David L. Phillips

By Leah Dearborn

LYNN — Former Mayor David L. Phillips has gone back to work, this time to write a new political novel called “Can-Do Encounters.”

The novel tells the story of fictitious Speaker of the House Harry H. Johnson, who rises through the ranks of the American government before striking out to build a third political party called the Can-Do Party.  

Phillips printed a limited number of copies of the book and is making them available to people as they contact him. He hopes interest in the book prompts demand for a second printing.

Phillips spent a decade working in various public service positions in the city of Lynn and served as mayor in 1975 and 1976, wedged between the late Antonio Marino’s terms in office. Over the course of his career, Phillips began to see ways in which government could be improved.

Specifically, Phillips concluded a third party could bypass the existing standards set by Democratic and Republican parties.

“I think … we could perhaps look not at where we were yesterday or today, but where we could be tomorrow,” said Phillips, who wanted the ideas outlined in the novel to have theoretical real world applications. “That’s what the book is about.”

With almost 300 pages, “Can-Do Encounters” comes with an appendix of fictional Can-Do Party constitutional amendments listed at its end.   

Phillips said the appendix is meant to serve as an example of how a third party could potentially enact constitutional change.

Phillips said he began writing the novel several years ago and that the timing of its release wasn’t specifically meant to coincide with the 2016 general election.

The former mayor has previously authored four other books, all of which are non-fiction: “It’s a Small World,” “Enlightenment,” “Phillips Family Glimpses” and “The Power of Words.”

After a 50-year career in engineering management and public works, Phillips is now semi-retired and spends his time writing, skiing and sailing, according to the biographical section at the back of “Can-Do Encounters.”

A shot of the action at the annual flea market at Goldfish Pond. Courtesy photo by Matt Guillory.

By Gayla Cawley

LYNN — Maintaining Goldfish Pond and its surrounding park is a summer-long effort, but with the season winding down, funds need to be raised for next year’s upkeep.

On Saturday, the Goldfish Pond Association, the group responsible for maintaining the area since 1980, will be throwing its 36th Annual Fun n’ Flea Day. The event is held on Goldfish Pond, just off Route 1A and Lynn Shore Drive, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is the organization’s largest fundraiser.

“I think it’s become a tradition in the city and I think a lot of people appreciate the work that we’ve done, so they enjoy coming down,” said Kathy Montejunas, a charter member of the association and coordinator of the flea market. “It’s a chance to enjoy a really pretty place in the city.”

All funds raised from the flea market, which typically totals about $3,000, will go towards the neighbors’ efforts to maintain the park, which includes the cost of planting flowers and purchasing equipment and other materials for clean-up, said Montejunas.

She said the pond and park area used to be maintained by the city before the association began 36 years ago. City workers didn’t plant flowers and just mowed the lawn once a month, so the group decided to take over the work because “it looked pretty bad.”

In the 1970s, the crime rate in Lynn was higher, and there was a lot of vandalism at the pond, so it was always a mess, said Paul Coombs, president of the association. He said the city didn’t have the resources to keep up, so the group began as an effort to reduce the vandalism at the pond and to keep an eye on the issues. It became apparent, he said, that maintaining the pond was a part of those efforts. A Model Cities Grant was also received in the 1970s to revitalize the park, which gave the group a good incentive to keep it that way, he added.

About 80 vendors will have tables set up at the flea market. Food will be sold, boat rides are offered around the pond and people can participate in raffles with prizes totaling $2,000. The $30 buy-in fee for vendors and the raffles are two of the biggest money makers for the fair. The event is put on through the efforts of 50 volunteers.

“It’s just a very uplifting event for everyone,” said Coombs. “It’s a chance to enjoy the pond.”

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

Fred Vining, of Marblehead, windsurfs at Long Beach in Lynn on Monday. Photo by Paula Muller. 

By Gayla Cawley

LYNN — A tropical storm may be brewing, but it’s surf’s up for one Marblehead resident.

“It doesn’t get this windy this often,” said Fred Vining, a windsurfer. “This is the time that it’s fun to be out.”

Late Monday afternoon, strong winds were gusting from an impending threat of Tropical Storm Hermine, which was expected to make its way through the Northeast this week after battering Florida and the rest of the south coast. Hermine got classified as a hurricane when it impacted the Sunshine State last week.

The storm is expected to remain offshore, but heavy surf and seas could create dangerous conditions in and on the water. Large, pounding waves and frequent, strong rip currents are the main threats to anyone spending time on coastal areas. The strongest winds are expected to remain offshore in Massachusetts in all but Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, according to Accuweather.

Vining, 46, said he’s been windsurfing for more than 20 years. He went out twice on Monday, first off Devereux Beach in Marblehead and later at Long Beach, taking advantage of a holiday, warm water and a chance to get some exercise. After high tide, he encountered 10-foot waves and whipping winds, forecasted during the afternoon as 15 to 20 mph.

If winds were blowing that hard all the time, Vining said he would be in windsurfing paradise. The sport is his passion, and he goes out year-round, even in winter.

“It’s a little more than a hobby,” he said. “It’s in the blood. It’s something I’ve done all my life.”

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

Click on the candidates’ name and follow the link to their profile video.

By Thor Jourgensen

With six Democrats and five Republicans listed on Thursday’s primary election ballot, the race to pick the next Essex County Sheriff has attracted more candidates than any other election in the state.

The Daily Item profiles those candidates today as they race to the primary finish line in hopes of becoming the Democrat and Republican picked by the voters to run in the Nov. 8 final election along with unenrolled candidates for sheriff Mark Archer and Kevin Leach.

What exactly is the office the 11 candidates hope to win? The Essex County Sheriff’s Department oversees individuals awaiting trial and inmates convicted of crimes. There were 1,850 inmates under the sheriff’s care and custody on Sept. 1.

In addition to the House of Correction in Middleton, the sheriff runs facilities and offices in Lynn, Salem, Lawrence and Salisbury employing 620 people. The department budget is $66.4 million and the sheriff serves a six-year term with a current annual salary of $152,000.

Frank Cousins Jr., a Republican, decided to retire this year after serving as Essex sheriff since 1996.

Here are the 2016 primary election candidates for Essex sheriff.

Kenneth H. Berg

Republican, Danvers and Marblehead native, Transit Police lieutenant

What is the most important issue in the sheriff’s race?

If elected sheriff, I would have very comprehensive policies regarding employees who are deployed in the military and making sure there are comprehensive programs and training for managers. Veteran concerns and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury need to be recognized and addressed. Young people who served our country with these problems are not getting integrated back into our community well enough.

I am skilled in managing an operation for efficiency and leading it to change. I will build private and public partnerships to be part of a collaborative force to finally eradicate opioid addiction.

William Castro

Democrat, Methuen Sheriff’s Department drug enforcement officer

What is the most important issue in the sheriff’s race?

We have to give inmates positive reinforcement. We must implement programs that keep inmates connected to their families and the community as well, that is the only hope for reducing recidivism.

I started my career with the department 17 years ago. I was assigned to drug enforcement in 2005. I have been very instrumental in addressing the opioid crisis. It’s not going to end any time soon. But we can assist communities.

Kevin F. Coppinger  

Democrat, Lynn police chief

What is the most important issue in the sheriff’s race?

The sheriff’s detox programs are good. My vision is to expand those programs and add after care programs. We have to combine what’s being done in the jail, expand programs, make sure they are linked into our communities. Half the inmates coming out of jail are going to go back with a 47 percent recidivism rate.

I’ve been chief for seven years. I’ve had a lot of success in Lynn, including targeting kids to get them on the straight and narrow. I have a lot of administrative experience. I want to bring positive change to the Essex Sheriff’s department. The department is still a little behind the times. It’s an island that needs to come into the mainland.

Jeffrey J. Gallo  

Republican, Haverhill Essex Sheriff’s lieutenant

What is the most important issue in the sheriff’s race?

It’s very important we rehabilitate inmates and get them on the right path. About 80 percent of the inmates have drug and alcohol problems. We need to increase the mental health staff and the counseling staff. Once we do that, we can get inmates on the right path. We need to rehabilitate them after getting to the underlying problem of why they are addicts.

Corrections officers have one of the most thankless jobs in law enforcement. I want to bring awareness to that. I got officers a 15 percent raise by opening lines of communication with Sheriff Cousins. I have a plan to put reserve officers in place to alleviate extra shifts officers are working now.

James P. Jajuga Jr.

Republican, Methuen police lieutenant  

What is the most important issue in the sheriff’s race?

The most important concern is to reduce recidivism to keep people safe and save taxpayer money. It’s the number one issue nationwide. I would institute right off the bat an information gathering and sharing committee. We need to share information with community groups. We need to work in conjunction with one another to keep people safe. I will address issues that affect law abiding citizens and maintain law and order inside the correctional facilities.

Craig G. Lane

Republican, Newburyport Essex Sheriff’s sergeant

What is the most important issue in the sheriff’s race?

We need to look at the organizational structure. The way our current supervisory structure is set up, there are redundancies with people doing clerical functions making decision-maker salaries. That is not the way taxpayer money should be spent. I would apply the business practices I have learned to streamline the organization, make it more efficient.

The sheriff opened two detox centers that are greatly needed but we have a space problem. The jail was built to hold about 560 inmates We run about 1,200. The overcrowding is one of the issues we must address at the sheriff’s department.

Anne M. Manning-Martin

Republican, Peabody state Department of Correction deputy superintendent

What is the most important issue in the sheriff’s race?

It’s important we implement programs that work, that are data driven and evidence-based. We don’t reinvent the wheel. We reduce recidivism with an effective and efficient operation. Reducing recidivism 5 percent across the state can save millions and millions of dollars that can be used for mental health and substance abuse programming to keep people out of prison.

The sheriff’s position is so powerful. It is important you have the person with the right experience, the right temperament to lead the department forward. I want to address the opioid epidemic. I want to make healthier communities in the 34 cities and towns throughout the county. I’m running for sheriff because corrections has been my career for 25 years. I can make things happen.

Michael J. Marks

Democrat, Lynn Superintendent of Essex County Correctional Facility

What is the most important issue in the sheriff’s race?

We first help inmates get healthy and then we work with them to get counseling and treatment. We work with them on a plan when they get released. We get them the community support they need and hopefully include their family. If they can deal with addiction; hopefully, the criminal activity can go away.

I felt it was important for me as a stepping stone in my career to run for sheriff to make sure the department moves forward with the same type of philosophy as the current sheriff with reentry and reintegration being the number one focus. My whole experience has been coming up through the ranks. I have the experience and vision to be a great sheriff.

Edward J. O’Reilly

Democrat, Wenham attorney

What is the most important issue in the sheriff’s race?

My first priority will be to get women out of Framingham who are under my authority. Sheriff Cousins has done an exceptional program stopping the warehousing of women in Framingham. Women should have the same opportunities for treatment as men, including after care.

The moment someone comes in the door we begin the process of reintegration.

Substance abuse is a problem for 85 percent to 90 percent of the people there. We need treatment programs. I am the only Democratic candidate who supports the Gloucester Angel Program. It’s nationally recognized. It is based on treating addiction as a disease.

Jerry P. Robito

Democrat, Lawrence, retired former career Essex Sheriff employee

What is the most important issue in the sheriff’s race?

I would incorporate teaching trades. We have units where inmates sit and watch TV. It’s not conducive to rehabilitation. There has to be substance abuse aftercare. The program we have is not working out well. Federal prisons have more in depth programs we need to incorporate.

As someone who actually has worked inside the jail, I feel I should be sheriff. I understand the dynamics of the inmates. For my last six years, I basically ran the jail. We have to get inmates through programs and work with them when the get out of jail. We have to get up to 100 percent staffing.

Paul L.D. Russell Jr.

Democrat, Andover, Retired Drug Enforcement agent

What is the most important issue in the sheriff’s race?

I want to address mismanagement in the sheriff’s department. There are lapses of security within the system. I’m an individual who will keep my foot on the pedal to get the job done. I will incorporate faith-based organizations and others to help provide mentoring.

I bring a fresh perspective with my years of experience in the causes of addiction. I know heroin is highly addictive and be devastating. We cannot arrest our way out of addiction. People need mental and emotional help. Combined with mental health evaluation, we can cut down on recidivism rates and drug use and abuse.

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

Lynn — Priscilla M. O’Brien, age 77, and a longtime resident of Lynn, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, in Salem Hospital.

Born in Haverhill on Sept. 21, 1938, she was the daughter of the late John and Oriena (Ross) O’Brien. Priscilla was a longtime communicant and parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Lynn. In her earlier years, she served as a nun with the Dominican Sisters and also worked as a telephone operator. As time went on, Priscilla served as a cook for many years to St. Jean’s Parish in Lynn as well as St. Mary’s Church, serving under Monsignor Garrity. She served as treasurer for St. Mary’s for their St. Vincent de Paul Society as well as a Parish lector, BINGO helper, assisting at the Church fairs, and a member of the Medjugorje Prayer Group. She was active with the Bread of Life Food Pantry with her dear friend, Fr. Michael Ferraro. She was a lover of animals and loved her many outings and spending time with her friends, specifically the times at Honey Dew Donuts. She was very loved by everyone she encountered, most especially her neighbors, many friends, and the St. Mary’s community. Besides her friends, Priscilla is survived by many scattered cousins.

Service information: A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, in St. Mary’s Church, 8 So. Common St., Lynn, at 12:05 p.m. An hour of visitation will be held in the church prior to the funeral Mass from 11 a.m., to 12 Noon. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Haverhill, MA. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Priscilla’s memory may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, 8 So. Common St., Lynn, MA 01902. For online condolences, please visit Cuffemcginn.com.

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Timothy J. Noonan, mostly known as “Tim” or “Timmy” passed away on Sept. 3, 2016. He died peacefully at his home in North Carolina, surrounded by love after bravely fighting a very rare lung disease.

Tim was born in Lowell on Oct. 31, 1939, the son of the late Timothy J. Noonan Sr. and Helen R. (Devaney) Noonan. He was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas and former wife, Arlene. He is survived by his loving wife, Lori Urban Noonan, daughter, Kathleen Lynne Naman and husband, David, stepson, Eric Hausmann and wife, Katie, stepdaughter, Christine Hausmann and fiancé, Luke Bruin, sister, Barbara Whittaker and husband, Carleton, sister-in-law, Mary Noonan, one granddaughter, Alison Naman and four nieces and their children.

Tim was raised in Salem and lived primarily on the North Shore of Boston and Concord. He and his wife Lori moved to Wilmington, N.C., last year. Tim joined GE in 1963 after completing four years in the Air Force. His leadership qualities allowed him to ascend quickly within the Lynn aviation business. He was instrumental in starting up a new GE satellite plant in Wilmington, N.C., in 1980. He returned to Lynn after several years, where he was responsible for all manufacturing and assembly in the Northeast. As General Manager, Tim was known for his commitment to excellence, staff development and strong leadership. In 2008, after retirement Tim was inducted into the GE Jet Propulsion Hall of Fame – an honor of which he was extremely proud.

He absolutely loved his work, his family and friends with great intensity, always generous with his time and his heart. In addition, Tim was very community-minded and was a former trustee of Salem Hospital, an overseer of the Peabody Essex Museum and was Chairman of the North Shore Cancer Walk for two years. He touched many lives throughout his life.

Service information: A service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 10, at Andrews Valley Chapel, 4108 S. College Road., Wilmington, N.C., followed with a reception at his home. In November, a memorial service will be held in Salem, MA, at the Immaculate Conception Church. Further details will be forthcoming.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the local hospice: Lower Cape Fear Hospice 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at Andrewsmortuary.com.

Lawrence — Elise Irene Dubuque, 64, of Lawrence, formerly of Lynn, died peacefully after a lengthy illness Sept. 2, with her children by her side. Elise is remembered for her gentle kindness, compassionate giving and loving acceptance of all people.

Born in Springfield on Dec. 14, 1951, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Inez (Nodding) Dubuque. She grew up in Lynn, attending St. Jean Baptist School and graduating from Lynn English High School and Salem State University with a degree in education. She was a children’s librarian in Newton, N.H., and achieved a pedorthist license. She was noted for her caringness to her clients and always looked for ways to help those around her. She was also a talented artist and dedicated English Second Language teacher at Operation Bootstrap in Lynn. All of her Citizenship students became American citizens.

Predeceased by a son, David, in 1977, she leaves a daughter, Mary Ellen Johansson of Manchester, N.H., a son, Michael Pennisi of Exeter, N.H., three grandchildren, Addison and Natalie Johansson, Vincent Pennisi, two sisters, Deborah Bean of East Longmeadow, Rosemary Stewart of Wakefield, N.H., a dear sister-in-law, Linda Dubuque and two brothers, Stephen Dubuque of Duxbury, Philip Dubuque of Malden. Elise also leaves her lifelong friend, Arlene Germain of Medford and many nieces and nephews.

Service information: Services will be at the Parker Funeral Home, 35 Franklin St., on Friday Sept. 9. Visiting hours from 11:30 a.m., to 1:30 p.m. Funeral immediately following visiting hours. Please make memorial donations in Elise’s name to Mary Immaculate Nursing Home, 172 Lawrence St., Lawrence, MA 01841, or Operation Bootstrap, 20 Wheeler St., Suite 203 Lynn, MA 01902. For those who cannot attend this Friday’s service, a Celebration of Life will also be held at Rye Harbor State Park, details to be announced soon. To express your condolences and sign an online guest book go to Parkermemorialfuneralhome.com.

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

LYNN

Arrests

Juan Ayala, 26, of 182 Chestnut St., was arrested and charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Shana Doucette, 23, of 77 Harmon St., was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of property damage, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and OUI liquor at 12:53 a.m. Tuesday.

Craig Ernst, 45, of 33 Spring St., was arrested and charged with shoplifting at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday.

Leonel Fernandez, 33, of 24 Columbia St., Swampscott, was arrested and charged with drinking in public and on warrant charges of assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery at 4:33 p.m. Monday.

Kathleen Flaherty, 32, was arrested and charged with assault and battery in the presence of a police officer and disorderly conduct at 7:05 p.m. Monday.

Kristina Lang was arrested on a warrant charge of shoplifting at 10:42 p.m. Monday.

Kenneth Lord, 47, of 5 Albany St., was arrested on a warrant at 12:33 p.m. Monday.

Johnny Rodriguez, 38, of 151 North St., Salem, was arrested and charged with OUI liquor, leaving the scene of property damage, alcohol from an open container in a motor vehicle, operation of a motor vehicle with a revoked license and negligent operation of a motor vehicle at 8:46 p.m. Monday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 12:56 p.m. Monday at 66 Laighton St.; at 1:07 p.m. Monday at Henry and Lawton avenues; at 2:17 p.m. Monday at Brightwood Terrace and Essex Street; at 3:22 p.m. Monday at 752 Western Ave.; at 9:43 p.m. Monday at 214 Essex St.; at 11:33 p.m. Monday at 22 Waitt Ave.; at 3:42 a.m. Tuesday at Atlantic Toyota at 671 Lynnway; at 6:44 a.m. Tuesday at 354 Broadway; at 7:41 a.m. Tuesday at 73 Holyoke St.; at 8:08 a.m. Tuesday at 92 Western Ave.; at 11:39 a.m. Tuesday at Eastern and Western avenues; at 12:34 p.m. Tuesday at Bennett and South streets.

A report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident at 8:08 p.m. Monday at Green and Union streets.

A report of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury at 10:36 a.m. Tuesday at 8 S Common St.

Assaults

A report of an assault at 6:29 p.m. Monday on Buffum Street.

Breaking and Entering

A report of motor vehicle breaking and entering at 6:47 a.m. Tuesday at 18 Holland Ave.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 11:31 a.m. Monday at 41 Light St.; at 11:54 a.m. Monday at 38 Chatham St.; at 6:34 p.m. Monday at 3 Lynnfield St.; at 6:35 p.m. Monday at Endicott and Franklin streets; at 7:54 p.m. Monday at 127 Washington St.; at 9:29 p.m. Monday at 1 Kingsley Terrace; at 10:08 p.m. Monday at 58 Laighton St.; at 3:03 a.m. Tuesday at 29 Clairmont Terrace; at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at 44 Story Ave.

Overdose

A report of an overdose at 1:08 p.m. Monday on Newhall Street; at 4:20 p.m. Monday on Chase Street.

Theft

A report of a larceny at 2 p.m. Monday at Walmart at 780 Lynnway; at 6:07 p.m. Monday at 54 N Franklin St.; at 8:36 p.m. Monday at 97 Curwin Circle; at 10:36 p.m. Monday at Liberty and Washington streets; at 10 a.m. Tuesday at 431 Lynnway.

Vandalism

A report of vandalism at 12:54 p.m. Monday at 66 Rockaway St.; at 1:35 p.m. Monday at 126 Boston St.; at 5:50 p.m. Monday at Goodridge Street and Tracy Avenue.

MARBLEHEAD

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident at 11:23 p.m. Monday on Green Street. A caller reported that an unknown vehicle was in her driveway and when attempting to leave, it backed into her stone wall and then attempted to pull forward and backed into the wall again.

Complaints

A report of a flag coming loose at 10:49 a.m. Monday on Ocean Avenue. A caller reported there was an American flag that was coming off one of the poles in the area. The flag was retrieved from the causeway.

A report of a neighbor complaint at 11:36 a.m. Monday on Waldron Court Place. A caller reported her neighbor was painting over her property line.

A report of a loose boat heading to the rock at 1:58 p.m. Monday on Beacon Street. A caller reported there was a loose, 19-foot boat heading to the rock by Grace Olivers Beach.

Theft

A report of a stolen phone at 10:10 p.m. Monday on Pleasant Street. A caller reported the phone was stolen while making a purchase at 7-Eleven. It was an iPhone in a black case with elephants on it. Video shows that she put the phone back in her bag and she was informed that she did not leave it on the counter.

Vandalism

A report of vandalism to the car window at 9:37 a.m. Monday on Stonybrook Road.

REVERE

Arrests

Manuel E. Alvarez, 27, of 37 Ridge Road, was arrested and charged with operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended or revoked license, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lanes violation and OUI liquor at 10:20 p.m. Saturday.

Diana L. Alvarezhernandez, 20, of 313 Cooledge St., was arrested and charged with larceny more than $250 and larceny less than $250 at 7:04 p.m. Saturday.

Sydney A. Bangs, 21, of 1 Centennial Ave., Apt. 2, was arrested on a warrant at 12:43 a.m. Saturday.

James J. Christian, 40, of 1573 Main St., Apt. 1, Weymouth, was arrested and charged with three counts of uttering a false prescription, two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon, uttering a false document, forgery of a document, violation of the city knife ordinance and possession of a Class B drug at 4:04 a.m. Sunday.

David Haney, 26, homeless, was arrested and charged with shoplifting by asportation and on a warrant at 7:10 p.m. Friday.

Ellen M. Hamilton, 59, of 37 Cecilian Ave., was arrested and charged with OUI liquor second offense at 10:02 p.m. Friday.  

Katrina Marie Hoskyns, 20, of 41 Hubbard St., Apt. 1, Malden, was arrested and charged with shoplifting, threat to commit a crime, assault and disorderly conduct at 6 p.m. Friday.

Wilmer Javier Padilla, 34, of 835 Broadway, Chelsea, was arrested and charged with motor vehicle operator refuses to identify self and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle at 1:53 p.m. Saturday.

Harold L. Williams, 60, of 17 Court St., Boston, was arrested and charged with larceny and on a warrant at 7:06 p.m. Sunday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 12:23 a.m. Friday on North Shore Road; at 9:52 a.m. Friday at Dunkin Donuts on Beach Street; at 12:49 p.m. Friday on Copeland Circle; at 1:22 p.m. Friday at Broadway and Park Avenue; at 1:58 p.m. Friday at Banana Boat on Beach Street; at 2:59 p.m. Friday at Waugh’s Inc. on Broadway; at 5:11 p.m. Friday at Malden Street and Patriot Parkway; at 6:15 p.m. Friday at Blanchard’s Liquors on American Legion Highway; at 7:48 p.m. Friday on Brown Circle; at 11:09 p.m. Friday on Broadway; at 1:53 p.m. Saturday on Brown Circle. Luz L. Rodriguez, 54, of 835 Broadway, Apt. 2, Chelsea, was cited for allowing improper operation of a motor vehicle. Wilmer Javier Padilla, 34, of 835 Broadway, Chelsea, was arrested; at 3:01 p.m. Saturday at CVS on Squire Road; at 3:06 p.m. Saturday on Brown Circle; at 7:47 p.m. Saturday at Extra Space Storage on Revere Beach Parkway; at 2:21 a.m. Sunday at Wonderland Entertainment on North Shore Road; at 4:04 a.m. Sunday at Advance Auto Parts on Everett Street; at 4:09 p.m. Sunday at Enterprise Rent A Car on Beach Street; at 5:54 p.m. Sunday on Mahoney Circle.

A report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident at 1:59 a.m. Saturday on Beach Street; at 1:13 p.m. Saturday on Brown Circle; at 3:41 p.m. Monday on Ocean Avenue.

Assaults

A report of an assault at 9:38 p.m. Friday on VFW Parkway.

Breaking and Entering

A report of a breaking and entering at 9:41 p.m. Monday on Asti Avenue.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 12:01 a.m. Friday on Crescent Avenue; at 12:54 a.m. Friday at Planet Fitness on Charger Street; at 3:23 a.m. Friday on Haskell Avenue; at 4:02 p.m. Friday on Beach Street; at 10:10 p.m. Friday on Case Drive; at 1:07 a.m. Saturday on Dale Street; at 1:35 a.m. Saturday at BK’s Bar & Grille on Ocean Avenue; at 2:24 a.m. Saturday at IHOP on Squire Road; at 3:17 a.m. Saturday on Hichborn Street; at 3:25 a.m. Saturday on Malden Street; at 4:17 a.m. Saturday on Genesee Street; at 12:38 p.m. Saturday at Stop & Shop on Squire Road; at 12:57 p.m. Saturday on Michael Road; at 3:33 p.m. Saturday at Ocean Village Tower on Ocean Avenue; at 5:37 p.m. Saturday on Centennial Avenue. Pasquale Andreottola, 60, of 32 Centennial Ave., was cited for operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license; at 6:22 p.m. Saturday at Ristorante Ravesi on Revere Street; at 7:42 p.m. Saturday at Gasco Oil on Broadway; at 8:14 p.m. Saturday on Eliot Road; at 9:25 p.m. Saturday on Hichborn Street; at 9:33 p.m. Saturday on North Shore Road; at 11:16 p.m. Saturday on Union Street; at 11:41 p.m. Saturday on Goodwin Avenue; at 12:34 a.m. Sunday at Caruso’s Northgate Apartments on Lantern Road; at 12:47 a.m. Sunday at Squire Lounge on Squire Road; at 12:48 a.m. Sunday at Washington Avenue and Sargent Street; at 1:02 a.m. Sunday at Columbia Street and Breedens Lane; at 1:23 a.m. Sunday on Fenno Street; at 1:33 a.m. Sunday at Campbell and Walnut avenues; at 1:44 a.m. Sunday at Shipwreck Lounge on Revere Beach Boulevard; at 1:46 a.m. Sunday at Sammy’s Patio on Revere Beach Boulevard; at 1:52 a.m. Sunday at Wonderland Entertainment on North Shore Road; at 1:53 a.m. Sunday on Kimball Avenue; at 2:48 a.m. Sunday on Beach Street; at 3:04 a.m. Sunday on Agawam Street; at 3:09 a.m. Sunday on Beach Street; at 4:04 a.m. Sunday at Walgreens on Broadway; at 4:45 a.m. Sunday at Roseland Properties on Overlook Ridge Drive; at 1:04 p.m. Sunday on Centennial Avenue; at 1:13 p.m. Sunday on Thornton Street; at 4:40 p.m. Sunday at Wendy’s on Squire Road; at 4:52 p.m. Sunday on Avalon Street; at 7:28 p.m. Sunday on Proctor Avenue; at 7:54 p.m. Sunday on Mountain Avenue; at 8:49 p.m. Sunday at Greater Boston Indoor Sports on Charger Street; at 9:43 p.m. Sunday on Walnut Avenue; at 9:48 p.m. Sunday on Beach Street; at 9:50 p.m. Sunday on Proctor Avenue; at 10:21 p.m. Sunday on Hichborn Street; at 10:23 p.m. Sunday on Walnut Avenue; at 10:34 p.m. Sunday at Pratt Street and Revere Beach Parkway; at 10:37 p.m. Sunday on Ann Road; at 11:09 p.m. Sunday on Alice Street; at 12:35 a.m. Monday at La Maquina on Revere Beach Boulevard; at 12:52 a.m. Monday on Charger Street; at 1:06 a.m. Monday on Fenno Street; at 1:34 a.m. Monday on Washburn Avenue; at 1:55 a.m. Monday on Beach Street; at 1:57 a.m. Monday on Hyde Street; at 2:13 a.m. Monday at Las Delicias Colombian on Shirley Avenue; at 9:15 a.m. Monday on Florence Avenue; at 12:49 p.m. Monday at Louis Pasteur Park on Leverett Avenue; at 4:22 p.m. Monday at Broadway and Mountain Avenue; at 4:55 p.m. Monday on Flint Street; at 5:02 p.m. Monday at Centennial and Waverly avenues; at 8:19 p.m. Monday at Revere Beach Train Station on Shirley Avenue; at 10:54 p.m. Monday on Endicott Avenue.

A report of shots fired at 8:22 p.m. Sunday at S Irving and Vane streets.

Theft

A report of a larceny/forgery/fraud at 2:56 p.m. Friday on Vinal Street; at 5:58 p.m. Saturday at Target on Furlong Drive. Saige A. Tait, 22, of 66 Main St., Saugus, was cited for larceny and malicious destruction of property; at 2:52 p.m. Monday at Revere High School on School Street.

A report of a larceny of a bicycle at 9:19 p.m. Saturday on Revere Beach Parkway.

A report of auto theft at 3:05 p.m. Monday on Bryant Street.

Vandalism

A report of vandalism at 9:49 a.m. Friday on Dedham Street; at 10:02 a.m. Friday at Revere Housing Authority on Harris Street; at 1:38 p.m. Friday on Oxford Street; at 5:40 a.m. Saturday at Roseland Properties on Overlook Ridge Drive; at 4:31 p.m. Sunday at Roseland Properties on Overlook Ridge Terrace.

A report of motor vehicle vandalism at 6:52 p.m. Sunday on Bradstreet Avenue; at 9:11 p.m. Sunday at Radio Shack on Squire Road.

SAUGUS

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury at 3:50 p.m. Friday on Route 1 South; at 4:28 p.m. Friday on Lynn Fells Parkway.

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 4:11 p.m. Friday on Denver Street; at 5:14 p.m. Friday on Broadway; at 8:15 p.m. Friday at Jimmy’s Steer House at 114 Broadway.

A report of an aircraft accident at 11:36 a.m. Saturday on Salem Turnpike. A caller reported witnessing a small plane crash into the marsh on 107 Southbound. The owner retrieved the model plane from the marsh area. An officer reported a large model, unmanned airplane that crashed into the marsh.

A report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident at 1:09 p.m. Saturday on Guild Road.

Complaints

A report of suspicious activity at 4:07 a.m. Friday at 59 Chestnut St. A caller reported he heard someone possibly going through cars in the driveway.

A report of a hawk stuck inside the screened in porch area at 1:34 p.m. Friday at 14 Spring St. Environmental police responded.

A report of a dead animal that appeared to have had its head cut off at 5:40 p.m. Friday at 35 David Drive. An officer reported there didn’t appear to be anything suspicious about the death.

A report of a disturbance at 3:13 a.m. Saturday at Holiday Inn at 999 Broadway. A caller reported two men refused to pay their car fare.

Fire

A report of an outside fire at 7:09 a.m. Sunday at Breakheart Reservation at 177 Forest St. A caller reported an open fire on the beach of Breakheart. The fire was extinguished; at 5:33 p.m. Monday at 19 Newhall Ave. A caller reported an outside fire about a foot away from the building. Engine 3 reported the small mulch fire was extinguished.

Theft

A report of a larceny at 11:56 p.m. Friday at Walgreens at 1228 Broadway. A caller reported a man lunged at the register and took about $50 out of it; at 3:08 p.m. Saturday at 30 Hamilton St.; at 5:49 p.m. Saturday at 36 Newhall Ave. A woman reported her front left tire was missing from her 1997 Toyota Corolla. She found the vehicle resting on a tire jack.

Vandalism

A report of vandalism at 7:09 a.m. Friday at LA Fitness at 1450 Broadway. A caller reported his vehicle was keyed. Both people involved in the incident went to the police station and restitution of $4,000 was made; at 5:58 p.m. Monday on Salem Turnpike. Two vehicles appeared to have been vandalized in the parking lot.

A report of property damage at 7 a.m. Tuesday at 29 Juniper Drive. A caller reported her motor vehicle was egged the night before and stated it was an ongoing problem.

SWAMPSCOTT

Fire

A report of trees on wires with a small fire at 2:09 p.m. Monday at 24 Mountwood Road.

Lynn City Clerk Mary Audley holds signs instructing voters of new voting locations in this week’s primary election. Item Photo by Owen O’Rourke.

By Bridget Turcotte

LYNN — Voters will cast ballots at two new locations for the first time on Thursday.

While residents may have been worried about who will fill the Essex County Sherriff’s seat or which Democrat will face State Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) in the November election, City Clerk Mary Audley was determining where.

Ward 4 precincts 1 and 2 will vote at KIPP Academy at 90 High Rock St. Ward 4 precincts 3 and 4 will cast votes at the Lynn Museum & Historical Society.

The Ward 3 polling place is now at the Thurgood Marshall Middle School on Brookline Street, rather than Lynn English High School.

Audley, who also runs the Elections Department, said the change allows for more space for the 2,650 registered voters in Ward 4 precincts 1 and 2. More than 7,600 residents are registered to vote at Marshall.

“The people of Ward 3 have been waiting to go to the new Marshall,” she said. “English is in Ward 2 and voting was disruptive to students at English. Marshall has more parking and more space. The gym is further away from the rest of the school and it won’t disrupt the kids. That’s the case at KIPP, too.”

Superintendent Dr. Catherine Latham said Lynn’s public schools will be open on Thursday.

“We are happy to act as a host during election days, but we ask that people be respectful of the education of our students,” she said. “If possible, voters should plan to avoid school opening and dismissal times. During those times sidewalks and streets will be crowded and parking may be difficult.”

Alternatively, students at KIPP will have the day off, said Jennifer Startek, director of school operations. Voters will access the school through the gym entrance, located on the left rear side of the building. Parking will be made available nearby.

Preparations for the election began months ago. Audley determined the best locations and made a recommendation to the city council, who approved the changes. Voting equipment was tested last week and prepared for delivery to each of the 28 polling places.

Letters were sent to the residents in all of Ward 3 and in Ward 4 precincts 1 and 2, reminding them of the changes. Still, large signs will be posted at Lynn English to alert voters that they are at the wrong place, she said.

Click here to find out where your polling location is

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

By Thomas Grillo

LYNN — The executive director of the city’s Water & Sewer Commission wants his governing board to stop micromanaging the agency.

At issue is a vote the five-member panel took last summer that required the department to replace chlorine gas that purifies the city’s drinking water with chemicals. The issue caught the attention of the city council two years ago who took a rare step of sending a letter to the commission noting safety hazard concerns around gas use at the waste water treatment facility.

David Ellis, one of the commissioners, introduced the idea without consulting the nine-member staff and managed to convince the other commissioners of the idea, according to Daniel O’Neill, executive director.  

“It’s insane,” he said. “Dave Ellis just created more work for us by changing our drinking water. He shouldn’t be making motions to change the chemical composition of the water.”

Ellis did not return a call seeking comment.

O’Neill insists no change was needed, that in 24 years the department never faced a safety violation. In addition, he said the state Department of Environmental Protection has praised its operation with awards in eight of the last 10 years.

Under the new program that is expected to be implemented next year at a cost of nearly $2 million, the gas will be replaced with  liquid sodium hypochlorite, the main ingredient in laundry bleach.
“The gas was safe and doing the job,” O’Neill said. “Now we’re worried about acids and PH balances under the new configuration. We have great water that we have been using more than 27 years. Now, we will have to add more acids and they aren’t the safest thing to handle either.”

Walter Proodian, a commissioner member, agreed.

While he did not recall his 2015 vote to switch from gas to chemicals in the drinking water, Proodian said decisions about such things should be up to the staff.

“We should leave everything up to the professionals that are running the plant, not Dave Ellis,” he said. “He doesn’t even know what he’s talking about. In my estimation, Mr. Ellis is not a professional and I will not go against staff recommendations.”

Wayne Lozzi, a former commissioner and Ward 1 city councilor, said he’s not surprised that Ellis is micromanaging the Water & Sewer Commission.

“It’s not David Ellis’ role as a commissioner to dictate what type of chemicals should be added to the city’s drinking water supply,” he said. “That’s meddling into staff affairs. When I was a commissioner, there were complaints that he was looking over the shoulder of employees and telling them he was their boss.”

The role of the commission, he said, is to have broad oversight, not day-to-day management of the operation. The commission’s role is to review staff reports and act on them, he added, not make policy.

“While they have broad power does not mean they should be setting policy on technical matters,” Lozzi said. “They can ask the engineers to examine the possibility of using chemicals and report back to us, not to bamboozle the other commissioners to do his bidding. I support Dan O’Neil as the executive director knowing what to do and how to do it. This is outrageous.”

Commissioners William Trahant and Richard Colucci were unavailable for comment.

Peter Capano, a commissioner and Ward 6 councilor, said it was news to him that O’Neill thought the commission was meddling.

“I have never been told we were micromanaging,” he said. “Over the last year we have been working well together especially with the staff.”

Ellis initially raised concerns about chlorine gas use in Water & Sewer facilities during an October 2013 commission meeting.

Chlorine gas used at the Commercial Street waste treatment plant poses “potential dangers,” including domestic terrorism, to plant workers and residents in surrounding neighborhoods, according to city councilors who wanted its use phased out.  

At the time, Council President Daniel Cahill and Capano said chlorine gas not only poses a danger to plant workers but also to “significant portions of Lynn and Nahant” in the event of an accident.

Thomas Grillo can be reached at tgrillo@itemlive.com.

LYNN — Melinda Jane Sonia, age 60, of Lynn, died on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House, after a lengthy illness. She was survived by her beloved husband Laurence “Larry” Sonia.

She was the daughter of the late Helen Murphy of Melbourne, Fla. Melinda was raised and educated in Lynn. She worked for Analog Devices for 25 years in Wilmington, before retiring.

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Carol Comeau and her husband, Paul, of Plaistow, N.H., her brothers-in law, Gerald Sonia of Margate Fla., Roland Sonia of Seattle, Wash., and Paul Sonia of Albuquerque, N.M., sister-in-law, Jean Comeau and husband, Michael Comeau, of Brookfield, and well as many nieces and nephew.

Service information: There will be a small gathering for family and friends planned at a later date.

HAMPTON, N.H. — Joseph F. Calvani, 80, of Hampton, a former 40 year resident of Marblehead, died peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, at Clipper Harbor in Portsmouth.

He was born April 17, 1936, in Lynn, a son of the late Ario J. and Eileen (Collins) Calvani.

Raised in Lynn, Joseph graduated from St. Mary’s High School with the Class of 1954 and later Northeastern University in 1965.

Mr. Calvani was an award-winning insurance agent for Allstate for many years before leaving and becoming an insurance broker out of Peabody, retiring in 2006.

Joseph was an avid golfer and former member of the Elks Lodge in Marblehead, who loved the ocean, but his greatest joy was spending time with family and friends.

He shared 55 years of marriage with his wife Ann Marie (Getzfread) Calvani of Newton.

In addition to his wife, family members include his children, Joey Calvani of Las Angeles, Calif., MaryAlice Epler and her husband, Scott, of South Berwick, Maine, Kathleen Twomey and her husband, Tim, of Redding, Conn., and Christopher Calvani and his wife, Peggy, of Reading, brother, James Calvani and his wife, Linda, of Bridgewater, sister, Dorothy Calvani and her wife, Dava Weinstein, of Manhattan, N.Y., grandchildren, Taylor, Timmy, Christopher, Hope Anne, Jackson and Caiden and several nieces and nephews.

Service information: Visiting hours will be held from 1-4 p.m., on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., on Monday in Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, 289 Lafayette Road, Hampton. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090. Please visit RemickGendron.com to view Joseph’s memorial website, sign his tribute wall or for directions.

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

James Allegra, 31, of 11 Dudley St., Saugus, was arrested and charged with possession of a Class A drug and possession of a Class C drug at 2:51 p.m. Wednesday.

Anthony Creech, 24, of 249 Savannah Ave., Mattapan, was arrested and charged with destruction of property and assault with a dangerous weapon at 8:20 p.m. Tuesday.

Erick Desalas, 27, of 117 Brookline St., was arrested and charged with distribution of a Class A drug, drug possession with intent to distribute and drug violation within 100 feet of a park at 2:55 p.m. Wednesday.

Keila Garcia, 19, of 124 Chestnut St., was arrested and charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, possession of a knife with a blade over 2 and a half inches and on warrant charges of two counts of shoplifting, assault and battery and liquor possession by a person under 21 at 8:20 p.m. Tuesday.

Patrick McGough was arrested on warrant charges of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended registration and uninsured motor vehicle/trailer at 9:52 a.m. Wednesday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 2:34 p.m. Tuesday on Wyoma Square; at 4:17 p.m. Tuesday at 816 Western Ave.; at 11:02 p.m. Tuesday at 742 Western Ave.; at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday on Elm Street; at 11:47 p.m. Tuesday at 408 Summer St.; at 6:19 a.m. Wednesday at 114 Adams St.; at 7:55 a.m. Wednesday on Commercial Street; at 9:05 a.m. Wednesday at Chatham Street and Sanderson Avenue; at 10:57 a.m. Wednesday at Ford and Locust streets; at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday at Boston and Hesper streets; at 1:43 p.m. Wednesday at 77 Green St.; at 2:36 p.m. Wednesday at 75 Market St.; at 3:09 p.m. Wednesday at Brother Credit Union at 75 Market St.

A report of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury at 2:53 p.m. Tuesday at 9 Western Ave.; at 4:14 p.m. Tuesday at 10 Beacon Hill Ave.

A report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident at 6:49 p.m. Tuesday on Jenness Street; at 7:14 p.m. Tuesday at 103 Lewis St.

Assaults

A report of an assault and battery at 12:19 p.m. Wednesday on Lynnway; at 2:06 p.m. Wednesday on Tudor Street.

Breaking and Entering

A report of a breaking and entering at 11:17 a.m. Wednesday at 1 Ashton Square.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 2:59 p.m. Tuesday on Lexington Street; at 5:39 p.m. Tuesday at CVS at 200 S Common St.; at 7:54 p.m. Tuesday at State Street Liquors at 46 State St.; at 1:05 a.m. Wednesday at 300 Washington St.; at 2:13 a.m. Wednesday at 41 Light St.; at 3:07 a.m. Wednesday at Boston and Cottage streets; at 7:18 a.m. Wednesday at McDonalds at 567 Lynnway; at 10:07 a.m. Wednesday at S Common and Shepard streets; at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday at 6 Flint Lane; at 11:36 a.m. Wednesday at 98 Linwood St.; at 12:18 p.m. Wednesday at Hanover Street and Whittier Street; at 1:01 p.m. Wednesday at 66 Laighton St.; at 2:27 p.m. Wednesday on Chatham Street.

Overdose

A report of an overdose at 7:37 p.m. Tuesday on Lawton Avenue.

Theft

A report of a larceny at 2:28 p.m. Tuesday at 300 Washington St.; at 2:44 p.m. Tuesday at 24 Union St.; at 11:49 a.m. Wednesday at 395 Essex St.; at 12:47 p.m. Wednesday on Hanover Street.

MARBLEHEAD

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 8:10 a.m. Tuesday on West Shore Drive. A caller reported a motor vehicle may have crashed into a phone pole. She did not see the car that hit the pole and just heard the bang; at 2:01 p.m. Tuesday at Smith and Pleasant streets.

Breaking and Entering

A report of a motor vehicle breaking and entering at 8:06 a.m. Tuesday on Ruby Terrace. A caller reported a smashed window and that a laptop bag with just wires and paperwork was taken; at 8:48 a.m. Tuesday on Pickwick Road. A caller reported a smashed window and that an iPad was taken.

Complaints

A report of two students leaving school at 1:26 p.m. Tuesday on Humphrey Street.

A report of a scam call at 3:22 p.m. Tuesday on West Shore Drive. A caller reported she was waiting on a callback from police about her grandson. She stated that he got arrested the prior night in Marblehead and needed her to get bail money for him so he could be released. She was told that no one was arrested the prior night in town. She couldn’t recall the name of the officer, but wanted to get her grandson out of jail. She went on to say that he was in a vehicle with four friends when they were stopped for speeding and police found drugs in the car. She was again told that no arrests had been made during that time frame.

A report of a neighbor complaint at 4:46 p.m. Tuesday on Waldron Court Place. A caller reported it appeared that her neighbor vandalized her fence. The neighbor reported that the initial caller painted her side of the fence on Sunday without her permission. She has it on video. She stated she sanded the paint off of her side and then realized that her neighbor called the police on her.

A report of a person playing Pokemon Go at the high school at 11:12 p.m. Tuesday. The person was told not to do that.

PEABODY

Arrests

Pamela Jean Cordeiro, 51, of 117 Tremont St., Apt. 3, was arrested and charged with municipal by-law or ordinance violation/public drinking at 12:44 p.m. Wednesday.

Andre Ricardo Fernandes, 45, of 759 Summer St., Lynn, was arrested and charged with failure to display owners name, uninsured motor vehicle/trailer, revoked registration and on a warrant at 3:18 p.m. Tuesday.

Patricia A. Garcia, 41, of 14 Nichols St., Apt. 2, Salem, was arrested and charged with shoplifting by concealing merchandise at 8:58 p.m. Tuesday.

Gregory W. James, 34, of 111R Main St., Apt. 16, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer at 3:02 p.m. Tuesday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday at Bunghole Liquors at 79 Lowell St.; at 7:50 a.m. Wednesday at 4 Perkins St. and 62 Franklin St.; at 1:48 p.m. Tuesday at Route 128 North and 310 Lowell St.

A report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident at 7:54 p.m. Tuesday at 150 Main St.; at 11:05 a.m. Wednesday at 20 Union St.

Complaints

A report of suspicious activity at 8:44 p.m. Tuesday at 5 Lake St. A caller reported a neighbor informed him there was a man at her door who was asking for water for his van.

A report of a disturbance at 11:10 p.m. Tuesday at Bill & Bob’s Roast Beef at 2 Central St. A caller reported unruly customers in the establishment; at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday at Gaeta’s Auto Service at 153 Newbury St. A caller reported getting gas and an employee started throwing punches at him. An officer reported there was no fight and the customer was not happy with his service.

Theft

A report of a larceny at 8:51 a.m. Wednesday at 8 Northend St.

REVERE

Arrests

Joseph Daniel Dulcetta, 32, of 4 Jordan St., Apt. 1, was arrested on two warrants at 7:19 p.m. Tuesday.

Felix Lopes, 29, of 194 Reservoir Ave., was arrested on a warrant at 10:27 p.m. Tuesday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 12:17 p.m. Tuesday at Railroad Street and Lee Burbank Highway; at 5:33 p.m. Tuesday at Beachmont Train Station on Winthrop Avenue; at 5:47 p.m. Tuesday at Dunkin Donuts on Bennington Street. Jose L. Torres-Martinez, 28, of 59 Opper Ave, Warwick, R.I., was cited for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday at Wonderland Entertainment on North Shore Road. Arnulfo Gutierrez, 26, of 22 Union Court, Lynn, was cited for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and destruction of property at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday.

A report of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury at 2:52 p.m. Tuesday on Lincoln Street.

Assaults

A report of an assault at 11:59 a.m. Tuesday at Sargent Street and Michael Road.

Breaking and Entering

A report of a breaking and entering at 9:05 p.m. Tuesday on Yeamans Street.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 12:06 a.m. Tuesday at Tedford Avenue and Sargent Street; at 12:49 a.m. Tuesday at Revere Housing Authority on Adams Court; at 2:15 a.m. Tuesday at Liston Towers on Dolphin Avenue; at 2:32 p.m. Tuesday on Arnold Street; at 3:40 p.m. Tuesday on Arnold Street; at 6:07 p.m. Tuesday at Family Dollar on North Shore Road; at 11:51 p.m. Tuesday on Endicott Avenue.

A report of threats to kill at 1:33 p.m. Tuesday on Hyde Street.

Overdose

A report of a possible overdose at 3:57 p.m. Tuesday on Broadway.

Theft

A report of a larceny/forgery/fraud at 1:21 p.m. Tuesday at Rumney Flats on Ward Street; at 1:49 p.m. Tuesday on Proctor Avenue; at 4:58 p.m. Tuesday at Sound & Vision Media on Squire Road; at 6:17 p.m. Tuesday at Target on Furlong Drive. A 15-year-old juvenile was cited for larceny.

A report of a robbery at 10:11 p.m. Tuesday at Seven Day Store on Winthrop Avenue.

Vandalism

A report of vandalism at 1:45 a.m. Tuesday at Wonderland Entertainment on North Shore Road.

A report of motor vehicle vandalism at 4:21 p.m. Tuesday at Rumney Flats on Ward Street.

SAUGUS

Complaints

A report of an alarm activation at 9:06 a.m. Tuesday at Roller World at 425 Broadway. The fire captain reported a water main break in the rear of Saugus Plaza created a water surge that activated the alarm.

SWAMPSCOTT

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 8:23 a.m. Tuesday at Mission on the Bay at 141 Humphrey St.; at 4:35 a.m. Wednesday at Burrill and Humphrey streets. A caller reported hearing a vehicle hit a curb at a traffic island.

A report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident at 5:26 p.m. Tuesday at 450 Paradise Road.

Complaints

A report of a neighbor problem at 12:40 p.m. Tuesday at 432 Humphrey St. A resident was concerned with a neighbor questioning her about dumping trash in the adjacent restaurant dumpster. The resident stated he was rude.

A report of a Twitter account stating a person fell 50 feet from a building at 3:25 p.m. Tuesday at 18 Maple Ave.

BY GAYLA CAWLEY

LYNN — Two men were arrested after detectives from the Lynn Police Drug Task Force witnessed an alleged heroin transaction on Wednesday.

At about 2 p.m., police conducted an investigation into allegations of heroin distribution near Boston Street. Erick Desalas, of Lynn, and James Allegra, of Saugus, face a variety of drug charges, Police Lt. Dave Brown said.

Desales, 27, was charged with heroin distribution, heroin possession with intent to distribute and allegedly selling drugs within 100 feet of a playground.

Allegra, 31, was charged with possession of heroin, clonazepam and clonidine. In addition to heroin, he was in possession of illegally obtained prescription medication, Brown said.

Police seized a powdered substance believed to be heroin from Desalas and two twists of the substance from Allegra. Also seized from Desalas was $280 in cash, Brown said.

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

Sen. Thomas McGee said the state’s tolling system is inequitable. Item File Photo

By Thomas Grillo

LYNN — The auditorium at North Shore Community College was mostly empty on Wednesday night when state officials briefed a handful of residents on how electronic tolling will impact North Shore commuters and more importantly, their wallet.

The good news for drivers is that with travel over the Tobin Bridge or through the Sumner/Callahan and Ted Williams tunnels, tolls will not rise when the state ends toll booth collection and goes electronic on Friday, Oct. 28.

The proposed changes that will replace toll booths with so-called overhead gantries will keep the Sumner/Callahan and Ted William Tunnel tolls at $3.50 for Pay by Plate and out of state E-ZPass customers and $3 for Massachusetts E-Z Pass customers. To use the Tobin Bridge, all EZ Pass users will still pay $2.50 and Pay by Plate customers $3.

The only change that will impact North Shore commuters is that these routes will be tolled in both directions, with the toll split ½ and ½ so customers pay the same roundtrip amount as today if they use the Massachusetts EZPass.

Under the proposal, passenger vehicles with a Massachusetts EZ Pass driving from Boston to the New York border on the Turnpike will pay 45 cents less than they do today.

As soon as the system goes online, demolition work will begin on the toll plazas.

“The three guiding principles of this project is to increase air quality, decrease congestion and increase public safety,” Thomas Tinlin, the state’s highway administrator, told the sparse gathering. “Everything else we do is with that in mind.”

The public hearing was the second in a series of seven that are being held by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The  agency’s board of directors is expected to vote on the final price structure in early October.

One of the few speakers, Sen. Thomas McGee (D-Lynn), said he did not object to the change over to electronic tolling. Instead, he said the state’s toll system is inequitable.

“I am not standing up here to oppose tolls, I am standing up here to say we need to find a fair way to address the transportation deficit we have in the commonwealth,” he said.

He called upon the Baker administration to consider expanding tolls to other areas of the state including routes 93, 95 and 128.

“We are boxed in on the North Shore, we don’t have transportation investment here and we continue to be asked to pay for tolling to cover other areas,” McGee said. “It’s not fair. If we put up tolling in other areas of the commonwealth, we can do it in a way that’s fair for everyone.”

State Rep. Daniel Cahill (D-Lynn) said while he is pleased rates will not rise for North Shore commuters, it’s still more than residents in Billerica, Andover, Whitman and Taunton pay.

“I don’t see this as a revenue issue, it’s a reform issue,” he said. “We have to expand our electronic tolling. Massachusetts is always a leader … and we need to be a leader in transportation.”

Jim Smith of Swampscott said while some Bay State residents get a free ride without tolls, Lynn does not.

“We subsidize everyone else,” he said.

Cindy Regnier of Lynn, who said she does not have a transponder, objects to higher rates charged to commuters who do not have an E-ZPass.

“The whole thing feels like it’s jammed down people’s throats without an option,” she said. “We are being penalized if we don’t buy into the E-ZPass transponder thing.”

The transponders, which are free, will also be used as part of the new gantry system.

Talk about going to electronic tolling was introduced in 2010. Following a feasibility study, the decision was made to convert to an electronic tolling system. The Tobin Bridge was converted to electronic tolling two years ago. MassDOT awarded a $130 million contract in 2014 to Raytheon for the construction of gantries and 10 years of system maintenance. That same year, the board also awarded a 10-year, $201 million contract to TransCore for the back office and the operation of seven customer service centers.

More than 500 toll taker jobs were eliminated to make way for electronic tolls. But Tinlin said MassDOT is committed to training these workers to take new jobs at the agency or elsewhere.

On the issue of privacy, Tinlin said the state is only capturing data on cars to collect tolls.

Of the 21 people who attended the hearing, four were local residents, two were legislators, two were State Police officers and the rest were MassDOT staffers.

“If we were talking about increasing tolls for this region we would have a much larger crowd,” Tinlin said. “For the people in Lynn, their cost of doing business is not changing.”

Thomas Grillo can be reached at tgrillo@itemlive.com.

ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Alana Sullivan, a first-year kindergarten teacher at the Harrington Elementary School in Lynn, was on hand for kindergarten orientation on Wednesday.

“I feel like it’s going to be a great year.”

With those words, 22-year-old teacher Alana Sullivan welcomed kindergartners to her Harrington Elementary School classroom on Wednesday in advance of Monday’s first day of school for its youngest students.

Sullivan began her teaching career on Wednesday, and promise and possibility are the guideposts she will keep an eye out for this year as she leads her students to knowledge.

A more seasoned educator, Harrington Principal Debra Ruggiero, on Wednesday said Sullivan and other teachers will rely on a third guidepost to help students learn. The word emblazoned on that one is “parents.”

The parents and grandparents assembled in Sullivan’s classroom listened as she talked about break time, bathroom rules and other nuts and bolts rituals required to make a school day productive.

Like Sullivan, most of the parents in room 115 nervously anticipated the school year’s start. The first day of school is much more than a new experience for parent and child. It is a doorway leading into that years-long process of socialization intended to make children functioning citizens and, if they are lucky, pursuers of knowledge.

In an age when public schools serve breakfast and teachers juggle the roles of educator and social worker, parents still have the final word on learning and discipline. The mother or father who takes even a passing interest in a child’s homework and reading assignments sends a message that education is important.

In a city like Lynn with a large number of English-as-a-second-language learners, reading is often a new experience for parents and children. Lynn is fortunate to have a host of organizations supporting parents with tutoring, mentoring, childcare and parental instruction, not to mention English language courses for adults.

But parents, as Ruggiero observed on Wednesday, are “a big part” of a child’s education. She sounded like she was simultaneously issuing a challenge and offering an invitation when she told Harrington parents, “We want you involved.”

Parents face lots of competition in their effort to focus children on school. Social media and extracurricular activities distract kids from learning. Many parents need a crash course in studying in order to help their children achieve in the classroom.

With that challenge in mind, public schools may need to offer or expand parent nights to give mothers, fathers, guardians and grandparents a chance to spend an hour in a classroom learning how to help their kids read, do homework and get organized.

Knowledge is built in the classroom. But the foundation for learning is the home.

ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Kindergartner Alexander Rosales gets his first look at Harrington Elementary School Wednesday with his mother, Leticia Escalona, and teachers, from left, Joan Rizzo and Alana Sullivan, and paraprofessional Sherrell Bergeron.

BY THOR JOURGENSEN

LYNN — Just hired by the School Department and inspired to teach by her aunt, Alana Sullivan stood in front of a classroom packed with students for the first time on Wednesday.

Like the kindergartners, Sullivan is new to the Harrington Elementary School.

The 22-year-old first year teacher met her students and their parents outside the school for orientation Wednesday. Inside her classroom, Sullivan talked about Harrington’s 7:45 a.m. start time and snack time — there isn’t one — the school calls its “healthy brain break” and going to the bathroom. Parents are advised to pack an extra set of clothes.

Each student received a black backpack and this offer from Sullivan: “If you don’t have supplies at home, come to me and I’ll help.”

Sullivan is taking over room 115 from Joan Rizzo, an experienced teacher going on maternity leave. Rizzo plans to return to the school as a reading teacher and she told Sullivan to “make your classroom your own.”

Teaching kindergarten is Sullivan’s first full-time job. But it is one she expected to do. She volunteered at her aunt’s Quincy preschool class and having relatives in nearby Revere made her familiar with Lynn.

While Lynn’s school year gets into full swing today and tomorrow, Wednesday was a chance for kindergartners and mothers and fathers to get introduced to school.

“This gives parents an opportunity to meet teachers, learn expectations and routines,” said Debra Ruggiero, Harrington’s principal.

Johannes Martinez and Julie Quinones walked into Sullivan’s classroom with their son, Kenneth. Martinez’ father knows attending school means his son will learn more technology and ways it can enhance his education.

“I don’t even remember it when I went to school,” Martinez said.

Jake Mercado Jr. spent the summer playing basketball and fishing. But he is ready to squirm his arms through the shoulder straps of his new Super Mario backpack and head off to Harrington on Monday. When he walks into Sullivan’s room, he will have a message spelled out in blue construction paper letters, waiting for him: “Let the adventure begin …”

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

ITEM FILE PHOTO
Principal Thomas Strangie presented the idea of expanding an existing food garden at Lynn English.

BY LEAH DEARBORN

LYNN — Lynn English High School is growing its garden space as part of a historic tribute.  

Principal Thomas Strangie presented the idea of expanding an existing food garden at English High to the unanimous support of the Lynn School Committee on Wednesday.  

Strangie said that a garden with five beds is at the school now and students will be adding two more beds by bringing in extra soil to update and expand the growing space.

The expansion of the garden will coincide with the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton will attend at a ceremony at English High on Sept. 11 from 9-10 a.m.

A number of student-run projects will take place following the ceremony, including work on the garden.

“English is fortunate enough to be hosting this event, doing the welcoming and the Pledge of Allegiance before turning things over to Seth Moulton,” said Strangie.

In other committee business Wednesday night, it was a busy first meeting of the fall semester with members reviewing potential building sites for schools to replace Pickering Middle School.

In August, a building committee unanimously voted to support a two-school option in place of the outdated Pickering, which is being replaced to service a growing student population.

Architect Gene Raymond of Raymond Design Associates, Inc. presented site options for the committee to review and narrow down to a single choice for further schematic development.

Union Hospital, slated to close, is listed among potential new school sites. But Raymond said it is not a preferred site for a new middle school.

“We just don’t think it’s in the right place and we don’t think we can count on their timing for when, or if, they’re going to close,” said Raymond about the hospital.  

At the end of the presentation, the committee voted sites on Parkland Avenue and McManus Field as the preferred options for new school buildings.

Raymond said those sites were considered to be the most favorable from a traffic flow and curriculum development perspective.

The sites will be submitted for a review process to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

The second public forum for information on Pickering will take place on Sept. 14 at the Marshall Middle School, said Superintendent Catherine C. Latham.

St. Mary’s students hit the road to check out colleges.

By Paul Halloran

LYNN — Summer flew by fast for more than 100 St. Mary’s High School students.

But not before they took advantage of a new program to get an up-close look at some New England colleges.

The College Prep and Visit program gave students the opportunity to visit as many as seven colleges including Boston College, Brown, Clark, Holy Cross, Providence, Regis and Stonehill, escorted by Head of School Grace Cotter Regan and other teachers and administrators.

“This gave the students an extra opportunity to visit schools and get a good feel for them,” said Frank Sarro, St. Mary’s interim guidance director. “They still need to follow up and get more information, but this was a nice introduction for them.”

There were four trips, three of which combined visits to two schools: BC-Regis, Clark-Holy Cross, Brown-Providence and a separate trip to Stonehill.

“We are very excited about this program,” Regan said. “We take great pride in the colleges our graduates attend, and we want to do everything we can to give them all the resources possible to find the school that best fits them.”

St. Mary’s senior Sarah Ryan went on the trips to BC, Regis and Stonehill. She said the experience will help her as she tries to narrow her college choices.

“I got a feel for the differences in the colleges,” said Ryan, a hockey and lacrosse player. “It will help me make my decision, no matter where I end up. The tours were very good.”

Junior Jack Carroll went on the Brown-Providence tour with other St. Mary’s Scholars, a program that recognizes academic excellence and leadership skills of select students in each incoming freshman class.

“At Brown the school looked older from the outside but really modern on the inside,” Carroll said. “The students were enthusiastic and there was an impressive information session.”

At Providence, the St. Mary’s contingent toured the Michael and Elizabeth Ruane Center for Humanities, named for two St. Mary’s alumni.

“Providence has a lot to offer,” Carroll said. “The students seemed really active in the school and happy to be there. We liked it.”

Carroll also went on the BC-Regis tour and, while he has plenty of time to make a decision, he is already leaning toward the Heights.

“I really love BC,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to go there.”

Carroll is the grandnephew of the late Bill Connell, for whom the BC School of Nursing is named as is the Connell Center at St. Mary’s. Carroll also has two aunts who are BC alumni.

“Visiting the colleges was definitely a positive experience,” Carroll said. “It will help me get a head start on the whole college process.”

Social studies teacher Sarah Dyer, faculty adviser to the St. Mary’s Scholars program, said the visits gave students a foundation for their college search.

“It can be difficult to know where to begin with the college process,” Dyer said. “This gives them an opportunity to visit different types of schools in an environment with adults they know and can feel comfortable asking questions.”

Other highlights of the visits included a writing seminar and interview skills session at Holy Cross; a trip to the Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise at Clark, named for St. Mary’s board chair William Mosakowski; and a presentation on cyber security at BC from St. Mary’s parent and BC faculty member Kevin Powers.

At Regis, St. Mary’s students were given a creative writing seminar and a presentation from the vice president of Academic Affairs. Regan met with the college president and senior admissions staff to discuss enhancing the relationship with Regis.

“Regis has an excellent nursing and health sciences program, and they offer one full tuition scholarship to a Catholic high school senior,” Regan said.

The St. Mary’s students and staff were treated very well everywhere they went, according to Sarro.

“The colleges really laid out the red carpet,” he said. “We’ve gotten really good feedback.”

The College Prep and Visit program was launched out of a guidance assessment done as part of an academic study St. Mary’s conducted with the Public Consulting Group. The objective is to allow students to explore colleges and get a look at the admissions process and financial aid opportunities.

Regan said the program will be formalized for next summer with trips to state, private, NESCAC and Ivy League schools.

“For families looking at middle or high school, this will be a differentiator for St. Mary’s,” Regan said. “We are thinking about the college fit and choice early on in the student formation and experience.”

Polls for today’s primary election open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. as voters narrow the field for the Nov. 8 final.

When voters check in at polling places, they will be asked which political party’s ballot they wish to choose.

Voters in Lynn and surrounding communities will help decide several races including the 9th Essex District race for the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Democrats Saritin Rizzuto and Jennifer Migliore are on the ballot. The winner will face state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) in November.

The 9th District includes Saugus precincts 1, 2, 4-9; Lynn Ward 1, Precincts 1 and 2 and Wakefield precincts 1,2, 3 and 7.

Voters in 34 communities from Amesbury to Saugus will pick a Democrat and a Republican candidate for Essex County Sheriff to run in the Nov. 8 final along with unenrolled candidates Mark Archer and Kevin Leach.

Republican candidates for sheriff are Kenneth Berg, Jeffrey Gallo, James Jajuga Jr., Craig Lane and Anne Manning-Martin.

Democrats running for sheriff include William Castro, Kevin Coppinger, Michael Marks, Edward O’Reilly, Jerry Robito and Paul Russell.

Peabody Ward 5, Precinct 2 and Ward 6 voters today help decide the race for the 13th Essex seat in the Massachusetts House. State Rep. Ted Speliotis (D-Danvers) and fellow Democrat Bob Croce are on the ballot. Danvers and Middleton residents will also cast votes. The winner faces no Republican opposition in November.

Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Saugus, Revere and Swampscott voters decide the 6th Governor’s Councilor Democratic primary today with Councilor Terrence Kennedy of Lynnfield and Boston residents Richard DiMeo and Stephen Borelli running.