The Class of 2026 graduated! The 166 seniors marked the end of their high school journey adn the beginning of new opportunities ahead.

“Today we celebrate your accomplishments, but I want to remind you of something more important: your gifts,” Principal Emily Zotto said. “They are the things you have always possessed. They’re big gifts, small gifts, highly motivated gifts, and persistent gifts. There are clever, driven, disciplined gifts, and there are laid-back, steady, and inspiring gifts. Whatever form they take, they belong to you.”

Keynote speaker Peter Franklin, who is retiring, encouraged graduates to embrace challenges, seize opportunities and make the most of each day.

“You could have a chapter as a high school English teacher or as a management consultant or as a pastry chef or as a bakery cafe owner or as a college professor,” Franklin said, “and that moment 20 years ago, to a new chapter at the home of the Big Blue. I could have never predicted this path.”

Swampscott’s Farmers Market returned on Sunday. It was the first one in a long line of farmers markets the Swampscott Recreation Department will put on through October 25.

Speaking of the Swampscott Recreation Department, check out all of the summer activities offered, including FIFA watch parties.

Also on Sunday, community members gathered at the back corner of Linscott Park for a tree dedication ceremony honoring the late Nelson Darling Jr., a longtime advocate for conservation and environmental preservation in Swampscott.

“By planting this tree today, we remember with deep gratitude Nelson, a man whose love for open space and environment reflected the very best of the human spirit,” said Toni Bandrowicz, president of the Swampscott Conservancy. “He understood the quiet beauty of the natural world and devoted himself to protecting it, not only for his own time, but for generations to come.”

In governmental news, Swampscott is receiving $80,000 in state funding to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and improve wayfinding and street signage.

Swampscott resident Jo Ann Simons who serves as the president and CEO of Northeast Arc, was recently honored by Special Olympics Massachusetts with the John “Jack” Brett Champion’s Award. 

Big Blue Bargains announced a $10,000 donation to the Swampscott Senior Center. 

The town will be moving forward to a fully automated trash and recycling pickup system. Read what that means for you. There will also be a forum at the high school on the issue on Monday, June 15.

The Select Board also approved the Swampscott Center for Performing Arts’ liquor license, but the entertainment license approval was postponed again to the meeting on June 17.

Neighbors suggested there are already issues with other restaurants abiding by the noise ordinances and that by “offering lively entertainment late and drinking late with a big parking lot, it will bring all that noise outside.”

“I really want to make sure we’re cognizant,” Vice Chair Danielle Leonard said. “We have to be very careful with our parameters for this particular person that’s applying for this license, and maybe we need to consider the hours a little bit more.” 

And the money toward the robots is going in a good direction as the Swampscott High School’s Team 4311 achieved its most successful championship run to date at the Massachusetts FIRST Robotics Competition State Championship, according to team captain Joseph Blood.

Also at the schools, 23 middle schoolers talked science as they competed in the school’s science fair individually and in teams. In the end, Ian Hendry took home first place for his project “The Bright Side of Growth.” Two teams tied for second place, Edric Taullai and Logan Polizzotti with “Go with the Flow” and Mira Hakstian and Harper Bogardus with “Super Stretch.”

Looking forward to this weekend, the town will have a Pride Month event on Saturday, featuring a 5K race, live performances, face painting, lawn games, local artisans, and food and drink vendors.