ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Donald Castle and Gary Welch argue against the construction of two new middle schools in Lynn.

By THOMAS GRILLO

LYNN — Leaders of the opposition to next Tuesday’s ballot question on construction of two middle schools insist they are not anti-education and or anti-new schools.

They argue one of the sites is unacceptable because it robs land intended for the expansion of Pine Grove Cemetery, it’s too close to Breeds Pond Reservoir, the buildings are too expensive and the process has failed to include opposing voices.

“The Parkland Avenue site is one of the worst and this process has been rigged,” said Gary Welch, a member of Protect Our Reservoir — Preserve Pine Grove, a grassroots organization founded to fight the location of the Parkland Avenue school. “Our argument is based on this being the wrong site, although we know some people will vote no because of the cost.”

Donald Castle, a founding member of the group, said officials selected Parkland Avenue before there were any public hearings. He said there are cheaper alternatives.

In an interview with The Item’s editorial board on Thursday, Welch and Castle made the case against the $188.5 million project and urged residents to vote no.

If approved, a 652-student school would be built near the Pine Grove Cemetery and Breeds Pond Reservoir on Parkland Avenue. A second one to serve 1,008 students would be constructed in West Lynn on McManus Field on Commercial Street.

The new schools will add an additional $200 to the average tax bill for a single-family homeowner each year for the next 25 years.

Current system not sustainable, Latham says

While Castle and Welch agree with the city’s attorney that deeds clearly state the 44 vacant acres at Pine Grove is owned by the city, they say it was always intended for a future graveyard.  

“It is city land,” Castle said. “But we want to uphold what our forefathers did 127 years ago to keep it cemetery land for so many reasons: to bury people and to protect the environment and the wildlife.”

Castle and Welch dispute the reasoning behind the Pickering Middle School Building Committee’s rejection of at least 10 other potential sites for the Parkland school.

“The feasibility study had a number of different locations that we favor,” Welch said. “Come up with a better site and I’ll vote yes.”

He said the best solution is to renovate the existing Pickering Middle School. The other option is to build the middle school in West Lynn that would serve Pickering students and others, Welch said.

Castle disputed the $44.2 million cost of the renovation, that school officials said will not be reimbursed by the state.

“Show me where that $44 million came from,” he said. “We don’t think that’s legit … I don’t know how much it will cost, but I don’t think it will cost $44 million.”

They also object to any development so close to the reservoir.

“We are concerned about building so close to the reservoir,” Welch said. “We are being sold a pig in a poke and we’re being asked for something that no one knows much about.”   

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

John F. “Iggy” Dorgan, age 87, died suddenly Thursday, March 9, 2017 at Salem Hospital.

Born in Lynn, he was the son of the late John L. and Mary E. (Monahan) Dorgan and the husband of Marion C. (Cronin) Dorgan, with whom he shared 66 years of marriage.

He was a graduate of Lynn Vocational High, Class of 1948 and was the treasurer of his class. He was a Korean War veteran, serving in the United States Navy as a machinist repairman.

He was employed by the General Electric Co. as a machinist for more than 20 years. After retiring in 1992 Iggy went to work for the City of Lynn as a parking attendant and worked most of the city lots.

Iggy was inducted into the Lynn Vocational High School Hall of Fame in 1988 as a class treasurer and in 2014 (the only two-time inductee) for his personal accomplishments. He was a former member of St. Patrick’s Parish. He was a member of Amvets Post 161 and P.L.A.V. Post 56 where he held the office of trustee and honorary member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Iggy was awarded from the Department of Defense in recognition of his service as a Korean War veteran. The medal is called the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal. Iggy was truly a family man. He loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Besides his wife he leaves his three sons and eight daughters, Dennis Dorgan and his partner Trich Meyer of Marblehead, David Dorgan and his wife Kim of Lynn, Danny Dorgan and his late wife Tammy of Lynn, Denise Carritte of Lynn, Debra McManus and her late husband Pat, former mayor of Lynn, Diane Marengi and her husband Arthur of Salem, Darlene Clark and her husband David of Alexandria, Va., Donna Legere and her husband Michael of Swampscott, Dawn Dorgan and her partner Rich Moleti of Nahant, Dale Cyr and her husband Darren of Lynn, Deirdre Dorgan of Lynn and the late Doreen Dorgan, 31 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. We would like to remember Iggy’s lifelong friend Charlie Swirka and the Dorgan and Gregory nieces, nephew and cousins. He was predeceased by his siblings Rita Gregory, Robert, James, Fredrick and Lawrence Dorgan.

Service information: Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the NADWORNY Funeral Home, 798 Western Ave., Lynn, on Monday, March 13 at 9:30 a.m., followed by his Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church. Interment in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Lynn. Visiting hours on Sunday, March 12 from 2-6 p.m. In lieu of flowers those who wish may take a friend out to lunch. For guest book and directions please visit www.nadwornyfuneralhome.com.?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

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

Misael DeLeon, 21, of 61 Elm St. was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, a marked lanes violation and reckless operation of a motor vehicle on Friday at 9:14 a.m.

Calvin Ebieshuwa, 23, of 36 Flint St., was arrested on a series of charges including carrying a loaded firearm, conspiracy, breaking and entering, attempt to commit a crime, operation of a an uninsured and unregistered motor vehicle and with a suspended license, at 6:32 a.m. Friday.

Taryn Martinez, of 706 Summer St., was arrested at 3:03 a.m. Friday, for larceny over $250 and receiving stolen property.

Vladimir Tsesarev, 61, of 90 Clark St., was placed in protective custody on Thursday at 4:47 p.m.

Heather Vergobbe, 38, of 17 Hillside Dr., Cohasset, was arrested on Thursday at 4:57 p.m. for shoplifting and possession of a Class B substance.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 2:37 p.m. Thursday at 54 Clovelly St.; at 4:56 p.m. Thursday at 145 Curwin Circle; at 6:18 p.m. Thursday at 145 Lynn Shore Drive; at 7:29 p.m. Thursday at Franklin Street and Western Avenue.; at 11:13 p.m. Thursday on Buffum Street.; on Friday at 8:28 a.m. on Franklin Street.; at 11:43 a.m. Friday at Hanover and Whittier streets.

Complaints

A report of a noise at 11:21 a.m. Friday at 19 Salem St., Apt. 1.; a report of a disturbance on Friday at 1:14 a.m. Friday at 50 Western Ave.; at 3 Kingsley Terrace Apt. 7 on Friday at 1:33  a.m.; at 126 Henry Ave. Friday at 2:36 a.m.;report of noise at 35 Fearless Ave., second floor, at 3:01 a.m. Friday.

Police log: 3-10-2017

MARBLEHEAD

Trees and Wires Down

Reports of branches down at Tedesco Street and Miles Standish Roads on Thursday at 10:56 a.m.; report of a tree down on house on Dean Road Thursday at 10:59 a.m. Reports of tree branches down on Thursday at 1:40 p.m. on Tedesco Street.  

Suspicious Activity

Female caller reported a scam call on Thursday at 5:50 p.m. on Creesy Street from a person claiming to be from U.S. Financial. Caller had an accent and made several vulgar comments. The phone number that made the call, 510-246-8283, does not receive incoming calls.

PEABODY

Accidents

A report of a car into a tree at 21 Emily Lane on Friday at 12:11 a.m.,  party refused medical attention, vehicle towed  Resident at 63 Goodale St., reports hearing a noise and finding a fire hydrant and mailbox damaged in front of their home. Fire and Water departments notified; Hit and run motor vehicle accident at 6:50 a.m. Thursday at Mobile Estates at 286 Newbury St., Apt. 71. Resident reports damage to grass and a flagpole from vehicle; Motor vehicle accident on Thursday at 9:16 a.m. at American Red Cross at 85 Lowell St. The officer spoke with the reporting party and learned the accident occurred outside the city. Officer said he will attempt to assist with exchange of information; Accident at 19 Caller St. at 9:31 a.m. Thursday. Caller said a vehicle struck her call and tried to leave the scene. Caller said she tried to stand in front of the car to prevent the person from leaving. Police arrive, papers exchanged, all clear.

Animal Control

Caller reported finding a tan, female Shih Tzu running loose on Washington Street on Thursday at 2:55 p.m. Caller took dog home and will take to the Borash Veterinary Clinic. Staff notified by police.

Complaints

On Thursday 8:29 p.m. at 4 Aberdeen St., caller reports a dispute over audio-visual equipment and requests assistance. Caller also reported the resident owns an angry pitbull.

REVERE

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 8:30 a.m. Thursday on Highland Street.

Complaints

A report of suspicious activity on Wednesday at 11:35 p.m. at Ocean Avenue; on Wednesday 11:47 p.m. at the Revere Housing Authority; At CVS Pharmacy on Squire Road on Wednesday at 11:59 p.m.; At Cooledge Street at 1:16 a.m. Thursday.

SAUGUS

Well Being Check

A caller reported a man passed out behind the wheel of a black Toyota at Kelly’s Roast Beef on 595 Broadway on Wednesday at 11:40 p.m.   

By STEVE FREKER

MALDEN — When someone struggling with opioid addiction checks out of a detox or rehabilitation facility, their options can be limited to, “what next?”

Many return to the situation they were in before they sought detox or rehab. The cycle often continues, according to Paul Hammersley, president of Malden Overcoming Addiction (MOA).

That is why MOA is pushing for the creation of a recovery center  that could potentially serve as a hub for recovering addicts in communities across the region.

“There’s a recovery center in South Boston and there’s another one in Lawrence; that’s it,” Hammersley said. “There is just nowhere else for people to go for guidance, counseling or assistance directly related to getting their lives back together.”

Let the transformation begin in Malden

MOA officials say there are many communities the Malden recovery center could assist, including Everett, Lynn, Medford, Melrose, Revere, Saugus, Somerville and others in Greater Boston and the North Shore.

Local and state officials strongly back the potential for a recovery center in Malden, Hammersley said. Malden Mayor Gary Christenson has been a steady supporter at every step so far, he said.

State Sen. Jason Lewis and the Malden House delegations of Reps. Paul Donato, Steve Ultrino and Paul Brodeur have also endorsed the proposal, Hammersley said.

Lewis has joined with the Malden legislative delegation to lobby for a state budget inclusion of $1.5 million to provide funding for several of these centers in the region. Funding would come from the state Department of Public Health.

“It is still very, very early in the process, but we are very excited with the strong support we have gotten initially,” Hammersley said, adding that a 5,000-square-foot site has already been identified in Malden. The recovery center would be named the Bridge Recovery Center.

“This would not be just a meeting place and would have no residential aspect,” Hammersley said. “It would be an active, multifaceted hub where people in recovery could get services that could help them in the process.”  

Hammersley said he and other officials, including Christenson, Donato, and Malden Police Chief Kevin Molis toured the Devine Recovery Center in South Boston as part of the planning. They were impressed with the vibrant, upbeat atmosphere, Hammersley said.

“We got there at 11 o’clock in the morning and over 50 people had already signed in; that tells you the need for these types of services,” he said.

Hammersley also said the recovery center would be a natural base for the 30 recovery coaches MOA expects to have trained by the end of April. They would be on site and could be called in when needed, he said.

Hammersley also said that MOA has worked to establish support partnerships with local health and service agencies such as Cambridge Health Alliance, the Malden YMCA and others to serve as links to a future recovery center.

“It is still very early and too soon to tell if this can be a reality,” he said. “But we can really help people and save lives if this comes here.”

ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Fluff is injected into the containers at the Durkee-Mower factory in Lynn.

By BRIDGET TURCOTTE

LYNN — It’s just four ingredients, but for 100 years, sweet-toothed New Englanders have been stuck on Fluff.

Made in Lynn, the sticky, sweet marshmallow spread was invented in 1917 by Archibald Query. On May 14, 1920, the Daily Evening Item announced that two young men, H. Allen Durkee and Fred L. Mower, had formed a partnership to manufacture Marshmallow Fluff after purchasing the recipe.

The exact date they began the endeavor is unknown, but in 1930, Durkee wrote that they had started a decade prior with one barrel of sugar, a few tin cans, two spoons, one second-hand Ford, no customers, but plenty of prospects.

Today, Durkee-Mower, Inc. has more than 20 employees who manufacture between 35,000 and 40,000 pounds of Fluff each day.

Durkee’s son, Donald Durkee, serves as the company’s president; his grandson, Jon Durkee, as treasurer and vice president.

Allen Durkee’s other son, Bruce, was the president until the 1970s, when he handed over the duties to Donald. Their youngest brother, Larry, pursued a career in welding, rather than the sweet family business.

Over the years, nephews, sons, grandsons and great-grandsons have made summer commitments to the factory, doing odd jobs like painting the walls of a tunnel that leads to the factory by hand, Jon Durkee said.

Lynn speller bound for big stage

The family uses the sticky white spread as most households do.

“We have fluffernutters and hot chocolate with Fluff,” said Jon Durkee, who was 2 years old when his grandfather died, but has continued the work of his legacy for most of his life. “I still use if for Rice Krispies, fudge occasionally, sweet potatoes. We do a lot of cooking with it actually.”

Allen Durkee and Mower were graduates of Swampscott High School. They went on to serve in the U.S. Army together during World War I. When they returned home, Mower took a job in Boston at the Purity Distilling Company, around the time of The Great Molasses Flood.

In 1919, a tank carrying 2 million gallons of molasses burst on Boston’s waterfront. A wave 15 feet high and 160 feet wide traveled through the North End, causing more than $100 million worth of damage and killing 21 people.

Through the job, Mower met Query, who invented Fluff at his Somerville home in 1917 and sold it door-to-door. Wartime shortages forced him to close down and by the time the war ended, he was uninterested in trying to start the business over again.

Query sold the recipe to Durkee and Mower, who pooled their money to cover the $500 cost. They tried calling the product Toot Sweet Marshmallow Fluff, but the name didn’t stick.

The receipt from their first sale is framed in the company’s small collection of memorabilia; as is the check for $3 from a Bradford, N.H., ski lodge that purchased the three gallons of Fluff.

The factory moved from Swampscott to Brookline Street in Lynn in the 1920s and the staff grew to 10 members. About a decade later, near the end of industrial sugar rationing, a new factory adjacent to the old one was constructed. All Marshmallow Fluff is still created there today on some of the machinery custom made for the company in the ’50s to ’70s.

The simple, four-ingredient recipe uses sugar syrup, corn syrup (not high fructose), eggs and vanilla. The sugar syrup is cooked to a certain temperature and the corn syrup is added. After it’s cooked, it’s pumped upstairs to the kettle where egg whites and vanilla are added.

Containers are filled using a 60-year-old machine. They follow a conveyer belt where they’re sealed, labeled with an expiration date, covered and move on to be packed invertedly in cardboard boxes. The boxes travel through a tunnel to a warehouse, built in 1966.

Durkee-Mower dabbled in the hot cocoa biz, producing Sweetco from 1937 to 1962 but couldn’t compete with Swiss Miss, according to John Durkee.

They began manufacturing strawberry flavored fluff in 1991. While it’s still made, it’s not very popular in the New England area, Durkee said.

Today most of the company’s sales are in the Northeast region of the United States, but Fluff can be found in stores down through Florida and west through Illinois. About 10 percent of sales are international in countries including Canada, England, Germany, Japan and South Africa.

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

ITEM FILE PHOTO
Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy speaks with the Item at her office.

By THOMAS GRILLO

LYNN — Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy won’t say whether she will seek a third term this fall, but the city’s chief executive is sure acting like a candidate.

In a wide ranging interview with The Item this week, the mayor laid out her goals for 2017.

At the top of her list is winning Tuesday’s vote for construction of two new middle schools. The special election on March 14 asks homeowners to approve a property tax increase for 25 years for the $188.5 million project that would build a school on Parkland Avenue and a second in West Lynn.

“Next week will give us an indication of whether we will be able to move forward with providing our students with the same kind of education they receive at the new Marshall Middle School,” she said.  “I just hope there is no confusion that voters need to vote yes on both questions in order for it to pass. If you favor the new schools, vote yes for both or it will fail.”

We’re not anti-education, ‘no’-voters say

While the mayor is optimistic that voters will approve the ballot initiative, she is considering Plan B should the vote fail.

‘We would go back to the Massachusetts School Building Authority and start over,” said the mayor, referring to the quasi-independent government agency that funds a portion of school construction projects. “And hope that within a few years we could turn the vote around.”

While opponents of the school site on Parkland Avenue say a better alternative is to renovate the Pickering Middle School, the mayor said the city lacks the $44.2 million it would take to gut the 90,000-square-foot facility and install new systems, classrooms, gym, cafeteria and labs.

“We simply can’t afford it out of the city budget,” she said.

Current system not sustainable, Latham says

Also in the planning stages is a marketing staffer for the Lynn Auditorium, the city’s 2,100-seat concert hall, that would be paid for by ticket sales.

“We could reach more people and expand if we had someone to do marketing,” she said.

Kennedy is also planning to spend $400,000 for a study to replace Engine 9 on Tower Hill and Engine 7 on Pine Hill with a fire safety building in West Lynn at a cost of $15-20 million.

“Those buildings are 100 years old and continuing to show signs of aging,” she said.  “We would build one facility and perhaps move dispatch into the new station and save on rent.”

The mayor also plans to seek $100,000 in grants to restore the Angell Memorial Fountain at Broad and Nahant streets. Built in the early 1900s  in memory of George T. Angell, the founder of Boston’s Angell Memorial Hospital, the fountain once served as a horse trough.

In addition, the mayor said summer job applications for teens are available at the personnel office in City Hall. Selection for the 120 jobs will be done by lottery.

While no one has declared their candidacy for mayor, local political observers say Kennedy will run. State Sen. Thomas McGee (D-Lynn) and City Councilor-at-Large Brian LaPierre have said they are exploring the possibility of running. McGee recently held a fundraiser in Boston and may have been the person behind a citywide poll on the race.

Kennedy and LaPierre said they had nothing to do with the poll. But a McGee spokeswoman did not respond when asked the question.

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

PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Ashrita Gandhari, winner of the 32nd annual Daily Item Regional Spelling Bee, holds part of her prize, a massive Merriam-Webster dictionary.

By LEAH DEARBORN

LYNN — After 30 rounds of fierce competition, it all came down to one word on Friday night — ‘uvula.’

“Oh, so that’s what that is,” said first-place winner Ashrita Gandhari after hearing the word defined as a fleshy extension at the back of the soft palate that hangs above the throat.

A fourth-grader at Franklin Elementary School in North Andover, Gandhari was one of more than 50 participants from schools across the region who gathered at Lynn City Hall Auditorium for a chance to compete this May in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Gandhari, who wants to be an exobiologist when she grows up, placed second in last year’s bee and took only a short break before she launched into studying for tonight’s contest.

“I’m really excited,” she said as she clutched part of her prize, a massive Merriam-Webster dictionary.

Kennedy makes final push on school vote

Caroline Clark of Sacred Hearts School in Haverhill placed third and Sofia Valencia of Higgins Middle School in Peabody came in a close second.

Before the competition began, contestants in grades three through eight were offered a light dinner and some advice from previous winner, Mitchell Robson.

“Think before you spell, don’t panic,” said Robson, a Marblehead student who placed seventh in last year’s national bee.

Robson said his four years of competing in spelling bees not only improved his public speaking and language abilities, it also earned him a number of new friends from his time attending the national bee in Washington, D.C.

Although Robson was too old to compete in this year’s bee, his younger brother Will Robson carried on the tradition and placed fourth.

Some students were a little nervous before the event, like sixth-grader Robert Desmond of Pickering Middle School in Lynn.

“I do like to spell,” said Desmond, who was worried about getting tripped up on deceptively short words.

As the night went on, however, the rounds became shorter and the words longer, with sportsmanlike applause accompanying the exit of each eliminated speller.

In addition to her new dictionary, Gandhari will be flown down to Washington, D.C. later this year to take part in the national bee.

Joel Abramson of event sponsor Flagship Travel said over 11 million students participate in regional spelling bees every year.

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

By GAYLA CAWLEY

LYNN — A Lynn man was arrested after police found 16 bags of heroin in the sock he was wearing on Friday night.

Bolivar Jaquez, 34, was charged with heroin possession with intent to distribute and a drug violation near a school.

Police were driving on Park Street around 6:30 p.m. when they saw a man on a bike, later identified as Jaquez, at the passenger’s side of a “waiting vehicle.” Jaquez allegedly leaned into the car and reached in for what the officers thought was a drug transaction, Lynn Police Lt. Rick Donnelly said.

Jaquez rode past the police cruiser and the car drove away. Officers drove around the block and couldn’t find the car, but they saw Jaquez on the bike at the corner of Park Street and Western Avenue, and went over to talk to him, Donnelly said.

When police asked Jaquez what he was doing before, he allegedly told them he was talking to a friend at work, pulled a folded $100 bill out his pocket and showed it the officers. Police then saw a knife clipped to his front pant pocket, which put him in violation of the city knife ordinance, Donnelly said.

Police searched Jaquez for further weapons and checked him for warrants. During the pat down, police felt a bulge in his left sock, which turned out to be a plastic bag containing 16 individually packaged bags of heroin, Donnelly said.

He was charged with intent to distribute because of the large amount of heroin found. In addition, during the interaction with police, Jaquez’ cellphone was ringing the entire time, and he has a history of drug distribution, Donnelly said. The cash, phone and drugs were seized.

Woman says she was robbed, knocked down

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

By GAYLA CAWLEY

LYNN — Police say a 32-year-old Lynn woman was robbed Monday morning in front of Cobbet Elementary School.

Police responded to the robbery shortly after 11 a.m. and met with the victim, who said she was walking on Franklin Street toward the Commons. When she was walking in front of the school, she told police a man walked toward her, Lynn Police Lt. Rick Donnelly said.

As the suspect was about to pass her, he violently pulled off the backpack the woman was wearing and knocked her down in the process, Donnelly said.

The backpack reportedly contained $200 in cash, personal papers and credit cards. The man ran through the Cobbet parking lot and took off with the bag toward the Commons, Donnelly said.

The incident is under investigation and no arrests have been made. Police described the suspect as a black man in his mid 30s and about 5 feet 7 inches. He was wearing a hoodie at the time.

Police find heroin, cocaine, $5K in house

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

Peabody deserves praise for Veterans Services Director Stephen Patten’s initiative to provide free legal services for men and women who served their country.

Porcello Law Offices in Salem is Peabody’s new partner in a campaign to help veterans and their families navigate the legal system. The effort to connect veterans with the legal help they need starts with a Porcello attorney spending two days a month at the Torigian Community Life Center, a Peabody location that counts many veterans among its residents.

The legal aid program represents a progressive approach by Patten and the city to reach out to veterans and it is a tribute to Porcello, a firm founded by a veteran.

Patten’s initiative mirrors the collaboration by Lynn doctors and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure local veterans have a convenient local source for medical care. Instead of driving to a Veterans Affairs hospital out of town, veterans can get health care in the local Boston Street clinic.

The facility is an enduring tribute to former U.S. Rep. John Tierney who fought to get federal money for the clinic after vowing he would ensure no veteran living in the Sixth Congressional District had to travel more than 15 miles from home to receive care.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton has worked to provide support for the clinic and fellow veterans who use its services, including mental health counseling and other help available in part through interactive technology connecting the clinic with other medical offices.

Patten’s efforts and the Lynn clinic’s success buttresses work by the Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development to end homelessness among local veterans. Combine these efforts  with strong commitments to veterans in surrounding communities, including Saugus, Swampscott and Revere, then it is clear strong potential exists to do more for veterans.

This potential is only limited by the imagination and drive of veterans old and young, women and men, representing the full spectrum of veterans.

New efforts on the part of veterans can begin with Moulton obtaining the federal resources needed to conduct a valuable “hyper survey” of Lynn area and North Shore veterans. This study can assess in detail and accurately gauge the needs and challenges facing veterans.

Don’t bury Lynn’s future: Vote yes on schools

So much more can be done on behalf of veterans.

Lynn English High School’s Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets can be harnessed to provide services to veterans beyond the good work the students already perform under Sgt. Major Ken Oswald’s leadership.

Older veterans need companionship assistance and there is a historic need for young people to assist in oral history projects aimed at preserving the memories and experiences of the few remaining World War II veterans as well as Korean War veterans.

There is also a compelling need for younger veterans to have opportunities to define and shape the services and assistance they need. They can work with Moulton, Patten and other veterans affairs experts, including Lynn Veterans Service Director Michael Sweeney, to outline long-range veterans assistance plans.

Veterans have done their share for their country. But the work to be done on their behalf is just beginning.

COURTESY PHOTO
Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room: from left, Tim Archibald, “Old” Tony DiPietro, Barry Goudreau, and Brian Maes. 

By PHYLLIS KARAS

SWAMPSCOTT — For Barry Goudreau, who played lead guitar on the band Boston’s first two albums, this is like coming full circle.

Forty-one years ago, Goudreau was a 25-year-old kid from Lynn who was in a brand new band whose debut studio album became at the time the best-selling new album in rock history. Goudreau was lead guitarist on “Foreplay/Long Time” and “Let Me Take You Home Tonight.” Goudreau and the band toured extensively, presenting the music to screaming fans throughout the world.   

Today Goudreau lives in Swampscott and is playing with another brand new band, Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room, which is about to release its debut album, “Full Steam Ahead.” The CD release party will be at Lynn Auditorium April 22.  

Goudreau’s songwriting talent, which had produced more than 100 songs in the past 40  years, had been pretty much dormant since his last album, 2003’s “Delp and Goudreau.” Brad Delp, Boston’s lead singer, had been Goudreau’s writing partner for 25 years.

“I wrote the music and Brad wrote the lyrics,” Goudreau said. When Delp died in 2007, Goudreau lost not only his brother-in-law/close friend/creative partner, but the spirit to write.

He continued playing guitar in different venues, performing alongside blues titan James Montgomery, the American Vinyl All Star Band and other musicians. But Goudreau wasn’t  inspired to write a single song.

The last song he was involved with was “Rockin Away, ” which he had written in 2006 with Delp, both as a nod to fans for Boston’s 30th anniversary as well as a failed attempt to reconcile with the band’s founder Tom Scholz.  Goudreau performed the song, with Brian Maes, another Lynn native, on vocals, at Brad Delp’s Memorial Concert, Come Together, in Boston on Aug. 19, 2007.

Everything changed, unexpectedly, last March at the Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla., when Goudreau  was invited to sit in by blues/rock guitarist Jonny Lang who was part of the Hendrix Experience Tour band. The evening turned out to be a life-altering experience.

“I looked around and everyone was younger than I was, and I had this epiphany,” Goudreau said.  “We were playing blues-rock, which had been my original love, and we got a standing ovation. After the show, I was walking through the hall and so many people recognized me and were enthusiastically high-fiving me. It was then I realized this is what I should be doing. I left like an older statesman, but I also felt like I had finally come home.”  

Indeed, Goudreau had fallen in love with blues-rock music in 1966, when he saw Michael Bloomfield playing guitar in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. “That introduced me to the blues, and I learned how to play lead guitar blues based on that band,” Goudreau said.

“Later in the ’60s and early ’70s, a bunch of different British acts took traditional American blues and turned them around with big drum sounds and big guitar sounds. Groups like Jeff Beck and Led Zeppelin were re-inventing that music, and that style of playing was exciting. With Eric Clapton and Cream, most of their music was  traditional blues that they redid in their own style, and that kicked up things for me.”

Revere lieutenant retires after 30 years

Goudreau was 17 when he first saw Cream and heard Eric Clapton playing his Gibson SG guitar through a Marshall amp. “I knew that moment that I had to have that guitar,” he recalled. “And within a matter of months, I had bought my first Gibson SG, which is the guitar people still link me to. The amplifier was expensive, so I had to wait a bit and finally got a used one for $1,000, which was a lot of money.  But that is still the equipment I use today.”

When Goudreau played with Boston, however, he had gone off in a different direction, playing more straight-ahead rock. But after his appearance in Florida with Lang and the Hendrix Experience, he was suddenly back where he felt he had always belonged.     

As soon as he got back home, Goudreau called Maes, a successful vocalist and keyboard player in Lynn and his former bandmate in two of his bands with Delp, Orion the Hunter and RTZ.

“It just seemed like the path of least resistance to go to the people I knew and had worked with, to see if this would work,” Goudreau said. “When I called up Brian and told him that I wanted to start a new band in the style of the records we loved in the late ’60s and early ’70s, like with Jeff Beck, Led Zeppelin and Humble Pie, he immediately said it sounded great and he was in.”

When Maes phoned to say they should get together the next week and get it going, Goudreau felt pure exhilaration. “But then I realized I did not have one note of music written,” he said. “So I sat down with my iPhone and thought about what songs I enjoyed playing in the past, and the feel of those songs, and put a bunch of ideas on the phone.”

By the end of the week, Goudreau had successfully enlisted another of his former bandmates, Tim Archibald, a bassist who had played with Maes in  Peter Wolf’s Houseparty Five and had been a member of RTZ. He also had come up with a bunch of ideas. There had been no whole songs when Goudreau had met with Maes, there was an abundance of kernels of ideas for songs, along with a bunch of rhythmic feels and chord changes and guitar riffs.

When the three former bandmates got together, joined by “Old” Tony Dipietro on drums, it didn’t take long  to know they were onto something. For Goudreau, it was especially powerful.  

“Brad had been my only writing partner and everything I wrote was with him,” he said. “But right away I saw that Brian was able to fill that void. He wrote the lyrics and I wrote the music. I couldn’t have been more surprised that I could come up with so many ideas for songs so quickly.”

It was full steam ahead for Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room. Maes recorded tracks in his home studio while Goudreau recorded all the guitar parts in his home studio. Using a late ’60s style, the band added three female vocalists (MaryBeth Maes, Terri O’Soro and Joanie Cicatelli) singing backup on nine of the 11 songs on the album.  

One of the most powerful songs on the album is the last one, “Keeping the Faith.”  “I wrote that song in the fall of 2016, during a particularly trying time in my professional life,” Goudreau said.

Goudreau admits he never expected the album to come together so quickly, especially given Maes’ crazy-busy schedule. “The main songwriting was done in the first couple of months but Brian’s a full-time musician who gives lessons every day and is busy with kids’ groups as well. Most nights he plays out as solo or in different bands,” Goudreau said.

Goudreau and his mates are ready to share the new music with fans at Lynn Auditorium on April 22. John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band and Charlie Farren will open.

“The concert will be really exciting for me, since for the first time in a decade I will be playing music from all the different projects I have done,” Goudreau said. “Some songs are from Boston, as well as from my solo record in 1980, from Orion the Hunter and ‘The Rhythm Won’t Stop’ from Delp and Goudreau.”

After performing in Lynn, Goudreau said the band will play small theaters and venues throughout New England. Compared to the Boston tours, which played stadiums and huge concert halls in America, including a sold-out concert in Madison Square Garden, and London, Japan, Sweden, Norway, France, Denmark and Germany, this is quite a change.  

But to Goudreau, it is a welcome change.

“At this stage of my life, having been through a lot personally and musically, I feel quite seasoned. Right now, I feel as if I have come back to my roots, and am exactly where I want to be, doing exactly what I want to be doing. Playing my new album at the Lynn Auditorium couldn’t be more perfect.”  

Ticket information is available at lynnauditorium.com or by calling 781-599-SHOW.

PHOTO BY SCOTT EISEN
Aidi Domenech of Lynn Classical High School boxes at Title Boxing in Saugus.

By GAYLA CAWLEY

SAUGUS — About 40 Lynn Classical High School students took a brief reprieve from classes on Monday to roll with the punches at Title Boxing Club.

The physical education/health students ranged from ninth- to 12th-graders, and from all different fitness levels. When they arrived at the gym in Saugus for their one-hour boxing class, the teenagers had their hands wrapped to prep for the punching bag.

Colleen Peterson, a PE/Health teacher at Classical, said she thought the class would be a hit because there’s interest in boxing at the school, and it’s becoming a trend.

“We do a lot of fitness-based curriculum in our PE classes, so I feel like this is going to really complement it,” Peterson said. “It’s really for lifetime fitness, them seeing this as teenagers, because not everyone that’s in PE right now is an athlete, so I feel like it’s really going to give them exposure to life after high school sports and keeping in shape.”

Peterson said she and the other PE teachers decided to put the idea out there and see if 50 kids would sign up. Forty signed up by the deadline last Friday. Title was doing the class for free, and students only had to pay for their hand wraps. The $10 sign-up fee included transportation by bus. Peterson said it was the first time she and the other PE teachers have done a field trip similar to the boxing class, and she was hoping to do it every semester if it went well.

“It gives them a great cross-training experience,” said Joan Wiendczak, a PE teacher. “We don’t want them to do the same exercise everyday because your body gets used to that. Enabling them to do something like this will cross-train them and use new muscles that perhaps they weren’t using before, and get them out and doing something that would interest them that they otherwise wouldn’t be exposed to.”

Goudreau keeps rockin’ in Swampscott

Wiendczak said the boxing class takes on all fitness levels. She said the whole idea was to get the students to move around and strengthen, so their fitness level continues to go up.

“I just thought it was interesting,” said Eric Lluveres, 18, a senior, about why he wanted to take the class. “I used to box before and I thought it was a good opportunity to get back into it.”

Eric Lopez, 18, a senior, said he came for the experience. He said he has boxed a little bit before, but nothing too serious.

When asked if it provided a nice break from the school day, he said, “It’s not every day you get to come to the gym like this and box.”

Senior Gilley Kabamba, 18, also thought the class would be interesting and was hoping to learn.

Junior Julie Mejia, 18, signed up because she thought the class looked exciting and to get a good workout.

Shakia Warner, 17, a junior, said she usually boxes at home.

“I box all the time with my dad, so I guess I just like boxing,” Warner said.

Lucky Henry, a fitness instructor at Title Boxing Club, said before the class that the students would be taken through a warm-up and then would be shown how to punch. They would engage in shadow punching and would go through a full-body workout.

After eight rounds of punching and combinations, he said they would do 15 minutes of ab and core work. He said everything in boxing is generated through the core. Kicking, punching, all of it comes from balance, Henry added.

Henry said anyone can take the class.

“It’s not a competition with anybody,” he said. “It’s all based on yourself. What can you do with the amount of time you’re given?”

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

PHOTO BY SCOTT EISEN
Lynn City Clerk Janet Rowe, left, and election coordinator Mary Jules help Tim and Deborah Potter cast absentee ballots.

By THOMAS GRILLO

SALEM — As a late season blizzard threatens to shut down the Bay State with more than a foot of snow, today’s high stakes election on funding two new middle schools has been postponed.

Essex Superior Court Judge Peter Lauriat issued the ruling on Monday in response to a request from the city. Less than three hours later, in an emergency meeting, the City Council moved the election to next Tuesday, March 21.

Lauriat approved a request by Richard Vitali, the city’s assistant city solicitor, to delay the special election. While the city had hoped the judge would approve the March 21 date, Lauriat declined.

“The City Council set the date of the first vote, they should set the new one,” Lauriat said from the bench.

That set in motion a swift response from City Hall to call for an emergency council meeting

“I’m glad,” said Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy. “I wanted to make sure we got into court today because it’s becoming more and more evident that it would be a real public safety hazard to have people attempting to go out to vote in a storm like this.”

Current system not sustainable, Latham says

Voters are being asked to pay for a 652-student school to be built near Pine Grove Cemetery on Parkland Avenue. A second facility to serve 1,008 students would be constructed on McManus Field on Commercial Street.

If approved, property owners will be responsible for $91.4 million of the total $188.5 million project cost. School officials said $11 million in contingency funds are included in the overall calculations. If those monies are not used, officials said it would reduce the taxpayer portion by that amount, making the taxpayers’ bill about $80 million. City officials say the average homeowner would pay from $200-$275 a year extra on their real estate tax bill for the next 25 years.

Donald Castle, a founding member of Protect Our Reservoir — Preserve Pine Grove, a grassroots organization founded to fight the ballot question, said his group will spend the extra week before the election to convince residents to vote no.

“The fight continues,” he said. “We will keep organizing to oppose this.”

We’re not anti-education, ‘no’-voters say

In a filing to the city on campaign spending, Two Schools for Lynn, the group organized to support the project, reported they raised $11,055 from Jan. 31 through Feb. 24. Much of the cash, $5,000, came from the Lynn Teachers Association. Public officials also made donations. City Councilor and state Rep. Daniel Cahill contributed $500, the mayor wrote a check for $200, City Councilor Brian LaPierre gave $450 and City Councilor Buzzy Barton donated $200.

The group opposing the ballot initiative, Protect Our Reservoir — Preserve Pine Grove, failed to file on time. Castle said the report was in the mail and estimated the group raised about $7,000.

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

LYNN — Laurine I. (Deveau) Darsney, age 93, formerly of Lynn, died unexpectedly on Friday at Brayburn Gardens at Brooksby Village. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Robert E. Darsney. Born in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late William and Margaret (Thibodeau) Deveau. She had lived in Lynn for the greater part of her life, before moving to Brooksby Village nine years ago.

Laurine worked as a teacher for more than 30 years, both at St. Jean’s Grammar School and Christ Child Nursery. She also worked as an educational assistant for the Lynn Public Schools for ten years. After her retirement, she worked as a home care helper for Greater Lynn Senior Services. She enjoyed camping, reading, and Japanese Bunka. Her greatest joy came from spending time with her family.

She is survived by three sons; William Darsney and his wife Anne-Marie of Savannah, Ga., Kenneth Darsney and his wife Helen of Laconia, N.H., and Timothy Darsney and his wife Kathleen of Nashua, N.H.; four grandchildren; Jennifer Lowry and her husband Derek of Ipswich, James Darsney and his wife Kris of Amesbury, Dianna Darsney de Salcedo and her husband Ricardo, currently in U.S. Foreign Service in Ethiopia, and Matthew Darsney of Seattle, Wash.; and five great-grandchildren; Ben, Cooper, Anna, Amalia and Dylan. She is also survived by a sister-in-law Geraldine (Darsney) Boberg and her husband Jack and a brother-in-law Normand Darsney and his wife Marie.

Service information: Her visiting hours will be held on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. in the SOLIMINE Funeral Home, 426 Broadway (Rt. 129), Lynn. Her funeral Mass will be held on Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Chapel at Brooksby Village, 300 Brooksby Village Drive, Peabody. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Private burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parish Kitchen, 141 West Pike St., Covington, KY 41011. Directions and guestbook at Solimine.com.

PHOTO BY SCOTT EISEN
Richie Sarro moves a grill in preparations for the heavy snow and high winds.

By BRIDGET TURCOTTE

With dangerous weather conditions expected during today’s winter storm, many communities are taking precautions.

Current forecasts project 12-18 inches of snow across most of the state, high winds and coastal flooding. Snow is expected to fall at a rate of 2-4 inches per hour, causing whiteout conditions.

A snow emergency has been declared in Revere and a parking ban will start at 6 a.m. today. Revere Public Schools and all city offices will be closed.

Ward 5 city councilor John Powers, who represents many of the city’s waterfront neighborhoods, said flooding typically depends on the tide.

“My understanding is that we’re probably going to have a 13-foot tide (today) and that’s above normal, but hopefully not too much above normal,” Powers said.

A tide gate near the train tracks and a system that involves catch basins for storm water and two pump houses are in place to prevent flooding during large storms like today’s, he said.

“Under normal conditions, the gate opens and closes automatically,” Powers said. “It’s closed now for the storm.”

Rice Avenue residents Nicole Capozzi and Richie Sarro said their home hasn’t been flooded in years. Howling winds, however, are another issue.

“The wind here is very very strong,” said Capozzi. “It’s very loud. During the last storm, I looked out the window and the grill was in the neighbor’s yard.”

To prepare for storms, they move their lawn furniture and grill to an alcove where it’s protected from the wind.

Sarro, who grew up in the Point of Pines neighborhood, said he believes the addition of dune grass helps keep the flood water at bay.

“Years ago, I was here during the 1978 storm,” he said. “I remember my mom was putting on her makeup. I looked out the window and there was a wall of water coming down the road. There was a helicopter on the roof asking ‘are you people alright?’ and I remember holding the dog. But we haven’t had anything like that in a long time.”

Cheryl Rebholz, a Rice Avenue resident, said she hasn’t had water in her basement for a few years, but still errs on the side of caution.

“We checked the pump in our basement yesterday,” Rebholz said. “All we can do is hope for the best.”

Lynn school election snowed out

A list of emergency arteries can be found on the Revere Police Department’s website. Cars parked on the emergency roads will be towed. The MBTA Wonderland Garage will be available to residents who don’t have off-street parking for a $5 rate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In a statement, The Revere Department of Public Works, Police Department and Mayor Brian Arrigo’s office asked residents to avoid travel. In addition to high rates of snow, MEMA has advised residents to be aware of the potential for coastal flooding, particularly during high tide at 1:29 p.m.

The city advised residents of the Beachmont, Point of Pines and Oak Island neighborhoods to be cautious.

A parking ban in Lynn began at midnight and all Lynn Public Schools are closed today, according to the city’s website.

All cars are required to be removed from the city’s streets and sidewalks until the ban is lifted. Residents without off-street parking can use the school’s parking lots starting at 5 p.m. on Monday.

Parking is also available at the Ellis Street Municipal lot on the School Street side and at the MBTA parking garage at Broad and Market Streets.

Trash and recycling will not be collected today. Collection will run on a one-day delay for the remainder of the week.

An emergency parking ban went into effect in Peabody at 3 a.m. today. During a snow emergency, blue lights on the city’s traffic poles will flash, indicating that parking on the streets is prohibited.

For residents who do not have off-street parking, alternative parking options may be available. For more information, contact 978-538-6312.

Peabody Public Schools, City Hall and other municipal offices are closed today.

Saugus Public Schools are also closed.

Saugus will  have a parking ban, effective today at 6 a.m., until 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning.  Motor vehicles must be moved from streets in order for the town to have roadways cleared, plowed, salted and sanded for public safety and emergency vehicle access. Any vehicles remaining on the streets may be ticketed and towed, according to Town Manager Scott Crabtree.

Parking is available in the Saugus High School lot, located at 1 Pearce Memorial Drive. The upper lot on the left has been designated as parking space for emergency overflow parking.

Crabtree said he’s urging residents to be safe and to check on family members and neighbors during the storm.

Trash and recycling collection will be delayed by one day from Wednesday through Saturday, March 18. Residents can contact solid waste and recycling coordinator Lorna Cerbone at 781-231- 4036 for more information.

Trash pickup is canceled in Marblehead, Peabody, Swampscott and Lynnfield today. In Revere, collection will begin early at 5 a.m. and remain on schedule throughout the week.

The town of Nahant has a winter parking ban that extends from Dec. 21 to March 20. The ban prohibits on-street parking from midnight until 6 a.m. Residents can apply for a parking waiver to be exempt from the ban.

In the event of a snow emergency, all cars must be removed from the street, including those with a parking waiver, or they will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.

The Johnson Elementary School is closed.

A parking ban, beginning at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, will last for 24 hours in Swampscott, according to Department of Public Works director Gino Cresta.

Swampscott Public Schools and Swampscott Town Hall are closed.

School is canceled in Lynnfield. The town will follow its normal winter parking ban, which prohibits cars from being parked on the road from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Keolis Commuter Services, operator of the MBTA Commuter Rail, said Monday that it will be operating at “Blue” level of service today. This means the normal weekday commuter rail schedule will be reduced by one-third and express trains will make local stops. Passengers should expect delays of between 15 and 25 minutes across the system.

“Extremely fast snowfall rates will create dangerous roadway conditions and we urge everyone to be prepared to stay off the roads, take public transit if necessary and work from home if possible,” said Gov. Charlie Baker in a statement.

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

LYNN — Joan Helen (Doyle) Magner, age 84, a lifelong resident of Lynn prior to moving to the Saugus Center five years ago, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 13, 2017, surrounded by her family and friends.

Born and educated in Lynn, Joan was the daughter of the late Arthur and Alice (White) Doyle. She graduated from St. Mary’s Girls High School with the Class of 1950. She was the beloved wife of the late Edward L. Magner with whom she shared 21 years of marriage; the loving and devoted mother of Joseph Magner and his wife, Sally of Methuen, Marianne Zukowski, Carol Magner, Lisa Johnson and her husband, Shawn, the late Nancy Milmore and her husband, John Milmore, all of Lynn; the cherished grandmother of Michael and Erin Zukowski Scott Zukowski and Ashley Ranahan, Nicole and Ricky Myette, Elizabeth and Brian Parsons, Gretchen Magner, and Kayla and Michael Cassidy; the great-grandmother of Emma, Matthew and Benjamin Zukowski, Coleman Myette, and Hannah Parsons; the dear sister of Margaret Kane of Lynn, Ellen Immar of Rockland and the late Herbert, James, Thomas and Martin Doyle and the late Agnes Doucette, Marion Zera, Anna Dart and Rita Manoogian; the sister-in-law of Eleanor Mackin of Lynn; and the aunt of many nieces and nephews.

After high school, Joan worked for General Electric for several years and the city of Lynn Convalescent Home for several years prior to her retirement. Joan had many special qualities and brought love and laughter to all who crossed her path. Her biggest joy was spending time with family, extended family and friends. She had an open door policy and there was never a need to be invited to her home. The family would like to extend their sincerest thanks to the loving staff of the Saugus Center for all of the wonderful care she received from them over the past five years.

Service information: Joan’s funeral will be held from the CUFFE-McGINN Funeral Home, 157 Maple St., Lynn, on Friday, March 17, at 9:30 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, 8 South Common St., Lynn at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, March 16 from 3-7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Joan’s memory may be made to: Alzheimer’s Association, MA Chapter, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472 or via www.alz.org.?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss For the online guestbook please visit Cuffemcginn.com.

NATIONAL GRID POWER OUTAGE MAP
This screenshot from National Grid shows the number of outages at approximately 4 p.m.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, there are 507 power outages across Massachusetts, affecting an estimated 38,144 customers, the National Grid power outage map says.

The outages come as a powerful nor’easter rages, threatening to dump more than a foot of snow in the North Shore area, with strong winds creating the potential of downed trees and power lines.

Across the North Shore area, the outages are in Lynn, Medford, Nahant, Saugus, and on the border of Revere, the map says. At 4 p.m., there appear to be about 1,700 customers affected in Lynn and 4,000 in Saugus. Check here for updates to the map.

To report a local power outage or downed wires, call National Grid at (1-800) 465-1212.

Nor’easter pounds Lynn Shore Drive

LYNN — The snow emergency and parking ban will be lifted at midnight Tuesday, according to a news release from the city of Lynn.

All vehicles parked in public school lots must be moved by 10 a.m. Wednesday or risk being ticketed and towed, the city says.

City Hall will be open for business Wednesday, but Lynn Public Schools will be closed. Trash and recycling pickup will remain on a one-day delay for the rest of the week.

Thousands without electricity during storm

LYNN — William Frederick “Bill” Gaffney, a longtime resident of Lynn, passed away suddenly on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at the age of 54.

Born in Quincy on May 14, 1962, he was the son of Edward and Margaret “Peg” Rundlett. Bill was raised and educated in Peabody and was a graduate of Peabody High School with the Class of 1981.

Bill worked for the past 12 years as a supervisor with the Schwartz and Benjamin Shoe Co. He spent many years enjoying coaching his sons’ youth soccer and baseball teams in Lynn.

Bill leaves his sons, William M. Gaffney of Beverly, Steven M. Gaffney and Michael Royce, both of Lynn; his parents, Peg and Ed Rundlett of Saugus; his other half, Rebecca Peters of Lynn; his former spouse, Lisa Gaffney of Peabody; and his brother, John Rundlett. Bill was preceded in death by his grandmother, Gladys Rundlett.

Service information: Visiting hours will be held in the CUFFE-McGINN Funeral Home, 157 Maple St., Lynn, on Friday, March 17, 2017 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by a graveside committal service in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn, at 1 p.m. For obituary and directions, please visit Cuffemcginn.com.

ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Khiry Todd, a native of Lynn, is quickly building an impressive boxing career. 

By HAROLD RIVERA

The list of talented athletes who have made Lynn proud is a long one. Thanks to rising stars like Khiry Todd, that list continues to grow.

Todd, a Lynn native, is building an impressive professional boxing career. The 25-year-old welterweight made his professional debut in December. The result was a knockout victory that lasted just 42 seconds.

Two months later, Todd took part in his second professional bout. The result of that one? Another swift knockout victory, this time ending in one minute and 23 seconds.

At 2-0 with two impressive knockout wins, Todd’s career is quickly ascending.

“My career has been great,” Todd said. “I’ve been training since I was 12. I had about 40 amateur fights. I’ve been training, training and training, so this was a long time coming. I trained hard and it has showed in the ring.”

A Lynn English alum, Todd picked up an interest in boxing from watching bouts on television with his father. After watching Micky Ward, a fellow Massachusetts native, fight against Arturo Gatti, Todd found an inspiration.

“My dad always watched boxing at home,” Todd said. “I would always watch boxing fights with him at home. When I saw Micky Ward fight Arturo Gatti it made me realize that if Micky could do it, I could do it. Micky’s from Massachusetts, that’s where I’m from.”

In his pre-teen years, Todd began to follow his boxing dreams.

“I started boxing when I was 12,” Todd said.  “I played all different types of sports growing up but boxing stood out to me. It was all one-on-one and I just had to focus on myself.”

When he brought his talents to the professional ring, his aspirations took a major leap towards his goal of becoming a world champion. Along the way, Todd hopes to serve as a case study for young athletes in his community.

“It looks kind of far but my goal is to be a world champion,” Todd said. “It’s not impossible. Every world champion has two arms and two legs, just like me. I want to be an inspiration to the kids from Lynn, like me, that feel they have a shot.”

Todd’s career holds a promising future, but he didn’t get there without his fair share of sweat and dedication. Five days a week, Todd can be found working on his craft at the Bobby Tomasello Memorial Boxing Gym in Saugus.

The other two days of the week don’t go to waste. On the weekends, Todd focuses on his cardio regimen which consists of a daily 3-4 mile run.

“Cardio is very big,” Todd said. “Especially right now, I’m only fighting four rounds so I have to give everything I have and get it out in four rounds.”

His dedication in the ring has allowed Todd to build a special bond with his trainer, Joseph Ricciardi. The key to their relationship, Todd said, is the trust they share with each other.

“We have a good relationship,” Todd said. “He’s my trainer but he also gives me advice on the right fights to take. He lets me dictate what I want to do. I trust him, and that’s a big thing in boxing. I trust him and he trusts me, so we have a good relationship.”

Aside from Ward, Todd cites a handful of other boxing legends including Muhammad Ali, Arturo Gatti, Marvin Hagler and Mike Tyson as his inspirations. The boxing legend he feels most connected to, however, is Floyd Mayweather.

“I had the opportunity to go to two of Mayweather’s camps when he fought Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao,” Todd said. “It was a good opportunity to see him. To me, he’s my Muhammad Ali. To see that firsthand, I feel that gives me a little bit of an edge.”

Todd’s currently preparing for his next bout, which is set to take place in Rhode Island, at Twin River Casino on April 7. His opponent, Vincent Floyd (1-2-1), is a 28-year-old welterweight fighter from Philadelphia.

“My goal is to win by all means,” Todd said. “If he wants to box it, I can box it. As long as I can get the win, that’s all I’m concerned about. At the end of the day, this is my career. I have to make sure I get the win by all means.”

As he follows the footsteps of the long list of Lynn sports legends, Todd acknowledges the opportunity to represent his community in the ring is one he doesn’t take for granted.

“Representing Lynn definitely means something to me,” Todd said. “People call it ‘the city of sin’ but I call it the ‘city of win.’ I grew up in Lynn. I’m trying to show that there’s good that comes from this city and I’m also representing my family.”