Swampscott Closes the Book on Harbormaster Downtown Lynn
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MONDAY, JULY 24, 2017 Peabody keeping the noise down By Adam Swift ITEM STAFF PEABODY — The sounds of hammers and construc- tion vehicles shouldn’t be waking residents up at the crack of dawn anymore. At its most recent meeting, the City Council approved a new construction noise ordinance that limits work hours. The measure passed by an 8-3 vote, with several of the dissenting councilors stating they were concerned that the ordinance would be too restrictive for home- owners looking to do small projects in the evenings or Sundays. “We’ve discussed in the past about how construc- tion hours are not discussed in our zoning,” said Ward 1 Councilor Jon Turco, who has made the biggest push for the hours. Under the or- dinance, construction hours are now limited to Mondays The streets of through Fridays from 7 a.m. Lynn were alive to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 9 Downtown on Saturday with Walls meant a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays more than 2,500 at the discretion of the city’s people viewing building inspector. the Beyond Walls Councilor-at-Large Tom Lynn Rocked business mural festival. Walsh, who voted against the measure, said his con- By Matt Demirs By Matt Demirs cern throughout the process FOR THE ITEM ITEM PHOTO | FOR THE ITEM is that it would restrict the SPENSER HASAK ability of homeowners to get LYNN — See what a few cans of paint and an As more than 2,500 people ocked to down- work done. idea can start? town Lynn for Saturday’s “Rock the Block” cel- “I think the work on this More than 2,500 people gathered in the city’s ebration of the Beyond Walls mural festival, is commendable, but I still Arts & Cultural District for the “Rock the Block” local businesses were also rocking. have concerns about the celebration Saturday, capping off the 10-day The Lynn Museum/LynnArts collectively saw private residences and that Beyond Walls mural festival transforming pri- more than 1,300 people between Friday and we’re restricting that indi- vately owned buildings with public street art. Saturday visiting the exhibits and galleries, vidual from doing any work From the What Cheer? Brigade leading a pa- said executive director Drew Russo, who be- on their home after 6 p.m. rade of hundreds, to a crowd cheering on the 20 lieves it was one the most attended two days NOISE, A7 ROCKED, A7 BUSINESS, A7 Swampscott closes the book on harbormaster By Gayla Cawley against the town. While he was Last week, the Board of Se- The issue arose after Bithell was lice last August about misuse of ITEM STAFF harbormaster, Bithell received a lectmen unanimously voted 3-0 placed on administrative leave a registration plate, assigned to a stipend of $7,983. (two members were absent) to last September by the town. He town-owned 2007 Load Rite util- SWAMPSCOTT — Four months “My client, myself, the town, authorize Town Administrator had been facing criminal charges ity trailer, according to a police after ling a lawsuit against the town to try to save his former job the (town) administrator and Sean Fitzgerald to execute the for use of an expired license plate. report from Lynn District Court. as harbormaster, Lawrence Bithell the town’s attorneys felt it was end of employment agreement He was replaced and taken off ad- Criminal charges were has agreed to a settlement, which in everyone’s mutual best inter- with Bithell. ministrative leave when Swamp- dropped and his case was dis- includes his formal resignation. est to try to reach an agreement “Larry rst was appointed in scott Police Sgt. William Waters missed at Lynn District Court Through the terms of the set- and not carry on the expense and 1978 as Swampscott’s harbor- was appointed as interim harbor- in May after the Essex County tlement, Bithell will receive time involved with the lawsuit,” master and we certainly wish master in February. District Attorney’s of ce led a $15,000 payment from the said Neil Rossman, Bithell’s de- him well as he moves onto the Bithell’s charges stemmed town, and will release his claim fense attorney. next chapter,” Fitzgerald said. from a complaint received by po- HARBORMASTER, A2 Bear Creek BY BILL BROTHERTON was the place Marblehead guitarist to bee for opens for Thorogood Saugus school The date was Sept. By Paul Halloran 11, 2001 and Brooks FOR THE ITEM Young was sitting on SAUGUS — More than 150 students, B.B. King’s tour bus, teachers and parents from the Ballard chatting with the blues Early Childhood Center got up close and legend about Gibson personal with nature during the school’s guitars — especially annual eld trip to Wheelabrator Technol- Lucille, King’s Gibson ogies’ Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary. ES-355 — and their Students learned about bees and the im- shared love of Eric portance of pollination; plants at the sanc- Clapton’s playing. tuary and the animals that rely on them; Eventually, the con- the coastal landscape and estuary; and versation switched to how butter ies come into being. They also the events of that day, planted wild ower seeds, and there was the terrorist attacks on an arts and crafts station. After the learn- U.S. soil by al-Qaeda. ing stations, the students enjoyed lunch “My producer friend, from Prince Pizza and entertainment. Brit Johnson, had invit- “The students look forward to visiting ed me to see B.B., and it Wheelabrator’s Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctu- just so happened I was INSIDE Bronte Rondash, 4, of Boston COURTESY PHOTO ary every year,” said Ballard Principal Ma- on the bus with him takes on Julian Rios, 10, of In Malden Lowell during Saturday’s Lynn rie Bridges. “It’s an opportunity for them to Brooks Young and his the day the towers fell,” learn about nature in a fun environment.” band will open for City assesses Shore Showdown at Nahant said Young, a North marijuana law. A3 “The kids love coming here,” teacher Bar- George Thorogood Shore-based guitarist/ Beach. More than 80 wrestlers bara Wall said. “Wheelabrator Saugus does a and the Destroyers singer. “B.B. said to me, In Opinion competed. See story, page A3. great job of making an educational eld trip Wednesday night at Getting on track Lynn Auditorium. YOUNG, A8 in Peabody. A4 ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK BEAR CREEK, A7 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 66° VOL. 139, ISSUE 192 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 59° POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 COMICS ....................................B4 HEALTH .....................................B8 PAGE A8 ONE DOLLAR A2 THE DAILY ITEM MONDAY, JULY 24, 2017 OBITUARIES Swampscott closes the book on harbormaster Elva I. Sewell, 91 Donna M. Reynolds, 68 1925-2017 1948-2017 HARBORMASTER ly not reappointing him.” LYNN — Elva I. ing time with her fam- MIDDLETON — Mrs. In addition to her From A1 The basis of the com- plaint was that Bithell’s (Meere) Sewell, age ily, always proud and Donna Marie (Jones) husband Richard a “nolle prosequi,” which appointment from its ini- 91, of Lynn, entered joyous to welcome Reynolds, age 68, of and mother Barbara, ceases the prosecution. tial enactment in 1978 into eternal rest on new members to her Middleton, died on Donna is survived by Wednesday, July 19 every growing family. Saturday, July 22, her son Richard K. Fitzgerald said the should have remained in $15,000 compensation surrounded by her Her life was one lled 2017, at Beverly Reynolds and his wife place unless he was re- loving family. Born in with love, happy and was in recognition of Hospital, surrounded Lindsey of Boca Ra- moved for neglect of duty, Framingham in 1925, sad days, triumphs by her loving family, ton, Fla., her daughter Bithell’s years of service, negligence or conduct un- she was the daughter and tragedies, a true following complica- Jodi A. Brett and her and was also related to becoming of a harbormas- of the late Michael Matriarch, loving, tions from a stroke husband Jason of settlement of the issues ter, and that the of ce of and Irene (Palmer) Meere. Elva strong, and always supportive. she suffered in August of Danvers, her four granddaugh- that have been discussed. harbormaster is not sub- lived most of her life in Lynn. She is survived by three 2015. She was the beloved ters Samantha, Taylor, Skylar With the settlement, he ject to reappointment. She also lived in Beverly and daughters; Nancy J. Spiridis of wife of Richard K. Reynolds and Paisley, her siblings Robert said he was looking for- Town of cials disagree, Peabody. Recently she made Lynn, Joan E. Murphy and her with whom she shared almost S. Jones. Jr. and his partner Mi- ward “to putting some of saying that the harbor- her home at the Lynn Home for partner, Tom Pelletier of Salem, 49 years of marriage. chelle Ayers of Reading, Scott E. the con icts behind us.” master position is a year- the Elderly and her family would and Gail S. Simpson and her Born in Lynn in 1949, Don- Jones and his wife Lisa of Wake- “He has served this town ly appointment. Waters, like to thank the staff for their husband Jim of San Diego, Ca- na was the daughter of Bar- eld, Kristin M. Carmody and for more than three de- the interim harbormas- kind compassionate and loving lif.; nine grandchildren; Anthony bara A. Jones of Middleton her husband Kevin of Nahant cades as our harbormas- ter was up for reappoint- care. and his partner Tiffany, Danny and the late Robert S.