WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016 A calming effect Robots on the in Swampscott march in Saugus By Gayla Cawley Olivia Barton, By Bridget Turcotte Billy Robinson, ITEM STAFF Liam O’Brien, ITEM STAFF left, and Tyler Charlie Page, Wilson, both SWAMPSCOTT — Students at Swampscott Thomas Kourk- SAUGUS — All six Saugus Public Schools ro- members of the High School are encouraged to take a breather oulis, Stephen botics teams will face off in a regional competi- robotics club at before some of their classes. Hopkins and tion Saturday, Dec. 10. Belmonte Middle Peter Franklin, an English teacher and mind- Thomas Pass, The children, ages 9 to 13, will compete School in Saugus, fulness instructor at the school, said there’s been back row, Ka- against about 30 other teams in the FIRST test their Lego a mindfulness initiative at the school for about leigh Cantin Lego League Challenge at Revere High School. robot. three years, which has been expanding annually. and Tessa Diaz, They have been preparing since early October, Mindfulness is a moment by moment awareness below, meditate. said Peter Collins, a team coach and eighth ITEM PHOTO | of our thoughts, emotions, sensation and sur- grade science teacher at the Belmonte Middle OWEN O’ROURKE rounding environment. ITEM PHOTO | School. MINDFULNESS, A7 OWEN O’ROURKE ROBOTS, A7 THE DAY LYNN GROUND TO A HALT Lynnway robbery ends in fatal shooting By Thor Jourgensen and Gayla Cawley ITEM STAFF LYNN — An armed rob- bery suspect was shot to death Tuesday morning by Lynn police and the incident turned the Lyn- nway into a crime scene, slowing morning commut- er traf c to a crawl. Police responded to a 911 call around 3:47 a.m. for an armed robbery at Lynnway Gulf, 525 Lyn- nway. Lynn Police Chief Kevin Coppinger said the suspect, identi ed as Mi- chael McInnis, 41, of Mal- den, went into the station and told the clerk he had a gun. McInnis robbed the sta- tion of $150 after a violent struggle, during which he threatened to shoot the clerk, according to the Es- sex County District Attor- ney’s of ce. The clerk was shaken up, but not hurt. McInnis ed on foot, walking the southbound PHOTO | PAULA MULLER side of the Lynnway until Traf c was snarled on the Lynnway for several hours Tuesday morning following a police-involved shooting, with the SHOOTING, A3 roadway closed in both directions from Commercial to Shepard streets from shortly after 4 to about 9:30 a.m. Christmas for three Lynn board can’t zone in INSIDE In Lynn presents a challenge English students on housing conclusion take art to By Bridget Turcotte the next level. A3 ITEM STAFF By Thomas Grillo Councilors Peter Capano and Jay Walsh Waterfront ITEM STAFF would require developers to seek council A working mom needs development backed approval to build multifamily units in up by questions. A3 help making Christmas LYNN — A pair of controversial pro- portions of Ward 5 and all of Ward 6 and special for her three chil- posals that would have essentially 7. A second, stricter proposal would re- In Opinion dren this year. prohibited multifamily construction quire Zoning Board of Appeals approval They face danger Her newborn son spent in much of the city were tabled by the for multifamily construction in the city. and save lives. A4 the rst month of his life Planning Board Tuesday night. John and Marilyn Marsello, resi- at a Boston hospital in Following a public hearing where a dents of Fairmount Avenue, said a Sau- In Sports intensive care. Her hus- landlord, a commercial real estate bro- gus-based developer has approvals for New era for Lynn band has become a stay- ker and residents sparred over the mer- two apartment buildings on their street Tech basketball. B1 at-home dad. its of a major zoning change to limit new that would contain 100 units. The new “My 3-year-old and home construction to one- or two-family apartments would add more cars to an In Food Rosalie 9-year-old daughters are dwellings, the panel declined to take a already congested area of the city with elevates a roast two wonderful girls who position and referred the matter to the narrow streets. to new heights. B8 city council. ITEM SANTA, A7 If approved, the proposals by City ZONING, A7 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 50° VOL. 138, ISSUE 305 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 47° POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 COMICS ....................................B4 FOOD ........................................B8 PAGE A8 ONE DOLLAR A2 THE DAILY ITEM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016 OBITUARIES Escaping wildfires meant fleeing Kandis O. Pompie, 79 1937-2016 through a hell-like landscape LYNN — Kandis the NAACP Chapter Onett “K.O.” “Erline” in Lynn. She loved By Steve Magargee (Nash) Pompie, age gardening, and was and Jonathan Mattise 79, of Lynn, died Mon- involved with foster ASSOCIATED PRESS day, Nov. 28, 2016, care for many years. after a lengthy illness. Kandis traces her GATLINBURG, Tenn. Born in Lynn, she “Haskell family” roots — With flames dripping was the daughter of back to the Civil War; from tree branches and the late William and her ancestors are in the air filled with em- Geneva (Haskell) the Lynn Civil War bers, thousands of people Nash. Raised in Lynn and Cal- Museum “GAR” building. She raced through a hellish ifornia, she had lived in Lynn will be remembered as a lov- landscape as they fled for the greater part of her life. ing mother and a generous wildfires that killed three Kandis was a loving, sup- and good care provider. people and destroyed hun- portive and no-nonsense She is survived by two sons, dreds of homes and a re- mother who did everything Theodore R. Phillips Jr. of Rut- sort in the Great Smoky she could for her children and land and Joseph M. Phillips Mountains. children who were not hers by of Melrose; four daughters, Fanned by hurri- birth. She believed life was Denise M. Moore, Linda Adele cane-force winds, the more important than work, Phillips, Jackline M. Phillips flames reached the door- although we needed to work and Undreea Phillips, all of step of Dollywood, the to get by and live. For all she Lynn; two sisters, Joanne theme park named after endured and did for her them, Kilson and Carol Harewood, country music legend and Kandis was her children’s and both of Lynn; one brother, local hero Dolly Parton. PHOTO | ASSOCIATED PRESS grandchildren’s Superwoman. John D. Nash of Lynn; as well But the attraction was Smoke rises around the charred remains of two vehicles Tuesday in She was very generous to her as 12 grandchildren and 25 spared significant dam- Gatlinburg, Tenn., after a wildfire swept through the area Monday. immediate family and other great-grandchildren. She was age. families in need. the mother of the late William The fires spread quickly in hell,” said Linda Mon- were forced to evacuate The Castle, perhaps the Kandis worked in the aircraft R. Phillips and sister of the on Monday night, when holland, who was working the tourist city in the largest and most iconic division at General Electric, late Bernice Nash, Virginia winds topping 87 mph at Park View Inn in Gat- mountains, where some home in Gatlinburg, was Riverworks in Lynn. She was Christian, Geraldine Green, whipped up the flames, linburg when she and five hotspots persisted and a destroyed. So was Cupid’s also a professional seam- Joan Wilhelmsen and Joseph, catching residents and other people fled on foot. curfew in place Tuesday Chapel of Love, a wedding tourists in the Gatlinburg stress when she was younger, William and Robert Nash. “Walking through hell, night. venue. an accomplished artist, ran a Service information: Fu- area by surprise. Police that’s what it was. I can’t No details on the deaths Entire churches were silk flower making business neral services will be held banged on front doors and and possessed a terrific eye in the SOLIMINE Funeral told people to get out im- believe it. I never want to were immediately avail- gone. Scorched cars for interior design. She was Home, 67 Ocean St. (Route mediately. Some trekked see something like that able. More than a dozen parked outside set on involved in many community 1A), Lynn on Thursday at 11 20 minutes to catch life- again in my life, ever.” people were injured. their rims after their tires activities including the Com- a.m. Visitation will be from saving rides on trolleys “Hell opened up,” her The extent of the dam- had melted away. The only munity Brotherhood, Head 9:30-11 a.m. Interment will usually reserved for tours co-worker Sissy Stinnett age began to emerge even sound came from the ee- Start, Catholic Charities and be in Pine Grove Cemetery, and wedding parties. said. as smoke from the wild- rie screech of hotel fire the Lynn City Mission. She Lynn. Relatives and friends “There was fire every- In all, more than 14,000 fires lingered late Tuesday alarms echoing through was also a former member are respectfully invited. Di- where. It was like we were residents and tourists afternoon. the empty streets. of Order of the Eastern Star rections and guest book at and past vice president of www.solimine.com. Massachusetts lawmaker among MASSACHUSETTS BRIEFS Gov. Baker heading to DC to stove he used inside the those arrested at wage protest shed behind his home in discuss transportation, military Charlton, off Route 169. By Bob Salsberg to billionaire corporations The state’s hourly mini- A bill that would grad- BOSTON (AP) — Gov.