Letter from the President
Spring becomes official in March and with it, warmer temperatures and longer days. Spring is the harbinger of hope, evident in budding crocuses and snow drops — and for us at Swampscott Tides, in the very realistic prospect of a soon-to-be launch!
We are closer than ever as we are nearing our fundraising goals and will be hosting our first public fundraiser, Swampscott Fish Tales: An Evening of Community Storytelling, on March 29th. But most exciting of all, we have begun the recruitment process to hire reporting staff.
It has always been our vision to hire professional staff, including a Managing Editor, Staff Reporter, freelancers and student journalists to produce the kind of high quality reporting coverage of Swampscott that our community deserves. Our goal is to deliver fair and factual local news free on our website as news happens, and curated in a weekly newsletter to our subscribers. As a nonprofit newsroom, we are dedicated to promoting the public good — to report on local government, schools, sports, businesses, culture, and events with reader-centered news reporting that helps improve your daily lives. With the upcoming launch of Swampscott Tides, we hope our community will be more connected, more engaged, and more informed.
So, we hope you’ll come this Saturday to Swampscott Fish Tales to celebrate this spring of storytelling on stage and, soon, online in the Swampscott Tides.
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.
Navigating the Tides: Finding Voice through Laughter
By Saoirse Stallings, an Endicott College undergraduate studying journalism.
Misha Trubnikov immigrated from Ukraine in the 1990s, fleeing growing instability and a worsening drug epidemic. He was just nine years old, leaving behind a childhood filled with outdoor play and neighborhood friends.
As a Jewish family in Ukraine, openly practicing their faith was uncertain — sometimes even dangerous.
“It felt almost risky to even practice being Jewish or reveal that you’re Jewish,” Trubnikov said. “Unfortunately, antisemitism was still very present.”
Adjusting to life in the U.S. came with its own challenges. Trubnikov arrived without knowing a word of English, but with the help of a teacher and the unexpected classroom of American television, he gradually found his footing. During this transition, humor became his refuge — an outlet that would shape his identity.
Despite building a life in the U.S., Trubnikov still feels deeply connected to Ukraine. His older sister even moved back, saying she “could never truly leave.” That pull remains for Trubnikov, too, drawing him to revisit and strengthen his ties to his homeland.
You can hear more of Misha Trubnikov’s story at Swampscott Fish Tales, the town’s first-ever community storytelling event, on Saturday, March 29. This year’s theme, “Changing Tides,” perfectly reflects Trubnikov’s journey — one of transformation, resilience, and self-discovery through humor.
Tickets are $35 for general admission, and $15 for students.
Proceeds from this community event will support Swampscott Tides.
Introducing a Few of Swampscott Fish Tale’s Local Voices
Last month, you became acquainted with half of the Swampscott Fish Tales storytellers and the renowned emcee Kim Carrigan. As the Swampscott Fish Tales event draws nearer, we are honored to introduce you to the remaining storytellers who will be taking the stage at this immersive storytelling event alongside Swampscott jazz band “Turtle On A String”, who will be performing live during the intermission.
Mike Lynch
Mike Lynch was the principal sports anchor at WCVB-TV, Channel 5 in Boston for nearly four decades. In 1985, he initiated “High Five,” a weekly NewsCenter 5 report highlighting the achievements of high school athletes. Mike’s broadcasting career began in 1974 at WLYN Radio in Lynn, where he served as a color commentator for high school football and basketball broadcasts. For seven consecutive years, Mike was voted Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. In 1987, SportsCenter 5 won the United Press International Award for “Best Sports Reporting” in the country. Mike grew up in Swampscott and graduated from Harvard in 1977, where he played both football and baseball. He quarterbacked for the Harvard team that won the 1975 Ivy League Football Championship.
Anne Driscoll
Anne Driscoll is an award-winning journalist who has written for the New York Times, Boston Globe, Irish Times and People magazine. Her work investigating wrongful conviction cases for the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University and the Irish Innocence Project resulted in the exonerations of three innocent individuals, each convicted of murder in the US or Ireland. She is a two-time Fulbright Scholar in Ireland where she lived for 7 years and became an Irish citizen in 2021. Most recently, she has been serving as the president of a dedicated and passionate group of journalists and professionals working collaboratively to launch Swampscott’s only homegrown, hometown online news outlet, Swampscott Tides. As a longtime journalist, Anne Driscoll loves the power of story to inform, engage, and connect community. Her name Anne means Grace or prayer and Driscoll is an Irish name that means interpreter, intermediary, news-bearer.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Swampscott Tides. Tickets are almost gone; get yours now! You might also consider supporting the event at the “Well Fisher” level, and we’ll be proud to include your name in our pre-show video and in our printed program and provide two event tickets. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities here.
Donors of the Month
by Devosha Pearce, Salem State University student and Swampscott Tides Intern
Sandy Sheckman has lived in Swampscott for 47 years. She hopes she is regarded for her personal integrity and commitment to the mission of everywhere she has worked and volunteered over the years.
Sandy was enjoying her retirement as a guide at the Peabody Essex Museum in the Summer of 2024 when a friend and fellow guide mentioned she was volunteering for a nonprofit newspaper starting up in Swampscott; she invited Sandy to join the committee. Intrigued, Sandy attended a fundraising committee meeting hosted at Anne Driscoll’s house that summer and was instantly hooked.
“I would have to say that Anne Driscoll was and continues to be the ‘true north’ of this project. Her passion and dedication is extraordinary, and her experience as a journalist is compelling. As she began talking about what this was all about, I just became more and more interested. And then as I became more involved, it turns out there were some things I felt that I could contribute to the organization as a whole,” Sandy said.
Sandy began to volunteer her time with the Swampscott Tides, drawing on her expertise from years of experience in the nonprofit world, such as her time as Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center of the North Shore in Marblehead.
“It is difficult to put a value on something like a digital newspaper, but the value of being informed in the community is priceless,” said Sandy. “In our very fraught time, we really need to know what is true and what is reliable. If I can contribute to that … I will be pleased.”
As a board member, Sandy feels that donating allows her to lead by example and demonstrate just how meaningful the Tides is to her. She believes that it is easier to ask others to participate and donate resources when she is doing it herself.
“I’m hoping that people will give as much as they can and that they will value what it is we’re trying to do,” Sandy said.
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 Wants Your Photos!
Swampscott Tides needs your photos! If you’re interested in helping us in a way other than donating, contributing your photos of Swampscott to our photo gallery is a free and easy way to help from the comfort of your home. Help us to see Swampscott through your eyes by contributing to our photo gallery, and you might see your photo featured in an upcoming article, monthly newsletter, or on our website!
To those of you who have already sent us your photos, we want to thank you! Swampscott is a beautiful town, and your contributions to our photo gallery are wonderful representations of the community and will help the Swampscott Tides thrive.
Click here to submit your photos!
Support Swampscott Tides
We’re riding the wave of your support! A donation towards 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.
