Viewpoints - Marblehead Current

26 Nov

EDITORIAL: Thank you, Marblehead

The Current Editorial BoardOpinion, Viewpoints

Three years ago, on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the Marblehead Current launched its first paper edition and it arrived at your doorsteps or in your mailboxes. We were both excited and nervous about this new venture, wanting this to be the beginning of a sustainable enterprise yet wondering if it might not succeed. How would our community newspaper be received? Would we be seen as a welcome and reliable provider of local news and matters of interest to our readers? Our founders had both a…

23 Jun

OPINION: ‘We belong, we are seen, we are loved’

Liv NilesOpinion, Viewpoints

My name is Liv Niles and I am an incoming senior at Marblehead High School. I want to begin by thanking each and every one of you for being here today. Your presence is powerful. Standing together in this space, we are not just raising a flag — we are raising a message. A message that says: We belong. We are seen. We are loved. Today, we raise the Pride flag — not just as a symbol of celebration, but as a testament to resilience,…

29 Apr

More Municipal Musings: An open letter to Marblehead voters

James (Seamus) Hourihan0 CommentsOpinion, Viewpoints, Views & Reviews

Here are more musings regarding two “over” issues facing municipal Marblehead. Prop 2 ½ AND overrides — a new reality for Marblehead? In Marblehead, the word “override” is considered two, four-letter words that should never be spoken in public or even in private. Speaking simply, Prop 2 ½ limits tax growth, and consequently the additional money for the town to spend, to 2.5% per year. If the costs are rising more than 2.5% per year, the only options are to cut services, find new tax…

24 Apr

Municipal Musings: An open letter to Marblehead voters

James (Seamus) Hourihan0 CommentsOpinion, Politics, Viewpoints, Views & Reviews

I would like to share some thoughts regarding the near-daily drama unfolding in municipal Marblehead. I call these thoughts “Marblehead Municipal Musings.” Musings reflect a period of thinking about something carefully and for a long time. With so much happening, one needs to dig deeper, think more intensely and faster. Thank goodness for live meeting feeds, newspapers, letters to the editor and MHTV recordings that you can watch again and again! James (Seamus) Hourihan COURTESY PHOTO School Committee budget saga ends, no override requested The…

10 Apr

ASK LIZZIE: Helping kids cope with frustration

Leigh Blander0 CommentsCommunity Resources, Viewpoints, Views & Reviews

Dear Lizzie, My first grader melts down when things get too hard for him and I’m finding myself doing a lot of things for him, just to avoid fallout. I know that’s not the best approach, but I don’t know how else to support him. Can you help? Hi reader, “Don’t cry, honey. I don’t want you to be disappointed. ⁣Here, I’ll get you a new one.”⁣Have you ever heard these words come out of your mouth? Probably! You are a parent who loves your…

08 Apr

LETTER: On MBTA zoning let readers decide

Letter to the editor0 CommentsLETTERS, Viewpoints

To the editor: This letter is in response to Will Dowd’s March 28 piece titled, “Petition opposing MBTA zoning proposal surfaces.” This was published as a news article, not opinion. My expectation is simple: If an issue arises, our reporters have a responsibility to research the matter, interview the involved parties and present the whole to readers so they can make up their own minds. However, I guess I’m naïve these days to expect that our vaunted Fourth Estate will actually bridle their own ego…

28 Feb

ENDING THE STIGMA: Taking the plunge: Benefits of cold exposure therapy

Wendy Tamis Robbins0 CommentsColumns, Health, Opinion, Viewpoints

I was born with a water phobia. I’m aware of how strange that sounds given the “watery” womb and all. Prior to last November, I could count on one hand how many times I’ve been in the ocean since my dad carried me there. But last November, I started “polar plunging.” I’d been watching the Wolf Pack plunge at Devereux Beach for months. But for years prior when I saw this behavior I’d say, “I would never do that. It’s just crazy! What possesses people?” Yet,…

31 Jan

WE ARE WHO WE ARE: Why we need to be sharing our stories

Lisa Sugarman0 CommentsColumns, Opinion, Viewpoints

In my debut We Are Who We Are column from last month, I talked at length about the importance of getting vulnerable as a way for all of us to resolve to be more transparent with our feelings and emotions as we head into the new year. Well, this month, it felt like a natural continuation of that conversation to encourage everyone to go one step further and start sharing our stories of loss or trauma or grief or mental illness or whatever challenge(s) we’ve…

24 Jan

ENDING THE STIGMA: Taking your New Year’s resolutions beyond Jan. 12

Wendy Tamis Robbins0 CommentsColumns, Health, Viewpoints

Surveys show that being healthier is consistently the most popular New Year’s resolution across the globe, starting with eating healthier, then exercising more, smoking and drinking less and, of course, losing weight. Then comes self-improvement, followed by psychological health (less stress, etc.). This sounds great until Jan. 12, which is when most people have given up on their resolutions. Here are three reasons why we give up on our hopes and dreams in less than two weeks. Wendy Tamis Robbins COURTESY PHOTO 1. The motivational…

18 Jan

SUSTAINABLE MARBLEHEAD: Charting the course for a clean energy future

Letter to the editor0 CommentsEnvironment, Local News, Municipal Matters, Viewpoints

Just a few weeks ago, representatives from more than 170 countries meeting in Dubai for the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference known as COP28 reached a surprising agreement. They signed a global pact that for the first time called for “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner.” Public Works Director Amy McHugh and Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer stand in front of the town’s all-electric Ford Lightning. COURTESY PHOTO / SUSTAINABLE MARBLEHEAD That message sounded very familiar.…