Columns - Marblehead Current

19 Oct

CUZNER IN NATURE: Eastern screech owl finds refuge in tree nook

I found this eastern screech owl snoozing in the fracture of a tree late one afternoon. Usually after finding a screech owl, I can return from time to time and find it again in the same location. The unfortunate thing is they seem to pick old rotted trees for their homes. Over the years I have gone back to half a dozen screech owl locations (or more) to find the tree had fallen over in a storm or was taken down due to being a…

18 Oct

THE DIXEY COLLECTION: Sightingseeing trips

Will Dowd0 CommentsColumns, Local History, Local News, Top Stories, Uncategorized

The India Star , from Salem, and the Marblehead ferry Delta, sighseeing trips on a foggy day in 1979. The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer and historian Dan Dixey, who regularly shares photos of Marblehead from his extensive collection, along with information about each shot. Dixey was recently named the Person of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. The India Star from Salem and the Marblehead ferry Delta are seen running sightseeing trips on a foggy day from the State Street…

18 Oct

OUR OPEN SPACES: Looking back at Ware Pond

Will Dowd0 CommentsColumns, Environment, Local News, Top Stories

Ware Pond has been a town-owned conservation area for almost 60 years, but appreciation of its natural beauty extends much further back in history. The earliest records of the Ware Pond area indicate that on May 2, 1636, the neighboring town of Salem granted 500 acres known as the Plains Farm to John Humphrey of Marblehead. Ware Pond from the viewing platform and boardwalk built by the Marblehead Conservancy in 2005. As one historian put it, Humphrey “was given this land to improve and to sell…

18 Oct

MARBLEHEAD CARES: What you should know about the Science of the Positive

Will Dowd0 CommentsColumns, Health, Local News

A conversation among Joanne Miller co-chair Marblehead Mental Health Task Force, and Wendy Kent, member Marblehead Mental Health Task Force; Prevention and Treatment Professional and Michelle Abrams, editor and writer focusing on Health and Wellness. The realities of addiction, overdose and the prevalence of fentanyl in America demand urgency around building successful prevention strategies. The Marblehead Mental Health Task Force sat down with our own Wendy Kent, a prevention and treatment professional, who recently attended a conference at the Montana Institute on the evidence-based Science…

11 Oct

ENDING THE STIGMA: Helping your student cope with anxiety

Leigh Blander0 CommentsColumns, Education, Health, Views & Reviews

Stress seems to be as omnipresent for our students as it is for their parents. The pressure to perform, compete and outpace their peers can feel overwhelming at times.This pressure presents itself most when exams arise or students are called on in class. Stress hormones flood their body as the pressure mounts, making it difficult to think clearly and recall information. We’ve all heard “I studied and knew the material, so I don’t know what happened. I just blanked. I got too nervous.” Wendy Tamis…

11 Oct

FOOD 101: As easy as apple pie

Leigh Blander1 CommentColumns

Some things in life are as easy as apple pie. Not always. My crusts crumble; my apples dissolve into mush under them. When pie is called for, I substitute a crumble or crisp. Pie-baking belongs to cooks talented in that area. Marblehead’s Jimmy Rigo is known to nourish a neighborhood with his homemade pies. He will bake the occasional blueberry pie in deep summer, but apple is his specialty. When Jim takes a pie out of the oven, his wife Anna alerts the neighbors, setting…

11 Oct

Ask Lizzie: How to avoid morning meltdowns

Leigh Blander0 CommentsColumns, Parenting

The Current is proud to welcome columnist Lizzie Assa, founder of The Workspace for Children, a parenting strategist, play expert and mother of three who lives in Marblehead. Send your questions to Lizzie at AskLizzie@marbleheadnews.org. Dear Lizzie, I'm having a hard time getting my elementary schooler out the door in the morning. She's always saying that she doesn't want to go to school. How do I make this less painful for everyone? Dear reader, I write this to you after a morning that left me…

04 Oct

After receiving a cancer diagnosis, I knew I needed a theme for my recovery

Will Dowd0 CommentsColumns, Opinion

"Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes. How do you measure, measure a year?” - “Seasons of Love” from the musical “Rent” For me and mine, this year could be measured in health scares, fears, prayers and, incredibly, joy. On September 27, 2022, I was diagnosed with cancer. After a myriad of tests, I learned I had two cancers, they were forming a third which thankfully never materialized, and I would need a temporary colostomy bag to prevent a possible blockage. My diagnosis changed everything,…

02 Oct

GUEST COLUMN: Boy Scout reflects on an epic hike

Will Dowd0 CommentsColumns, Community Resources, Culture, Environment, Local News, Top Stories

Ten scouts and six adult chaperones from Marblehead’s Scout Troop 11 are back from a two-week hiking trip to Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks over the summer. The Scouts, ages 14 to 18, faced 110 degree temperatures and water shortages. They also braved challenging conditions on the trails, but they persevered and had the trip of a lifetime. Marblehead Scout Troop 11 hiking through Antelope Canyon in Arizona. COURTESY PHOTO Thirst aid The central adventure for the trip…

14 Sep

MARBLEHEAD CHRONICLES: The early signs of Revolution

Will Dowd0 CommentsColumns, Culture, Local History

The causes of the American Revolution are complex, and events leading to the war were as involved as those leading to any war. The extremely unpopular Stamp Act of 1765 imposed a tax on all paper items, from legal documents to playing cards. There is no doubt that the increasing wealth and success of the colonies was a factor, creating a sense of self-reliance. It's no wonder that several successful businessmen prominent in the Revolutionary cause were from Marblehead. In the 1750s and '60s, Marblehead…