THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2018 Art gets Lynn edgy still in Lynn $7M By Bill Brotherton ITEM FEATURES EDITOR in the LYNN — “Edges,” the song-cycle musical by Benji Pasek and Justin Paul that opens Arts After Hours’ eighth season tomorrow night, was hole written for a cast of two men and two women. By Thomas Grillo When a dearth of men auditioned ITEM STAFF for the production, director Cath- erine Bertrand and Samantha LYNN — The $14 mil- Gambaccini, the group’s producing lion loan to ll the city’s artistic director, decided to switch budget de cit will not be things up. They cast women in all enough to cure the city’s four roles. nancial woes, according They are glad they did. It takes the to City Council President show in a totally different direction. Darren Cyr. “Edges” is about coming of age, In a television interview growth and self-discovery by young last week on the Lynn adults. Pasek and Paul wrote the Community Television musical in 2005 when they were program “Frankly Speak- students at the University of Mich- ing,” the Ward 3 council- igan. The duo has since gone on to or said the city recently great success, writing lyrics for the learned healthcare costs Academy Award-winning song “City have been underfunded of Stars” in “La La Land” and songs to the tune of $7 million, in the lm “The Greatest Showman.” leaving another huge bud- “This is a witty, charming, and hon- get gap. est examination of adulthood with “Instead of having, like songs that will resonate with people we should have, an $8 mil- lion surplus, we are in the young and old. This take on ‘Edges’ ITEM PHOTO | OWEN O’ROURKE centers around four strong women hole $7 million,” Cyr said Concetta Russo, left, Krystal Scott and Nicole Viau rehearse for the musical “Edges” at in response to a viewer’s EDGY, A7 the Black Box Theater. question. “Every single day, the mayor, depart- ment heads and the coun- cil are working on ways, STEVE KRAUSE along with Sean Cronin at COMMENTARY Saugus prepared the the state (Department of Revenue), to come up with a way so we can have Roseanne’s for an emergency a balanced budget by June 1.” It’s unclear how much racism the unexpected health- care payment will impact next year’s budget. Mayor should be Thomas M. McGee and Pe- ter Caron, the city’s chief Barred nancial of cer, declined comment, noting the pro- The rst reaction to the posed 2019 budget won’t whole Roseanne Barr ker- be released until Friday. fuf e that has overwhelmed In an interview with The social media and radio talk Item, Cyr blamed former shows is that this is yet an- Mayor Judith Flanagan other in a long line of exam- Kennedy for the city’s lat- ples of how people who have est nancial troubles. no business making news end “Health insurance has up doing just that. not been fully funded for And I don’t know the reason the last eight years,” he for that. Have issues become said. “There’s not a lot I so confusing, so complicated can say, the mayor’s of ce and so divisive that we’ve re- knows a lot more about it than I do … call the pre- treated to the point where the By Bridget Turcotte service since October 2016 and will COURTESY PHOTO Roseannes of the world are vious mayor and ask her.” ITEM STAFF assume the remainder of the ve-year monopolizing the daily news From left, Arm- Former Mayor Judith contract held by American Ambulance. cycles? Perhaps. SAUGUS — Armstrong Ambulance strong Ambulance Flanagan Kennedy, who Roseanne Barr is an enter- Ambulance providers are paid Paramedic Wayne has started work as a dis- will take over the town’s ambulance through billing services, not by the tainer (and that’s a very loose service and rst responders hope they Gilbert, Armstrong patcher for the Lynn Fire town, said Town Manager Scott Crab- Department this week, use of the word). She’s a comic will be better prepared for emergency Ambulance CEO tree. also declined comment. (again, loose terminology) who situations. Richard Raymond, has parlayed her incredible “Under our new agreement, Arm- Caron acknowledged The town has entered into an agree- Town Manager ability to draw attention to strong Ambulance will provide a num- health insurance is an ment for Arlington-based Armstrong Scott Crabtree, herself into a career. ber of services to the town of Saugus issue because the city’s Ambulance to be the town’s sole am- and Armstrong Am- That has to be it, because that were not previously available costs continue to rise. He I’ve never laughed at a single bulance provider. The company has bulance Paramedic thing she’s ever said. served as a secondary ambulance SAUGUS, A7 Chris Stirling. HOLE, A7 But for some reason, she de- veloped enough of a following 20 years ago to merit her own sitcom series, and enough ca- INSIDE chet to be able to tackle some heretofore unbroachable is- Opinion Lynn Sports sues without being taken off the air. It ran its course, of course, Cawley: Let’s hear it KIPP holds a night Navigators gear up and by 2006 “Roseanne” was for the boy (bands). A4 to celebrate. A3 for new season. B1 well set up in syndication — which is where the real money Saugus Lynn man Dawe, Tanners ITEM PHOTO | OWEN O’ROURKE is anyway. Teacher honored by struck by car. A6 Archdiocese. A3 take down Magicians. B1 Navs’ players Drew Robertson, Michael Wynne, ROSEANNE, A7 J.P. Knight, Jeff Mejia and Corey Imbriano. Lynn’s La Vida Scholars celebrate literacy By Bridget Turcotte nonpro t organization that is chosen, to tic violence, volunteered to host the rst tary award in years that followed. ITEM STAFF promote the organization, and encourage event. She tapped into known resources La Vida Scholars provides academic others to contribute,” said Saritin Rizzu- and secured food and beverage donations. support, college entrance exam prepara- LYNN — For the past ve years, a to. The result was $15,000 to go toward the tion, matched college savings, individu- group of volunteers has raised money for The idea started when Operation Boot- organization’s goal. alized student advising and counseling, organizations and nonpro ts that pro- strap, now called Pathways, needed funds The award became known as the Excel- and help with scholarship programs for mote literacy and higher education in the to secure a matching grant. The organi- lence in Literacy Leadership Award and low-income families in Lynn who are pri- city. This year, La Vida Scholars will take zation works with adults who do not have was given to Operation Bootstrap for the marily immigrants. home the top award. a high school diploma or need to learn or rst two years. Since 2007, the program has helped 98 The Celebrate Literacy fundraiser has improve their English. The Haven Project, Building Bridg- students nd more than $12 million in been held annually since 2013. Rizzuto, who had held fundraisers in es Through Music, and The No Ceilings “Our goal is to highlight the work of the her backyard for causes related to domes- Movement each bene ted from the mone- LA VIDA, A7 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 ENTERTAINMENT .......................A5 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 PAGE A8 LYNN .........................................A3 POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 COMICS/DIVERSIONS ........... B4-5 HIGH 75° OPINION ...................................A4 LOOK! .......................................A8 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 62° VOL. 140, ISSUE 146 A2 THE DAILY ITEM THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2018 OBITUARIES Report: Harbor Anne M. Brown, 70 Paul Reagan, 67 1950-2018 barrier could take BEVERLY — Anne She is survived by NAPLES, Fla. — for 15 years. His love Margaret (Dono- her two brothers and Paul Reagan died in for the game and for 30 years, cost $12B ghue) Brown, 70, of sister-in-law, Michael his home on May 3, working with young Beverly and former- J. Donoghue of Am- 2018 in Naples, Fla. athletes in uenced By Philip Marcelo leased as part of “Boston ly of Peabody, died herst and Joseph T. He was 67. his son, who coached ASSOCIATED PRESS Harbor for All,” a sum- mit focused on protecting Sunday evening at and his wife Donna Mr. Reagan was alongside him. BOSTON — A harbor the Beth Israel Dea- Donoghue of Sa- born in Oak Park, Ill., Mr. Reagan is sur- Boston’s booming harbor- barrier to protect Boston front from the impact of coness Hospital in lem; his sisters and to Robert and Miri- vived by his wife, from rising seas and in- Boston following a brothers-in-law, Ellen am (Shea) Reagan. Susan; his daughter climate change. The study creased ooding due to was prompted by the city’s brief illness. She was and Robert Stern of He graduated from and son-in-law, Carlin climate change could cost the devoted wife of the late Rye, N.Y., Maureen Dooley of St. Ambrose University with (Reagan) and David Bowers of 2016 Climate Ready Bos- nearly $12 billion and ton report, which recom- Gordon K. Brown. Norwood, and Edward Lawn a degree in History in 1972 Swampscott; and two grand- take more than 30 years Born in Salem, she was the of Oakland, N.J., her best and married Susan Nevin in children, his son, Shea Rea- mended studying the fea- to complete, according to sibility of a harbor barrier daughter of the late Michael friend, Denise Martwichuck 1976. Paul and Susan were gan of Del Ray Beach, Fla.; his a new analysis from the and Anne M.