Nahant Students Put Best Feet Forward
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018 APPRECIATION GE helps By George, bring he loved the City good of Lynn housing By Gayla Cawley ITEM STAFF to Lynn LYNN — George Kouk- By Thomas Grillo ounaris, a well-known real ITEM STAFF estate developer and land- lord in Lynn, who died on LYNN — It took more than Friday, is remembered by two years of negotiations, but family, friends and col- the Lynn Housing Authority leagues as someone who was & Neighborhood Develop- all about his family, his faith ment (LHAND) has pur- and Lynn, a man who truly chased three lots from Gen- embodied the American eral Electric Co. and plans to Dream after immigrating turn them into housing. from Greece with nothing. The West Lynn parcels Koukounaris, 89, of Na- were sold to the non-pro t’s hant, was born in Chios, development arm, Neigh- Greece, and arrived in the borhood Development Asso- United States on Thanks- ciates (NDA), for $520,000. giving Day in 1955 at the The land had been used for age of 27 and built a career over ow employee parking in real estate development for GE’s River Works. — his business success is “I’m ecstatic that GE came largely attributed to a love to the table and is assisting of the personal relationships the city in revitalizing that he built with his tenants, neighborhood,” said LHAND according to his obituary. executive director Charles “He was an extraordinary Gaeta. “We intend to not man who lived an extraordi- only build new homes on this nary life,” said his daughter, land, but we plan to offer Eva Markos, of Nahant. “He loans and grants for exteri- was all about his family, his or improvements to nearby faith, and Lynn. He loved homes. It will be a total revi- the city of Lynn, he loved his talization.” tenants — anyone who came The authority expects to his way, he wanted to help build as many as 16 houses people.” Nahant students at a cost of $4 million. The Markos said her father parcels are located on Minot, moved to Nahant in 1982 — Richard and River streets. he lived in Lynn for many Jeff Weeden, LHAND’s years after moving to the put best feet forward planning and development city in 1958. manager, said the agency “Lynn was his life,” Mar- does not know if the project could be better (shoveled) but we had The Golden kos said. “He worked very By Bridget Turcotte will be affordable, market ITEM STAFF kids walk today.” hard to try to improve it. He Shoe award rate or a mix. Home prices, On days the school promotes the activi- for the walk- worked very hard to keep NAHANT — Nearly a year after the he said, will be determined ty, including weekly Walking Wednesdays, ing all stars his tenants happy and safe. school participated in a state program later. He loved people. He was a that encourages students to walk to more than 80 percent of children typically at Johnson The project will be part of gentle soul, very kind and school, about a quarter of the Johnson El- participate, said Andrews. Students are School in the ongoing neighborhood re- giving. He believed in giving ementary School population continues to given a punch card and a volunteer ce- Nahant. vitalization strategy between back. He came from a very hoof it each day. lebrity punches the cards of each student LHAND and the Impact poor, poor background and “We’re to a point where we have a pat- who walks to school on Wednesday. Stu- ITEM PHOTO | Lynn Coalition to establish during his success, his stron- tern and a routine,” said Principal Kevin dents who had their card punched eight SPENSER HASAK and support neighborhood gest belief was to give back.” Andrews. “We know that Penelope and times received a certi cate and shook groups, conduct cleanups, Markos said Greece meant Ella will walk every single day and a hands with Nahant Police school resource and offer x-up grants and the world to him — he was small group of fth-graders are going to philanthropic to his home- walk from Little Nahant. The sidewalks NAHANT, A7 HOUSING, A6 town and on every building he built, he would put in a stone from Greece for good luck — but the United States was his blessing. WANTED: “He loved this country for giving him the opportunity to become something. He Planning was your typical American KOUKOUNARIS, A7 director for Saugus By Bridget Turcotte ITEM STAFF SAUGUS — Director of the planning and development department, a position cre- ated less than 1½ years ago, is among the handful of va- cancies in major positions the town is looking to ll. “What we would hope for is to ll the position with some- body that has the passion and enthusiasm to take on projects and advise and assist the com- munity in transitioning with a lot of this new development that’s happening on Route COURTESY PHOTO 1,” said Town Manager Scott Rotary Club de nes George Koukounaris, a Crabtree. well-known real estate A job posting on the town’s developer and landlord website describes the job as “the success for Lynn students in Lynn, died on Fri- point of contact and manager for all short term, intermediate, and day. He is remembered By Thomas Grillo the students’ hands. Harrington as someone who was longer range master planning.” Quali cations include a mini- ITEM STAFF Superintendent of Schools Dr. Elementary School all about his family, his Catherine Latham and Harrington third-grader faith, and the United mum of ve years of planning LYNN — Christmas was weeks and community development Elementary School Principal Lissa Chanelle Charles States, or more speci - ago, but students in Nikki Spyro- Jussaume helped distribute the dic- searches for the cally the city of Lynn. SAUGUS, A7 poulos’ class at the Harrington El- tionaries to the third-graders. word “shore” in her ementary School still got presents Don Smith, Equitable’s executive new dictionary that Wednesday. vice president, put Spyropoulos’ was donated by the Thanks to the generosity of Eq- kids to work in Room 206. He asked Rotary Club of Lynn uitable Bank and the Rotary Club, INSIDE them to nd the word “shore” in and Equitable Bank more than 1,300 dictionaries were their new dictionary. on Wednesday. In Opinion In Sports distributed to third-graders in the “I found it,” said 8-year-old Yadier Ehrlich’s St. Mary’s Nazaire hits Lynn Public Schools. It’s the 10th Alvarez. global view. A4 1,000-point milestone. B1 anniversary of the project that has ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK put nearly 14,000 dictionaries in DICTIONARIES, A3 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 COMICS/DIVERSIONS ........... B4-5 LYNN .........................................A3 HIGH 49° VOL. 140, ISSUE 28 LOOK! .......................................A8 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 OPINION ...................................A4 LOW 44° SPORTS ................................ B1-3 TRAVEL......................................B8 ONE DOLLAR ENTERTAINMENT .......................A5 PAGE A8 A2 THE DAILY ITEM THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018 OBITUARIES Martin Luther King celebration Cliff Vigeant, 74 1943-2017 is set in Malden and Medford LYNN — John Clif- U.S. Navy, worked in ford Vigeant “Cliff” law enforcement as a By Steve Freker The milestone-year the community and the re- Paul Donato, D-Medford, of Lynn passed police Chief in Selby FOR THE ITEM event will be Saturday gion,” Anderson said. Malden; Malden Mayor away on Christmas South Dakota. Born at 11 a.m. at Anthony’s In addition to the lun- Gary Christenson; and day. Born in Lynn, and raised in Lynn, he MALDEN — In addition in Malden. The NSBWA cheon and the awards former Medford Mayor on Sep. 2, 1943, to returned to Lynn and to marking what would will be honoring six indi- ceremony, there will be Michael McGlynn. John and Elizabeth started Cliff’s Oil, to have been the 89th birth- viduals for their contri- musical and vocal enter- This year’s honorees Vigeant, Cliff now en- all who knew him, he day of the late Rev. Dr. butions and accomplish- tainment and opportuni- include: Shannon Ander- ters eternal life with was a very hard work- Martin Luther King Jr., ments which “embody (Dr. ties for the whole group of son (Law Enforcement); his parents and his ing, loving, and giving the North Shore Black King’s) ideals, passion and attendees to join in song. Jessica Johnson (Client brother Robert. Cliff’s loving man. For those of us closest to Women’s Association (NS- commitment to service,” Also, as is customary, a Services Manager); Nao- family who he leaves behind him, we will never forget his un- BWA) will also be hosting according to Association young person will read mi E. Lawrence-Reid, MD his faithful companion Carol usual sense of humor. its annual luncheon hon- President Idiodiah Henry. and deliver Dr. King’s most (Board-Certified Pedia- McCormack, her son Thomas, Service information: Pri- oring the legendary civ- Malden Ward 7 City famous public address, the trician); Jordan Lebeau daughter-in-law Angela, and vate services will be held il rights leader for their Councilor Neal Anderson “I Have a Dream” speech, (Managing Editor, Com- children Thomas Jr., Nicholas, at SOLIMINE Funeral Home, Silver Anniversary 25th will again act as master of which was delivered on plex Networks); Michael and William who all knew him 426 Broadway St., Lynn. time. ceremonies, reprising his the steps of the Lincoln LoPresti (Master Car- as “Grampy,” also his daughter Burial will be at Puritan The NSBWA has its role of many years. “This Memorial after the March penter); and Adam Wel- Jeanette Ellis, three grandchil- Lawn Memorial Park, 185 roots in Medford and Mal- is a tremendous opportu- on Washington, D.C., in dai (Assistant Principal, dren, and his brothers Albert Lake St., Peabody MA on Jan.