MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2020 Lynn con rms rst COVID-19 case By David McLellan chusetts, ve of them fatal cases, and has ITEM STAFF been declared a public health emergency at international, national, and state lev- Tedesco worker LYNN — The COVID-19 virus has made els. its way to Lynn. “Of cials within the Lynn Department tests positive The city’s rst case of the virus was of Public Health will be actively monitor- con rmed Saturday, according to both the ing the patient and conducting an exten- MARBLEHEAD — An employee of Te- Lynn Board of Health and Mayor Thomas sive investigation into who the patient desco Country Club has tested positive for M. McGee’ of ce. has come into contact with recently,” said the COVID-19 virus. McGee said in a statement that the un- mayoral spokeswoman Elizabeth Gerva- identi ed patient is currently under quar- cio in a statement. The announcement was made Sunday antine at home. The city got the noti ca- “All those people who have been con- by club president David Campbell in an tion from the Massachusetts Department rmed to have come into direct contact email to members. of Public Health. with this patient will be noti ed by their Campbell said the employee had been COVID-19 is a strain of coronavirus that has infected at least 646 people in Massa- LYNN, A3 TEDESCO, A3 SBA Swampscott stays in touch shows it means business By Thor Jourgensen ITEM STAFF ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO Tara Driscoll joined the Nah- For Jim Appleton, a feder- ant Fire Department earlier al business disaster loan is last month, making her one of great news. For Sarah Nar- only two female re ghters on cus, an interest-payment deferral on her loans is a life the force. saver. Appleton and Narcus run separate businesses in dif- Nahant ferent communities — Lynn and Peabody — but as event rental providers they have seen business plummet as re ghter coronavirus cancels gradua- ITEM PHOTOS | OLIVIA FALCIGNO tions, commencements and all other mass gatherings. Above, Abby, 8, and Charlie Hucker, 4, respond to a note through the front door just one of “In 40 years doing what I after Aliza, 8, and Leo Goldstein, 4, drew on the pavement of their front yard, do, I have never seen any- below. Children in the community of Swampscott have been communicating thing like this,” said Apple- through chalk and driveways since the outbreak of COVID-19 has forced com- ton, president of Roland L. munities to practice social distancing. the guys Appleton Inc. in Lynn. Spring normally means Ap- By Elyse Carmosino pleton ramps his 15-person ITEM STAFF workforce up to 25 employ- ees to meet warm weather NAHANT — Tara Driscoll is one event demands. Coronavirus of just two female re ghters who and its social distancing pre- are part of Nahant’s Fire Depart- cautions forced him to cut ment. his workforce to eight em- The 31-year-old joined the team ployees. last month after completing the “There’s not much for them state’s call/volunteer recruit train- to do,” he admitted. ing program, where she was, once He applied for a Small again, one of only two women in her Business Administration graduating class of 27. (SBA) disaster loan and said Being a woman in any male-domi- the help he will receive from nated industry is often dif cult, but it is key to his business’ sur- Driscoll said the physicality of re vival. ghting especially can present a The SBA last Friday an- unique set of challenges. nounced Massachusetts re- “(Just) body mechanics — guys ceived approval for the disas- are naturally stronger,” she said. “It ter declaration statewide for is what it is.” small businesses and private Rather than let this deter her, non-pro ts to apply for the Driscoll — who said she’s always been athletic — welcomes the chal- SBA, A3 lenge. In addition to her day job of bartending at Kelly Greens Golf Course, she stays on top of her New Lynn playground off limits College prep physical tness by working out reg- ularly. “They de nitely don’t (go easy program takes on me),” she said of her re ghter training. “But if you’re struggling with something, I feel like they kind students online of notice it more because they’re al- ready looking to make sure you’re By Steve Krause OK because you’re a girl. ITEM STAFF “It’s good, though, because you know they aren’t going to let you LYNN — Peter Barros worries about just fall through the cracks.” how the high school juniors in this year’s She added that the teamwork in- La Vida Scholar program are going to volved in re ghting means every fare under the provisions made neces- person’s contribution is important, sary by the COVID-19 pandemic. regardless of gender. But then again, he says, “if there’s a “A lot of my power is in my legs. generation that’s best adaptable to do things virtually, and Facetiming, and I don’t lift something that’s heavy things like that, it is this one. They’ve the same way that a guy with a lot been doing it in their own lives.” of upper body strength would. I use Barros is chief executive of cer of the a different technique to utilize the college prep program that is geared to- NAHANT, A3 ward nding Lynn boys and girls of low-income families and matching them up with colleges that might be able to not By Gayla Cawley Although the city’s youth The $120,000 project to only accept them, but offer generous - Lynn nancial aid packages. ITEM STAFF may be itching to use the renovate the Warren City to close all buildings to the La Vida also offers these students help public effective Monday. A2 new playground, doing so Street Playground has LYNN — There’s a mix- in navigating the arduous process of ap- been completed, but the ture of excitement and could put its health, and plying to college and scholarships. It is a Opinion playground structures concern from Ward 6 City that of the community, at program that is built around the very so- Commentary: Even now, laughter risk as the worldwide coro- have been shut down is the best medicine. A4 Councilor Fred Hogan as cial interaction this virus has eliminated the long-awaited instal- navirus (COVID-19) out- by Mayor Thomas M. for the time being. Nahant lation of $50,000 worth break continues to spread McGee and the Board of La Vida’s Munroe Street of ce is closed, Fire department to defer of new playground equip- throughout the state. Health amid concerns and much of the work usually done smoke, CO inspections. A6 ment at Warren Street over COVID-19. Park is nearly complete. PLAYGROUND, A3 ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK ONLINE, A3 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 HEALTH .....................................B3 HIGH 40° VOL. 142, ISSUE 87 OPINION ...................................A4 LOOK! .......................................A8 COMICS/DIVERSIONS ........... B4-5 LOW 37° COMMUNITY CALENDAR ............A5 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2020 OBITUARIES Lynn to close all Dorothy A. Kirby, 93 Jane F. Gould, 91 1927-2020 city buildings LYNN — Dorothy A. (Mc- PEABODY — Jane F. (Lovett) Quade) Kirby, age 93, of Lynn, Gould, 91, of Peabody, died LYNN — Mayor Thom- shifted to addressing and died peacefully on Thursday, peacefully Monday, March as M. McGee announced staf ng the COVID-19 March 19, 2020 at the Ka- 16 surrounded by her loving Sunday night that all es- emergency management plan Family Hospice House family at the Kaplan Family sential city services pro- operations. He said that in Danvers, surrounded by her Hospice House in Danvers fol- vided by City Hall, the De- includes growing the ca- loving family. She was the de- lowing a brief illness. She was partment of Public Works pacity of the city’s task voted wife of the late Richard the devoted wife of the late and the Lynn Public Li- force teams, which will M. Kirby Sr., with whom she Lloyd F. Gould, with whom she brary will be delivered re- focus on coordination of shared more than 45 years shared 59 years of marriage. motely. concerns in the commu- of marriage and predeceased Jane was born and grew up Effective Monday, all nity, enforcement of state her in 1999. in Lynn, daughter of the late city buildings will be and local government dec- Born in Haverhill in 1927, Russell and Gertrude (Nich- closed to the public un- larations, and overseeing Dorothy was the daughter olson) Lovett. She attended til further notice and all the public health needs of of the late John and Sarah Lynn Classical High School. non-essential services will residents. (Callahan) McQuade. She She moved to Peabody in be limited. Residents are encour- was raised and educated in 1957 and was a resident for The order does not ex- aged to conduct any ur- Lynn, attended St. Joseph’s most of her life, having spent tend to public safety ser- gent City Hall business Grammar School and gradu- 10 years in Naples, Fla., be- vices, which will continue via phone, email or at family feels blessed knowing their daughter Caroline, Chris- ated from Lynn English High fore returning to Peabody in to operate at full staf ng www.lynnma.gov. If resi- School. She earned her bach- that their beloved mother and 2002. topher and his wife Rachel Powers of Denver, Colo., her levels.