TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2017 Lynn Police catch Lynn store robbed. robber in the act Lynn store robbed. Street around midnight — he was wear- By Gayla Cawley By Gayla Cawley covering his face, had entered the store ITEM STAFF ing a gray hooded sweatshirt with the ITEM STAFF while brandishing a large kitchen knife hood pulled extremely tight so that only and stole a small amount of cash from LYNN — Police arrested a 21-year-old a small portion of his face could be seen. LYNN — Police are investigating after the register before running out of the New Jersey man after they say of cers The detective thought this was suspi- a Chatham Street convenience store was watched him try to commit an armed cious because it wasn’t that cold outside robbed at knifepoint by a masked man store, Lynn Police Lt. Michael Kmiec robbery on Broad Street Friday. and decided to watch him, Lynn Police for the second time in a week. said. Leshnaira Vega, of Pleasantville, N.J., Lt. Michael Kmiec said. Police responded to a robbery at Sun- The store had also been robbed at was charged with armed assault to rob Vega walked down to Broad Street and rise Market, 353 Chatham St., shortly knifepoint by a man dressed similarly and violation of the city knife ordinance. the detective watched as he came up before 9 p.m. on Sunday. with a bandana covering his face last A Lynn Police detective rst saw a A man wearing a black hoodie and man, later identi ed as Vega, on Union POLICE, A2 black hat with some type of bandana STORE, A2 Fall festival LIKE CLOCKWORK: ORANGE is for the Cross country pumpkin shipment is a Saugus tradition love of Swampscott By Gayla Cawley ITEM STAFF SWAMPSCOTT — For The Love of Swampscott will hold its third annual Harvest Festival on Sunday, which prom- ises to offer entertainment for all ages. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Swampscott High School, with a rain date of Sunday, Oct. 29. “It’s such a fun time of the year for kids,” said Joanna O’Neil, president of For The Love of Swampscott (FLOS), a local nonpro t. “We wanted to create a festival that appeals to all ages and brought the community together and also promoted the outdoor classroom space that Swampscott High School has.” O’Neil said the festival keeps get- ting bigger each year, not only with the number of attendees, which grew from about 500 the rst year to close to 1,000 people last year, but with the amount of offerings. Like in the past, O’Neil said there will be crafts, games and entertain- ment. She said the popular attraction of Fenway’s Davey the Clown will be back and the haunted house, which has been a big attraction for kids and tweens, will be bigger than ever. O’Neil said the bravest people to go through the haunted house are the 5-year-old girls and the biggest screams are from the 11-year-old boys. FLOS partnered with Halloween City, a costume store in Salem, which will be lending a lot of equipment for the haunted house, she said. She said there will be more offerings for tweens and teens, including a me- chanical bull. There will be more food trucks than in years past and there will be kids’ fortune tellers. Other attrac- tions include face painting and profes- sional family photos. SWAMPSCOTT, A2 INSIDE By Daniel Kane This is something that helps keep that connec- Rev. Martha In Saugus FOR THE ITEM tion,” Leahy said. Leahy, pastor at Town welcomes its newest The truck, containing more than 1,200 pumpkins the First Congre- SAUGUS — For 15 years the First Congrega- police of cer to the force. A2 for the church, is no easy task to unload. Church and gational Church tional Church at 300 Central St. has become the local community members are asked to help. Dozens in Saugus, pass- home of hundreds of Navajo pumpkins for sale, In Opinion es a pumpkin to making it the hub of a fall tradition for many of people answered the call Saturday, loading wheel- Bill Brotherton: barrows and passing pumpkins down the line to be Marilyn Panico Scouts’ dishonor. A4 families. Families gather to take photos and pick out placed on pallets on the church’s front lawn. of Saugus as a • pumpkins of all different shapes and sizes to pur- Among those helping was church member Rod truckload of the Kato Mele: A letter to the chase and bring home. Wiley and members of his family, including his gourds is unload- Lynn Police Department. A4 “It has become important for community build- children and grandchildren. ed on Saturday. ing,” Rev. Martha Leahy said. “It brings us togeth- “We try to come out here and help every year we In Sports er creating a good connection.” can,” he said. “And plus, it’s a lot of fun.” ITEM PHOTO | St. Mary’s girls soccer can’t Saturday, the church received its second truck- A forklift donated for the day by Agganis Con- SPENSER HASAK catch up to Williams. B1 load of pumpkins, coming all the way from the Na- struction also assisted the volunteers. They vajo Reservation in New Mexico. “Saugus has a deep Native American history. PUMPKIN, A2 Lynn council candidates were ready for prime time By Thomas Grillo started the night off by telling viewers he is Former City Councilor Richard Ford said ITEM STAFF most proud of his 31 years of sobriety and the he is most proud of his family. 30 years he gave as a re ghter. “I really enjoyed watching my kids play LYNN — Less than a week after they faced Challenger Brian Field said he has had a sports,” he said. “I hope I’ve shown them the off, candidates for councilor-at-large were at few proud moments. right way. They are all doing well.” it again on Monday as they debated the is- “When I became a parent for the rst time Challenger John Ladd said he’s proud that sues on cable television. and when my son received the best teammate he came from modest means and as a real The eight candidates seeking four seats award a few years ago,” he said. estate agent has helped people realize the talked about their proudest accomplish- Jaime Figueroa, another challenger, said American Dream. GET A READ ments, public safety, diversity, a $7 million his proudest moment came when he turned Incumbent Brian LaPierre said he is proud budget de cit, and dirty streets on Lynn his life around from high school dropout to of the work he did to rebuild the Lynn Shore ON MEDFORD Community Television moderated by former college graduate. Little League. Mayor Albert V. DiVirgilio. “I have really become a good example for CANDIDATES City Councilor-at-Large Buzzy Barton my kids,” he said. CANDIDATES, A3 Pages A5-6 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 POLICE/FIRE .............................A7 COMICS/DIVERSIONS ........... B4-5 HIGH 57° VOL. 139, ISSUE 265 LYNN .........................................A3 LOOK! .......................................A8 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 46° OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 BUSINESS ................................B8 PAGE A8 ONE DOLLAR A2 THE DAILY ITEM TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2017 OBITUARIES Saugus to host meet Timothy J. Bourke, 57 Richard C. Lessard 1960-2017 1972-2017 for law complaint PORT CHARLOTTE, with retirement from Richard (Richie) Lessard jobs in Lynn at the former Dix- By Bridget Turcotte utes be approved within Fla. — Timothy John IBM. Traveling was passed away peacefully in on’s Market, CL Hathaway Co. ITEM STAFF 30 days of an executive Bourke, 57, of Port one of Timmy’s favor- Palm Bay, Fla. after a lingering and Price Rite. session meeting. He also Charlotte, Fla., for- ite pastimes. illness. Richie loved most sports SAUGUS — The School wants all documents re- merly of Lynn and All who knew him He leaves behind his wife especially the Boston Bruins Committee will discuss lated to meetings be part Reading, died Satur- will miss his great Karen(Menennello) Lessard, a and Patriots. He also enjoyed an Open Meeting Law of the minutes, whether day, Sept. 23, at Bay- smile and person- son Alex Lessard and daughter being involved in his kids soc- complaint filed by a board executive or open session. front Health Hospital ality. In addition to Kayleigh Lessard all of Palm cer games, even coaching. Of- member later this month. “My complaint is not in Port Charlotte, Fla. his mother, Timmy Bay, Fla., Also his parents, ten he could be found outside In a complaint to At- against an individual, it’s surrounded by his is survived by his Charles and Carol Lessard of in the driveway playing street torney General Maura against the process,” he family. Timmy, the son of Anna sisters Lisa Millett and her Manchester, N.H., and his sis- hockey with the kids. He will Healey’s office dated Sept. said. “You’re supposed to (Comeau) Bourke and the late husband Robert of Port Char- ter Denise (Dee) Perham and be remembered as being a 29, Peter Manoogian, who notify the public. People William Bourke of Reading, lotte, Fla. and Suzanne Hayes her husband Michael Perham, great Dad and loving son and is not running for reelec- have no understanding of was born Aug. 4, 1960. He and her husband Shamus of and niece, Lilyana Perham all brother. tion to the board, said an why (the School Commit- was a graduate of Reading Little Compton, R.I. and three of Concord, N.H.