Local News - Marblehead Current

School Committee interviews finalists for interim super, decision may come Thursday

2Oct

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Education, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

School Committee interviews finalists for interim super, decision may come Thursday

The School Committee may decide this Thursday on the district's next interim superintendent, after interviewing two finalists Monday evening. Although it was a public meeting, parents, teachers and community members in attendance were not permitted to ask questions. School Committee Chair Sarah Fox said the same rules were in effect in 2019 during the last interim superintendent interviews. Theresa McGuinness answers questions from the School Committee CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER Candidate Theresa McGuinness, former principal at the Village School, said if hired she would like to eventually become the permanent superintendent. The other candidate, Jannell Pearson-Campbell, has worked 23 years in education, most recently as interim superintendent in Northampton. She did not men...

2Oct

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News

18th ANNUAL: Breast Friends Walk set for Oct. 8

Marblehead is gearing up for the 18th annual Breast Friends Walk on Oct. 8 at Devereux Beach. This 2-mile loop event around Marblehead Neck will see supporters from various backgrounds come together to raise funds. The proceeds will aid the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center in its mission to support breast cancer patients. The funds will enhance essential services like transportation, childcare, appointment scheduling and translation — crucial for facilitating early cancer screenings. The Breast Friends Walk shares a deep-rooted connection with Marblehead. Founded in 2006 by Sara Bryant, after her breast cancer diagnosis, the initiative grew under the stewardship of her family and later local champions like Grace Elmer and Emily Lucien. With over $464,848 raised to date, the even...

2Oct

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

School Committee members, acting super say they can’t find deleted texts

Three School Committee members and acting Superintendent Michelle Cresta — who deleted text messages from the weeks when they were discussing the fate of former superintendent John Buckey — say they can not retrieve the texts, after being ordered by the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office to try. “Ms. Cresta, Ms. Fox and Ms. Taylor confirmed that they followed up with their cell phone carrier and the text messages could not be retrieved,” wrote Lisa Dimier, the district’s public records officer, referring to School Committee Chair Sarah Fox and member Alison Taylor. Top left,clockwise: Acting superintendent Michelle Cresta, School Committee Chair Sarah Fox, member Alison Taylor, member Jenn Schaeffner Dimier included information from School Committee member Jenn Schaeffner. “...

2Oct

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Local News, Public safety, Top Stories

Accident sends juvenile on bike to hospital

A juvenile riding a bicycle was rushed to the hospital this morning after an accident involving a car at the corner of West Shore Drive and Shorewood Road. The juvenile was not wearing a helmet. The car was turning from West Shore onto Shorewood at 7:45 a.m. when it collided with the cyclist. Police Chief Dennis King tells the Current that the juvenile’s injuries were minor. The driver is not being cited. King said he remembers another car/bicycle accident on West Shore within the last year. It is a very busy area during school drop-off hours. “Since I’ve been here we’ve done a lot of selective enforcement for speeding,” King said. “There is a speed feedback sign by the Tower School and by the cemetery [on West Shore Drive].” King pointed out speeding was not a factor in this mor...

2Oct

By Clive ConnollyNo Comments

Columns, Community resources, Culture, Environment, Local News, Top Stories

GUEST COLUMN: Boy Scout reflects on an epic hike

Ten scouts and six adult chaperones from Marblehead’s Scout Troop 11 are back from a two-week hiking trip to Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks over the summer. The Scouts, ages 14 to 18, faced 110 degree temperatures and water shortages. They also braved challenging conditions on the trails, but they persevered and had the trip of a lifetime. Marblehead Scout Troop 11 hiking through Antelope Canyon in Arizona. COURTESY PHOTO Thirst aid The central adventure for the trip was backpacking at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The Scouts split into two groups. The older Scouts descended to the bottom of the Canyon and the younger scouts hiked along the edge of the north rim, gaining some great views into the canyon. The older crew backpacke...

2Oct

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Police Log, Public safety

POLICE LOG: MPD responds to fraudulent checks, speeding car, debit account hack

Excerpts from the Marblehead police log Sept. 18-25. Consistent with state law, Marblehead Police have adopted a policy of not providing media outlets reports related to incidents involving domestic violence, juveniles and matters that remain under investigation. Sept. 20 1:32 p.m. — Officer Nicholas Michaud was dispatched to the station lobby concerning a fraud report. Upon arrival, the reporting party, a male, informed the officer that he is the owner of a Salem business. The individual reported that his bookkeeper discovered an unauthorized check written for $23,44.40 and a subsequent review revealed an earlier check written for $36,226. Both checks, which did not originate from his standard checkbook, were cashed on August 24. The reporting party communicated with his distrib...

2Oct

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Education, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

Today: School Committee holds public interviews with interim super candidates, vote possible

The School Committee meets today, Oct. 2, at 5 p.m., for public interviews with two finalists for the district’s interim superintendent position. Details of the meeting and how people can join in person or on Zoom are HERE. One of the candidates is a familiar face: Theresa McGuinness, who was the Village School principal from 2012 to 2016. The other candidate is Jannell D. Pearson-Campbell, who recently completed an interim superintendent job in western Massachusetts. The two finalists for Marblehead’s interim superintendent job — Jannell D. Pearson-Campbell, left, and Theresa McGuinness — were set for public interviews on Monday, Oct. 2. COURTESY PHOTOS McGuinness was a finalist when Marblehead hired a permanent superintendent in 2020. That job ultimately went to John Buckey...

2Oct

By Joe McConnellNo Comments

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Sports, Top Stories

In wildly competitive game, Magicians lose to undefeated Peabody

Marblehead High football coach Jim Rudloff said after the game against North Andover, his team’s fourth straight non-league loss to begin the 2023 season, that the Northeastern Conference divisional season is right around the corner with all the preseason goals still intact. Rudloff was not talking about last Friday night’s game at Peabody. He was actually referring to the games against Masco and Beverly over the next two weeks. “Moving forward, we are fortunate enough that our (divisional schedule) doesn’t start for another week against Masco,” said Rudloff after the North Andover game. “And with that said our goals remain the same, and that’s to have a winning record, win the (division), make the playoffs and win a state championship. As of right now, all of those goals are still ...

1Oct

By Joe McConnellNo Comments

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Sports

MHS boys cross-country repeats as Ocean State Invitational champs

For the second year in a row, the Marblehead High boys cross-country team came out on top in the Varsity 2 race during the annual Ocean State Invitational at Goddard State Park in Warwick, Rhode Island, on Sept. 23. The Magicians accumulated 121 points, outdistancing Point Pleasant Boro, New Jersey, the second-place squad, by 35 points. The Garden State harriers accounted for 156 points. Danvers, a familiar rival, came in third with 158 points. The Marblehead High boys cross-country team is all smiles after winning the Ocean State Invitational for the second year in a row on Sept. 23. They are, from left, coach Brian Heenan, Henrik Adams, Will Cerrutti, Will Cruikshank, Nate Assa, Isaac Gross, Will Cronin and Ryan Blestowe. COURTESY PHOTO The Marblehead boys were led by Isaac Gro...

1Oct

By Joe McConnellNo Comments

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Sports

MHS boys soccer drops three straght, look to bounce back against Salem, Beverly

The Marblehead High boys soccer team (2-5-2) plummeted back to earth last week, losing three straight games after it previously had defeated Peabody and Saugus. On Saturday, Sept. 23, the Magicians traveled to Andover to face the Golden Warriors, only to lose by the narrowest of margins, 2-1. It was also the first time this fall they had played on natural grass. Host Andover was able to surge ahead to take an early lead after striking a bullet through traffic midway through the first half. They then scored another one just before halftime. Marblehead High boys soccer player Luke Miller surveys the field during the Masco game last week. COURTESY PHOTOS The Marblehead High boys soccer team huddles up before the Masco game on the Chieftains’ Boxford campus last week. Marbleh...