The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to wdowd@marbleheadnews.org.
Select Board contest shaping up
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 12:
— Select Board: Dan Albert, David Harris and Daniel Fox, and incumbents Erin Noonan, Moses Grader, Alexa Singer and Bret Murray.
— Town moderator: Incumbent Jack Attridge.
— 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, however.
— Library Board of Trustees: David F. Ross Jr. and John G. Williams, both incumbents.
— Light Commission: Incumbents Adam Robert Smith and Simon Frechette.
— 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, Karin Ernst and Matthew Martin, 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.
Local tenor reaches semifinals in international competition
Marblehead tenor Matthew Arnold, also the music director at Star of the Sea Church, advanced to the semifinals of the Lauritz Melchior International Singing Competition in Denmark last week. Although he did not proceed to the finals, Arnold remained positive, stating on Facebook, “To be considered one of the top 10 young Wagnerian singers in the world is a tremendous accomplishment and I look forward to all the opportunities and journeys that await me in the future.”
20 apply for charter review committee
Marblehead is performing its first formal charter review in its 370-year history, aiming to streamline government operations. To achieve this, the Select Board is in the process of appointing a charter committee, with plans to select nine members by April 24 from a pool of 20 candidates.
Each board member will rank the applicants by April 19. The selection process may include narrowing the candidates to 12 or 15 finalists, followed by interviews. Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer mentioned that the target number for the committee is nine.
The Select Board will also consult with the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management to ensure the selection adheres to best practices. This comprehensive approach will help develop a charter that clearly outlines the town’s governmental structure, replacing the fragmented bylaws accumulated over nearly four centuries.
AAPI Heritage Month celebration
Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month on Saturday, May 4, 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. at Marblehead High School Field House, 2 Humphrey St. The event features cultural performances, a Bon Me food truck and free raffle tickets for the first 100 guests. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP in advance at tinyurl.com/2uu54zur.
Ribbon cutting for Brooke Michele Designs
Join the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce in welcoming Brooke Michele Designs as a member with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, April 26, from 5-7 p.m. at 59 Atlantic Ave.
Green Homes Tour
Sustainable Marblehead is inviting residents to its Green Homes Tour on May 4, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., to explore local homes equipped with energy-efficient technologies. The tour will showcase air-source heat pumps, solar panels, electric vehicle chargers and more. Tickets are $10 and prior registration is required. Interested participants can register and view homes at sustainablemarblehead.org/greenhomestour. The event promotes energy savings, cost reduction and environmental protection.
Sports and Leisure Walking Tour
The Marblehead Museum will host its new Sports and Leisure Walking Tour on April 27 and May 4, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., highlighting the town’s historical engagement with popular sports and leisure activities. The tour, $15 for museum members and $20 for the public, will explore the origins of activities ranging from baseball to billiards and the societal debates surrounding sports and leisure from 1865-1954. Tickets are available at marbleheadmuseum.org or by calling 781-631-1768.
Clothing swap and drive
The Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA will hold a Clothing Swap and Drive on April 19, from 8-10 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. Participants are invited to bring clean, gently used children’s clothing to exchange for new outfits. Contributions can be made starting April 14 through April 18. Any unclaimed items will be donated to Cradles to Crayons, supporting local children in need.
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.
Tribe talk to address teen antisemitism
The JCC in Marblehead will host “Tribe Talk,” an event addressing antisemitism among teens, on April 28, 3-5 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 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.
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.
