The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to wdowd@marbleheadnews.org.
Marblehead professor honored
Melissa Kaplowitch, Ph.D, of Marblehead was given with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Certificate of Achievement Award last week for outstanding contributions to Salem Salem State University. SSU President John Keenan presented the award to Kaplowitch, who is an assistant professor and program coordinator of the master’s in science in counseling program. Kaplowitch is also heavily involved in Marblehead and serves on the town’s Mental Health Task Force.
Library hosts coffee, chocolate program
Abbot Public Library will host “A Perky Pairing: Coffee and Chocolate History and Tasting” with Kim Larkin on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the Event Center.
Larkin, who is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association of America, will discuss the history, benefits, cultivation and terminology of coffee and chocolate. The presentation includes vintage coffee equipment displays, trivia and samples. Registration is required and limited to 35 attendants at tinyurl.com/Coffee-and-Chocolate. The program is sponsored by the Friends of Abbot Public Library.
Translation talk
Elizabeth Blood will present “The Translator’s Tightrope: Balancing Replication and Creation” at Abbot Public Library on Monday, Dec. 16, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Blood will discuss the challenges literary translators face in remaining faithful to original texts while creating engaging translations, sharing examples from her English translations of French historical true crime novels. Topics include translation processes, linguistic and cultural differences, industry practices and the impact of machine translation.
Registration is required and limited to 50 attendants at tinyurl.com/Translators-Tightrope.
2025 Town Meeting warrant open
The Marblehead Select Board unanimously approved opening the warrant for the 2025 annual Town Meeting, scheduled for Monday, May 5, 7 p.m., at Veterans Middle School.
The warrant opening allows registered voters to sponsor warrant articles, also known as citizen petitions, until noon Friday, Jan. 24. Town government boards and commissions have until noon Jan. 31 to submit their own articles. Town Meeting, which serves as the legislative body for Marblehead, enables residents to vote on key matters such as budgets, bylaws, home-rule petitions and resolutions.
To place an article on the warrant, registered voters must submit a petition with signatures from at least 10 registered voters. Articles must fit within the scope of the Town Meeting’s warrant, which outlines the place, date and agenda, as required by local bylaws.
For residents seeking guidance, reach out to Town Moderator Jack Attridge at either jack@allmarblehead.com or 781-883-3200. Citizens are encouraged to start early, consult with town officials or legal counsel if needed, and review past town meeting warrants for examples.
Leaf collection
The town has announced its 2024-2025 schedule for curbside leaf and grass collection. Residents can expect collections on their regular trash and recycling days during specific weeks throughout the year. In 2024, collections are scheduled for the weeks of Nov. 25 and Dec. 2. The schedule continues into 2025 with collections planned for the weeks of April 21, May 12 and June 2.
It’s important to note that this service is exclusively for leaves and grass. The town emphasizes that only leaf bags should be used, and plastic bags will not be collected or emptied. To maintain the quality of the compost generated from these collections, bags containing brush or other materials will not be accepted.
Select Board seeks volunteers
The Marblehead Select Board is seeking three resident volunteers to serve on the town’s Capital Planning Committee, which will oversee major municipal projects valued at over $1 million.
The committee, which was reorganized at last year’s Town Meeting, includes department heads and town employees alongside the resident volunteers.
Interested residents can submit letters of interest and resumes to the Select Board at Town Hall, 7 Widger Road or email wylie@marblehead.org. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 5, with interviews tentatively scheduled for the Dec. 11 Select Board meeting.Christmas Walk set for Dec. 5-8
The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce will hold its 53rd Annual Christmas Walk Dec. 5-8, featuring a holiday shopping preview night Thursday followed by the annual tree lighting Friday at 7 p.m. across from National Grand Bank.
Saturday’s events include Santa’s arrival at State Street Landing at 9:30 a.m. followed by the Christmas Walk Parade at 11:45 a.m. The parade route begins at State Street Landing, continuing onto Washington Street, Atlantic Avenue, Gerry Street and Pleasant Street before ending at National Grand Bank.
Holiday festivities and shopping continue throughout town on Sunday.
Beacon Restaurant revives holiday toy drive
The Beacon Restaurant and Warwick Cinemas are reviving a local holiday tradition with a toy drive Dec. 12, honoring the memory of Michael Havens, who ran the annual event with the Marblehead Fire Department and Gerry 5 VFA for over a decade.
The drive aims to collect unwrapped toys for children in need this Christmas. Donation boxes are located at:
— The Beacon, 123 Pleasant St.
— Warwick Cinemas, 123 Pleasant St.
— Shubie’s, 16 Atlantic Ave.
— Mud Puddle Toys, 1 Pleasant St.
— Gerry 5 VFA, 210 Beacon St.
— VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), 321 W Shore Drive
— Council on Aging, 10 Humphrey St.
The event will feature raffle prizes donated by local merchants and photos with Santa. The Marblehead Fire Department will collect donations Dec. 13 for distribution. The drive’s goal is to collect 500 toys, matching the average number collected during previous years. For more information, contact Curt Havens at 602-369-4198.
Holiday trash pickup schedule
Due to Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 28, trash, recycling and leaf collection will be picked up one day late. Thursday’s collection moves to Friday, Nov. 29, and Friday’s collection moves to Saturday, Nov. 30. The Transfer Station will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29. For questions, email health2@marblehead.org.
Gingerbread Festival returns
The Marblehead Museum and Marblehead Family Fund will host their annual Gingerbread Festival at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Participants can submit gingerbread houses for prizes in categories including Most Creative, Most Marblehead, Best Classic and age-group categories. Houses will be judged by a local panel, with public voting for People’s Choice. Advance registration is required at mhdfamilyfund.org.
Admission is $5 per person or $20 per family. Proceeds support museum programs and the Gatchell Playground renovation. For questions, email jarrettzeman@marbleheadmuseum.org or call 781-631-1768.
Holiday Pops tickets available
The Marblehead Harbor Rotary’s Holiday Pops 2024 Concert will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, featuring Maestro Dirk Hillyer and The Hillyer Festival Orchestra with soloist Andrew Scoglio. The evening begins at 7 p.m. with a champagne reception catered by Every Little Breeze Catering.
Balcony tickets are $45 and floor seats are $85. Raffle tickets for this year’s signature artwork, “Abbot Hall” by Ian Sherwin, are also available. Purchase tickets at rotaryclubofmheadharbor.com. For questions, call Jessica Barnett at 781-639-0624.
Volunteers wanted
The Marblehead Select Board seeks volunteers for various town committees and commissions. Current openings include:
— Cable Television Advisory Committee: Three vacancies, one-year terms
— Conservation Commission: One vacancy, three-year term
— Design Review Board: One vacancy, three-year term
— Fair Housing Committee: One vacancy for an alternate member, three-year term
— Marblehead Cultural Council: Four vacancies, three-year terms
— Marblehead Community Access and Media, Inc.: One vacancy, three-year term
— MBTA Advisory Board: One vacancy, one-year term
— Task Force Against Discrimination: Two vacancies, one-year terms
The Board encourages applicants to attend a meeting of their chosen committee and contact the chair for more information. Interested residents should submit a letter of interest and resume to the Select Board at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., or email wileyk@marblehead.org.
Leigh Blander contributed to this reporting.
