SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 OUR OPINION A heartwarming tail in Salem A glaring By Tréa Lavery support to the many shelters and communities ITEM STAFF who are experiencing the ripple effects — which we expect to resume for some time,” said Mike omission SALEM — Two transports containing a total Keiley, interim executive director at NEAS and 42 dogs displaced by last month’s winter storm director of adoption centers and programs at in Texas have arrived at Northeast Animal the MSPCA-Angell. “NEAS and the MSPCA are at NSCC Shelter and will soon go home to new families. very fortunate to have transport vehicles and The two transports arrived on Monday and adoption center capacity, as well as adopters ea- Tuesday from St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Cen- ger to give pets homes. We will continue to be We are disappoint- ter and Chances Dog Rescue and Relocation, ed to hear the North PHOTO | NORTHEAST ANIMAL SHELTER a resource for animal welfare organizations, in- respectively, underwent 48 hours of quarantine cluding those in Texas that aim to create more Shore Community Col- Amos and 41 of his dog friends as well as medical care and are now ready to be space in shelters to help as many animals, and lege (NSCC) presidential were rescued by Northeast Ani- adopted. search committee did not mal Shelter. “It’s incredibly important to offer sustained SHELTER, A2 include Interim President Dr. Nate Bryant’s name on the list of ve nal- ists for the president’s job forwarded to the college COVID Board of Trustees. On April 6 when the board is scheduled to pick count a new president from among the ve, Dr. Bryant will have served as inter- im president for almost climbs nine months. Following the trustees’ vote last April con rm- locally ing Dr. Bryant as inter- By Gayla Cawley im pres- ITEM STAFF ident, Four more Lynn res- board idents have died from Chair the coronavirus since Dr. J.D. Thursday afternoon to LaRo- bring the city’s death ck said: toll to 203. “What’s The additional virus import- fatalities were report- ant is ed over a 24-hour pe- Dr. Bryant that we riod, which spanned choose a from Thursday to Fri- leader who can be trusted ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK day afternoon. … Our board believes Dr. Lynn also reported Bryant is that leader.” Interim District Fire Chief Joseph Zukas administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to 36 new cases to bring That strong endorse- Sewell-Anderson School ESL teacher Lisa Roy-Cragg during a vaccine clinic for Lynn Public the city’s caseload to ment alone should have Schools employees on Friday. 16,060. Of that total, been suf cient to ensure 322 cases are active Dr. Bryant’s inclusion on and 15,535 people have the nalists’ list. Health Dept. cares for teachers recovered from the vi- But we rmly believe rus, according to city that Dr. Bryant’s experi- data. ence leading NSCC, in- By Allysha Dunnigan four consecutive Fridays. With a positive test cluding its Lynn campus, ITEM STAFF The city is offering these clinics to align rate (3.81 percent) and through a virtual online Educators with the state’s recommendation advis- LYNN — The Lynn Public Health De- daily incidence rate academic year during ing local vaccine providers to designate partment is offering four days of vacci- (22.3 new cases per the COVID-19 pandemic, offered alternative vaccine clinics speci cally for nation clinics for educators in the Breed 100,000 residents) that combined with his record educators, as many communities across both continue to de- of leadership at Salem vaccinations Middle School gym at 90 O’Callaghan the Commonwealth prepare for the re- Way, which kicked off with the rst ses- cline, Lynn remains in State University, quali es at Breed turn to in-person learning. the yellow for a second him not only to be a pres- sion Friday evening. Mayor Thomas M. McGee said that it is Educators working in grades kinder- straight week after be- idential nalist meriting important for educators to know that the ing downgraded from Middle garten through high school, childcare serious consideration by clinics have available appointments. a high-risk community workers and staff who live or work in the board, but also the School “As our plan continues to return to last week, according to Lynn are eligible to sign up for the clinics, the state Department NSCC, A4 which will operate from 3 to 7:30 p.m. on TEACHERS, A of Public Health. As of Thursday, 22,426 Lynn residents, or 22 percent of the Lynn eld planning three projects for spring INSIDE city’s population, had received at least one By Elyse Carmosino prove last December, will include “The meeting is important because Opinion dose of the COVID-19 ITEM STAFF the addition of 10 classrooms to the this will be the best chance for any Shribman: vaccine. Twelve per- Huckleberry Hill and Summer Street stakeholders to appear and be heard Lady Bird, cent, or 11,777 resi- LYNNFIELD — Finalizing site schools in order to accommodate what by the board,” said Planning Board we hardly dents, had been fully plans for the new elementary school is projected to be an unprecedented Chairman Brian Charville. “We’ll knew ye. A4 vaccinated, according expansion project, furthering discus- spike in the town’s elementary enroll- have not just the presentations from to data provided by the city. sions for a two-house subdivision on ment by the year 2024. town of cials and their designers, but LOOK! Of the Item’s cover- Main Street, and passing a tree pres- Site plans will be presented to the also anyone from the town who wishes State leaders introduce age area, only Revere ervation bylaw are all on the Planning Planning Board during its March to be heard will be welcome to partici- legislation to is still in the red, which Board’s radar as high-priority projects 31 meeting. Once the town has the pate and they’ll be recognized.” protect Essex is the state’s designa- this spring. board’s approval for both schools, it The two-house subdivision project, The $17 million school expansion can then obtain the building permits National Heritage tion for communities that have a high risk of project, which residents voted to ap- necessary to begin construction. PROJECTS, A3 Area. A8 COVID-19 spread, the DPH reported. Revere reported 27 new cases on Friday Webster offers an alternative in Swampscott to bring the city’s total numbers to 9,928 cases By Tréa Lavery to her daughter’s children, Webster Webster said she has been involved and 159 deaths. Its pos- ITEM STAFF said she is ready to get back into town with the town for around two decades. itive test rate of 4.21 politics. She listed one of her most important percent is 2.3 times SWAMPSCOTT — Mary Webster, a “Starting back in October, I started contributions as serving on a board the state average, and its daily incidence rate former member of several boards and to feel that urge again to get more overseeing arts and cultural program- of 30.9 new cases per committees in the town, including the involved,” Webster said. “People have ming in the town, which later merged Conservation Commission and Open always spoken to me about things 100,000 residents is with ReachArts, and Webster became also higher than the Space and Recreation Plan Commit- happening in the town, and … some co-president. She also served as secre- statewide average of tee, is running for Select Board, chal- people are not too happy about some tary and chair of the committee that 19.5, according to city lenging current board Chair Peter of the issues that have taken place, drafted the town’s Open Space and and DPH data. Spellios for his seat. feeling like they didn’t know in time Recreation Plan, which was released In Peabody, another While she has been absent for a few how to respond to the powers that be. Mary Webster years, enjoying being a grandmother I felt it was time.” WEBSTER, A3 COVID, A3 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 55° VOL. 142, ISSUE 87 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 33° POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 REAL ESTATE .............................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 Serving the health insurance needs of GIC members for over 30 years Introducing the UniCare heart — a reminder of what matters most. unicaremass.com For self-funded plans, claims are administered by UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company. © 2000-2020 UniCare. 1032024MAMENUNC-B 3/21 A2 THE DAILY ITEM SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 OBITUARIES Warren Fratus, 74 Ernest Joseph Cote, Sr., 89 1946 - 2021 1931 - 2021 PORTLAND,ME - Warren L. LYNN - Ernest J. Cote, Sr., Fratus, 74, of Portland, ME and age 89, passed away at his formerly of Lynn, MA passed home in Lynn on March 19, away on Monday, March 8, 2021 surrounded by his lov- 2021. ing family. He was the beloved He was the son of the late husband of the late Barbara G. Earl and Viola (Isaksen) Fratus. (Aliferis) Cote, with whom he He was also the brother of the had shared 60 wonderful years late Kenneth Fratus and Philip of marriage. Fratus. Born in Salem, MA on August He is survived by his sister 21, 1931, he was a son of the Claire Moulton of Portland, ME late Arthur J. and Germaine and several loving nieces and (Bedard) Cote. Ernest graduat- their families.