Kris Olson

Three-year terms for Marblehead Select Board? Proposal headed back to Town Meeting
Local News, Top Stories, Uncategorized

Three-year terms for Marblehead Select Board? Proposal headed back to Town Meeting

The proposal pops up periodically — including as recently as the 2020 Town Meeting. But is this the year that voters decide to extend the terms of members of the Select Board from one to three years? Article sponsor Jim Zisson certainly hopes so. His research has shown that Marblehead is an outlier among towns with select boards in electing their members annually. A common misconception is that the Select Board is like a city council, Zisson said. The two bodies may have a similar number of members, but the similarities end there, he explained. “The Select Board is an executive function,” more like a mayor, Zisson said. Mayors almost always serve multi-year terms, which makes sense, Zisson argued. “The reason is there are a lot of long-term strategies and objectives that...
Tweaks to election process on Marblehead Town Meeting warrant
Local News, Top Stories, Town Election Guide

Tweaks to election process on Marblehead Town Meeting warrant

Compared to a proposal to extend the terms of members of the Select Board to three years, three other Town Meeting articles that would tweak the way local elections are administered may prove to be less controversial.  In Article 53, the second-to-last article on the warrant, resident Jonathan Lederman is proposing that the town accept the provisions of a state law, G.L.c. 53, §9A, which would clarify that the final date for obtaining blank nomination papers for nomination to town office shall be “48 weekday hours” prior to the hour on which nomination papers are required to be submitted for certification. Lederman told the Current that his article may get amended before Town Meeting, as there are lingering questions about the overlap between the deadline he is proposing to move and...
Police log, March 9-15, 2023: Blown kisses fail to bait neighbor; pizza scam yields no dough
Local News, Police Log, Public safety

Police log, March 9-15, 2023: Blown kisses fail to bait neighbor; pizza scam yields no dough

Excerpts from the Marblehead police log of Thursday, March 9 through Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Consistent with state law, Marblehead Police have adopted a policy of not providing to media outlets reports related to incidents related to domestic violence, juveniles and matters that remain under investigation. Thursday, March 9 7:59 a.m. An officer investigated the report of a stolen bike on Cheever Avenue. 8:59 a.m. The pedestrian signal at Ocean and Atlantic avenues was reportedly not working. 10:12 a.m. Officers investigated the report of larceny, forgery or fraud on Naugus Avenue. 10:14 a.m. A 21-year-old Marblehead resident was arrested and charged with breaking-and-entering in the daytime, a felony, and malicious destruction of property valued at over $1,200. He was al...
On an epic journey: Marblehead High’s ‘Beowulf’ moves on to state drama festival semifinals
Entertainment, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

On an epic journey: Marblehead High’s ‘Beowulf’ moves on to state drama festival semifinals

The spotlight may shine on Gywneth Anderson, Molly Grant and the rest of the cast of “Beowulf.” But Elizabeth Erskine may be the real star of the show, according to those involved with Marblehead High School’s entry in the state drama festival. The ever-patient Erskine, the production’s prop designer, has had to see her handiwork — mostly swords fashioned out of discarded smartboard boxes — undone when one of her classmates brings a bit too much exuberance to one of the play’s battle scenes. But her persistence and the hard work of the rest of the cast and crew paid off, as MHS’ “Beowulf” advanced out of the preliminary round at Beverly Middle School March 5 to this weekend’s semifinals. The Marblehead cast and crew will be taking its show on the road to Norwood High School this ...
Marblehead causeway may close as soon as 3:30 p.m.; other roads may shut, too
Local News, Public safety, Top Stories

Marblehead causeway may close as soon as 3:30 p.m.; other roads may shut, too

Due to the expected tidal surge from Tuesday's nor'easter, the causeway will be closed to all traffic at some point in the afternoon, perhaps as early as 3:30 p.m., the Marblehead Police Department announced on its Facebook page. The post continued that the causeway could be closed until up to 6:30 p.m. or slightly longer due to cleanup efforts. "The debris on the causeway makes it unsafe for passage during the tidal surge," the police department stated. "Onlookers should stay away from the causeway for their own safety and follow instructions of first responders throughout town." The town will also be conducting intermittent road closures in various areas, particularly around the period of high tides over the next two days, according to Marblehead Police. These areas include ...
Police log, March 3-8, 2023: Man trying to buy collectible putters gets shaft
Local News, Public safety

Police log, March 3-8, 2023: Man trying to buy collectible putters gets shaft

Excerpts from the Marblehead police log of Friday, March 3 through Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Consistent with state law, Marblehead Police have adopted a policy of not providing to media outlets reports related to incidents related to domestic violence, juveniles and matters that remain under investigation. Friday, March 3 9:26 a.m. An officer spoke by phone with a man who explained that he had recently found out someone had applied for unemployment in his name. The man had already contacted the thre credit agencies. He was advised to let the police know if he had any other issues. 9:38 a.m. An officer gave a driver a verbal warning for failing to clear his vehicle’s window on Treat Road. 9:56 a.m. A report of a wire on the ground on Washington Street was referred to another ag...
Marblehead woman’s new job is for the birds (and more)
Environment, Local News, Top Stories

Marblehead woman’s new job is for the birds (and more)

By her own admission, Marblehead’s Carole McCauley stumbled backwards into her environmental career. A newly minted Peace Corps volunteer, McCauley was dispatched to the eastern Caribbean for what was supposed to be an assignment performing adult literacy work. But upon her arrival, she discovered that her job opportunity had fallen through. At that point, McCauley was given a choice: Go home, or accept a hastily conceived substitute assignment with an environmental nonprofit that had a staff of one. McCauley would be employee number two. Pressed to decide, McCauley said her mind traveled back to her days as a camper at Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm wildlife sanctuary in Lincoln. “Literally, the credential that came to my mind was, ‘I went to Audubon day camp; I can do this,’” M...
Marblehead women plan to write next chapter for town’s bookstores
Business, Local News, Top Stories

Marblehead women plan to write next chapter for town’s bookstores

Marblehead may be slightly behind the trend that has brought a renaissance of independent bookstores to the local retail landscape. But thanks to two determined local women, the town is poised to catch up quickly. Laura Cooper, the former owner and proprietor of the flower shop Aster, will once again have a storefront in Marblehead’s historic downtown at 134 Washington St. with the Saltwater Bookstore. Laura Cooper poses in front of 134 Washington St., the future home of her Saltwater Bookstore, which she hopes to open in May. COURTESY PHOTO Meanwhile, another local woman, Tracy Lessor, has decided to walk away from the corporate world and pursue what she said has been her dream since high school. Little Harbor Books is still in the planning stages, including the hunt for an ide...
POLICE LOG, FEB. 23-MARCH 2: He flue off handle: Irate neighbor stuffs pillow in fireplace
Local News, Police Log

POLICE LOG, FEB. 23-MARCH 2: He flue off handle: Irate neighbor stuffs pillow in fireplace

Excerpts from the Marblehead police log of Thursday, Feb. 23 through Thursday, March 2, 2023. Consistent with state law, Marblehead Police have adopted a policy of not providing to media outlets reports related to incidents related to domestic violence, juveniles and matters that remain under investigation. Thursday, Feb. 23 6:39 a.m. An officer investigated a report that a plow had struck a parked car on High Street. 7:41 a.m. A caller reported an issue with a manhole cover on Elm Street. 11:13 a.m. A caller on Cloutmans Lane reported having been targeted with a scam in which a caller pretended to be his grandson. The resident had hung up on the caller but wanted to report the incident. The officer advised the resident to not answer calls from numbers that he did not recogniz...
Two Marblehead METCO students, both 15, reported missing
Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Public safety

Two Marblehead METCO students, both 15, reported missing

Two METCO students at Marblehead High School who did not report to school March 1 have since been reported missing, Superintendent John Buckey wrote in an email alert to the school community early Wednesday morning. The Marblehead and Boston police departments are investigating the whereabouts of Janeiry Nicole Torres and Zaira Randall, both 15, according to Buckey. Buckey wrote that police reports indicate that the students took a school bus from Boston to Marblehead on the morning of March 1 but did not enter the building. Police believe the students took the MBTA back to Boston and were last seen exiting a bus at Government Center station, Buckey relayed. Anyone who has information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact the Boston Police Departmen...