Letters to the Editor

LETTER: Take a closer look at traffic enforcement
Letters to the Editor, Opinion

LETTER: Take a closer look at traffic enforcement

Last month, the Marblehead Police Department deployed electronic signs alerting drivers that April was Distracted Driving Awareness Month. What the MPD did not do was enforce the laws enacted to deter distracted driving. Only two citations were issued for violations of the state’s “hands free” law, according to the police log, with two more stops ending in “verbal warnings.” What’s more, of the 73 citations issued during the month, 40 were issued over the course of just three days, 21 of those on a single day. Eleven days show no citations issued at all. These data are available to anyone, although they are laborious to extract and are not always complete. (I’d welcome someone to check my figures.) What they say about how traffic law enforcement actually works in small towns — and i...
LETTER: ‘A triumphant return to Bournedale’
Letters to the Editor, Opinion

LETTER: ‘A triumphant return to Bournedale’

To the editor: It is hard to describe what I witnessed as a chaperone on the Village School's sixth-grade trip to Camp Bournedale last week — the first Bournedale since it was canceled in 2020 — but here goes nothing. The traditional Bournedale trip was canceled in 2020 and remained canceled for the two subsequent years. This year represented a triumphant return. And what a triumph it was! I observed the pure joy of a bunch of sixth-graders off their phones, playing, fishing, dancing and singing, throwing themselves into theme nights and karaoke and Project Adventure. Taking care of each other. Working out conflict in person, face-to-face, rather than over group chats. Understanding the behavior expectations and working together to protect this time-honored Marblehead tradition f...
Letter to the editor: Light Commissioner Adam Smith has the insight and skills we need
Letters to the Editor

Letter to the editor: Light Commissioner Adam Smith has the insight and skills we need

To the editor: Last fall, I was one of eight Marblehead residents who interviewed with members of the Select Board and Marblehead Light Commission to fill a vacant commission seat. I was not selected. The nine-member joint committee picked Adam Smith instead. Despite this, I have remained interested in the work of the Light commissioners (including serving on a subcommittee) as they, along with GM Joe Kowalik, grapple with current and future supply and infrastructure challenges. After watching their work over several meetings, it has become clear to me that the joint committee made the right choice in selecting Adam. Adam is thoughtful, even keeled, and has the insight and skills we need on the Light Commission. He has worked tirelessly to get up to speed quickly and contribute t...
LETTER: Outgoing library trustee thanks Marblehead community 
Letters to the Editor, Opinion

LETTER: Outgoing library trustee thanks Marblehead community 

To the editor: First, a sincere thanks to all Marblehead voters who supported my candidacy for Abbot Public Library Trustee over the last three terms. It has been a privilege to serve our town for the last nine years and to work with the community leaders who have served on the Board and committees with me. Libraries are, after all, the great equalizers in our society — free for all and champions of continuous learning and intellectual freedom. As a teacher and writer, I know this. My nine years on the Board have been anything but dull! They have been busy, pivotal years as we hired the architectural firm of Johnson Roberts Associates from Somerville, and began the process for a much-needed structural renovation of our library building that will meet the needs of a 21st-century libr...
Letter to the Editor: Thank you, Essex Tech
Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Thank you, Essex Tech

We are writing to publicly thank students and staff from Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School, who came to Marblehead to help plant the native species garden at Chandler Hovey Park on April 24 and 25. Sustainable Marblehead worked with the Marblehead Recreation and Parks Department coordinating with garden designer Larry Simpson to plan and prepare for the installation of the garden, which was financed with donated funds from the Hannaway family.We also thank Marblehead’s Mark Strout, school committee chair for Essex North Shore, for his help to start the process and the many other volunteers who made this project possible. Palma BickfordSustainable Marblehead
Letter to the editor: Ota has strong record of service
Letters to the Editor

Letter to the editor: Ota has strong record of service

To the editor: I will be supporting resident and former long-time Glover Elementary School principal Brian Ota in his desire to serve on the School Committee, and I hope you will too. Knowing Brian for more than a decade, I was pleased to learn about his decision to serve in this important role, and I can’t think of a better or more qualified candidate.  Brian’s years in the United States Marine Corps instilled in him the values of dedication, honor, reliability, attention to detail and service to others. He has clearly carried those values with him throughout his life and into the education profession. As the Glover School principal, these traits made him an excellent role model for both the children and his colleagues.  As an early morning riser myself, I regularly sa...
LETTER: An unpleasant stroll
Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Views & Reviews

LETTER: An unpleasant stroll

To the editor: I gave birth to my first daughter this spring. My husband grew up in Marblehead, and we are temporarily staying with his mom as we adjust to parenthood and get some renovations done at our home. The coastline and neighborhoods of Marblehead have been places I enjoyed walking in my final weeks of pregnancy, and until recently, my first few weeks of motherhood with my little one — when weather and outerwear allow.  On a sunny but windy afternoon, on Sunday, April 2, I put my daughter in a baby carrier and zipped my oversized fleece around her and I. Baby gets to stay warm and sleep, mom gets fresh air and some exercise. As I began walking on the causeway towards the Neck, a silver Saab drove by full of teenagers. One stuck his head at the window and said, “What the f**...
LETTER: ‘What’s up with the Tree Department?’
Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Views & Reviews

LETTER: ‘What’s up with the Tree Department?’

I was pleased to see our tree warden helping with the Sustainable Marblehead tree planting efforts. Giving guidance and helping volunteers planting along Cornell and Dartmouth Streets is commendable. I’m not pleased that two phone calls to his office, one in mid-January and again on February 17, were a disappointing waste of time.  The messages left with the office worker asked that some of the newly-planted trees along Atlantic Avenue’s commercial zone be pruned.   During the second call, I was told the project was “on the list” of things to be done.  Given the simple task required to nip off the shoulder and eye level sprigs would be a max of five to 10 minutes, I politely offered to do it.   What’s up with the Tree Department? Who is steerin...
LETTER: STEAM fair article exhibited gender bias
Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Views & Reviews

LETTER: STEAM fair article exhibited gender bias

To the editor: My child participated in the recent STEAM fair at the Brown School. She loves science and is quite the foodie. While it would mean a tight timeline and my assistance as an already overloaded parent, I was wholeheartedly in support when she exclaimed, “I want to participate!” We went onto the website that very night. “Objective for your project and title?” “I want to create a healthier energy drink that has less sugar and no caffeine. My title is Energy Drink 2.0.” How she came up with the idea, I have no idea. I got out every ingredient I could find for her to consider. She began, “Coconut water and spinach to start.” “Too green…kids will never drink that! Let’s add strawberries to make it pink!” “Oh no, it turned brown. Let’s add blueberries and make it purple!...
LETTER: Kudos to new town moderator, assistant
Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Views & Reviews

LETTER: Kudos to new town moderator, assistant

To the Editor, I would like to congratulate Moderator Jack Attridge and Assistant Moderator Cindy Schieffer on their debut Town Meeting. This was not an easy one to start with as it featured 50 + articles and an override. Along the way there were a few unexpected twists and turns to say the least. But they kept it going through three nights and got the business of the town done.   It is worth saying, by law, moderators have quite a bit of unilateral power. But I commend Mr. Attridge’s conservative approach to his first meeting and not over reaching. While this led to some grumbling about early vote calls and adjournment, in the end those were decisions of Town Meeting members. This was the right approach for a freshman moderator. I look forward to next year’s Town Meeting. Ji...