Letter from the President
It is now 2025, and with it arrives a new year of promise and hope for those of us working to launch the Swampscott Tides, a homegrown, hometown news source covering local government, schools, sports, business, culture, and events. And it is a year we expect to reach our financial goals to have the resources to hire a managing editor and reporting staff – with your help.
I have been heartened that in the past year, we have been helped by some of the best and brightest in Swampscott. Our board has doubled its size since October and we now not only have 135 years of collective journalism experience, but members with deep experience in fundraising, nonprofit management, law, and communications. In addition, our volunteer workforce, giving time and dedication on the fundraising, major gifts, Swampscott Fish Tales, and advertising committees, is now approaching 40 people – all working in concert towards one goal: launching the Swampscott Tides.
And we look forward to hosting our first public fundraiser: Swampscott Fish Tales: An Evening of Community Storytelling on March 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM at the Swampscott High School Auditorium. This Moth-style storytelling event — emceed by Kim Carrigan — will feature an impressive lineup of storytellers with Swampscott ties like Mike Lynch, John Ingalls, Enzo Silon Surin, and Misha Trubnikov sharing personal tales of overcoming adversity, facing challenges, and making tough choices — all told with humor and candor. We are confident this will be a remarkable community event connecting us to one another through the power of story. We hope it will be a new Swampscott tradition where story binds us together and builds community in the best ways possible.
With the launch of Swampscott Tides, devoted to covering the town we all share, we will also use the power of story to inform, engage, and connect our community in the best ways possible.
Swampscott Fish Tales: A Night of Community Storytelling in Support of Swampscott Tides
A first-ever event for our town, Swampscott Fish Tales will bring our community together to embrace the importance of independent news and the power of great stories well told. We welcome your support for what we intend to be a new tradition for this town we all love.
Swampscott Fish Tales will be an immersive experience, presenting a diverse set of local voices sharing personal stories. Inspired by The Moth storytelling events, this is a high-wire moment for these storytellers as they stand alone on stage, relating a story from their life without notes.
Kim Carrigan will be our emcee, bringing her talent at the mike to keeping energy high and making for a fun, engaging and memorable experience for us all.
This is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community in support of non-profit, local news.
Donors of the Month
by Devosha Pearce, Intern
The Luck family had been enjoying the beautiful summer weather when a postcard arrived—a postcard sent out to all Swampscott residents announcing the arrival of the Swampscott Tides. Claudia took one look at the postcard, which reminded her of when she and her husband Bob first moved to Swampscott and they would read the Swampscott Reporter.
“When the postcard came, I told people I wanted to do a somersault because I had not realized until very recently what a void we had in town by not having a news outlet that was paying attention to Swampscott—and how disconnected how uninformed I was feeling, not knowing easily where to get information, information that provided more than one perspective and was balanced,” Claudia said.
Using the information from the postcard, Claudia went to the Swampscott Tides website to learn more. She also connected with members of the Swampscott Tides board at the Farmer’s Market that Sunday. Speaking to them about the importance of local news only bolstered her enthusiasm. Claudia and her husband Bob hosted a house party to help connect their friends and neighbors to the Tides on November 20, 2024.
After the event, Claudia felt she wanted a more active role in the Swampscott Tides, and she thought she could help. Using her experience and skills in nonprofit development, Claudia put together a committee of volunteers dedicated to engaging with Swampscott’s residents and encouraging support of the Tides. Not long afterward, she was invited to join Swampscott Tides’ Board
“It’s not just about me and my experience, but the community, and the sort of community we want it to be for all of us. It’s not just about now. It’s also about investing in the long term—in an even more vibrant community for our children and their families,” said Claudia.
Be Our Next Donor of the Month: You could be our next Donor of the Month. Make a donation in support of independent journalism here in Swampscott. Click here to donate today!
Swampscott Tides Board Meets for an Evening of Soup and Storytelling
Members of the Swampscott Tides Board met at the Luck’s house on Monday, January 27, for a casual get together. Board President Anne Driscoll invited board members to come prepared with a story about a consequential decision they’ve had to make in their personal or professional lives. Over a dinner of soup, salad, and corn bread, members shared their stories in a spirit of openness and community. “The heart of a good story,” Driscoll said after the event, “is the willingness of the storyteller to be vulnerable, which is why I am so appreciative of everyone seated at that table [who] shared of themselves with honesty and authenticity.”
Support the Swampscott Tides
We’re riding the wave of your support! A donation towards the Swampscott Tides helps keep our Big Blue community informed and connected. Our purpose is to inform the people of Swampscott across topics of local government, town meetings, community events, and everyday news while also shining a light on the people, places and overall lifestyle that make the place we call home so special.
Our nonprofit news source is dedicated to maximizing the impact of your donation, with a minimal percentage used to cover standard payment processing costs.
