Top Stories - Marblehead Current

MHS student, Scout leads greenhouse groundbreaking

19Sep

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Education, Environment, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

MHS student, Scout leads greenhouse groundbreaking

After more than two years and 400 hours of work, Marblehead High School senior and Scout Tyler Earp joined Acting Superintendent Michelle Cresta and other school leaders — all with shovels in hand — for a groundbreaking for Earp’s greenhouse project. “I’m so glad to see this coming to fruition,” Earp said. “It will be nice to see it here.” Earp started working on his greenhouse idea, an Eagle Scout project, in February of 2021. At the groundbreaking for a greenhouse at Marblehead High School are, from left, Groom Construction’s Dwight Groom, architect Jeff Tucker, Tyler Earp, Acting Superintendent Michele Cresta, MHS Assistant Principals Lindsay Donaldson and Dan Richards, and Principal Michele Carlson. CURRENT PHOTOS/LEIGH BLANDER “There were six months of planning, three mo...

Corinthian Yacht Club places second in the Rolex International Invitational Cup

18Sep

By Leigh Blander and Laurie FullertonNo Comments

Local News, Recreation, Sailing, Sports, Top Stories

Corinthian Yacht Club places second in the Rolex International Invitational Cup

Nineteen teams from 14 countries competed in the eighth Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, a biennial regatta hosted by the New York Yacht Club in Newport, Rhode Island. Marblehead’s Corinthian Yacht Club, a first-time participant in this invitational, placed second with 54 points. Since the event was first run in 2009, it has attracted top amateur sailors from 51 of the world's most prestigious yacht clubs from 22 countries. The San Diego Yacht Club won the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup delivering aconsistently strong performance over the week with a score of 43 points overall. Photo of the Corinthian Yacht Club team sailing upwind during the recent Rolex International Invitational event in Newport. COURTESY PHOTOS / BRUCE DURKEE A fleet of spinnakers fro...

‘Less bridge, more rail trail’: Marblehead rethinks use of $1.4M COVID-19 funds

18Sep

By Will DowdNo Comments

Life Style, Local News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Recreation, Top Stories

‘Less bridge, more rail trail’: Marblehead rethinks use of $1.4M COVID-19 funds

After hearing from several disappointed residents, town officials adjusted their plans to use $1.4 million in federal COVID-19 relief money to reconstruct two aging bridges along the Marblehead Rail Trail. A section of the Marblehead Rail Trail at Lead Mills to undergo improvements as part of a phased expansion plan funded by redirected federal COVID-19 relief money. CURRENT PHOTO / WILLIAM J. DOWD After hearing from residents that they viewed maintenance of the well-traversed trail itself a higher priority, the town adopted a “new approach,” Town Planner Becky Cutting and Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer reported to the Select Board Sept. 13. "What we're trying to do is make less bridge, more trail," Kezer said. The funds will now be used to construct smaller bridges to impr...

Just-released letter sheds more light on super’s departure

18Sep

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Education, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

Just-released letter sheds more light on super’s departure

A letter written by then-Superintendent John Buckey to the School Committee and dated July 19 has revealed new details about his controversial departure. The letter was released Friday, Sept. 14, at 5 p.m., after a follow-up public records request by the Current seeking attachments to previously released email. Ex Session John BuckeyDownload Buckey wrote the letter before the School Committee scheduled two executive sessions to discuss his status but ultimately never sent it. Buckey agreed to a $175,000 separation agreement with the School Committee on Aug. 2. In the letter, Buckey outlines events beginning early July. “On Sunday, July 2, 2023 at 3:59 PM I received an email from Sarah Fox, Chair of the Marblehead School Committee with the agenda that she sent to the Town Cl...

Once in a blue shell: Ahead of hurricane, Marblehead couple makes one-in-two-million find

18Sep

By Will Dowd5 Comments

Local News, Top Stories

Once in a blue shell: Ahead of hurricane, Marblehead couple makes one-in-two-million find

A wife-and-husband crew of a Marblehead lobster boat made a rare catch on Thursday morning, Sept. 14: a lobster with a brilliant periwinkle blue shell. "It was really blue — like blue-rubber-gloves blue," Anne Rodgers told the Marblehead Current on Thursday afternoon. "It was beautiful." Anne Rodgers holds the rare blue lobster that she and her husband, Dave, caught on their boat, Liberty, She described the catch as 'gorgeous.’ COURTESY PHOTO Rodgers and her husband, Marblehead Veterans Agent David Rodgers were on their boat, Liberty, moving traps ahead of Hurricane Lee's arrival. "We were on the outside of Tinker's Island near the Roaring Bull area," Anne explained. Her eyes widened as she spotted the blue lobster among the catch. "I said, 'Look, it's blue,' and ...

Clifton Lutheran pumpkin patch returns Sept. 23

18Sep

By Will DowdNo Comments

Culture, Local News, Religion, Top Stories, Uncategorized

Clifton Lutheran pumpkin patch returns Sept. 23

Clifton Lutheran Church will host its much-anticipated annual pumpkin patch event on Saturday, Sept. 23, beginning at noon at their location at 150 Humphrey St. The church has a long-standing partnership with New Mexican pumpkin farmers, providing employment for over 700 Native Americans each harvest season. A wide variety of pumpkin sizes will be available, catering to all preferences. Families are invited to bring their children and cameras to capture the essence of fall. For those interested in making bulk purchases, private showings can be scheduled through the church office, which can be reached at 781-631-3749 or via their website at www.cliftonlutheran.org.

14Sep

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Environment, Local News, Public safety, Sailing, Top Stories

Harbormaster: Best advice is to ‘prepare for the worst’

Marblehead Harbormaster Mark Souza is keeping a close eye on Hurricane Lee as it heads up the Atlantic coast. According to the National Weather Service, "Lee should bring rough surf and possible storm surge flooding, damaging winds, and bands of heavy rain to at least coastal areas of Massachusetts and Rhode Island." As of Thursday morning, Lee was about 800 miles south of Nantucket. Souza is adding on-call staff to handle any problems with the stormy weather which he predicts will hit Marblehead overnight Friday. "We're just recommending that the public use the opportunity today and tomorrow to secure equipment on boats ... if they can haul their boat to do that," Souza told the Current, adding that he is seeing people take their boats out of the water. "We have our boats re...

BRIGHT IDEA: Marblehead schools eyed again for solar power

14Sep

By Will DowdNo Comments

Education, Environment, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Top Stories

BRIGHT IDEA: Marblehead schools eyed again for solar power

The Marblehead Municipal Light Department will be reaching out to the town’s public schools before Thanksgiving to discuss new plans to install solar panels (photovoltaic arrays) with batteries at local schools. A look at potential solar panel installation in Marblehead schools, contributing about 2.3% of the 2022 energy supply with solar arrays and batteries. At a recent meeting, MMLD General Manager Joseph Kowalik said the Light Commission is evaluating solar PV arrays for six schools, and on-site batteries at four of those buildings. He said adding batteries (which would be on school grounds, but not in school buildings) will mean that the stored energy can go straight back into the schools and avoid transmission costs. “We have been involved in high-level discussions with th...

Massachusetts GOP Chairwoman Carnevale dismisses lawsuit as ‘frivolous’

14Sep

By Will DowdNo Comments

Local News, Politics, Top Stories, Uncategorized

Massachusetts GOP Chairwoman Carnevale dismisses lawsuit as ‘frivolous’

Marblehead resident and Massachusetts GOP Chairwoman Amy Carnevale is being sued by her predecessor, Jim Lyons, and others in the Republican Party. Marblehead resident and Massachusetts GOP Chairwoman Amy Carnevale, leading the Massachusetts GOP through times of internal division and legal challenges. COURTESY PHOTO The plaintiffs claim Carnevale and others deliberately sabotaged business deals and violated a relationship of trust that required acting in the GOP’s best interests. The complaint alleges that GOP Treasurer Pat Crowley improperly froze the state party's bank account in January 2022 after a dispute over the budget, blocking the organization from paying employees and honoring contracts. Lyons claims this damaged the party financially and reputationally. Lyons filed ...

Meet the Current’s arts and culture intern

13Sep

By Will DowdNo Comments

Art, Culture, Entertainment, Life Style, Local News, Top Stories, Uncategorized

Meet the Current’s arts and culture intern

The Marblehead Current welcomes a fresh face in arts and culture coverage: Benji Boyd, a junior at Marblehead High School, who will be helping the newsroom chronicle the town’s diverse artistic and cultural events for the upcoming year. Meet Benji Boyd, the Marblehead Current's arts and culture intern, who's as versed in martial arts as he is in the arts of the written word. From the dojo to the newsroom, this multi-talented junior at Marblehead High School is set to make a mark. CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER Boyd’s affinity for writing traces back to his childhood. “I’ve had a love for writing since a young age. I even attempted to write a novel in third grade, which wasn’t exactly a masterpiece,” he said with a chuckle. Despite early setbacks, Boyd has continued to hone his ...