LETTERS

To the editor:  I love Marblehead. I am proud to call this town my family’s home. And we weathered a storm in our amazing seaside community with our town’s leadership for the last few years, and we are finally coming out on the other side. Why is that? Because our friends and neighbors overwhelmingly voted for change last year, and we need to continue that change in June’s election. Our School Committee is making strides in the right direction. I credit the positive momentum to…

To the editor: For the past 150 years, Abbot Public Library has served as a cornerstone of education, community and culture for the town of Marblehead, providing free access to information, programming, technology and gathering space. Our newly renovated building has strengthened our long-standing community traditions, expanded our digital and physical collections, and supported a transformative surge in community engagement. The library’s broader programming offers a rich blend of practical knowledge, cultural and local history, and other special programs throughout the year, providing residents with…

To the editor, I am writing to express my strong support for Sarah Fox for Marblehead School Committee. Sarah has consistently demonstrated the kind of leadership our schools and community need: thoughtful, courageous and willing to make difficult decisions in the best interest of students and taxpayers alike.  At a time when Marblehead Public Schools struggled to maintain long-term leadership, Sarah played a critical role in negotiating and hiring Superintendent John Robidoux. Given that Mr. Robidoux is the 10th superintendent or interim superintendent since 2005,…

To the editor: With the June 9 override vote approaching, it is important to consider how Marblehead compares to similar communities. For more than 21 years, Marblehead avoided a general override. As a result, our tax burden is now among the lowest of our peers. Today, Marblehead’s average single-family tax bill is approximately $11,100 per year, ranking 16th out of 17 comparable communities according to data from the state Department of Revenue website.  If Question 3 and the trash override both pass, the average tax…

To the editor: I am writing to express my unconditional support of Dr. Julie Selbst for a seat on the Marblehead Board of Health. I have known Julie for about 15 years now, and in that time she has consistently impressed me with her knowledge (about everything!) and her commitment to all that she does, both personally and professionally. She is a formidable woman — wise, forthright, considerate, articulate and caring.  Dr. Selbst is not only a fantastic physician but spent the first 10 years…

To the editor: I’m enthusiastically voting for Erin Noonan for Select Board as she has demonstrated her commitment to Marblehead with clarity, curiosity and courage. When I have conversations with Erin, I am confident she is respectfully listening and telling me her candid views. For an example of how Erin communicates, I recommend reading the Select Board candidate profiles in the Marblehead Current. In just 16 words, Erin answered the first question unequivocally (“Do you support the override this June? If yes, which tier will…

To the editor: Recently, I answered this question for the Current’s Candidates Guide: “Do you support the override this June? Which tier will you vote for and why?” This letter to the editor updates my position based on additional information that I learned this week. The update is important to me because it shows the value of due diligence as a continuous process for decision making.  As election day approaches, I continue to challenge myself to make the best decision possible as a voting member…

To the editor: Last year at this time, the voters of Marblehead overwhelmingly voted for a major change in a School Committee membership desperate for change. Two incumbents each lost by approximately 4,000 votes to two newcomers. In early summer, another incumbent resigned, allowing for a third newcomer to be appointed. Melissa Clucas was that appointee that created a new majority. The change has been positive and dramatic, more than you might reasonably expect. Melissa Clucas was quickly recognized for her fiscal acumen consistent with…

To the editor In memory of… Last week, this retired Marblehead teacher-coach (middle and high school history and head baseball and softball and assistant basketball coach) attended Barbara Kulevich’s meaningful and memorable funeral at Star of the Sea Church. Barbara’s son, Tom, and her daughters, Mary-Beth and Jo-Mary, delivered masterfully a three-part eulogy that captured the true essence of their mother, one of Marblehead’s finest residents who made our town a better place in which to live. In the days following the funeral, I have…

To the editor:  Recently an anti-override group released a position paper opposing a general override and proposing an alternative way forward. While we appreciate that residents are asking tough questions about the override, the paper presents a number of misleading claims and unrealistic assumptions. First, it repeatedly refers to a supposed $1.5 million “surplus” in Question 4 that can simply be redirected to restore services. That is inaccurate. Those funds are already accounted for in the budget that overwhelmingly passed at Town Meeting. Suggesting they…