MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020 Sixth District debate Zooms into Marblehead, Nahant, and Swampscott By David McLellan The Item and La Voz were media spon- running to represent sixth-district con- ITEM STAFF sors for the event. stituents. Each candidate was given an opportu- Belsito, a self-described “progressive NAHANT — COVID-19, racial vio- nity to introduce themselves. leader” and “women’s rights champion,” lence, and the local economy — Sunday McQuilken, a husband and father of is the granddaughter of Syrian refugees, night’s debate of the three candidates four children from Tops eld, worked for a “ rst-generation Salem State grad,” running to represent Massachusetts’ more than a decade as a member of the and an “everyday person, a kid who grew sixth district in U.S. Congress covered staff of Cheryl Jacques, the rst openly up in a working-class home.” Belsito be- those as well as a wide spectrum of oth- lesbian state senator in Massachusetts, came a women’s health and maternal er issues. has worked as the vice president of public mental health advocate after suffering ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO The Democratic Town Committees of affairs for Planned Parenthood League from postpartum depression following Sen. Ed Markey sat down with Nahant, Marblehead, and Swampscott of Massachusetts, and has worked for the birth of her daughters, and helped The Item Saturdy for a discussion jointly hosted the debate with candi- the Democratic National Convention organize the rst advocacy day for wom- about his vision for the country. dates being incumbent U.S. Rep. Seth Committee and the Massachusetts Life Moulton (D-Mass.), Jamie Belsito, and Sciences Center. McQuilken said he is DEBATE, A3 Angus McQuilken. Essex Media Group’s truly the “only progressive Democrat” Markey touts his record of POMP AND UNUSUAL achievement CIRCUMSTANCES By Elyse Carmosino ITEM STAFF LYNN — With the Sept. 1 primary elec- tion only weeks away, Senator Edward J. Markey named COVID-19 relief, racial in- equality, and immigration reform, among others, as top campaign issues during stops in Lynn and Revere Saturday. As part of a socially-distanced, outdoor interview with The Item, the 74-year-old incumbent discussed his working-class upbringing in Malden and how it played a role in his ght to bridge all types of inequality that have become especially apparent during the COVID-19 pan- demic. Markey faces Democratic opposition for his seat from Rep. Joseph P. Kenne- dy III. Drawing back to nancial issues his own family faced, Markey addressed the necessity of providing a federal “social safety net” that would allow families to ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO not only survive pandemic fallout in the short term, but also provide them with Lynn Tech graduate Carolyn Pojoy receives her di- Graduating Lynn English seniors Yamil Cepeda and future opportunities to thrive. ploma from Superintendent Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. Thomas Gaylord hug after receiving their diplomas. “I could see my mother and father struggling at the kitchen table to pay bills,” Markey said. “Am I smarter than Lynn grads score 2020 put into my mother? No. Do I work harder than my father, the milkman? No. Could I their diplomas at focus in Peabody still see them struggling at the kitch- en table with their three sons, trying Manning Field commencement to make sure they could pay their bills? Yes. By Elyse Carmosino By Anne Marie Tobin “I know families are sitting at the ITEM STAFF ITEM STAFF kitchen table right now struggling to pay their bills, and I know it’s the fed- LYNN — Lynn’s high schools all PEABODY — Calls for social jus- eral government’s responsibility to pro- celebrated their class of 2020 Sat- tice, change and a kinder, gentler vide an economic lifeline for them to urday with a record-breaking four America were the main messag- make it through,” he added. “Yes, it’s socially-distanced ceremonies in a es delivered Saturday at Peabody costly. But it’s also necessary.” row. High’s long-awaited Class of 2020 Referencing his E-Rate program, Although less conventional than graduation exercises. which ensures all K-12 students have recent COVID-conscious celebra- The ceremony, the 50th held at access to home broadband connectivity tions held by neighboring towns of Peabody Veterans Memorial High and devices during the COVID-19 pan- Peabody and Saugus, graduates of School, was attended by more than demic, Markey said he also wants to Lynn Classical, Lynn English, Lynn 300 graduates and their families, see more programs implemented that Vocational and Technical Institute, who sat together in groups of three prevent children in low-income fami- and Fecteau-Leary still appeared on the football eld. lies from missing large chunks of their excited as they lined up single- le “I couldn’t be happier with today’s education due to a lack of technological outside Manning Field, waiting for graduation ceremony,” said Peabody resources. their turn to lap the track and re- School Superintendent Dr. Josh He credited his own early access to ceive their diplomas. Vadala. “I’m thrilled that the grad- education as providing him with future “It was a perfect day,” said Maura uates and their families had the opportunities, adding that the current Durgin-Scully, principal at the Fec- opportunity to come together and “digital divide,” or lack of access to ad- teau-Leary school, one of the four celebrate one last time. There was a equate technology, is only increasing whose students took part in the cer- great sense of pride and happiness unequal opportunities among students. emonies. “We couldn’t have asked that lled the stadium today. We “My father’s son is a United States ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO Senator,” he said. “That’s what our goal for better weather.” are so grateful that we were able Graduating senior Rebecca Truong has to be for every kid … across Massa- Scully estimated that around 50 to bring those feelings back to the chusetts and our country, so that they speaks as the valedictorian at the Pea- can maximize their god-given abilities.” LYNN, A6 body Veterans Memorial High School PEABODY, A7 On the topic of police reform and racial graduation on Saturday morning. justice, Markey, who is an outspoken supporter of the Booker Reparations Study, called for an end to quali ed immunity, which makes it exceedingly dif cult for citizens to sue government of cials for constitutional violations. He argued that the doctrine erodes the public’s faith in the justice system as families like that of George Floyd, the 46-year-old Black man killed by police MARKEY, A3 Opinion Monse Torres Hood: When having a master’s degree isn’t enough. A4 Sports Lynn’s John Boland battles PHOTO | JILL WARD-DOW ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO back to win Gannon club Aidan Dow and Daniel Gisonno of Lynn Classical Carina Lara at the Fecteau-Leary Junior Senior Al- championship. B1 Class of 2020, proudly hold their diplomas. ternative High School graduation ceremony. OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 COMICS/DIVERSIONS ...............B4 HIGH 80° VOL. 141, ISSUE 197 OPINION ...................................A4 POLICE/FIRE .............................B3 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 72° COMMUNITY CALENDAR ............A5 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 HEALTH .....................................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020 OBITUARIES Thomas D. Dow, Sr, 79 Geraldine V. Sasso, 89 Mary M. Cullin, 94 Vietnam War veteran Talented seamstress Teacher, Lynn Public Schools DANVERS — Thomas D. Dow, LYNNFIELD — Mrs. Geral- er, Salvatore Falzone and his SWAMPSCOTT — Mary M. lin of Nahant, Carolyn Osbahr Sr. age 79 years, of Danvers, dine V. (Falzone) Sasso, 89 wife Betty of Lynn eld, and a Cullin, age 94, of Swamp- and her husband Thomas of formerly a long-time resident years of Lynn eld died in sister, Florence Gagliardi and scott, passed away peacefully Nahant, Eileen Anastasia and of Lynn died Wednesday, Melrose-Wake eld Hospi- her husband Joseph of Ando- Wednesday July 29, 2020 at her husband Paul of Mans eld; 4/1/2020, at the Lahey Med- tal after a brief illness. She ver. She is the sister of the late AdviniaCare at Salem, follow- her sister, C. Patricia Cashman ical Center in Burlington, MA Carmen Falzone. She leaves ing a lengthy illness. She was of Swampscott; her grandchil- was the wife of the late John the beloved wife of the late dren Colleen and Sean Osbahr, from complications due to the T. Sasso. She was born in her many nieces and neph- COVID-19 virus. Philip M. Cullin with whom she Kerra, Cullin, Liam and Maeve Chelsea, the daughter of ews and her grand nieces and shared 47 years of marriage. Anastasia; and several nieces Born in Swampscott he was grand nephews. the son of the late Everett A. the late Louis and Maria Born and raised in Lynn, and nephews including Martha Service information: Her and Etta M. (Connell) Dow. (Graceffa) Falzone. She was Mary was the daughter of the Lausier of Salem. funeral will be private on Tom attended Swampscott raised in East Boston and late Edward L. and Josephine Mary was predeceased schools and was part of the graduated from East Bos- Tuesday in Our Lady of the A. (Devlin) Cashman. She was by her brother Dr. Edward L. a graduate of Lynn English Cashman, Jr., sister Natalie A. graduating Class of 1959. ton High School. Geraldine Assumption Church, Lynn- High School, class of 1942 Sassani, brother-in-law, Nich- He enlisted in the United lived many years in Everett, 7 eld. Burial will be private in Holy Cross Mausoleum, and Emmanuel College class olas Sassani, and nephew States Army and served over- years in Saugus and the past of 1946.