SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2020 Shades of grey in Black Friday shopping ITEM STAFF REPORT Whether it’s in the form of the Black Friday we’ve all grown to know and love, or whether it takes on a new, more subdued form, the Christ- mas shopping season is upon us. The day after Thanksgiving has achieved the distinction of being the of cial rst day of the holiday season. In years past, that has meant stores in Massachusetts opening as early as 12:01 a.m. to hordes of customers who have been gathering in lines outside waiting, look- ing to be the rst to get the limited supply of whatever popular item is in stock. The presence of the coronavirus in our midst has eliminated that scenario. Between mask-wearing and social distancing, and with the advent of online shopping, those tableaus were not repeated Friday. Malls and shopping areas in and around ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK Lynn had more normal business hours Fri- day — opening after sunrise, and following the Louis Calencia and Maria Castro with their Masked shoppers pass the GAP at MarketStreet in Lynn eld son, Logan Calencia, 3, shopped during a on Black Friday. SHOPPING, A3 Black Friday sale at Walmart in Lynn. LEO focuses Santa offers on food a light in security dark times By Thor Jourgensen in Lynn ITEM STAFF By Gayla Cawley The young Lynn mother’s story is all ITEM STAFF too common and the wish list she hopes Item Santa can ll is heart-breakingly LYNN — Leading modest. through Empowering Op- She would like to give her three-month- portunities (LEO), Inc. has old daughter a “learning toy,” clothes and been awarded a $152,157 bedding, speci cally a comforter set. The state grant, which will local resident has been out of work for help the organization bet- seven months. She has managed to pay ter address food insecuri- her bills but housing is a major expense ty in the city. because she needs to nd a deleaded ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK The funds, awarded apartment. through the Baker-Poli- “I have to save any money I received Beth Ferris says Marblehead’s annual Christmas Walk will still be full of holiday to administration’s Food to pay for moving cost(s),” she wrote in a cheer in spite of taking COVID-19 precautions. Security Infrastructure letter to Item Santa. Grant Program, will be Now in its 54th year, Item Santa an- used to purchase a re- nually gathers appeals for assistance Marblehead getting ready frigerated cargo van, and like the letter writer’s and draws on the additional storage and generosity of people who are more than important kitchen infra- willing to give a little extra during the structure, such as com- holidays to help someone in need. to walk the (Christmas) Walk mercial refrigerator and Item Santa’s spirit has shone bright- freezer units, worktables ly across the decades to light the way By Thor Jourgensen But the Friday, Dec. 4-Sunday, Dec. 6 event and insulated food con- of generosity and show people who are ITEM STAFF will include an organized drive-by past the tainers. struggling, who think life is too tough to town Christmas tree in front of National Lisa McFadden, director MARBLEHEAD — Chamber of Commerce set aside time to celebrate the holidays, Grand Bank, 91 Pleasant St. Ferris said the of development and com- that people care about them. Executive Director Beth Ferris said this Friday, 7 p.m. drive-by will begin with partic- munications for LEO, Inc, The Lynn mother’s story is similar to year’s Christmas Walk will be packed with ipants assembling in the high school parking said the grant will enable stories shared by other letter writers who holiday cheer even though COVID-19 pre- lot on Humphrey Street. the organization to make are struggling to make ends meet. They cautions required rede ning how the Walk is its food pantry and distri- “We’re really going to miss the gatherings. are trying to save money in the face of organized. bution offerings more ac- But we are really being careful,” said Ferris. job loss or staggering medical bills. They Traditional events centered around people cessible to Lynn families are trying to do their best for children too Serving in her sixth year as Chamber gathering, including Santa’s iconic arrival on and senior citizens. SANTA, A2 a lobster boat, are out this year. WALK, A2 Rather than being lim- ited to offering one large food pantry event at its Blossom Street site, where the organization’s A Lovely priority for kids in Salem commercial kitchen space is currently located, LEO By Thor Jourgensen said she is working through the with Salem State University to cre- Inc. will be able to hold ITEM STAFF legislative process with Children’s ate opportunities for students with smaller events at each of Trust Massachusetts, an organi- disabilities, like providing aides in its three sites, Blossom, SALEM — State Senator Joan B. zation focused on stopping child classrooms. Waitt Avenue and Broad Lovely said her 2021 priorities will abuse, to ensure parents, coach- “It’s a subject very important to Street, according to Mc- build on her top legislative concern es and other people supervising me,” she said. Fadden. — keeping children safe and im- She praised former North Shore “Right now we do all of proving their lives. children recognize abuse warning signs. Community College President Dr. our staging and supple- The Salem Democrat who rep- Patricia A. Gentile with initiating mental food distribution resents Salem, Beverly, Danvers, She is also focused on improving local college students’ lives. When campus efforts to aid students fac- events for our Head Start Peabody and Tops eld in the state ing food insecurity. Lovely and fel- families out of our Blos- a father told Lovely his daughter Senate, Lovely has championed low legislators rallied to nd ways som Street center, which wanted to go to college but could child welfare advocacy since her to ght student hunger after Gentile is terri c, and we have election to the Senate in 2012. She not pass the state comprehensive highlighted the concern. our commercial kitchen branded child sexual exploitation assessment examination (MCAS) State Senator Joan “a pandemic in its own right,” and due to a disability, Lovely worked LOVELY, A2 B. Lovely LEO, A2 Opinion Shribman: Modern generation gap goes STOP THE SPREAD. FOLLOW THE RULES. beyond age group. A4 LOOK! STAY WEAR A MASK NO MORE THAN WASH YOUR HANDS Peabody Rec ramps up live holiday programming A4 Sports ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK World Series Park ‘Wall Eddie Peterson dec- FEET APART IN AN INDOOR10 GATHERING of Fame’ celebrates orates the Christmas second year. B1 tree at Lynn Common. OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 51° VOL. 141, ISSUE 297 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ...............................B6 LOW 36° POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 REAL ESTATE .............................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2020 OBITUARIES A Lovely priority for kids in Salem James M. Nabozny, 75 1944 - 2020 LOVELY Senate and Joint Commit- Commonwealth’s rst aid, including state mon- From A1 tees on Rules; and Vice Public Records reform in ey to support local public SALEM - James M. Nabozny, Chair of the Joint Com- more than 30 years. schools, and avoid munic- 75, of Rutland died November “You can’t learn if you mittee on Education and Small business needs ipal budget cuts. 19, 2020 at Dartmouth Hitch- are hungry,” Lovely said. the Senate Committee on in the face of the pan- The budget work got cock Medical Center after a A Salem city councilor Personnel and Adminis- demic’s blow to the econ- done, said Lovely, even long illness. for 15 years prior to her tration: Chair of the Joint omy has been a concern though COVID-19 forced He was born in Salem, MA run for the state Senate, Committee on Children, for Lovely during the legislators to socially dis- December 11, 1944 the son Lovely served as council Families and Persons Legislature’s late fall tance. of John and Ruth (Connelly) president and liaison to with Disabilities; Chair of debate on the $46 billion “Working remotely is Nabozny. the Salem Council on Ag- Mental Health and Sub- state budget. different but I am pleased He was a graduate of Salem ing and Commission on stance Abuse; and Chair She credited colleagues we were able to put our fo- High School, class of 1962 Disabilities. and Vice-Chair of the with identifying revenue cus where it matters,” she and then served our country in Her legislative biogra- Joint Committee on State sources to erase budget said. the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. phy lists Lovely’s roles, Administration and Reg- shortfalls, ensuring Salem Thor Jourgensen can be Army Reserves during the Viet- including Assistant Ma- ulatory Oversight, which and other communities reached at tjourgensen@ nam era. jority Leader; Chair of the as Chair she oversaw the receive needed state local itemlive.com. He then went on to college and received his Associates degree in business. He was employed at General Santa offers a light in dark times Electric in Rutland until his re- two brothers, Richard Nabozny tirement as a supervisor. and John Nabozny, nieces and SANTA The Item Santa fund ing hand could not be following link: https:// He enjoyed cars, playing golf, nephews. From A1 helps to make the holidays more vital this year with www. itemlive.com/item- loved cooking, but his passion He was pre-deceased by his brighter for those in need.