By GAYLA CAWLEY

SWAMPSCOTT — The town saw a changing of the guard in 2016 and opportunities to bring new life to old buildings.

The Board of Selectmen hired Sean Fitzgerald, a Peabody resident and town manager in Plaistow, N.H., as town administrator in December. Board members and Fitzgerald still have to negotiate the terms of his contract, including salary and a start date.

Former Town Administrator Thomas Younger left his post in mid-October after he accepted the same position in Stoneham in August. Gino Cresta, department of public works director, has been serving as interim town administrator since Younger’s departure. Town Accountant David Castellarin, who also serves as assistant town administrator, has been in charge of the budget during Cresta’s interim tenure.

Town officials have made filling vacant buildings a priority this past year. The former Machon Elementary School on Burpee Road will soon be transformed into senior affordable housing.

Construction is set to begin in 2019.

Saugus maps Route 1’s road to success

B’nai B’rith Housing, a nonprofit and the developer selected for the project, plans to reuse the original 1920 building and demolish the 1963 addition. The town retains control of the property until the developer closes on the sale and the 99-year ground lease for $500,000 is executed. The purchase includes an additional $50,000 payment for off-site improvements.

The former Swampscott Middle School on Greenwood Avenue is also slated for redevelopment.

Two developers responded to the town’s Request for Proposals (RFP). Groom Construction has proposed a single structure with 28 luxury apartments or condominiums. Charing Cross Realty Trust wants to build 11 single-family homes. The zoning change approved at Town Meeting last May allows for construction of a single structure with up to 28 units on the site, with developers required to adhere to an affordable housing component.

Groom originally won approval for a different condominium project on the site five years ago, and is in the midst of pending litigation with the town, which has to be resolved before the town is able to proceed with the sale of the property. The lawsuit stemmed from an initial zoning change for a multi-family unit approved at Town Meeting, which was overturned by Massachusetts Land Court, reverting zoning back to single-family housing.

The selectmen are tentatively scheduled to vote on one of the two proposals in late January or early February.

The former senior center on Burrill Street is set to be transformed into a community arts building. The board approved a reuse proposal from Reach Arts, a nonprofit group of artists and residents, last March. The building had been vacant since 2007.

Cresta said the group hasn’t moved in yet and the building needs hundreds of thousands of dollars of renovations. He said the building either needs to be renovated or disposed of.

Cresta said the town also needs to find a suitable use for the train depot building on Railroad Avenue, which it leases from the MBTA. He said it’s been unoccupied for the past 20 years and the building is deteriorating.

The former Marian Court College, also known as White Court, could soon become an Orthodox Christian monastery with a brewery and cider house on site.

Fr. Andrew Bushell, a Marblehead native and executive chairman of St. Paul’s Foundation, a monastic institution of the monks of Mount Athos in Greece, has a purchase agreement in place with the Sisters of Mercy, the current owners of the property at 35 Littles Point Road. The school was closed in 2015, due to financial difficulties.

Cresta said on Thursday that Bushell has not closed on the property, and his deadline was by the end of December. Town officials have not been supportive of his plans for a brewery, arguing that zoning bylaws do not allow for one in the residential district where the former college is located.

Swampscott also saw a change in its garbage collector, after its former trash hauler, Hiltz Waste Disposal, informed town officials that they were stopping collection services with about a day’s notice. Officials had to scramble to find a new hauler, with a hasty procurement process leading to the hire of Republic Services. Hiltz later declared bankruptcy. Town Meeting had to allocate an additional $408,587 in November to make up the difference from the larger contract negotiated with Republic.

Artificial turf will soon be implemented at Blocksidge Field, a project that was in the discussion phase for many years. In May 2015, Town Meeting approved $1.65 million in construction costs for the turf field. An additional $300,000 was raised by the AllBlue Foundation. The $1.85 million project includes the new field, grandstands and a press box.

“We’re hoping to have it out to bid prior to the end of January and starting construction with any luck by end of April, beginning of May,” Cresta said.

The field should be ready for play by September 2017.

Cresta also highlighted the $440,000 Humphrey Street paving project from the Lynn line to the Fish House. The majority of the project has been completed, but paving also has to be finished from Millett Road to Shelton Road. Work began last May with the installation of 47 handicap ramps. Sidewalk curb extensions were designed to slow traffic, crosswalks were restriped and bike lanes were added.

Cresta said the public works department is going to be starting the rehabilitation of the sewer mains in the Stacey Brook area, with plans to put that out to bid by the end of January. Construction is expected to start in the spring.

Funds needed to clean up the sewage discharging into the ocean at King’s Beach from Stacey Brook at the Lynn-Swampscott line were allocated at Town Meeting in November.

Voters approved the $2 million needed for design and construction costs to eliminate the non-stormwater pollutants from entering the town’s drainage system.

Two separate outfalls have Lynn and Swampscott discharging right next to each other. Sewage is getting into the drainage pipe and going into the ocean.

The funds are needed to keep the town in compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consent decree, that requires the town to eliminate the pollutants from entering the town’s drainage system.

The funds would be for the first two parts of Phase 1 of the Stacey Brook project, which will include relining sewer mains and replacing sewer infrastructure that is more than 100 years old. The project includes four phases of work, that when adjusted for inflation will cost $10.7 million over eight years.

With the help of Peter Kane, director of community development, Cresta said all of the town’s streetlights were converted to LED lights, which was completed within the past month. The project was funded through Town Meeting in 2015, with $150,000 of the $350,000 paid for by a grant.

Looking ahead, Cresta said the town will be negotiating union contracts with police, fire personnel and clerical staff. All of those contracts expire on June 30, 2017.

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

By DAVID WILSON

LYNN — Andrew Belliveau has a can of whipped cream and he’s not afraid to use it.

He looks downward Thursday afternoon, his Red Sox cap over his eyes as he fills a metal pie tin on his kitchen counter. He only stops when the can makes its final few sputters. This can may have only been half-full, he says.

Andrew Belliveau fills a pin tin with whipped cream in the kitchen of his home. | Mark Lorenz

With no embarrassment or apprehension, perhaps a bit of nervous excitement, he takes the makeshift pie onto the back deck of his family’s Lynn home and swiftly raises it into his face.

As the cream drips from his face onto his Patriots sweatshirt and athletic pants, the 19-year-old smiles and gives a thumbs-up. It’s a signal that it’s someone else’s turn to take the Gastroparesis Pie Face Challenge.

Gastroparesis? Don’t worry; by now, Belliveau is used to the question, “Gastro-what?”

According to the website for the Gastroparesis Patient Association for Cures and Treatment, Inc., “Gastroparesis literally means paralyzed stomach. It is one of the most severe and complicated gastric motility disorders.”

A condition which the college student describes, a little more plainly, as the “worst stomach bug imaginable,” gastroparesis hit hard during Belliveau’s early adolescence.

“You wake up with constant nausea until you go to bed … vomit 20 times a day … can’t go out with people, you can’t function … you’re just confined and isolated,” Belliveau recalls from his most difficult days. Medicines didn’t seem to work, he said. And he tried a lot.

Belliveau’s mother, Eileen, said it was important for her family to get past what caused her son’s condition; rather, move forward.

Even as a nurse in the pediatric intensive unit at the Floating Hospital for Children in Boston, with no family history of gastroparesis, Eileen was blindsided by her son’s diagnosis at age 11.

Attending school with gastroparesis wasn’t easy, Belliveau said, but “I was determined to not let it stop me.” His symptoms, however, shortened some of his school days to less than an hour.

I would love to be a part of that! I need to see a video to make sure I do it right though! https://t.co/8BQMVjxB3c?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

— David Price (@DAVIDprice24) December 30, 2016

In April 2012, Belliveau was able to take advantage of a gastric stimulator, a pacemaker for the stomach that sends electric shocks to kickstart the stomach; simply, a lifesaver, he said.

But it was a fight to get it. Eileen Belliveau detailed the “worst day ever” when her son’s pacemaker was declined by insurance. It was a decision that took hard work, letters from doctors, and travel to reverse.

Andrew Belliveau smiles after giving himself a pie in the face. | Mark Lorenz

And after a rocky few years, particularly from ages 11-15, the now-college sophomore has entered a more comfortable chapter.

He’s studying special education at Elms College in Chicopee. One day he might want to be a teacher or tutor at a hospital. At school, he finds special support in his girlfriend of almost three years, Kaitlin.

As for the Gastroparesis Pie Face Challenge, Belliveau said he was inspired by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which exploded on social media in 2014. His premise is similar: if challenged, make a donation to G-PACT, get a pie in the face, or both.

Belliveau said 20 of his friends have accepted the challenge since he launched it in July.

The challenge also caught the attention of G-PACT, who sent Belliveau a letter in August. “When you believe in us enough to contribute, it gives us renewed motivation to continue fighting for better treatment options and a cure,” wrote Colleen Beener, operations director.

The pacemaker has helped return Belliveau’s life to 100 percent normal, he said. Still, it’s not effective for everybody and the disorder remains incurable.

“No one deserves to go through the symptoms of gastroparesis,” he said. “And I think the time for a cure is now.”

For more information or to get involved, visit https://www.g-pact.org/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss or the Gastroparesis Pie Face Challenge on Facebook.

David Wilson can be reached at dwilson@itemlive.com.

As 2016 comes to a close, The Item looks back on the stories that made the year the one that it was. We have selected 16 of our most-read stories below; tell us which one you think made the biggest impact this year across the North Shore. To refresh your memory, links to all 16 stories can be found below the poll.

Election Day 2016: Coppinger wins sheriff’s race

State throws cold water on ferry commuters

Two Saugus icons unite

Protesters sound off on school plans

Lynnway robbery ends in fatal shooting

DA: Swampscott man lit fire and laughed

Lynn Babe Ruth receives warm welcome home

The ballot questions are answered: no, no, yes, yes

Classical hero ready to hit the bigtime

Peabody throws itself 100th birthday party

Lynn seeks prescriptions for marijuana dispensaries

Investigation into murder continues in Lynnfield

Market Basket rise could lower food prices

Bowled over in Lynn

An American hero tees off at Tedesco

A super selection in Nahant

ITEM FILE PHOTO
2016 was an eventful year across the North Shore.

By Thor Jourgensen

It was the year a ferry got sunk in Lynn, a dinosaur was saved in Saugus, a laughing man burned his Swampscott home, Revere rejected slot machines and Peabody celebrated its centennial.

With 2016 hours away from ending, North Shore residents and residents in neighboring communities can look back on a year that made people smile, cry, yell and hope for what 2017 will bring.

Vote for your favorite story of 2016

Donald Trump’s climb to the presidency dominated headlines this year, but Lynn’s police chief also made political news as a first-time candidate by being elected Essex County Sheriff. Kevin Coppinger will be sworn in at Lynn City Hall on Jan. 4.

His election came in a year that also saw Lynn City Council President Daniel Cahill elected East Lynn state representative and Thomas Walsh return to the state Legislature as Peabody’s representative.

Saugus’ Kane’s Donuts got into a fight this year with Lincoln Avenue neighborhood homeowners over truck deliveries. But the year ended on an up note with Kane’s announcing plans for a second Saugus location on Route 1 on the same site where developers have vowed to keep Route 1’s iconic orange dinosaur.

Saugus celebrated iconic landmarks in 2016 and Lynn lost two of the city’s longtime businesses. Christie’s closed its takeout eatery next to Nahant Rotary, where it had operated for 103 years, and Lucky Strike bowling alley on Buffum Street closed after 79 years in business.

The city also lost ferry service from Blossom Street extension to Boston with a Baker administration decision not to fund water transportation from Lynn for a third year of operation. The decision outraged Lynn legislators and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, who earlier in the year announced $4.5 million in federal money available to buy the city its own ferry.

Lynn and Peabody opened new middle schools in 2016 with Lynn students starting classes in Marshall Middle School following spring break and Peabody’s Higgins Middle School opening in September.

Lynn’s bid to build more middle schools to absorb a tidal wave of students in their early teens turned controversial with a plan to site one of the schools on Parkland Avenue. A small group of neighbors and a homeowner potentially facing eminent domain protested the project as city officials sought approval for the middle school plans.

Swampscott pressed forward with plans to convert the Machon School to senior housing and build homes on the Greenwood Avenue former middle school site. Two homes in the town were gutted by a July 3 fire and a Linden Avenue blaze was blamed on the homeowner who, according to a police report, laughed as he watched his ex-wife’s home burn. Authorities charged the man with arson.

Lynn police responded this year to three incidents ending in officer-involved fatal shootings, including a man police said try to carjack a woman in January and a gun-wielding robbery suspect in October. A man who attempted to rob a Lynnway gas station on Nov. 29 was shot by police who were told the suspect was armed.

City councilors focused their attention on the Lynnway during discussions this year about siting medical marijuana dispensaries. Passage of the state referendum legalizing marijuana loomed over the dispensary debate and several firms interested in selling medical marijuana locally have submitted proposals to the city.

Developers unveiled plans for an apartment complex on the Lynnway’s northern end in 2016 even as developers presented Saugus officials with plans for an extended-stay hotel and a combined residential, hotel and commercial development.

Lynn residents tempered their outlooks on potential new Lynnway development with anger over Partner HealthCare’s plans to close Union Hospital and the Lynnway’s garish appearance. City officials said there is little that can be done to clear away the forest of signs fighting for drivers’ attention along the road until new development changes the commercial Lynnway’s character.

Sports gave Lynn residents reasons to be happy in 2016. The stunning end to the English-Classical Thanksgiving game briefly spread Ram running back Marcus Rivera’s name nationwide, including an interview with ESPN. The Lynn Babe Ruth 15s headed to North Dakota with visions of winning the Babe Ruth World Series. They fell short but were embraced upon their return by family and friends.

St. Mary’s enjoyed a banner year with a state championship boys basketball team. The boys hockey team made it to the state final at TD Garden and the football team went to the Division 3A Super Bowl at Gillette.

Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo opposed a proposal to convert a corner of the city into a slots gambling complex. Residents defeated a referendum on the proposal and a similar statewide referendum met with defeat.

In Peabody, residents capped off renovations to the city’s center with a centennial celebration that continues into next week. Nahant residents remembered how the town came together to launch the home-made vessel “Valiant” while Lynnfield and Marblehead residents discussed plans to build a new library and continue the Gerry School’s more-than-century-long service to the town.

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

PHOTO BY SCOTT EISEN
Heavy fire and smoke pour from 22 West Baltimore St. at the scene of a five-alarm fire in Lynn on New Year’s Day.

By LEAH DEARBORN

LYNN – More than 60 residents were left homeless after a five-alarm fire raged through a 26-unit West Baltimore Street apartment building early New Year’s Day.

Lynn District Fire Chief Stephen Archer said eight families and a total of 30 people sought shelter from the Red Cross. All city companies were dispatched to the fire at 22 West Baltimore St., which started at 7:36 a.m.

The victims warmed up and rested at a reunification center at City Hall. Archer said they would later be taken to Lynn Classical High School before being placed into hotels by the Red Cross.  

According to Archer, two firefighters suffered minor injuries and one resident required firefighter assistance to get out of the building. There were no civilian injuries. Residents of the closest neighboring building on the street were also asked to evacuate as a precaution.

Hasib Lolic, a first-floor resident, said he fled shortly after he noticed smoke and was unsure of what could have started the fire.

Archer said a clear cause of the fire has not yet been identified. Crews were evacuated from the building following a partial roof collapse, which prevented officials from getting back inside.

Archer said firefighters were preparing to go back into the building in the afternoon. He said the fire has caused extensive damage to the structure and that it’s too early to determine whether it can be salvaged and more information will be available after the city building inspector has a chance to review the site.

“It’s crazy,” said Peggy Jimenez, one of a crowd of neighbors who watched the flames from across the street.

John Dove said he could see the fire from his home at Revere Beach.

Tudor Street resident Joey Fournier first noticed the flames around 8:30 a.m. while driving home. An hour later, he said the flames were much smaller.

“They’re doing a great job containing it,” said Fournier. “What a (expletive) way to ring in the New Year.”

Those wishing to help families displaced by the fire can drop off donations, including adult, child and baby clothes, shoes and diapers, at Lynn Arts, 25 Exchange St. on Monday, Jan. 2.

Displaced residents are invited to a transitional assistance meeting on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the Public Health Office of City Hall.

Leah Dearborn can be reached at ldearborn@itemlive.com.

LYNN — Mr. John A. Peters, 70, of Lynn, died Friday in the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the husband of Jean M. (Cerica) Peters with whom he shared 42 years of marriage. A lifelong Lynn resident, he was the son of the late Angelo and Fannie (Luise) Peters.

John was the owner of John A. Peters Landscaping for many years. He built a successful business on his own; a business he took great pride in. He was also proud of the work he did on the grounds of Our Lady, Star of the Sea Church in Marblehead. He and his wife enjoyed dining out, as well as their trips to Maine and New Hampshire nearly every weekend. His greatest joy was spending time with his beloved grandsons.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter; Christine Sorrentino and her husband Anthony; two grandsons; Anthony and Nicolas; his close cousin; Maryann Brown and her husband Skip, all of Lynn; as well as three nieces and many cousins and extended family members. He was the brother of the late Patricia Peters.

Service information: His funeral will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. from the SOLIMINE Funeral Home, 426 Broadway (Rt. 129), Lynn, followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. in Holy Family Church, Lynn. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty St., Danvers, MA 01923 or the Dana-Farber Cancer institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284. Directions and guest book at Solimine.com.

PHOTO BY BOB ROCHE
Former Lynn Classical girls basketball star Helen Ridley now leads by example as an assistant coach for the Rams. 

By HAROLD RIVERA

LYNN — There’s no question that the tradition basketball holds in Lynn is a rich one.

The long list of hoop stars who were grew up in Lynn includes a number of players who took their talents to the Division 1 level.

The list includes Lynn Tech alumnus Antonio Anderson,  who played for coach John Calipari at the University of Memphis and in the NBA with the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder; his brother, Anthony, who played at English and UMass Amherst; Tech’s Tony Gallo, who played at Coppin State; and Corey Bingham, another former Tech star, who played for the University of Toledo.

But make no mistake about it, the women have done their share to carry the torch too.

Helen Ridley, a former team captain and 1,000-point scorer for the Classical girls’ basketball team, serves as an example that the Lynn women have done their part in making the city proud.

Ridley played at Classical from 1997 to 2001 for former Rams coach and current principal Gene Constantino.

“It was great,” Ridley said. “I loved playing basketball. I was on varsity for four years and we got better as time went on. My junior and senior years we had some really great teams. It was an awesome experience.”

Ridley’s success on the court at Classical earned her a Division 1 scholarship to Quinnipiac University. She was a star there from 2001 to 2005, and a team captain in her final season with the Bobcats.

After graduating from Quinnipiac, Ridley coached at her alma mater and then at the University of New Hampshire.

She returned to her high school team in 2013, after stepping away from coaching for a year, as an assistant coach on Tom Sawyer’s staff.

“I took a year off from coaching and that year I helped my dad (St. Mary’s principal James) with his AAU program (Thundercats),” Ridley said. “I was around a lot of the high school coaches at the time. I definitely missed that competitive aspect.”

Now that Ridley’s career has come full circle, she works closely with the players on her team and serves as a case study for those who seek to play hoops in college.

“That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day,” Ridley said. “If I can talk to them about using basketball as an avenue for getting an education, that, to me, is coaching.

“Being able to help an athlete in that way is more meaningful than winning or losing games, especially the athletes that may be first generation college students,” she said.

Ridley’s experiences as a star at Quinnipiac serve to help her advise the girls who are looking to continue the trend of Lynn natives earning basketball scholarships.

Ridley said the trend is growing, especially on the women’s side.

“The females do a good job of going to high-level programs,” Ridley said.

Current females carrying the Lynn basketball torch in the college ranks include Brianna Rudolph (UMass Lowell), Sharell Sanders (Caldwell), Diondra Woumn (Franklin Pierce), Catherine Stinson (Southern New Hampshire), Chenysse Hill (Plymouth State) and Monta Connolly (Framingham State).

“In the past 10 years, there’s more than a handful of Lynn kids who have gone on to play Division 1 or 2 and there are more that have played in Division 3, which is no small feat,” Ridley said. “There aren’t too many athletes who can continue their careers in college. It’s pretty awesome for those who get that opportunity.”

Former women’s basketball stars who have paved the way for today’s college players representing Lynn include Ridley, Jeannette Anderson (Caldwell), Tori Faieta (Stonehill) and Monique Lee (Quinnipiac).

Ridley noted that she, along with other Lynn women who were fortunate enough to continue their basketball careers in college, look to mentor today’s high school players who aim to follow in their footsteps.

“We try to let them know they can do it and we try to show them how it’s done,” Ridley said. “It’s not easy. I think we try to serve as that mentor figure.”

She added, “showing them an avenue of how to get into college and how to get recruited, it’s huge for the city to have those avenues. I don’t think we had that 15 years ago. I don’t think it was as prevalent when I was in high school as it is now. If these athletes want to be mentored, there are so many avenues.”

Harold Rivera can be reached at hrivera@itemlive.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

Javier Bello, 21, of 8 Cleveland St., was arrested and charged with two counts of alcohol from an open container a motor vehicle, OUI liquor, OUI drugs, marked lanes violation and reckless operation of a motor vehicle at 6:20 a.m. Monday.

Nina Burns, of 16 Essex Ave., was arrested on a warrant charge of larceny at 12:03 p.m. Friday.

Mariano Delossantos Cruz, 25, of 501 Washington St., was arrested and charged with no inspection/sticker, drug possession with intent to distribute and motor vehicle lights violation at 6:32 p.m. Sunday.

Barry Duane, 61, of 25 Hamilton Ave., was arrested and charged with shoplifting at 1:54 p.m. Saturday.

Katrina Freeman, 26, of 66 Astor St., was arrested and charged with destruction of property and assault and battery on a police officer at 12:27 a.m. Sunday.

Kelsey Godin, 23, of 100 Timson St., was arrested and charged with OUI liquor, unregistered motor vehicle and uninsured motor vehicle/trailer at 12:18 a.m. Saturday.

Pamela Hurley, of 534 Essex St., was arrested on warrant charges of Class C drug possession, breaking and entering for a misdemeanor and trespassing at 2:48 p.m. Sunday.

Jesus Martinez was arrested on a warrant charge of shoplifting at 1:49 a.m. Sunday.

Nolan Morel, 25, of 40 Endicott St., was arrested and charged with malicious wanton property defacement and attempt to commit a crime at 8:53 p.m. Saturday.

Anthony Muniz, 29, of 110 Whittum Ave., Springfield, was arrested and charged with OUI liquor and leaving the scene of property damage at 12:56 a.m. Saturday.

Manauris Munoz, 31, of 71 Michigan Ave., was arrested and charged with violation of the open container law at 12:14 a.m. Monday.

Sabrina Smith, 41, of 50 South Common St., was arrested and charged with OUI liquor second offense and resisting arrest at 1:19 a.m. Sunday.

Richard Stringer, 34, of 21 Grove St., was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest at 4:15 a.m. Sunday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury at 8:28 a.m. Friday at Nickey’s Pizza at 64 Lynnfield St.; at 10:32 a.m. Friday at 182 Commercial St.; at 5:40 p.m. Saturday at 395 Essex St.; at 9:35 p.m. Saturday at 32 Market Square; at 1:31 a.m. Sunday at 550 Lynnfield St.; at 1:37 a.m. Sunday at 707 Western Ave.

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 2:48 p.m. Friday at 29 Arlington St.; at 3:39 p.m. Friday at Spencer Street and Western Avenue; at 6:28 p.m. Friday at Broadway and Mansfield Street; at 10:05 p.m. Friday at Beacon Hill Avenue and Washington Street; at 11:58 p.m. Friday at 50 Parkland Ave.; at 12:30 a.m. Saturday at 634 Eastern Ave.; at 2:03 p.m. Saturday at Compare Supermarket at 2 Adams St. Extension; at 3:21 p.m. Saturday at Burger King at 108 Boston St.; at 9:28 p.m. Saturday at 16 City Hall Square; at 10:33 p.m. Saturday on Wyoma Square; at 10:44 p.m. Saturday at 353 Eastern Ave.; at 12:22 a.m. Sunday at 14 Rockaway Court; at 12:44 a.m. Sunday at Orthodox at 54 South Common St.; at 1:12 a.m. Sunday at 18 Linwood Road; at 6:15 a.m. Sunday at Mall Street and Western Avenue; at 8:23 a.m. Sunday at Hanover and Washington streets; at 10:38 a.m. Sunday at 39 Baker St.; at 4:16 p.m. Sunday at 35 Washington St.

A report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident at 3:27 p.m. Saturday at Walgreens at 290 Broadway; at 8:39 p.m. Saturday at 174 Broad St.; at 11:33 p.m. Saturday at 98 S Common St.; at 11:49 p.m. Saturday at Broad and Newhall streets; at 7:36 a.m. Sunday at 89 Tracy Ave.  

Assaults

A report of a sexual assault at 1:38 p.m. Sunday on Broad Street.

A report of an assault at 2:35 p.m. Sunday on Arlington Street.

Breaking and Entering

A report of a breaking and entering at 8:21 a.m. Friday at 371 Summer St.; at 6:59 p.m. Friday at 683 Lynnfield St.; at 8:32 p.m. Saturday at 21 Endicott St.; at 1:14 p.m. Sunday at 42 W Baltimore St.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 8:37 a.m. Friday at Stop & Shop at 35 Washington St.; at 11:08 a.m. Friday at 811 Lynnway; at 1:50 p.m. Friday at 149 Broad St.; at 2:04 p.m. Friday at Blossom Street and Neptune Boulevard; at 5:52 p.m. Friday at 56 Mudge St.; at 5:54 p.m. Friday on Lynnway; at 6:08 p.m. Friday at 285 Lynn Shore Drive; at 7:03 p.m. Friday at 25 Hamilton Ave.; at 7:31 p.m. Friday at Centro Liquors at 395 Essex St.; at 7:45 p.m. Friday at 24 Houghton St.; at 7:53 p.m. Friday at 454 Essex St.; at 12:12 a.m. Saturday at 43 Childs St.; at 12:15 a.m. Saturday at 190 Franklin St.; at 12:37 a.m. Saturday at 124 Broad St.; at 1:04 a.m. Saturday on Hart Street; at 1:56 a.m. Saturday at 53 Arlington St.; at 2:13 a.m. Saturday at 77-79 Chestnut St.; at 3:31 a.m. Saturday on Shorey Street; at 3:39 a.m. Saturday at McDonalds at 60 Boston St.; at 11:34 a.m. Saturday at 49 Memorial Park Ave.; at 1:08 p.m. Saturday at Fayette and Olive streets; at 9:05 p.m. Saturday at Chatham Street and Williams Avenue; at 11:55 p.m. Saturday at 65 Astor St.; at 12:15 a.m. Sunday at 397 Eastern Ave.; at 12:55 a.m. Sunday at 7 Moulton St.; at 1:05 a.m. Sunday at 474 Chestnut St.; at 2:01 a.m. Sunday at 22 Kirtland St.; at 2:13 a.m. Sunday at 375 Boston St.; at 2:44 a.m. Sunday at 51 Laighton Terrace; at 3:01 a.m. Sunday at 23 Houston St.; at 3:39 a.m. Sunday at 183 Chestnut St.; at 3:43 a.m. Sunday at 21 Grove St.; at 4:23 a.m. Sunday at 119 Henry Ave.; at 4:27 a.m. Sunday at 39 Wilfred St.; at 4:54 a.m. Sunday at 38 Hanover St.; at 6:11 a.m. Sunday at 601 Boston St.; at 12:24 p.m. Sunday at 161 Broad St.; at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at 195 Union St.; at 2:34 p.m. Sunday at 28 Arlington St.; at 3:48 p.m. Sunday at China Lion at 6 Market St.; at 8:01 p.m. Sunday at 95 Hanover St.; at 8:46 p.m. Sunday at 41 Light St.; at 11:23 p.m. Sunday at 632 Boston St.; at 11:51 p.m. Sunday at Euphoria Night Club at 130 Union St.

A report of a gunshot at 3:04 a.m. Sunday at 631 Eastern Ave.; at 4:03 a.m. Sunday on Tilton Terrace.

Overdose

A report of an overdose at 3:36 p.m. Friday on Webster Street.

Theft

A report of motor vehicle theft at 1:03 p.m. Friday at 61 Baker St.; at 5:29 p.m. Sunday at 86 Warren St.

A report of a larceny at 2:28 p.m. Friday at 134 Western Ave.; at 4:03 p.m. Friday at 38 Market St.; at 4:13 p.m. Friday at 7-Eleven at 264 Essex St.; at 6:44 p.m. Friday at 176 Ocean St.; at 2:08 p.m. Saturday at 297 Chatham St.; at 7:20 p.m. Saturday at Walgreens at 21 Joyce St.; at 10:59 p.m. Saturday at 139 Western Ave.; at 4:47 p.m. Sunday at 429 Washington St.; at 5:12 p.m. Sunday at 124 Central Ave.

A report of a robbery at 9:06 p.m. Saturday at 196 Essex St.

Vandalism

A report of vandalism at 1:13 a.m. Saturday at 9 Milton St.; at 7:19 p.m. Sunday at 43 Childs St.

A report of motor vehicle vandalism at 7:26 a.m. Saturday at 355 Summer St.; at 9 a.m. Saturday at 127 Washington St.; at 10:21 a.m. Saturday at 130 Eastern Ave.

MARBLEHEAD

Arrests

Devon Kole Karvala, 23, of 130 Jersey St., was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon at 9:50 a.m. Friday.

Complaints

A report of unattended bikes in the woods at 2:21 p.m. Sunday on West Shore Drive. A caller reported she was driving by and noticed two bikes with helmets in the woods between West Shore Drive and the Tower School. Police reported while they were checking the area, two kids approached and stated they were playing in the area and the bikes were theirs.

Fire

A report of a garage fire at 8:31 a.m. Sunday on Vine Street. A caller reported seeing her neighbor’s garage on fire. Police reported paints and solvents in the building. The scene was cleared around 10:41 a.m.

PEABODY

Arrests

Marlon J. Gillard, 35, of 29 Oakland St., Salem, was arrested and charged with shoplifting by asportation at 12:46 p.m. Monday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 2:48 p.m. Sunday at Big Y at 637 Lowell St.; at 3:35 p.m. Sunday at 230 Andover St. and 82 Prospect St.

Breaking and Entering

A report of a breaking and entering at 5:01 p.m. Sunday at 4 Lincoln Road. A caller reported someone may have broken into the basement. An officer reported after a thorough search of the entire house, there were no other occupants.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 7:08 p.m. Sunday on Littles Lane; at 10:55 p.m. Sunday at 116 Foster St.

A report of an open window at 8:17 a.m. Monday at Welch School at 50 Swampscott Ave. Police reported checking the interior of the school.

A report of suspicious activity at 9:51 a.m. Monday on Reynolds Road. A caller reported two males not familiar to the area hanging out. Police reported nothing was found in the area; at 1:53 p.m. Monday at Sports Medicine North at 1 Orthopedic Drive. A man looking into motor vehicles was reported.

SWAMPSCOTT

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 8:37 p.m. Sunday at 1002 Paradise Road.

Overdose

A report of an overdose at 8:15 p.m. Sunday on Blaney Street.

COURTESY PHOTO
Housing advocates celebrate the completion of 12 apartments at 29 to 35 Sagamore St. in this December 2016 file photo. 

In a quiet way, with minimal fanfare, Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development (LHAND) has been reshaping Lynn for 13 years. LHAND planners worked with city and state officials and private sector investors and architects to turn neglected and dilapidated parts of the city into success stories.

Brickyard Village, homes built on Herbert Street in the Highlands, and properties built off of Suffolk Street are testaments to LHAND’s ability to focus resources on providing new homes for local residents and offer hope to neighborhoods where boarded-up buildings once attracted crime.

In the winter of 2004, LHAND transformed stretches of Franklin Street, Warren and Shepard streets and Herbert Street — a once-notorious neighborhood where residents vowed to drive drug dealers off their street — into new housing.

The projects built on those streets were not cookie-cutter public housing. They were architecturally distinct, imaginative residential initiatives that brought a cul-de-sac to a congested West Lynn neighborhood, drove crime off the top of the Highlands and worked with the Archdiocese of Boston to convert the one-time bastion of French-Americans in Lynn into new housing.

Peabody builds efficiency

LHAND’s newest project is Gateway North, an apartment building under construction on lower Washington Street opposite North Shore Community College’s Lynn campus and within sight of Lynn Harbor.

Gateway North’s Dec. 13 groundbreaking ceremony drew a crowd of more than 60 people, including U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, who highlighted LHAND’s commitment to Lynn when he talked about how “so many people put in work over so many years” to make Gateway North a reality.

When it is completed 17 months from now, the 71-unit residential building will provide new local housing for people who will pay $900 to $2,100 a month to live there.

This broad rent payment spectrum reflects the pioneering role LHAND is playing providing a broad mix of housing. The most expensive apartments will be classified as market-rate. Others will be geared to low-income residents. But some of the units will be classified as workforce housing with rents tailored to households who need affordable places to live while they work and save money to become homeowners.

LHAND Executive Director Charlie Gaeta and his staff have always understood that Lynn is a community in perpetual transition with waves of new arrivals redefining the city. Gaeta and his coworkers have demonstrated a long-term commitment to giving people a leg up on opportunity. They run self-sufficiency programs to teach tenants how to save money. They host first-time homebuyer workshops with real estate professionals and they carve out opportunity across the city for today’s renter to have somewhere decent to live while they make the transition to becoming tomorrow’s homeowner.

By THOMAS GRILLO

LYNN — Thirty prospective machinists will have their tuition paid at the E-Team program, an adult machinist training project  housed at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute. The program won more than $145,000 in grants from the Advanced Manufacturing Training Program that will pay tuition for 30 students, part of a $1.5 million state grant.

“People assume manufacturing is dead,” said Tony Dunn, program director and instructor. “But it’s coming back and the only thing that’s stopping it is the lack of skilled machinists to do the work. Right now, (General Electric) is trying to hire and they can’t find qualified candidates.”

The training grants from the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker are designed to equip the unemployed and underemployed with the skills to enter the advanced manufacturing field. Training emphasizes outreach to veterans, groups that experience chronically higher rates of unemployment and groups that are historically underrepresented in the manufacturing sector.

A cool way to start the year

The Advanced Manufacturing Training Program provides more than 30 weeks of training to unemployed and underemployed individuals, including veterans, minorities and women, and supports the workforce needs of the commonwealth’s manufacturing cluster.

The E-Team was founded by a coalition that includes Essex County Community Organization, IUE-CWA Local 201 and the Boston Tooling & Machining Association who saw the need for manufacturing training.

Since its inception 20 years ago, they have graduated nearly 500 students, many of whom have gone on to work at GE Aviation in Lynn.

The new grant round builds on $12.4 million in Workforce Skills Capital grants awarded this year. In August, Baker signed legislation that authorizes the Executive Office of Education to commit up to $45 million in workforce skills capital matching grants.

The program seeks to increase the capacity and quality of vocational training and education by providing funds to eligible schools for the purchase and installation of vocational-technical equipment. The grants will provide matching funds to allow schools to invest in vocational technical training equipment and meet employer hiring demands by modernizing and expanding vocational technical program capacity, creating new training programs that respond to industry needs and increasing the availability of training equipment to mid-career learners.

“We continue to make the commonwealth’s manufacturing base more competitive by building a highly-skilled workforce for employers so they can grow their businesses and support the economy,” Baker said in a statement. “These workforce development grant programs will equip students and workers in Massachusetts with the skills they need to connect with middle-class career pathways in key industries, including advanced manufacturing.”

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

By THOMAS GRILLO

LYNN — The new year will bring fresh leadership to the city council.

Ward 3 Councilor Darren Cyr has lined up votes to be the next city council president and Councilor-at-Large Buzzy Barton has secured the vice president post. The vote is expected to take place on the council’s first meeting of 2017.

“I believe Buzzy and I have the votes,” said Cyr. “We will be an unbelievable team, we are all about openness and have already had lots of discussions and are looking forward to working with the mayor to make sure things keep moving in the city.”  

City Council President Daniel Cahill, who was elected to the legislature in May, told councilors he planned to step down as president in January. He had been juggling being a councilor-at-large, state representative and working at a Lynn law firm. In addition, he has a wife and two young children. “The council presidency takes up a great deal of time,” he said. “It’s a lot of extra work. In order for me to be an effective city councilor, state legislator, lawyer, father and husband, I needed to relax some of my obligations and the presidency was a likely choice.”

Cahill won’t say whether he will run for reelection to the council in 2017.

City councilors earn $25,000 annually and the council president gets an extra $2,000.  

Councilor-at-Large Brian LaPierre said he is looking forward to serving with Cyr as council president.

“He’s been a great mentor over the years and we have been friends for a long time,” he said. “His leadership style will complement the council in 2017 and I look forward to big and little projects as we move the city forward and continue working well together as a council.”

Nahant splits the plots

On Barton’s selection as vice president, LaPierre said he has known his family for many years.

“In this new capacity, he will be able to showcase his leadership talents,” he said. “Together Cyr and Barton will be a formidable force on the Lynn City Council to lead us in 2017.”

Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Lozzi said he was a candidate for council president because the job requires someone who can work with the business community, understand issues facing residents, has experience at City Hall and can work with the mayor.

“It’s a void that I could have filled,” he said. “But you need six votes and I wasn’t going to get there. That said, Cyr will make a fine president, I’m supporting him and I expect the vote will be unanimous.”

Ward 7 Councilor Jay Walsh also put his support behind Cyr.

“He’s a good leader who will bridge the gap between businesses and residents,” he said. “He is a good fit.”

Barton said he’s reluctant to comment until the councilors vote. “I’m voting for Councilor Cyr for president and I’m a candidate for vice president,” he said. “But beyond that, let’s wait to see what happens.”

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

PHOTO BY SCOTT EISEN
Firefighters work the scene of a fire at 22 W. Baltimore Street on Monday. The building burned on New Year’s Day, displacing dozens of residents.

By THOMAS GRILLO

LYNN – One day after a New Year’s fire forced more than five dozen residents into the street, 15 spent Sunday night at Lynn Classical High School.

The six-alarm morning blaze at 22 W. Baltimore St. destroyed the roof and much of the interior of the yellow brick building, in what the district fire chief called a total loss, leaving the occupants homeless.

While most of the residents have been united with family thanks to the Red Cross, many are still waiting to be placed in apartments or housed temporarily in a hotel.

Roody Augustin speaks inside the shelter set up at Lynn Classical High School. | Scott Eisen

Roody Augustin, a 54-year-old cab driver and resident of the property, spent Sunday night on a cot in Classical’s gymnasium. It appears he may have lost everything to the fire that scorched his one-bedroom apartment on the second floor.

“I’d never experienced anything like that, it was very scary,” he said. “I heard the building’s fire alarm go off just after 7:30 a.m., so I grabbed my jacket and left everything behind because there was smoke coming out of one of my closets. I heard people in the hallway screaming and headed out.”

Despite the heavy smoke, he was able get down the flight of stairs to the building’s entrance.

“By the time I reached the front door, my eyes were watering,” Augustin said.

For now, he is waiting to see if firefighters can retrieve his wallet, phone and keys.

“When I have those, I can go to a hotel,” he said. “I keep thinking: It could have been worse.”

Michele Desmarais, the city’s public health director, was on hand at the school to help place families into shelter. She said the remaining homeless residents should have a place to go by day’s end.

Another resident, Billy Tuloe, 20, was at work at Logan International Airport, part of a team that de-ices airplanes, said he received a call from his family on Sunday who said the building was on fire.

Bill Tuloe speaks inside the Red Cross shelter at Lynn Classical High School. | Scott Eisen

“They wanted me to come home, but I didn’t believe them,”said Tuloe who lives on the top floor with his brothers and pregnant girlfriend. “But when I saw it on the news, I raced home. At Wonderland, I could see the smoke and knew it was serious.”

While his family escaped safely, they have no place to go since their closest relatives live in Georgia.

“Our first priority is to find an apartment,” he said.

Lynn District Fire Chief Arthur Richard and firefighters were back on the scene of the fire Monday after a report of hot spots by the crew that was securing the property.

“The fire smoldered all night long and the crew hired to board up the building noticed there was smoke coming out of a floor board,” he said. “It was very minor, but every big fire starts out small. We used thermal imaging and located a couple of spots that were hot and watered them down.”

Jennifer Mieth, spokeswoman for the State Fire Marshal, said the fire started in a bathroom exhaust fan in a first floor apartment.

‘The fire burned undetected inside the ceiling and walls for a very long time,” she said. “And because it wasn’t burning in areas where there was smoke detection, it got a good hold of the building before it broke through.”

The property is owned by Federal Five Realty Trust in Somerville and is assessed at $1.9 million.

Lynn lends hand to W. Baltimore fire victims

Lynn fire drives out 60

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

HELP OUT: Volunteers are needed to help sort donations Tuesday and Wednesday at LynnArts. Please contact Jolene Kelly at jolenelynnarts@gmail.com or (781) 581-6200.

For those who would like to donate items, Centerboard will open their space tomorrow at 16 City Hall Square from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A GoFundMe has been set up by Jaime Figueroa at https://www.gofundme.com/west-baltimore-st-fire-victims;?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Figueroa says 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the families.

PHOTO BY SCOTT EISEN
Lisa Wallace hands donations for the victims of the fire at 22 W. Baltimore St. to Mike Sweeney on Monday outside of LynnArts.

By THOMAS GRILLO

LYNN — They lined Exchange Street in SUVs, pickup trucks, late model cars and jalopies.

Hundreds of Good Samaritans arrived in droves at LynnArts Monday with bags of clothes, shoes, coats, diapers, toys, gift certificates and cash in response to a plea of support from the nonprofit and Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy to help the dozens of families displaced by the New Year’s Day fire on West Baltimore Street.

W. Baltimore fire victims describe fear, disbelief

“Lynn is very unique,” said Lisa Wallace, founder of One Community One Voice, an advocacy group whose mission is to bring neighbors together. “We are diverse but united, especially when there’s a crisis. We come together and we’ll fix it.”  

Wallace and dozens of others including City Councilor and state Rep. Daniel Cahill (D-Lynn) and Lynn Museum Executive Director Drew Russo, helped sort the donations that came nonstop for most of the day in several massive LynnArts rooms. Rachel and Mark Grigway drove up to the front door to donate bags of baby clothes and blankets.

“We felt terrible for the victims,” said Rachel Grigway. “We would want people to help us if this ever happened to our family.”

Lynn fire drives out 60

Kandi Prentiss, a Lynn Girl Scouts troop leader, came with her children to deliver toys, clothes and games. The Prentiss family, like dozens of others, stayed to help organize the massive number of donations.

“Our Girl Scout troop had done a diaper drive earlier this year and we planned to donate them to the Lynn Shelter,” she said. “But when the fire happened, we decided to deliver them here. We want to help others and that’s what we teach our Girl Scouts.”

Gov. Charlie Baker and his wife, Lauren, came to LynnArts armed with several giant bags filled with coats, shoes, shirts and pants.

“We saw the news and it was clear that the fire devastated the homes of all those people,” said the governor. “Lauren does lots of work with the Red Cross, so we are familiar with what happens after a fire. It was clear to us that those folks would be looking for what we would describe as basics and that’s pretty much what we have here.”

Early Sunday, firefighters fought the five-alarm blaze in the four-story apartment building. The 24-unit property displaced 65 residents. None of the residents were injured. They were first brought to City Hall and later taken to Lynn Classical High School. By day’s end, all of the occupants were expected to be united with family members or in a hotel.

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

HELP OUT: Volunteers are needed to help sort donations Tuesday and Wednesday at LynnArts. Contact Jolene Kelly at jolenelynnarts@gmail.com or (781) 581-6200.

For those who would like to donate items, Centerboard will open their space tomorrow at 16 City Hall Square from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A GoFundMe has been set up by Jaime Figueroa at https://www.gofundme.com/west-baltimore-st-fire-victims?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss; Figueroa says 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the families.

Scott Eisen

Scott Eisen

Scott Eisen

Scott Eisen

Scott Eisen

A New Year’s Day fire destroyed the building at 22 W. Baltimore Street, seen Jan. 2.
PHOTO BY SCOTT EISEN

Lynn residents and their neighbors reached into their hearts, their wallets and their cast-off clothes boxes this week to help 65 people left homeless and without possessions in the New Year’s Day fire.

The West Baltimore Street blaze brought terror, trauma, displacement and confusion into the building tenants’ lives. But it did not bring death and it set the stage for a city filled with big-hearted people to embrace and support the displaced residents.

8-year-old donates to W. Baltimore victims

Lynn firefighters rushed to the fire and risked their lives ensuring every tenant fled the burning building in safety. Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy and other city officials set the city’s emergency response plan in motion to provide shelter and help for displaced residents, aided by Red Cross workers and volunteers.

By late Sunday, local organizations LynnArts and Centerboard became focal points for donation dropoffs that filled available space to capacity with diapers, clothes and other assistance. Support will continue to pour in this week with financial donations to help the homeless tenants restart their lives by renting apartments and buying new possessions.

Lynn lends hand to W. Baltimore fire victims

The donors, from local Girl Scouts to Gov. Charlie Baker, must have thought for even a few minutes about the overwhelming fear and disorientation that flooded over the tenants even as they appreciated being alive.

Imagine losing important documents, cherished belongings, Christmas and other holiday gifts. What is it like to not be able to go home because home no longer exists? What kind of strength does it take to begin reassembling the basic necessities of life when home for the near future is a couch, a gymnasium cot or a motel room?

After the headlines disappear and the Red Cross workers move on to the next disaster, it will fall on local officials and friends and family of the 22 West Baltimore St. tenants to help the 65 residents driven from their homes by fire to find new places to live and restore all the components of a modern life.

One Community One Voice was one of several local organizations that reached out Sunday and Monday to help the tenants. Organization founder Lisa Wallace described the group as “diverse but united, especially when there’s a crisis.” That description is easily applied to Lynn with its diverse population committed to helping when disaster strikes.

It is sad to see the holidays end with a calamity. On the other hand, the West Baltimore fire allowed the gratitude and generosity of the season to spill over to help people in need. The New Year’s Day fire is an opportunity to ensure every Lynn resident’s resolution list includes a reminder to keep helping the fire survivors until their lives are rebuilt.

By GAYLA CAWLEY

LYNN — Two men were arrested Monday after an attempted unarmed robbery, police said.

At approximately 5:15 p.m., a 57-year-old Lynn man called a cellphone he had lost, and when two men picked up, they told him that they wanted a finder’s fee in exchange for returning it, Lynn Police Lt. Rick Donnelly said.

The two Lynn men, Angel Collazo and Bakari Jones, both 20, set up a meeting with the victim near Crown Fried Chicken at the intersection of Chatham and Marianna streets, where they allegedly attempted to rob him of his wallet. The suspects were unaware that they were being watched by police, as the victim had told authorities about the planned meeting, Donnelly said.

Collazo was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property, unarmed assault to rob, Class C drug possession, and on warrants. Jones was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property and unarmed assault to rob.

Police log: 1-3-2017

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

ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Lynn firefighter Stacy Borjeson gives blood for Boston Children’s Hospital.

By BRIDGET TURCOTTE

LYNN — A steady stream of donors visited the Lynn EMS headquarters on Lynnfield Street to give blood to Boston Children’s Hospital on Tuesday.

The Boston Children’s Hospital’s Bloodmobile, a 40-foot bus equipped with booths and donor beds, travels every Tuesday through Saturday to make donating blood easier, said nurse Kathleen Arthur. From screening to donation, the entire process can be completed in about 30 minutes.

The blood drive has been hosted by the Lynn Fire Department for six years, said Ryan Newhall, who organizes the event. Annual turnout averages about 75 donors, he said.

“It’s a tough time of year for them with the holidays,” Newhall said. “There are less donors. They lean on us now. It’s tough for them to get people to go into town to donate.”

2 men charged with failed robbery scheme

Inspired by a Massachusetts Port Authority firefighter who started a blood drive for a pediatric cancer patient he knew, Newhall proposed a Lynn drive six years ago. Former Chief Dennis Carmody and the rest of the department quickly jumped on board.

“Every year we get support from Chief (James) McDonald and we get a lot of support from Lynn firefighters,” Newhall said.

Retired District Fire Chief Jack Barry donates blood every eight weeks.

“I just think it’s the right thing to do,” Barry said. “There’s always a need. There’s a flux with volume that can be spontaneous but there’s always a need for the blood. Everyone who is able to should get out and make the effort to support the organizations that do this.”

Lynn firefighter and paramedic Stacy Borjeson said she recognizes the need and donates as often as she can.

“I have had friends that have had blood drives for their own kids,” she said.

Whole blood donations, blood that still contains all of its components, can be made every 56 days. During each sitting, one pint of blood is collected from a donor. One pint can help about four children, Arthur said. More than 24,000 patients need blood transfusions at Boston Children’s Hospital each year.

Donors can visit the hospital’s Blood Donor Center at 333 Longwood Ave., Boston on Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m to 7:30 p.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

They should be well hydrated, eat a meal before donating and bring a photo ID.

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

LYNN — Mary Russell, age 91 years, of Lynn, died Monday at Salem Hospital following a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Clarence Russell, with whom she shared 3 years of marriage.

Born in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late Enos and Carrie (Smith) Crowell. Mary attended Lynn schools and graduated from Lynn Classical High School, Class of 1942. She attended Providence Bible Institute from 1946-1949, where she received her bachelor’s degree, and later attended Gordon College, where she received her master’s degree.

She was employed as a missionary and a teacher with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, at the Doane Baptist Bible Institute in Ilo-Ilo City, Philippines for 30 years. She returned to the United States and continued to work for the A.B.W.E. until she retired.

Mary was a member of the Austin Square Baptist Church, where she served on several committees and taught Sunday School. She also was involved in vacation bible school. Mary enjoyed crafts, crocheting, writing letters and reading.

She is survived by three sisters, Doris O’Brien of Lynn, Barbara Whalen of Winter Haven, Fla., Carol Ann Bonsong of Salisbury, and many nieces and nephews. She was also sister of the late Shirley Jackson, Marjorie Wheaton, Eleanor Deegan, Clyde and Herb Crowell.

Service information: Visiting hours will be held at the Austin Square Baptist Church on Thursday from 10-11:30 a.m., followed by funeral services at 11:30 a.m., to which relatives and friends are invited to attend. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Guest book at Parkermemorialfuneralhome.com.

ITEM FILE PHOTO
Pictured is the entrance to the old Marian Court College.

By GAYLA CAWLEY

SWAMPSCOTT — Plans to convert the former Marian Court College into an Orthodox Christian monastery, with a brewery on site, have been shelved.

Fr. Andrew Bushell, a Marblehead native and executive chairman of St. Paul’s Foundation, a monastic institution of the monks of Mount Athos in Greece, had a purchase agreement in place with the Sisters of Mercy, the current owners of the property at 35 Littles Point Road.

Bushell had until the end of December to close on the property, but did not follow through on what town officials said would have been a $4 million purchase.

“We decided not to move forward with the property,” Bushell said in an email on Tuesday.

Zoning issues brewing on Swampscott waterfront

Alice Poltorick, a spokeswoman for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Northeast Community, said the property didn’t close.  

“He had until the end of the month,” Poltorick said. “No extension (was) asked for or granted … The property is for sale. It’s listed with a broker.”

Gino Cresta, interim town administrator, said Bushell had initially put down a $50,000 payment, and there was another large figure due at the end of December.

“He was waiting to see if he had the support of the town before he put the other part of the significant part of the deposit down,” Cresta said. “He’s not going forward with it.”

Bushell previously said that his decision to complete the purchase of the Marian Court property, also known as White Court, hinged on being able to build a small monastic brewery and cider house on the site, inside of what is now the Mercy Center. Plans also included establishing a warehouse in Lynn or Revere, which would be used for storage and larger deliveries.

Town officials were against the brewery aspect, arguing that zoning bylaws do not allow for one in the residential district where the former college is located. The college closed in June 2015 because of financial difficulties. The only uses allowed in that district without having to obtain a special permit are a single-family dwelling, a religious use, educational use, child care facility, agricultural use or facilities for the sale and production of dairy products from June to September, according to Peter Kane, director of community development.

Leadership sets Swampscott up for 2017

Kane said in a previous interview that a brewery is not identified as an allowed use in Swampscott, and according to the town’s zoning bylaws, if a use is not specified, then it’s not allowed. Bushell argued that the brewery was allowed under the Dover Amendment exemption, the law that exempts agricultural, religious and educational corporations from certain zoning restrictions.

“A number of committees have submitted letters saying they wanted the town to buy the property,” Kane said in a phone interview on Tuesday. “We’d have to go and ask Town Meeting to agree to purchase it.”

Naomi Dreeben, chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen, said the board would potentially discuss buying the property at their meeting tonight. She said there’s been a strong interest in town for the property being available for public use.

“I’d love to see that,” Dreeben said. “We’d just have to find a way to swing it financially. If it’s going to be for public use, then the public has to buy it.”

Cresta said there’s been other offers on the Marian Court property, but there are no other purchase agreements in place.

“I think it’s in our best interest to stay involved,” Cresta said. “But I don’t know how much say we can have in a private sale. We can make suggestions.”

The 6.2-acre White Court property is assessed at $7.8 million, including the two buildings and surrounding land, according to land records.

The former college is listed on LoopNet as a “spectacular oceanfront estate property in Swampscott” with CBRE/New England, which calls itself the worldwide leader in real estate services.  

“The property’s idyllic setting is perfect for housing, hospitality, or a continued educational or institutional use,” the listing reads. “Located in the desirable seaside community of Swampscott, 35 Littles Point Road offers investors, owners, developers and collectors a myriad of exciting restoration, adaptive reuse and development options.”

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

LYNN — Nunziato Rocco DiBona, 94, of Lynn, formerly of West Quincy, died on Jan. 2, 2017, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. He was the husband of Catherine M. (Dow) DiBona for 36 years, former husband of the late Doris (Driscoll) DiBona for 24 years and former husband of the late Julia (Kane) DiBona for three years.

He was born on Aug. 16, 1922, in West Quincy, son of the late Nunziato and Raffaela (Gaudiano) DiBona. He was a 1941 graduate of Quincy High School. During his school years, he worked for the railroad, and after graduating high school, Mr. DiBona was an apprentice at the Hingham Shipyard before being drafted into World War II.

After receiving intense training, he served in the Army/Air Corps during the war as a specialty bombardier/navigator. He flew 14 combat missions as a navigator, 11 of these as the lead navigator, and five others as a bombardier. He was stationed in Hethel, England where he held the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the 593rd 8th Air Corp. He was awarded the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster, lapel button issue, WWII Victory Medal and EAME Ribbon 1 Star.

After the war, he attended Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala., where he earned a B.S. in chemistry and a minor in biology. He was the former manager of quality control for United Farmers in Charlestown. He then went on to work for West Lynn Creamery in Lynn as director of quality control. He established their original laboratory for testing milk, cream and by-products. He also instituted formulas for cream cheese, sour cream and ice cream. In addition, he set up their laboratory in Winslow, Maine, and was instrumental in procuring licenses for intrastate selling of their products.

He was a past member of the Knights of Columbus. He loved golf, horse racing, classical music, jazz and Frank Sinatra. Ned was a fabulous cook, particularly of lasagna, gnocci and toasted cheese sandwiches.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Eleanor (DiBona) Putz and her husband Gerard of Brunswick, Md., his son, Paul and wife Susan (Peloquin) DiBona of Laconia, N.H., and daughter, Theresa (DiBona) Sheahan and her husband Jeffrey of Amherst, N.H. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Julie DiBona and her spouse Christina Liberatore, Elizabeth DiBona and Stephen DiBona and spouse Jessica (Banks), Daniel Putz, Catherine Putz, Jessica Sheahan and spouse Vien DoBui and Caroline Sheahan, five great grandchildren and many special nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings and their spouses, brother, Luigi, John and his wife Olga of Quincy, Philip and his wife Madeline of Milford, Conn., and sister, Marguerite (DiBona) Girard and her husband Alfred, Ida (DiBona) Lucier and her husband Joseph and Genevieve (DiBona) Scavuzzo and her husband Nathan, all of Quincy.

Service information: Visiting hours will be in the CUFFE-McGINN Funeral Home, 157 Maple St., Lynn, on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, from 4-8 p.m. His funeral will begin at the funeral home at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, with a Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 579 Boston St., in Lynn.  Burial with U.S. Air Force honors will follow the Mass in Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the charity of one’s choice. Please visit Cuffemcginn.com for directions, or to sign the online guest book.

LYNN — John T. Oak, 60, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 in the Ledgewood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Beverly, following an extended illness.

Born in Bitburg, Germany on June 28, 1956, he was the son of the late Pauline C. (Reagan) Oak. John had resided in Lynn for many years before moving to Colebrook, N.H., in 2001 and returned to Lynn in 2015.

John enjoyed spending time at his cabin in Colebrook and loved the shooting range, where he received several awards for his marksmanship.

He is survived by a sister, Carol A. Levine and her companion Keith Raye of Beverly; two brothers, Charles Oak and his wife Marcia and Larry Oak and his wife Tyra, all of Lynn; three nieces, Kim Bagley, Joleen Zetes and Nicole Oak, five nephews, Karman Raye, Eric Levine, Cory Oak and Wayne and Dana Beaulieu; a brother-in-law, Norman Beaulieu, and several great-nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his sister, Patricia Beaulieu.

Service information: A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday in the GRONDIN Funeral Home, 376 Cabot St., Beverly, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. For more information and to send online condolences, please visit Grondinfuneralservices.com.