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eagletribune.com PULITZER PRIZE WINNER » GETTING IT DONE YMCA SHOW Synchronized swimmers to perform. Page 5 Central lefty Steve Hajjar uses his arm LAWRENCE » Cocaine, gun seized from teens. Page 5 and bat to down Methuen. Page 10 METHUEN » One teen found, one still missing. Page 5 12-year-olds find python on Lawrence riverbank BY KIERA BLESSING a snake’s habitat. overnight between Tuesday Lawrence [email protected] The boys put the snake, mea- and Wednesday. Police suring about 4 inches around, Pythons may be kept as pets Department LAWRENCE — Two 12-year- in a box and took it to the in Massachusetts without a said this old boys found a 3-foot-long Police Department about 9:30 permit. Ball pythons grow to python ball python while walking a.m. Cuddy described the site 4 or 5 feet in length on aver- was found along the Shawsheen River where the snake was found as age, live about 20 to 25 years Wednesday behind the South Lawrence “very secluded.” in captivity, and eat rodents. behind East Middle School Wednes- “They think it may have They get their name from their the South day morning, police said. been there overnight based on defense mechanism, which is Lawrence The boys found the non- the temperature of the snake,” to roll into a ball with their East School. venomous snake in shallow Cuddy said. head tucked in the middle. water by a drain line opening According to a pet care The brown, white and Courtesy photo between Shawsheen Park and sheet from Petco, ball pythons’ tan reptile was taken to the Interstate 495, said Det. Tom tanks should be kept between MSPCA at Nevins Farm Cuddy. Nearby was a shattered 78 and 95 degrees Fahren- in Methuen. Cuddy said aquarium tank and the rocks heit. The temperature in the police are “definitely and plants normally found in Lawrence fell to 38 degrees See PYTHON, Page 4 Gala raises over $200K to fight opioid addiction Healthy food out of reach for some City ‘food deserts’ expand even as more supermarkets open
CHRISTIAN M. WADE Statehouse Reporter
BOSTON — Millions of low-income peo- ple live in “food deserts” in Massachusetts, lacking access to fresh fruit, vegetables and healthy groceries, according to a report that is spurring calls for state and private invest- REBA SALDANHA/photos ment to fix the problem. Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera greets Mass. Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders and Greater Lawrence Family The report by the nonprofit Massachusetts Health Center’s CEO John Silva during the organization’s Making a Difference Gala at the Andover Country Club Thursday. Public Health Association cites a lack of gro- cery stores and farmers markets in cities such as Lawrence, Lynn and Revere, where residents are more likely to shop at conve- nience stores that lack fresh food. Nearly two in five state residents have lim- MAKING A DIFFERENCE ited access to grocery stores, said Maddie Ribble, the association’s director of public BY PAUL TENNANT policy. [email protected] “It’s kind of a shocking number,” he said. For our ongoing coverage, “This is really a public health issue.” ANDOVER — State Secretary visit our website See FRESH FOOD, Page 4 of Health and Human Services THE Marylou Sudders acknowledged Making a Difference Gala will HEROIN “we haven’t yet” be contributed to the agency’s CRISIS won the fight Office-Based Addiction Treat- Church opens against opioid ment Program. addiction — but the gala event Dr. Mia Sorcinelli, director of where she was the main speaker the program, said the money new $2.7M Thursday evening raised over will be used to expand the ser- $200,000 to help people overcome vices she and her staff provide. the vise grip of this disease. When she started in her position All of the money raised at in 2011, the program had two The retiring head of Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley family center the Greater Lawrence Family nurses and served 150 patients, Roseanne DiStefano was honored at the Making a Difference Health Center’s 12th annual See GALA, Page 4 Gala Thursday night. Read about DiStefano’s award on page 4. Haverhill Armenian church to serve region
BY MIKE LABELLA Bob Lobster to keep old winning formula [email protected]
HAVERHILL — It’s been years in the Popular Plum Island restaurant changing hands as owners retire works, but the church that serves Arme- Joyce and DYKE HENDRICKSON owners, who will open the nians across the region has completed the Bob Hartigan, Staff writer restaurant Friday. first phase of its new complex in Haverhill right, have sold The menu stays, he said, near the North Andover line. Bob Lobster NEWBURY — The claw and they will continue to hire The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye restaurant has been passed to a new local teenagers. Pointe will open its new Family Life and Cul- after 16 years generation. “This has been a popu- tural Center this weekend, less than a year to, from left, Bob Lobster on the Plum lar place for many years, after construction began. The center cost $2.7 Jasmine Lewan, Island Turnpike has been and we’re pleased that we million, church officials said. Brad DeLibero, sold to a younger team, can continue the tradition,” While plans are being made to build a new but the new owners vow to Rooney said. “People know it sanctuary on the grounds, the new family Paul Rooney change nothing. for its consistency, and they center will allow church members to attend and Kim-soo “People love Bob Lobster, know what they will get, “Badarak” — Armenian for church service DeLibero. and we’re keeping every- which is good food.” — until the actual church is completed next BRYAN EATON/ thing the same,” said Paul The co-owners are Rooney, to it on 9 acres that the parish bought in 2000. Staff photos Rooney, one of four new See LOBSTER, Page 4 See CHURCH, Page 3
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“It takes grants and loans to FRESH FOOD make projects happen.” Continued from Page 1 The trade-off for taxpayers, she said, is job creation and Access to fresh food is economic development. harder in rural and low- “These programs can lever- income neighborhoods, age a lot of private investment Ribble said, where residents into economic development,” often don’t have transporta- she said. “For every dollar the tion to go shopping. state spends, you’ll get $5 in A geographic analysis of private investment.” state and federal data show Heather McMann, execu- people living in large por- tive director of the nonprofit tions of Lawrence, Methuen Groundwork Lawrence, said and Haverhill — along with her group has been working sections of Amesbury and for several years to improve Salisbury — are at least access to fresh foods. She a mile from the nearest noted a growing demand. supermarket. “We’re trying to make it The scarcity of grocery easier for people to make a stores affects 2.8 million healthy choice,” she said. people in the state, including Many neighborhood bode- more than 700,000 children gas want to offer fresh fruits and about 523,000 senior citi- and vegetables but lack capi- zens, according to the asso- tal or technical expertise to ciation. Its report only looked expand their operations. So at stores with annual sales the group provides $1,000 volumes of at least $2 million, grants to small groceries not convenience stores and through its Healthy on the other retail outlets. Block program. “Typically those places “That only goes so far,” she REBA SALDANHA/Photo don’t provide a lot of fresh said. “If you need to buy a Honoree Roseanne DiStefano receives a citation from Lawrence mayor Daniel Rivera at Greater Lawrence Family Health foods, so they weren’t refrigerator, it’s not enough.” Center’s Making a Difference Gala at the Andover Country Club Thursday. included,” Ribble said. Nationally so-called “food But food industry represen- deserts” are on the rise, even tatives who’ve criticized the as the number of grocery report note that it paints a stores is also growing, accord- Retiring head of Elder Services of skewed picture by excluding ing the to U.S. Department of places where people shop. Agriculture. “Everybody is selling The department posts food these days,” said Brian an online map — www.ers. the Merrimack Valley honored at gala Houghton, vice president of usda.gov/data-products/food- the Massachusetts Food Asso- access-research-atlas/ — BY PAUL TENNANT for older adults.” Among “wonderfully strong circle appreciated,” Rivera said. ciation. “You can go into CVS showing where a significant [email protected] other accomplishments, of family and friends.” DiStefano, whose career or Walgreens and buy sushi portion of people live more he said, she brought about State Sen. Barbara in providing services to and a bottle of wine. Just than a mile from the nearest ANDOVER — Rosanne three affordable supportive L’Italien, D-Andover, who senior citizens goes back because there isn’t a super- large grocery or supermarket. DiStefano, who is retiring housing sites for elders in was hired by DiStefano and more than 40 years, may market in the area doesn’t Parts of Gloucester, Bev- after leading Elder Services the Merrimack Valley. worked as a case manager not be completely retired. mean people aren’t selling erly, Peabody and Salem are of the Merrimack Valley for She also created partner- for Elder Services of the State Secretary of Health fresh food.” included. 32 years, has been described ships with senior care orga- Merrimack Valley before and Human Services Mary- The Legislature approved a But Houghton said large as a legend. nizations, he pointed out she began her political lou Sudders, who was the Food Trust program in 2014 supermarket chains must DiStefano was the recipi- — and The Boston Globe career, praised her “tireless main speaker at Thursday to spur development of gro- make choices about where ent of the Making a Differ- recognized Elder Services advocacy for seniors.” evening’s event, said Gov. cery stores in areas lacking to locate, and sometimes ence Award at the Greater of the Merrimack Valley as Elder Services of the Mer- Charlie Baker has appointed access, but the initiative has it means pulling out of a Lawrence Family Health among the 100 best places to rimack Valley is “seen as DiStefano to the Council of yet to get going. neighborhood. Center’s 12th annual Mak- work in the area. the top agency” of its kind, Older Adults. Last year, lawmakers “If it’s a non-profitable, ing a Difference Gala Thurs- “It has been a privilege to L’Italien said. “We are so proud of tacked on a proposal to bor- high-cost establishment, day evening at the Andover work with amazing folks,” Charlies Zanazzi, chair- Rosanne,” said Merrimack row $6 million as seed money they’re not going to stay in Country Club. said DiStefano, who received man of the board of direc- Valley Chamber of Com- for the program to an eco- business too long,” he said. “John Silva, chief execu- citations from Lawrence tors of the Greater Lawrence merce Joseph Bevilacqua, nomic development bill, “They have to make business tive officer of the health Mayor Daniel Rivera, the Family Health Center, said, who credited DiStefano with but the money hasn’t been decisions, just like any other center, said DiStefano has Massachusetts Senate and “The Merrimack Valley is providing “countless hours allocated. industry.” dedicated her life to creating the U.S. House of Represen- going to miss that service.” of service” to Merrimack Gov. Charlie Baker’s fis- He also dismissed the con- “more livable communities tatives. “She thanked her “Your leadership is Valley elders. cal year 2018 budget didn’t nection between a lack of include funding for the Food transportation and access to Trust, advocates say. healthy food in low-income addiction, he said. His also made Narcan, which can him find God, he said. He is The initiative was modeled neighborhoods. GALA agency has purchased a reverse the effects of over- now co-pastor of a church. after a successful Pennsyl- “There’s buses and other van that clinicians will use dosing, more available to Mary Lyman, Greater Law- vania program that offers means of public transporta- Continued from Page 1 to reach out to homeless police and fire departments rence Family Health Cen- grants, loans and tax incen- tion,” he said. “I don’t think she said. people, many of whom suf- and other agencies. Sudders ter’s director of community tives to supermarkets to open the distance between a per- The program now employs fer from addiction. herself carries Narcan, she outreach, said the gala had in low-income neighborhoods son’s home and the super- four nurses and treats 275 Sudder, who as the leader added. raised more than $200,000 and for small groceries to market can be defined as a patients, she said. People of the Executive Office of Sudders, a former commis- even before the start of the expand their offerings. desert.” who are suffering from Health and Human Services sioner of the state Depart- event. Individuals and busi- “Developing a supermarket addiction to heroin or other heads the largest agency in ment of Mental Health and a nesses contributed through can cost millions,” said Mir- Christian M. Wade covers opioids can walk into the state government — 22,000 social worker by profession, sponsorships and two auc- iam Manon, a senior associate the Massachusetts State- clinic at 34 Haverhill St. and employees and an annual thanked the several hundred tions during the gala, one with the Food Trust, a Penn- house for North of Boston obtain treatment, Sorcinelli budget of $21 billion — cred- people who attended the silent, the other live, brought sylvania nonprofit that works Media Group’s newspapers said. ited her boss, Gov. Charlie event for “opening your wal- in additional money. to improve access to healthy and websites. Email him at The hours are 8 a.m. to 5 Baker, with making the lets and your hearts.” Marc Lemay, an auc- food in low-income areas. [email protected]. p.m. and she recommended opioid crisis “mainstream.” Wilfredo Cruz, a former tioneer, worked the crowd that people needing treat- During his campaign for heroin addict who defeated aggressively after dinner. ment get there as early as governor in 2014, she said, his addiction with the help For example, the minimum often, unfortunately.” they can. Doctors at the Baker heard from people of the Greater Lawrence bid for three golf lessons PYTHON “When people can no lon- family health center can pre- who had been affected by Family Health Center, told with links pro Brian Martin ger keep them (exotic pets), Continued from Page 1 scribe suboxone, a medicine heroin addiction at every his story in a video that was at the Renaissance Golf Club they release them into the that decreases the craving place he visited. Yet when he shown to those who attended in Haverhill was $300. investigating criminal wild or abandon them,” Kei- for a heroin high. talked to some of the major the event at the Andover After several minutes of charges.” Should the snake’s ley said. “I always encourage “They can be seen that day health care executives about Country Club. Lemay’s rapid-fire solicita- owner be found, they will people to really think about instead of being on a wait- the problem, they acted as Cruz said he was a “full- tion of bids, the golf lessons likely be charged with animal that long-term commitment.” ing list,” said John Silva, though it was “not that big a blown heroin addict” at 14. finally sold for $1,100. cruelty, he said. In July, another exotic pet chief executive officer of the deal,” she said. He wanted to be freed from Karen Andreas, regional Mike Keiley, the MSPCA was found along a local river Greater Lawrence Family The Baker administration his addiction, he said – but publisher for the North of director, said the snake also bank. Deborah Salerno of Health Center. Silva called has obtained more money his various attempts failed Boston Media Group and suffered a laceration near the Methuen found what she the opioid crisis “the most for drug treatment programs until he got help from the emcee for the evening, told end of its body, likely from originally thought was a dead insidious scourge I have and curbed the prescription center, he said. Suboxone, those who attended, “Your the shattered glass of the alligator in the Merrimack seen” in his 37-year career of opiate-based medicines he said, helped him get rid support enables the Greater tank. It has since been put on River near the boat ramp, but as a health care executive. that can lead to addiction, of his craving for heroin. Lawrence Family Health antibiotics. it turned out to be an Argen- The center is ramping up she noted. Winning his personal bat- Center to offer life-saving The laceration is “not ter- tine black and white tegu — a its effort to combat drug The administration has tle against addiction helped programs.” rible, but we’ll probably do large lizard that lives on land an X-ray just to make sure and is legal to own as a house it’s not deeper or worse than pet in Massachusetts. eateries. Its long lines on property, which is on a half- place,” Joyce Hartigan said. it seems,” Keiley said. Keiley said he anticipates LOBSTER summer weekends attest to acre adjacent to the tidal “I’ll be there to greet peo- Keiley said the snake the python will go up for Continued from Page 1 its popularity. marsh. ple the first weekend, and “probably doesn’t have any adoption early next week. Its most popular items The outdoor seats have I will drop in to help this long-term effects” from Lawrence police ask Jasmine Lewan, Brad DeLi- include lobster, lobster rolls views of the harbor and the summer if they need it,” spending a night outside in that anyone with informa- bero and Kim-soo DeLibero. and ice cream. It also offers expansive marsh across the she added. “But it will be New England temperatures, tion about the snake or its Lewan and Brad Deli- fried clams, fried shrimp, street. At times strangers theirs.” but said the folks at the owner call the department at bero are career chefs and seafood chowder and other will sit at the same tables if Bob Hartigan used to MSPCA “do see this fairly 978-794-5856. managers. selections. spots are scarce, and it all catch many of the lobsters Lewan had been with 10 Veteran diners say the lob- seems to work. that were sold, but for the Center Street among other ster rolls offer the most lob- The new owners painted past few years the lobsters restaurants, and Brad DeLi- ster with the least amount the interior a seaside aqua, have come from other local bero held key positions with of fill. and the beach motif has been boats. the Beachcoma and Mad The restaurant has 28 kept throughout. “I miss lobstering on a Martha’s restaurants, both seats inside, and about 66 “I’ll miss the regulars who warm, sunny day,” Bob Har- on Plum Island. informal tables outside. would come back each year tigan said. “But it’s time for PAISLEY FARM Rooney is a federal offi- The new owners bought and we loved working with us to retire. We are leaving it cer with the U.S. Customs the business and the the teenagers. It is a friendly in good hands.” AND and Border Protection, and a commander in the U.S. GREENHOUSE Coast Guard Reserve. Kim- Andover Department of Public Works Established in 1932 soo DelLibero, wife of Brad, 397 Lowell Street is a teacher in Lowell. Andover, MA 01810 They acquired the popular venue from Joyce and Bob DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FLUSHING NOTICE Now Open for the Season! Hartigan, who ran if for 16 years and are retiring. Andover Department of Public Works will conduct a Distribution System Flushing “It’s time,” said Joyce Har- Program in Town from: tigan. “Bob had retired from April 24, 2017 - June 30, 2017 lobstering a few years ago, and I was looking to step The purpose of the Distribution System Flushing Program is to improve drinking water quality for residents and businesses. back also.” Growers of quality plants She said they were dedi- Flushing will take in the western part of town, roughly bordered by Lowell Street, cated to selling to people Beacon Street, North Street and River Road. Please check the Town’s website We take pride in what we grow from the area. periodically for a listing of streets and neighborhoods that may be affected. “We had other buyers Distribution system flushing will take place on weekdays between the hours of Rte. 133 Washington Street approach us but we wanted 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM. West Boxford local people to come in,” she The flushing process may cause discolored water and a reduction in pressure. The 978-352-2332 said. “These owners are all discoloration of the water will be temporary. To help alleviate the problem, please Open Daily 9am-5pm from Plum Island, and I’m run the outside spigot(s) until the water clears. Prior to washing any clothing, comfortable about leaving it www.paisleyfarm.com please make sure to check your water. If the condition persists, please contact the with islanders.” 978-623-8862 Bob Lobster is one of Public Works Water Division at from 7 AM to 3:30 PM the area’s most low-key or 978-623-8860 after hours.