Leigh Blander - Marblehead Current

14 Mar

All hands on deck: Marblehead christens new harbor patrol boat

State Rep. Jenny Armini christened Marblehead's new harbor patrol boat on Friday as it was lowered into the water. The 31-foot vessel has full firefighting capabilities and a communications center, according to Harbormaster Mark Souza. The boat was funded by a grant. It's named the Stacey H. Clark, in honor of its predecessor. Harbor and Waters Board member Karen Finnocchio, left, celebrates Marblehead's new patrol boat with State Rep. Jenny Armini and Harbormaster Mark Souza. COURTESY PHOTOS The new Stacey H. Clark is lowered into…

13 Mar

CURRENT EVENTS

Leigh BlanderArt, Culture, Entertainment, Top Stories

Don’t miss Marblehead’s best bets coming up Current Events spotlights notable happenings around town in the coming week. To submit a listing, email Current Editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org Shipwrecks of Salem SoundWednesday, March 11, 7-8 p.m. Discover the North Shore’s maritime mysteries with author Ray Bates at Marblehead Yacht Club, 4 Cliff St. Bates will talk about why the North Shore is such a common spot for shipwrecks. Free and open to all. Spirit Night Bourbon TastingFriday, March 13, 6 p.m. Join Marblehead Museum…

13 Mar

OBITUARY: Eleanor “Ellie” Veale, 94

Leigh BlanderObituaries

Eleanor “Ellie” Veale of Manchester, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 9, at the age of 94, surrounded by family and the loving staff at River Woods Manchester. Ellie was born March 6, 1932, in Everett to Harry and Margaret (Gerrie) Beats. She grew up with her sister Margaret and brother Jim in Everett but spent summers in Marblehead on Naugus Head. This is where she formed her love for the ocean and swimming. She would regularly go fishing with her dad and…

13 Mar

School Committee begins weighing override to restore budget cuts

Leigh BlanderEducation, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

At its March 12 meeting, the Marblehead School Committee began discussing override options to help restore deep budget cuts planned for fiscal 2027. As directed by the town, the district delivered a level-funded budget that includes more than a dozen staff layoffs. Now the town is requesting an additional $1.5 million in cuts. “I’m not interested in backing a band-aid situation,” School Committee member Melissa Clucas said about an override. “I’m interested in backing something that structurally fixes the problem.” Select Board Chair Dan Fox…

12 Mar

Town’s first sustainability coordinator is leaving

Leigh BlanderEnvironment, Local News, Municipal Matters

Logan Casey, the town’s first sustainability coordinator, is leaving Marblehead March 27, after two years in office. “I’ve had the privilege of working with dedicated colleagues, community members and partners to advance projects that strengthen Marblehead’s climate resilience and get closer to the Community’s Net Zero GHG emissions by 2040 goal,” Casey wrote on his LinkedIn page. Sustainability Coordinator Logan Casey, second from right, is resigning. CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER “I’m especially proud to have helped the town secure more than $745,000 in…

12 Mar

Marblehead’s election season kicks off Monday

Leigh BlanderMunicipal Matters, Top Stories

Nomination papers for the town's June 9 election will be available Monday, March 16. There are several seats up for grabs on the Select Board, School Committee, Board of Health, Light Board and more. Here is the complete list of terms expiring this spring, according to the Town Clerk's Office. Anyone interested in running can pick up nomination papers at the Town Clerk's Office in Abbot Hall. Candidates must collect at least 50 signatures and return them by April 21 at 5 p.m. Nomination papers…

11 Mar

NEW: Select Board directs Kezer to research three override tiers

Leigh BlanderMunicipal Matters, Top Stories

**This is a developing story. Stay with the Current for updates. The Select Board on Wednesday night instructed Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer to research three potential Proposition 2 1/2 override “tiers” for May’s Town Meeting as it grapples with a projected $7.7 million deficit for fiscal year 2027. Kezer is expected to present the tiers to the Select Board on March 19, when the board is also scheduled to vote on its recommended budget. The override tiers include: A "restorative" override that would restore proposed…

11 Mar

Marblehead fire chief shares drought alert for area

Leigh BlanderLocal News, Public safety

Chief Jason Gilliland shared this drought alert from the state: "The Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs and the Drought Management Task Force declared critical drought conditions in central and northeastern Massachusetts, with significant drought conditions in most other areas of the state. As we all know, this increases the outdoor fire risk at the very time more people start to spend more time outdoors," according to the message. All this winter's snow has not had a notable impact on drought status, according to…

11 Mar

LIGHTS, CAMERA, AI?

Leigh BlanderArt, Community Resources, Top Stories

MHS junior wins New York Times contest with short film on AI, creativity For Max Kane, a junior at Marblehead High School, a weekend spent hanging out with friends around Boston turned into something much bigger: a prize-winning short film for The New York Times. Kane recently won the Times’ student contest “Growing Up With AI,” a national challenge that invited teenagers to reflect on what it means to come of age in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. His entry — a roughly…

10 Mar

Town administrator to reveal override scenarios Wednesday

Leigh BlanderAbbot Public Library, Business, Education, Health, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Top Stories

Much-anticipated figures are now in from Group Insurance Commission, the state-backed insurance plan the town uses to purchase employees’ health insurance. The increase for fiscal year 2027 will be 11%, down from the 15% feared earlier but not as low as recently hoped. “Pretty much the same,” Marblehead Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin wrote in an email to the Current Saturday night about the final impact. “No real change.” That means the town’s projected $7.7 million deficit will likely not decrease significantly. Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer…