Viewpoints - Marblehead Current

EDITORIAL: Passing the Marblehead Town Meeting gavel

8Feb

By The Current Editorial BoardNo Comments

EDITORIAL: Passing the Marblehead Town Meeting gavel

Jack Attridge is our new town moderator, and what a year to start a new job. For the first time in almost 20 years, voters will likely be asked to pass a general override to enable the town to maintain its current level of services. We are living in challenging times right now with various strong and vocal disagreements on so many issues. It is not unreasonable to believe that this current climate may permeate our Town Meeting when controversial articles are being debated. It is more important than ever that our moderator is able to maintain order and civility, ensuring that proponents of differing points of view are given the opportunity to present their arguments while preventing emotional outbursts and personal attacks. These are fundamental requirements for a civilized soci...

LETTER: Cheers for Marblehead principals

23Jan

By Letter to the editorNo Comments

Opinion, Viewpoints

LETTER: Cheers for Marblehead principals

I write to offer three cheers for Marblehead principals Mary Maxfield (Brown School) and Hope Doran (Glover). I've had the chance to sit in on meetings with each of these experienced educators, savvy administrators. The subject of these meetings has been safety at school arrival/dismissal. Whether kids arrive by bus, car, on bicycle, by wheelchair or o foot, they're clearly dedicated to providing a safe route to school — from home, to campus and from there into the building. Moreover, Principal Maxfield related that she and Principal Doran, though heads of individual elementary schools, work together as Marblehead's K-3 team. No parochialism here (if you'll excuse the pun)! Dan AlbertLeicester Road

REVIEW: Excess and indulgence: ‘Babylon’

17Jan

By Gavin KingNo Comments

Entertainment, Opinion, Viewpoints

REVIEW: Excess and indulgence: ‘Babylon’

"Babylon" might be the single most over-hyped, expensive piece of junk to hit theaters post-COVID. In a time where streamers are thriving, and theaters need saving, "Babylon" hurts. 'Babylon' is a disaster. Margot Robbie and Diego Calva in 'Babylon.' COURTESY / SCOT GARFIELD / PARAMOUNT PICTURES At the height of silent movies in Los Angeles in 1926, Mexican migrant Manuel "Manny" Torres (Diego Calva) wants to join the business. Slowly but surely, he makes his way up. But through drugs, crimes, and failed friendships, he's dragged down again. He can't help himself. "Whiplash," "La La Land," "First Man," and "Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench" director Damien Chazelle, a Harvard graduate, has only seen acclaim in his career. While 'Whiplash, when first out, was exciting and promisi...

4Jan

By State Rep. Jenny ArminiNo Comments

Local News, Opinion, Politics, Top Stories, Viewpoints

State Rep. Jenny Armini: A charge to keep

Marblehead resident Jenny Armini has been sworn in as the new 8th Essex District state representative today. Armini submitted this column to the Marblehead Current to mark the occasion. Having scrupulously avoided brushes with the law in my 53 years, I was surprised to receive a court summons the other day. Granted, this one came worded in olde English, with a gold seal, signed by the governor, but I was taken aback. “Whereas, it appears, by the returns of votes for Representative… You are therefore hereby summoned to attend a General Court, to be holden at the Capitol, in Boston, on the first Wednesday of the month of January…” Jenny Armini That decorative piece of paper, resembling more an academic degree than a modern court document, conveyed a sense of formal gravity I ha...

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY: New Year, New You?

28Dec

By Virginia BuckinghamNo Comments

Opinion, Viewpoints

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY: New Year, New You?

If you’re looking for one of those columns which provides you tips and tricks for making this the year you become a heathier, better version of yourself, skip on to the next article. This space is a New Year’s resolution safe zone. I play along every year on Jan. 1 when my husband eagerly leans forward (he does everything in life enthusiastically, argghh) and asks over morning coffee to discuss our resolutions. I try to dodge with a mumbled, “I didn’t think of any yet”, but he won’t be deterred. He does give me the grace of telling me his list, which is many, many resolutions long, not because he needs that much improvement, but see earlier point about enthusiasm. By the time he’s finished, I’ve come up with one or two modest goals before I suggest we go back to reading the...

Marblehead nonprofit keeps up its work with Afghanistan

24Dec

By Robert McNultyNo Comments

Opinion, Top Stories, Viewpoints

Marblehead nonprofit keeps up its work with Afghanistan

For almost 15 years, Applied Ethics, Inc. (AE), a Marblehead-based nonprofit has been working with Afghanistan through its people-to-people peacebuilding program called Pax Populi, which is Latin for “the People’s Peace.” In 2010, we began collaborating with universities to offer one-on-one English tutoring programs via Skype or Zoom. Working with individual volunteers and institutional partners in the US and overseas, we developed a network of educational partners in several major cities in Afghanistan never doubting that student by student, we had a role in supporting those people who would help turn Afghanistan into a peaceful, prosperous country. Everything changed in August 2021 when the US withdrew its forces from the country and the Taliban took control of the government. Three wor...

LETTER: Marblehead’s energy transition will take a village

19Dec

By Letter to the editorNo Comments

Opinion, Viewpoints

LETTER: Marblehead’s energy transition will take a village

To the editor: Richard Smith raises some important issues regarding the energy transition Marblehead and other communities are currently facing (“Net zero goal is laudable, but transition demands more time,” Dec. 14, 2022). As members of Sustainable Marblehead’s Clean Energy Working Group, we are encouraged by his and others’ interest and offer the following additional information. Because of the urgency of the climate crisis and its impact on our seaside town, the Marblehead Select Board voted unanimously in November 2020 to adopt a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. The town’s Green Marblehead Committee is now working on a plan to reach that goal, which is expected to be released early next year. As has been the case throughout this process, residents will have...

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY: It’s time for a healthier media diet

14Dec

By Virginia BuckinghamNo Comments

Opinion, Viewpoints

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY: It’s time for a healthier media diet

Marblehead Current columnist Virginia Buckingham. Biased media consumption – or filtering – is one of the more challenging byproducts, some would say a cause, of our country’s cultural and political divide. If you consume your news online, as 50 percent of American adults do at least sometimes according to Pew Research Center, then it’s even more probable you are reading, watching or listening to only one side of the story, living in a news “filter bubble”. Algorithms that follow your clicks and tastes are designed to serve you up more of the same. It takes an effort to diversify your media diet. Yet, if we truly want to understand diverse perspectives, and therefore both broaden and deepen our own, it’s critical. When I used to interview people for jobs, one of my firs...

14Dec

By Brenda Kelley KimNo Comments

Opinion, Viewpoints

ANCHORS AND SAILS: Find your holiday

"A holiday is an opportunity to journey within." ---Prabhas Honestly, at this point, I would take a ticket to ride anywhere because, so far, this holiday season's "journey" has been one of cleaning out closets, mopping floors, and organizing way too much stuff. In our house, we celebrate Christmas, but you'd never know it since the tree is not up, there are no lights, no décor, and not a single bit of holly or other seasonal plants. I'm just not there yet. While I miss the days of visiting Santa, making lists, and staying up late to wrap gifts that the jolly old elf left at my house (I try to be a helper), it's kind of neat not to have to worry about all of that. Christmas looks a little different now with all three of my children over 21. My middle boy was born about a week before ...

LETTER: An appeal from the Marblehead Task Force Against Discrimination

11Dec

By Letter to the editorNo Comments

Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Viewpoints

LETTER: An appeal from the Marblehead Task Force Against Discrimination

To the editor: The Marblehead Select Board has set up donation accounts for various committees within the Town of Marblehead for citizens to make charitable contributions. One of the committees is the Marblehead Task Force Against Discrimination (MTFAD) which was founded in 1989 by the Select Board after a series of hate crimes in our community. For over 30 years, the Task Force has provided programs combating bigotry and promoting respect while seeking to support those affected by discrimination in Marblehead. As part of its ongoing efforts to raise awareness, the MTFAD requires funding to hold events and programs. The showing of pertinent films, engaging speakers and holding a book read for middle schoolers have been recent events held. The Task Force collaborates each year with o...