deficiency in our town-wide prevention and educational efforts, especially within our school systems’ health and wellness curricula? (I was surprised to discover that there is no established liaison between the BOH and our School Department in this very critical area relating to our Marblehead youth.) The planned presentation by MHS’ student counselor, Gina Hart, at November’s BOH meeting may be a
Mariner marks grand opening with ribbon cutting
The Mariner Marblehead, a new senior living community, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting on Friday, Oct. 28. The facility offers independent living, assisted living and memory care. “We want the residents to say, ‘I live at The Mariner’ and be boastful about it. We want their friends to be jealous,” said Heather Cairns, Mariner president and fourth from the left in the photo.
welcome step forward in this direction. On a related topic and from a national perspective, all American citizens should be aware that an estimated 75% of people ages 17-to-24 are ineligible to serve in the military, according to a Defense Department study. Quotas in all the armed services (with the exception of the Marines) have not been met for several years. The recorded statistics for recruitment ineligibility include: poor education, substandard physical fitness, substance abuse, criminal records and generally poor health (specifically, obesity). On a local level, responsibility for deficiencies and corrective actions and solutions exist within the realm of all our Marblehead residents, parents and certainly the departments mentioned above So who and how will this country be defended? R.A. Erbetta Chestnut Street
LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD CONSERVATION COMMISSION A public hearing will be held by the Town of Marblehead Conservation Commission on November 9 at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of adopting a tree replacement regulation. The hearingwill be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Superseding Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c.30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place. Instructions to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the hearing agenda at least 48-hours prior to the hearing. The link to the agenda is: https://www.marblehead.org/node/285/ agenda/2023 At this hearing, the Town of Marblehead Conservation Commission will take public comment on the adoption of the regulation pursuant to Town of Marblehead Bylaw Section 194-8. A copy of the proposed regulation is on file with the Town Clerk at Abbott Hall, 188 Washington Street, Marblehead and may be reviewed during Town Hall business hours. Reasonable accommodation and audio-visual aids and services will be available upon request. For any questions, please call (781) 631-1529. David VanHoven, Chairman Marblehead Conservation Commission
CURRENT PHOTO / WILLIAM J. DOWD
Teach that all human beings are precious To the editor: Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names/words will never hurt me! Obviously, we know that words will hurt us. We had five children charged with antisemitic, racist and homophobic words. We had the BLM flag removed and now back up. I assume we have cameras, and that person should have a consequence. Michelle Cresta’s email sent home hurt stakeholders’ belief that ALL victims of war should be supported by ALL of us. Words can cause so much grief, which turn to bullying. Parents/grandparents and guardians, please sit your kiddos down and talk about teasing and bullying because it happens often. Don’t just sit and think your child is not doing it. They may be! We have many awesome counselors
who work each and every day to work it through with their students. Finally, those who are being bullied just can’t take it anymore, and their only avenue is to file a violation. We have vulnerable students in our schools that just want the feeling of belonging and acceptance. Taking flags down will just prove to them that they are NOT supported. Flags are a reminder we support those in the gay community, the Black community, the autistic community. We could add flags of different countries to use as school projects. We take down these flags, what is next? Certain books being removed from our libraries? Our country and our schools are a melting pot of ALL. Let’s teach our children and our community that ALL human beings are precious. Justice and liberty for ALL. Mary McCarriston Pinecliff Drive
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Essex Probate and Family Court 36 Federal StreetSalem, MA 01970(978) 744-1020 Docket No. ES23P2166EA Estate of: Lavinia Murphy Date of Death: 06/14/2023 CITATION ON PETITIONFOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Adjudication of Intestacy and Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Sabrinia Velandry of Marblehead, MA, requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that Sabrina Velandry of Marblehead, MA, be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 11/24/2023. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affidavit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, Hon. Frances M. Giordano, First Justice of this Court. Date: October 20, 2023 Pamela A. Casey O’Brien Register of Probate
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LYNCH/VAN OTTERLOO YMCA
Children’s Island revitalization begins SUBMITTED BY LVO BOARD MEMBER PHIL GLOUDEMANS The first phase of a twopart, $1.3-million initial revitalization plan for Children’s Island, the Lynch/van Otterloo Y-owned day camp, has begun this fall with the site work and foundations for three new buildings scheduled for completion by next summer, announced Brian Flynn, Lynch/van Otterloo Y Executive Director. The new facilities include two multi-stall restrooms located at either end of the island, and a cabin designated specifically for the 5/6-year-old “seal pups,” the youngest campers on the 25- acre island located in Salem Sound. According to Scott Faulkner of Groom Construction, the project’s general contractor, the crew will return to the
A rendering of plans for new structures on Children’s Island
island in the spring to frame and finish the three new buildings before the start of the 2024 camp season. Jeff Tucker of Tucker Architecture in Marblehead, Raffaele Construction Corp. of Swampscott and Lynn’s EZ Landscaping round out the team. Scott Patrowicz of Patrowicz Land Development in Salem served as site engineer and represented the Lynch/van Otterloo Y
in negotiations with the Salem Conservation Commission. The majority of the first-phase funding was generated through local, private donations, with additional support from the YMCA of the North Shore Capital Investment Fund. “This is the first step of an overall, multi-phased master plan and series of capital expenditures that will ultimately address the island’s infrastructure
needs, erosion challenges, building renovation and new construction requirements, ensuring a bright future for the ‘unplugged’ haven for Y summer campers,” said Flynn, noting that the island has hosted summer camp for North Shore youth ages 5-15 since 1955. “The camp provides a rare opportunity for young people to disconnect from their screens and reconnect with nature, while enhancing their
social skills, building selfconfidence and learning about the environment.” According to Flynn, funding for the subsequent, more extensive components of the Children’s Island master plan will require a substantial financial commitment by the local community and any available state support. Children’s Island is wholly owned by the Lynch/van Otterloo Y. More than 1,200 campers attended Children’s Island Day Camp this past summer, many of whom were supported by over $100,000 in financial aid generated by the fundraising efforts of the Y, ensuring that every child can experience a magical summer on the stunning and rustic but ecologically-vulnerable island. With weekly themed programs, and Science, Technology, Engineering,
Arts and Math (STEAM) activities, Children’s Island offers a day camp experience unparalleled on the North Shore. The ocean setting — just one mile from Marblehead Harbor — offers opportunities to swim, snorkel and kayak, and while on the island campers can dip in a salt water pool, participate in sports and enjoy arts and crafts in a fully stocked art barn. A specialized Ranger Camp, focused on outdoor management skills — including fort building, knot tying, rock climbing, orienteering, archery and team building — rounds out CIDC’s distinctive offerings. “Children’s Island truly reflects the Y’s mission to support healthy living and youth development,” said Flynn. “The camp is a treasure and community asset absolutely worth preserving.”
Elderly man struck by vehicle, suffers serious injuries BY WILLIAM J. DOWD An 80-year-old man was rushed to the hospital after being struck by a vehicle on Pleasant Street on Friday evening, Oct. 27, according to Police Chief Dennis King. “The person has serious injuries and has been transported from the scene,” King told the Marblehead
Current shortly after the incident, while responders were still on scene. The incident happened around 6 p.m. near the intersection of Pleasant and Smith streets. On Oct. 30, King declined to comment on the man’s condition or provide an update on what he said was still an active investigation.
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Bystanders watch as first responders help an elderly man struck by a vehicle on Pleasant Street Friday evening.
POLICE LOG
Officers respond to Oktoberfest party, fraud complaints Excerpts from the Marblehead police log Oct. 18-23. Consistent with state law, Marblehead Police have adopted a policy of not providing media outlets reports related to incidents involving domestic violence, juveniles and matters that remain under investigation.
Oct. 18
1:41 a.m. — Officer Nick Fratini met with a resident at the police station. The resident reported being harassed by her upstairs neighbor for several months and installed security cameras and noticed a bicycle placed in front of one camera under the porch. She suspects her neighbor put it there to block the camera. The officer advised the reporting neighbor to apply for a harassment protection order.
Oct. 19
8:29 a.m. — Officer Doug Mills responded to a noise complaint at Abbot View Lane. The reporting parties complained of loud music coming from their neighbor at Ocean Avenue. Mills heard loud music coming from the neighbor’s backyard. Mills spoke to the neighbor who had already turned off the music. The neighbor said the music was for her kids playing outside. Mills suggested keeping the volume lower in the future. 4:16 p.m. — Officer Jason McDonald responded to an ongoing neighbor dispute at Pond Street. A resident showed McDonald a video of her neighbor’s daughter allegedly moving the resident’s bicycle from under the porch. The front wheel fell off in the process. McDonald observed the bike to be in poor condition. He put the
LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD CONSERVATION COMMISSION The Marblehead Conservation Commission will hold a VIRTUAL (zoom) public hearing beginning at or after 7:00 PM on November 9, 2023 on an application filed by Scott Patrowicz, P.E., Patrowicz Land Development Engineering (applicant) on behalf of Dwight & Julie Groom (owner) for a proposed new single-family house, site work/landscaping at 29 Pinecliff Drive (Map 76, Parcel 8A) in an area subject to the Wetlands Protection Act and the Marblehead Wetlands Protection Bylaw. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Superseding Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c.30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: engineers@marblehead.org For any questions, please call (781) 631-1529. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the hearing. The link to the agenda is: https://www.marblehead.org/conservation-commission Chairman Marblehead Conservation Commission
wheel back on and advised the neighbor to apply for a harassment protection order if needed.
Oct. 20
9:15 a.m. — Officer Doug Mills conducted traffic enforcement on West Shore Drive in the area of Dodge Road. He performed two motor vehicle stops for speeding. Traffic flow was light to moderate. 11:25 a.m. — Officer
Doug Mills took a report from a Swampscott resident regarding damage to her vehicle the previous night in the area of Pond and Elm streets around 9:30 p.m. The reporting party heard a pop while driving but was unsure of the cause. She noticed damage to her passenger mirror and front right fender the next morning. Mills advised he would reach out if someone reported any damage.
INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE Docket No. Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Essex Division Estate of: Joan VL Campagne Also Known As: Johanna H van Lookeren Campagne Date of Death: June 9, 2023 To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Henriette E Campagne of Marblehead, MA a Will has been admitted to informal probate. Henriette E Campagne of Marblehead, MA has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond. The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any, can be obtained from the Petitioner.
Legal Notice Site Plan Approval Public Hearing Marblehead Planning Board The Marblehead Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the application of Jerome & Holly O’Neill for a site plan approval special permit for the construction of a new single-family structure to replace an existing single-family structure located at 84 Harbor Ave. within a Shoreline Expanded Single Residence District. This public hearing will be held under Section 200 -37 of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 7:30 p.m., and can be attended either in person at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington Street, in the select board’s meeting room, or remotely on Zoom. Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, the public can listen and/or view this meeting while in progress via the remote participation platform Zoom through this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87644226061?pwd=SEZveFgveGdqbEpyYVh5SUNONUhyQT09 or Dial in +1 646 558 8656, US Meeting ID: 876 4422 6061, Passcode: 826686. Project materials available for download at Town of Marblehead website planning board page https://www.marblehead.org/planning-board under the date of meeting. Interested persons may attend the meeting or submit comment in writing electronically and send to lyonsl@marblehead.org or rebeccac@marblehead.org and the comments will be read aloud and entered into the record. Robert Schaeffner, Chairman
Oct. 21
2 p.m. — Officer Doug Mills took an unemployment fraud report by phone. The reporting party said they received letters that her state taxes were intercepted related to a fraudulent unemployment claim. The reporting party filed a report with the unemployment office. Mills advised her to contact credit bureaus and document the identity
fraud. 5:28 p.m. — Officers Andrew DiMare and Michael Farewell responded to a loud party complaint at Weston Road. The initial response found nothing, but the caller called back, saying a juvenile from Weston Road threatened him. DiMare spoke to the homeowner who said she was hosting an Octoberfestthemed party. The homeowner agreed to move the party inside.
HELP WANTED!
Marblehead Children’s Center is looking to hire Infant/ Toddler and Preschool teachers for part and full time positions. MCC’s philosophy is that children learn best through play. We are seeking enthusiastic, dedicated professionals who will engage in and uphold our mission. We provide a collaborative and supportive environment where teachers have opportunities to develop their skills through education and training. We’re proud of the positive impact MCC continues to have on children, families and our community. Please contact us at 781-631-1954 for more info about salary + benefits (including free childcare). Legal Notice Site Plan Approval Public Hearing Marblehead Planning Board The Marblehead Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the application of Suzanne lovanna, for a site plan approval special permit for the construction of a new detached garage to replace an existing detached garage as an accessory to an existing single-family structure located at 3 Mooring Road within a Shoreline Expanded Single Residence District. This public hearing will be held under Section 200 -37 of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw on Tuesday November 14, 2023 at 7:30 pm and can be attended either in person at Abbot Hall 188 Washington Street in the select board’s meeting room or remotely on zoom. Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18 the public can listen and or view this meetjng while in progress via the remote participation platform Zoom, through this link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87644226061?pwd=SEZveFgveGdgbEpyYVh5SUNONUhyQT09 or Dial in +1 646 558 8656 US Meeting ID: 876 4422 6061, Passcode: 826686 project materials available for download at town of Marblehead website planning board page https://www.marblehead.org/planning-board under the date of meeting. Interested persons may attend the meeting or submit comment in writing electronically and send to lyonsl@marblehead.org or rebeccac@marblehead.org and the comments, will be read aloud and entered into the record. Robert Schaeffner Chairman
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CURRENT EVENTS
Marblehead’s best bets Nov. 1-8 Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. —Leigh Blander
Rock the Arts Thursday, Nov. 2, 7-10 p.m.
Support performing arts programs at Marblehead High School at the Rock the Arts gala at the King Hooper mansion. The evening will feature live music, raffles, appetizers and desserts.
Taste of the Town
Rotary Club of Marblehead 5K for Mental Health
Friday, Nov. 3, 7-10 p.m.
The Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Taste of the Town event at the Corinthian Yacht Club. Enjoy samples from local restaurants, breweries and spirit distillers. For more info, visit MarbleheadChamber.org.
Sunday, Nov. 5, 11 a.m.
Join the Rotary Club of Marblehead for a 5K to fund Inner Explorer, a mindfulness program in Marblehead schools. The race will start and finish at the Boston Yacht Club. Afterwards, runners can enjoy a hot dog and some chowder. Register at https:// loom.ly/tvRgNVY.
Unveiling & artist’s reception Wangari Fahari Trio at Me&Thee Friday, Nov. 3, 8 p.m.
The contemporary African music of the Wangari Fahari Trio comes to the Me&Thee, 28 Mugford St. Wangari is a Kenyan singer, writer and activist who was mentored by Grammy awardwinning South African singer Miriam Makeba and civil rights activist Joan Baez. Details and tickets at Meandthee.org.
Wed., Nov. 8, 5:30-7 p.m.
Artist Mark Shasha will present his original painting to benefit the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor’s Holiday Pops concert at a reception in his honor at the Masons Philanthropic Lodge, 62 Pleasant St. The reception is free and open to the public. The painting will be raffled at the Holiday Pops Concert on Dec. 9. Notecards featuring the artwork and raffle tickets to win the painting will be available at the artist’s reception and Arnould Gallery.
HisToury in Marblehead and Swampscott Sunday, Nov. 5, 1-5 p.m.
HisTOURy tours will explore Marblehead and Swampscott to learn about the iconic shinglestyle homes popular as beach retreats for Boston’s turn-of-the-century wealthy. From the comfort of a charter bus, you can see and discuss about 25 of these homes, with several interior stops. The bus departs from the Marblehead area. Exact location details coming soon. Learn more at Histoury.org.
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
MacRae’s Sustainable Goods offers products that are ‘safe for people and the planet’ BY MELISSA STACEY
time and the energy to focus on something that will.”
The following is an interview with Jennifer Lewis, owner of MacRae’s Sustainable Goods, conducted by Discover Marblehead. To learn more, stop by the store at 108 Washington St. in or go to macraes-goods. com. Tell us about MacRae’s Sustainable Goods and why you started it. MacRae’s offers products to our community that are safe for people and the planet. We work hard to find vendors who carry this goal from the beginning to the end of life of their products. The items we carry in the store include products for personal care, home, pets, cleaning, laundry and much more. We’re particularly proud to offer
What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? Crocker Park feels magical every time I go to it. I love seeing it at different times of the day as it has a different personality at each time. closed-loop refillable cleaning and personal care goods. Closed loop means the bulk containers we receive are returned to the vendor to be cleaned out and refilled so nothing is thrown away in the process. What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? The best business advice I’ve received was also really great life advice: “When you let go of something that isn’t serving you, it gives you the
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? I love to write poetry. 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.
COURTESY PHOTO
Jennifer Lewis, owner of MacRae’s Sustainable Goods in Marblehead, started her business to provide environmentally friendly products to the community.
FALL FEST
Autumn fun at the Epstein Hillel School At the Epstein Hillel School recently, families and community partners came together for the annual fall festival. The event featured food, crafts, games, face painting, bounce houses, touch-a-truck, charitable giving opportunities and a sensory tent.
COURTESY PHOTOS Sunny Maryansky, of Salem, spread a positive message at the Epstein Hillel School fall fest.
Eli Bacon (left to right) Bella Bacon and Leah Bruner, all of Swampscott, enjoyed the Epstein Hillel School fall fest.
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Headlight
Shining a light on the news you care about!
Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community 2023 - 2024 Issue
www.mhsheadlight.com
From Fundraising to Farming -- How Tyler Earp Made the Greenhouse Happen Grey Collins, Sophomore
Tyler Earp, founder of the MHS greenhouse. Over the last few weeks, you might have caught a glimpse out of your classroom window of a new 17 by 22 ft concrete foundation outside of the A-wing. This foundation was dug and poured two weeks ago, but the real foundation of this project has been slowly built by Eagle Scout Tyler Earp for almost three years. “I started this project in February of my Freshman year, and it will be finished this November,” he said. He talked about his initial passion for gardening that made him want to start this project. “As a young kid I would always love to go to my Grandfather’s garden, and I still do that today,” he said.“That's kinda why I wanted to start this project.” Tyler started his journey by talking to Mr Bauer and laying out his plans. He spent the next eight months of his project planning and getting approval from the School Committee, his scout troop, and his scout district advancement committee. “I had to create a project plan,” said Earp, “and then I presented it to the School Committee and got their approval, and then I was able to implement my plan.” After getting approval, Tyler set up a website and began the publicity and fundraising portion of his project. He solicited donations from the community through social media and email blasts, organized a successful
silent auction at the Landing, and received two hefty grants from Friends of Marblehead Public Schools and the MHS PCO totaling $15,000. An anonymous Marbleheader also donated $11,000 through a challenge grant. Over a period of about 18 months, he raised about $78,000 in cash donations, and about $22,000 in in-kind donations. This fall, it was finally time for Tyler to hang up his business suit and get shoveling. The groundbreaking for the greenhouse was in mid September, and the foundation was poured soon after. “(I was) glad to see a couple years worth of work finally come to fruition,” said Earp. “It was good to see everything come together and to actually begin to dig.” The greenhouse is expected to be finished in November. Tyler hopes that the greenhouse will be utilized for different classes, such as Biology, Cooking, English, and Art. Biology classes could use the space to teach lessons about plant cells, asexual reproduction, and plant genetics. Cooking classes could teach students how to prepare the foods grown in the greenhouse. Art classes and English classes could also use the greenhouse for still life drawing and nature writing. “Potatoes, fruits, vegetables, and herbs are all great things,” said Earp, on his future vision for the greenhouse. “And then you have some fun things like citrus trees…and maybe some tropical plants and carnivorous plants.” Tyler plans to stay involved with the project during his remaining time at the high school. “My senior year I will make sure that everything runs smoothly, and make sure people know what to do for ongoing years.” Tyler wants to make sure that the greenhouse functions well for the next generation of students. Throughout his time at the high school, Tyler has slowly built a legacy that will benefit students for years to come.
First A Capella Performances Izzy Scogland, Sophomore This past Saturday, the Marblehead High School a capella groups, Jewel Tones and Luminescence, were given the opportunity to perform at North Reading’s Haunted Playground. While the Haunted Playground happens outside most years, the event was moved indoors due to
the bad weather. The a capella groups arrived at the event at approximately 5:45 p.m. They were given time to socialize until 6:45, when they had to start warming up for their performances at 7:20. North Reading did a fantastic job accommodating for the weather, and it was so nice to meet their
November 2, 2023
wonderful directors and students. Their a capella group, Notorious, did a wonderful job! As a first-year member of Luminescence (Lumi), I have never experienced the Haunted Playground, but the event was still super fun for me. The performance was Luminescence's and the Jewel Tones’ first actual performance of the year, and both groups did an excellent job. Being able to wear the Lumi uniform (a silver sequined outfit with a black top or bottoms) for the first time with everyone else
gave me a unique feeling of community and helped create the feeling of being a team. First performances have a way of determining the mindset of the group going forward. With how well both groups did, it excited me to see how much we can improve before ICHSA (a state-wide a capella competition in February) and other upcoming events. It raised my confidence in how far we’ll be able to go this year. Make sure to support upcoming a capella events, like Sing Free or Die Hard, on November 21!
MHS A Capella at North Reading’s Haunted Playground.
Barktober Fest 2023 Rachael Albert, Senior, Assistant Editor Delicious food, live music, and dogs. Lots and lots of dogs. That’s what you're signing up for when you decide to attend Sweet Paws Rescue’s annual Barktober Fest held at Spencer-PeirceLittle Farm. Sweet Paws Rescue is a wonderful Northshore-based organization that rescues dogs and cats, the majority of which are from the South, but more and more animals here in Massachusetts are being surrendered or abandoned every year. The appropriately named event is a great way to support a good cause while having tons of fun, and all the money that is made from selling tickets is a direct donation to Sweet Paws. The 8th annual Barktober Fest was just celebrated and was amazing, though a bit less picture-perfect than in the past due to it being in the middle of a Nor'Easter. However, it was a rain-or-shine event, and plenty of people huddled under the tents that were set up. And I must admit, seeing all the dogs in their adorable little raincoats made it almost worth it. Sweet Paws Rescue animals come in all different shapes and sizes, and from a pair of great danes to a puppy in a wheelchair with a license plate that reads “Baby Steven,” there are so many friendly and happy pups to pet and play with. If hanging out with dogs isn't entertaining enough for you, there are also local food and drink businesses,
other animal organizations, live music, a dog agility course, and so much more. Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm itself is also a gorgeous venue, and, when it's not raining, the surrounding trees are vibrant wearing their autumnal leaves, and you are able to see the farm's various animals, including a really fat pig. Overall, Barktober Fest is just a wonderful event for a wonderful cause and you should definitely check it out. Barktober Fest is held every year in mid-late October, so keep an eye out for when the next one is. Sweet Paws also has various other events throughout the year, so if you want to keep up to date you can go to their website or find them on Facebook or Instagram under the username “Sweet Paws Rescue.“ They are also always looking for volunteers, so if you are interested in fostering or adopting cats or dogs, please check them out. There are also many other ways to support them, like going to events like Barktober Fest, donating, or simply spreading their message. They save people, one dog at a time.
Headlight Staff 2023-2024 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Ila Bumagin and Mona Gelfgatt
ASSISTANT EDITORS: Benji Boyd, Rachael Albert
TECHNOLOGY EDITOR: Kate Twomey
REPORTERS: John Bender, Grey Collins, Tucker Crane, Aislin Freedman, Samuel Jendrysik, Anya Kane, Nina Lees, Luke Menslage, Peter Sullivan, Livia Weiss, Benjamin Zaltsman FACULTY ADVISOR: Thomas Higgins
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CUZNER IN NATURE
Rare sighting of a short-eared owl BY RICK CUZNER I captured this image of a shorteared owl a while back at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. I don’t come across too many of these owls in my travels. When I heard one was in the area, I went on a mission to find it. I hiked in about 3 1/2 miles on a dirt road that had been closed to vehicles because of excessive ice and erosion. The reward was certainly worth it. I spent about an hour watching the owl hunt in an open field, landing in very close proximity to the road several times. The short-eared owl is an endangered species in Massachusetts, with only 20-25 breeding pairs remaining in the
state. It nests and roosts on the ground in coastal grasslands and heathlands. This medium-sized owl has brown plumage streaked with buffy white. It is most active during daytime hours. The biggest threat facing the short-eared owl is habitat loss as its breeding areas are developed. Females lay eggs in April and the young fledge after two weeks. The owls feed mainly on meadow voles. Some migrate south in late summer while others from farther north winter in Massachusetts. The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer Rick Cuzner. For the past 15 years, he has taken thousands of nature photographs that capture the wild animals in Massachusetts.
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Embrace a New Season at The Mariner Marblehead!
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