Health - Marblehead Current

29 Feb

CURRENT EVENTS: Best bets coming up in Marblehead

Leigh Blander0 CommentsArt, Community Resources, Culture, Health, Local News, Nonprofit corner, Top Stories

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming days. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current Editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. Singer/songwriter Vance GilbertFriday, March 1, 8 p.m. Enjoy live music with folk and Americana singer/songwriter Vance Gilbert at Me & Thee Music. Gilbert has shared stages with icons like Aretha Franklin and Arlo Guthrie, and opened stand-up shows for George Carlin and “Mad About You” star Paul Reiser. Show starts at 8 p.m. at 28 Mugford St. For more info and tickets,…

29 Feb

Marblehead Y Happenings: Making mental health a top priority

Will Dowd0 CommentsColumns, Health, Life Style, Local News, Recreation

Welcoming executive director of mental wellness The Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA recently hired Ranjeev Benjamin as executive director of mental wellness. COURTESY PHOTO Introducing Ranjeev Benjamin, the Y's executive director of mental wellness, a newly created role focused on addressing the growing need to combat mental health challenges and support mental wellness programming, training and services. Ranjeev is part of the YMCA of the North Shore's association staff that supports the Marblehead Y. Ranjeev has more than 15 years of experience in community mental health and…

28 Feb

Neighbor to run Boston Marathon in honor of teen battling cancer

Leigh Blander0 CommentsHealth, Local News, Top Stories

John Prindiville has special motivation as he trains for the Boston Marathon this spring — his neighbor and daughter’s friend Caroline Noonan, who is battling cancer. “What she’s gone through is heroic,” Prindiville told the Current recently. John Prindiville is running the Boston Marathon in honor of neighbor Caroline Noonan, who is in cancer treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital. COURTESY PHOTO Noonan, 13, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma last year and is in treatment. Her mother is Select Board Chair Erin Noonan. Prindiville’s daughter is…

28 Feb

ENDING THE STIGMA: Taking the plunge: Benefits of cold exposure therapy

Will Dowd0 CommentsColumns, Health, Opinion, Viewpoints

I was born with a water phobia. I’m aware of how strange that sounds given the “watery” womb and all. Prior to last November, I could count on one hand how many times I’ve been in the ocean since my dad carried me there. But last November, I started “polar plunging.” I’d been watching the Wolf Pack plunge at Devereux Beach for months. But for years prior when I saw this behavior I’d say, “I would never do that. It’s just crazy! What possesses people?” Yet,…

14 Feb

Local families change thousands of lives at New England Disabled Sports

Leigh Blander0 CommentsHealth, Local News, Nonprofit corner, Sports, Top Stories

Chris Baylow of Marblehead has a family member with autism spectrum disorder who loves sports but had trouble keeping up with his teammates. “I used to coach baseball, and he was the only kid who couldn’t hit my pitching,” Baylow remembers. Then, Baylow’s family discovered New England Disabled Sports at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire. Owen Anketell uses a sit ski to race down the slopes. COURTESY PHOTOS “It was like magic,” Baylow said. “He took to the program so well, and it opened…

06 Feb

Health Board hit with racist, pornographic Zoombomb

Leigh Blander0 CommentsHealth, Local News, Municipal Matters, Public safety, Top Stories

***This story was updated at 8 p.m. with a joint statement from the town, police chief and public health director. Police are investigating a racist and pornographic Zoombombing incident during the Board of Health's hybrid meeting Monday evening. During an in-person presentation by HAWC, written messages, drawings and video appeared on the Zoom screen several times before the Board recessed for 15 minutes and called police. One message read, "Kill all n-----s." A police officer arrived and spoke with Public Health Director Anderw Petty. The…

31 Jan

MHS student-athletes encourage peers to talk about mental health challenges

Leigh Blander0 CommentsHealth, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Nonprofit corner, Sports, Top Stories

Marblehead High School student-athlete Maddie Forbes knows the pressure of earning good grades and performing at a high level on the field or court. Forbes feels the stress “when school work is piled up and the team is going through some troubles… just a bunch of factors that pile up on top of each other,” she said. Morgan’s Message ambassadors are, from left, Maddie Forbes, Ramona Gillett, Kate Burns and Maddy Bontaites. The students spoke at a recent MHS basketball game about mental health. COURTESY…

24 Jan

What’s happening at the JCCNS

Leigh Blander0 CommentsCommunity Resources, Health, Nonprofit corner, Sports

The JCC of the North Shore, 4 Community Rd., is adding new equipment to its award-winning fitness center, including ellipticals, a chin/dip machine and a Magnum platform for lifting weights. The J also has two Pilates reformer machines, and members and guests can schedule private or duo lessons with trainers. Some of the J’s most popular fitness classes include: Spin Aqua Splash DanceEnergy Kids Strength Personal training on-site or at home Also, check out the pop-up Boxing Bootcamp on Saturday, Jan. 20, 10:00 a.m. The…

24 Jan

ENDING THE STIGMA: Taking your New Year’s resolutions beyond Jan. 12

Will Dowd0 CommentsColumns, Health, Viewpoints

Surveys show that being healthier is consistently the most popular New Year’s resolution across the globe, starting with eating healthier, then exercising more, smoking and drinking less and, of course, losing weight. Then comes self-improvement, followed by psychological health (less stress, etc.). This sounds great until Jan. 12, which is when most people have given up on their resolutions. Here are three reasons why we give up on our hopes and dreams in less than two weeks. Wendy Tamis Robbins COURTESY PHOTO 1. The motivational…

17 Jan

‘Headers helping ‘Headers: Blood drive call

Leigh Blander0 CommentsCommunity Resources, Health, Local News, Nonprofit corner

Select Board Chair Erin Noonan, whose daughter is fighting cancer, is letting the community know about a Red Cross blood drive at the Gerry 5 on Thursday, Feb. 8, 9 a.m.-7 p.m, at 210 Beacon Street. Noonan's daughter, Caroline, was recently diagnosed with the pediatric cancer Ewing sarcoma. (Read a letter Noonan wrote to the community last month. Caroline Noonan COURTESY PHOTO “Among other needs, cancer patients rely on blood transfusions throughout treatment,” Noonan told the Current on Jan. 17. “There’s been a national shortage I…