SWAMPSCOTT — Anthony (Tony) Benevento, 68 years of Swampscott died on Sunday, April 24, 2016, as the result of injuries he received in a traffic accident in Florida. He was the husband of the late Susan E. (Turner) Benevento.

He was born in Lynn, the son of the late Carlos Benevento and the late Phyllis (Bishop) (Benevento) Furey. He was raised in Swampscott, was a 1965 graduate of Swampscott High School, and lived in Swampscott all of his life.

Tony was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War and served as a sergeant. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a longtime member of Tedesco Country Club. Golf was his passion, especially in recent years as he entered into semi-retirement. Tony loved sports and was a three-sport captain for Swampscott High School in hockey, football and baseball. He also enjoyed coaching baseball and hockey while his children were growing up in Swampscott. The Swampscott community was an important part of Tony’s life.

In 1972 Tony founded the Benevento Insurance Agency in Swampscott. His son, Bryan, and daughter, Christine, have helped run the company for several years and will carry on their father’s legacy. Tony recently semi-retired after 44 years and spent much of the last two winters in Florida.

Tony is survived by a daughter, Christine Martin and her husband, Christian, Stephen Benevento and his husband, Kevin Dougwillo, Bryan Benevento and his wife, Stephanie, all of Swampscott, his grandchildren, Emma and Abby Benevento, Erik and Samantha Martin and John Benevento, his brothers and sisters, Jennie Spinney and her husband, Lee, of North Scituate, R.I., a sister-in–law, Beth Benevento of Methuen, Chuck Benevento and his wife, Kathy of North Hampton, N.H., Mary Grimmer and her husband, Manfred, of Reading, Ann McCoy and her husband, Stephen, of Hingham, and Theresa Buonopane and her husband, Michael, of North Andover. He also leaves many nieces and nephews. He was the beloved big brother of the late Michael Benevento.

Service information: His funeral will be held on Monday, May 2, 2016, at 9 a.m., from the SOLIMINE Funeral Home, 67 Ocean St., (Route 1A) Lynn, followed by a funeral Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church, Swampscott at 10 a.m. Burial in Swampscott Cemetery. Friends and relatives are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are on Sunday from 4-8 p.m. Donations in Tony’s name may be made to Swampscott Big Blue Athletics, Attention: Kelly Farley, 200 Essex St., Swampscott, MA 01907. Directions and guest book at www.solimine.com.?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

PHOTO: BOB ROCHE
St. Mary’s singles player Conor Foley won his match against Matignon on Thursday, 6-1. 6-0.

By MIKE ALONGI and LILY DOOLIN

Behind a full team effort, the St. Mary’s boys tennis team shut out Matignon, 4-0, at GE Field in Lynn Thursday afternoon.

The Spartans took all three singles matches and the only doubles match of the day. Neither team had enough players available to field for a second doubles match.

Brady Ryan got the win in the first singles match, 6-0, 6-0. The second match was won by Matt McManus, who was hobbled by an ankle injury, 6-1, 6-2. Conor Foley took the third singles match, 6-1, 6-0.

In the lone doubles match, the team of Jonah Lezama and Jolssen Rodriguez got the win, 6-1, 6-0.

“It was a good day for us, a good couple of days actually,” said St. Mary’s coach Brian Carlson. “Our solid play against Austin Prep yesterday (Wednesday) really carried over into our match today and we were able to get the win.”

With the victory, the Spartans improve to 9-1.

“This has been a very similar start to our start last year, so I’m very pleased,” Carlson said. “We just want to keep it going at this point, keep working hard and try to get that top spot in the league once again.”

BOYS

Beverly 5, Revere 0

For the Panthers (7-0), Peter Coletti got the win in first singles, 6-1, 6-0, while Dylan LeBlanc took the second singles match, 6-1, 7-5. Michael Silveira won the third singles match, 6-1, 6-3.

In doubles play, the team of Colin Oliver and Frederico Poncini won the first match, 6-1, 6-1. The team of Skyler Crean and Kyle Martin took the second match, 6-0, 6-1.

Swampscott 4, Danvers 1

The Big Blue (4-3) had wins from Matt Jacobs at first singles, 6-0, 6-0, second singles Sam Mayblyum (losing first set 3-6), 6-3, 6-2, and third singles Will Talebian 7-5, 6-1. The first doubles team of Erick Eaton and Ben Rossman lost their first set 3-6, then won the next two sets 6-2, 6-4 to get the final points for Swampscott.

Spellman 3, Fenwick 2

The Crusaders (2-5) had wins from Jack Palmachuck and Wil Bethune in first doubles, 6-0, 6-3, and Noah Anderson and Regan Zhu in second doubles, 6-0, 6-3.

GIRLS
Danvers 5, Swampscott 0

The Big Blue (4-5) had to make some lineup changes, allowing for some new faces to get onto the court. Though losing their match, first doubles Asja Zimmerman and Gina Hollenbach performed well for Swampscott, losing the first set 6-2, but rallying back in the second match to win 6-2 (before losing the third set 6-3).  

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

Thomas Armington, of 6 Aurora Lane, Salem, was arrested on warrant charges of OUI liquor and operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday.

Michael Belanger, 39, of 117 Tremont St., Peabody, was arrested and charged with possession of a Class A drug at 2:47 p.m. Thursday.

Charles Carva, 41, of 15 Crowninshield St., Peabody, was arrested and charged with being present where heroin is kept, operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, two counts of possession of Class E drug and failure to signal at 2:49 p.m. Thursday.

Freylen Cubas-Martinez, of 30 High St., was arrested on a warrant charge of armed robbery at 11:18 a.m. Thursday.

Erik Dion, of 77 Kirtland St., was arrested on warrant charges of two counts of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and destruction of property over $250 at 8:01 a.m. Thursday.

William Garcia, 32, of 55 Collins St., was arrested and charged with OUI liquor and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle at 12:32 a.m. Thursday.

Shawn Macneil, of 514 Western Ave., was arrested on a warrant charge of larceny from a building at 3:51 p.m. Thursday.

Solomon Mastin, of 9 Clifton Ave., was arrested on warrant charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest at 2:12 p.m. Wednesday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 2:29 p.m. Wednesday at 172 Washington St.; at 4:05 p.m. Wednesday at 2 Market Square; at 6:31 p.m. Wednesday at Federal and Waterhill streets; at 7:40 p.m. Wednesday at Knights of Columbus Hall at 177 Lynnfield St.; at 9:33 p.m. Wednesday and Beacon Hill and Lawton avenues; at 11:20 a.m. Thursday at Joyce and Union streets.

A report of a police motor vehicle accident at 10:21 a.m. Thursday at Martin and Quinn roads.

Assaults

A report of an assault at 2:31 p.m. Wednesday on Washington Street.

Breaking and Entering

A report of a motor vehicle breaking and entering at 12:47 p.m. Wednesday at Andrew Street Parking Lot; at 6:47 a.m. Thursday at Friend and Silsbee streets; at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at 18 Lander St.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 1:27 p.m. Wednesday at 41 Holly Ave.; at 1:31 p.m. Wednesday at 40 Park St.; at 1:43 p.m. Wednesday at Andrew and Washington streets; at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday at 66 Laighton St.; at 2:31 p.m. Wednesday at 280 Union St.; at 4:19 p.m. Wednesday at Linwood Road and Walnut Street; at 5:22 p.m. Wednesday at 116 Bay View Ave.; at 6:52 p.m. Wednesday on Winnepurkit Avenue; at 8:02 p.m. Wednesday at 3 Elsie Road; at 2:46 a.m. Thursday at 25 Western Ave.; at 2:50 a.m. Thursday at 131 Ocean St.; at 4 a.m. Thursday at 118 Johnson St.; at 4:40 a.m. Thursday at 147 Washington St.; at 6:14 a.m. Thursday at 21 Pond St.; at 6:57 a.m. Thursday at 7-11 at 264 Essex St.; at 9:10 a.m. Thursday at Brother’s Deli at 41 Market St.

A report of a bomb threat at 2:56 p.m. Wednesday at Classical High School at 235 O’Callaghan Way; at 8:59 a.m. Thursday at Breed Middle School at 90 O’Callaghan Way.

A report of a missing person at 2:58 p.m. Wednesday at 191 Eutaw Ave.; at 12:29 a.m. Thursday at 30 Pleasant St.

A report of a juvenile problem at 4:58 p.m. Wednesday on High Rock Terrace; at 5:58 p.m. Wednesday on Holland Avenue; at 7:34 p.m. Wednesday at High Rock Tower on Circuit Avenue; at 8:11 p.m. Wednesday at 49 Vine St.; at 2:33 p.m. Thursday at KIPP Academy at 90 High Rock St.

A report of an uninvited guest at 7:42 p.m. Wednesday at 111 Washington St.

A report of a fight at 7:46 p.m. Wednesday at 454 Essex St.; at 8:42 p.m. Wednesday at Centre Street and Western Avenue.

Theft

A report of a larceny at 2:34 p.m. Wednesday at 41 Holly Ave.; at 4:13 p.m. Wednesday at 45A Memorial Park Ave.; at 9:10 p.m. Wednesday at Sidney Avenue and Chatham Street.

A report of motor vehicle theft at 5:03 p.m. Wednesday at 27 Mudge St.; at 11:49 a.m. Thursday at 3 Gateway Lane.

Vandalism

A report of vandalism at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday at 498 Essex St.

A report of motor vehicle vandalism at 12:39 p.m. Wednesday at 140 Tracey Ave.; at 8:04 a.m. Thursday at 17 Morris St.

LYNNFIELD

Arrests

Michael P. Jackson, 35, of 69 Lakeshore Road, Peabody, was arrested and charged with operating on a revoked license, operating a motor vehicle with a revoked registration, an uninsured motor vehicle and on two warrants at 11:16 a.m. Monday.

David Silvestre, 37, of 22 Rosewood St., Apt. 3, Pawtucket, R.I., was arrested and charged with operating a truck on excluded way, operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license and on a warrant at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 6:15 p.m. Sunday on Main Street; at 7:18 p.m. Sunday on S Broadway; at 7:33 a.m. Wednesday on 128 South; at 2:48 p.m. Wednesday at 199 Salem St. and 511 Walnut St.; at 7:39 a.m. Thursday on Forest Hill Avenue.

Complaints

A report of a suspicious person at 8:20 p.m. Sunday on Baldwin Lane. A caller reported a man stood in front of her driveway, blocking her access to it and when he did not move, she drove around him. An officer was unable to locate the man.

A report of an unwanted person at 11:56 a.m. Monday at 16 Center Village.

A report of a disturbance at 12:57 p.m. Monday at 1 Elliot Road. A caller reported the occupants of a vehicle parked in front of his house are arguing; at 7:18 p.m. Monday at Lynnfield High School at 275 Essex St.; at 12:26 p.m. Tuesday at Lynnfield Commons at 375 N Broadway; at 8:41 p.m. Wednesday on Chatham Way. A caller reported hearing what sounded like gunshots coming from the direction of the high school. An officer reported the noise was possibly coming from the Reading Gun Club; at 6:28 a.m. Thursday at 425 Salem St.

A report of deer in the roadway at 5:25 a.m. Wednesday at 605 Walnut St. and 1 Sparhawk Drive. An officer reported the deer was expired and was removed.

A report of a dumping complaint at 10:25 a.m. Wednesday at 2 Maiden Lane. A caller reported a landscaper is dumping debris on her property. An officer spoke with both people and concluded that nothing was dumped on the caller’s property and it appears to be a property line dispute.

Theft

A report of a larceny at 10:55 a.m. Wednesday at 55 Pillings Pond Road.

MARBLEHEAD

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 2:27 p.m. Wednesday at Mohawk Road and Pleasant Street; at 5:20 p.m. Wednesday at Clifton and Atlantic avenues.

Complaints

A report of suspicious activity at 9:09 a.m. Wednesday on Thompson Road. A caller reported an older man in a coat, no hat, sunglasses and longer hair on a 10 speed bike riding around the area.

A report of leaf blowers blowing leaves at 3:27 p.m. Wednesday on Highland Terrace. A caller reported “there were people using leaf blowers for two hours” in the area, which did not bother her as much as “the huge clouds of dust and debris into the street” creating some type of “environmental issue, creating a hazard for people who have asthma or heart disease.” She will call the next time they do that “because someone should go down and talk to them about it and talk about how they are blowing debris into the roadway.”  

Rape

A report of a rape at 1:14 a.m. Thursday on Gerry Street. A call was received from Salem ER stating that a woman was there who reported she was raped. She resides in Salem but told ER staff it happened in Marblehead.

PEABODY

Arrest

Don A. Denham, 37, of 50 Aborn St., was arrested and charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property over $250 and receiving stolen property under $250 at 11:08 a.m. Thursday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident at 4:16 p.m. Wednesday at Luso American Credit Union at 37 Tremont St.; at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Outback Steakhouse at 300 Andover St.; at 8:45 a.m. Thursday at Sullivan Tire & Auto Service at 175 Washington St.; at 1:17 p.m. Thursday at Northshore Mall at 210N Andover St.

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 5:01 p.m. Wednesday at 21 Sutton St. and 3 Milk St.; at 5:47 p.m. Wednesday at Holiday Inn at 1 Newbury St.; at 11:44 a.m. Thursday at Subway at 251 Andover St.; at 1:53 p.m. Thursday at Trackside Bar & Grill at 30 Warren St.

A report of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury at 6:48 p.m. Wednesday at 763 Lowell St. A caller reported a vehicle into a tree. DPW was notified for tree removal and the vehicle was towed. The driver was transported to Beverly Hospital.

Assaults

A report of an assault and battery at 4:33 p.m. Wednesday on Parsons Street. A caller reported an assault at the Welch School. An officer reported the argument was over a basketball game.

Breaking and Entering

A report of a motor vehicle breaking and entering at 12:51 p.m. Thursday at 24 Coolidge Ave. A caller reported a stolen purse.

Complaints

A report of a suspicious motor vehicle at 3:21 p.m. Wednesday at Trader Joe’s at 300 Andover St. A caller reported a man drinking a beer in a parked vehicle. An officer reported the truck will be left in the parking lot and both occupants will take a taxi home.

A report of suspicious activity at 6:22 p.m. Wednesday at 4 Lake St. and 660 Lowell St. Multiple reports received of an elderly man in a green sweater attempting to hitchhike and walking down the middle of the road. An officer spoke with the man and brought him home to his family.

A report of a disturbance at 9:04 p.m. Wednesday at Capone’s Restaurant at 147 Summit St.; at 9:12 a.m. Thursday at 6 Brookbridge Road. A caller reported someone was possibly in the house. An officer reported no one was in the house with the homeowner.

A report of an animal complaint at 9:18 a.m. Thursday at 35 Wilson Terrace. A caller complained about a little white dog from Goldberg Road, who comes onto Wilson Terrace to use the bathroom early mornings. She stated her dog is getting blamed for it and said she doesn’t know what house the offending dog resides at. On callback, she confirmed she did not know where the dog lives but would call back after gathering further information.

A report of a coyote near the school grounds at 12:24 p.m. Thursday at Welch School at 50 Swampscott Ave.

Fire

A report of an auto fire at 11:26 a.m. Thursday at 33 Centennial Drive and 7 Summit St. A caller reported a U-Haul truck on fire. An officer reported the fire was extinguished and the vehicle was towed. DPW was called for debris in the roadway.

Overdose

A report of an overdose at 5:40 p.m. Wednesday on Fountain Street. Overdose of prescription medication with one person transported to Salem Hospital.

Theft

A report of a larceny at 2:51 p.m. Wednesday at 168 Washington St. A man reported a stolen phone; at 3:59 p.m. Wednesday at Shaw’s Supermarket at 210S Andover St. A woman reported a stolen purse; at 4:28 p.m. Wednesday at 33 Abington Ave. A person reported a stolen handicapped parking placard; at 6:58 p.m. Wednesday at Federal Express at 4 Lakeland Park Drive. Staff reported a larceny of a package; at 9:53 a.m. Thursday at Lahey Health & Medical Center at 1 Essex Center Drive. An employee reported a past larceny of jewelry.

REVERE

Arrest

Thomas E. Lund, 21, of 20 Beacon St., Winthrop, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and on protective custody at 8:01 p.m. Wednesday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 6:36 a.m. Wednesday at Dunkin Donuts on Beach Street; at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday on Mahoney Circle.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 5:02 a.m. Wednesday on Beckert Avenue; at 8:37 a.m. Wednesday at Revere Beach Place on Revere Beach Boulevard; at 3:27 p.m. Wednesday on E Mountain Avenue; at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday on Prospect Avenue; at 7:20 p.m. Wednesday at Costa Park on Walnut Avenue; at 8:01 p.m. Wednesday at BK’s Bar & Grille on Ocean Avenue; at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday on Woodland Road.

A report of an unwanted person at 4:08 p.m. Wednesday on Steeple Street; at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday on Wolcott Road.

A report of threats to kill at 5:18 p.m. Wednesday on Madison Street.

Overdose

A report of a possible overdose at 12:36 a.m. Wednesday on Elm Street.

Theft

A report of a larceny/forgery/fraud at 6:17 p.m. Wednesday on Hichborn Street; at 6:54 p.m. Wednesday on Rice Avenue.

Vandalism

A report of vandalism at 10:42 a.m. Wednesday on Carleton Street.

SAUGUS

Arrest

Alscis Yael Reyes-Tejada, of 40 Forest St., was arrested and charged on a warrant for failure to appear upon recognizance at 2:48 p.m. Wednesday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday at Spuds Restaurant at 22 Lincoln Ave.

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 7:52 a.m. Thursday at 54 Main St.

Assaults

A report of an assault and battery at 2:56 p.m. Wednesday on Shore Road.

Complaints

A report of an elevator rescue at 10:55 a.m. Wednesday at 20 Newhall Ave. A caller reported she was stuck in an elevator on the first floor. Firefighters were able to get her out of the elevator successfully.

A report of an animal complaint at 2:11 p.m. Wednesday at 5 Randell Road. A man reported two dogs entered his fenced in yard and killed his chickens. He further reports two dogs quarantined and one bird was attacked and sent to the hospital.

A report of a disturbance at 6:32 p.m. Wednesday at 36 Juniper Drive. A caller reported her neighbor is on her property cutting trees down. An officer reported it was a dispute between a resident and the caller.

Fire

A report of a car fire at 3:26 p.m. Wednesday on Broadway. The fire was extinguished and the car was towed.

A report of a chimney fire at 8:21 p.m. Wednesday at 1 Vinegar Hill Drive. An officer reported it was a good intent call.

SWAMPSCOTT

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident at 5:44 p.m. Wednesday at Wholefoods Market at 331 Paradise Road.

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 5:52 a.m. Thursday at Burrill Street and Monument Avenue.

Complaints

A report of an erratic operator at 1:05 p.m. Wednesday at Vinnin Square at 990 Paradise Road. A caller reported a female driver texting while driving and was all over the road.

A report of a prowler at 6:13 a.m. Thursday at 255 Burrill St. A caller reported a man looking into a motor vehicle, who hid when he saw her. An officer reported nothing was showing in the area.

ITEM FILE PHOTO
City Clerk Mary Audley

When it comes to figuring out where to put a polling place, veteran City Clerk Mary Audley summed it up perfectly on Tuesday night: “It’s very difficult to please everybody.”

Audley directed her remark to city councilors reviewing polling place locations and it is fitting to pause for a few seconds and point out how Audley juggles responsibility for the Clerk’s office as well as the city Election Department with precision and efficiency.

Her organizational talents will be on full display on Nov. 8 when the presidential election, along with other ballot decisions, should attract voters like a giant magnet. Councilors are aware of the intense public interest in the election and they are looking at polling place locations with an eye to ensuring adequate parking is available to voters.

Councilors’ support for moving Ward 3’s polling place from English High School to the new Marshall Middle School appears to make sense because of the amount of parking available on Brookline Street compared to available parking at English.

Solving parking problems in Ward 4 could prove to be a tougher task. Ward 4 voters are currently voting at the Lynn Museum downtown and they previously cast ballots at nearby North Shore Community College before the start of work on the college’s addition ruled the campus out as a polling place. With ample parking and a central location, the KIPP charter school in the Highlands ultimately seems like the best place for the ward’s polls. To their credit, KIPP administrators seem to embrace the school as a potential polling site.

Councilors have many considerations to weigh as they review polling places, but their first priority should be public safety and their last priority convenience. Voters leaving work would pour into the polls on Nov. 8 as the sun casts its last rays and darkness descends over the city. Traffic and parking safety must be paramount considerations because busy voters, anxious to run home and eat and get on with their evenings, are going to be in a rush to park and vote. Election night with all of its attendant excitement does not need to be marred by tragedy.

There is another reason to ensure convenience does not dictate polling place decisions. It is easy to confuse voting accessibility with convenience. It is essential to ensure everyone can exercise their right to vote but voting should always be an exercise of the mind, heart and legs, not necessarily in that order.

Voters must be well-informed. They should vote with passion. But getting to the polls should be a chore befitting the most basic of democratic rights that Americans have died defending.

Here’s hoping councilors carefully weigh polling place locations and here’s hoping voting never becomes a lazy task defined by a few clicks on a keyboard or a tablet.

Item Photo by Owen O’Rourke
Derianna DiRico was the first speaker at the 4th annual Autism Awareness assembly at Lynn Classical.

BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE 

LYNN — Conner Robertson, a senior at Classical High School, has 10 siblings.

Eight of them have autism.

“They are not all the same,” Robertson said. “Just because a person is labeled with autism doesn’t mean they’re less than anyone else. Just different.”

Other students shared a similar message at an assembly held at the school’s gym Thursday for Autism Awareness Month. Children with autism often have difficulty with social interaction, communication and repetitive behaviors.

Students who either have or know someone with the disorder, participated in the session.

“A lot of people think autism is one thing,” Robertson said. “It’s a whole spectrum.”

Gregory Moise, a student with autism in the Creating Opportunities for Autistic Children (COACH) program who has been in seven school plays in the past three years, told his peers more about his likes and dislikes, and what life is like for him.

“I talked about a different way of thinking,” Moise said.

The COACH program provides students with a separate classroom, or an environment away from the general school, for children with learning needs. It offers smaller classes, a smaller student-to-teacher ratio and a modified curriculum. Depending on the student’s ability, they can sometimes attend inclusion classes with special and regular education students.

“The students are such an integrated part of the Classical community,” Marc said. “This gets regular education kids involved. They get a glimpse of what it’s like for autistic students.”

Students have been selling T-shirts, bracelets, and other items throughout the month to raise money for the COACH students to go on field trips.

Classical’s COACH program started in 2007 with two students. Today, the school has 11 students. Within the next three years, it will grow to include two dozen, Lyman said. There are 13 students who volunteer as COACH student aides, but there were more than 70 applicants for the positions.

Riley Breen, a COACH student aide, talked about her experience planning for college as a student on the autism spectrum.

“I have asperger’s,” Breen said. “It’s huge for someone with an autism spectrum disorder to go away to college. There are a lot of weird things I have to worry about that other’s might not realize.”

The school watched as series of videos sharing stories of students who have autism Wednesday afternoon, said Christine Lyman, head of the special education department.

Students in the COACH program cut 1,600 paper puzzle pieces out of paper and distributed them to everyone in the building. Questions, comments, and observations were written on the paper and they were mounted to a wall in the foyer of the school.

“I love what I saw outside the auditorium,” said Principal Gene Constantino. “Everyone has learned a lot.”

Jessica Ayer and Erin Marc, COACH teachers, took the most common questions and addressed them at Thursday’s assembly.

Lyman said she hoped the assembly would help more people get a small glimpse of what it’s like to be on the spectrum or have a family member who shares the ailment.

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

PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
From left, Police Chief Kevin Coppinger, Francisco Paulino and Lt. Peter Holey at North Shore Community College discuss how social media influences gang recruitment.

BY DILLON DURST

LYNN — Francisco “Cisco” Paulino is a product of the city’s gang activity and violence.

The 27-year-old Lynn resident was arrested 10 years ago on gun charges and spent nearly five years in prison. He credits Straight Ahead Ministries, a nonprofit that helps juvenile offenders develop skills to live healthy, independent lives, for setting him straight.  

Paulino, a Straight Ahead Ministries outreach worker, and Lynn Police Lt. Peter Holey, visited North Shore Community College on Thursday to discuss how social media influences gang recruitment.

Paulino showed some rap videos, including popular artists such as King Louie and Chief Keef. Paulino’s point: these are the people who are influencing young, inner-city kids.

The first music video Paulino showed the audience, which referenced to “trapping” or selling drugs, had more than 120,000 views. The second video, King Louie’s “Live & Die In Chicago,” had more than 5 million.

Today, lots of rappers are involved with a gang or created their own, he said. It’s now considered cool to represent a gang, and some clothing has even morphed to feature gang symbols.

“Young people are being exploited,” Paulino said. “Somebody thinks it’s a good idea to market $320 shoes in a neighborhood where cats can’t even pay their rent.”

Paulino also showed the audience gang tags on Google, and said that instead of paying attention in school, a lot of kids are studying how to perfect a tagging.

Holey, a member of Lynn Police Department’s Youth Services Division, said police scour social media, and noted that it has led to numerous convictions.

Since 2006, Holey said, Lynn has achieved nearly a 75 percent reduction in gang membership and activity.

Holey and Paulino agreed that broken homes, traumatic childhood events, being poor, among other hardships, lure kids into gang life. Many of the city’s kids grow up with little family stability, leaving many hopeless.

“The more hopeless somebody gets, the more violent they get,” Holey said.

The gap leaves a spot for gangs to flourish, Paulino added.

But Paulino is striving to help.

After being released from prison in 2009, Paulino, a North Shore Community College graduate, joined Straight Ahead Ministries while on his parole. He began as a lead street worker, reaching out to and forming relationship with Lynn’s troubled kids.

“Young people get a bad rap,” Paulino said. “I think young people have a desire to serve.”

Part of Paulino’s job is to help juveniles get their GED, introduce them to potential employers and help them get jobs.

“A lot of young people have to fend for themselves,” he said.

Without the Ministries in his life, Paulino said he would’ve had a much harder time recovering after being released from prison.

“Working with the youth in the city has changed my life as much as I’ve changed theirs,” he said. “I’m privileged to be a part of it.”

Dillon Durst can be reached at ddurst@itemlive.com.

MARBLEHEAD — Mrs. Phyllis (McLaughlin) Colombani, 90, of Marblehead, formerly of Lynn, passed away on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at the Devereux House in Marblehead surrounded by her family.

Born in Lynn, Phyllis was the daughter of  William and Phyllis (Drew) McLaughlin, and the beloved wife of 54 years of the late Louis D. Colombani; the loving mother of  Dr. Paul Colombani and his wife Linda (Bresnahan) of St. Petersberg, Fla., and Joanne C. Smith and Lewis Athanas of Marblehead; the cherished grandmother of Andrew Justin and Hayley Lynn Smith; the devoted sister of the late Marjorie Dalton and Marion McLaughlin, formerly of Lynn; and the adored aunt of many nieces and nephews.    

Mrs. Colombani was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Lynn with the class of 1943. She worked for GE in Lynn during WWII and then received her nursing degree from the Lynn School of Nursing at Lynn Hospital. Phyllis was a practicing nurse at various North Shore hospitals for many years until her retirement from Mary Alley Hospital in Marblehead. She was a member of St. Pius V Church in Lynn for over 50 years.  

Service information: Phyllis’ funeral will be held from the CUFFE-MCGINN Funeral Home, 157 Maple St., Lynn, at 9 a.m. May 2, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Pius V Church, 215 Maple St., Lynn. Relatives and friends are invited. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Lynn. Visiting hours will be held Sunday, May 1 from 1-5 p.m. in the funeral home. Contributions may be made in Phyllis’ memory to St. Mary’s High School Scholarship Fund, 5 Tremont St., Lynn, MA 01902 or via www.stmaryslynn.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss (Give Online). For the online guestbook please visit Cuffemcginn.com.

By STEVE KRAUSE

Everywhere you look, baseball is losing traction as America’s pastime.

It no longer seems to be the top sport of choice among young people. Maybe this is because there’s too much standing around and not enough action. Perhaps it’s because Major League Baseball markets the most important component of the summer game — the World Series — by playing it on chilly autumn nights.

What was once a nice, crisp under-three-hour game now takes upwards of four hours, thanks in part to television, and thanks to pitchers who are afraid to throw the ball over the plate and hitters who are afraid to swing the bat. And let’s not even get into how many times batters step in and out of the box.

But bless baseball. It revels in its archaic reputation. It is steeped in tradition. Where other sports start their seasons simply by playing, baseball has extensively-staged ceremonies that harken back to a time when the sport was a celebration of new beginnings, both for itself and the American rhythm of life.

And that brings us to today. It is opening day for three of Lynn’s five Little Leagues, Pine Hill, Wyoma and West Lynn (the other two had theirs last week), as well as Saugus National. And just like the men they want to emulate, Little Leagues do it up right for their opening day. All the kids gather in their newly-distributed, nice, clean uniforms and their brand-new hats and they form a parade from a designated spot to their fields. Perhaps they’re escorted by a police cruiser, or a firetruck. Whatever, for that brief moment, on what is usually a chilly April morning, the streets, and our hearts, are theirs.

What defines Americana more than seeing eight-year-old kids whose uniforms look about six sizes too big, and whose hats are falling down over their eyes, and whose gloves look about as big on them as the brontosaurus steak Fred Flintstone got at the car hop?

Little Leagues take cues from the Major Leaguers in every way. The bunting is festooned all over the outfield fences, there are usually politicians there, and there’s bound to be a speech or two.

This proves to a difficult trick in Lynn, as two of the three leagues have scheduled their festivities for 9 a.m., with West Lynn’s at 10. The only other time city officials have to make such choices on where to go is on July 4, when just about every neighborhood has a horribles parade.

It’s also a day to revel in America, as every festivity will include the national anthem and/or a salute to the flag.

Finally, Little League opening day is a time to celebrate all that Little League was originally intended to be: kids getting together, having fun, and learning a little bit about a sport that was, when it was founded in 1939 in Williamsport, PA, an indelible part of American culture. The accent was on participating, coaching, and teaching by example.

These days, youth sports go year-round. There are just too many organizations whose aims seem to be to weed out the exceptional kids and focus on them. But to me, Little League is more about the kids who are in there learning, swinging the bat and striking out a few times and scuffing their feet in the dirt as they had back to the dugout, with their heads hanging, just like the big leaguers do. There will always be a place for the naturals. The rest of the kids need attention and validation too, and the good thing about Little League is that until the different communities select their all-star teams and play for a shot at the World Series, those other kids  get their chance to compete against the so-called elite and see how they stack up. The organization discourages “super teams.” This isn’t to see there aren’t any, but stacking them involves a tremendous amount of creative planning, and certainly not worth the effort of anyone save deranged parents who use Little League and other youth sports to compensate for failed childhood athletic endeavors.

So congratulations to all the small-sized kids with the large-sized unis; and to all the kids who have coerced their parents to go out and spend untold money on baseball cleats, batting gloves and other pieces of equipment that allow them, for the brief time they wear it, to imagine that they’re David Ortiz or Dustin Pedroia. Because that’s what it’s all about.

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

Alonzo Bergmann, 27, of 100 Prospect St., Gloucester, was arrested and charged with failure to stop/yield, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, and a default warrant at 10:26 a.m. Friday.

Terezo Lopez, 35, of 82 Grant St., Lynn, was arrested on a straight warrant at 11:49 p.m. Thursday.

Joshua Spearman, 33, of 100 Willow St., Lynn, was arrested and charged with a parole/probation violation at 6:12 p.m. Thursday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 4:25 p.m. Thursday at 829 Boston St.; at 5:02 p.m. Thursday on Eastern Avenue; at 9:09 p.m. Thursday at 36 Alley St.; at 12:23 a.m. Friday at 82 Grant St.; at 8:30 p.m. Friday on Henry Avenue; at 8:57 p.m. Friday on Boston Street.

Complaints

A report of shoplifting at 1:40 p.m. Thursday at 50 Central Ave.

A report of a disturbance at 3:44 p.m. Thursday at 300 Washington St.; at 4:59 p.m. Thursday at 12 Iona Terrace; at 5:27 p.m. Thursday at 821 Summer St.; at 6:51 p.m. Thursday at 172A Washington St.; at 9:41 p.m. Thursday at 8 Auburn St.; at 11:09 p.m. at 59 Vine St.; at 10:58 a.m. Friday at 50 Boston St.

A report of an overdose at 3:51 p.m. Thursday on Lowell Street; at 8:03 p.m. Thursday at 22 Grosvenor Park; at 9:16 p.m. Thursday at 42 Union Court; at 10:52 p.m. Thursday at 22 Warren St.; at 10:55 p.m. Thursday at 82 Grant St.

A report of an assault and battery at 4:20 p.m. Thursday at Barry Park; at 10:49 a.m. Friday at 160 Neptune Blvd.

A report of threats at 6:05 p.m. Thursday at 858 Western Ave.; at 6:43 p.m. Thursday at 200 South Common St.

A report of larceny at 6:43 p.m. Thursday at 7 Trinity Terrace.

A report of a suicidal person at 6:27 p.m. Thursday on South Common Street; at 7:18 p.m. Thursday on Rockland Street.

LYNNFIELD

Complaints

A report of a disturbance/loud noise at 8:41 p.m. Thursday on Chatham Way; at 6:28 a.m. Friday at 425 Salem St.

MARBLEHEAD

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 10:41 a.m. Thursday on Pleasant Street.

A report of a staggering male at 12:01 p.m. Thursday on Carna Road.

A report of a missing boy at 12:10 p.m. Thursday on Robert Road. Child was found at 12:17 p.m.

A report of an erratic driver at 12:17 p.m. Thursday on West Shore Drive.

A report of littering at 1:39 p.m. Thursday on Devereux Street.

A report of a lost earring at 3:39 p.m. Thursday on Harbor Avenue.

A report of a truck blocking access to a road at 3:50 p.m. Thursday on Bartlett Street.

A report of an assault at 4:50 p.m. Thursday on Front Street.

A report of an IRS scam at 5:01 p.m. Thursday on Gingerbread Lane.

A report of an erratic driver at 11:20 p.m. Thursday on Maple Street.

NAHANT

Complaints

A report of annoying phone calls at 3:11 p.m. Wednesday on Sea Breeze Lane.

PEABODY

Complaints

A report of shoplifting at 5:46 p.m. Thursday at 210A Andover St.

A  report of larceny at 5:52 p.m. Thursday at 15 Charlotte St.

A report of a disturbance at 7:05 p.m. Thursday on Lowell Street.

A report of suspicious activity at 9:08 p.m. Thursday at 7 Ledgewood Way; at 11:48 p.m. Thursday at 229 Andover St.

A report of an erratic driver at 11:20 p.m. Thursday on Washington Street.

A report of possible identity fraud at 9:37 a.m. Friday at 204 Washington St.

REVERE

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 12:13 a.m. Thursday on Steeple Street; at 1:23 a.m. Thursday on Revere Beach Parkway; at 2:07 a.m. Thursday on Rice Avenue; at 4:39 a.m. Thursday on VFW Parkway; at 4:38 p.m. Thursday on Suffolk Avenue; at 6:40 p.m. Thursday on Squire Road; at 7:08 p.m. Thursday on Squire Road; at 9:27 p.m. Thursday on Squire Road.

A report of threats at 9 a.m. Thursday on Beach Street.

A report of larceny at 9:03 a.m. Thursday on Beach Street; at 10:25 a.m. Thursday on Tapley Avenue; at 1:05 p.m. Thursday on Hyde Street.

A report of a phone scam at 3:49 p.m. Thursday on Page Street.

A report of an unwanted person at 5:09 p.m. Thursday on Cushman Avenue.

A report of shoplifting at 5:27 p.m. Thursday on Broadway.

A report of suspicious activity at 9:38 p.m. Thursday on Salem Street.

SAUGUS

Complaints

A report of a 911 hang up at 10:26 a.m. Thursday at 1529 Broadway. No issues reported.

A report of larceny at 11:04 a.m. Thursday at 1450 Broadway.

A report of shoplifting at 1:58 p.m. Thursday at 333 Broadway; at 2:33 p.m. Thursday at 180 Main St.

A report of a disturbance at 2:21 p.m. Thursday on Dow Street; at 3:51 p.m. Thursday at 23 Summit Ave.

A report of suspicious activity at 6:12 p.m. Thursday on Walden Terrace; at 7:54 p.m. Thursday at 235 Walnut St.

A report of vandalism at 7:25 p.m. Thursday at 770 Broadway.

A report of a robbery at 8:40 p.m. Thursday at 35 Lincoln Ave.

A report of an unwanted party at 12:11 a.m. Friday at 1204 Broadway.

A report of an assault at 12:36 a.m. Friday at 237 Hamilton Ave.

A report of possible gunshot sounds at 1:05 a.m. Friday on Main Street. Report was unfounded.

SWAMPSCOTT

Complaints

A report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident at 11:06 a.m. Thursday at 413 Paradise Road.

A report of suspicious activity at 12:54 p.m. Thursday on Monument Avenue.

A report of a possible brush fire at 1:20 p.m. Thursday on Pierro Terrace.

A report of a disturbance at 3:53 p.m. Thursday at 9 Paradise Road.

A report of a domestic issue at 6:24 p.m. Thursday at 46 Stetson Ave.

A report of a dead beaver that appears to have been shot at 7:05 p.m. Thursday on Shepard Avenue.

A report of a child alone in a car at 7:59 p.m. Thursday at Stop and Shop, 450 Paradise Road.

BY STEVE KRAUSE

The medical profession, like everything else, is constantly evolving. Fifty years ago, a heart attack was truly a heart attack. It was a sudden event that often left its victims dead at the moment of impact. For me, that reality hit home on Father’s Day 1967, when my next-door neighbor, Ray Berthiaume, died of one at the age of 46.

We know now that there is nothing sudden about the overwhelming majority of heart attacks. They happen because a certain set of circumstances, occluded arteries, get to the point where blood and oxygen cannot flow adequately enough to the heart. Now, we have stress tests, cardiac catheterizations and other procedures that enable doctors to detect the types of blockages that can prevent myocardial infarctions and save lives.

In 1991, my father had a triple bypass at Beth Israel Hospital. The procedure was still new enough that patients needing a bypass went directly to Boston to have one done.

But medicine is ever-improving. In 2016, you don’t necessarily have to have a bypass anymore if you have clogged arteries. Doctors can clean them out and insert a stent into the affected artery after to restore adequate blood flow. There are still certain circumstances where stents don’t work, or are not practical, and in such cases the entire coronary artery bypass graft (heretofore known as CABG) must be done.

Such was the case with me, on Jan. 22 of this year.

Plenty of “Boston snobs,” as I like to call them, acted as if I was signing my own death warrant by going anywhere other than the Hub to have the procedure done, but I chose the emergency room at the North Shore Medical Center’s Salem Hospital. My sister is a nurse in Salem’s intensive care unit and when you’re heading to the emergency room because of angina pains, it is a very good thing to have allies.

When Dr. David Roberts did my angiogram, and told me I needed a bypass, there was probably an hour or so where I could have arranged to be transferred to Mass. General or Beth Israel. Then, I met the chief of cardiac surgery, Dr. Ann Torin, and I liked her. So did my family. As a result, I chose to stay there and have the “CABG Times Three” in the relatively-new cardiac surgical unit.

There wasn’t just the excellence of the staff to consider, although I cannot say enough about the care I received there. There was my family. We’re talking January here. And on Jan. 18, Martin Luther King Day, when I had this bombshell dropped on me, I also considered the travel time between Lynn and Salem, as opposed to the vehicular gymnastics needed to get into Boston at rush hour, as well as the fact that inclement weather was always a possibility. That helped me make my choice too.

The presence of a cardiac surgical unit in Salem made the hospital unique. Not every hospital around here is equipped to perform these procedures, which is why I felt it a particular godsend to be cared for in the unit. Each room was equipped to handle an immediate post-surgical patient, meaning that there was no recovery room. You were transported from your room to surgery and back again.

Life, of course, goes on. The wonderful doctors, physicians’ assistants, techs and nurses who took care of me for the 12 days I stayed in the surgical unit have faded into my memory. But they’re not so far from my consciousness that, upon hearing that North Shore Medical Center might close the unit, I don’t feel for every one of them. Nor could I think anything else other than the reinforcement of a long-held belief that bean-counters are the bane of all our existences.

The reasons, as outlined in an April 19 Item story, are almost too ironic to be believable. According to North Shore Medical Center president Robert G. Norton, improvements in procedures such as angioplasty (the insertion of a stent), and better preventative care, has led NSMC, a Partners HealthCare subsidiary, to consider consolidating cardiac surgery at Mass. General.

If this happens, Partners will reinforce its growing reputation as a healthcare provider that does its best not to provide health care. First, the announcement of the total evisceration of Union Hospital; and now, this.

I really hope and pray that NSMC and Partners changes its mind and backs off this plan, both for the sake of the families whose lives have been made immeasurably easier by the cardiac surgical unit’s presence on the North Shore and the people who have made it such a wonderful place for first-class care.

Steve Krause can be reached at skrause@itemlive.com.

PHOTO BY SPENSER HASAK
From left, Jordan Ellis, Paige Sabo, Brittney Leigh Morton and Christian Lane Green perform “Yes, Indeed” during the In the Mood concert series at the Lynn City Hall Auditorium on Friday.

BY STEVE KRAUSE

LYNN — Watching and listening to the toe-tapping, body-moving music featured at City Hall Friday night from the swing-era revue “In The Mood” reminds you that we were all young once.

And though that may not be true anymore chronologically in some cases, there is still such a thing as the heart and the spirit. And it’s really a shame more people couldn’t come to the auditorium for this show because however they might have felt going in, they’d have all felt 70 years younger going out. Even the ones who haven’t reached 70 yet.

If you liked disco, you’d have loved swing. Not that there’s too much similar in the two genres, but there are some ways they’re alike. For one thing, the music was extremely rhythmic. Also, disco was primarily dance music, and, as this show brought out, so was swing. You should have seen the five dancers — three women and two men — cavorting all over the stage. There had to have been a lot of lonely days and nights on the elliptical for them to be as cardiovascularly fit as they were.

Listening to the show also made it clear that some of America’s most beloved music came out of the era, which lasted from the 1930s and into the ’40s. It seems to always happen that when the country’s at its most fractious the arts and the entertainment improve a few notches to compensate for the angst. That was certainly the case during the depression, when swing first began to take hold; and it was true again in the 1960s, after the assassination of JFK and the dawn of the civil rights movement. As with swing, some of our most beloved, and enduring, music came out of that era.

“In The Mood” wasn’t just a successful retrospective. It was a success in every other way too. The songs, some of them more than 70 years old, got a makeover from the musicians and singers who performed them, and their energy and talent made them come alive all over again. We all know “In The Mood.” It may be among the most famous of any American song. You’d have to put it in the Top 10.

But there was so much more Friday night. Highlights included “Tuxedo Junction,” which closed the first act, and which really rocked as well as swung; and a medley of songs that became signature pieces for their Big Bands.

The first act did a very good job of showing America at play as it tried to put on a happy face during the depression, and while the world lurched closer to war. It’s doubtful that anyone who attended Friday’s show didn’t recognize a handful of songs, either from their childhoods or from old movies. There was “Jeepers, Creepers (where’d you get those peepers),” “Ain’t’ We Got Fun,” “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You,” “Moonlight Serenade,” “Begin the Beguine” and “Mood Indigo (which, believe it or not, was among the inspirations for how the Moody Blues got their name; keyboardist Michael Pinder liked the song).

Act II was more somber, as it dealt with music that came out of World War II. There was “Over There,” which started the second half, and had the band — excellent all night, with almost every member taking a turn for a solo — coming to the front of the stage and singing. And there was a beautifully poignant medley of songs about how Paris coped with Nazi occupation (“The Last Time I Saw Paris” and “La Vie En Rose,” that gave you an idea about how heartbreaking it was that such a vibrant city fell into German hands. And not to put too fine a point on this, but you also couldn’t help but think about Paris’ latest crises with terrorists as well.

It wasn’t all sadness. “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” was always a smart number, especially when Bette Midler did a jazzed-up version of it in the ’70s. “He’s 1-A In the Army and A-1 In My Heart,” though peppy, and well choreographed, gave you a feel for all the men who would soon leave their women and go off to fight.

What followed were heartbreaking songs such as “I’ll Be Seeing You (In All The Old Familiar Places),” “We’ll Meet Again,” and “White Cliffs of Dover.” But in the end, there were reunions when the boys came home (“It’s Been a Long, Long Time,” where the famous Times Square kiss after V-J day was recreated).

The cast saved the best for last, as it went through an American patriotic salute, with all veterans from all branches of the armed services standing to receive recognition.

It was great entertainment from an era where entertainment was something really special. As the band’s closing song said, “Thanks for the Memories.”

Steve Krause can be reached at skrause@itemlive.com.

PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Students from the Sacred Heart School in Lynn collect socks for the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. From left, Daniel Reddick; Colleen Eagan, foundation relations manager at the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program; Dariana Noyola and Titamah Simpson. Students in red, Darius Paone, Anthony Rovaldi, Donovan Kim and Avery Brown.

BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE

LYNN — Students at the Sacred Heart Elementary School collected more than 1,100 pairs of socks for the homeless.

They were donated to the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, a Boston-based organization that provides healthcare to the homeless.

Colleen Eagan, foundation relations manager, said the program serves more than 12,000 people annually and socks are at the top of the list of necessities.

“It seems like such a simple thing but it ends up being so dire,” Eagan said. “As soon as we bring them in, they’ll immediately go out to the shelters.”

The program often sees clients with foot infections, including trench foot, she said. Sometimes clients have been wearing the same pair of socks for so long that the material becomes embedded in the skin and must be surgically separated, she said.

“When caring for people, we have to go beyond basic health care,” Eagan said. “Giving away socks is one of the things that help our clinics build relationships with people.”

Eagan first visited Sacred Heart to give a presentation about homelessness and the impact they could have by collecting the socks. The student council took on the project, collecting socks from students each morning and providing the school with a weekly progress update.

“Watching the videos Colleen showed and listening to homeless people talk about how important socks are really made an impact,” said Joanne Eagan, the school’s principal and Colleen’s mom. “The next day they were bringing in packages of socks. They loved doing this.”

The students exceeded a goal of collecting 1,000 pairs of socks over 90 days.

“The student council really wanted to do something to help the homeless,” said 14-year-old Dariana Nayola, student council president. “We heard that during the wintertime, a lot of diseases are spread through your feet. They don’t have the money, time or resources to help themselves. We saw an opportunity to help through Colleen.”

The socks will be distributed to shelters across Greater Boston.

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

ITEM FILE PHOTO
Lynn Museum Director Drew Russo says the newest exhibit, “Industry and Craft: People at Work in Lynn,” is “history told through the eyes of Lynn.”

BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE

LYNN — May 5 will be a big night for the Lynn Museum.

The museum’s annual meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and will include a special guest speaker and the unveiling of a new exhibit.

Bill Brett, famous Boston photographer, will be the speaker for the annual meeting this year. Brett is a retired Boston Globe photographer, who began his career part-time at 18 years old and worked his way up to being Director of Photography.

Brett is famous for capturing many faces in the city of Boston over the span of more than 50 years. He will talk about his career and his latest book, “Boston Irish,” which features more than 260 black and white photographs of people in the city.

Following Brett’s speech, visitors will explore the museum’s newest exhibit, which will be unveiled that night.

The exhibit “Industry and Craft: People at Work in Lynn” explores different industries throughout the city’s history, starting with early industries present at the time of Lynn settlement, said Britt Bowen, collections specialist.

“It’s an interesting parallel to how the world of work has developed in the United States,” said Drew Russo, director of the museum. “It’s history told through the eyes of Lynn.”

Bowen, who is curating the exhibit, said it will range from the late 18th Century through the mid 20th Century, ending with the jet engine, which was invented in Lynn at the General Electric site in the 1950s, she said.

Nicole Breault, the museum’s education and research specialist, was the driving force behind the exhibit, said Bowen. She wanted to give the students in Lynn Public Schools an outlet to get the best possible education about the history of their city.

The exhibit explores early industries, beginning with flax and textiles and iron, ice and whaling. It moves into the shoe industry, exploring early shoes such as cobbler, to industrial shoe making. This leads to a section on firefighting, because many of the shoe factories burnt down, said Bowen.

There’s a section on the health industry. Because so many people in Lynn were working in factories, health became an issue, leading to the rise of hospitals in Lynn, she said.

Finally, there’s a brief history of GE, from when it was founded by Elihu Thomson, how his initial company evolved, and how he joined efforts with Thomas Edison, Bowen said.

“We’re taking a more realistic look at the history of work and how people have contributed to an industry that really started through artisan craft making,” said Russo.

Four hundred and fifty third-graders will visit the exhibit in June. The museum is considering making the exhibit permanent, Bowen said.

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

ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Deborah Potter, the coordinator of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church’s soul celebration, talks about the upcoming event while sitting in the chapel in the church.

BY MICHELE DURGIN

LYNN — Music, food and talk about race and health care inequality are on the agenda for Sunday’s St. Stephen’s Memorial Episcopal Church’s soul celebration.

The event is billed by church organizers as a day to celebrate our heritage as we renew our commitment to community action.  Kiame Mahaniah, Lynn Community Health Center’s chief medical officer, will be the keynote speaker.

Mahaniah, in a statement, said he will discuss the economic differences between communities that contribute to varying levels of health care quality.

“It’s up to us, individually and collectively, to fight the causes of those disparities,” he said.

Located at 74 South Common St., St. Stephen’s sponsors free summer and after-school programs and a weekly food pantry.

The church choir will join other musicians Sunday to entertain attendees with members of St. Stephen’s after school music program and Zumix, an East Boston-based program dedicated to building community through music and the arts.

There will be gospel and jazz, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and vegetable dishes served.

St. Stephen’s former ministerial assistant will preach at 10 a.m. and Mahaniah will round out the day by reminding participants justice does not roll down like waters.

LYNN — Albert Leo Grenier has sadly passed away Thursday morning, April 28, 2016.

Al was 89 years old, born in Lynn on Oct. 24, 1926. Al spent most of his life in Lynn as well as Salem. He attended St. John’s in Swampscott. He joined the Air Force in 1944. After that, he was a mechanic for many years.

Al is survived by his two daughters, Michelle Grenier of Beverly, and his daughter, Lorraine Funck of Fredricksburg, Va. In addition to his daughters he left behind his sister, Jacqueline Levasseur. He also left behind three grandchildren, Hannah Lingaitis and Alexis Grenier of Beverly, and his grandson, Marc Grenier of Fredricksburg, Va.

Service information: Memorial services for Al will be held Thursday, May 5, from 6-8 p.m., at GOODRICH funeral home, 128 Washington St., Lynn.

Exeter, N.H. — Alan D. Downey, age 70 years, of Exeter, N.H., formerly of Lynn, died Saturday, April 30, 2016, at his home, following a lengthy illness. He was the husband of Deborah A. (Dakin) Downey, and the son of the late William and Jane (Curry) Downey.

Born and raised in Lynn, Alan lived most of his life in Lynn, where he and his wife Deborah raised their family. In retirement, they moved to Exeter, N.H. He was a graduate of Essex Agricultural School, Class of 1964. He earned his associates degree from the Stockridge School of Agriculture in 1967 and from North Shore Community College, where he studied fire science.

He was a United States Army veteran of the Vietnam War and retired after 32 years, from the Lynn Fire Department as a Captain in 2003, serving most of his career from the Fayette Street Fire House.

He was an avid camper, especially at his camps, Kings and Queens in South Lebanon, Maine, and Old Stage Campground in Madbury, N.H. For several years, he was on the Lynn Fire Department color guard and a drummer for Boston Gaelic Pipes and Drums. Alan was also a member of the Lynn Fire Relief Association. He also enjoyed playing golf, but, most important to Alan was the time he spent with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Besides his loving wife Deborah of 42 years, he is survived by his three sons, Jason Downey and his wife, Nancy, of Raymond, N.H., Lynn Fire Lieutenant Kevin Downey and his wife, Sarah, of Lynn, and Brian Downey of Exeter, N.H., his grandchildren, Caitlyn, Andrew, Noah and Lucas Downey, his brother, Dick Downey, State Police, Ret. and his wife, Judith, of Lynn, and his twin sisters, Janet Reither of Lynn and Maria Downey of Lynn. He was the brother of the late Stevan Downey, Lieutenant of the Lynn Police Department.

Service information: His funeral will be held from the SOLIMINE FUNERAL HOME, 426 Broadway (Route 129), Lynn, on Friday at 9:30 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Lynn, at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Firefighters Lot at Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours will be Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, 20 Mall Road, Suite 261, Burlington, MA 01803. Directions and guest book at Solimine.com.

RICHMOND, Va. — Richard D. Manson, age 67, died peacefully in his home in Richmond, Va., surrounded by family on March 23, 2016.

The son of the late Helene and Robert Manson, he was born in Lynn. He attended St. Pius V Elementary School and graduated from Lynn English High School in 1966. Mr. Manson studied liberal arts at Harpur College at Binghamton University, N.Y., and then psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University after moving to Richmond in the early 1970s.

Mr. Manson worked as a Class A building contractor and real estate broker in Richmond and was active in his local community. He loved art, architecture, history and jazz. Cooking, gardening and photography were lifelong hobbies.

He is survived by a large, close-knit loving family of seven sisters, Jane Coskren and husband, Dennis, of Columbia, Md., Sally Anderson and husband, Donald, of Silver Spring, Md., Kathleen DeLeo and husband, William, of Daufuskie Island, S.C., Helene Bois and husband, William, of Middleboro, Susan Hill (wife of the late Stephen) and Ruth Manson both of Lynn, and Jo-Anne Manson and spouse, Sandra Cullinan, of Manchester, N.H., and one brother, Robert Manson and wife, Francis, of Marshfield. He is also survived by an aunt, Phyllis Francis of Peabody and dozens of nieces, nephews and cousins.

We miss him terribly and will always remember his thirst for knowledge, dry wit, kindness and generosity.

Service information: Memorial service and interment will be private. Friends are encouraged to visit the website of Bliley Funeral Home, Richmond, Va., to add messages to an electronic memorial guest book. In lieu of flowers, please visit the Bliley’s website for a list of organizations the family recommends for memorial donations.

Concord, Calif. — Mrs. Eileen A. (Leppanen) Ring, age 87, of Concord, Calif., formerly of Lynn, died Tuesday, April 26, 2016. She was the wife of Robert A. Ring, with whom she shared nearly 68 years of marriage. Born and raised in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late Victor and Ina (Bjorquist) Leppanen. She was a graduate of Lynn English High School, Class of 1946. She had lived in Concord, Calif., since 1998. One of Eileen’s hobbies was music and record collecting. For many years, she had also been doing cross-stitch sewing, creating many beautiful framed pictures.

In addition to her beloved husband, she is survived by two sons and one daughter, Robert M. Ring of Georgetown and his wife, Judy, Timothy E. Ring of Lynn, Colleen A. Ossman of Concord, Calif., and her husband, Terry, as well as three grandchildren, Steven Ring, David Ring and Diana Lynn Ring, and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Helen Quigley, Evelyn Collins, and Helmer and Carl Leppanen.

Service information: Her funeral will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m., in the SOLIMINE FUNERAL HOME, 426 Broadway (Route 129), Lynn. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Wednesday from 3-8 p.m. Directions and guest book at Solimine.com.

LYNN — Arlene Elaine (McCaigue) Di Scipio, age 74, of Lynn, bravely lived with a diagnosis of colon cancer, and peacefully succumbed to her illness at her home on Saturday with her precious family surrounding her.

Born and raised in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late Charles John and Catherine A. (Cusick) McCaigue. She lived in Lynn for most of her life, and had raised her family in Peabody. She was a graduate of Lynn English High School and Lynn Hospital School of Nursing.

A registered nurse, Arlene dedicated her life to caring for others, working in several area health care facilities. She was passionate and strong in her beliefs, and her love of children, people and nature were unique and lifelong. She had traveled extensively throughout the world, including Europe, Asia and Africa. She was proud of her Catholic faith, and was an avid gardener. She will be remembered as a loving grandmother, and a giving, caring and compassionate woman.

She is survived by her three children, William Robert Di Scipio, Elaine Paula Hoctor—deVos and her husband, Gardner, and Tinamarie Gail Di Scipio, eight grandchildren, Thomas William, William Thato, Heather Elaine, Amandee Elaine, Victoria Onalenna, Nicholas Thabo, Patrick Lee and Aaron Paul, her sister, Gail Plourde and her husband, Bob, as well as many special nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her former husband, William Robert Di Scipio Sr., her brother, Charles and her sister, Phyllis.

Service information: A memorial Mass will be held on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., in St. Adelaide’s Church, 708 Lowell St., Peabody. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Arrangements by the SOLIMINE FUNERAL HOME, 426 Broadway (Route 129), Lynn. Arlene had made the decision to donate her body to Harvard Medical School, as such, there will not be a burial or wake.