Culture - Marblehead Current

Banner year for the Glover’s Regiment march

31Jan

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Culture, Local History, Local News, Top Stories

Banner year for the Glover’s Regiment march

It was a chilly and clear night for Glover’s Marblehead Regiment’s annual march from the Old Town House to Old Burial Hill to pay homage to Gen. John Glover. As the sun retreated, Capt. Seamus Daly led the march as a banner-year crowd of about 150 people trailed behind the single-file line of reenactors. Members of Glover’s Marblehead Regiment tell the story of how the famous Marblehead general helped George Washington cross the Delaware River in the Revolutionary War. : Locals join Revolutionary War reenactors as they march in the annual funeral procession from the Old Town House to the former home of General John Glover on Sat., Jan. 29. Reenactors prepare to march outside Gen. John Glover’s former home during the Glover’s Marblehead Regiment funeral march...

Marblehead Little Theatre’s ‘Party?’ delivers a funny, bittersweet punch

26Jan

By Linda WerbnerNo Comments

Culture, Entertainment, Local News, Nonprofit corner, Top Stories

Marblehead Little Theatre’s ‘Party?’ delivers a funny, bittersweet punch

Stella Adler, the founder of the prestigious Stella Adler Studio of Acting, whose alumni include Robert De Niro, Salma Hayek and Marlon Brando, famously observed that "the theatre is a spiritual and social X-ray of its time." "Party?," the new ensemble comedy which opened at the Marblehead Little Theater on Jan. 20, does just that. This wicked, witty romp, which the play's author and Marblehead resident, Anne M. Lucas, aptly describes as a cross-pollination of Ibsen's "A Doll's House" meets Neil Simon, packs a bittersweet punch as it takes the audience on a rollicking spiritual and social X-ray of three marriages — couples in their 20s, 50s and 70s. With its spot-on comic timing and spitfire exchanges, "Party?" nimbly captures multiple relationship crossroads in a funny, take...

Dynamic duo: Ashley, brother-in-law with Down syndrome team on striking images

25Jan

By Kris OlsonNo Comments

Culture, Local News, Nonprofit corner, Top Stories

Dynamic duo: Ashley, brother-in-law with Down syndrome team on striking images

Michael is shown as a pensive hunter in the first of a series of images in which he sports one of his beloved Superman outfits. COURTESY PHOTO / RICK ASHLEY Nearly five decades ago, Marblehead photographer Rick Ashley quickly forged a tight bond with his brother-in-law, Michael. There was a memorable trip to Disney World. Other times, they would just hang out. But that Michael, who has Down syndrome, would come to serve as the centerpiece of a series of images that would gain national acclaim is something of a happy accident. Residents can see many of those same images on display in the Larrabee Gallery at the Marblehead Arts Association through Feb. 26. The project with Michael began when Ashley learned from his neighbor, accomplished photography editor, author and publish...

The Dixey Collection: Meet the keeper of 5,000 Marblehead photographs

18Jan

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Culture, Local History, Local News, Top Stories

The Dixey Collection: Meet the keeper of 5,000 Marblehead photographs

The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer Dan Dixey, who will be sharing photos from his extensive collection, along with information about each shot, in our print and online editions. “Each picture is a frozen moment.” So says Dan Dixey, who has collected more than 5,000 photographs of Marblehead dating back to the 1860s and chronicling life here in town. Photographer Dan Dixey has collected more than 5,000 pictures of Marblehead. COURTESY PHTO / MELISSA DIXEY “Each picture makes me wonder what else was going on around it and how my family was a part of what was going on,” Dixey told the Marblehead Current. Dixey is an 11th-generation Marbleheader. “William Dixey sailed over on one of the first English ships and settled in Salem in 1629, when Salem en...

Marblehead time capsule: Mutiny on the Hannah

18Jan

By Mark HurwitzNo Comments

Culture, Local History, Top Stories

Marblehead time capsule: Mutiny on the Hannah

I am sure everybody has heard of the mutiny on the H.M.S. Bounty. Capt. Nicholson Broughton's home at 5 Lee St. COURTESY PHOTO Whether you read about it in school or saw the Anthony Hopkins film, it was an exciting tale about life at sea in the 18th century. For those not familiar with it, here is a brief history of the events: In April of 1789, Fletcher Christian, the master’s mate on the H.M.S. Bounty, led a successful mutiny against Lt. Bligh. Bligh was an oppressive commander and insulted those under him. On April 28, near the island of Tonga, Fletcher Christian and his fellow mutineers took the ship by force. Bligh and 18 of his loyal crew were set adrift in a small boat with food, water, and a sextant. To the amazement of many, Lt. Bligh and his men safely reached ...

In Marblehead, Me&Thee kicks off winter season

16Jan

By Submitted ContentNo Comments

Culture, Entertainment, Life Style, Local News

In Marblehead, Me&Thee kicks off winter season

From the vibrant rhythms of Brazil to a homegrown talent from Marblehead, from the melodies of two young mothers who were rock stars to a father and son birthday performance, Me&Thee Music opens its winter season with a compellingly varied lineup. The schedule kicks off with the warm sounds of Brazilian Jazz and bossa nova by the Teresa Ines Quintet on Friday, Feb. 3, beginning at 8 p.m. The warm Brazilian jazz of the Teresa Ines Quintet opens the winter season at Me&Thee Music on Friday, Feb. 3. No-Fee Tickets and Information are available at: meandthee.org. COURTESY PHOTO / ME&THEE Ines, born in Rio de Janeiro, has performed to sold-out houses at the world-famous Zinc Bar in New York City, the Regattabar and Ryles in Cambridge, as well as in concert halls across Eu...

Christmas tree bonfire draws hundreds to Riverhead Beach

9Jan

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Culture, Local News, Top Stories

Christmas tree bonfire draws hundreds to Riverhead Beach

Hundreds of bundled-up Marbleheaders turned out for the annual Christmas tree bonfire at Riverhead Beach on a bitterly cold Friday evening, following a light snow and a week of near-constant precipitation. “For the first time in a long time, and I’ve been doing this for a long time, it was a slow start,” Fire Chief Jason Gilliland told the Marblehead Current as the bonfire raged behind him. “It's been raining for the last three or four days, so the trees were quite wet.” The pile of Christmas trees was much smaller and less impressive than years past, the chief said, even after the Department of Public Works collected them around town following the holidays. Some residents even dropped by on Friday night to hand theirs over to firefighters, who then threw them directly onto the inf...

State Rep.-elect Jenny Armini gets sworn in today, restoring 8th Essex District representation

4Jan

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Culture, Local News, Politics, Top Stories

State Rep.-elect Jenny Armini gets sworn in today, restoring 8th Essex District representation

State Rep.-elect Jenny Armini gets sworn into office today, restoring the 8th Essex District's representation in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Her oath of office comes nearly a year after her predecessor, former state Rep. Lori Ehrlich, resigned in January of 2022 for a job with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Marblehead Current sat down with Armini in the fall to discuss what she hopes to do on Beacon Hill; the newspaper's story from that interview can be found below. Jenny Armini was recently in Pleasant Street’s Starbucks when, in relatively short order, it became apparent in at least one way why she topped a six-way primary for the 8th Essex District Democratic nomination in September. “Hi Jake,” Armini said to the barista, clad in a red apron, be...

From Kyiv to Marblehead: A mother and son find a safe haven

24Dec

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Culture, Local News, Top Stories

From Kyiv to Marblehead: A mother and son find a safe haven

Artem is 5 years old and a ball of energy. He jumps on his mother’s lap as she sits on a couch in the living room of their Gregory Street home. She half cradles him, and he brings his face really close to Oxana’s for a nose-to-nose kiss. He is Oxana’s entire world, and the tender exchange showed the strong maternal bond that the two have forged together - one that has perhaps intensified under extraordinary and harrowing circumstances. No place for children Roughly 10 months ago, the pair was surviving in a war-torn Ukraine, living in and out of overcrowded Kyiv basements that doubled as makeshift bomb shelters as Russia attacked their country. Artem’s father stayed behind to fight. “It was no place for anyone, especially children,” said Oxana. “We made our way to the t...

22Dec

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Culture, Local History, Local News, Top Stories

It’s a wonderful (mini) Marblehead!

Chicki Curtis stands next to her mini Marblehead village depicting the town during winter. COURTESY PHOTOS / SHARON DOLIBER ...And then there was another one and another one and another one. The Old Town House as depicted in Chicki Curtis’ miniature Marblehead village. That’s how Marblehead resident Chicki Curtis, in part, tells the story behind her sprawling miniature replica of Marblehead, depicting the town blanketed in white powder during the holiday season. The mini village, now on display in the Gerry 5, features several local landmarks and hundreds of little pieces - trees, animals, children, cars - to capture Marblehead at the turn of the 20th century. “We lost several pieces the last couple of years somehow, but if you count everything there is...