Aleka Kroitzsh - Marblehead Current

24 Jul

Select Board hires search firm, sets rules for senior property tax exemption

Aleka KroitzshMunicipal Matters, Top Stories

Marblehead currently has two open positions following the resignation of Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin and the forthcoming retirement of Town Administrator Thatcher W. Kezer. At the July 22 select board meeting, Kezer gave an update on the search to fill these soon-to-be vacant positions. Benjamin announced her resignation on July 10 and will leave at the end of August, and Kezer will depart at the end of this year. Kezer emphasized the importance of having a new chief financial officer in place before the start…

21 Jul

History comes to life at annual Glover’s encampment

Aleka KroitzshLocal History, Top Stories

Glover’s Regiment and their friends transported visitors to the Revolutionary era during their annual reenactment of an 18th-century military camp at Fort Sewall Saturday. Around 100 people wearing 18th-century garb chatted with visitors and flitted between tents and tables. Cannons and muskets were fired during battle reenactments, children partook in a military drill, and members of Glover’s Regiment demonstrated 18th-century craftsmanship, including butter churning, candle making, blacksmithery, laundry and weaving. “Just about every battle is like a big family reunion,” said Bob Deisle, who has…

18 Jul

Teen charged in fatal crash returns to court

Aleka KroitzshTop Stories

Marblehead teen Oscar Galante appeared in Lynn Juvenile Court July 17 for a compliance and election hearing connected to the August 2025 crash that killed 13-year-old Savanah Gatchell. At the hearing, the prosecution informed the court that they were still gathering evidence. Assistant District Attorney Kaitlyn Bastarache said she had requested an entire lab file and a partial download of Galante’s mobile phone. She also informed the court that the outstanding collision analysis and reconstruction of the crash would be completed soon. Christine Gatchell, Savanah’s…

01 Jul

The creative expression and endless bounty of a Marblehead garden

Aleka KroitzshRecreation, Top Stories

For Steven and Roberta Keenholtz, gardening isn’t just a hobby. It is a creative expression that feeds their souls and their community. Tucked away on Whittier Road, the couple’s one-and-a-third-acre property is home to a hyper productive vegetable garden and a curated backyard ecosystem complete with ornamental flowers, fruit trees, berry bushes, shrubbery and an antique fountain. Each side of the house has a uniquely curated landscape of plants. Steven and Roberta Keenholtz have created this beautiful, year-round garden in their backyard. CURRENT PHOTOS /…

15 May

Spring art exhibition shows students’ ‘boundless creativity’

Aleka KroitzshArt, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

The historic walls of Abbot Hall came alive last Thursday as hundreds of guests gathered for the opening reception of Marblehead High and Veterans School Spring Art Exhibition. The exhibition featured nearly 400 pieces of art made by students from grades 7 to 12. Students explored diverse artistic mediums through their work, including oil and water color paintings, sculpture, collage, photography, architectural design and video production. Seniors had the option to showcase pieces from all four years of high school in celebration of their artistic…

04 May

Sustainable Marblehead’s Green Homes Tour a success

Aleka KroitzshCommunity Resources, Environment, Local News

For a few hours on Saturday, neighbors gathered around heat pumps, induction stoves and insulation setups to trade tips on building greener homes. Sustainable Marblehead’s Green Homes Tour featured nine local residences this year, including five new properties and four favorites from past years. Homeowners answered questions from eager visitors about their heat pumps, solar panels, induction stoves and other electric appliances that reduce energy use as well as utility bills. “Pollution has been a problem for a long time,” said Katie Farrell whose home…

20 Apr

MAA opens ‘Variations’ national art exhibit

Aleka KroitzshArt, Top Stories

Marblehead Arts Association opened its fourth annual “Variations” exhibit on Sunday. A crowd of more than 400 attendees from across the country wove through the galleries, chatting with one another as they admired the art-lined walls. “It’s very rewarding to see everyone enjoying it,” MAA board member and featured artist Alessandra Donovan said. “It’s wonderful, especially the caliber of the other work.” This year’s exhibit is one of the largest ever at MAA with 190 pieces selected from nearly 800 submissions. Categories for submission included…

08 Apr

Marblehead sees plans for new sports facilities at Reynolds Playground

Aleka KroitzshRecreation, Sports, Top Stories

At an April 7 meeting, Recreation and Parks Vice Chair Shelly Bedrossian presented updated plans to renovate Reynolds playground. The plan includes building an ice rink, sports deck, community green space and softball field. “We want the space to serve as many people as possible, and we want to get it done,” Bedrossian said. Currently, the park is home to a dilapidated street hockey rink built in the early 2000s. Though once skatable, Bedroissian said it is now a “known dump” with holes that make…

29 Mar

Super JJ rescues Marblehead from Triple Z villain

Aleka KroitzshPublic safety, Top Stories

Marblehead witnessed true heroism Sunday, as 4-year-old JJ Weiss spent his Make-A-Wish day as a superhero taking on the villainous ‘Triple Z.’ After his day of missions, more than 400 people gathered at Seaside Park to celebrate JJ, who has been battling medulloblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Marblehead Police presented JJ with a certificate of heroism, and Select Board member Jim Zisson proclaimed March 29 Superhero Day in honor of JJ. “It was truly the best day of his life… We are so…

24 Mar

NEW: School budget cuts, override on agenda at two meetings this week

Aleka KroitzshEducation, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

NEW on March 24: The School Committee's budget subcommittee will meet virtually Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. to try again to determine whether the $1.5 million additional cuts requested by the town represent an accurate number. The public can join HERE. Public comment is on the agenda. Then on Friday, the School Committee will meet at 10 a.m. to vote on its final budget and a possible override request, according to the agenda. The meeting will take place at the Mary Alley Municipal Building (lower level)…