SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2016 DPW to Mother Nature: We’re ready for winter By Thomas Grillo ting our trucks ready, we’ve got 5,000 tons ITEM STAFF of salt in the silo and we’re ready to act as needed.” LYNN — The city’s Department of Public The department has a eet of 250 trucks, Works has a simple message for Mother Na- most of them from independent contractors. ture: Bring it on. If history is any guide, December should be Weather forecasters say the region’s rst a breeze. The last two Decembers had a com- signi cant snowstorm of the season could hit bined total of 1.2 inches, according to Terry this weekend and turn streets into a winter Eliasen, WBZ-TV’s Meteorologist. Last De- wonderland. cember featured record warm temperatures, ITEM FILE PHOTO “We’re ready to go,” said Andrew Hall, including 60 degrees on Christmas Eve and Lynn DPW Commissioner. “It looks like we Christmas Day. Billy Mpelkas, Swampscott DPW, guides Evan Segal toward the might get some snow Sunday evening into snow plow in the new snow removal and snow plow truck at the Monday’s commute. We have spent time get- DPW, A7 Swampscott DPW yard in preparation for winter. Oh, Christmas trees Businesses easing tax burden in Saugus Twins Liliana Riz- zo, left, and Sophia By Bridget Turcotte Rizzo enjoy the ITEM STAFF array of Christmas trees up for sale SAUGUS — Home values have gone up and the average single-family house- at the 6th annual hold will pay $249 more on their tax bill MEG Foundation next year. Christmas tree The Board of Selectmen set the tax rate festival in Saugus. for residential properties at $12.05 per The festival will $1,000 assessment on Wednesday. The be held today from rate is a $.15 drop from last year. But the 3-8 p.m. at the value of the average single-family home MEG Foundation bumps up from $347,900 in Fiscal Year building at 54 Es- 2016 to a projected $372,900 in FY17. sex St. in Saugus. The average tax bill was $4,248 in All proceeds will FY16 and $3,970 in FY15. Next year, be used for build- the average single family home will pay ing upkeep. $4,493. “Saugus still remains one of the low- ITEM PHOTO | OWEN O’ROURKE est in surrounding communities,” said Ronald Keohan, deputy assessor for the town. Keohan said Lynn eld set a residen- tial tax rate of $14.50 for FY17, Mel- Ex-Peabody youth football rose for $12.33, Reading for $14.50, and Wake eld for $13.49. president charged with larceny SAUGUS, A7 Item Santa By Leah Dearborn port a “theft problem” in the league, according Source: Town of Saugus $4,493 50th Anniversary ITEM STAFF to the report. The reporting party, a coach within the $4,248 PEABODY — The former president of the league, and other of cials had raised ques- Peabody Youth Football and Cheering League tions about nancial matters that includ- was arraigned Friday in District Court on $3,970 ed lack of equipment and complaints about Help charges of larceny. Jacqueline Pence resigned in October non-payment of organization invoices. amid allegations of nancial wrongdoing. Marci Ridley, the league’s secretary, said in for the The 50-year-old Peabody resident faces alle- the police report that all nances were solely gations of stealing nearly $28,000 from the Pence’s responsibility and that it was “a se- league including ATM withdrawals, trans- cret” how it was done. Ridley also said that holiday fers to a personal American Express credit Pence would not allow anyone else to count card account, restaurants and gas stations, the money from raf e tickets. according to a police report led in Peabody “It’s so unfortunate,” said Sean Hubau- season District Court. er, president of the Northeast Conference of 15 16 17 Pence entered a not guilty plea in court Fri- Youth Football and Cheering. “It’s not only a blight on the league, directly or indirectly, it’s FY 20 FY 20 FY 20 By Thomas Grillo day. Suspicions of missing cash began in Septem- ITEM STAFF Average tax bill for a single family home in Saugus ber, when a tipster contacted the police to re- LARCENY, A7 After spending months in a shelter, a mom and her son are moving into an apartment. Peabody council But the joyous occasion has been tempered by the expense of moving and down in the dumps setting up a new home, making it impossible to afford Christmas pres- By Leah Dearborn ment heads present. ents. ITEM STAFF The issue was brought to the council’s attention by Tur- “We have to buy new PEABODY — The City furniture and likely will co, who said he rst noticed Council voted Thursday night dumping at the property in not have enough savings to take a stand against possi- for presents,” she wrote. February 2016. ble illegal dumping at a prop- “We would greatly appre- Turco said he saw two men erty where the Massachusetts ciate some help this holi- pushing 55-gallon drums onto Department of Environmen- day season. We don’t need the property. The councilor said much. We just don’t want tal Protection found hazard- he was told at the time that our son to have nothing on ous waste in March. the substance was sewer waste Christmas morning.” The council voted at a meet- from a water tank in Braintree. She is asking our read- ing to block the entrance to After the incident, Turco ers if they can help make the property at 143 Lynn eld contacted the Peabody Fire this holiday season a little St. with a barricade, which Department to alert them to Ward 1 Councilor Jon Turco brighter for her family. COURTESY PHOTO the dumping but said he now Now in its 50th year, the said will likely be erected as wishes he had gone directly Item Santa fund tries to Peabody Ward 1 Councilor Jon Turco said he checks the prop- soon as Monday. to the police to le a criminal make Christmas a little erty at 143 Lynn eld St. regularly from his home. He said he A second motion was made complaint. brighter for the less fortu- saw uncovered piles of debris and an excavator shortly before to hold a Public Safety Meet- nate. If you want to make Thursday’s meeting. ing on Jan. 5 with city depart- COUNCIL, A7 a direct donation to Item Santa, clip the coupon in The Item and mail it, In Lynn eld In Saugus In Opinion In Sports along with your check, to Pair of public Town to unveil Shribman: St. Mary’s INSIDE school employees plans for RiverWalk Outposts of basketball squads drop ITEM SANTA, A7 red over “incident.” A3 next week. A3 transformation. A4 season openers. B1 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 31° VOL. 139, ISSUE 3 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 20° POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 COMICS ....................................B4 REAL ESTATE .............................B8 PAGE A8 ONE DOLLAR A2 THE DAILY ITEM SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2016 OBITUARIES Prosecutors push for cellphone Albert R. Hosman, 75 1941-2016 evidence at Hernandez trial MARBLEHEAD — concession being to Albert R. Hosman Jr., follow a longer but BOSTON (AP) — Pros- messages included com- 75, of Marblehead, less risky trail, the ecutors are again asking munications between passed away in the Jewell. a judge to allow them to Hernandez and Murphy. company of his loving Al played bass in use the contents of former The phone also contained family, Thursday, Dec. the Boston Youth New England Patriots text messages between 8, 2016 at the Ka- Symphony and sax- star Aaron Hernandez’s Hernandez and Alexan- plan Family Hospice ophone in the band cellphone as evidence in der Bradley, a Hernan- House, Danvers. He at Marblehead High his upcoming double mur- dez friend who was with was the husband of School. He never lost der trial. him the night of the 2012 Joan M. (Herbst) Hosman of his love for music and broad- Lawyers for Hernandez shootings. Marblehead. ened his interests to include argue that authorities Hernandez is also Born in Beverly, the son of bluegrass and country in re- learned about the phone charged with witness in- the late Albert Sr. and Jose- cent years. Al also looked for through confidential com- timidation and accused of phine (Alberghini) Hosman, opportunities to help others munications between shooting Bradley in 2013 Albert was a graduate of throughout his life and volun- Hernandez and his sports in Florida. Massachusetts Marblehead High School and teered at Kaplan Family Hos- agent, Brian Murphy, who prosecutors have said perfected carpentry skills at pice House since 2008. He is also an attorney. They Hernandez shot Bradley Wentworth for two years. used his woodworking skills have requested that the because he was a witness “Al” as everyone knew him, to lift the spirits of patients contents be barred as ev- to the 2012 shootings and pursued a career in carpentry, and families, crafting intricate idence. PHOTO | ASSOCIATED PRESS Hernandez was worried building and repairing homes crosses and Stars of David But in a written re- Former New England Patriots player Aaron he would talk. in Marblehead in the ’60s and with his scroll saw to give sponse released Friday, Hernandez, center, sits with his defense team The messages refer to ’70s, and working at Salem them. His work was described prosecutors said Hernan- during a court appearance at Suffolk Superior efforts to settle a lawsuit Hospital, Ft.