Immigration forum rescheduled
A regional forum on immigration enforcement — postponed due to snow — is now scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 6:30 p.m. at Old North Church.
The event will feature a panel including Marblehead immigration attorneys Diann Slavit Baylis and Nancy Norman and policy expert Dr. Alexandra Piñeros-Shields of Brandeis University. The discussion will focus on the latest developments in immigration enforcement, and roles that concerned citizens can play in helping immigrant families.
Abbot Library’s Kimberly Grad helps students ‘explore the book’
Kimberly Grad, director of Abbot Public Library and member of the national 2026 Caldecott selection committee, visited Marblehead classrooms in the fall to teach students about evaluating picture book art. Grad met with third-grade classes at Brown and Glover schools, as well as K–4 students at Tower School, providing an insider look at visual storytelling. Last month, students voted on their pick for the Caldecott winner
At Glover Elementary School, students correctly identified and voted for “Fireworks,” illustrated by Cátia Chien and written by Matthew Burgess, which was later named the winner of the 2026 Caldecott Medal by the American Library Association on Jan. 26.
Tower School students joined a “musical books” evaluation session, where they crowned “Don’t Trust Fish,” written by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat, as their 2026 favorite.
“Mock Caldecott votes are always a highlight because students have such a keen eye for detail and storytelling,” Grad said. “It was incredibly rewarding to see them participate so thoughtfully in the process and to treat this like a ‘red carpet’ moment for children’s literature.”
2026-27 school year calendar approved
The School Committee approved the district’s 2026-27 calendar, which starts Monday, Aug. 31 and ends with a half-day on June 16. Find the calendar at https://bit.ly/4k6zsuN.
New boating rules
The town is reminding local boaters about new safety education requirements that will take effect for some people on April 1.
The Hanson Milone Act mandates that motorboat operators born after Jan. 1, 1989, must complete a boating safety course to operate motorized vessels or personal watercraft (like jet skis). Anyone born before Jan. 1, 1989, will have until April 1, 2028, to get their boater safety certification.
The course can be taken online or in person and covers essential safety rules, boat operation and how to avoid accidents. After completing the course, boaters will receive a boating safety certificate, which must be available for display while operating a boat.
Also, to operate motorboats, people must be at least 12 years old and hold a valid boater safety certificate unless accompanied on board and directly supervised by a capable adult with the certificate. Personal watercraft users must be at least 16 years old with a valid boater safety certificate.
To learn more, visit malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2924/Chapter350.
Memory kits available
Abbot Public Library now offers memory kits designed to help caregivers engage socially with family members and friends experiencing dementia.
Each of the library’s four themed kits — seasons, the United States of America, pets and birds — includes three to four books, a selection of music and movies, puzzles and a tactile fidget item. The items encourage reminiscence through meaningful activities. Each kit also includes a resource list for caregivers and usage instructions.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in the U.S. was projected to reach 7.2 million Americans age 65 and older by 2025, including an estimated 135,200 in Massachusetts. These numbers do not include individuals with early-onset dementia.
Common characteristics of dementia include memory loss; difficulties with planning, communication and problem-solving; trouble performing complex tasks and confusion.
For more information, visit tinyurl.com/LOT-Home-Health.
A Dementia Primer: Causes, Diagnosis & Trajectory
Abbot Public Library will host a lecture, “A Dementia Primer: Causes, Diagnosis & Trajectory,” on Thursday, Feb. 5, from noon to 1 p.m.
Beverly Thorn, Ph.D., author and psychologist, will discuss what dementia is, how it is diagnosed and how it typically progresses. She will also explain how clarifying life values and making advance care plans can ease the burden on patients and families while maintaining dignity and peace of mind.
The online lecture will be shown in the library’s Event Center, followed by a discussion session.
Registration is required and limited to 35 participants. Register at tinyurl.com/Age-Well-Dementia.
