After 79 Years, Peabody Vet Honored Swampscott Braces for Protest
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020 After 79 years, Swampscott Peabody vet braces for honored protest By Anne Marie Tobin ITEM STAFF By Guthrie Scrimgeour ITEM STAFF PEABODY — The city of Peabody has always SWAMPSCOTT — A statement released by taken a great deal of pride in the contributions of its many military veterans when they are the Select Board Wednesday condemned the honored on Veterans Day. rhetoric of the pro-Donald Trump protestors This year’s COVID-19 modi ed ceremony had who have been gathering weekly in Monument an added twist that was 79 years in the making Square. — the addition of a new name to the World War “These protestors’ presence in Swampscott II Memorial. Lynn woman’s efforts serves only to increase our community’s resolve Private Joseph Philip Sousa Jr., was on active and commitment to becoming a more accepting, duty at Camp Edwards on Cape Cod when he inclusive, and loving community that will work was killed in a motor vehicle accident on May tirelessly to conquer the hate and fear these 4, 1942 at the age of 21. At the time, Sousa was gain Oprah’s attention protestors represent,” the letter reads. believed to have been a Danvers resident, so his “These protestors may be speaking from Swampscott, but they do not, and will never, name was never added to the memorial. Until By Gayla Cawley Lynn speak for Swampscott.” Wednesday. ITEM STAFF resident Select Committee members Peter Spellios “His name was inadvertently never includ- Tommi LYNN — Lynn resident Tommi Hill has been (Chair), Polly Titcomb (Vice Chair), Donald ed on the memorial because he was believed Hill’s work working with the Lynn Shelter Association to Hause, David Grishman and Neal Duffy all to have been a Danvers resident, but through to support help transition homeless families into their new signed the statement. extensive research, we nally were able to ver- the home- ify he was living at Peabody at the time of his housing, an effort that caught the attention of one “The rhetoric, symbolism and behavior shown less has death,” said Veterans Agent Steve Patten. of her idols, Oprah Winfrey. by many of these protestors goes well beyond gained the “This is a special day for us at the Portu- Through her nonpro t, Love4lynn, which she normal political speech,” said Spellios. “It is vul- guese-American War Veterans, Post 1, because started with her sister, Toni Hill this past August, attention gar, it is racist, it is ignorant. It’s that speech of Oprah PEABODY, A2 DONATION, A3 Winfrey. PROTEST, A3 ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK Solemnity and salutes ruled the day with the War Veterans Lot in Swampscott Cemetery serving as the Veterans saluted backdrop on Wednesday for town Veterans Day ceremonies. Holiday photos and story, pages A6 and A7. Lynn eld schools Police and re ghters are cool to more prevent man from in-person learning jumping off bridge By Anne Marie Tobin By Gayla Cawley ITEM STAFF ITEM STAFF LYNNFIELD — While Governor Charlie Baker is LYNN — Lynn Police and re ghters were able to strongly encouraging school districts to begin offering prevent a suicidal man from jumping off a bridge on more in-person learning, the Lynn eld School Com- Washington Street Tuesday night. mittee isn’t quite convinced that route is in the dis- A precarious situation became even more dire when trict’s best interests. the man slid off the side of the MBTA bridge as rst “We all, more than ever, want our students back in responders were attempting to talk him down. school for full-time in-person learning, that has never As he dangled from the bridge, Lynn police of cers been an issue,” said Superintendent of Schools Kris- and re ghters, who had been slowly inching toward ten Vogel. “But the issue is logistically it is not fea- MADE IN 01907 him on an aerial ladder, were able to grab hold of him sible considering the current DESE (Department of By Guthrie Scrimgeour and prevent him from falling, according to a Lynn Fire Elementary and Secondary Schools) guidelines. It is ITEM STAFF Department social media post. impossible for us to have 100 percent of our students “Quick action and teamwork between both the Lynn in school for full-time learning.” SWAMPSCOTT — Made By A collage Police and re departments helped prevent a tragedy,” Vogel said that there are three factors working 01907, a virtual celebration of lo- of artisans’ the re department statement said. against increasing in-person learning in Lynn eld: cal artisans, is opening Thursday. work to be Shortly after 8 p.m., Lynn re ghters, police and things that are within the control of the district and ReachArts, an artistic hub that featured in paramedics from Atlantic Ambulance responded to School Committee; guidance and direction from the a report of a man threatening to jump off the MBTA coordinates the festival, hopes the Made by state; and community impact and input. 01907 festival bridge in the area of 501 Washington St., the state- that the event will shine light on “As an example, DESE guidelines allow only 23 kids sponsored by ment said. on a bus that normally ts 77, so there is no way we 01907, A3 ReachArts. Train service was stopped as responding re ght- can get students to school on buses,” Vogel said. “Also, ers from Ladder Co. 1 set up their aerial ladder to try facility guidance on the six-foot distance requirement to get closer while rst responders attempted to talk for kids to eat with their masks off means it is not COVID Sports to him. It was at that point that the man slid off the logistically feasible for us to t all of our students in Virus cases surge in St. Mary’s girls soccer side of the bridge, which left him holding on by just his LYNNFIELD, A3 Peabody and Revere. A2 draws in nale. B1 PREVENT, A3 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 61° VOL. 141, ISSUE 283 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ...............................B6 LOW 45° POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 BUSINESS ................................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020 OBITUARIES Robert F. “Bob” Litwin, 84 Roger D. Spelta, 80 1936 - 2020 1940 - 2020 PEABODY - Of Peabody, on SAUGUS - Mr. Roger D. April of Lynn; six grandchildren, Nov. 7th, Beloved husband of Spelta, age 80, died at the Eric, Alicia, David, Jr., Hunter, 35 years to Judy A. (Covino) Melrose-Wakefield Hospital on Hailey, and Carly; two great Litwin of Peabody. Devoted Thursday, November 5th. He grandchildren, Jameson and father of Kim Litwin of Lynn, was the husband of the late Miles. He was predeceased by Kathy Bradley and her partner Judie M. (Swenson) Spelta. his daughter, Lisa Spelta, SND Robert Reynolds of Lynn, Kris- Born in Boston and a lifelong and his brother Robert Spelta. tine Ksikes of Lynn, Kelly LeB- resident of Saugus, Mr. Spelta In lieu of flowers, donations lanc and her husband Corey of was the son of the late Chester in his memory may be made to Groveland, Kerrie “Missy” Bion- and Doris I. (Ramsdell) Spelta. the American Diabetes Assoc. AP FILE PHOTO | STEVE UECKERT/HOUSTON CHRONICLE di and her husband Carmine of He was a retired Saugus Aux- @ www.diabetes.org/donate. Lynn, Robert Litwin, Jr. and his illary Police Captain and had Service Information: A pri- Lucille Bridges poses next to the original 1964 wife Nancy of Swampscott and worked as a computer pro- vate graveside service was Norman Rockwell painting, “The Problem We the late Karen Reevers. Dear grammer for the MWRA. held at Pine Grove Cemetery All Live With,” showing her daughter Ruby, in- brother of the late Felix A. Litwin Mr. Spelta is survived by in Lynn. For condolences, side the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. and dear brother-in-law of John three children, Ann Dwan and please visit www.BisbeePor- and Gail Covino of Londonder- her husband Claude of Ip- cella.com. ry NH, James and Judy Covino swich, Karen Ward and her of Billerica and Joyce husband Chris of Marshfield, , Lucille Bridges, Covino of Winthrop. conclude with inter- David Spelta, LPD and his wife Also survived by sever- ment at Woodlawn al grandchildren, great- Cemetery, Everett. mother of activist grandchildren, nieces We encourage family and nephews. and friends who wish, Service Informa- to offer condolences Carl W. Herald, 87 Ruby Bridges, tion: Relatives and at this time by means friends are most kindly in- of the online guest book or 1933 - 2020 vited to gather at the Welsh to send a personalized sym- BURLINGTON, FORMERLY Funeral Home, 718 Broad- pathy card visit; www.Welsh- OF SAUGUS - Mr. Carl W. Her- dies at 86 way, Chelsea on Saturday FH.com Late proprietor of ald, age 87, died at the Lahey NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Her daughter went on to November 14th from 8:30 Litwin Motor Company and Clinic in Burlington on Monday, Lucille Bridges, the moth- become an icon of the Civil AM to 9:30 AM followed by host of the Litwin Polka Va- November 9 th. He was the be- er of civil rights activist Rights Movement, memo- a Funeral Mass at St. Mary’s riety Show and late member loved husband of Laura (Buck- Ruby Bridges, who walked rialized in Norman Rock- Church, 670 Washington of PAV Post 13, Chelsea. well) Herald with whom he with her then-6-year-old well’s famous painting Ave., Revere at 10:00 AM. Should friends desire, con- shared 65 years of marriage.