Julie Flynn - Marblehead Current

17 Dec

For nearly four decades, van Kalken has set Marblehead’s holiday tone

Julie FlynnCulture, Entertainment, Local News

At a recent performance, you could hear a pin drop when Maria van Kalken raised her hand, motioning to the chorus. For more than 37 seasons, van Kalken, director of the Old North Festival Chorus and minister of music at Old North Church, has led the Old North Festival Chorus and Orchestra holiday concerts. On Dec. 6 and 7, the much anticipated 45th annual holiday concerts did not disappoint. The Festival Chorus draws from the church’s senior choir and singers across the community. The first…

Go behind the counter at one of Marblehead’s favorite spots

Julie FlynnBusiness, Food, Local News

The Muﬃn Shop opens its doors at 6 a.m., welcoming the first customers of the day. Walking in to the smell of fresh coﬀee and an array of warm muﬃns, commuters grab their morning fuel. Luisa Capasso stands behind the counter at the Muffin Shop. She gets up around 1 a.m. each day to bake the popular pastries. CURRENT PHOTOS / JULIE FLYNN Sixteen diﬀerent kinds of muﬃns line the muﬃn trays, from pumpkin to peach. Blueberry is the best seller, with oatmeal raspberry a…

Marblehead’s Bruce Dyson has conquered sea and sky

Julie FlynnSailing, Sports

Anyone who has ever been fortunate to have been in the presence of Bruce Dyson knows that he’s a force. International sailor, national gliding champion and sailmaker, Dyson is a legend. He is also a past commodore of the Eastern Yacht Club (2015-2016), and he built an international 8-metre sloop, Pleione, in his garage/workshop. Dyson started sailing competitively when he was 16 and worked for Hood Sailmakers in Little Harbor during school vacations. “We called it the Ted Hood Sail Loft Academy,” he said. After…