SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019 Swampscott Peabody is one for councilor all ages focuses on By Bella diGrazia ITEM STAFF downtown SWAMPSCOTT — The town’s All By Anne Marie Tobin Ages Committee just gained a full ITEM STAFF state of resources. PEABODY — While there weren’t At a community event two weeks any real surprises in last Tuesday’s ago, Swampscott became one of 421 city election, one successful candidate communities across the state to be ad- is hoping that his new role as a city mitted into the network of age-friend- councilor will help improve the quality ly states and communities by AARP. of life for Peabody residents. The admission highlights the town’s Craig Welton, in his first foray into elected leadership’s commitment to the world of Peabody politics, won the make Swampscott an age-friendly two-man race for the Ward 1 seat va- place to live. cated by Jon Turco, who grabbed the “From my perspective, the just-com- fifth and final spot in the city council- pleted UMass-Boston research pro- or-at-large race. vides us with a roadmap to make our Welton received 77 percent of all community more livable for all ages votes cast, winning by a comfortable — young and old,” said Swampscott 1,289-385 margin over Russell Dou- for All Ages Committee co-chair Bob cette. Powell. “Being in the AARP network While this was Welton’s first suc- means that we are now obligated to cessful cam- accomplish, over a five-year period, paign, he is no the goals that we have identified in stranger to the order to stay in the network. This is world of poli- a plan that must produce results; it’s tics. not a plan that will sit on a shelf, gath- In 2016, he ering dust, never to be viewed again.” ran in a spe- At the community event, after the cial election for admission, Dr. Caitlyn Coyle of the the Massachu- UMass-Boston’s Center for Social setts House of & Demographic Research on Aging Representa- presented results from the town’s tives Twelfth $30,000 needs assessment, which was ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK Essex District approved at Town Meeting last May, Chris Swain of New York City crisscrossed Lynn, Swampscott, and Mar- seat vacated by said Powell. Coyle, the primary author Leah Cole, who of the Swampscott for All Ages sur- blehead on Friday, lit torch in hand, to bring attention to the plight of children separated from families at the Mexican border. resigned mid- vey, reviewed key findings from her term. Welton’s research from the 1,645 (33 percent) bid was unsuc- Craig Welton residents over 55 who answered the cessful, losing survey. to Thomas Walsh in the Democratic There were a few key points high- SHINING A LIGHT primary. lighted in the survey, Powell said. By Carrying a torch for children through The experience nonetheless validat- 2030, 35 percent of Swampscott resi- ed Welton’s desire to get involved. dents will be 60 years of age and older Lynn, Swampscott and Marblehead “It affirmed why I wanted to be more and 85 percent of respondents indicat- involved in Peabody,” Welton said. “I ed that remaining living in Swamp- By Thor Jourgensen hoods Friday, holding aloft a lit torch and met so many wonderful people, includ- scott is important to them. Being in ing Tom (Walsh), who has done a great the AARP network will help the com- ITEM STAFF talking to anyone he met along the way about his views on immigration and the job as state rep, and I learned so much mittee stay abreast of cutting-edge MARBLEHEAD — When it comes to about the needs in the community.” programs and services to adopt in border crisis. shining a light on reports of immigrant “I feel like the situation we are in now Welton, 38, and his wife, Emily, a Swampscott so older residents can children separated from their families at nurse, are graduates of St. Anselm continue to live in town, he added. is a struggle for the nation,” Swain said. the Mexican border, Chris Swain takes U.S. policy allowing immigrant children College. They moved to Peabody from A membership in the network gives the idea literally. Marblehead a little more than nine the town’s committee resources for to be detained at the nation’s border with The New York native with family in Mexico and separation from their parents years ago and have four children rang- identifying and assessing community Marblehead trooped through Lynn, ing in age from two to nine. Swampscott and Marblehead neighbor- AARP, A3 TORCH, A3 WELTON, A3 BY BILL BROTHERTON Lynn’s M-Dot raps around the world BEVERLY — Losing his job at a local moving company might have been the best thing to ever happen to Michael Januario. It gave Januario, better known to hip-hop fans as M-Dot, the opportunity to concentrate on his music. The rapper, who grew up in Lynn, recently completed a successful European tour and collab- orated on esteemed Boston rapper Big Shug’s new album. The Revere native is also spending lots of time on the next M-Dot album, set for a spring re- lease. “I’ve refocused on my music. It’s a blessing my job situation changed. I have more time to work on it now. And I can be home more for my girl, Nicole M-Dot (Lynn’s Michael Januario), second from right, and his crew perform with Germany’s M-DOT, A3 Snowgoons at September’s Off the Hook Festival in Greece. WHO IS YOUR Teacher suspended PERSON OF THE YEAR? INSIDE Burlington Essex Media Group, which publishes The in Swampscott Item, itemlive.com, La Voz, and the Lyn- Chemical mixture at n eld and Peabody Weekly News newspa- Buffalo Wild Wings kills SWAMPSCOTT — Tensions “It is a dark day in Swamp- Danvers man. A3 pers; and 01940, 01945 and 01907 maga- between the school district and scott,” the association stated in zines, will honor a Person of the Year in the teachers’ union continue to the post. “The School District Opinion each of the communities we cover: Lynn, rise following the suspension handed SEA President Nancy A wave of hope; a tide Lynn eld, Marblehead, Nahant, Peabody, of elementary school teacher Hanlon an egregiously exces- of despair. A4 Revere, Saugus and Swampscott. Nancy Hanlon. sive three day suspension yes- We ask your help in identifying those who LOOK! Hanlon, the speech and lan- terday. We believe this is not a have made a positive impact on the community. The Final Music guage pathologist at Stanley coincidence.” We’ll accept nominations through Friday, Breakdown. A8 Elementary School, is also the Hanlon declined to comment. Nov. 15. president of the Swampscott In a statement emailed to For instructions on how to nominate, Sports Education Association. Her The Item, Superintendent Pa- Tech football stumbles in please go to www.itemlive.com. We will have three-day suspension was an- mela Angelakis said it is Div. 8 North semi nal. B1 the set-up on the website. nounced on the union’s Face- We are looking forward to hearing from you. book page. HANLON, A3 Nancy Hanlon OBITUARIES ...............................A2 ENTERTAINMENT ........................A7 COMICS/DIVERSIONS ............ B4-5 HIGH 41° VOL. 141, ISSUE 284 OPINION ....................................A4 LOOK! ........................................A8 CLASSIFIED ............................... B7 LOW 33° POLICE/FIRE ..............................A6 SPORTS ................................. B1-3 REAL ESTATE ............................. B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019 OBITUARIES Doris E. Meredith, 99 Joe Biden has ‘no problem’ with Bloomberg running for president Doris E. (Goodridge) Mer- edith, 99, of Groveland and former longtime resident of By Bill Barrow Marblehead, died Tuesday and Hunter Woodall ASSOCIATED PRESS morning, May 21, at Avita of Newburyport. CONCORD, N.H. — Joe She was born in Lynn, No- Biden said Friday that vember 16, 1919, daughter he welcomes the possibil- of the late George B. and Flor- ity of billionaire Michael ence (Youland) Goodridge. Bloomberg joining the Educated in the Lynn school crowded presidential field system, Mrs. Meredith gradu- seeking the Democratic ated from Lynn English high nomination. School, class of 1937, and “Michael’s a solid guy, earned her Secretarial Degree and let’s see where it from the former Hawthorne In- goes,” Biden told reporters stitute, Salem. after filing paperwork to She retired from Clifton Lu- run in New Hampshire’s theran Church, Marblehead, first-in-the-nation prima- Leonard Meredith who died ry in February. “I have no where she was the secretary in 2006 and her survivors for over 40 years. Prior to this problem with him getting include a daughter, Christine in the race.” she was employed as a secre- deVaul and her husband Roy tary for David H. Smith and at The former vice pres- of Groveland, a son, Steven General electric, Lynn. ident, who is trying to A. Meredith and three grand- hold his place as a 2020 Prior to residing at Nichol- front-runner, struck a con- ls Village, Groveland, for 12 children, Tyler Meredith, Craig deVaul and Kira deVaul. fident tone about his own years, Mrs. Meredith lived in prospects and dismissed Marblehead for 56 years. Service information: Fu- neral services will be private any suggestion that his A longtime member of the campaign is faltering. Women’s Guild at Clifton Lu- and at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are Bloomberg’s aides said theran Church, she was also Thursday that the former by the H.L. Farmer & Sons PHOTO | ASSOCIATED PRESS a member of the League of New York City mayor was Women Voters, volunteered at Funeral Homes, Haverhill and contemplating a presiden- Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden the Marblehead Female Hu- Bradford.