Columns - Marblehead Current

02 Jun

SUSTAINABLE MARBLEHEAD: World Oceans Day weekend celebrations planned for Marblehead

Submitted ContentColumns, Environment, Opinion

On June 5, 6 and 8 the town of Marblehead will join communities around the globe in recognizing World Oceans Day — a time to celebrate and protect one of our planet’s most vital resources. With a proud maritime history and deep coastal roots, Marblehead is uniquely connected to the ocean — environmentally, economically and culturally. On June 5, 6:30- 8 p.m., the Corinthian Yacht Club will host a talk by Dr. Shelley Brown, executive director of Sailors for the Sea Powered by Oceana, and…

02 Jun

COLUMN: A voter’s plain-English guide to the June 9 override questions

Margaret BaconColumns, Opinion

What's on your ballot, what each level costs, and how to vote for exactly what you want If you have looked at the June 9 ballot and wondered why there are four separate override questions, you are not alone. The ballot can look confusing at first glance. Here is a straightforward explanation of what each question means, what it is projected to cost, and how to vote for the outcome you actually want. The four override questions are really asking voters to make two separate…

01 Jun

MARBLEHEAD MUSINGS: The overrides and 3A

Seamus HourihanColumns, Opinion

On June 9, voters will get to decide the outcome of four override proposals. Here are some musings and perspectives. And 3A ain’t done and gone. Let’s talk trash The least discussed and consequently the least understood issue facing voters (and even some Town officials) are the options for funding curbside trash and recyclable pick-up. The two options are a “user fee” or a “trash override.” The service provided is the same, but there is a major cost difference. The annual user fee will be…

26 May

GUEST COLUMN: ‘What voters should know before June 9’

Submitted ContentColumns, Opinion

By Molly Teets On Tuesday, June 9, Marblehead voters will weigh in on a tiered general override (Questions 1, 2 and 3) to address the town’s $7.7 million operating budget deficit. As a member of the Finance Committee during this most challenging budget season, I have been deeply involved in the FY27 budget process and actively advised town leadership in the development of the override. For several years, the Finance Committee has been predicting the fiscal cliff we now face. The structural deficit our town…

15 May

CUZNER IN NATURE: Spring is bursting

Rick CuznerAnimals, Columns, Environment, Top Stories

Spring is an excellent time to check out the local ponds and wetland habitats for all sorts of creatures. We have many different types of herons, turtles and frogs, in addition to the large variety of bird species. I was lucky enough to watch this green heron picking up a snack.

13 May

MONEY MATTERS: Preparing graduates for financial independence

Emily PromiseBusiness, Columns, Opinion

Graduation season is fully upon us. Whether your child is graduating from high school or college, it marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with independence, responsibility and important financial decisions. While every family’s situation is different, this transition presents an opportunity to help your child build habits that can positively shape their future for decades to come. Here are a few practical tips to help set graduates up for success. For high school graduates heading to college Marblehead's Emily Promise is founder and…

13 May

COLUMN: Why waiting feels harder than it used to

Margaret BaconColumns, Opinion

Waiting used to be part of life. Now it feels like a glitch. There was a time when waiting was simply built in. You waited for letters. You waited for harvests. You waited for news. If someone was late, you assumed weather or traffic, not a character flaw. Waiting was not an interruption. It was normal. A spinning wheel on a screen can raise the pulse. A delayed text can feel like a verdict on your character. A package that arrives in three days instead…

12 May

COLUMN: A bee-utiful conservation area

Elaine LeahyColumns, Education, Environment, Opinion

Do bumblebees have a “voice” that only a mother could love? No, it turns out that certain plants, such as the tomato and blueberry, also favor the bee’s buzz. Sometimes compared to a middle-C note, the buzzing sound is produced by the rapid movement of the bee’s wings.“The bees are literally singing to the flowers,” said Nick Dorian, Ph.D., at the Marblehead Conservancy’s annual membership meeting on April 29. This process, called buzz pollination, shakes loose pollen that would otherwise stay trapped, essentially rewarding the…

06 May

FOOD 101: Grilled cheese: The comfort food we all need right now

Linda BassettColumns, Food, Linda Bassett, Opinion

Was there ever a childhood comfort food to compare to a grilled cheese sandwich? Mom made it in a skillet or a grill press. At the diner or luncheonette, a cook slapped it on a well-greased grill top. Mom’s homemade sandwich was simple: two slices of American cheese — preferably orange — tucked between two slices of spongy grocery store bread. Gobs of butter heated and swirled in the skillet served to warm and melt the cheese and brown the bread. When cut, warm gooey…

06 May

DOC IN A BOX: Free websites so useful you’ll wonder how they’re free (Save this page)

Stephen BachColumns, Opinion, Stephen Bach

Every once in a while, I come across a website that just makes me stop and wonder — how can this actually be free? I’m not talking about the kind of “free” that comes with strings attached: no five-step registration, no sneaky ads, no “give us your social security number.” I mean sites that are genuinely useful, no nonsense and don’t make you jump through hoops. I’ve been working on computers and dealing with tech headaches right here in Marblehead for over 20 years now.…