ITEM FILE PHOTO
State Rep. Brendan Crighton

BY THOR JOURGENSEN 

LYNN — Lynn ranks high in a national survey examining how well communities work to ensure their streets are safe for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.

The city earned top ranking in the Smart Growth America’s National Complete Streets Coalition survey along with Ashland, Framingham, Longmeadow, Natick, Norwell and Weymouth.

“It’s an honor for Lynn to be recognized nationally,” said state Rep. Brendan Crighton.

Complete Streets are roads that are safe, accessible and comfortable for all users, regardless of age, physical ability, income or how they choose to travel: by transit, on foot, by bike or public transit, according to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and Smart Growth America.

Ten Massachusetts communities enacted Complete Streets policies in 2015 — the most of any state in the country last year and seven of those policies — including Lynn’s — were among the best in the nation, according to Smart Growth America’s new national analysis.

“These policies are an important local tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing smart development and improving residents’ health and wellbeing,” said Marc Draisen, MAPC executive director.  

Western Avenue’s East Lynn section is a prime example of Complete Street planning. State and local officials are studying traffic and bus stop layouts, as well as traffic signals at major intersections such as Eastern and Western avenues.

The study focused, in part, on how traffic flows from Western Avenue in Lynn across the Salem line onto Highland Avenue. And it examines ways to improve bicycle safety on the busy road and reconfigure bus stops.

Crighton said the City Council passed a local Complete Streets policy last year. He said the measure could help the city obtain additional state transportation money and it underscores the strong connection between transportation and local economies.

“People want to work and live in areas that are accessible and safe,” Crighton said.

So far, 70 cities and towns have registered for the Complete Streets program, with 44 percent of those communities serving populations at or below the median household income, stated the MAPC.

Nationwide, a total of 898 Complete Streets policies have been passed by 843 separate municipalities, counties, metropolitan planning organizations, state agencies and states.

Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com.

ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Attorney James Carrigan, Jetta Bernier, executive director of Massachusetts Citizens for Children, and Birgitta Damon, executive director of Lynn Economic Opportunity, from left, talk before the sexual abuse presentation made at Lynn City Hall on Tuesday.

BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE 

LYNN — Local agencies that work with children are teaming up to say “enough is enough” with sexual abuse in the city.

After seeing one too many cases involving issues stemming from childhood sexual abuse, James Carrigan, a Lynn attorney, organized a group of nonprofit agency directors to help combat the problem.

Birgitta Damon, executive director of Lynn Economic Opportunity; Dianne Kuzia Hills, executive director of My Brother’s Table; St. Mary’s School; The Lynn Housing Authority; Catherine Latham, superintendent of Lynn Public Schools; and All Care VNA are working with Jetta Bernier, executive director of Massachusetts Citizens for Children, on what they call a preventative movement.

The group will host training workshops April 27 and 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the City Council Chamber.

The goal of the movement, dubbed the Enough Abuse Campaign, is to train child care workers to recognize the signs of sexual abuse, Carrigan said. As an introduction, Bernier spoke with representatives of several organizations about the campaign Tuesday afternoon at City Hall.

She presented a slideshow of research gathered from various agencies, including that one in 10 children have been sexually assaulted, 90 percent of cases are never reported and 39 million Americans have been victims of childhood sexual abuse.

Sexual abusers use grooming tactics to make sure kids won’t tell, she said. Often times they spend up to a year gaining the trust of their victims.

“We realize we are really dealing with a silent epidemic across the country, across the state and in our communities,” Bernier said.

LEO, a childcare agency, has seen a 300 percent increase in mental health referrals, according to Damon. While it can’t be said that the referrals are linked directly to sexual abuse, the jump to 27 referrals this year from nine is something to be concerned about, she said.

“We, as child care providers at LEO, are compelled to do all that we can to prevent sexual abuse,” Damon said.

The movement involves a three-pronged approach: prevention, prosecution and treatment, Carrigan said.

“I represent a lot of people, particularly women who were sexually abused as children,” he said. “It has lifelong effects. I see a lot of it in women in their 30s. They bury it, it gets repressed, and (then) they have an event in their life that brings it all back. It could be (something like) a car accident.”

Victims often have difficulty going to work, seeing their friends, have nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, can’t concentrate, or have difficulty meeting people, Carrigan said. He hopes to find a way to recognize signs in children before they become problems for them as adults and prevent the sexual abuse from happening in the first place.

The Training of Trainers workshop will include a series of informational videos, seminars on healthy and unhealthy behaviors, educator boundaries, yellow and red light behaviors, modeling good communication, empathy and accountability, and several other topics.

Guest speakers will include Lt. Marie Hanlon of the Lynn Police Department’s Sexual Abuse Unit and a representative of the Lynn Community Health Center’s Mental Health Department.

Participants can pre-register for the workshop by calling 781-309-5619.

Bridget Turcotte can be reached at bturcotte@itemlive.com. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.

PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley of America perform in Lynn.

By LEAH DEARBORN

LYNN — A relaxed crowd gathered Thursday night for the classic soft rock tunes of America.

Original bandmates Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell met in high school and rose to fame with their ’70s hit, “Horse With No Name.” After 46 years of touring, America has released nearly three dozen albums.  

The band made their stage entrance a few minutes late at the Lynn Memorial Auditorium, warming up with “Tin Man.” While Bunnell and Beckley started off looking somewhat stiff, the duo seemed to limber up by the second track, playing “You Can Do Magic” to flashing blue and red lights and smoke.     

The band returned to their roots a few songs in, choosing numbers from the first side of their earliest album and working their way chronologically up to later work.

“I Need You” got the most rise out of the crowd, with fans waving their arms and handing a bouquet of flowers up to the stage.

Wearing plaid and sneakers, Bunnell and Beckley appeared most at home on acoustic guitar and mirrored the laid back attitude expressed by the audience.

America’s 2015 album “Lost And Found” took a backseat to more recognizable songs, but the audience did get a taste of the band’s most recent compilation. It presents a slightly harder sound than America’s 1970s hits but maintains a clear continuity with older discography.

While longtime fans may have turned out to watch original members Bunnell and Beckley take the stage, newer additions Bill Worrell (guitar) and Richard Campbell (bass) were highlights of the show, bringing an impressive level of energy and focus to the heavier rock numbers.

The electric guitar solo by Worrell in the 1974 song “Hollywood” was especially charged, taking the band “dangerously close to jamming,” in the words of Beckley.

Auditorium general manager Jamie Marsh expressed a personal fondness for America, commenting, “It’s a really great crowd. These are the songs I grew up with.”

He added that the auditorium booked upcoming shows with Pat Benatar, Ted Nugent and Yes earlier that day. 

FILE PHOTO
Passengers enjoy the view as they ride the Lynn ferry to Boston.

By THOR JOURGENSEN

LYNN — A $4.5 million federal grant will pay for a new 149-passenger ferry, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton’s office said Thursday.

Meanwhile, state officials are continuing to search for money to operate a ferry beginning this spring through the summer.

The federal document outlining the grant said the money will pay for a city ferry’s construction “to provide year-round commuter ferry service.”

““Full-time ferry service in Lynn will help unleash the tremendous potential for the city’s underdeveloped waterfront,” said Moulton. “I am grateful to the local and state partners, especially Senator (Thomas M.) McGee and the Lynn EDIC (Economic Development and Industrial Corporation), for their leadership on this effort.”

McGee said there is no timeline yet for acquiring the ferry but said the boat probably will not be available this year. He said acquiring a ferry is the key to Lynn running year-round ferry service.

“It’s very exciting news. It allows us to run service that works for Lynn,” McGee said.

Moulton said a meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx set the stage for the grant award. But he credited state and local officials who have met for the last several months, focusing on ways to fuel Lynn’s economic resurgence.

“This is a team effort and an example of how we are progressing for Lynn,” Moulton said.

The award cites the city’s success in increasing ferry ridership to 14,557, up from 13,136 passengers over the last two years, but the federal money only slightly overshadows city and state efforts to find cash to operate a commuter ferry from Blossom Street extension for a third year.

Operated for the city by Boston Harbor Cruises, the ferry Cetacea made three times daily between May and September from a dock at the end of Blossom Street extension off the Lynnway to Central Wharf bordering downtown Boston.

Each trip took about 30 minutes and cost $7.

State Rep. Brendan Crighton has filed an amendment to the Massachusetts House budget to provide $650,000 in state money to run the ferry for another season. McGee said legislators continue working with state officials to find money to operate a ferry this summer.

“We have some ideas – I’m optimistic,” he said.

McGee, Crighton and other legislators and city officials, including Economic Development and Industrial Corp. director James Cowdell, successfully sought out $1.5 million to operate the ferry from May to September in 2014 and 2015.

Uncertainty hung over the ferry’s future last September when the Cetacea made its last trip of the season from Blossom Street extension. The city applied for federal money to buy a ferry or have one built. But the hunt for additional state money, as of last Friday, continued with state Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack saying, “We need to find out if there are any other sources.”

Cowdell on Thursday called the federal grant announcement “excellent news for commuters from Lynn and the North Shore.”

“This grant will allow us to purchase our own ferry and help us move toward our goal of providing year-round ferry service,” said Cowdell.

Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com.

LYNN — Fany (Peristeridu) Lewis, age 84, of Lynn, died Thursday, April 14, 2016, at a local nursing home, after being stricken suddenly. She was the wife of the late George Lewis, and the daughter of the late Hrisostomos and Jasmine Peristeridu.

Born and raised in Samos, Greece, she moved to the United States in 1973, where she made her home in Lynn. She was educated in Greece and worked as a seamstress for Domenico, Inc. in Lynn. A member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church, she enjoyed cooking Greek food, traveling, knitting, sewing and trips to Atlantic City and Foxwoods. She also loved her cats.

She is survived by her three sons, Angelo Moshoudis of Salamina, Greece, George Boukas and his wife Elena of Peabody and Mike Boukas of Lynn; and her grandchildren, Anthony Masciari of Peabody, Andrea and Georgia Hristoforu and their mother Mary. She was the sister of the late Jasmine Ladas and Michael Peristeridu.

Service information: Funeral services will be held from the SOLIMINE Funeral Home, 426 Broadway (Route 129), Lynn, on Tuesday at 9 a.m., followed by funeral services in St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Lynn, at 10 a.m. Interment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours will be Monday from 4-8 p.m. Directions and guest book at Solimine.com.

PEABODY — Ossoff, Stella (Atoman), of Peabody, formerly of Lynn and Swampscott, entered into rest on April 15, 2016 at the age of 88. Beloved wife of Melvin Ossoff.

Devoted mother of Wendy Murray of Milbury, Janet Parkinson of Portsmouth, N.H., David Ossoff of Gloucester and Donald Ossoff of Boston. Loving sister of the late Daniel and Leo. Cherished grandmother of Jordan Parkinson.

Stella was the most marvelous wife, mother, friend and above all the proudest grandmother. Her passions included fashion, tennis and animals, with a love for cats. Stella was a hair model, her beauty and style capturing the eyes of many.

Service information: Funeral services will be held at STANETSKY-HYMANSON Memorial Chapel, 10 Vinnin St., Salem, on Sunday at 12 p.m. Interment will be held at Maple Hill Cemetery in Peabody. A memorial observance will be announced at the service. In lieu of flowers, donations in Stella’s name may be made to The Jewish Community Center of the North Shore, 4 Community Road, Marblehead, MA 01945.

LYNN — Mark William Peterson, formerly of Lynn and living in Las Vegas, Nev., age 40, passed away April 14, 2016 while in his sleep. He had been ill for a while.

Mark has left behind his loving wife, Carie and five children, Markie, 21, Mathew, 18, Marissa, 12, McKenna, 10, Brandon, 16; his mother, his two loving sisters and the countless lives he touched.

Mark grew up in Lynn and graduated from Lynn English in 1993.

Service information: Services will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in  Las Vegas, Nev.

All address information, particularly arrests, reflect police records. In the event of a perceived inaccuracy, it is the sole responsibility of the concerned party to contact the relevant police department and have the department issue a notice of correction to the Daily Item. Corrections or clarifications will not be made without express notice of change from the arresting police department.

LYNN

Arrest

Eliel Ruiz-Valenzuela, 31, of 25 Rogers Ave., was arrested on a straight warrant at 9:35 a.m. Thursday.

Complaints

A report of a drunk at 12:02 a.m. Thursday on Washington Street.

A report of suspicious activity at 7 a.m. Thursday on  Cannon Rock Road.

A report of threats made at 7:55 a.m. Thursday at 50 Goodridge St.; at 9:56 a.m. Thursday at 95 Lynnway; at 12:13 p.m. Thursday at 50 Goodridge St.

A report of larceny at 9:22 a.m. Thursday at 508 Lynnway; at 12:06 p.m. Thursday at 780 Lynnway.

A report of a Hazmat issue at 9:33 a.m. Thursday at 35 Walnut St.

A report of an assault and battery at 10:04 a.m. Thursday at 235 O’Callaghan Way.

A report of a con/scam at 10:08 a.m. Thursday at 60 Sagamore St.; at 10:13 a.m. Thursday at 48 Friend St.; at 3:42 p.m. Thursday at 18 Grosvenor Park; at 8:42 p.m. Thursday at 37 Autumn St.; at 10:01 p.m. Thursday at 433 Boston St.; at 11:25 p.m. Thursday at 217 Lewis St.

A report of a disturbance at 10:24 a.m. Thursday at 103-109 Broad St.; at 11:17 a.m. Thursday on Nahant Street; at 2:44 p.m. Thursday at 570 Western Ave.; at 4 p.m. Thursday at Barry Park; at 5:50 p.m. Thursday at 108 Boston St.; at 6:28 p.m. Thursday at 48 Houghton St.; at 8:10 p.m. Thursday on Market Street; at 8:36 p.m. Thursday at Fosdick Terrace; at 10:47 p.m. Thursday at 51 Hanover St.; at 10:57 p.m. Thursday at Manning Field; at 7:43 a.m. Friday at 24 Rogers Ave.

A report of a neighbor problem at 11:34 a.m. Thursday at 633 Boston St.

A report of trespassing at 1:04 p.m. Thursday at 281 Essex St.; at 1:52 p.m. Thursday at 77 Green St.; at 4:27 p.m. Thursday at 61 Vine St.; at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at 66 Harwood St.; at 8:16 p.m. Thursday at 300 Lynn Shore Drive; at 8:48 p.m. Thursday at 19 Willow St.

A report of a missing person at 2:18 p.m. Thursday at 16 Fairview Ave.

A report of a fight at 5:11 p.m. Thursday at 10 Surfside Road.

A report of an overdose at 6:31 p.m. Thursday on State Street.

Accidents

A report of an accident at 4:12 p.m. on Thursday on Spencer Street; at 6 p.m. Thursday at 13 Beacon Hill Ave.; at 8:27 p.m. Thursday at 60 Lynnway; at 12:33 a.m. Friday at 35 Market Square; a report of a motor vehicle accident at 4:12 p.m. Thursday on Western Avenue; at 4:20 p.m. Thursday on Spencer Street; at 6 p.m. Thursday on Beacon Hill Avenue; at 6:05 p.m. Thursday on Dartmouth Street; at 8:27 p.m. Thursday on the Lynnway; at 9:20 p.m. Thursday at 124 Western Ave.; at 9:42 p.m. Thursday on Commercial Street; at 9:47 p.m. Thursday at 65 Boston St.; at 9:54 p.m. Thursday at 218 Fairmount Ave.; at 12:33 a.m. Friday at 35 Market Square; at 7:24 a.m. Friday at 172 Essex St.

LYNNFIELD

Complaints

A report of shoplifting at 4 p.m. Thursday at 710 Market St.

A report of a suspicious person in backyard at 4:25 p.m. Thursday at 231 Salem St.

A report of harassment at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Harvey Park.

MARBLEHEAD

Complaints

A report of road rage at 9:47 a.m. Thursday on Elm Street.

A report of an attempted fraud at 11:45 a.m. Thursday on Washington Street.

A report of vandalism at 12:21 p.m. Thursday on Susan Road. House was egged.

A report of a disturbance at 2:34 p.m. Thursday on Clifton Avenue. Caller said it sounds like a person is being beaten.

A report of fake IRS calls at 2:41 p.m. Thursday on Prospect Street.

A report of debris in the road at 5:23 p.m. Thursday on Evans Road.

A report of a “grandparent scam” at 5:58 p.m. Thursday on Farrell Court. Caller claims  to elderly person that his  grandchild was in an accident and needs money.

A report of a car rollover at 9:47 p.m. Thursday on Bubier Road. No injuries reported.

NAHANT

Complaints

A report of a motor vehicle stop at 11:36 a.m. Thursday on Little Nahant Road.

A report of a citizen in need of assistance at 11:53 a.m. Thursday on Nahant Road.

A report of an animal issue at 1:42 p.m. Thursday on Lennox Road.

PEABODY

Complaints

A report of a lost dog at 2:36 p.m. Thursday at 16 Winona St.

A report of vandalism at 4:01 p.m. Thursday at 205 Washington St.

A report of identity fraud at 4:20 p.m. Thursday on Salem Street.

A report of suspicious activity at 6:52 p.m. Thursday at 154 Shore Drive. Caller reports youths playing near cars, possibly damaging them.

A report of a medical emergency at 7:29 p.m. Thursday at 42 Washington St. Nine-month-old with high fever was transported to hospital.

A report of vandalism at 8:33 a.m. Friday at 100 Birney St.

A report of fraud at 9:30 a.m. Friday at police station. Party reports a fraudulent Go Fund Me page.

A report of larceny by check at 10:22 a.m. Friday at police station. Party reports forgery.

REVERE

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 12:54 a.m. Thursday on Revere Beach Parkway; at 1:38 a.m. Thursday on Squire Road; at 2:45 a.m. Thursday on Bradstreet Avenue; at 7:37 a.m. Thursday on E Mountain Avenue; at 9:03 a.m. Thursday on School Street; at 2:14 p.m. Thursday on Beach Street; at 2:44 p.m. Thursday on Gore Road; at 8:14 p.m. Thursday on Squire Road; at 9:01 p.m. Thursday on Atlantic Avenue; at 9:53 p.m. Thursday on Broadway.

A report of harassing phone calls at 11:18 a.m. Thursday on Revere Beach Parkway.

A report of an abandoned motor vehicle at 11:22 a.m. Thursday on Asti Ave.

A report of an unwanted person at 11:45 a.m. Thursday on Rice Avenue.

A report of threats at 5:15 p.m. Thursday on Constitution Avenue.

SAUGUS

Complaints

A report of harassment at 9:04 a.m. Thursday at 120 Lincoln Ave.

A report of a loose manhole cover at 11:15 a.m. Thursday on School Street.

A report of an elderly female operating a Red Ford Focus traveling the wrong way on Route 107 North at 5:41 p.m. Thursday.

A report of two dogs assaulting three chickens at 6:35 p.m. Thursday at 12 Randall Road.

A report of a gas odor at 9:27 p.m. on Broadway.

ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
From left, Southeastern Asian liaison AJ Saing, Pastor Posan Ung, Chea Kiman and Chanthan Kang say a prayer at the Cambodian flag-raising ceremony at Lynn City Hall Friday.

BY DILLON DURST

LYNN — Some of the city’s immigrant community participated in a flag raising event at City Hall Friday to commemorate the Cambodian New Year.

In the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge regime committed genocide that saw mass executions, torture, forced labor and withholding food against the Cambodian population. The armed wing of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, the name the Communists used for Cambodia, caused the death of 1.7 million people, according to Yale University’s Cambodian Genocide Program.

Likened to the Holocaust, it is considered one of the worst human tragedies of the last century.

During the regime’s reign of terror, many Cambodians fled to the U.S. At 3,899, Lynn has the second-largest population of Cambodian Americans in Massachusetts, behind Lowell, according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau.
Pastor PoSan Ung, who grew up a Cambodian refugee, said raising of his native red, white and blue flag helps him feel at home. He came to the U.S. in the 1980s after living through the Killing Fields, sites in Cambodia where more than a million people were killed and buried.

He said Cambodian residents bring diversity, as well as a variety of foods, culture and liveliness to Lynn.

He encourages residents to visit his Living Fields Church, which has a large Cambodian-American congregation.

Kirirath “AJ” Saing, a board member of the Economic Development and Industrial Corp., said the New Year is celebrated for three days in April rather than January because the harvest season comes to an end, a time when farmers can rest and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Inspectional Services Department Director Michael Donovan said city officials will review bids from companies interested in providing the modular unit for Tracy Elementary School this month and select school yard space to locate it.

BY THOR JOURGENSEN

LYNN — A modular building with two classrooms will be built next to Tracy Elementary School to help ease overcrowding in the 440-student school.

School Department enrollment data posted this week named Tracy as one of two schools with classes containing 30 or more students. Lynn Woods has 30 youngsters in first grade and Tracy’s two fifth grades each have 32.

The $500,000 modular, pre-constructed building is expected to be completed by the start of school in September.

Michael Donovan, Inspectional Services Department director, said city officials will review bids from companies interested in providing the modular unit this month and select school yard space to locate it.

Tracy already uses a modular building. The Edward A. Sisson, Hood and Ingalls elementary schools also have modular classrooms.

Tracy’s deteriorating brick exterior and other building problems prompted the city council this month to seek state approval to replace the school. Built in 1898 on Walnut Street, Tracy had a 366-student enrollment 20 years ago.

School officials are taking steps to fit a growing student population. Five years ago, 14,000 students attended Lynn’s schools. That number reached 15,800 earlier this month.

Fewer than 7,000 elementary school students were enrolled in 2011 compared to 7,850 listed in current enrollment figures.

The School Department marked a historic moment in local history when the last students filed out of Marshall Middle School on Porter Street. When they return from school vacation on April 25, they will walk into a new Marshall on Brookline Street.

The new school, with its brick, masonry and glass foyer, will be designed around a “cluster” education concept.

Sixth- through eighth-graders will be grouped in three clusters per grade with academic classes — science, mathematics, English and social studies — grouped in each cluster of 120 students.

Centered around the foyer will be two wings rising four stories high on one side of the school and two stories on the other side with the shorter wing devoted to the gymnasium and cafeteria.

Superintendent Catherine Latham previously said the school will offer “specialty” programs essential to helping keep students in school at a time in their academic lives when the pressures of learning combined with “social and emotional baggage” can drive them to drop out.

“It will have a beautiful woodworking shop,” said Donovan.

The new Marshall’s completion sets the stage for design and planning to build a new Pickering Middle School and to find ways to ease elementary school overcrowding.

Donovan said plans to date call for demolishing the old Marshall. Built in 1917 and six years older than Marshall, Pickering is in better structural condition and could serve, Donovan said, as potential space for elementary school classrooms after another middle school — or schools — are built.

“Pickering is in relatively good shape. Marshall is in poor condition with bricks falling out of it. It’s a school that is showing its age,” Donovan said.

Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com.

A suspect who opened fire at two police officers during a routine vehicle stop was arrested without incident at a Lynn apartment on Friday afternoon.

BY THOMAS GRILLO AND DILLON DURST

LYNN — A suspect who opened fire at two police officers during a routine vehicle stop was arrested without incident at a Lynn apartment on Friday afternoon.

Salem detectives, Lynn Police officers and the Massachusetts State Police Fugitive Apprehension Unit captured Jeremiah F. Wooden for attempted murder. Police said they located the 22-year-old fugitive by tracking his cell phone to a first-floor apartment at 40 Park St.

“He is listed as homeless in Lynn and that’s the address where they found him,” said Lt. Rick Donnelly.

“This is another outstanding effort by our police department working together with the Mass State Police, Boston Police, Malden Police, Lynn Police and Salem State University Police, who used tremendous skills and experience in tracking down the suspect,” said Salem Police Chief Mary Butler, in a statement. “Valuable information from our community, once again, provided us the opportunity to remove now two violent criminals from our city streets.”

Wooden will face a variety of charges including armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery on a police officer, and possession of a firearm during a felony, among others.

Donnelly praised the combined efforts of the Lynn Warrant Task Force, State Police and Salem Police for the capture. Wooden was booked in Lynn and transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility, Donnelly said. He will be arraigned on Tuesday at Salem District Court.

Police said the two officers were on routine patrol Thursday evening in Salem when they spotted Wooden in a vehicle and knew there were warrants for his arrest. The officers stopped the vehicle and tried to arrest Wooden shortly after 6 p.m. But a struggle ensued and Wooden fired one shot before running away. No one was injured.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

Thomas Grillo can be reached at tgrillo@itemlive.com. Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com.

BY THOR JOURGENSEN

LYNN — Ratepayers will not see an increase over the next year thanks to the Water & Sewer Commission’s cost control efforts and debt refinancing.

But the commission’s chairman warned an expensive project on the horizon could hike rates as early as next year.

William Trahant Sr. and four fellow commissioners continue to examine how to meet federal mandates to reduce or eliminate partially treated sewage discharges into the ocean from the city’s waste treatment plant.

With estimates to end the discharges through a project called Combined Sewer Overflow approaching $130 million, Trahant said rates could rise next year.

“We should be able to hold this year, maybe next, but what is coming up in the future?” Trahant asked.

Commission CEO David Travers on Friday said he and other commission executives will recommend the five commissioners do not increase the current $9.98 per 100 cubic feet rate for water and sewer service when they discuss Water and Sewer spending in May and June.

“We’re looking to hold the line on rates,” Travers said.

Rates increased 2.5 percent from $9.74 per 100 cubic feet last spring. The average Lynn resident spends $699 annually for about 7,000 cubic feet of water. A family of four using 10,000 cubic feet pays about $1,000 a year for water and sewer.

Travers said the commission has succeeded over the last year in keeping major costs, including health insurance, pensions and worker’s compensation, stable without significant increases. He said capital debt financing for major projects undertaken by the commission also saved money.

Previous debt refinancing helped reduce the amount of interest Water & Sewer pays to finance expensive improvement projects, even though the commission spent or plans to spend $9 million on three projects during the last year and into this year.

Those improvements include a new cover for the Parkland Avenue reservoir, switching chlorine treatment systems at the Parkland Avenue water plant and on Commercial Street from chlorine gas to liquid chlorine and upgrade the waste treatment plant incinerator.

Water & Sewer has spent millions of dollars since the 1990s creating a separate storm drain and sewer pipe network to comply with federal orders reducing ocean discharges. Commissioners were divided last year over how much should be spent on CSO work, with David Ellis and Peter Capano advocating for CSO plans encompassing a solution to end West Lynn street flooding.

Former commissioner Wayne Lozzi urged the commission to adopt a relatively inexpensive CSO solution, but he left the commission this year. Travers said CSO planning will involve discussions with federal officials.

“We’re still waiting to enter into negotiations with the Environmental Protection Agency on what the next phase will be,” he said.

Officials will review the budget for the upcoming year with commissioners on May 6 and a public rate hearing is scheduled for June 8.

Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com.

PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
From left, Alycia Dailey, Chad Starratt and Raven Popek hold signs prior to the March for the Homeless.

By GAYLA CAWLEY

LYNN — The race to end homelessness got a boost on Saturday.

Five dozen people participated in the second annual March for the Homeless. The one-mile walk from Red Rock Park to Willow Street, was organized by Salem residents Caitlin Duggan and Raven Popek.

Duggan was joined by the Spoken Word Flash Mob, a Boston group that performs impromptu poetry in public places and scripted sets for various events. They performed a poem about homelessness outside of My Brother’s Table, one of the North Shore’s largest soup kitchens.

March for the Homeless is a worldwide movement, which started in Ireland, and featured seven countries marching on Friday or Saturday.

But Duggan said participants in other countries obstruct traffic and challenge police. She said the movement in Lynn is more peaceful, with walkers sticking to the sidewalks.

“We are not against the government and not against authority,” Duggan said. “They are. Other countries are more defiant.”

The cause is close to her heart because Duggan was homeless for three years as she struggled with drug addiction. She has been clean for almost 10 years, she said, but while without a home, she slept on city streets, lived in rooming houses and ate at My Brother’s Table.

“I don’t think people should be suffering anymore,” she said.

Also drawing her to the cause is her heritage. Her grandfather is from Ireland.

She said the walk raises awareness to stop homelessness in Lynn. She said there is no reason the goal can’t be achieved in a year.

Another goal is to change people’s perception about the homeless. She said people often look down on homeless folks who are begging for change and filthy, as if they are “disgusting.”

But she said any time someone starts using drugs or drinking heavily, as some homeless folks do, there is a huge trauma in their life that caused them to do that. She added that they are often hurting and don’t have a support system.

No money was raised from the walk because Duggan said she wants to show everyone that ending homelessness requires little or no cash.

When not walking, she is a street advocate, providing friendship to the homeless, as well as coats, blankets and tents for them through her North Shore donations page on Facebook.

Popek said she has always worked with the homeless. When Duggan had the march last year, she became interested. Popek helps out because she is fortunate to be better off than the homeless. If she didn’t have a home, clothes, a shower and money to buy food, she said she would be really depressed.

“I would want someone to help me so I wouldn’t feel like a loser,” Popek said. “I wanted to help them so they don’t feel bad about themselves.”

Homeless people are just like everyone else, but they don’t have the same chances and deserve to have people care about them, Popek said.

Anne Hayes, of Beverly, said she told the crowd that the real heroes are those who unite people and help people find a place, like those working with the homeless. She wrote a poem about the topic, which she recited at the walk. She also performed a rap song.

Hayes said she has come to know many homeless people and others who are struggling, through hip-hop. She said there should be no judgement towards that population, or towards anyone.

“I have been completely enriched by the homeless people I’ve met,” Hayes said.

Gayla Cawley can be reached at gcawley@itemlive.com. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley

PHOTO BY BOB ROCHE
Alex Freedman keeps a group of Drewicz third graders inside the crosswalk as they cross Hood Street.

By THOR JOURGENSEN

LYNN — Amy Romero, a student at the Drewicz Elementary School, knows how to safely cross a street.

But her teachers leave nothing to chance when it comes to ensuring the third grader and fellow students are careful pedestrians.

They taught them to walk, not run across streets, and make sure cars stop at crosswalks before the children step off the curb.

Kathe Landergan, safe routes coordinator, worked with Alycia Goodwin, the state’s Safe Routes outreach coordinator,  last week to help Drewicz’ students memorize safe crossing rules and make them aware of the dangers.

These staffers travel Massachusetts to reinforce safety rules at school visits. The state program encourages students to get more exercise by designating May 4 as Bike/Walking to School Day.

Goodwin said it’s easy for schools to reinforce safe crossing by organizing walking parties where parents escort children to school and remind them about pedestrian safety lessons.

“Principals can also look at other options,” she said.

Kayla Yim, a Drewicz third grader, walks to school with her brother, Sylvester, because she enjoys listening to the music he plays on his phone.

Alicia Marescalchi, the school’s social worker, said many Drewicz students walk to school. She said street crossing risks need to be underscored.

“A lot of our kids do have some basic knowledge, but lessons have to be reinforced,” she said.

Marescalchi said children assume a driver is going to stop at a crosswalk and that children are prone to running into the street on impulse to get to the other side.

Landergan said Lynn educators are surveying parents citywide to find out how their children get to and from school. Information from the survey will be used to design a map that will pinpoint streets that see high volumes of walkers.

Romero and third grader Noelia Perez spent last Thursday morning learning rules like “sneak/peek” encouraging students to stop at the curb, lean forward to check for oncoming vehicles and look in both directions before looking left a second time to check for traffic.

“When you cross the street, you always want to look where you’re going,” Romero said.

Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com

LYNN — Timothy P. Kavanagh, 34, of Lynn, passed away Thursday, April 14, at home, of an accidental overdose, after many years of bravely fighting his personal addiction.

Tim is survived by his loving mother, Debra O’Regan and William Baker, with whom he lived in Lynn, his father, Steven Kavanagh, formerly of Lynn, stepmother, Linda Whelan of Lynn, dear brothers, Sean Kavanagh and his life partner, Dennis Meade of Boston and Brendan O’Regan and Amanda Cote of Salem, his cherished niece, Ryleigh, and nephew, Brendan O’Regan Jr., grandfathers, Timothy DeMakis of Nahant and Christopher Carteris of Lynn, uncles, David O’Regan and his wife, Mary, of Boston and Michael Kavanagh of Lynn, several cousins and extended family members and many friends, including several close, lifelong friends. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Barbara DeMakis, Priscilla Carteris and Hugh O’Regan.

Tim enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, especially, his niece and nephew. He also enjoyed adventure travel, including zip lining in Costa Rica, sky diving and skiing. Tim was fiercely loyal and a dependable helper to his family and friends.

Service information: Tim’s funeral service will be held at the CUFFE-MCGINN FUNERAL HOME, 157 Maple St., Lynn, on Friday, April 22, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Interment will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, March 21, from 4-8 p.m., in the funeral home. Contributions may be made in Timothy’s memory to www.gofundme.com/a6z5m7ck.?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss For the online guest book please visit Cuffemcginn.com.

MARBLEHEAD — Harold H. Cahill Jr., 86, retired tennis pro, died Friday, April 15, 2016, following a brief illness.

Born in Lynn on April 30, 1929, he was the son of the late Harold H. and Florence (Rhodes) Cahill. He had resided in Lynn for many years before moving to Marblehead in 1965. Harold was a graduate of Lynn English High School, Class of 1946 and New England College in Henniker, N.H. A U.S. Navy veteran of World War Two, he was honorably discharged in April 1948.

Harold was employed as a tennis pro and instructor at the Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead for many years. He had also once worked at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge and General Electric Company in Lynn.

He is survived by three sons, Harold H. Cahill III, Jon M. Cahill and his wife, Lainie, and David P. Cahill, his longtime companion and friend, Janet Pellegrino, four grandchildren, Kyle and Natalya Cahill and Cody and Ryan Bonnevie, a brother, Richard Cahill and his wife, Lynne, and many nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his daughter, Karen Cahill Bonnevie, a sister, Audrey Sabanty and her husband, Kerry, two brothers, Donnie and William Cahill and his beloved dog, “Tigger.”

Service information: His funeral services will be privately held in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn, at the convenience of the family. There are no visiting hours. Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. Arrangements are under the direction of the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot St., Beverly. For more information and to send online condolences, please visit Grondinfuneralservices.com.

All address information, particularly arrests, reflect police records. In the event of a perceived inaccuracy, it is the sole responsibility of the concerned party to contact the relevant police department and have the department issue a notice of correction to the Daily Item. Corrections or clarifications will not be made without express notice of change from the arresting police department.

LYNN

Arrests

Tyler Campbell, 24, was arrested and charged with trespassing/park rule and possession of an alcoholic beverage/park rule at 10:03 p.m. Sunday.

Edwin Flores, 24, of 172 Washington St., was arrested and charged with motor vehicle breaking and entering/theft from a motor vehicle at 2:19 a.m. Monday.

Julio Jimenez, 24, of 23 Lexington St., was arrested and charged with trespassing/park rule and possession of an alcoholic beverage/park rule at 10:09 p.m. Sunday.

Patrick Kayulu, 39, of 56 River St., Beverly, was arrested and charged with trespassing/park rule, possession of an alcoholic beverage/park rule and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon at 10:04 p.m. Sunday.

Laci Kirk, 22, was arrested and charged with trespassing at 4:52 a.m. Monday.

James Shields, 32, of 8 Farnham St., Boston, was arrested and charged with operation of a motor vehicle with a revoked license as a habitual traffic offender and marked lanes violation at 8:20 p.m. Sunday.

Steven Tanahuvia, 23, of 58 Laighton St., was arrested and charged with operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license at 2:57 a.m. Sunday.

Michael Tate, 28, of 227 River St., Mattapan, was arrested and charged with motor vehicle breaking and entering/theft from a motor vehicle and possession of a Class B drug at 2:35 a.m. Monday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury at 1:15 p.m. Sunday at 198 Euclid Ave.

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 2:15 p.m. Sunday at Cottage and Hood streets; at 3:51 p.m. Sunday at 780 Lynnway; at 4:27 p.m. Sunday at Stanwood Street and Western Avenue; at 9:54 a.m. Monday at McDonalds at 567 Lynnway; at 10:08 a.m. Monday at 265 Ocean St.

Assaults

A report of an assault and battery at 6:36 p.m. Sunday on La Grange Terrace; at 9:22 p.m. Sunday on S Common Street.

Breaking and Entering

A report of a motor vehicle breaking and entering at 1:22 a.m. Monday at Friend and Green streets; at 1:30 a.m. Monday at 24 Parrott St.; at 1:45 a.m. Monday at 6 Stanley Terrace; at 9:18 a.m. Monday at 77 Green St.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 11:44 a.m. Sunday at 94 Kirtland St.; at 2:07 p.m. Sunday at 1 Market St.; at 2:19 p.m. Sunday at 124 Central Ave.; at 6:21 p.m. Sunday at 111 New Park St.; at 7:15 p.m. Sunday at 819 Western Ave.; at 7:15 p.m. Sunday at Dunkin Donuts at 819 Western Ave.; at 7:58 p.m. Sunday at Speedway Gas Station at 122 Liberty St.; at 8 p.m. Sunday at 74 Central Ave.; at 9:25 p.m. Sunday at 112 Rockaway St.; at 9:45 p.m. Sunday at 25 Northern Ave.; at 10:59 p.m. Sunday at 653 Western Ave.; at 2:46 a.m. Monday at 8 Concord St.; at 8:32 a.m. Monday at 25 Exchange St.

A report of a fight at 7:18 p.m. Sunday on State Street; at 9:40 a.m. Monday at 87 Robinson St.

A report of a juvenile problem at 7:54 p.m. Sunday on Warren Street Playground.

A report of an uninvited guest at 10:28 p.m. Sunday at 105 Rockaway St.; at 12:23 a.m. Monday at 135 Lawton Ave.

A report of a missing person at 1:30 a.m. Monday at 14 Union Place.

Theft

A report of a robbery at 9:40 a.m. Monday at 224 Washington St.

MARBLEHEAD

Complaints

A report of a wide open window on the first floor at 8:44 a.m. Sunday on Humphrey Street. A man was walking around the school and said that there is a wide open window on the first floor of the back side. He said it would be easy to step right into the building. The window was closed.

A report of a low flying drone at 12:18 p.m. Sunday on Baldwin Road. A woman reported someone was at the playground flying a drone and it was only 15 feet above their heads as they were in the area.

A report of a bicyclist down at 4:04 p.m. Sunday on Ocean Avenue. A caller reported a motorist opened their car door and a bicyclist ran into the open door. He stated the victim is not moving. The caller stated that she may be unconscious. A second caller stated the bicyclist is not moving and is unconscious. The woman was transported to Salem Hospital.

A report of loud kids at 10:19 p.m. Sunday on Lighthouse Lane. A caller reported several kids in the area making noise at the lighthouse.

PEABODY

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 4:53 p.m. Sunday at Qdoba Mexican Grill at 229 Andover St.; at 6:10 p.m. Sunday in the vicinity of 204 Lynn St.; at 6:45 p.m. Sunday at 2 Tremont St. and 63 Central St. A caller reported a possible moped accident. An officer reported it was a bumped curb; at 3:06 a.m. Monday at 39 County St. A caller reported a motor vehicle into a pole. The street was blocked off at Lynn/County, along with County/Maple. The County/Lynnfield pole was down across the street of County/Maple. Electric Light was notified. DPW was notified to deploy cones at the scene. The female operator was transported to Salem Hospital. Damage to house at 39 County St., including the fence and electric service.

A report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident at 12:27 p.m. Monday at Dunkin Donuts at 117 Newbury St.

Assaults

A report of an assault and battery at 9:25 a.m. Monday on Essex Center Drive.

Breaking and Entering

A report of a breaking and entering at 7:04 a.m. Monday at 21 St. Anns Ave. A resident reported a breaking and entering. Access was gained to the residence between 5:30 and 7 a.m. No items were taken from the residence but tools were left behind that were used to gain access. Those tools were secured and brought to the station.

Complaints

A report of suspicious activity at 3:09 p.m. Sunday on Railroad Avenue. The fire department reported a van loading wood from the construction site and was not sure if the van should be on the property. An officer reported that the party believed that the wood was “free” pallets. The wood was actually planks and were on the property for future use.

A report of a disturbance at 3:47 p.m. Sunday at 23 Sherman St.; at 7:17 p.m. Sunday at 7 Keys Drive; at 10:04 p.m. Sunday at 2 Tracey St.

A report of an unwanted person at 4:19 p.m. Sunday at Marriott Hotel at 8A Centennial Drive; at 5:12 p.m. Sunday at Northshore Mall at 210N Andover St. A woman was transported to Lahey North; at 7:20 p.m. Sunday at 8124 Crane Brook Way.

Theft

A report of a larceny at 10:34 a.m. Monday in the vicinity of Omnicare at 2 Technology Drive.

Vandalism

A report of a car keyed at 4:01 p.m. Sunday at 258 Washington St.

A report of vandalism at 7:29 p.m. Sunday in the vicinity of 163 Washington St. and 124 Foster St. A caller reported that another motor vehicle operator got out of his vehicle and struck her vehicle when she didn’t move fast enough at a light, causing damage.

ITEM FILE PHOTO
Lynn Woods Pennybrook Road entrance.

Trees are budding and Earth Day is around the corner. It won’t be long before parks and playgrounds in Lynn and surrounding communities get cleaned up.

But before the shovels and rakes come out, it might be worthwhile to step back and ask how green spaces can be best used during the handful of months when people flock to them.

Parks and playgrounds are traditionally places where kids play organized sports or casual pickup games. It’s where parks and recreation departments host summer-oriented activities aimed at sharpening sports skills or exposing kids to a world beyond television and social media.

In Lynn’s Highlands, neighbors working with local organizations reclaimed Henry Avenue and Cook Street playgrounds from people who hung out in the parks, drank and got into fights. Both locations enjoy renewals that have made them a focus of neighborhood activities, as well as more traditional park activities.

These park renewal efforts and other examples of residents taking an interest in public spaces near their homes represent a starting point for getting maximum use out of parks and playgrounds during warm weather months.

Parks offer the potential of becoming common ground. These are places where kids with time on their hands and people willing to teach job skills, can meet in a supervised setting and offer young people a glimpse into a trade or professions.

What barriers exist to offering mini job fairs in parks? Is there any reason why social service agencies can’t provide opportunities to extend their services during an organized event at a local park?

With Breakheart Reservation and Lynn Woods offering acres of woodlands for residents to enjoy, there’s an opportunity to teach young people nature-related skills like erosion prevention, tree clearing and planting.

These tasks sound at first like menial chores of limited interest to a generation of children raised on instant messaging and video games. Then again, hard outdoor work stretching over a summer day can teach a young person the fundamental values of work and the joy of a job well done.

Lynn Woods’ protection as a valuable natural asset will only be assured if another generation of Lynn residents gets the opportunity to appreciate the reservation. Why not instill that appreciation by organizing supervised conservation projects kids can participate in?

Parks and playgrounds are typically places where people play but they are also ready-made classrooms.

From left, Amanda Erikson, Josilyn Flynn and Nicholas Granitsas during the North Shore Christian School’s jog-a-thon on Friday.

BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE

LYNN — Students at North Shore Christian School hustled to raise more than $20,000 for their school in 20 minutes.

The school offers academic and biblical instruction to students in pre-K through grade 8.

More than 300 students, parents, and faculty participated in the school’s first jog-a-thon Friday afternoon at their Lynn and Beverly campuses.  

To raise the money, students collected pledges for each lap that they ran around the campus within 20 minutes. Donors could either pledge a certain amount of money per lap or pledge to make a donation for a fixed amount.

Priscilla Miro, director of admissions for the school, said about 10 laps around the Lynn campus is one mile. Most children completed an average of more than 13 laps.
“The kid have been working on their endurance to run this much in their PE class,” Miro said.

The event was organized by Susan Archer, director of development, who hoped to promote health and fitness while also helping the school.

Participants showed up Friday, many dressed in costume, ready to give donors a run for their money. Spectators encouraged the runners to continue on with chanting and high fives. Even the Chick-Fil-A cow showed the runners his support.

Funds raised will benefit the school by adding to and enhancing existing curriculum, Miro said.

“We set a goal of $20,000 and we met and exceeded our goal,” Miro said. “It will enrich what we already have going on and continue to make what we have even better.”

Bridget Turcotte can be reached at bturcotte@itemlive.com. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte

PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Betty Cooper with a photo of her daughter, Cheryl Senn, who was murdered in a domestic violence incident in 1997.

BY MICHELE DURGIN

Betty Cooper’s life changed forever when her 29-year-old daughter was stabbed to death by the father of their four boys.

Cheryl Senn died in Lynn in 1997 after she was stabbed by her husband 29 times.
Cooper said her son-in-law was jealous because Senn had returned to school, started taking classes at Operation Bootstrap, an adult education center, with a dream of becoming a real estate agent.

Peter Eugene, then 45, was found guilty of murder and is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole in MCI-Cedar Junction at Walpole.

To honor her daughter’s memory, Cooper has become an advocate to prevent domestic abuse. She is helping organize the Healing Abuse Working for Change’s (HAWC) 24th annual fundraiser on Sunday. The annual 5K walk begins and ends on the Salem Common.

Senn’s four sons are grown, ranging in ages from 25 to 30. None have married or had children of their own, but they remain close to their grandmother.

“They are an important part of my life,” said Cooper. “They miss their mother every single day and never really recovered from being in the house while she was being murdered.”

HAWC is a nonprofit victim advocacy organization that sponsors fundraisers and community events including the annual Working to Heal Breakfast and the Walk/Run for HAWC, which is its oldest and largest fundraising event.  

Event planners are hoping to raise $125,000 that will be used to provide services and support to victims of domestic abuse in about two dozen North Shore communities.

Founded in 1978, the charity assists survivors of domestic by helping to file restraining orders and seeking treatment for victims. HAWC also provides emergency family shelter for people who are at risk of being homeless due to domestic abuse.

Those staying in the shelter receive assistance from a family advocate who guides them through what can be a stressful and complicated process.

Volunteers participate in many of the agency’s services, such as manning its 24-hour hotline or the Parent/Child Trauma Recovery Program.

Despite the passage of time, Cooper said she still finds it difficult to talk about her daughter’s murder and that the memories are still very painful.

“We all love and miss her dearly,” she said. “She was a fun loving and deeply devout woman who loved her children dearly. She had a beautiful smile. She will be in our hearts forever.”