ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Vietnam veterans Bud Klasner, Marty Robichaud, and Ross Gilchrisc watch as Walter Gutherie accepts an award.

By BRIDGET TURCOTTE

LYNN — Forty-four years after the last United States combat troops departed Vietnam, a small crowd gathered at City Hall to honor about two dozen local Vietnam War veterans.

“I get misty-eyed,” said Marty Robichaud, who served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam for a year. “Vietnam vets were not treated well. We were treated like crap. It was a lousy war, but hate the war, not the warrior.”

He was sent to war to be a truck driver in transportation convoys but five months later, the then-21-year-old became a gunner. Robichaud is a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, a national nonprofit corporation that works to promote and support a full range of issues important to all veterans and change the public perception of Vietnam veterans.

City Councilor Peter Capano read a proclamation from Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy, dubbing Wednesday Vietnam Veterans’ Day in the city of Lynn.

“As we walk around today, let us try to remember the freedoms we have in this country  whether it’s the freedom of religion, freedom of the press — they don’t come without a price,” said Capano.

Setting an example in Revere

Mike Sweeney, director of the Lynn Veterans’ Council, read the names of fallen military members, followed by a moment of silence.

“Reading those names every year, like Peter (Capano) said, freedom isn’t free. That’s what he means,” said Sweeney. “This audience, many of them know these names.”

Sue Ann Wood is the Gold Star mom of Lcpl. Mathew Puckett, who was killed in action while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq on Sept. 13, 2004.

“This is important to me,” said Wood. “I have so many friends who are Vietnam vets. If they can’t be here, I want to be here for them.”

Veterans from the Essex County Detachment fired a 21-gun salute from the front steps of City Hall. Cpl. Lee Coddens, a Marine Corps veteran, played taps on the bugle.

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

COURTESY PHOTO
Pictured is heroin and cash seized in a Lynn arrest.

By GAYLA CAWLEY

LYNN — A Beverly man was arrested for heroin trafficking on Tuesday afternoon.

Gabriel Suazo, 30, was charged with heroin trafficking, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, said Lynn Police Lt. Rick Donnelly.

Donnelly said the Lynn Police Drug Task Force saw a 2017 Hyundai Sante Fe in the Highlands that was suspected of dealing drugs around 3:30 p.m., and decided to watch the car.

Police followed the car through the Highlands and then saw it pull over on the right side of Tudor Street. A 32-year-old woman got into the passenger side, and the car drove about 150 feet up the road before she got out and walked away. The officer relayed information about the car to other units and went to talk to the woman, Donnelly said.

The officer caught up with the woman on the front steps of a home on the Lynnway, identified himself and asked her to stop. Donnelly said she “bladed” her body away from him and moved her arms up to her face. Police secured her wrists to keep her from moving and saw a clear plastic bag with suspected heroin at her feet.

Evidence seized from murder suspect’s phone

Police checked her warrants, saw she had none and let her go. Suazo’s car was pulled over on Newhall Street, but he refused to roll down the window and appeared to be reaching into the console. Police asked him to exit the car, and he continued to reach into the console, Donnelly said.

Officers opened the car door and saw a plastic bag sticking out of Suazo’s pants pocket. He was pulled out of the car and struggled with officers before he was able to break free and run. While police chased him, they saw him pull the plastic bag out of his pocket and run with it in his hand, Donnelly said.

Suazo was eventually caught in a yard just off the Lynnway with a bag of drugs on him. He was arrested, and the bag, which contained 18 twists of suspected heroin, weighed approximately 51 grams, with a street value of $5,100. The drugs, along with $1,840 in cash and two cell phones were seized, Donnelly said.

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

By GAYLA CAWLEY

LYNN — Tomas Barillas, 20, of Lynn, was held without bail following a brief Lynn District Court appearance Wednesday, where he was arraigned on a murder charge in connection with last weekend’s stabbing death on Chase Street.

Barillas pleaded not guilty in the death of Jason Arias-Amador, 20, of Boston, who was killed on March 23 near 14 Chase St. He is also charged with unlawful possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

His court-appointed defense attorney, Denise Regan had no comment on the charges.

Family members of the victim were present for the arraignment, but also declined comment.

Barillas is scheduled to return to court on May 10 for a probable cause hearing.

Police responded to the area of Baker and Franklin Street shortly after midnight Friday on a report of a man with a possible stab wound. The officers saw a man sitting on the ground leaning up against a taxi, later identified as Arias-Amador. His body was limp and he was not moving, according to a police report filed at Lynn District Court.

Arias-Amador couldn’t communicate and his clothes were saturated with blood. Police began to administer aid and found a stab wound on the left side of his neck underneath his jaw. Pressure was applied, but it became apparent that he had already lost a significant amount of blood, according to court documents.

Other emergency personnel responded, administered CPR and Arias-Amador was taken to Salem Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to court documents.

In the area where Arias-Amador had collapsed, police found a red folding knife and a flip-style cell phone, court documents show.

FBI: No matter where you hide, we will find you

Police followed a trail of blood from Baker to Franklin Street, which led all the way back to a larger pool of blood in the front lot of 14 Chase St., where authorities think the incident originated. The trail of blood stretched the distance of approximately 150 to 200 yards. There was also blood on a vehicle parked in the area of 26 Chase St., where police believe Arias-Amador leaned against for assistance while he was walking, according to court documents.

The taxi driver who reported the incident told police that he saw Arias-Amador stumbling over toward his vehicle, before he leaned over and collapsed. He then got out of his taxi, saw the profuse bleeding and called 911, according to court documents.

Court documents show that police learned through a conversation with Arias-Amador’s sister, that the victim had sent his girlfriend a Snapchat message that he was “meeting my boy, from ESMG, Names sixteen.”

Through assistance from the Lynn Police Gang Unit, Barillas emerged as a person of interest because he is known on the streets as “Sixteen” and is associated with the ESMG, which is known to stand for east side money gang, according to court documents.

Police said Barillas had three outstanding warrants for his arrest from Chelsea District Court. When detectives went to arrest him on the warrants at his Baker Street home, he was discovered hiding in the basement under a plastic tarp, according to court documents.

After his arrest, police searched Barillas’ phone, which allegedly showed he was communicating with Arias-Amador, and planned to meet him. The phone also contained a self-made video, in which he bragged of “catching a body” from Mission Hill, and concluding with him opening the bathroom window covering and showing the lot where the murder allegedly occurred. Police said the term “catching a body” means to kill someone, according to court documents.

Officers obtained a search warrant for Barillas’ Baker Street home on March 24, and found clothes he was believed to be wearing the night before, which all had what was believed to be blood on them. A plastic bag containing handgun ammunition was also recovered, according to court documents.

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

CAMBRIDGE — Christopher J. Brown, 34, of Cambridge, formerly of Lynn, passed away Sunday, March 26, 2017, following a brave battle with addiction.

Born and raised in Lynn, he was the son of Donna Brown, Matthew and Susan McGrath. He was a graduate of Lynn English High School. Family was most important to him, especially his father, with whom he was very close. He also enjoyed music, and most of all, raising his daughter Julyanna. He adored, and always loved his nieces and nephews. Christopher’s kindness and sense of humor were enjoyed by all of those he has touched in his life, and he will never be forgotten.

In addition to his parents, daughter and girlfriend Jessica, he is survived by his siblings, Amanda, Brittany, Kerri, Michael and Jimmy, many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and friends.

Service information: Christopher’s funeral and burial will be private. Arrangements by the GOODRICH Funeral Home, 128 Washington St., Lynn.

LYNN — Mrs. Portia S. (Mourginis) Rouvalis, 82, of Lynn, died on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, in Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Nicholas P. Rouvalis, who died Nov. 11, 2016.

She was born in Lowell, the daughter of the late Louis and Angeline (Arvanites) Mourginis. She was raised in Boston and was a graduate of Boston Schools. She also took several courses at North Shore Community College. Mrs. Rouvalis lived in Lynn most of her life.

She enjoyed sewing, cooking and cake decorating. She enjoyed reading. Mrs. Rouvalis was a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church. She was a hard worker and always loved being with her family.

She worked in the corporate office of T.J. Maxx/Marshalls and taking inventory at West Lynn Creamery. She also worked at John Hancock Insurance and the IRS.

Mrs. Rouvalis is survived by her son, Peter Rouvalis and his wife Nikki of Danvers, and her daughter Angela Tenedios and her husband Kerry of Danvers, her grandchildren Christina Tenedios and her fiancée Jonathan Davis, Amanda Martin and her husband Christopher, Stephanie and Sophia Rouvalis, her brothers Nicholas Mourginis and his wife Yola of Boston and Constantine Mourginis and his wife Cynthia of Worcester. She also leaves several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Service information: Her funeral will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 9 a.m. from the SOLIMINE Funeral Home, 426 Broadway, (Rte. 129), Lynn, followed by funeral services in St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Lynn, at 10 a.m. Burial in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are on Friday from 4-8 p.m. Directions and guestbook at Solimine.com.

PEABODY — Irene E. (Marie) Howard, 86, of Peabody and formerly of Lynn, died late Tuesday afternoon at her home surrounded by her loving family following a brief illness. She was the devoted wife of Thomas R. Howard with whom she shared more than 62 years of marriage. It was a beautiful love story.

Born in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late Franklin W. and Anna K. (Donahue) Marie. She was raised and educated in Lynn and has lived in Peabody for the past 59 years.

Family was everything to Irene and she loved raising and providing for her four children. She especially enjoyed sharing time with her children and grandchildren on traditional family vacations to Martha’s Vineyard and Captiva.

Besides her loving husband, she is survived by her children, Karen Masino and her partner, Michael Ford of Ipswich, Thomas W. Howard and his wife Melanie of Chelmsford, Barry C. Howard and his wife Gloria of Wakefield, and Debra Taylor of Chelmsford, her eight grandchildren, Kristen Nicholson, Lauren Masino and her boyfriend George Diantgikas, Christopher Howard and his wife Elizabeth, Robert Howard, Lucy Howard and Nicole and Adam Taylor, her two great -grandchildren, Kiley and Peter Nicholson, her siblings Robert and his wife Lois Marie of Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, Dorothy Macdonald of Beverly, and Frances Laubner of Peabody and also is survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was predeceased by her grandson-in-law Peter Nicholson, granddaughter Julia Howard and by her son-in-law Robert Masino.

Service information: Her funeral will be held on Saturday at 9 a.m. at the CONWAY, CAHILL-BRODEUR Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody followed by her funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Adelaide’s Church, Lowell St., Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Friday from 4-8 p.m. Expressions of sympathy can be made in her name to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. For directions and on-line obituary, visit Ccbfuneral.com.

By THOMAS GRILLO

LYNN — Single-family home sales fell in January, but prices soared by more than 19 percent, according to The Warren Group, the Boston-based real estate tracker.

The number of homes sold during the first month of the year fell to 27, down from 40 a year ago. While sales slipped, the median price of a single-family dwelling increased to $295,000, up from $247,500.

Lynn’s condominium sales market also dropped in January. A total of 15 condos sold, down from 18 a year ago, a nearly 17 percent decrease. Despite falling sales, prices rose. The median price of a condo climbed to $185,000, a 12 percent hike from a year ago when the median was $165,000.

High School Sports Schedule

Brokers say a combination of higher prices and few listings drove sales down.

At press time, there were 67 single-family homes for sale in Lynn and 22 condos. Agents say the inventory of available homes has been twice as high in the past.

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

By THOMAS GRILLO

BOSTON — A real estate broker who authorities say swindled Lynn homeowners has been indicted on additional charges, according to Attorney General Maura Healey.

Kevin Taing, 49, of Lowell, faces jail time in connection with stealing more than $464,000 through a larceny scheme targeting families facing foreclosure.

This is the second time Taing has been charged. Last fall, he was indicted on larceny charges and obtaining a signature by false pretenses that resulted in the theft of more than $165,000 from homeowners in Lynn and Lowell.

Lynn home sales down, prices up

Healey’s office began an investigation into the licensed real estate broker and principal of EFI, in 2014. Authorities allege Taing, who is of Cambodian descent and speaks Khmer, persuaded 11 Cambodian homeowners facing foreclosure to make payments to EFI rather than their mortgage lender.

Law enforcement officials further allege that Taing led these families to believe that by paying EFI they would reduce their monthly payments and keep their homes.

Instead, Taing allegedly used the cash to pay his personal expenses, credit card bills, restaurant and retail expenses.

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

ITEM PHOTO BY DAVID WILSON
Local DJ Jay Brown is pictured outside Bruno’s Bar + Burger.

By DAVID WILSON

LYNN — You may never see Ryan Seacrest walk the city streets, but you may see Jay Brown at the Stop & Shop on Washington Street.

Brown, one of the newest voices of Boston-based radio station The New 97.7, can be spotted all over. At 6 feet 4 inches, in a black newsboy cap, he’s hard to miss.

Thursday afternoon, at Bruno’s Bar + Burger on Western Avenue, the Lynn resident gives a quick history of R&B.

The genre started in the 1940s, but it would be a few decades before the “R&B era,” as he calls it, begins.

The New 97.7, which launched in January, plays R&B from the 1970s to today: Stevie Wonder to Drake; Al Green to Ne-Yo. Coming on board the first weekend of March, Brown can be heard from 3-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

His station is one that, he says, is returning R&B to the masses. “Turn on 97.7 and (people) feel the difference,” he said. “They can actually hear the difference … their kids love it because they’re hearing songs that they know, and the parents are liking it because they’re hearing songs they know.”

In a small booth at Bruno’s, Brown speaks about the “musical journey.” Think of it as time-travel: a trip from decade to decade, and back again.

“Music is endless; the possibilities are endless with music. If you can connect a memory with a song, that’s part of the musical journey,” he says.

The 38-year-old wants to help bring the musical journey to Lynn. He will be deejaying an “old-school” night, beginning 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 12 at Bruno’s, 858 Western Ave.

KIPP Academy scores 1st senior acceptance to MIT

Brown says he grew up in Salem and moved to Lynn about 20 years ago. His love of music appears to have started early, following him through most of his professional life.

“When I was in eighth grade, I was deejaying in a club, which was a college night,” Brown said; yes, he says he was over 6 feet then, too. “I had experiences that the average eighth-grader wouldn’t have experienced.”

In the early ’90s, R&B faded as hip-hop became more prominent, Brown said. But some of today’s hip-hop has taken a dive with talk of drugs, violence and “things that nobody wants in their community,” he said.

You won’t hear anything like that on Brown’s station. “Not at all; there’s not even a song we would play that has a word that would need to be bleeped out,” he said.

It’s a family-friendly, out-in-the-community, live-and-local station, Brown said; it’s something a lot of other Boston radio stations lack.

“It’s incredible to be on the radio in Boston, and be able to entertain everybody not only in Boston, but also on the North Shore; family, friends,” he said.

And after less than a month on 97.7, Brown says he gets recognized all over the place. He’s bound to see someone wherever he goes: Boston, Lynn, Salem, he said. But he’s always shocked when he’s asked for his autograph.

“Who am I? I don’t make a million dollars,” he says. “But I love what I do at the end of the day.

“A million dollars, to me, is putting a smile on people’s faces when they hear the music.”

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

By LEAH DEARBORN

LYNN — The School Committee continued a discussion regarding the concerns of immigrant students on Thursday.

Member Maria Carrasco initiated the conversation at the previous committee meeting, saying she has been approached by a number of students who are worried about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) entering the schools.

In response, attorney and committee member Jared Nicholson drafted a resolution meant to clarify the law and reassure students.

Nicholson read aloud from the resolution, which stated the Lynn Public Schools’ commitment to providing a safe learning environment.

The resolution reiterated that city schools do not request immigration status information from students.

School attorney John C. Mihos said the resolution doesn’t constitute a policy change, just a restatement of the laws as they already exist.

Carrasco and committee member Donna Coppola both spoke in support of the concept of becoming a “sanctuary school district,” a distinction that Mihos said would only alter the title of the resolution and not its purpose.

“The word ‘sanctuary’ means protection for somebody who feels chased,” said Carrasco, who argued that the word alone does have some impact.

Saugus Rotary up to speed

Member Patricia Capano said there have been no incidents regarding students and immigration enforcement in city schools. She said the resolution is an attempt on the committee’s part to be proactive.

Superintendent Dr. Catherine Latham said she spoke with Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett regarding the subject and was told there have been no deportations in the county.

Carrasco disputed that claim, but said she could not ethically provide the identities of the individuals impacted.

A vote to adopt the resolution was tabled in order to bring the topic to a full committee for further discussion.

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

By JAMES J. CARRIGAN

Pictured on right is Attorney James J. Carrigan.

Am I a bigot? Of course I am. But hopefully I am evolving to a better place.

The effects of racism and bigotry cause great harm and hurt to recipients and make America a less happy and productive country. I always think of bigotry from the point of view of a parent. Would I want to see my beautiful child subjected to the meanness and ridicule that flows from racism? No. So why would I want anyone else’s child to suffer from the effects of hate? I wouldn’t.

I first learned of bigotry at family gatherings. My grandfather arrived at Ellis Island in 1892 from Ireland. He moved to Massachusetts where he faced those awful signs: Help Wanted “Irish need not apply.” It is not just the reality that getting a job would be more difficult, it was the horrifying recognition that an entire class of people did not respect the Irishmen, like my grandfather. Why? They didn’t even know him. He was a kind, wonderful man with a beautiful smile. He raised eight children who became nuns, school teachers and successful business people. So why would a large group of people take the position that Irish people were not worthy of employment? These same cliches have been expressed about virtually every ethnic group and class of people in America. They are mean and serve to deny jobs and put down whole groups of people.

Cruel jokes are endless, sometimes funny, but always hurtful to people on the receiving end.

The United States of America is the best. I don’t need to extol its virtues, but it is also evolving. The Declaration of Independence says in part: “All men are created equal.” But that was an ideal not a reality. Only white men who owned property could vote. Not African Americans, not women, and not poor persons. We had to fight a civil war in order to emancipate black people in 1865. It took another 100 years to enact the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Women had to march in the streets and hold rallies before they could achieve the right to vote in 1920. It wasn’t until 1906 that President Teddy Roosevelt appointed the first Jew and the first Catholic to the cabinet. The first African American was not appointed to the Supreme Court until October 1967. Was it really smart of us to deny all those women, blacks and others the right to serve our country? Would not Abigail Adams have made a great political leader for our early nation? What about Lynn’s own Frederick Douglass, who met with President Lincoln, and also would have been an even more powerful political leader?

Bigotry happens so often ‘I have lost track’

I am evolving as well, but despite my son-in-law’s influence, I still hate the Yankees.

At the request of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and under the guidance of Mrs. Virginia Barton, I organized a group of activists, including former U.S. Rep. Chet Atkins, former state Rep. Jon Rotenberg, national pollster Pat Caddell, and my Lynn friends, attorney Fred Latour and Joe Casey (not the attorney), to train newly-registered voters to run for political office.

To conduct this training, we lived in Mound Bayou, Miss. One of our meeting places was the home of a family whose house had been bombed. One could see the scars from the bomb on the front porch.

One of our potential candidates was the mother of a young woman who had been named valedictorian of her high school two months before we arrived. She was shot and killed on the way home from graduation. Did her black life matter? Could she have gone on to college and then on to a career?

In 1933, FDR interviewed Frances Perkins to become the first woman Secretary of Labor. Her most important contributions surrounded the federal law banning child labor; the introduction of a 40-hour work week; implementation of the minimum wage; unemployment compensation, worker’s compensation; Social Security and health insurance.

“Nothing like this has ever been done in the United States,” she is quoted as saying.

She would have to overcome opposition from the courts, businesses, labor unions and conservatives. She was subjected to criticism and ridicule by men. They called her a “girl.” She witnessed the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire that killed many young girls and women because of poor safety regulations. Workplace safety was firmly implanted into her DNA.

Imagine what the New Deal and the safety net used by so many millions of Americans would have been like had she not been appointed Secretary of Labor.

To paraphrase Elie Wiesel, he said that first it was jokes, then teasing and, finally, bullying, which in 1938 led to Kristallnacht, the destruction of Jewish businesses in Berlin.

In meeting with The Item’s Editorial staff recently, I learned that The Item’s Mission Statement is, among other things to “provoke thought.” Based on my conversations with Item readers this week, I believe that The Item has done that.

When Ted Grant, Darrell Murkison and I met to discuss this series a couple of years ago, we hoped that it would inspire dialogue and improvement in human relations. We’ll see.

In the inimitable words of Cesar Chavez, “Everything is possible.”

James J. Carrigan is a Lynn attorney and host of Lynn Community Television’s “The American Dream,” broadcast on Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. and Mondays at 1:30 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARROWSTREET
Pictured is KIPP Academy on High Rock Street.

By THOMAS GRILLO

LYNN — Two weeks after voters said no to a tax hike for two middle schools, the city’s only charter school is planning to build a $20 million high school, The Item has learned.

KIPP Massachusetts, which operates the Academy Lynn Public Charter School, has signed an agreement to purchase a former parking lot on Munroe Street that has been used as a community garden.

Assessed at $211,000, the parcel is owned by Munroe Partners LLC, operated by Gordon Hall, president of The Hall Co. The new school would include grades 9 through 12 and house 450 students.

“With a new YMCA being built nearby and St. Mary’s building the STEM School, having a new high school on Munroe Street would create a little campus in the downtown,” said Joel Abramson, a KIPP board member. “We are looking to share whatever assets we have with the community and the Lynn Public Schools.”

Hall said his company has agreed in principle to sell the 29,000-square-foot parcel to KIPP. The school is in the due diligence period and a closing date has not been set, he said.  “This is an opportunity to fill one of the missing teeth in downtown Lynn with a civic building that’s needed,” Hall said.

The new school would be paid for by a fundraising effort, tax credits, a possible bond from MassDevelopment, the state’s economic development and finance agency and a portion of the $12,000 per student tuition payments paid by Lynn Public Schools.

Caleb Dolan, the school’s executive director, said with a waiting list of more than 1,000 students, there’s lots of demand for space.

“We are certainly thinking about our future in Lynn,” he said. “We just had a lottery and had a tremendous turnout. There were 800 elementary school applicants for 120 slots. We are certainly thinking about how to hopefully serve more kids and how to be part of the solution in Lynn.”

Earlier this year, MassDevelopment issued KIPP a $5.7 million tax-exempt bond. The school plans to use the proceeds to build a 12,000-square-foot addition to its High Rock Street campus to accommodate 600 students in kindergarten through fourth grade.

MassDevelopment provided the school with a $26 million financing package in 2011, including a tax-exempt bond and New Market Tax Credits to build its existing building.

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE
Pictured is murder suspect David Michael Grossack.

LYNN — The Essex District Attorney’s Office has obtained a warrant charging David Michael Grossack, 47, with murder in connection with the killing of a 56-year old Lynn woman.

According to a news release, Lynn police responded Dec. 29, 2016 to an apartment at 40 Newhall St. to investigate a reported death. Police found the body Kathleen Burgess. Her body was in an advanced stage of decomposition, the release said.

Authorities say they noted signs of a struggle at the scene. The release says the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, upon inspection of the body, ruled Burgess’ death a homicide by blunt force trauma and identified multiple facial fractures.

Police were notified of the scene by the victim’s daughter, who had gone to check on her mother after not hearing from her for several days, the release said.

Investigators say they  learned that Kathleen Burgess was in a dating relationship with Grossack, and that he had been at her apartment.

Grossack was recently apprehended in Pittfield in connection with another homicide in Everett, the release said. He will be arraigned on the murder charge stemming from Burgess’ death Monday in Lynn District Court.

ITEM FILE PHOTO
Pictured is Harrington Elementary School Principal Debra Ruggiero.

By ADAM SWIFT

PEABODY — The School Committee could select a new superintendent as soon as next Wednesday.

The city is down to two candidates to replace interim Superintendent Herb Levine after one finalist, Arthur Unobskey, accepted the superintendent position in Wayland earlier this week. The choice now looks like it will come down to Debra Ruggiero, principal of the Harrington Elementary School in Lynn, and John Oteri, headmaster at Somerville High School. Oteri is also a superintendent finalist in Malden.

The School Committee made a site visit to Lynn on Thursday to see Ruggiero in action and will be heading to Somerville on Tuesday. On Wednesday, April 5, both candidates will be in Peabody to meet with city officials during the day and for a second round of interviews with the committee that night.

“There could be a vote on that night, or it could be made at the School Committee meeting the following Tuesday,” said Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt Jr.

Early in possible race, McGee ahead in funds

The position was advertised with a salary range of $175,000-$190,000 with a three-year initial contract. The official posted start date is July 1.

Earlier in March, the School Committee interviewed six of the 19 candidates who applied for the position.

Bettencourt has said the district is looking for a candidate who will bring stability and enthusiasm to the position.

ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Virginia and Donald Lucia are pictured 20 years after the April Fools’ Day blizzard of 1997.

By BRIDGET TURCOTTE

LYNN — Only three to five inches of snow is expected this April Fools’ Day. But 20 years ago, the joke was on the residents of the Northeastern United States when Mother Nature dumped rain, sleet and more than 25 inches of snow on every town from Maine to Maryland.

“We couldn’t get out from our front or side door that day,” said Virginia Lucia, who the late Item photographer Walter Hoey captured shoveling snow from the top of her car two decades ago. “It was just so much snow.”

Virginia and her husband, Donald Lucia, have lived in their Fernwood Avenue home for 56 years. Donald, who worked for the Swampscott Public School system, said more than anything, he remembers the flooding that followed the snowfall.

“And, of course, these storms bring out a certain sense of camaraderie,” he said. “You see your neighbors and you help each other out.”

The record-setting spring blizzard prompted the deaths of three men in Massachusetts and Rhode Island; all suffered heart attacks while shoveling snow.

Prior to the storm, Boston had received 26.5 inches of snow for the season. People took warnings of a blizzard lightly because of the anticipated storm’s date. Plows had already been put away from the spring season. March 30, 1997, a sunny day with a high temperature of 63 degrees, didn’t help convince anyone otherwise.

But a cold front hit on March 31. From 7-11 p.m., an inch of snow fell each hour. From 11-3 a.m. on April 1, three inches piled up per hour. With 25.4 inches measured at Logan International Airport, the snowstorm was the fourth largest in Boston’s history. The biggest was the North American Blizzard of 2003, which totaled 27.5 inches, beating the Blizzard of ‘78 by .4 inches.

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About 1,000 Massachusetts drivers spent the night trapped in their vehicles, Logan Airport was shut down, and trees and large limbs fell, leaving many without electricity; 8,000 in Lynn alone.

City officials used the Broadway Fire Station as an emergency management command post, Breed Junior High as an evacuation center, and Greater Lynn Senior Services as a shelter.

A 4-year-old boy fell into Sluice Pond while playing with his older brother. His brother jumped into the frigid water after him, as did their father, who helped rescue them both. A Howard Street woman went into labor during the storm’s peak, a Boston Street man was injured by his snowblower, and a Saratoga Street man was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital to have two of his partially severed fingers reattached.

On April 2, 1997, then-Lynn Mayor Patrick J. McManus estimated the April Fools’ Day surprise cost the city $100,000 in plowing and sanding costs, on top of the $200,000 budgeted and mostly already spent during the winter.

Schools in Lynn, Peabody, Nahant, Lynnfield, Revere and Saugus were closed for the first time that year, according to a 1997 Item article. Marblehead and Swampscott had a two-hour delay.

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

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

Steven Hersey, 43, of 21 Essex Ave. was arrested and charged with assault and battery in the presence of a police officer, assault and battery on a disabled person over 60 years and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon at 8:45 a.m. Friday.

Devinya Robinson of 38 Gordon St. in Framingham was arrested on a warrant charge of assault and battery on a disabled person over 60 years at 3:14 p.m. Thursday.

Walter Varela, 23, of 85 Lawton Ave. was arrested on charges of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and no inspection sticker at 7:59 a.m. Friday.  

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury at 11:23 a.m. Friday at Congress Street and Western Avenue.

A report of a motor vehicle accident at 11:47 a.m. Friday at 499 Eastern Ave.

Complaints

A report of a disturbance at 1:09 a.m. at 124 Broad St. Friday; at 5:23 a.m. at 425 Washington St. Friday; at 6:08 a.m. at 124 Central Ave. #26 Friday; at 6:12 a.m. at 563 Boston St. Friday; at 10:08 a.m. at 8 Carnes St. Floor 2 FL Friday; at 11:38 a.m. at 409 Lynnway Friday.  

A report of vandalism at 7:41 a.m. at 48 Seymour Ave Floor 2 Friday.

Theft

A report of larceny at 6:20 a.m. Friday at 2 Atlantic St.; at 11:05 a.m. at 55 School St. #2L Friday; at 11:34 a.m. Friday at 94 Boston St.

A report of breaking and entering at 2:36 p.m. Friday at 247 Boston St. Floor 1.

A report of motor vehicle theft at 9:26 a.m. Friday at 837 Lynnway.

Police log: 3-31-2017

MARBLEHEAD

Theft

A report of larceny at 5:22 p.m. at Birch Street Thursday.

PEABODY

Arrests

Eder Deoliveira, 33, of 47 Cross St. #1 in Everett was arrested at 46 Tremont St. on a department warrant at 2:01 p.m. Thursday.

Dale McNulty-Bynoe Jr., 18, of 58 Central St. was arrested at 11 Main St. Thursday.  

Elias Pereira, 33, of 44 Pearl St. #1 in Everett was arrested at 46 Tremont St. for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and failure to display the owner’s name at 2:01 p.m. Thursday.

Accidents

A report of a motor vehicle at 4:20 at 59 Newbury St. Thursday; at 10:54 a.m. at Sylvan Street Friday.

SAUGUS

Arrests

Ahmauri Serge Menard of 77A Bolton St. in Cambridge was arrested on warrant charges at 9:50 a.m. Thursday.

Theft

A report of larceny at 10:18 a.m. on Broadway Thursday.

COURTESY PHOTO
Lynn English students attended the Anti-Defamation League A World of Difference Institute.

LYNN — More than 35 English High School students attended Thursday’s Anti-Defamation League A World of Difference Institute in Boston along with school peer mediator Ginny Keenan.

This one-day conference brought together more than 1,400 middle school and high school students, teachers and community leaders from over 65 schools across New England, including Lynn, Marblehead, Swampscott and Melrose with middle school as well as high school students attending.

The event’s keynote speaker was Gold Star parent Khizr Khan.

World of Difference gives students and teachers the opportunity to explore what it is like for people of different national origins, ethnicities, races and religions to live in the United States. Participants will develop action steps to foster inclusive schools and communities in which everyone is welcomed, respected and valued.   

Malden poised for school pick

“At this time of rising hate incidents, schools remain a top concern,” said ADL New England Regional Director Robert Trestan. “ADL New England has responded to an unprecedented number of calls this year from schools asking for assistance with a bias related incident.”

Trestan said this year’s theme, “There Is No Them, Only Us,” serves as a critical reminder that “we all have a role to play in creating a world where differences are celebrated.”

Youth Congress will provide students and their teachers with the opportunity to affect positive change, and learn what they can do to counteract bias and discrimination in their schools and communities.”  

ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
North Shore Christian School eighth-grader Rebecca Ibanez talks about her experiences in El Salvador.

By BILL BROTHERTON

LYNN — Most middle-school girls go to the mall.

Rebecca Ibanez goes to El Salvador.

The 13-year-old eighth-grader at North Shore Christian School just returned from a missions trip to the Central American nation. It was her fifth missions trip and more are planned, including a return this summer to either El Salvador or Spain.

Rebecca is going places in every sense of the word. Lynn Rotary recently honored her for her charitable/church work. A pianist/singer, she enters the distinguished Boston Arts Academy in the fall. Her love for music comes naturally; her dad, El Salvador native Hector, plays guitar and mom Daniela Ibanez (nee Lopez, a Lynn Tech grad) is trained in audio engineering. Rebecca’s goal is to attend Berklee College of Music and its after-school City Music program.

“I started piano when I was five or six,” said Rebecca. “I didn’t want to do it. I’d say, ‘No. It’s boring.’ But when I got into the youth ministry, I was able to enjoy it. I’ve played our churches in Lynn and Somerville, for about 400 of 500 members on a Sunday. It’s a big deal.

“I’m excited about going to the Boston Arts Academy. It’s a happy option, for me to go into something I’m passionate about,” added Rebecca, who reads music and is into jazz, blues and classical.

“You earned this yourself. Mama only filled out the applications,” added Daniela, who works for a demolition company in downtown Lynn.

During her most recent mission to San Miguel, El Salvador, Rebecca helped the family of Santiago Canello-Bonilla, a little boy who has had three strokes and suffered through serious medical issues in his young life.

“He’s doing really well. He’s six months old now,” said Rebecca, who added the full-length casts on his tiny legs have been removed.

Rebecca and her fellow missionaries also visited the homes of people in need, buying big bags of groceries. “Oil and rice mostly,” she said. “Those will last a long time.”

Hopping to help Lynn

Missions trips are undertaken by church groups comprised of members of the congregation who travel to a location to volunteer their efforts in completing a helpful community project while spreading the gospel of Jesus.

During a prior mission in Spain, Rebecca was reunited with youth leaders who reinforced religious teachings and helped youths in a small church. The trip culminated with Rebecca and two other students — a singer and drummer — entertaining families in Reus, about 90 minutes south of Barcelona.

The Ibanez family are members of Vida Real Church in Lynn, the sister church to a larger congregation in Somerville. Living a life of purpose is the goal and the church’s “Hope Movement” project helps people in need, building houses, providing medicine, clothing, food and financial assistance.

Rebecca brought to El Salvador $440 donated by her family and members of the church. The entire amount is given to one family, who are encouraged to share it with neighbors in need. “They know who needs it most,” said Daniela.

“I am so proud of my daughter, she’s amazing” added Daniela. “I’m excited for what’s to come in her life. She has been taught that it’s better to give than receive, and she’s taken that to a new level. We, as parents, don’t tell her to what to do. She says to us, ‘I’m going.’ Rebecca makes the choice to help. We feel so blessed.”

Rebecca seems embarrassed. “I don’t brag about it. I’m just, OK, cool. There’s no reward from bragging.”

Priscilla Miro, director of administration at North Shore Christian School, said, on this trip, Rebecca and her team used their gifts and talents to train others in youth leadership through leading a youth retreat and participating in community outreaches.

“This is Rebecca’s fifth missions trip and she knows that she has grown through her participation in these adventures,” Miro said.

Bill Brotherton is the Item’s Features editor. He can be reached at bbrotherton@itemlive.com.

MARLBOROUGH, N.H. — Mr. Howard L. Norris Jr., age 79, of Marlborough, N.H., formerly of Lynn, died Saturday, March 25 after a lengthy illness. He was the husband of Mildred (Reed) Norris, with whom he shared 26 years of marriage.

Born in Saugus, he was the son of the late Howard L. Norris Sr. and the late Myrtle H. Edwards. He was the brother of the late Barbara Pelchat, Beverly Thibodeau, Dorothy Reed and James Norris. He had lived in Lynn for many years and was a resident of Lynn until his death.

Howard was a production worker for Coca-Cola in Lynn and then for Clean Environment Co. in North Billerica. He also did remodeling for the late John Sordillo Realty of Lynn.

He was involved with the Boy Scouts of America, Pack 18, and was also a member and worker for the Knights of Pythias, as well as former Master-at-Arms. He loved nature, gardening and landscaping. He loved animals, especially his pet rabbits and dogs. He enjoyed biking, fishing and clam digging with his sons and in-laws, and camping with family and friends.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by five sons, Frank Norris of Cape Coral, Fla., Howard J. Norris of Lynn, Charles Norris and his wife Joanne of Lynn, Paul Norris and his wife Leslie of Melrose and Peter Norris of Lynn; four grandchildren, Jennifer Norris and Charles Norris Jr. of Lynn and Nicolas Norris and Brooke Norris of Melrose; two great-grandchildren, Alex and Ava; the caring mother of his five sons, Nancy Gainley; as well as many nieces and nephews. He also leaves Mildred’s children, Stephen Colby, Richard Colby, James Colby, Arthur L Colby Jr., the late Diane Baetzel, Mary Doane and Melissa Morgan; and Mildred’s grandchildren, Jordan, Catherine, Adrian and Christopher.

Service information: At the request of the family, private services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Indian School, P.O. Box 300, 1301 N Main St., Chamberlain, SD 57325-0300. Arrangements by the SOLIMINE Funeral Home, Lynn. Guestbook at www.solimine.com.?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Sally A. Daigle, beloved wife of the late Alban J. Daigle and proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 after a brief illness. She was 87 years old.

She was born in Revere to the late Francis and Sarah (Quinn) Mason. She lived there until junior high before moving to Lynn. She was a proud alumna of Lynn English High School, Class of 1948 and always enjoying seeing her former classmates at class reunions.

She married the love of her life, Al, on April 20, 1952, and soon found her calling as a mother. Her pride and joy became her five children, and later 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She loved being “Gram” and “Great Gram” and was the best around.

She was determined and fiercely independent, even getting her license at the age of 62.

While she didn’t enjoy being the center of attention she was always the center of her family. She was fun to be around with her quick wit, magnetic personality and funny sense of humor — always making those around her laugh. She loved watching her game shows Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and Family Feud and was a wiz at crossword puzzles.

But her favorite times were when she had all of her family surrounding her, no matter the occasion. She often would sit back to take it all in, just observing everyone together always smiling from ear to ear because “that” was all because of her. She particularly loved the holidays mostly because it often was the excuse that brought the family together. She always put together “goody-bags” with fun little toys and candy for each of the kids — and any friends they brought with them. Besides holidays, she enjoyed celebrating everyone’s birthdays. She started the tradition of calling and singing “Happy Birthday,” which everyone looked forward to because it always put a smile on their face.

She will be lovingly missed but forever remain in the hearts of the family she made.

She is survived by her children, Cynthia and Jack Webster of Peabody, Sally and Ken Velardi of Salem, Jay and Debbie Daigle of Salem, Denis and Allison Daigle of Mashpee and Terry and Wendy Daigle of Lynn; her grandchildren, Heather and John Pidgeon of Peabody, Craig Velardi of Salem and Sara Velardi of Boston, Jason, Jacqueline and Brad Daigle of Salem, Kelly and Troy Mailloux of Florida, Kimberly and Kathryn Daigle of Mashpee, Patrick Daigle of Peabody and Amy and Amanda Daigle of Lynn; last but not least her four great-grandchildren that she loved so much, Kyleigh and John “JJ” Pidgeon of Peabody and Hunter and Samantha Mailloux of Florida, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Carol Drolet and brother Robert Mason.

Service information: Family and friends are invited to attend her visitation on Sunday, April 2, 2017 from 2-6 p.m. at CUFFE-MCGINN Funeral Home, 157 Maple St., Lynn, MA 01904. Her funeral will begin on Monday, April 3, 2017 at 9 a.m. at the funeral home, with a Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Ann’s Church, 140 Lynn St. in Peabody. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, 145 Boston St. in Lynn. Donations are requested to the American Diabetes Association, 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22202. Please visit www.cuffemcginn.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss for directions, or to sign the online guest book.