TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2020 N.H. Improved credit rating saves Lynn $753,903 By Gayla Cawley “With S&P Global Ratings changing the “We did it to lower the city’s obligations,” up for ITEM STAFF city’s outlook from neutral to positive, we said Bertino. “Whenever you refund bonds, it have been able to secure competitive bids that has to be in the city’s best interest. It has to LYNN — An improved credit rating outlook will save the city $753,903 over the life of the save the city a certain amount of money. We has allowed the city to re nance its bonds, bonds,” said McGee in a statement. “The bond replaced bonds (and) got a much better deal grabs which will result in a $753,903 savings over rating agencies are recognizing the results of on the new ones.” the 15-year borrowing period, according to the progress we have made working together City Council President Darren Cyr said he Chief Financial Of cer Michael Bertino. over the last two years.” was pleased with the savings achieved with today The city received ve competitive bids from Borrowing at a 1.3 percent interest rate is the re nancing. bond underwriters on Jan. 22 for a $7.58 mil- “very favorable,” said Bertino, who added the “I am hopeful that the city can now begin ROCHESTER, N.H. lion, 15-year general obligation state quali- bond proceeds will allow the city to re nance to move forward to replace its aging school (AP) — In the waning ed bond issue. existing debts from July 2008 and April 2010. buildings,” he said. hours before New Hamp- With an average net interest rate of 1.295 It will also fund $2.5 million of heavy equip- First on that list is Pickering Middle School. shire’s rst-in-the-nation percent, the winning bidder was New York- ment for the Lynn Fire Department of Public City of cials have outlined a $100 million primary voting begins, based BNYMellon Capital Markets, accord- Works and the Lynn Fire Department, which plan to replace the 103-year-old school, which Democratic presidential ing to an announcement from Mayor Thomas is through a 10-year bond approved by the candidates took varied M. McGee’s of ce. City Council in December. LYNN, A3 approaches to the expec- tations game Monday as they look to advance deeper into what could be an extended nominating State funding oods Lynn ght. Bernie Sanders showed the same con dence he trail on displayed ahead of last into Swampscott week’s Iowa caucuses, which ended with a split track decision between the Ver- mont senator and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg for of South Bend, Ind. “If we win here tomorrow, I think we’ve got a path to spring victory for the Democratic nomination,” Sanders de- By Steve Krause clared in Rindge. ITEM STAFF Former Vice Presi- dent Joe Biden, once the LYNN — Bike riders national front-runner, who have been pining for tamped down expecta- a continuous trail through tions amid prospects of a the city down to the beach second consecutive disap- can look forward to hav- pointment before the race ing that dream realized turns to more racially di- beginning in the spring. verse states he believes That’s when construc- can restore his contender tion on the remaining status. “This is just get- sections of the Northern ting started,” he told CBS. Strand Community Trail Massachusetts Sen. will begin, according to Elizabeth Warren fell Mayor Thomas M. McGee. somewhere between those When the project, which approaches, vowing to has been a vision of the make a comeback but not group “Bike to the Sea” predicting victory. “Look, since 1993, is complet- I’ve been counted down ed it will run 11¾ miles and out for much of my through Everett, Mal- life,” Warren told report- den, Revere and Saugus ers. “You get knocked as well as Lynn, where it down. You get back up.” will run on the rail bed of Buttigieg and Minneso- the former Saugus rail- ta Sen. Amy Klobuchar, By Thor Jourgensen tion required to install nature-based Kings Beach shows road. the biggest surprises of ITEM STAFF ooding barriers along the beaches. signs of storm-driv- The path will also con- the 2020 contest so far, Assistant Town Administrator for en coastal erosion nect to the beaches in Re- looked to extend their SWAMPSCOTT — More than Operations Gino Cresta said coastal that Swampscott is vere, Lynn and Nahant. rides despite uncertainty $375,000 in state money will help the storms hit the two beaches and sent wa- working to address The trail will run along about what’s ahead for town minimize ooding at Cassidy ter surging across Cassidy onto Puritan initially with state the railroad bed in West two campaigns with over- Beach Park and Phillips Beach. Road and Phillips on Shepard Avenue. money allocated Lynn until it hits West- whelmingly white bases. Both beaches are considered by state The 2018 storm on March 2nd and 3rd for Cassidy and ern Avenue after Spencer The scramble highlights environmental experts to be “ ood path- delivered the most recent ooding. Phillips beaches. Street (near Market Bas- a perilous point for Dem- ways,” channeling ocean water during “I remember the dates well. The roads ket), where it will turn ocrats as they look for a storms inland onto roads and into became impassable. We have to shut ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO into an on-street route challenger to President neighborhoods and homes. them down,” Cresta said. with dedicated bike lanes Donald Trump in Novem- The state money — part of an $11.6 He credited town Community and that will continue toward ber. No would-be nominee million spending package aimed at Economic Development Director Marzie the beaches. has yet forged a strong co- tamping down climate change impacts “I am excited to see that alition across the party’s — will pay for design work and construc- SWAMPSCOTT, A3 we are one step closer to- racial, ethnic and ideolog- wards the expansion of the ical factions. The situation Northern Strand Commu- is muddled further by the Lynn nity Path through Lynn vote-tabulation melee in Police release becoming a reality,” said last week’s Iowa caucuses surveillance footage McGee. “The realization of that left both Sanders and of suspect sought in this project has been a col- Buttigieg claiming victory, armed robbery. A6 laborative effort through- even as neither reached out the years between state 30 percent of the vote in a Sports and local of cials, commu- fractured eld. Peabody boys nity groups and residents. Trump, meanwhile, was basketball locks up I look forward to the day in eager to cast a shadow tournament bid. B1 the very near future when over the entire Democrat- our residents can enjoy ic slate as he headed to St. Mary’s girls this family-friendly recre- Manchester for a Monday basketball falls for ational path.” evening rally to continue rst time this year. B1 Through the Executive his victory-and-vengeance Of ce of Energy and En- tour following Senate Peabody girls NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION HONORS ITEM vironmental Affairs’ Gate- votes that acquitted him way City Parks program, basketball keeps Steve Krause and Cheryl Charles were winners in the New England on two impeachment playoff hopes alive the Baker-Polito adminis- Newspaper and Press Association’s Better Newspaper Competition. charges. Trump lost New with win. B1 tration has invested more Charles won rst prize for commentary, and Krause placed second. To N.H., A3 than $15 million to design, read their winning columns, see Opinion, page A4. permit, and construct the Northern Strand. “The Baker-Polito ad- BILL BROTHERTON ministration has made COMMENTARY expanding access to the commonwealth’s outdoor resources a priority, and the Northern Strand is Our guy ips out over new-fangled phones a terri c example of that work in action,” said Ener- My ancient ip phone nally died, joining and buy my rst smartphone. word “British” alone required 18 keystrokes gy and Environmental Af- other superannuated relics like pagers and I really can’t complain. The “advanced and on the 10-digit numeric keypad. Not easy fairs Secretary Kathleen oppy discs in my technology graveyard. compact” silver Verizon LG model VX3300 on horseback at midnight either, let me tell Theoharides. “Trails con- Every time I turned it on, even after a full cellphone served me well. It’s a real oldie, you. Many times his buddy Benjy Franklin nect communities, offer charge, the “powering down” warning beeped dating back to about 1775, the same mod- was on the receiving end of a butt dial. We’re recreational and transit and the screen went dark. I suppose I could el Paul Revere used as he raced through fortunate we’re still not under British rule. opportunities while pro- look on eBay or some site where a battery Lexington and Concord, texting to fellow Pa- Anyway, the technology-challenged Broth- viding signi cant environ- gathering dust in a warehouse somewhere is triots Tom Brady and Julian Edelman that ertons have made the revolutionary decision mental bene ts, and we available for purchase. “The British are coming.” Of course, it took Or, I could boldly enter the 21st century him forever to send the message, since the BROTHERTON, A3 TRAIL, A3 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 ENTERTAINMENT .......................A7 COMICS/DIVERSIONS ........... B4-5 HIGH 43° VOL. 142, ISSUE 53 OPINION ...................................A4 LOOK! .......................................A8 CLASSIFIED ...............................B6 LOW 34° POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 BUSINESS ................................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2020 OBITUARIES Lillian A.