THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 Hospital executives deliver straight talk on COVID By Steve Krause COVID-19 cases is taxing their capacity not only for ITEM STAFF treating patients with the virus, but to administer in other areas, including intensive care and emergency The presence of a COVID-19 vaccine will go a long services. way toward alleviating the scourge that has turned But those who think that merely receiving two vac- our lives upside down since last March, but there are cination shots will solve the problem are mistaken. a lot of other things that have to happen as well. And both Roberts and Cormier have seen that atti- Those were the words of Dr. David Roberts, presi- tude in people. dent of Mass General Brigham North Shore Hospital, “They say ‘I’m sick of wearing masks. I’m sick of so- which includes Salem Hospital; and Phil Cormier, the cial distancing, and what difference does it make any- retired president of Beth Israel Lahey Health Bever- way, because there’s a vaccine.’ I’m telling you, that is ly Hospital. The two got together with Salem Mayor ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK wrong thinking,” said Roberts. Kimberley Driscoll Wednesday for a webinar on all They say it’s wrong on a number of levels, and it things COVID-19, hosted by the North Shore Alliance The number of COVID-19 patients at the area’s speaks not only to a lack of perception on the part for Economic Development. two hospitals in Salem and Beverly has impact- Both medical of cers said that the recent spike in ed the emergency services, among other things. COVID, A3 Chamber House hears votes to state impeach of the Trump. region Again. By Elyse Carmosino and Guthrie By Lisa Mascaro, Scrimgeour Mary Clare Jalonick, ITEM STAFF Jonathan Lemire and Alan Fram LYNN — Mayor Thom- ASSOCIATED PRESS as M. McGee stressed the importance of adhering WASHINGTON — President to COVID-19 guidelines Donald Trump was impeached and touted Lynn’s bright by the U.S. House for a his- future coming out of the toric second time Wednesday, pandemic in his annual charged with “incitement of Greater Lynn State of the insurrection” over the deadly Region address Wednes- mob siege of the Capitol in a day morning. swift and stunning collapse of “The COVID-19 pan- his nal days in of ce. demic has truly been an With the Capitol secured by unprecedented challenge armed National Guard troops for our community, espe- ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO inside and out, the House vot- cially for our local busi- Protesters gather on Wednesday night at Lynn City Hall to denounce evictions during ed 232-197 to impeach Trump. nesses,” McGee said as he the pandemic and distribute information about rights and resources to vulnerable ten- The proceedings moved at addressed attendees virtu- ants as part of the Housing is the Cure National Day of Action. lightning speed, with law- ally. “While this last year makers voting just one week has not been easy, we are after violent pro-Trump loyal- optimistic for the future of ists stormed the U.S. Capitol, the city of Lynn.” egged on by the president’s Three years ago, the city Demonstration bring calls for them to “ ght like faced a severe nancial hell” against the election re- de cit and needed to bor- sults. row $14 million from the attention to evictions in Lynn Ten Republicans ed Trump, state, McGee said. Before joining Democrats who said last spring, he said, the he needed to be held account- city had attracted inter- By Guthrie Scrimgeour At least 115 eviction cases have been led in able and warned ominously of ested investors and broke ITEM STAFF Lynn, according to the court. a “clear and present danger” if ground on a number of One man, who preferred to go by his nickname Congress should leave him un- LYNN — Despite the federal moratorium on evic- Fiss, says he has been helping his parents deal with new mixed-use develop- tions, some Lynn families say they have felt pres- checked before Democrat Joe an eviction order that they received in December. Biden’s inauguration Jan. 20. ments, meaning that be- sured to leave their homes. fore the coronavirus hit “When my parents got the eviction notice they Trump is the only U.S. presi- The moratorium prevents the nal step of expul- the North Shore in March, were shocked because, in my country, if you get an dent to be twice impeached. sion until Jan. 31, but still allows the eviction pro- Lynn was nally in a po- eviction notice it means you’re out the next day,” The Capitol insurrection cess to move forward in the courts. sition to move forward to- said Fiss, who attended Lynn English High School. stunned and angered lawmak- ward a balanced budget. More than 6,000 formal court evictions have been “They don’t care — they just take your stuff and ers, who were sent scrambling McGee noted that a led in Massachusetts since the statewide mora- throw it out. My mom was in tears because she for safety as the mob descended, torium expired on Oct. 17, according to trial court CHAMBER, A3 statistics. EVICTION, A5 TRUMP, A5 Lynn eld’s 2021 budget INSIDE Study of Saugus re station re ects a strong community Opinion to be completed this spring By Alex Ross get summit this past Monday. Charles: Call those By Elyse Carmosino on the project — which has been FOR THE ITEM “The FY21 budget is holding, calls for unity ITEM STAFF a topic of discussion among town and the community remains what they are: of cials for decades — at the pan- LYNNFIELD — As the saying strong,” Town Administrator Rob Disingenuous. A4 SAUGUS — A preliminary re- el’s request. goes, it all comes out in the wash. Dolan said at the meeting. • port regarding the potential addi- “When we met at the beginning The same appears to be true for The budget summit featured Msgr. Garrity: The tion of a third Saugus re station of last year, one of our top prior- Lynn eld’s scal year 2021 bud- brief presentations from more healer in chief. A4 is expected to be presented to the ities was to look at this and get get, which has remained on track than 15 groups from various de- Board of Selectmen this spring, data, rather than anecdotal infor- for each town department de- partments, boards, and commit- LOOK! Town Manager Scott Crabtree mation, to provide an opportunity spite the challenges posed by the tees, including the Historical and Tom Hanks said. for the residents of Saugus and COVID-19 pandemic. Recreation commissions, the Lyn- heads TV special Plans for the new station, which Town Meeting to decide on the The Board of Selectmen met would be on the west side of town, n eld Public Library, and the Po- celebrating Biden’s feasibility of (this project) moving with various department, board were discussed at a Board of Se- lice and Fire departments. inauguration. A8 forward,” Crabtree said, noting and committee heads to discuss lectmen meeting on Tuesday, the town’s spending during a bud- LYNNFIELD, A3 where Crabtree gave an update SAUGUS, A2 Peabody teachers union shows tension, discord over school safety By Anne Marie Tobin Henry said at the School Committee’s Being congratulated on “how good they should be putting teachers at the front ITEM STAFF Jan. 12 meeting. are doing” is nothing but “toxic positivity,” of the line (to be vaccinated with rst re- Henry requested that the School Com- Henry said, adding that the union isn’t sponders). You need to take care of us.” PEABODY — The tension between the mittee allow teachers the choice of com- buying into a claim the district made at Superintendent Dr. Josh Vadala, who Peabody School Department and the Pea- ing into buildings or working remotely a Dec. 22 School Committee meeting — praised both staff and families at the last body Federation of Teachers (PFT) over from home. that there has been no in-school trans- School Committee meeting, saying, “I am concerns about teacher safety continues She said PFT members are being “dis- mission. really proud of (them) and this is really to escalate. respected,” and that they are “tired of be- “I don’t believe there has been no in- a badge of honor to keep hybrid learning “We need you to treat us like you care ing told how great (they) are” while being school transmission. There have been continuous,” said this week that he felt about us and, right now, our members exposed to increased risks, as they are clusters,” Henry said. “This disease is don’t feel that way,” PFT President Mary required to report to school every day. spiking more and more and more. You PEABODY, A3 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 40° VOL. 142, ISSUE 31 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ...............................B6 LOW 30° POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 BUSINESS ................................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 OBITUARIES Study of Saugus Helen L. (Frary) Leslie Lemachia, 91 James Clark Bell, Jr., 89 1929 - 2021 1391 - 2021 re station to LYNN - Helen L. (Frary) Les- LYNN - James C. Bell, Jr., age lie Lemachia, age 91, passed 89, passed away on January 8, be completed away on January 11, 2021 at 2021 with military honors. He the Abbott House in Lynn. She was the beloved husband of was the beloved wife of the late Charlotte G. Bell, with whom he Joseph Lemachia, with whom shared 68 wonderful years.