Recreation - Marblehead Current

01 Aug

Select Board OKs $1.4M in federal pandemic funds for rail trail

Will Dowd0 CommentsCommunity Resources, Environment, Municipal Matters, Recreation, Top Stories, Uncategorized

The Marblehead Select Board approved investing $2.4 million in federal pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act into modernizing financial software, expanding the municipal fiber network and making accessibility upgrades along the Marblehead Rail Trail. Marblehead and Salem jointly acquired the Lead Mills open space in the early 2010s for conservation and recreation purposes. CUTLINE / WILLIAM J. DOWD The board’s largest allotment, $1.43 million, will replace two aging pedestrian bridges over the Forest River near the Lead Mills Conservation Area to enhance…

27 Jul

Fast Mermaid Pursuit Race supports Marblehead domestic violence survivor

Leigh Blander0 CommentsLocal News, Recreation, Sailing

Now in its second year, the Fast Mermaid Pursuit Race, held on Sunday, July 23, featured 54 boats in a race off Marblehead as part of a fundraiser event organized by friends, family and the Boston and Eastern Yacht Clubs for Lindsay Smith, a Marblehead sailor and domestic violence survivor. Jud Smith, along with his wife Cindy, daughter Lindsay, and team, raced on AFRICA last Sunday. At the helm is race organizer Robert ‘Bump’ Wilcox. COURTESY PHOTOS / BRUCE DURKEE Pursuit racing is a variant…

26 Jul

Triumph on the water: Awards distributed at Marblehead Junior Race Week

Will Dowd0 CommentsLife Style, Local News, Recreation, Sailing, Sports, Top Stories, Uncategorized

Awards for the Marblehead Junior Race Week were distributed Wednesday afternoon. The waters of Marblehead Harbor bustled with activity this week as nearly 240 young sailors participated in the annual event. Hosted by Pleon Yacht Club, the event showcased spirited competition across various fleets. Sailors from yacht clubs throughout New England, including those from Harraseeket in Maine and Hingham, Massachusetts, joined the races. Here's a roundup of the top performers, ordered from first place to third place, with photos provided by Celia Dressel: 420 Champ…

24 Jul

Gallery: Summer fun at JCC camps

Leigh Blander0 CommentsCommunity Resources, Local News, Nonprofit corner, Recreation, Sports

Here's a fun photo gallery from summer camps at the JCC in Marblehead, where kids (toddlers to teens) are enjoying the season. At KinderCamp, children two years and nine months through entering kindergarten join in arts and crafts, science and discovery activities, sports and games, musical adventures, puppets, stories and daily swim lessons in the outdoor pool. There are lost of speciality days, too.... including Dino Day. Camp Simchah is for kids entering grades 1-8 and features a traditional camp day, along with specialities like…

24 Jul

‘Barbenheimer’ frenzy coming to Marblehead

Leigh Blander0 CommentsBusiness, Culture, Local News, Recreation, Uncategorized

The summer movie meme frenzy ‘Barbenheimer’ arrives in Marblehead this weekend, with the films and “Oppenheimer” and "Barbie" playing in a double feature at the Warwick Cinema at a discounted price. Both movies debuted last weekend. "There will be one double feature on Saturday, starting at 6 p.m. starting with 'Oppenheimer'. There will be a 15-minute intermission and then 'Barbie' will play," Warwick co-owner Johnny Ray told the Current. The price for the double feature is $27.50, a 10% savings for the two movies, according…

24 Jul

On the waterfront: Jordan’s Launch offers harbor rides

Leigh Blander0 CommentsBusiness, Community Resources, Local News, Recreation, Sailing, Top Stories

“We’ve had a great first year,” Rich Jordan told the Current on a recent summer afternoon about his public launch service, Jordan’s Launch. Stationed at the State Street Landing since last summer, Jordan’s Launch is available to anyone who needs a harbor ride. “We started [Jordan’s Launch] because, out here, there was limited public access,” said Jordan. He explained that people who aren’t members of a yacht club can take his launch, as well as boaters visiting from out of town who need to get…

23 Jul

Race Week begins Monday with the juniors

Leigh Blander0 CommentsLocal News, Recreation, Sailing, Sports, Top Stories

In a tradition dating back to 1889, Race Week returns to Marblehead Harbor on Monday, July 23. Charlie Garrard’s J/105 Merlin rounds the leeward mark en route to a win in the J/105 class at the 2022 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in Marblehead. PAUL TODD/ OUTSIDE IMAGES Junior Race Week kicks things off Monday through Wednesday, with "hundreds of sailors ages 8 to 18 competing in Optimists, C420s and Lasers," according to the website of the Pleon Yacht Club, which hosts the event…

18 Jul

Abbot Public Library happenings, July 20-26, 2023

Will Dowd0 CommentsLocal News, Recreation, Uncategorized

All Abbot Public Library programs take place inside the public library’s temporary location at the Eveleth School, 3 Brook Rd. To register for programs, visit abbotlibrary.org. New Digs The Abbot Public Library is temporarily located at the Eveleth School, 3 Brook Rd., while its Pleasant Street building undergoes a multi-million-dollar renovation. Library Hours Monday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday: Noon to 6 p.m. Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday: 9:30 a.m.…

17 Jul

Like ‘sailing in a dark snow globe’: Marblehead-to-Halifax racers offer glimpse of life on open water

Will Dowd0 CommentsCulture, Environment, Life Style, Local News, Recreation, Sailing, Sports, Top Stories, Uncategorized

Marblehead sailor James Da Silva likened the weather conditions during the Marblehead-to-Halifax race to "sailing in a dark snow globe." Dense fog was a constant companion for sailors in the recent ocean race, exacerbated by headwinds, light air, rain and cold. "The fog adds a new element because you can't see," Da Silva said. "All you could see was fog — you saw the boat’s instruments and maybe the bow." Da Silva, who served as the watch captain for three-to-four-hour shifts aboard Hall Pass, coordinated…

14 Jul

Go back in history with Glover’s Regiment Saturday

Leigh Blander0 CommentsCommunity Resources, Culture, Entertainment, Local History, Local News, Nonprofit corner, Recreation, Top Stories

Glover's Marblehead Regiment is setting up its annual colonial encampment at Fort Sewall on Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and invites the public to visit, ask questions, enjoy refreshments and even shop. GMR is a historical reenacting group honoring the original 14th Continental Regiment led by Marblehead's Col. John Glover during the American War of Independence. Here's what's on tap Saturday: See the fort: Fort Sewall will be transformed into a busy military camp, bustling with soldiers and sailors as well as civilian townspeople and…