Marblehead School Committee member Dana honored

MARBLEHEAD – Outgoing School Committee member Rob Dana, whose replacement will be elected Monday, is getting all the recognition that a town can give.In addition to a prolonged ovation at Monday’s session of Town Meeting Dana was honored by several school officials at his last School Committee meeting a week ago.His replacement, Richard Nohelty, a Leicester Road resident and financial planner, and incumbent Patricia Blackmer face no opposition for three-year seats on the School Committee.As his family looked on last week, Dana was honored by Laura Ward, chair of the PTO Central Council, Selectman Judy Jacobi and William Woodfin, Marblehead Village School Principal Donald LeClair, Marblehead High Principal John Ziergiebel, School Business Manager David Keniston, Douglas Hill and committee members James Dearborn, Patricia Blackmer, Jonathan Lederman and Amy Drinker. He received several gifts, including a school surplus chair from Keniston and a platter of cookies from Blackmer."You left the school system better than you found it," Ward said."I got a lot more out of it than I put in," Dana said, "and I think I set a good example for my kids."Monday’s election doesn’t reflect that line of thinking, however.The only contested race on the ballot features a challenge from Rose Ann Wheeler McCarthy, seeking a one-year seat on the Recreation and Park Commission. All five Rec and Park incumbents – Linda Rice Collins, Sam Ganglani, Derek Norcoss, Charles Osborne Jr. and David Rodgers – are seeking re-election.McCarthy is a former member of that board and is also seeking re-election to a three-year seat on the Cemetery Commission.Selectmen Harry Christensen, Judith Jacobi, Jackie Belf-Becker, James Nye and William Woodfin II face no opposition this year. Nor does Town Moderator Gary Speiss, who also must seek re-election every year.Dr. Todd Belf-Becker, a dentist, is seeking the Board of Health seat being vacated by his father, Dr. David Belf Becker. Todd Belf-Becker is also the son of Selectman Jackie Belf-Becker.Those running unopposed also include Kurt James and Philip Helmes, Planning Board, Charles Phillips, Municipal Light Commission, Robin Michaud and Jean Howe, Trustees of the Abbot Public Library, John Kelley, Board of Assessors and John Doane and Bradford Freeman, Water and Sewer Commission. Richard Whitehill is seeking a five-year seat on the Housing Authority, Richard Coletti, Cemetery Commission and Edward Nilsson, Planning Board. Doane, a Reed Street resident, is a newcomer.