SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 THOR JOURGENSEN COMMENTARY Salem Not doing judge the right thing faces for kids removal By Guthrie Scrimgeour If you believe investing ITEM STAFF in children is the best way to ensure a bright BOSTON — A bill presented to the future, then I hope you Massachusetts legislature by state share my outrage over the Rep. Lenny Mirra (R-Georgetown) on Lynn School Committee's behalf of a parent is calling for the decision to not mandate removal of an Essex County Probate English as a Second Lan- Court judge. guage (ESL) licensure for The proposed legislation follows public school kindergar- claims from a Groveland man, Wal- ten teachers. FILE PHOTO | OWEN O’ROURKE ter Sorenson, who alleges that Judge Abbe L. Ross, a probate court judge The committee on March Fr. Brian Flynn, pastor of both St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart parishes in Lynn, 25 voted 4-3 to reject in Salem, showed bias against him in will celebrate a more traditional Easter service after last year’s COVID-19 his 2018 divorce proceedings. School Superintendent Dr. shutdown. Patrick Tutwiler's propos- “Initially I thought that she was bi- al, initially unveiled at a ased against fathers,” said Sorenson, March 11 subcommittee who was assigned Ross as a judge for meeting, to require ESL li- A year later, a more his divorce case. “But later I found censes for new kindergar- that she sides with a party and favors ten teachers and to pro- one side all the way through.” vide a two-year window His case is not unique, according to for kindergarten teachers traditional Easter a petition that has been circulating, now on the job to obtain which alleges Ross has handled her the license. By Steve Krause tially, on Palm Sunday that wouldn't have cases improperly and with bias. As of Tutwiler, an intelligent ITEM STAFF seemed to be the case. What it turned out Friday, the petition had garnered 339 and forthright leader who to be was a misting machine that St. Pius, signatures. Parishioners had just left St. Pius V is one of the school de- along with other churches in the area, uses Ross declined to comment for this Church in Lynn after last Sunday's 11:30 partment's most valuable to disinfect benches after Masses. story. a.m. Mass, and palms had been distributed. assets, supported his pro- And, according to Fr. Brian Flynn, pastor Sorenson alleges that in his partic- But there was a buzzing sound coming from posal with statistics pre- of both St. Mary's and Sacred Heart parish- ular case, his children’s le from the the back of the church that sounded like sented to committee mem- es in Lynn, it's a fairly well choreographed Department of Children and Families someone was mowing his lawn. bers by Rania Caldwell, (DCF) was not allowed to be admitted Considering that it rained, quite substan- the school district's En- EASTER, A3 as evidence. glish Language Learner “My kids never got a voice in the (ELL) Education director. lower courts,” said Sorenson, add- Caldwell's numbers Opinion LOOK! Sports ing that his kids had run away from highlighted the rap- INSIDE Can the U.S. Postal Lynn family brightens Lynn’s Bowden makes id increase in non-En- Service be saved? A4 holidays at the shelter. A8 it to The Show. B1 JUDGE, A5 glish-speaking enrollment in kindergarten and the stunning revelation that Lynn kindergarteners who do not speak English A surprise visit for a as their rst language are getting roughly one-third of the English language courageous Peabody girl training recommended by the state. By Anne Marie Tobin The "current system," ITEM STAFF said Caldwell, is "treating ELL as a minority when PEABODY — Ten-year-old they are the majority." Olivia Bormann may be pint- Her statement and the sized, but when it comes to her numbers backing it up unfailing spirit, positive out- look and determination to over- should embarrass every ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK educator in the city and come adversity, the little girl is constitute no less than an Lynn eld Town Engineer Charlie Richter over- truly a giant. emergency for every elect- saw the renovation of the town common. Bormann has been hospital- ed public of cial in the ized since February 23 when city. she was diagnosed with a he- How is it possible that Richter: Lynn eld’s matoma pressing up against the School Committee can her spine, which needed to be reject a plan introduced removed through emergency by a well-respected edu- man with a plan surgery. She is currently working hard cator to improve English in Wake eld as the assis- By Allysha at Spaulding Rehabilitation language education for Dunnigan tant town engineer. When Hospital in Boston to slowly re- kindergartners? ITEM STAFF he acquired the position in gain movement. With hospital If Tutwiler's proposal Lynn eld, he said it was visits limited to just one parent and Caldwell's numbers LYNNFIELD — Charles relatively new, so it was at a time, Bormann’s friends are awed or inaccurate Richter has been the town enticing for him to be able and family have been unable to and the ELL kindergarten engineer in Lynn eld for to help de ne and build see her. crisis is actually much ado 16 years and — guess the position. That all changed on Friday about nothing, then please what? He always wanted “It was basically starting night when about a dozen of enlighten me. to be an engineer. from scratch,” he said. “I her friends, decked out in hot If you want to tell me He likes the grati ca- was excited I was able to COURTESY PHOTO pink “Team Olivia” T-shirts, that teachers will be over- tion when completing a kind of carve it into some- Ten-year-old Olivia Bormann received surprised her at Spaulding, burdened if they have to project. thing that I thought was a surprise visit from several friends Originally from Ver- carrying posters with messages Friday at Spaulding Rehabilitation mont, Richter rst worked KIDS, A3 RICHTER, A2 COURAGEOUS, A2 Hospital. Patrick will discuss race in Swampscott By Tréa Lavery ITEM STAFF SWAMPSCOTT — A new speaker series pre- sented by Congrega- tion Shirat Hayam and co-sponsored by the Swampscott Public Li- brary will look at racial issues locally and nation- ally. Former Gov. Deval Pat- rick, who was the state's rst Black governor, will kick off the series on Former Gov. Deval Wednesday, April 7 in a Patrick headlines an up- PATRICK, A3 coming speaker series. OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 48° VOL. 142, ISSUE 99 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 31° POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 REAL ESTATE .............................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 OBITUARIES A surprise visit Edward J. Duff, 85 Anne P. (McGovern) Carpenter, 82 1935 - 2021 1938 - 2021 for a courageous LYNN - Mr. Edward J. Duff, LYNN, MA - Anne P. (McGov- age 85, formerly of Brentwood, ern) Carpenter, age 82 and life- Peabody girl NY, passed away on Tuesday, long resident of Lynn, died on March 30, 2021 at Phillips Wednesday, March 31, 2021 COURAGEOUS massive upheaval in their Manor Nursing Home. Edward at the Kaplan Family Hospice From A1 day-to-day lives, Cheyne was born into a working class House in Danvers after a period and Michele found a way neighborhood in the Bronx, of declining health. of hope, support and love. to cope and nd balance. NY on July 12, 1935 to the She was the cherished wife There was even a pink “We basically have to late James and Helen (Martin) of over 57 years of Ernest R. unicorn in the mix, help- alternate time at the hos- Duff. He is predeceased by his Carpenter, Sr.; loving mother of ing Bormann’s friends to beloved wife Mary T. (Dunlea) Mary Anne (Carpenter) Orsino pital with Cheyne tak- spell out “Super Olivia.” ing one night and me the Duff; his daughters Rosemary and her husband Joseph of “I felt really happy. It and Catherine Duff; as well as Glen NH, Ernest R. Carpenter, next,” said Michele. “Be- was good to see some of cause of the COVID re- his son Brian Duff. Jr. of Lynn, Glenn Carpenter my friends who I have It was in the Bronx that he and his wife Stephanie of strictions, it’s been tough not seen in a really long on both sisters not being developed his devout relation- Clifton Park, NY and Gretchen time,” Olivia said. “I loved ship with Jesus Christ. Edward (Carpenter) Annese of Lynn; able to see each other. We watching the pink unicorn did manage to have Olivia lived as a Christian man in ev- dear Nana to Olivia and Audrey run around the parking ery aspect of his life; as a hus- Orsino, Ava and Reece Carpen- come to the lobby and see lot. It made me laugh.” Stella on her birthday last band, father, brother, uncle, fa- Edward you will be sorely ter, Rylee, Maya and Jackson respected realtor who worked “It was so nice to see Ol- ther-in-law, grandpa, co-worker missed, but we are comfort- Carpenter and Hunter Annese. for several ofces in the Greater month, but that’s been it. ivia’s face light up when Stella is still young and and friend. ed by the fact that you are at She also leaves her devoted Lynn area. She was a beautiful she saw everyone with the is missing her sister and He impacted many people peace with your friend, Jesus! sister Joan (McGovern) Regan piano player and singer who, signs,” said her mother, wants to see her.” with his generosity of faith, Edward is survived by his and her husband Robert of along with her sister and broth- Michele Bormann.