Schools Are Taking Shame Off the Table in Lynn Cooking up a Great Garden
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2018 Revere Schools 311 is are taking serving shame off the city the table By Bridget Turcotte ITEM STAFF in Lynn REVERE — In its rst year, the Revere 311 constituent By Gayla Cawley services program has led to ITEM STAFF the repair of more than 600 LYNN — After more than three potholes, almost 400 signs, and months into a new program that allows the clearing of 90 catch basins. Lynn Public Schools to offer free break- Revere 311 has answered fast and lunch to all students, regard- more than 27,000 calls and less of income status, results show there worked with city departments has been an increase in the number of to respond to nearly 7,000 re- kids who eat at school. quests for service, said Mayor Over the summer, the Massachusetts Brian Arrigo. Department of Elementary and Sec- “The people of Revere deserve ondary Education (DESE) approved a the very best service from their request from school administrative of - city government,” Arrigo said cials to enter into the Community Eligi- in a statement. “We’re using bility Provision (CEP) Program, part of Revere 311 to learn about and the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. respond to our residents’ needs The program is aimed at ensuring no and operate the city more ef - kids go hungry and reduces the stigma ciently.” of low-income families who may have The program was partly funded with a $54,000 grant otherwise had to apply for free meals. from the Community Compact All students can receive a free breakfast IT Grant Program, a competi- and lunch, regardless of their status. tive state program focused on “Now taking away the stigma of driving innovation and trans- someone having to put a number in formation at the local level or somehow maybe having to identify through investments in tech- themselves is gone, so now more kids nology. are eating the lunches and breakfast The city signed a community than ever before,” said School Business compact with the Baker-Polito Administrator Kevin McHugh. “I don’t administration in 2015. have proof, but it’s good to see at that Revere 311 was intended to level, we saw a good-sized bump.” help residents report an issue Results nearly halfway into the school without having to navigate the year show that the amount of students departments and networks of Cooking up eating breakfast and lunch district-wide City Hall. has increased an average of 7 percent. “In just our rst year of im- Results are higher at the high school plementation, we’re already level, where students were shown to be using data to inform better a great garden more interested in lunch, according to policy and make changes that McHugh. have a real impact on everyday By Steve Krause traction. You can look ITEM PHOTO | OWEN O’ROURKE The state predicted school districts quality of life for our people,” ITEM STAFF down on the Cook Street Michael Reardon, would see an increase of 5 to 9 percent Arrigo said. Playground Community left, and David Gass with the program. In October, results LYNN — It’s a long Garden. Right now, it is showed 81 percent of all students in the In addition to answering res- climb from the bottom stand in front of the ident questions, Revere 311 a series of plots — both Cook Street Play- district took a lunch, but McHugh hopes of Beacon Hill Avenue in on the upper and low- works closely with most city ground Community to inch that gure closer to 90 percent. Lynn to the top. er levels — that are be- School Committee member Brian departments — especially the But when you get up Garden in Lynn. tween seasons. But come Castellanos said offering free meals at Department of Public Works there, it’s worth the the spring and through school is essential — through his work and the Inspectional Services climb. For not only do the summer, those plots as a social worker, he sees families who Department — to ensure res- you get a panoramic ourish with ower and rely on those meals, because their kids ident requests are submitted, view of one entire slope vegetation that serves may not get anything to eat at home. of the Highlands, you REVERE, A3 get an extra-added at- GARDEN, A3 LYNN, A2 INSIDE Pickering Elves are working for Item Santa By Bella diGrazia ITEM STAFF LYNN — The elves at Pickering Middle School have been hard at work all month collecting toys for Item Santa. The Leadership Group, which has students from grades 6, 7, and 8, are ea- ger to create a positive en- vironment for their school. The community service initiative led the students to a successful food drive at the beginning of the school year and when De- cember came, they knew they wanted to nd a way to participate during the holiday season, according to Dina Coffee, the group’s mentor and school guid- ance counselor. “We’ve been calling them ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK the Pickering Elves all month,” said Coffee. “It’s Students from the Opinion LOOK! been so meaningful watch- SkillsUSA program Here’s an original LynnArts hosts a ing the kids come in to at Lynn Tech High thought — or is it? A4 sale with Santa. A8 donate gifts they bought School donated more with their own money and than 20,000 books to Sports even the parents have ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK elementary school been so supportive and in- students across the St. Mary’s boys Jets couldn’t hold onto volved.” Pickering Middle School sixth-grad- city on Saturday. basketball team defeats a 3-goal lead, tie er Mia Peato carries bags full of toys LOOK!, Page A8. St. John’s Prep. B1 Somerville in Hockey. B1 ITEM SANTA, A3 to be donated to Item Santa. OBITUARIES ..............................A2 POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 COMICS/DIVERSIONS ........... B4-5 HIGH 43° VOL. 141, ISSUE 8 OPINION ...................................A4 LOOK! .......................................A8 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 25° COMMUNITY CALENDAR ............A5 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 HEALTH .....................................B8 PAGE A8 ONE DOLLAR A2 THE DAILY ITEM MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2018 OBITUARIES Gordon Borek, 89 Virginia G. Campbell, 82 Robert F. Burns, 94 SWAMPSCOTT — corporator. PEABODY – Virginia nell, Daniel Chan- Robert F. “Bob” ter, Marilyn Bessom Gordon Borek, 89, of Gordon was a G. (Hurd) Campbell, nell Michael Taranto, Burns, 94, of Salis- of Salisbury, his ve Swampscott, passed member of Peabody 82 years, of Peabody, Matthew Taranto, bury and formerly of precious grandchil- away on December Elks Lodge No. 1409; formerly of Bever- Jennifer Taranto, Sta- Lynn and Peabody, dren, Dawn Hazelton 9, 2018. He is sur- American League ly, passed away on cie Campbell, Adam died Friday, Decem- of Salem, N.H., Tam- vived by his sons Wil- Post 0227; Aleppo Saturday December Campbell, Morgan ber 14, 2018 at the my Gooch of Dracut, liam (Evelyn), James Shrine Massachu- 15, 2018 at the Ka- Breidenbach and her Anna Jaques Hospi- Christin Destefano (Laureen), and Scott setts Charitable plan Family Hospice husband Blake, and tal in Newburyport of Tewksbury, Cassia (Jill). Gordon was a Mechanics Associa- House in Danvers. Tabitha Glidden; ve after a brief illness. Gilroy of Salisbury devoted grandfather tion; and was a life She was the be- great grandchildren, He was the husband and Donnie Bessom of twelve. He was preceded member in the Masonic Order, loved wife of the late Harold Autumn Breidenbach, Dean of the late Pearl (Rich) Burns of Newburyport, 11 great in death by his grandparents including Past Commander of “Bumpsie” Campbell. Born Guay, Addison Campbell, Mi- who passed away in 1993. grandchildren, a compan- Bror and Anna Anderson who Boston Commandery No. 2. in Lynn, she was the daughter chael Taranto and Luciana He was born in Lynn on May ion, Jean Pandolfo of Sau- raised him, his wife, Jo Anne of Service information: A of the late Walter and Mildred Taranto and her dear friend 30, 1924, the son of the late gus and many nieces and sixty four years and grandson memorial service will be (Thomas) Hurd. She was of forty- ve years Ruth Earley John E. “Micky” and Rose (La nephews. He was the father Gordon R. Borek. held on Wednesday Decem- a graduate of Lynn English of Peabody. She was also the Rocque) Burns. He resided of the late Robert H. Burns, High School, with the class of Gordon graduated from Mal- ber 19, 2018 at 9:30 AM at mother of the late Thomas in Lynn until 1965 and then the brother of the late James 1954. moved to Peabody. “Eddie” Burns and Peg Swid- den High School in 1947 and The First Church, Congrega- Campbell. Virginia had been employed Robert had worked for the erski and the grandfather of from Northeastern University tional, located at 40 Mon- Service information: Her as a receptionist for many City of Lynn at the Pine Grove the late Michael Guerriero in 1956, after having served ument Ave Swampscott, Funeral Service will be held in the Air Force for three years. MA. In lieu of owers, you years at the Pilgrim Rehabil- Cemetery for 37 years be- Web. at the Campbell Funeral He was a mechanical engi- may make a donation in itation and Skilled Nursing fore retiring, as a foreman, in Service information: A Home, 525 Cabot Street, neer, founded the rm Borek his memory and that of Center in Peabody. 1981. After he retired he en- Visitation will be held on & Associates, and later worked his grandson to Cardigan Mrs. Campbell was also Beverly on Thursday, De- joyed working for the Saugus Wednesday, December for the Massachusetts Port Mountain School, Gordon a member of the Peabody cember 20 2018 at 1 p.m.