Marblehead’s Board of Health is planning an “Amazing Race” (similar to the CBS show) for high school students next month, an effort to give teens something fun to do without alcohol.
The board backed moving ahead with the event at its Oct. 5 meeting, with Nov. 6 selected as the target date and Nov. 13 as a rain date.
Board member Kristen DuBay Horton has been developing the event. She said teens she has spoken with complained that there is little for them to do in Marblehead besides drink.
“Good public health hears community needs and responds to it,” DuBay Horton said.
Under the tentative plan, teams of four high school students would travel around Marblehead with an adult driver, solving clues and completing challenges at locations around town. Teams would receive different routes to prevent them from simply following one another.
DuBay Horton envisions as many as 25 teams — about 100 students — participating.
At one stop, for example, students might have to perform an Instagram-style dance at a historic location while their adult driver records it as proof they completed the challenge.
The evening would end with a bonfire at Goldthwait Reservation, along with hot chocolate and cookies. DuBay Horton said the Goldthwait Reservation has offered space for the event at no charge, and local businesses and community groups have expressed interest in helping.
DuBay Horton said the larger goal is to challenge the idea that teenagers need alcohol to have fun.
“The goal is do it before Thanksgiving, which is a heavy drinking week for kids here,” she said, adding that she hopes students come away thinking, “I had such a great time that night, and I wasn’t drunk.”
“I don’t want to be preachy about it, but I want to empower kids to make different choices,” she said.
DuBay Horton said she has worked in adolescent alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention for 25 years and feels a particular urgency following two drunk-driving deaths involving Marblehead young people.
“I will say that I personally feel like I’ve been here seven years, and with those two drunk driving deaths, that I didn’t do enough,” she said. “That I know how to stop this. I’ve worked in communities that have turned this around, and I didn’t do enough.”
Board members praised the proposal and suggested potential sponsors, prizes and ways to expand participation. The board rejected the idea of using a breathalyzer at the event, with members saying that could undermine the welcoming, positive message they want to send teenagers.
DuBay Horton said the event has the backing of Superintendent John Robidoux and the high school principal. The board encouraged her to reach out to the School Committee and other town departments as planning continues.
Black plastic ban considered
The board also agreed to explore whether Marblehead should restrict or ban black plastic takeout containers, following a presentation from Sustainable Marblehead.
Executive Director Elaine Leahy told the board her organization wants to work more closely with the Health Department on recycling, composting and waste reduction. She said annual town reports show recycling, food waste diversion and textile recycling saved Marblehead more than $1.2 million over the past three years.
Leahy also urged the board to look at black plastic takeout containers used by restaurants, arguing that they pose both environmental and potential health concerns and are difficult to recycle.
Public Health Director Andrew Petty said the board has the authority to regulate the containers but cautioned that alternatives could cost restaurants more.
“Yes, you can definitely ban the black plastic,” Petty said. “Just know that you’re adding a cost to the establishment.”
The board agreed to put the issue on a future agenda and research what other communities have done.
Petty said the regional North Shore public health coalition could also examine the issue. He noted that the Board of Health previously chose to take Marblehead’s plastic bag restrictions to Town Meeting because of their impact on businesses, while takeout containers may present a different question because food comes directly into contact with them.
“Really, the idea is that you should not be heating up any food in plastic,” Petty said.
The board did not propose specific regulations or set a timetable for considering a ban.
Push to expand composting
Leahy’s presentation prompted a broader discussion about reducing Marblehead’s trash stream.
She said Sustainable Marblehead wants to increase awareness of composting, textile recycling and other services at the Transfer Station, particularly among residents who have opted out of the town’s new curbside trash program and may now be using the facility more frequently.
Petty said about 800 Marblehead customers currently use Black Earth Compost for curbside collection. Black Earth also collects food waste from the Transfer Station and Marblehead schools.
One idea received immediate support: creating a simple map showing residents where various recycling, composting and reuse stations are located at the transfer station.
“I think the greatest thing for us to do to work on is to create that map that has everything on there, and then we hand out the map with every sticker,” Petty said.
The map could also be posted on the town website.
Leahy also raised the possibility of expanding the Transfer Station’s seasonal swap shed. Petty said the town currently operates the swap area from two shipping containers but would eventually like to build a more permanent structure on a concrete pad. He said the project would require a significant investment and suggested it could potentially become a vocational school construction project.
Flu arriving early
Board member Dr. Amanda Ritvo also delivered a community health update, saying flu test positivity is beginning to rise earlier than usual.
“We don’t usually see it this early, so not quite sure what to make of it yet,” Ritvo said.
She encouraged residents to get flu shots this month and, for those who want one, a COVID vaccine.
Ritvo also reported high measles vaccination rates in Marblehead elementary schools. She said one school had a 97% MMR vaccination rate and another was at 98%.
Respiratory illness activity overall, including flu, COVID and RSV, remains low, she said.
Petty said the Health Department plans to create a “health news” page on the town website where residents can find information presented during board meetings and other public health updates.
New support for parents
The board also discussed efforts to expand services for new and expecting parents.
Chair Dr. Thomas Massaro said the first of the board’s free parenting classes was held Oct. 1, with seven couples initially registering and six attending. The session included information from a certified car-seat technician, pelvic floor physical therapist, feeding specialist and pediatrician.
The board tentatively plans to offer four sessions during the first year, roughly one every three months. Massaro said the town has about 160 births annually and set a goal of reaching about 25% of those families through the program.
Petty also described a regional visiting-parent program that could provide new parents with a one-time home visit from a public health nurse. Nurses could identify needs ranging from health concerns to a lack of basic supplies and connect families with doctors, social workers or other resources.
“The idea is that we’re trying to do some prevention, get into the homes,” Petty said. “Not every person is going to want a home visit. But again, it’s just another layer to try to add to what we’re building on.”
