Hundreds Mourn Peabody Superintendent Fully in Parish Life
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2019 Saugus OUR OPINION schools’ Don’t close the book on naming Lynn library They say that nothing gets done in Wash- tion the same day, passed the Senate with trustees last summer to add the name of for- troubles ington, D.C. The federal government is in unanimous consent Dec. 19 and was signed mer Mayor Patrick J. McManus to the library. gridlock. into law by President Trump on Dec. 21. It had the support of the three top elected of- Congress can’t agree on anything. The Thomas P. Costin Jr. Post Of ce build- cials in the city — Mayor Thomas M. Mc- tied to Yet, it took the 115th Congress of the Unit- ing was dedicated on May 24, 2019. Gee, City Council President Darren Cyr and ed States only 196 days — start to nish — As you might imagine, it’s not that easy to Council Vice President Buzzy Barton, and we to pass a bill (H.R. 6059) designating Lynn’s get a federal building named for someone. can understand why. turnover main post of ce the Thomas P. Costin Jr. Post This makes the recent vote by the Lynn McManus was an extremely accomplished Of ce Building. Public Library Trustees to not consider nam- person as well as an outstanding mayor. By Elyse Carmosino The bill was introduced by Rep. Seth Moul- ing the library for anyone even more quizzi- A graduate of Lynn English (Class of ’72), ITEM STAFF ton on June 8, 2018, came out of committee cal. on Dec. 11, passed the House without objec- A proposal was submitted to the library LIBRARY, A3 SAUGUS — Saugus’ new school board com- mittee’s second meeting Thursday proved to be just as contentious as its Lynn man’s goal rst. Superintendent David DeRuosi addressed a con- is to keep the siderably larger crowd this time as he read the results of the town’s com- ‘village’ warm prehensive District Re- view Report for the board and nearly two dozen By Gayla Cawley community members. ITEM STAFF “We’ve all read the re- LYNN — Lynn resident Peter port,” he said. “We’ve all Cipriano is working to ensure known the district is in people stay warm this winter. trouble for a while.” Cipriano, 49, has collected The report cited exces- sive turnover resulting more than 600 gently-used in inconsistent classroom winter coats this year, which practices, as well as irre- he distributes to adults and sponsible budgeting, as children in need. His goal is to two particularly large cul- collect 700 coats by Jan. 10. Lynn resident prits for the poor perfor- “It takes a village,” Cipria- Peter Cipriano mance of Saugus Public no said. “We have to help each is collecting Schools. other. We’ve got to keep people winter coats “You’re my third com- warm. It’s a small thing, but it for those in mittee in less than three helps.” need. He has years,” he told the new Hundreds mourn He decided to collect winter collected more board. gear four years ago at the urg- than 600 coats He added that he had ing of his friend, Sandi Watkins, so far but been unable to analyze who started the initiative. He his goal is to the district’s previous re- Peabody superintendent collected about 100 coats for her receive 700 by view because it had gone the rst year and 350 last year Jan. 10. missing, lost in the shuf e Lines form around By Daniel Kane when he took over the drive. the corner and down ITEM STAFF between the town’s nearly ITEM PHOTO | the street at the wake COATS, A3 half-a-dozen superinten- PEABODY — Superintendent Cara Murtagh OLIVIA FALCIGNO for Cara Murtagh, dents over the past seven touched the lives of thousands throughout her time years. Peabody School in the Peabody Public Schools and that was on full DeRuosi noted that Superintendent, on display Thursday night at City Hall. A wake was held since 2012, the town has Thursday afternoon for Murtagh, who died unexpectedly last Thursday seen ve superintendents, at City Hall. at Salem Hospital at the age of 44. Family, friends, three directors of curricu- colleagues and other community members led into lum, two high school prin- ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO Wiggin Auditorium by the hundreds to pay their re- cipals, two middle school spects. principals, and several Groups of staff from several Peabody schools came elementary school princi- to mourn the loss of their superintendent, including pals. those from Thomas Carroll Elementary School. “For a district that size, Murtagh taught at the Carroll school and served as that’s a hell of a lot of an assistant principal and principal before becoming turnover,” he said. superintendent. Around 50 staff members from the He went on to criticize Carroll School had a special way to honor Murtagh the way the administra- with a white carnation boutonniere adorned with tion has handled its bud- blue and green ribbons. get in past years, reiterat- The blue ribbon represented Peabody, while the ing what he insisted at the green one represented the Carroll School, said one last meeting: that money Carroll School teacher, Heidi Mason. The ower it- wasn’t the district’s issue. self served as a symbol to Murtagh’s love for daisies, “There was a culture which she often incorporated into her out ts. here that there was never “We wanted to have a special way to honor her,” enough money,” he said, said one teacher who didn’t want to give her name. adding later: “the budget tends to t the avor of PEABODY, A2 the town it’s for.” Although DeRuosi ap- plauded areas where the schools had made marked Swampscott improvements, including a decrease in chronic stu- dent absenteeism and the tastes the hiring of more counselors to increase support for at- Help wanted for risk students, the school tropics board and DeRuosi mu- family facing By Gayla Cawley tually agreed that consid- ITEM STAFF erable work still needs to be done to bring Saugus illness, adversity SWAMPSCOTT — Erica Beaudry is a self-professed SAUGUS, A2 By Anne Marie Tobin smoothie fanatic. ITEM STAFF “I’ve probably made myself a smoothie every day since I was For many American families, the holiday 14,” said Beaudry, now 35. Saugus season is a time of great joy and happiness Cancer-Fighting Angels So, it’s only tting that she as they gather together to celebrate the has decided to open a business to hold second holiday rituals of Christmas. that specializes in the blended fundraiser. A2 But sometimes the holidays can be espe- beverage. Opinion cially cruel for families when hard times After a year-long effort, hit them, especially when they are already Jourgensen: Getting a Beaudry nally opened Trop- struggling to face the ordinary day-to- read on Lynn. A4 ical Smoothie Cafe in Vinnin day challenges of keeping their children Square on Thursday. The town LOOK! clothed, fed and happy in the face of ad- celebrated its newest business WCVB-TV to “Chronicle” versity. in one of its main commercial St. John’s Prep. A8 Such is the case for one mother, who is districts by presenting Beau- battling cancer, and a father who is out of a dry with a citation. Old North Festival job. For them, this year’s Christmas season Tropical Smoothie is an Atlan- concerts set for this looks especially bleak for their three chil- ta-based franchise with about dren, ages 20, 13, and 9. weekend. A8 700 locations throughout the “Money has been hard and I only get food country. Beaudry said she be- ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK Sports stamps,” wrote the mother in a letter to came interested in the chain af- Fenwick captains Item Santa. Georgia Cotter, 5, of Marblehead takes the rst ter she happened upon one of the excited for the She went to write that, with her illness, sip of her smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Cafe cafes while she was shopping in primetime lights. B1 in Swampscott during the shop’s soft opening on ITEM SANTA, A3 Thursday. SWAMPSCOTT, A3 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 WEEK IN PHOTOS ......................A7 COMICS ....................................B4 HIGH 37° VOL. 141, ISSUE 307 OPINION ...................................A4 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 LOW 26° POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2019 OBITUARIES Cancer-Fighting Angels to hold Peter S. Diantzikis, 90 1929-2019 second holiday fundraiser LYNN — Peter S. Diantzikis, age 90, of Lynn, died on ees can compete to win a Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019 at By Elyse Carmosino ITEM STAFF $25 Fuddruckers gift card, North Shore Medical Center, prize raf es, trivia, a story Salem Hospital following a SAUGUS — All Guy Mo- Santa at 6:30, and a car- lengthy Illness. He was the ley wants for Christmas is oling performance by the loving and devoted husband for people to join him and Lynn High School band of Vera (Christakou) Diantzikis, his Relay for Life team for at 7:30. Country 102.5 with whom he shared more their second-annual hol- WKLB will also be there than 63 years of marriage. iday fundraiser at Fud- to present giveaways and Born in Arahova, Sparta, druckers on Saturday. play music. Greece in 1929, he was the After the success of last The team is also ask- son of the late Soterios and year’s event, Moley says ing event-goers to bring Venetia (Kontos) Diantgikis. bringing back the fund- a new, unwrapped gift for He was raised and educat- raising celebration for the Saugus police and re ed in Greece and served in year two was a no-brainer.