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23 seats up for grabs
The June 11 town election will see 23 seats across a dozen different boards, commissions and committees up for grabs. These include the following:
— Select Board: Five seats
— Board of Assessors: One seat (three-year term)
— School Committee: One seat (three-year term)
— Board of Health: One seat (three-year term)
— Moderator: One seat (one-year term)
— Cemetery Commission: One seat (three-year term)
— Housing Authority: One seat (five-year term)
— Trustees of Abbot Public Library: Two seats (three-year terms)
— Planning Board: Two seats (three-year terms)
— Recreation and Park Commission: Five seats (one-year terms)
— Water and Sewer Commission: One seat (three-year term)
— Marblehead Municipal Light Commission: Two seats (three-year terms)
Here is a list of those who had pulled papers as of Friday, April 5:
— Town moderator: Incumbent Jack Attridge.
— Select Board: Dan Albert and incumbents Erin Noonan, Moses Grader, Alexa Singer and Bret Murray.
— Cemetery Commission: Incumbent Janet Merrill
— School Committee: John G. DiPiano and incumbent Alfred Williams. DiPiano subsequently announced on social media that he would not be seeking a seat on the board after all, however.
— Library Board of Trustees: David F. Ross Jr. and John G. Williams, both incumbents.
— Light Commission: Incumbent Adam Robert Smith.
— Board of Health: Dr. Thomas A. Massaro.
— Planning Board: Incumbents Andrew Christensen and Barton Hyte.
— Recreation and Parks Commission: Linda Rice Collins, Shelly Bedrossian, Rossana Ferrante and Karin Ernst, all incumbents.
Candidates must submit a written request and obtain 50 signatures from registered Marblehead voters by April 22 at 5 p.m. To learn more, visit: tinyurl.com/mr3pwm78
To register to vote or change party enrollment, complete a voter registration form in person, by mail or online at RegisterToVoteMA.com.
Candidates’ Night on May 21
The Marblehead League of Women Voters will hold its annual Candidates’ Night on Tuesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. in the Marblehead High library. This forum allows voters to meet and learn about the candidates running for office.
Festival of the Arts calls for art
The Festival of the Arts is calling for art entries now through June 14 at 10 p.m. Eligible artists residing, working or belonging to an art association in Essex County can submit their original artwork for juried exhibits. Separate categories are available for youth and student art open to Marblehead residents or non-residents attending school or classes in Marblehead. Awards will be distributed in each category on July 3 at 6 p.m. at Abbot Hall. Artists are invited to enter across multiple categories. Visit tinyurl.com/5e5p4bt8 to learn more.
Hazard mitigation plan adopted for FEMA grants
The Select Board unanimously adopted the town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, ensuring the town remains eligible for certain FEMA grants. The plan, developed by town staff and a consultant, addresses various threats such as coastal flooding, hurricanes, extreme temperatures and wildfires.
Tribe Talk to address teen antisemitism
The JCC in Marblehead will host “Tribe Talk,” an event addressing antisemitism among teens, on April 28, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. The event is open to students in grades eight through 12, as well as their parents and grandparents. Interested participants can RSVP at tinyurl.com/tribetalkns.
Friends of COA to host annual auction
The Friends of the Marblehead Council on Aging will hold its annual auction on April 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the Landing Restaurant. The event will feature a variety of items, services and events to bid on, with proceeds supporting COA services and programs. Reservations are strongly encouraged by calling 781-639-1266.
Cultural Council seeks public’s input
The Marblehead Cultural Council is seeking public input through a survey to help establish funding priorities for arts, culture, applied sciences and history projects in 2025. The survey results will guide the council in determining the most important initiatives for the town’s residents. Interested individuals can complete the survey via the QR code here.
Pride celebration set for June 1
The Select Board unanimously approved the use of Abbot Hall for a Pride event on June 1, with a rain date of June 2. The event, organized by the Marblehead Pride Committee, will take place at 3 p.m.
April 28 proclaimed as Arbor Day
The Select Board proclaimed April 28 as Arbor Day in the town. The proclamation aims to promote community tree planting and care, with the goal of securing the Tree City USA designation once again.
Colonial Craft Fair
The Marblehead Museum will hold its first Colonial Craft Fair on Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visitors can stroll through the gardens of the Jeremiah Lee Mansion and meet skilled artisans and historic reenactors as they demonstrate crafts from 300 years ago.
Visitors can learn how shoes were made by a master shoemaker, try their hand at copperplate printing, watch a cook prepare Colonial dishes and more.
Tickets for museum members are $10 per person or $25 per family, and tickets for the public are $15 per person or $40 per family. Children 3 and under are free. All tickets can be purchased at the door.
Town signs for Fourth of July Fireworks
The Select Board unanimously approved a $50,000 contract with Atlas PyroVision Entertainment Group Inc. to produce the town’s Independence Day fireworks display. The annual show is funded by donations.
ClearGov is live
Residents now have online access to more of the town’s financial information via the ClearGov Transparency Center at bit.ly/3Oi07pF. It’s part of the town’s new cloud-based financial software system.
