Current Editorials - Marblehead Current

17 Dec

EDITORIAL: An easy “yes”

The Current Editorial BoardCurrent Editorials, Local News, Municipal Matters

As the Current recently reported, voters statewide do not seem like they will get the chance to repeal the MBTA Communities Act in next November’s election, as the proponent of such a question, John T. Kolackovsky of Rockport, does not appear to have gathered the required 74,574 certified signatures by the Dec. 3 deadline. One measure that has cleared the initial hurdle is long overdue, however. This proposed law would make most records held by the Legislature and the governor’s office public records under the…

10 Dec

EDITORIAL: Say it to my face

The Current Editorial BoardCurrent Editorials, Opinion

Cooler heads seem to be prevailing as town leaders resume following through on their pledge to minimize the harm caused by youth substance use in response to the town’s most recent tragedy, the crash that cost 13-year-old Savanah Gatchell her life. For that, we are grateful — the topic is too important to let the conversation get derailed by personality conflicts or breaches of protocol. But before we turn the page, it is worth reviewing the conflict involving Board of Health member Tom McMahon, Police…

19 Nov

EDITORIAL: On e-bikes, a good first step

The Current Editorial BoardCurrent Editorials

E-bikes offer fast, accessible transportation in Marblehead, helping reduce car traffic and pollution. They improve mobility for all ages but must be used safely and in accordance with road rules to protect everyone. Since 2020, there have been seven minor e-bike and car accidents in Marblehead. As e-bike use increases, however, more incidents may occur. Massachusetts allows two types of e-bikes — Class 1 and Class 2 — to be ridden by all ages without a license or registration. Without modification, each of these types…

05 Nov

EDITORIAL: Make a healthy choice

The Current Editorial BoardCommunity Resources, Current Editorials

Have you taken the Creating a Healthier Marblehead survey yet? If not, time is running out. The window to respond to the survey will close in about 10 days, Board of Health Chairman Dr. Thomas Massaro reports. Here’s why we think you should find time within that span to answer the series of questions. First, while it has become fashionable to complain that elected officials are out of touch and unresponsive to their constituents, this stands as a counterexample. Our Board of Health is not…

15 Oct

EDITORIAL: A teachable moment

The Current Editorial BoardCurrent Editorials, Opinion

We share the heartbreak and disappointment that the Marblehead High School community — and the broader community — has to confront a disturbing act of bias, the scrawling of swastikas, the n-word and other graffiti in the school’s bathrooms, for which a 15-year-old male student is facing juvenile charges. Our local educators are no doubt familiar with a number of helpful online guides to assist educators in responding to such bias incidents, as Superintendent John Robidoux has already demonstrated an understanding of what a proper…

08 Oct

Editorial: The pink of health

The Current Editorial BoardCurrent Editorials, Local News

A decade ago, then-Vice President Joe Biden launched the Cancer Moonshot initiative, an ambitious attempt to cut cancer deaths in half over a 25-year period. By some estimates, more than four million lives could be saved. Relaunched in 2022, the program grew to embrace hundreds of government actions and institutional allies, including a wide array of academic institutions, nonprofits and patient groups. All had meaningful stakes in saving and improving the lives of millions. For President Biden, who oversaw formation of a Cabinet-level cancer task…

01 Oct

Editorial: Time to change the culture

The Current Editorial BoardCurrent Editorials, Local News

In the aftermath of the tragic death of 13-year-old Savanah Gatchell in August, efforts are underway in some quarters of town to more aggressively address the issues of substance abuse and mental health. Immediately following Savanah’s death, the Marblehead Counseling Center made therapists available to provide grief counseling, and it has coordinated efforts with the victim-witness division of the Essex County District Attorney’s Office to assist persons who may have been witnesses to the accident. A Marblehead juvenile has been charged with motor vehicle homicide.…

17 Sep

CURRENT EDITORIAL: Marblehead’s youth and AI

The Current Editorial BoardCurrent Editorials

Recent news about Marblehead schools continuing to implement artificial intelligence policies as part of their educational framework is very welcome news. Artificial intelligence — easily accessible from any digital device — is quickly affecting our children’s academic lives. AI presents enormous opportunities for students to expand their knowledge, challenge their thinking, spark creativity and build new skills. Building AI literacy will help prepare our children for today’s digital world. That is why school leaders deserve kudos for the district’s AI Steering Committee, led by Assistant…

10 Sep

EDITORIAL: Waiting for the hammer to fall

The Current Editorial BoardCurrent Editorials

As of this writing, a letter that town officials are expecting has still not yet arrived. That letter — from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and Gov. Maura Healey — will make it official that there will be no exemption from the MBTA Communities Act for Marblehead. The state is doing the town no favors by leaving it in limbo, and it should send the promised letter as soon as possible. Once that letter arrives, however, the question becomes: What now? That…

04 Sep

Editorial: The boys (and girls) of summer

The Current Editorial BoardCurrent Editorials, Local News

Labor Day arrived early this year — doesn’t it always seem to? — and with it the traditional end of summer, no matter what the calendar tells us. For many, a fresh school year is just beginning. For others, a new job or household routine. Some are now adjusting to the familial nest feeling emptier than a year ago. The days grow shorter, too. While bittersweet, summer’s unofficial passing is also a time for weighing priorities and resetting goals as we look ahead, even as…