PHOTO BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Muhammad Ali, left, in his later years.

By BOB KEANEY

Many years and punches ago, when Muhammad Ali was training in Boston to fight Sonny Liston, I took a trip to Boston to see “The Mouth That Roared.”

When I arrived at old Boston Arena, where workouts were held, the joint was closed. I then saw a scribbled note on the door, stating something like this: “The Muhammad Ali workouts and the bout (set for Boston Garden) are called off. Muhammad Ali has a serious hernia problem.”

When Ali healed, the fight was moved Lewiston, Maine. I did not attend. Lucky me. Ali KO’d Liston in just one round.

I now worried that I might never see “The Greatest” in person.

The years went by faster than an Ali Shuffle. Later came a big bout in New York at Yankee Stadium, with Ali slated to take on the dangerous Ken Norton, who had broken his jaw in a previous bout in a stunning upset.

The distance from Lynn to Yankee Stadium is 400 miles. I was worried. But two of my fellow newspapermen, both big fans of Ali, suggested we go as a trio. They were Rick Vitali, now an esteemed Lynn attorney, and Jim Wilson, a highly-rated Boston Globe photographer.

Ted Grant, now Publisher of The Item, and Attorney Kevin Calnan, then students at Boston College, also went to the stadium to see the fight.

Vitali, note the last three letters…Ali, offered to drive Wilson and me in his Volkswagen. Wearily, we arrived in Times Square and located the ticket headquarters. We displayed our own wrinkled press passes. But the promoter said his staff didn’t relay to him our request for tickets. Seeing our deep sadness, and knowing we came all the way from Boston, he handed us each $50 tickets to enter “The House That Ruth Built.”

At the jam-packed stadium entrance, we bumped into sports commentator Howard Cosell and saw some of the Rolling Stones roll by, headed to their ring side seats, near Frank Sinatra.

We thought about the Stones’ teargas concert at Manning Bowl in 1966, briefly, as we fought our way into line. At the stadium gate, there was no one to collect our tickets. So, we just shuffled our way in. Free. We still have the original ducats.

In the ring, Ali took many blows to the head, but won the fierce battle in a 2-1 split decision over the courageous Norton.

It was a happy ride home.

Years later, I saw Ali in person again. He was a special guest at St. Mary’s High School in Lynn. I told Ali about Lynn’s famous boxing coach, the late Tony Pavone, who also called himself “The Greatest!”

But Pavone was, by then, 83 and in serious condition at a local hospital. Ali, admiring Tony’s coaching dedication, was battling Parkinson’s Disease and could only communicate with hand and facial gestures.

Ali said, in his own kind way: “Tell Coach Pavone that he and I are both The Greatest.”  

Bob Keaney is a Lynn sports historian.

Lynn — Mr. Michael J. Hanrahan, age 68, of Lynn, died Wednesday at his home after a lengthy illness. A lifelong Lynn resident, he was the son of the late Joseph F. and Agnes M. (Deveau) Hanrahan. He was a graduate of Lynn English High School, Class of 1965, and received his bachelor’s degree in history from Salem State.

After college, Michael volunteered for VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America). He was the owner of a used book store. He was an avid reader, and enjoyed tennis, racquetball and baseball.

He is survived by his sister, Ellen M. Forgione and her husband, John, of Lynn, two brothers, Mark F. Hanrahan and his wife, Maureen, of Reading and Jay J. Hanrahan of Lynn, as well as several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was the brother of the late Paul Hanrahan.

Service information: His funeral will be held on Friday at 11 a.m., in the SOLIMINE FUNERAL HOME, 426 Broadway (Route 129), Lynn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visitation will be on Friday from 9-11 a.m., prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. Directions and guest book at Solimine.com.

Sylvia Breed Gates died peacefully, in the care of her family, on May 11. She was 91.

Sylvia was born at Boston Lying In Hospital on April 2, 1925, the daughter of Celia Kimball Breed and Edward F. Breed of Swampscott. Her father was a partner in Loomis-Sayles, Inc. Her grandparents were Henry W. and Lillian Breed, of Lynn, and Frank W. and Sylvia Kimball of Phillips Beach. Sylvia was proud of her New England heritage: she was a descendant of William Brewster, who sailed on the Mayflower to Plymouth in 1620, and of Allen Breed, who arrived on the Arbella in Salem in 1630.

Sylvia attended Stanley and Hadley Schools in Swampscott and spent summers at Sargent Camp in Peterborough, N.H.

She graduated from The Ethel Walker School in 1942 and Smith College in 1946, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She won Vogue magazine’s “Prix de Paris” in 1946 and worked in Vogue’s Art Department. In 1947, she participated in reconstruction work in France and, later, flew into Berlin in the airlift. She did graduate work at Newnham College, Cambridge University, and from 1951-1954 worked for the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. and Bangkok.

It was in Washington that she met a young Oregonian, Stuart Gates. They married on Feb. 12, 1955, and settled in Oregon where they raised their five children.

Sylvia was a director of the Alumnae Association of Smith College, trustee of the First Unitarian Church of Portland, a director of the Oregon Women’s Golf Association, and a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames. She was a devoted member of her church choir, a lifelong golfer who celebrated two holes in one, and an avid Red Sox fan. Her thoughtful cards delighted friends and family.

Sylvia was predeceased by her husband and her daughter, Celia. Survivors include daughters, Sarah Fitzgerald (Cliff) and Julia Greenberg (Jonathan), sons, Edward and John Gates, and eight grandchildren.

Service information: A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on June 23 at First Unitarian Church, Portland. In lieu of flowers, contributions would be welcomed to The Boys & Girls Club of Lynn.

ITEM FILE PHOTO

BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE

LYNN — City Councilors are taking a stand in favor of Lynn’s ferry service.

The panel voted 7 to 0 Tuesday to send a letter to Gov. Charlie Baker, asking him to reconsider his decision not to fund a third summer of service. The administration denied Lynn’s request for about $700,000 in operating expenses earlier this month.

The Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development said the city’s application for operating expenses for the ferry came too late, and the funds were exhausted for this fiscal year.

Councilor Peter Capano said the ferry is an important option to quickly transport commuters from Lynn to Boston. He called it a critical part of the city’s waterfront master plan.

“Traffic is getting worse and worse,” Capano said. “This would help us a lot.”

The letter reads: “We, the Lynn City Council, request that funding be identified by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for the continuation of the Lynn Ferry service.”

The council cited the completion of a successful two-year pilot program, and the effective use of water transportation from Lynn to Boston for North Shore commuters, as reasons for the request.

“Water transportation offers an alternative, convenient, affordable, stress-free commuting option to a region that has been underinvested in transportation,” the councilors wrote.
The ferry takes drivers off the roadways, it said.

The city, through the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC), has committed $750,000 in investments for the service while the state provided $3.85 million, according to the letter.

It describes the ferry to be a “catalyst for change” that the region needs and residents deserve.

“As a result of federal, state, and local investment in this site and operation which highlights the city of Lynn’s waterfront and its proximity to Boston, we are already seeing economic growth and development and increasing property values in surrounding neighborhoods,” the letter said.

Capano said U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Salem) secured $4.5 million in funding to build a ferry and said it is a disappointment that further progress will not be made due to the lack of state funding.

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

ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Lincoln-Thomson Elementary School principal Helen Mihos, who will be retiring this August, stands with a portrait of herself that was created by RAW Art Works. 

BY THOR JOURGENSEN

LYNN — Looking around her small office crowded with art, books and her trademark red high heel knick knacks, Helen Mihos is glad she isn’t retiring for more than six weeks.

“I need that much time to clean up,” said the Lincoln-Thomson Elementary School principal .

Mihos, a 37-year educator and city resident, will say her goodbyes to students, parents and most of Lincoln-Thomson’s teachers this month.

The parting will be a tough one for Sylvia Cabral, mother of three Lincoln-Thomson students and a school library volunteer.

“There is a presence about her,” she said. “You know she runs the school.”

Mihos has led Lincoln-Thomson for a dozen years following a stint as principal at Ingalls Elementary School. Her career began in 1979, when Jimmy Carter was president, as an English as a Second Language teacher. She worked with Vietnamese children who fled their war-torn country for the U.S.  

But Mihos’ love of teaching dates back to her childhood.

“Honestly, my first memories are gathering kids in the neighborhood around a blackboard,” she said.

Mihos grew up speaking Greek and initiatives to desegregate public schools paired Mihos early in her career with former School Superintendent James Leonard. He spearheaded student integration at the Washington Community School while Mihos taught Greek-American students.

She traded in teaching for principalships nearly two decades ago. But Mihos never lost the thrill of starting a new school year by buying fresh supplies and watching a fresh set of young faces file in the front door.

“Every day is rewarding,” she said.  “You never have the same day twice.”

Paige Kelly started her teaching career this year at Lincoln-Thomson where she teaches third grade. She called Mihos “a great leader” who reminds teachers to “let school be fun.”

JoAnne Kelly has taught for 23 years and said she appreciates Mihos’ honesty, her advocacy for her kids and her teachers and her fashion sense.

Jayden Thelusma, a second grader, looks forward to Friday when students will recite poems they have memorized as part of a poetry program launched by Mihos.

“She’s a good judge of ‘Poetry Power,’” Thelusma said.

Mihos is apprehensive about retirement. But she’s also excited and smiles knowingly when asked if there is any chance she might be called out of retirement to fill in as a principal.

“I love my job,” she said. “It’s been a blur. When I run into kids in their caps and gowns I think, ‘I had them in school yesterday.’”

Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com

COURTESY PHOTO
Angel Echavarria.

BY THOMAS GRILLO

LYNN — A man who spent more than two decades in prison for a murder he denied committing has sued the city of Lynn.

Angel Echavarria, 49, filed suit in U.S. District Court Wednesday seeking unspecified damages. He alleges that the Lynn and State Police officers who investigated the 1994 shooting death of Daniel Rodriguez fabricated and suppressed evidence, and framed Echavarria.

“We think it will be very hard for law enforcement to beat back the allegations,” said Steven Art, the Chicago-based attorney from Loevy & Loevy who is representing Echavarria.

The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages. Typically, juries compensate an innocent person who has been wrongfully convicted from $1 million a year times the number of years served to $4 million annually. In Massachusetts, anyone whose conviction has been overturned can collect up to $500,000 in state money. A decision has not been made on his state claim.

Echavarria was convicted of the Lynn murder in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison. Last year, Superior Court Judge David Lowy overturned the conviction. In the ruling, the judge noted that the eyewitness evidence against Echavarria was questionable. The commonwealth later dropped all charges.

Echavarria, who now lives in Florida and was unavailable for comment, was freed last year based on the investigative work of the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University.

The lawsuit alleges that former Lynn and Massachusetts State Police officers fabricated false eyewitness identifications and false witness statements used to implicate Echavarria in a crime he did not commit. In addition, these police officers allegedly suppressed evidence that a key eyewitness had unequivocally identified another man as the perpetrator of the crime, a man who the police officers had arrested for a similar shooting weeks earlier. Instead of investigating the actual perpetrators of the murder, the officers named in this lawsuit framed Echavarria for something he had not done, the suit said.

No physical evidence ever connected Echavarria to the crimes, according to the 30-page complaint. Eyewitness descriptions of the perpetrators did not match Echavarria who had a “solid alibi” on the night of the crime, his lawyer said.

Michael Barry, Lynn’s city attorney, did not return a call seeking comment.

Thomas Grillo can be reached at tgrillo@itemlive.com

LYNN — Dustin Robert McDonald, age 30, of Lynn, passed away suddenly on June 12, 2016. Born in Dorchester, Dustin was the beloved son of Robin McDonald and her companion, Dennis Landry, of Beverly and Donald Dolinger of Lynn, the cherished grandson of June Reed of Marblehead and her late husband, Raymond Reed, the dear brother of Robin Goode and her husband, James, of Rochester, N.H., and Brittany Dolinger of Beverly, the close family friend, Kaitlyn Bergstrom, of Rochester N.H., the adoring uncle of Karmela, James “JuJu,” and Lincoln Goode and Bria Dolinger, the cherished nephew of Scott McDonald and his wife, Shawna, of Marblehead, Parker Reed and his partner, Martin Seiler, of California, and Wendy McDonald of Marblehead, the close companion of several years of Heather Mac of Lynn. He is also survived by several cousins and was the proud and loving owner of his pug, Smokey.

Dustin graduated from Lynn Tech. He had a passion for movies, drama and entertainment. He loved singing karaoke and dancing. He was known for his vivacious spirit and captured people’s attention through his good humor and his wonderful smile.

Service information: Dustin’s funeral service will be held on Sunday, June 19, at 4 p.m., at the CUFFE-MCGINN FUNERAL HOME, 157 Maple St., Lynn. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, prior to the service from 1-4 p.m., in the funeral home. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Dustin’s memory in support of the Orlando Nightclub Victims, via www.gofundme.com/pulsevictimsfund.?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss For the online guest book please visit Cuffemcginn.com.

LYNN — Violet G. (March) Craik, 93, of Saugus and formerly of Lynn, passed away in the Abbott House in Lynn on Tuesday, June 14, 2016.

Born in Lynn on April 12, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Charles W. and Emma B. (Goss) March. Violet was raised and educated in Lynn and was a graduate of Lynn Classical High School with the Class of 1940.

She met Arthur H. Craik while volunteering for the VA in Charlestown while Arthur was home recovering from an illness derived from serving in the Marines during World War II. The couple later married on April 19, 1945, in Lynn with a reception at Happy Valley Golf Course, now Gannon Golf Course, and settled in the Veteran’s Village section of Lynn, and later moving to Saugus. Violet and Arthur spent 49 years in marriage together raising and caring for their family until Arthur’s passing in December of 1994.

Out of high school, Violet worked for Forbes Lithograph in Boston for some time before going to work for GE River Works and then at Sears Roebuck and Co. in Saugus, where she spent over 30 years, retiring as the department stores’ credit manager. Violet had a fond love for gardening and was extremely proud of her perennial garden. She served many years as the president of the Saugus Garden Club. She had a love of animals as well and was involved with MSPCA, helping to care for needy pets. Violet was civic minded, assisting on the election committee for Janette Fasano for Selectman in Saugus and also helped push the effort for recycling in its infancy stages. An accomplished cook, especially her pie making, known to her family as “Vi’s Pies, ” Violet loved her family and always enjoyed the time spent with them.

She is survived by her daughters, Susan J. Driscoll and her husband, John, of Lynnfield and Patricia A. Kelly and her husband, George, of Lynn as well as her eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Violet was preceded in death by her son, Stephen A. Craik and her sisters, Mildred G. Fielding and Helen B. Stearns.

Service information: A graveside service will be held in the Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, 185 Lake St., Peabody, on Monday, June 20, 2016, at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the main gate. Arrangements under the care of the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple St., Lynn. For online guest book, please visit: Cuffemcginn.com.

LYNN

Arrests

Alfredo Chavez, 27, of 30 Hathaway St., was arrested and charged with impeded operation, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, unregistered motor vehicle and on warrant charges at 7:49 a.m. Thursday.

Brian Hodgdon, of 21 Wells Place, was arrested on warrant charges of larceny more than $250, larceny less than $250 and forgery of a bank note at 9:14 a.m. Thursday.

Michael Imbruglia, 27, of 29 Salem St., Woburn, was arrested and charged with possession of a Class A drug at 7:12 p.m. Wednesday.

Robert Kelter, 52, of 35 Locust St., Lynnfield, was arrested and charged with an unnatural act at 11:10 p.m. Wednesday.

Lillian Riggs, 30, was arrested and charged with an unnatural act at 11:07 p.m. Wednesday.

Andrea Starke, 35, of 186 Chestnut St., was arrested and charged on protective custody at 4:30 a.m. Thursday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury at 5:33 p.m. Wednesday at Lynnway and Newhall Street.

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 7:12 p.m. Wednesday at Eastern and Waitt avenues.

Assaults

A report of an assault at 9:49 p.m. Wednesday on W Neptune Street.

A report of an assault and battery at 10:34 p.m. Wednesday on Alice Avenue.

Breaking and Entering

A report of a motor vehicle breaking and entering at 7:41 p.m. Wednesday at 2 Brimblecom St.; at 7:42 p.m. Wednesday at 500 Lynnfield St.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 3:54 p.m. Wednesday at 139 Central Ave.; at 5:37 p.m. Wednesday at 7 Baldwin St.; at 6:21 p.m. Wednesday at 71 Williams Ave.; at 9:12 p.m. Wednesday at Lynn English High School at 50 Goodridge St.; at 9:20 p.m. Wednesday on Magnolia Avenue; at 9:37 p.m. Wednesday at 8 Northern Ave.; at 12:11 a.m. Thursday at CVS at 65 Boston St.; at 4:30 a.m. Thursday at 186 Chestnut St.; at 8:40 a.m. Thursday at Metro PCS at 415 Lynnway.

A report of a gunshot at 12:05 a.m. Thursday on Market Square.

Overdose

A report of an overdose at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday on Wilfred Street; at 4:50 p.m. Wednesday on Lynnway; at 9:47 a.m. Thursday on Joyce Street.

Theft

A report of a larceny at 5:01 p.m. Wednesday at 383 Boston St.; at 10:40 a.m. Thursday at 1 Andrew St.

Vandalism

A report of motor vehicle vandalism at 6:03 a.m. Thursday at 159 Washington St.; at 9:23 a.m. Thursday at 544 Western Ave.; at 10:21 a.m. Thursday at 366 Western Ave.

LYNNFIELD

Arrests

Derek Kraytenberg, 26, of 27 Lake Shore Drive, Strafford, NH, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest at 11:57 p.m. Saturday.

Tyler Kraytenberg, 24, of 27 Lake Shore Drive, Strafford, NH, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest at 11:57 p.m. Saturday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 1:18 p.m. Sunday at 100 Walnut St. and 425 Market St. Dina Keo, 28, of 26 Manahan St., Lowell, was cited for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; at 8:49 a.m. Wednesday on Condon Circle; at 10:09 a.m. Wednesday on Condon Circle.

A report of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury at 1:20 p.m. Sunday on Route 128 Southbound Exit 43. One person was transported to Union Hospital.

Breaking and Entering

A report of a motor vehicle breaking and entering at 10:34 a.m. Tuesday at 2 Freeman St.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 4:37 p.m. Sunday on Prospect Avenue.

A report of a suspicious person at 5:30 a.m. Monday at 7 Wheeler St. A caller reported a young teenager going through a neighbor’s car on a BMX bike; at 8:31 p.m. Wednesday at 2 Josephs Lane. A caller reported a man in the street asking the neighborhood children for water.

Vandalism

A report of malicious destruction of property at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Temazcal at 500 Market St.

MARBLEHEAD

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 7:53 a.m. Wednesday at Widger Road and Lafayette Street; at 2:40 p.m. Wednesday at Leggs Hill Road and Tedesco Street.

Theft

A report of a fat tire bike stolen at 7:51 a.m. Wednesday on Pleasant Street.

PEABODY

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 2:37 p.m. Wednesday at 2 Macarthur Road and 162 Lynn St.; at 4:05 p.m. Wednesday at BP Gas Station at 1 Sylvan St.; at 5:46 p.m. Wednesday on Route 128 South; at 6:48 p.m. Wednesday at 3 Shore Drive.

Breaking and Entering

A report of a breaking and entering at 11:24 p.m. Wednesday at 29 Oak St.

Complaints

A report of suspicious activity at 5:06 p.m. Wednesday at 29 Oak St. A caller reported she has information someone is trying to break into her home using a credit card to bypass a lock. She reported she is currently outside the city. When asked about possible suspects, she was unwilling or unable to provide any information other than “I know someone is trying to bust into my house.” Officers reported that the house was all secure with no signs of forced entry present; at 7:41 p.m. Wednesday at Leather City Commons at 77 Lowell St. A caller reported two to three people drinking and smoking what smells like marijuana. Officers reported the people were youths waiting for a ride.

A report of a disturbance at 7:07 p.m. Wednesday at 40 Felton St. a caller reported seven to eight teens fighting in the area; at 11:10 p.m. Wednesday at 15 Lowe St.; at 2:14 a.m. Thursday at 2 Brassie Way. A caller reported some banging outside the residence. An officer checked reported the sounds were likely from a pet rabbit outside the residence.

Vandalism

A report of vandalism at 2:40 p.m. Wednesday on Perkins Street. A caller reported a back windshield damaged; at 11:40 p.m. Wednesday at 14 Lynn St. A resident reported her house had just been egged by unknown suspects. An officer reported a single egg struck a single window. The resident will wash it off.

REVERE

Arrests

Timothy Mahier, 20, of 140 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, was arrested and charged with assault and battery on a police officer, disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, person under 21 possessing liquor and arrestee furnishing a false name/social security number at 9:25 p.m. Wednesday.

Sameh M. Sayed, 21, of 83 Endicott Ave., was arrested and charged with trespassing at 6:54 p.m. Wednesday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 1:19 p.m. Wednesday on Revere Beach Parkway; at 4:05 p.m. Wednesday on Copeland Circle; at 4:11 p.m. Wednesday on Mahoney Circle; at 6:27 p.m. Wednesday at Select Car Rental on VFW Parkway; at 8:41 p.m. Wednesday at Winthrop Avenue and Revere Beach Parkway.

A report of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury at 2:07 p.m. Wednesday at Dunkin Donuts on Beach Street.

Assaults

A report of an assault at 7:55 p.m. Wednesday on George Avenue. Mustapha Marouane, 48, of 49 George Ave., Apt. 107, was cited for assault and battery.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 12:43 p.m. Wednesday on Lynnway; at 1:16 p.m. Wednesday at Ocean Liquors on Shirley Avenue; at 9:25 p.m. Wednesday at Atlantica on Revere Beach Boulevard.

Theft

A report of a larceny/forgery/fraud at 12:04 p.m. Wednesday on Raymond Road; at 1:12 p.m. Wednesday on Revere Beach Parkway; at 10:03 p.m. Wednesday on Park Avenue.

Vandalism

A report of vandalism at 6:11 a.m. Wednesday on Nahant Avenue.

SAUGUS

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 11:05 a.m. Wednesday at Kmart at 180 Main St. A caller reported a motor vehicle drove over a pile of mulch in the Garden Center and got stuck; at 3:07 p.m. Wednesday at Macy’s at 1277 Broadway.

A report of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at Bob’s Store at 1020 Broadway.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 11:32 p.m. Wednesday at 529 Lincoln Ave.

SWAMPSCOTT

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 6:14 p.m. Wednesday at Hawthorne’s Crossing at 451 Essex St.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday at 8 Essex Ave.; at 8:48 p.m. Wednesday on Tupelo Road.

BY GAYLA CAWLEY

LYNN — One man has been arrested for a Tuesday morning home invasion and police are searching for two others.

A 23-year-old Lynn man was leaving his apartment at 30 Surfside Road to go to work and upon opening his front door, was met by three black men. One of the men hit him in the face with a handgun, Lynn Police Lt. Rick Donnelly said.

When the victim tried to close the door, the three men forced their way in and bound his hands with duct tape. They told him not to move or he would be shot, Donnelly said.

The men then rummaged through the home, stealing jewelry, $1,000 in cash, an iPhone and wallet, Donnelly said.

The victim’s 22-year-old wife and two children, 5 years old and 6 months old, were in the bedroom when the men made their way there. When the baby started crying, one of the men, Jean Alexis, 26, of Lynn, hit the infant in the face. Officers later observed the cut on the baby’s face, Donnelly said.

Through an investigation, Alexis was identified and a warrant was obtained for his arrest. Officers went to his home at 86 Sheridan St. on Wednesday, securing the perimeter of the home. Alexis tried to evade police before eventually surrendering outside the house, Donnelly said.

Alexis was arrested and charged with a home invasion, assault and battery on a child with injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card.

The incident is still under investigation and police are looking for two black men, 5’6 to 6 feet tall and around 180 pounds, Donnelly said.

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

ITEM FILE PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
George Gallup on his 52-foot boat called the Resolute, at the Lynn Yacht Club. 

Much like the boats docked in them, marinas and harbors are expensive places to maintain and modernize.

Lynn and its coastal neighbors have plenty of coastal priorities with big price tags.

Local money is rarely a source of funding for waterfront improvement projects. The state has paid to resand and make other improvements to Revere Beach. But local boaters look after their own interests when it comes to marina upgrades.

In Saugus, the town has concentrated in making the Saugus River’s commercial dock a modernized and functional facility serving town lobstermen. Nahant is also spending money on its boat landing while expenses associated with Marblehead Harbor improvements eclipse money spent on harbor improvements in other towns.

Leaving Lynn out of the picture for a minute, it makes sense at summer’s start to find a way to bring marina and boat owners, board members, harbormasters and town officials together to discuss regional approaches to improve coastal facilities.

Regionalization is one of those flashpoint words in municipal government circles that make officials hold onto their annual budgets a little tighter. It’s a word that conjures up visions of one community disproportionately sacrificing for the betterment of the other. Some officials regard regionalization as just another way to create bureaucracy.

But when it comes to expensive harbor and marina improvements, regionalization may be a strength-in-numbers approach for relatively small communities to secure state and federal tax dollars.

Common ground already shared by communities points to potential regionalization benefits: Saugus and Nahant have small docks and landings shared by boaters. Lynn and Swampscott are examining the need for coastal protection efforts intended to reduce flooding.

It has benefited from improvements, but Lynn’s Seaport Marina underwent a decline several years ago that angered long-time boaters. It also highlighted the need for the city to protect the marina from major storms.

Making a case for a shared solution to paying for waterfront facility upgrades, translates into safety improvement and boater satisfaction. It ultimately provides a sound plan for spending money to avoid catastrophically expensive emergency expenses.

Regionalization gets a bad name. But banding together may be the solution for coastal communities to catch the attention of state and federal officials who have a firm grasp on the purse strings.

BY GAYLA CAWLEY

LYNN — Nearly nine months after a baby was found not breathing in a Lynn homeless shelter, the cause of death remains unknown.

The 2015 death of Charles Brand III is being investigated as a case of child endangerment, according to an affidavit filed at Lynn District Court.

In court documents, State Police Sgt. Robert C. LaBarge said Lynn Police responded to Independence House, a homeless shelter at 555 Western Ave., on Sept. 26 for a call of a four-month old child who was not breathing. Police determined that the child was unresponsive and had no pulse. Baby Charles was taken to North Shore Children’s Hospital in Salem.

The story was first reported in The Boston Globe.

Dr. Karla Fredricks at North Shore Children’s Hospital, told police that there were no signs of physical trauma, the pupils showed no brain activity and apparent food had been observed in the vocal cords, the report said.

Two shelter workers, Kathy Thomas and Aisha Ramsay, were “dismayed and upset” when questioned by LaBarge, telling him that the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) had been been contacted multiple times, and they thought DCF would take custody of the child, according to court documents.

Ramsay told LeBarge that the baby’s mother, Laci Brand, 22, also known as Laci Kirk, said she left the baby because he was not entertaining for her or not interesting. Thomas said Brand told her that she didn’t want to be around the baby because she was depressed and was afraid the baby would sense it, LeBarge wrote.

Donna Jones, property director at Independence House, told investigators that there had been at least two abuse or neglect reports made to the state since Brand had been at the shelter. She told police that Brand would often leave the child unattended for long periods of time, the affidavit said.

Joilma Veloz, a staff member at the shelter, told police that Brand left her child unattended in her apartment, leading employees to offer the mother a chance to keep a portable crib in the office because she was so inattentive. She told police she began keeping a log of how often Brand would leave the child unattended, the report said.

Brand told police at the hospital that she had been living at the shelter since last July and that her husband, Charles Brand, 24, had left her about a week before the incident. She told police that her son had been up all night and fell asleep from 12:30 p.m. until they responded when she called about eight hours later.

While he was sleeping, Brand told police that she would check on him every 20 to 30 minutes and observed her son roll from his back to his stomach. When she found him, she told police he was on his stomach and not breathing, but snoring, LaBarge wrote.

Brand’s speech was slurred and she admitted to drinking alcohol during the day. Blood was observed on her shirt and she told police that it was from Charles’ nose, according to court documents.  

Baby Charles was pronounced dead at Massachusetts General Hospital the next day. The cause of death is pending investigation, according to his death certificate.

Carrie Kimball Monahan, spokesperson for the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, said her office is waiting on an autopsy report from the Chief Medical Examiner. She said once the cause of death is known, a determination on potential criminal behavior can be made.

“There have been no charges at this time,” Monahan said. “The matter is still under investigation.”

Monahan said a long wait for autopsy results, especially those concerning infants, are not uncommon.

A representative from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner could not be reached for comment.

Repeated attempts to reach Laci and Charles Brand for comment were not successful.

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

COURTESY PHOTO
Lynn English graduate Allana Barefield, pictured in the lower left corner with the maroon hat, was chosen as an extra for the new movie “Central Intelligence,” a portion of which was filmed in English’s gym. 

BY DILLON DURST

LYNN — It isn’t everyday that Hollywood stars show up in a school cafeteria.

But that’s exactly what happened when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Kevin Hart filmed a scene of their new movie, “Central Intelligence,” at Classical and English high schools.

Last summer, while shooting at Classical, Gene Constantino, principal, and Chris Warren, vice principal, saw the actors in the cafeteria, but thought they were body doubles.

“He looked too skinny to be The Rock,” Warren said of Johnson.

The movie, which opens in theaters today, features scenes from English’s gym and Classical’s athletic lobby.

Hart plays a former high school sports star turned accountant. He learns his bullied ex-classmate, Johnson, now a CIA contract killer, wants to recruit him to help stop a planned leak of military secrets.

Allana Barefield, a 2015 Lynn English graduate, was chosen as a background actor for a scene filmed at her alma mater. She got the opportunity through Boston Casting, a company that specializes in casting roles for films, commercials and TV shows.

The 19-year-old said candidates were invited to the set wearing 1990s-themed clothing, and were critiqued by the wardrobe manager.

“I actually went with my friend, but she didn’t get picked,” she said. “I was the only one chosen from my school.”

Barefield, an aspiring news reporter who attends Xavier University of Louisiana, said she was placed in the front row of the gym’s bleachers for a scene in which Hart accepts an award.

“They stopped the entire set at one point to change my lip color,” she said.

While filmmakers were at English for one week, Constantino said they finished filming at Classical in two days.

He said the director had the athletic lobby’s green doors replaced with wooden ones, and replaced the trophies and memorabilia, including the picture of Lynn legend Harry Agganis, in the cases.

After Hart posted a “selfie” being filmed at the school on social media, Constantino said three dozen kids formed outside to catch a glimpse.

“We didn’t have access to the actors though,” he said.

While teachers and staff couldn’t talk to the cast, they were invited to dine from a large buffet that Warren said cost the filmmakers $20,000 a day.

“I put in some OT that week,” he joked.

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

PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Samarah Wilkie serves a customer at the Brother’s Deli table at the 9th Annual “A Taste of Lynn,” at the Lynn Museum on Thursday.

BY GAYLA CAWLEY

LYNN — The ninth annual Taste of Lynn was a feast for the eyes and mouth.

Patrons with eyes bigger than their stomachs piled food onto their plates from 11 local restaurants at Lynn Museum & Historical Society Thursday night.

The event is hosted by Family & Children’s Service of Greater Lynn, whose mission is to strengthen the life skills of families and serves as their biggest fundraiser.

“Food brings people together,” said Maroli Licardie, executive director.

She said the affair encourages restaurants to market their food. She said it’s also a way for the group to connect with the community and display the city’s diversity.

Gina Maniscalco, the nonprofit’s director of institutional advancement, said the event usually raises about $20,000 and goes back into the organization’s programs. She expected 300 people to attend.

George Markos, owner of Brother’s Deli, has been serving food at the taste since it started. Some of his Greek food included spinach pies, tiropitas, which, he said, is like a feta cheese pie and grape leaves.

Markos said he participates because some people are more fortunate than others and can  donate some of what they have.

“Everyone has something to give to everyone,” he said.

Raul Cuevas, marketing director of Los Chamos Venezuelan Cuisine, said the restaurant opened three months ago and it was their first time at the Taste. He said they participated to join the community. The restaurant sampled cachapas and arepas.

Husband and wife Bill and Maria Koumoundouros, owners of Angelina’s Sub Shop, said it was also their first time at the event. They were serving Italian and turkey sub sandwiches.

“We wanted to let the people of the community taste our great product,” said Maria Koumoundouros.

Brendan Ward, 38, of Nahant, said he came to support the organization, but couldn’t wait to try the Venezuelan restaurant.

Danielle White, 18, of Lynn, said she was partial to the clam chowder Porthole Restaurant was sampling.

“It’s not just about the food,” White said. “It’s more about the cause and the atmosphere.”

Also featured was beer and wine tastings from Lynnway Liquors at the bar. Donated raffle prizes included $500 in restaurant gift certificates, Boston Red Sox tickets and season tickets for a family of four to the North Shore Navigators.

“Lynn has amazing restaurants with a very wide variety of food and culture,” said state Rep. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn). “This organization has done so much for families throughout Lynn and I’m proud to support it.”

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

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5 Goldthwait Street, LYNN.                          Saturday, June 18th from Noon to 2 p.m.                                                                                           

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Image of part of the kitchen at 5 Goldthwait.

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LYNN — Bernadette “Naja” (Gill) Monico, 82, of Saugus, died suddenly June 16 at the Melrose–Wakefield Hospital.

Born in Lynn she was the daughter of the late Charles and Bernice (Wutowicz) Gill and wife of the late Salvatore Monico, Jr.

She was a graduate of Lynn Classical High School and an active Red Sox fan. She was employed at the Hilltop Steak House for 20 years as a hostess.

She is survived by one son, Steven Monico and his wife Catherine of Haverhill, and her two daughters Linda J. Johnson and her husband Kris of Bridgewater, NH and Donna L. McCormick and her husband Wayne, of Rowley. Beloved grandmother of 7 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Edward, William, Joseph and Mary Gill, Amy Witko, Helen Lindner, Stella Luckiewicz, Francis Carney, Sophie Sullivan and Janina Taylor.

Service information: Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Nadworny Funeral Home 798 Western Ave., Lynn on Tuesday June 21st, at 9:30 a.m. followed by her Mass of Christian Burial in Blessed Sacrament Church, Lincoln Ave. Saugus at 10:30 a.m. Interment in Riverside Cemetery, Saugus. Visiting hours Monday from 3-7 p.m. Contributions may be made in her memory to the American Heart Association N.E. Affiliate 20 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701-4688 or the charity of your choice. For guest book & directions Nadwornyfuneralhome.com.