Local News

MHS Culture Feast a big hit, students produce video of event
Art, Community resources, Culture, Education, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

MHS Culture Feast a big hit, students produce video of event

More than 150 students, families and residents came out for Marblehead High School's annual Culture Feast on May 19, organized by the METCO program. The night featured several live performances by students, as well as Kenyan singer, writer and activist Wangari Fahari. There was food from around the world, including food trucks Jamaica Mi Hungry, Bon Me and Cookie Monstah. MHS student Tamia Johnson produced a video piece about the evening. Her sister Tamya provided the voiceover. Students Piper Morgan and Alex Hersey recorded the footage. You can watch the video HERE. MHS students enjoy Culture Feast. COURTESY PHOTO
Emergency sewer main repairs to cause detours
Local News, Municipal Matters, Public safety, Top Stories

Emergency sewer main repairs to cause detours

The Marblehead Water & Sewer Commission announced emergency sewer main repairs that will impact traffic on Thursday, June 1, beginning at 7 a.m. "Detours will be in place at the intersections of Elm/Sewall, Elm/Evans, Elm/Pleasant and Elm/Creesy," the town wrote in an email. "Expect trafffic delays." Residences and businesses within the workarea will be accessible but there will be no through traffic.The MBTA has been notified and will be operating a modified route starting at 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning, according to the town. The route will be: inbound Pleasant Street, right onto Washington (by the Three Cod Tavern), a left onto Essex Street from 5 Corners Intersection and then another left onto Pleasant Street and back out of town. The bus will not be accessing any stops past Sta...
Current Events: Marblehead’s best bets May 31-June 7
Art, Community resources, Culture, Entertainment, Life Style, Local News, Top Stories

Current Events: Marblehead’s best bets May 31-June 7

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current associate editor/senior reporter Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org.    Cod & Whale unveiling partyFriday, June 2, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Join the Marblehead Festival of Arts Board and the artists behind this year’s Festival of Cod and Whales on the lawn at Abbot Hall for a launch party. Get the first look at these pieces and raise a glass to kick-off the online auction, which will be live through July 8 and raise funds to support the Festival events and scholarships. RSVP at codauction@marbleheadfestival.org. Classical concertSaturday, June 3, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 4, at 2 p.m. Classical pianist Daniel Adam Maltz ret...
Current launches its comprehensive Election Guide
About Us, Community resources, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Politics, Public safety, Top Stories

Current launches its comprehensive Election Guide

Marblehead voters head to the polls on June 20 to approve or reject a $2.5 million permanent override and elect many town leaders. The Marblehead Current has got you covered with its comprehensive Election Guide that features up-to-date information on the override question and races for Select Board, School Committee, Board of Health, Recreation and Parks Commission, Light Commission and Abbot Public Library Board of Trustees. You'll find news articles, candidate Q&As and statements, editorials and letters to the editors, plus clips of the League of Women Voters of Marblehead's candidate's forum, courtesy of Marblehead TV. Find the Election Guide HERE. The Current will accept election-related letters to the editors until 5 p.m. on Friday, June 16. To submit yours, click here or...
Tradition: Epstein Hillel students hit all the right notes in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’
Art, Education, Local News, Religion

Tradition: Epstein Hillel students hit all the right notes in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’

Epstein Hillel School’s upper school performed three sold-out shows of “Fiddler on the Roof” recently at Marblehead Little Theatre. Under the direction of EHS teachers Leslie Smith-Rosen and Ori Baruch, every student in fifth through eighth grade participated in the play: as actors on stage, assistant directors or as part of the stage crew.   Lily West (left) as Tzeitel, Leah Bruner (middle) as Chava, and Naya Bodner (right) as Hodel in 'Fiddler on the Roof' COURTESY PHOTOS  Epstein Hillel students perform ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ at Marblehead Little Theatre. David Magen (right) as Tevye, Bo Pica (middle) as Perchik, and Bella Bacon (left) as Mendel in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ 
IN MEMORIAM: Remembering Marblehead’s ‘codfather’
Culture, Local News, Obituaries, Top Stories

IN MEMORIAM: Remembering Marblehead’s ‘codfather’

Raymond C. Abbott, the man responsible for the ubiquitous golden codfish carvings adorning Marblehead homes, was laid to rest on May 23. His grandson, Derek Abbott, told the Marblehead Current that his grandfather passed away on April 20 after a period of declining health. He was 93. In the 1990s, Marblehead quickly adopted Abbott's golden codfish, elevating it to the status of other historic symbols gracing homes, including the majestic golden bald eagle and pineapples. Raymond Abbott, left, with his grandson, Derek Abbott, was the mastermind behind Marblehead's distinctive wooden codfish carvings that adorn local homes. COURTESY PHOTO / DEREK ABBOTT The golden cod adorning the facades of homes pays tribute to Marblehead's historical connection to the 17th-century fishing tra...
Supporters tour $10M Abbot Library renovations
Local News, Municipal Matters, Top Stories

Supporters tour $10M Abbot Library renovations

About a dozen Abbot Public Library volunteers and supporters donned hardhats recently for a tour of the Pleasant Street building’s $10 million renovation project. Abbot Public Library Executive Director Kimberly Grad talks with a supporter during a tour for members of the Friends of Abbot Public Library on May 19. CURRENT PHOTOS / NICOLE GOODHUE BOYD “We’re just so excited,” said Kathleen Waslov, president of the nonprofit Friends of Abbot Public Library. “We’re delighted to see how well it’s going — and that it’s on budget.” Town Meeting approved $8.5 million for the renovation in 2021 and supporters have raised another $1.5 million. The construction, which began in January 2023, is about 20% complete and is on schedule to be completed by spring of 2024. In the meantime, the lib...
MHS alum to premiere political thriller at Warwick during reunion
Art, Culture, Education, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories

MHS alum to premiere political thriller at Warwick during reunion

Coming home for your 50th high school reunion can be a little intimidating. Less so for Greg Newberry, who will be premiering a film he wrote, produced and directed at the Warwick Cinema the same weekend as his Marblehead High reunion. A poster for Greg Newberry's movie. It will premiere at the Warwick on June 3. COURTESY PHOTOS The Warwick will screen “Who is Amos Otis?” on Saturday, June 3, at 1 p.m., followed by a Q&A with Newberry. Newberry now lives in Cincinnati where — when he’s not making movies — he works in advertising. “This will be the film’s first screening in a theater,” Newberry said. “It’s fitting that it’s at the Warwick, where I was schooled on film growing up.” Newberry remembers watching classics like “The Godfather” and “Cool Hand Luke” at the Warw...
With bowed heads, Marblehead pauses on Memorial Day
Culture, Local News, Municipal Matters, Top Stories

With bowed heads, Marblehead pauses on Memorial Day

With Old Glory gracefully waving in the wind and heads bowed in reverence, Marblehead came together on Memorial Day to pay homage to those who made “the last full measure of devotion.”  A Cub Scout from Pack 11 holds the American flag as the national anthem is played during the Memorial Day service at Memorial Park on May 29. CURRENT PHOTOS / NICOLE GOODHUE BOYD Hundreds lined Marblehead’s old, narrow streets to watch the parade and descended upon Memorial Park and Waterside Cemetery for ceremonies under a flawless blue sky. At Memorial Park, the parade’s grand marshal, Daniel Genis, 95, a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, received hearty applause and cheers. Marblehead Veterans Agent David Rodgers called Memorial Day "the most expensive holiday on the calendar." "Every hot d...