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International Pirate Hall of Fame inducts local author
Marblehead resident Eric Jay Dolin has been selected as one of 10 inductees to the International Pirate Hall of Fame, class of 2024. According to the selection letter, there were more than 500 nominations submitted including real pirates, authors, re-enactors, musicians, actors, treasure hunters, historians, artisans and more.
“Getting this accolade is great fun, and I was even told I will be getting a plaque or official certificate!! AAAAARRRRRRGGGHHH!!!” Dolin said.
Separately, Dolin’s book “Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution” won the 2025 National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Excellence in American History Book Award for Adult Nonfiction.
Local Dems award trio academic scholarships
The Marblehead Democratic Town Committee awarded the Edwin L. Goldberg and Selma L. Goldberg scholarships to three Marblehead High School seniors May 19. The scholarships, a 44-year tradition, are made possible by generous donations from the children and grandchildren of the Goldberg family and through the successful fundraising of the annual MDTC Picnic.
The 2025 scholarship recipients are Nina Johnson, Addy Mooney and Maren Potter. MDTC Chair Anne Gugino Carrigan noted that these students demonstrated an outstanding interest in the political process and community activism, as well as academic excellence and leadership skills, in accordance with the scholarship guidelines.
Student recipients gained experience on political campaigns and were also leaders in voicing their opposition to the School Committee’s controversial flag policy, which when initially drafted allowed for no student input into banners within the building.
UMass to begin final excavation at Lee Mansion
University of Massachusetts Boston archaeologists will return to Marblehead this spring and early summer to conduct a final excavation at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion and Brick Kitchen. The team plans to uncover remnants of an 18th century privy, well, work yard and barn foundations. The dig runs June 2-27, excluding June 19. Visitors are welcome to observe. For more information, contact Lauren McCormack at laurenmccormack@marbleheadmuseum.org or visit marbleheadmuseum.org.
Second grader places fourth in math contest
Paulina Zaitsev, a second grader at Epstein Hillel School and Marblehead resident, ranked fourth nationally in the 2025 Math Kangaroo Competition. Math Kangaroo is an international mathematics contest that promotes logical reasoning and creative problem solving among students in grades 1-12. Zaitsev’s achievement places her in the top tier of young math students in the country.
Eighth grader wins state writing award
Melissa Balla, an eighth-grade student from Marblehead, earned first place in the statewide Letters About Literature writing initiative for her letter to poet Naomi Shihab Nye. The Massachusetts Center for the Book honored her during a May 20 ceremony at the State House, where Balla read her letter aloud and received a cash prize. State Rep. Jenny Armini and Sen. Brendan Crighton presented her with citations to recognize her achievement.
Housing committees seek merger from Select Board
Two Marblehead housing committees voted unanimously May 13 to seek Select Board approval to merge, aiming to streamline affordable housing efforts.
The Fair Housing Committee, formed in 1983, and the Housing Production Plan Implementation Committee, created in 2020, agreed to combine missions and recommend a new membership roster.
Members cited overlapping goals and a desire to eliminate redundancy. Officials also discussed the potential reuse of the Coffin School site for affordable or veterans housing.
The new merged board will be discussed again at a June 17 meeting.
Hazardous waste collection day set for Marblehead, Swampscott
A household hazardous waste collection day for Marblehead and Swampscott residents will be held Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Marblehead Transfer Station, 5 Woodfin Terrace.
Accepted items include oil-based paints, solvents, automotive fluids, pool chemicals, pesticides, cleaning products and fluorescent bulbs. Costs range from $30 for up to three gallons or pounds to $60 for 10 to 25 gallons, with additional amounts priced accordingly.
Proof of residency is required. Materials should remain in original containers with tightened caps and must be transported directly to the site in sturdy boxes.
For more information, contact the Board of Health at 781-631-0212.
