WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 PHOTO | GREATER LYNN SENIOR SERVICES ITEM PHOTO | JULIA HOPKINS World War II veterans from the North Shore area attend a “Roll to Lynn resident Paul Ericson signs campaign papers for mayoral D.C.” event in 2015. hopeful Michael Satterwhite. Saugus fundraising Lynn campaigns not is on a ‘Roll to D.C.’ immune to COVID By Elyse Carmosino night trip to Washington, D.C., which By Allysha Dunnigan dates on Monday night in the parking ITEM STAFF includes a stay at the Presidential Inn ITEM STAFF lot of Solimine Funeral Home, where on Andrews Air Force Base (home of he is a funeral director, to offer a safe, SAUGUS — Veterans of Foreign the Presidential Aircraft), a ceremony LYNN — The usual door knocking outdoor space for Lynn residents to Wars, Post 2346 is turning to the pub- to lay a wreath at the Vietnam Wall and hosting of large events to acquire come and sign nomination papers. lic for donations in order to fund its and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, signatures to run for a political seat Field said he organized the signing third “Roll to D.C.” trip for local vet- and visits to a number of military me- will not be in the lineup for this year's event because it has been harder to erans. morials and statues. election season, as COVID-19 limits get signatures this year and he wants Next year, Vietnam-era veterans “We want every veteran to be able to the personal interactions among can- community members to see that the from Saugus, Lynn, Melrose and oth- go for free, so the intent is to have all didates and the Lynn community. candidates are real people, not just er North Shore communities will have Councilor-at-Large Brian Field host- the opportunity to attend the four- FUNDRAISING, A2 ed fellow incumbents and new candi- CAMPAIGNS, A2 Body cameras Swampscott are the talk of residents have the Tele Town designs on By Allysha Dunnigan ITEM STAFF Walker Road LYNN — Mayor Thomas M. McGee was By Tréa Lavery joined by Lynn Police of cers and represen- ITEM STAFF tatives from AXON during a virtual town hall meeting Tuesday night to discuss a new SWAMPSCOTT — The town is considering initiative that will require patrol of cers to several proposals for a redesign of Walker start wearing body cameras this month. Road, and especially the intersection with AXON is the company the city purchased Banks Road, including making the street a the cameras from. one-way and installing a roundabout. Acting Chief Lenny Desmarais said the In a community meeting Monday night, COURTESY PHOTO body cameras will be implemented begin- neighbors voiced their opinions on the differ- After more than 50 ning with the day shift of cers on April 13, ent ideas for the area, which is part of the Olmsted Historic District. years in the classroom, followed by the night shift on April 20 and the morning shift on April 27. “Anybody that comes down Banks or Walk- St. Mary’s teacher er and gets to that intersection knows you're Larry Doherty hasn’t Lynn Police created a new video evidence unit, overseen by Lt. Ashley Affonco and Of- taking your life into your own hands,” said slowed down. cer Domingo Polonia, to monitor the down- Department of Public Works Director Gino loading of videos and requests and to assist Cresta. “We’re lucky there's not a lot of acci- of cers with technical issues. dents there. That’s something that needs to Teacher The program was put into place after be corrected.” months of dialogue between the city and the The town received a $400,000 grant from Lynn Racial Justice Coalition regarding the the Complete Streets program at the Mas- is a true need for more transparency and account- sachusetts Department of Transportation ability for interactions with the residents of for the project, which will be broken into two the community phases to address different sections of the Spartan The Tele Town Hall was requested by the road. The rst phase will address the section coalition to better educate the public on the of Walker Road between Paradise Road and use and purpose of the body cameras before ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK Banks Road. warrior the start of the program. The town of Swampscott is proposing a The town has introduced three separate Nicole Mcclain spoke on behalf of the co- redesign of Walker Road with an empha- ideas for the Walker-Banks intersection, By Jim Correale which engineer Kelly Stevens described as alition saying this “implementation of body sis on its intersection with Banks Road FOR THE ITEM an “offset” intersection with low visibility to improve pedestrian safety and traf c LYNN — When Larry CAMERAS, A3 o w . WALKER, A2 Doherty entered his St. Mary’s classroom early one recent morning, he was greeted by bags and INSIDE boxes piled across several desks. Opinion It was his birthday, and Judge removal bill instead of getting him a single present, his col- oversteps boundaries. A4 leagues had pitched in to • get him a bunch of smaller Searching for an answer gifts — one for each of his in Lynn eld. A4 75 years. “I was completely sur- LOOK! prised. I really was,” Applications now open Doherty said. “The whole for Nahant’s Charles day was memorable.” Kelley Scholarship A8 That afternoon, Doherty was presented with a • proclamation from the St. Nightshade Noodle Bar Mary’s board of trustees offering unique declaring that March 10 viet-cajun seafood. A8 would permanently be Mr. Doherty Day at the school Sports — a tting tribute to his Experienced English football team gets back SPARTAN, A3 to work. B1 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 55° VOL. 142, ISSUE 102 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 45° POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 FOOD ........................................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 OBITUARIES Lynn campaigns not immune to COVID George Lee Johnson, 55 CAMPAIGNS Tiffany Magnolia, who 1966 - 2021 From A1 is also running for School Committee, said she gures online and behind LYNN - Mr. George (G-ROCK) knocked on about 1,800 a screen. Johnson 55 of Lynn, MA doors when she ran for the “We’ll do what people passed away suddenly on Sat- same position two years urday March 27, 2021 want to do,” Field said. ago, but will not be knock- He was born to the late Elijah “Everybody who wants to ing on any this year. Johnson originally from Arkan- be on the ballot deserves sas who later moved to Lynn the right to be.” “It’s for candidates like and the late Ella (Anderson) School Committee mem- me who aren’t incumbents Johnson also of Lynn Massa- ber Lorraine Gately said and don’t have big war chusetts. it has been tough getting chests. That’s the way you George was born on Feb- signatures because can- do it, you knock on doors,” ruary 6, 1966, he was raised didates cannot have the she said. “You don’t have in a large family he was 1 of meet and greets that they the money for lawn signs 9 children. He grew up in Lynn usually have. or mailing or things like where he attended schools that, so we’re hamstrung and played youth sports. “People have offered to because we don’t have the George would later on be- take our papers and go come a father, which gave him out and talk to their fami- money.” Joy. lies,” she said. “Everybody She said she will be He leaves to mourn his pass- his family as much as they seems to be working to- limiting her contact with ing and celebrate his life; one loved him, he especially like gether to make sure that people until her 8-year-old daughter; Jayla Tate of Atlan- hanging out at the backyard everyone can get on the daughter can be vaccinat- ta, GA and his 7 siblings; two cookouts…you could always ballot and it makes my ed. ITEM PHOTO | JULIA HOPKINS brothers, Edward Anderson, count on him to give you a hug heart feel good.” “If there are candidate and Calvin Johnson. Five sis- and say.. WHAT UP CUZ… and Lynn residents Derek School committee candidate Sandra Lopez re- forums, I am not even ters: and two brothers-in-law. that was no matter where you and Lisa White came to ceives a signature from Adriana Paz(left). comfortable being in a saw him and he always had on Crystal (Anderson) Wilson (Mi- sign papers on Monday room with a whole bunch his favorite boots of choice his to make the city become didate, Michael Satter- chael Wilson); Joyce (Johnson) night and said they felt Wallace (Leroy Wallace), Calve- Timberlands and they always more productive. Given white, who also sits on the of people. I need to Zoom comfortable coming to na Johnson, India Johnson, and matched his hoodie. what’s happening, it’s very School Committee, said in,” she said. Melinda Johnson all of Lynn. He will never be Forgotten the funeral home set-up, dif cult,” he said. “We’ve he is excited to incorpo- School Committee can- He also leaves two Uncles and will be Greatly Missed by where they were able to be been hindered by COVID rate virtual aspects in his didate Sandra Lopez said George Anderson, wife (Min- all. outside and stay safe. and we have to start mov- campaign, saying he will she will also be cautious nie) Eugene Anderson, wife Service Information: His “If you make it a little ing forward and nding be able to reach a broader during the election pro- (Caretha).