FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2020 Nahant top cop endorses Swampscott car dealer’s ‘Hands Free’ driving law license remains in ux By Elyse Carmosino for drivers to use their device in any ca- By Gayla Cawley Humphrey St., but the town’s building ITEM STAFF pacity other than completely hands-free ITEM STAFF inspector, Max Kasper, and detectives (Bluetooth and speakerphone options from the Swampscott and Marblehead NAHANT — Nahant Police Chief Rob- will still be allowed). SWAMPSCOTT — The Select Board Police Departments said they observed ert Dwyer voiced his support of a new Massachusetts is the 21st state to en- took no action Thursday night on a vio- a vast number of cars on the site during Massachusetts law that will soon re- act such a ban. lation notice that the town has issued to past inspections. quire drivers to ditch their handheld de- After he announced the updated law, a Humphrey Street used car dealer. The majority of Thursday night’s hear- vices completely while behind the wheel. Dwyer said “it was time” for stronger Following nearly two hours of testimo- ing centered around two separate police “You wouldn’t believe the number regulations regarding drivers and cell- ny, the board voted to continue the “show reports prepared by Swampscott Police of people that are on their cellphones phone use. cause hearing” for Four Seasons Motor Detective Ted Delano and Marblehead (while driving),” Dwyer told the small “I support the Hands Free law,” he said. Group until Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. Police Sgt. Sean Brady, who assisted the crowd at Nahant Town Hall for Thurs- “It’s simply a safety issue. Texting and The hearing will determine whether Swampscott Police with its compliance day’s Board of Selectmen meeting. “It’s talking on an electronic device or phone the auto dealer has violated its Class II check for the license renewal process. got to stop.” while operating a motor vehicle is a dan- Car Dealer’s License, which expired in Delano testi ed that of the 12 cars Although state law already prohibits gerous combination. There is no doubt January 2019 and is up for renewal. parked in the front of the property in texting while driving, new legislature The license limits Four Seasons to hav- beginning Feb. 23 will make it illegal NAHANT, A3 ing six cars for sale on its property at 460 SWAMPSCOTT, A3 State grant awarded to x Lynn ooding By Gayla Cawley ITEM STAFF LYNN — The city of Lynn has been awarded a $112,500 state grant to develop a plan to mitigate the ooding that occurs during major storms at Strawberry Brook. The Strawberry Brook system runs through Flax Pond, along Boston Street, and continues un- derground at Barry Park and Gen- eral Electric before depositing into the Saugus River. It’s consistently been one of the hardest hit areas for ooding in West Lynn, according to Ward 7 Councilor Jay Walsh, who rep- resents the area. “I’m really happy something’s being done,” said Walsh. “There Meet the woman who introduces needs to be something done to al- leviate that major storm ooding.” The grant, announced by the Baker-Polito administration this Lynn eld to the world week, was awarded through the Municipal Vulnerability Prepared- By Elyse Carmosino Many applicants request to be placed in Barbara Langill ness (MVP) Program, which pro- ITEM STAFF Lynn eld, which receives funding for the helps many for- vides communities with funding program through an educational grant. Lan- eign exchange and technical support to identify LYNNFIELD — Think of Barbara Langill gill speculates the reason for this is because students, in- climate hazards, develop strate- as the town’s ambassador to the rest of the of the town’s close proximity to Boston — a cluding Victor gies to improve resilience, and im- planet. Lukenchukii, plement priority actions to adapt As regional coordinator for Educatius, she city known for its passionate sports fans. to climate change. is one of the rst people international stu- “We have a lot of kids who are sports fans left, and Lucas City of cials plan to use the dents meet when they come to Lynn eld. and who are fans of the Patriots or the Celt- Skavinski. funds to hire an engineering con- Educatius partners directly with high ics, so here sounds good to them,” she said. ITEM PHOTO | sultant, Weston & Sampson, to de- schools in 16 countries and connects inter- “They want to be close to the city.” SPENSER HASAK velop the Strawberry Brook Resil- national students with host families in 22 Six students, ve from Brazil and one from ient Stormwater Management and states across the U.S. According to the pro- Vietnam, are currently enrolled at Lynn- Implementation Plan. gram’s of cial website, it’s one of the largest eld High School, while two have already The study will look at how to re- in the world dedicated exclusively to provid- returned to their home countries upon the store the drainage in Strawberry ing international education opportunities Brook and address the city’s vul- for high schoolers. LYNNFIELD, A3 nerable stormwater infrastructure associated with the brook and trib- utary neighborhood. Inside Woman struck by vehicle in Peabody William Bochnak, project coordi- Northeast Arc lands nator for Economic Development an employment & Industrial Corporation of Lynn opportunity grant. A2 Peabody police spokesman Den- (EDIC/Lynn), the entity that ap- Opinion nis Bonaiuto said a plied for the grant on behalf of Jourgensen: Time to 73-year-old Danvers the city, said city of cials have retool the census. A4 woman was trans- identi ed several areas that they wanted to address, but prioritized ported by emergency Strawberry Brook with this round Sports medical personnel of MVP funding. Fenwick girls basketball Thursday to Bev- runs out of gas in loss to “It provides additional resources erly Hospital with to help make communities more Bishop Feehan. B1 head and leg injuries resilient and look to the future on after being struck in Saugus girls basketball how climate change is going to be edges out Revere in the Century House addressed within a city like Lynn,” conference battle. B1 restaurant parking said Bochnak. “This particular lot at 12:53 p.m. by a study gives us an opportunity to St. Mary's boys vehicle driven by a collect more information on this basketball downs 73-year-old Peabody speci c area to look toward addi- Roxbury Prep. B1 man. Bonaiuto said tional grant funding in the future the driver remained to help make the brook more resil- Peabody's Orlando at the scene of the ient to climate change.” selected as 2020 accident and its cause The plan will determine if there Little League World Series remains under inves- are any obstructions in the sys- umpire. B1 tigation. tem that restrict ow, said Dan- iel O’Neill, Lynn Water & Sewer ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK LYNN, A3 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS ..............A7 COMICS ....................................B4 HIGH 53° VOL. 142, ISSUE 50 OPINION ...................................A4 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 LOW 23° POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2020 OBITUARIES Green tea party? State licenses Timothy S. Demakis, 84 1925-2020 Boston’s rst marijuana shop LYNN — Timothy Spero De- makis of Tops eld, passed away By Philip Marcelo February 5, 2020. He was born ASSOCIATED PRESS on May 19, 1925 in Lynn, MA. BOSTON — Boston’s He was the son of the late Spe- rst retail pot shop and ro and Pota Demakis. He was Massachusetts’ rst mi- a graduate of Lynn Classical nority-owned marijuana High School and Northeastern business was approved University. He was a partner of Thursday, more than a the CPA rm of Demakis and year after the rst shops Demakis in Lynn for over 50 opened elsewhere in the years. He was well known and state. respected throughout the Lynn The state’s Cannabis business community. Control Commission on Tim was an active member Thursday voted to give of St. George Greek Orthodox nal license approval to Church in Lynn for many years. Pure Oasis, a pot shop pro- He was a member of the for- posed by two local black mer New Meadows Masonic of Lynn and William Demakis, of entrepreneurs. Lodge in Tops eld, and Budle- Swampscott. He also leaves be- The approval comes igh Masonic Lodge in Beverly hind many nieces and nephews. more than three years af- ter voters approved the and Aleppo Temple Shrine in He was predeceased by his sib- nation’s rst marijuana Wilmington. He served as trea- lings Louis Demakis, James De- surer of the Logganiko Society law aimed at encouraging makis and Elaine Grevelis. black, Latinos and other for 30 years. He was a member Service Information: Ser- of the Lynn Lions Club. Tim was people harmed by the war vices will be held on Satur- on drugs to participate in an avid golfer and a member of day February 8, at St. George the new industry. Tedesco Country Club. He en- Greek Orthodox Church, 54 Commission Chairman joyed traveling annually to Mar- S. Common St, Lynn, MA. Vis- Steven Hoffman called co Island, Florida. Above all, he itation from 9-11 am, and a the vote “an important cherished time spent with fam- funeral service to follow at 11 milestone” and wished the ily, especially his wife, children am. Burial at Cowles Memori- company luck. and ve grandchildren. al Cemetery in Ipswich, MA. In Kobie Evans, a co-own- Tim was the husband of An- lieu of owers, donations can er of Pure Oasis, said the tonia Bouzianis Demakis with PHOTO | ASSOCIATED PRESS be made in his memory to St.