Rec Sports
NEWS IN BRIEF: Week of Monday, April 28, 2025
The Current welcomes submissions (150–200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to wdowd@marbleheadnews.org.
Rail trail section closes for construction
The Marblehead Rail Trail closed between Smith and Pleasant streets April 22 for resurfacing and other infrastructure improvements. The closure is expected to last through June. All users are being detoured via Devereux Street. The project is funded through a Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation MassTrails grant and the American Rescue Plan Act. More information and updates are available at marbleheadma.gov.
Police promotions effective May 4
Police Chief Dennis King announced the upcoming promotions of Eric Osattin to lieutenant and Andrew DiMare to sergeant. Osattin, a lifelong Marblehead resident, joined the department full time in 2006 following prior service as a dispatcher and seasonal officer. He was promoted to sergeant in 2014 and has served as shift commander for both the midnight and evening patrol divisions. He currently oversees the department’s unmanned aircraft systems unit and is its systems administrator and detail assignment officer. Osattin is a Federal Communications Commission credentialed Part 107 drone pilot, a Massachusetts licensed EMT and a U.S. Coast Guard credentialed mariner. He has completed advanced training in tactical response and investigative interviewing and is active with Congregation Shirat Hayam and local youth sports.
DiMare, also a Marblehead native, graduated from Marblehead High School in 2011 and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Roger Williams University. He completed the Reading Police Academy in 2016 and has served on the C Division patrol shift since. He became a field training officer in 2021 and leads training modules for the Citizens Police Academy.
Select Board recognizes World Oceans Day
The Select Board proclaimed June 8 as World Oceans Day in Marblehead. The 2025 theme, “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” highlights the ocean’s role in supporting life and addressing climate change. The proclamation acknowledges Marblehead’s environmental commitment through the Harbor Plan Working Group, the Harbors & Waters Board, Sustainable Marblehead and regional organizations like Salem Sound Coastwatch. Sustainable Marblehead will host an educational talk June 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Old Town Hall.
Marblehead Counseling Center celebrates 55 years
The Marblehead Counseling Center will celebrate its 55th anniversary May 1 with the inaugural Community Champions Celebration at The Beacon. The Select Board issued a citation recognizing the center’s legacy of mental health care. Anne Tassel-Todisco of Marblehead will receive the Amy Saltz Community Champions Award, named in memory of a local volunteer and center supporter. Camila Ferrer Gomez of Danvers will receive the Community Service Scholarship. The event coincides with the first day of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Town website transitions to .gov domain
The town’s official website address is now marbleheadma.gov, reflecting its migration to the federal .gov domain reserved for verified government entities. The transition was led by the town’s information technology department and aims to increase cybersecurity, public trust and content authenticity. The previous site, marblehead.org, will continue to redirect to the new domain.
Museum to host tours on Jeremiah Lee’s secret role in Revolution
The Marblehead Museum will present guided tours of the Jeremiah Lee Mansion May 9 and 10 focused on Lee’s covert role in early revolutionary efforts. Historian Judy Anderson will lead the sessions, detailing how Lee used his merchant fleet to smuggle arms and aid colonial resistance. Lee died suddenly in May 1775, just weeks after the battles of Lexington and Concord. Tickets are $10 for museum members and $15 for the public. To register, visit marbleheadmuseum.org or call 781-631-1768.
Housing Authority eyes Coffin School site
The Marblehead Housing Authority voted April 15 to formally express interest in redeveloping the former Coffin School property for affordable housing. Executive Director Cathy Hoog said the authority hopes to build units targeted to seniors and residents with disabilities. Board member Bill Kuker said up to 60 units may be feasible, with a breakdown of 40 elderly and 20 handicapped-accessible units. The School Committee voted earlier this year to return the property to the town. The Select Board is expected to consider options following Town Meeting.
Earth Day celebration set for Ware Pond
The Marblehead Conservancy will hold its Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration May 10 from 9 a.m. to noon at Ware Pond. Volunteers will help restore native habitat by planting flowers and shrubs in place of invasive species. Scout troops are scheduled to participate. Gloves will be provided. Attendees should wear sturdy shoes and are encouraged to walk or bike via the Rail Trail, as on-street parking is limited.
Pride flag raising planned for June 21
The Select Board approved the Marblehead Pride Flag Raising Committee’s request to hold its annual event June 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. on the Abbot Hall lawn. The ceremony has become a yearly tradition highlighting LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion in town.
Retirement Board seeks new member
The Marblehead Contributory Retirement Board is accepting applications for a fifth member to serve a three-year term beginning July 28. The position is appointed by the current four board members. Eligible applicants must not be employees or retirees of the Marblehead retirement system or any affiliated governmental units. Board duties include overseeing pension benefits, attending meetings and completing mandatory ethics and financial disclosures. Letters of interest and resumes must be submitted by noon May 30 to Retirement Administrator Linda Gifford at 781-639-3418 or giffordl@marblehead.org.
Local author wins national history book award
Marblehead resident Eric Jay Dolin received the 2025 National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Excellence in American History Book Award for his nonfiction work “Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution.” The honor recognizes original contributions to American historical knowledge. Past recipients include Patrick K. O’Donnell and Pulitzer Prize winner Rick Atkinson. Dolin called the award “truly an honor,” saying it affirms the role his writing plays in expanding understanding of U.S. history. The award was announced in April by the NSDAR, one of the nation’s largest lineage-based organizations. For more on the book, visit ericjaydolin.com.
