TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2020 Sailing Heals sees new way to serve in Salem By David McLellan Gallagher Glesinger after both of their ITEM STAFF parents battled cancer. Since that time, the organization has hosted thousands of SALEM — Sailing Heals has always healthcare workers and cancer patients focused on saying, “Thanks,” to health- Ericka Ayube, man- care workers. Normally, that means on free sailing trips from more than 20 ager at Salem Gnu taking them out for a therapeutic day ports across the U.S. But with “social dis- Kitchen, made and on the water, but now it means getting tancing” preventing Sailing Heals from donated 60 meals them well-deserved meals during the carrying out its usual duties, the group and desserts to the COVID-19 pandemic. has shifted its mission to providing free Lynn Community The Salem-based nonpro t, Sailing meals to healthcare workers. Health Center. Heals, was launched in 2011 by sisters Trisha Gallagher Boisvert and Michele MEALS, A5 ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO Plan to reopen state met with optimism By Thor Jourgensen ITEM STAFF Distance Gov. Charlie Baker’s plan to free Mas- sachusetts’ economy from coronavirus restrictions won cautious approval on Monday from area builders, manufac- turers and business group representa- tives. dating Baker gave builders, and manufactur- ers the green light to open Monday and ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO outlined how worship places can reopen and hospitals can expand their services to a pre-coronavirus tempo. Romance is another victim of the coronavirus He warned the state will monitor this rst of four reopening steps and re- By Bill Brotherton also a father of three, in January on got a babysitter, and they met in per- evaluate the economy’s restart against ITEM FEATURES EDITOR the Plenty of Fish free online dating son for the rst time at Bertucci’s in coronavirus caseload, testing and death app. They had a couple of dates be- North Andover. Sparks ew from the rate statistics. The coronavirus pandemic has fore the social distancing and quar- start. They sat at the bar, interacted “COVID-19 has and will continue to made dating and searching for love antine orders began. Lisa, who is with others, shared a lot of laughs, take a toll on Massachusetts. If we don’t nearly impossible for area singles. activities director at a local nursing and had a great time. do the things we have to do, we run the Two Lynn residents recently home, had tried online dating before, After that, they spent time togeth- risk of a second spike in the fall,” he shared their dating stories with The “But there was never a connection er every weekend “hanging out,” said. Item. like Bruce and me.” sharing a meal at Choate Bridge Pub Baker has been under pressure to She and Bruce started talking, in Ipswich, and meeting or Facetime. ease restrictions imposed in March. But Lisa is a 47-year-old widow “who and chats soon became a daily thing, Here is Lisa’s story: he is relying on a report prepared by a found love in Coronaville.” She is then more than once a day. They “After eight years of dating, I - state study group to power up the econ- the mother of three; her husband made a date to meet, which he can- nally met a man whom I wanted to omy in a four-phase transition. died in a car accident 11 years ago. celed because he had to look after his Meninno Construction owner Nick She met Amesbury resident Bruce, 6-year-old twins. He reconsidered, DATING, A3 Meninno expects Baker’s order to let work restart on a Revere hotel project. Lynn-based Meninno is a project sub- contractor doing foundation, paving Death toll continues to and landscaping work. rise in Lynn, Peabody, Lynn eld to virtually “It will be a little bit of a task to get A2 everybody re-engaged, but a four-stage process is smart,” Meninno said. Initial state reopening guidelines are Krause: Taking baby celebrate Memorial Day available on mass.gov/reopening steps, A4 “In order to reopen, businesses must By Anne Marie Tobin environment,” said Dolan. “This is the most develop a written COVID-19 Control ITEM STAFF solemn week of the year in our country, one Outdoor dining returns; Plan outlining how its workplace will that every town looks forward to every year prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said LYNNFIELD — The town has announced beaches to reopen for in remembering our veterans who have a statement from Baker’s of ce. Memorial Day, A6 it will be holding a Memorial Day celebra- passed.” Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce tion after all. Dolan said the town is in the process of Executive Director Julie Daigle said The tentative plans were unveiled during Virtual banquet to assembling the speaking portion of the pro- her members are tempering their ex- a COVID-19 update ZOOM meeting on gram, which includes a greeting from Board citement over of cial news that reopen- honor Oiumet Thursday that featured Town Administra- of Selectmen Chairman, Phil Crawford, ing has begun. Scholars, A8 tor Rob Dolan, Selectman Dick Dalton, Fire readings of John McCrae’s poem, “In Flan- “We all realize we have to be cautious. Chief Glenn Davis and Veterans Service ders Field” and the Gettysburg Address and There is a lot of new and changing in- Agent Bruce Siegel. a message from Siegel. As in past years, formation out there that we are trying Western N.Y. to start “It will be a virtual ceremony, just a lit- phased reopening, B3 tle something special in a more challenging LYNNFIELD, A5 REOPENING, A3 For Lynn school, Life is a party the sound of for Peabody music never stops business owner By Steve Krause By Gayla Cawley from students, parents and ITEM STAFF ITEM STAFF teachers has been largely PEABODY — Business owners of all stripes positive. Music knows no bounds. have been hit hard by the COVID-19 virus and Parents have enjoyed LB Music School, with the restrictions that have resulted from it. locations in Lynn, Medford hearing their children play Saugus native Mike Gallant was among those and Wake eld, has success- their instruments and who felt the sting. But Gallant, 43, has always fully converted 75 percent teachers have reported had an entrepreneurial side to him. The own- of its students to taking that kids have been more er of the Oceanview in Nahant, Gallant is also ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO Zoom lessons throughout focused on Zoom calls than the “Chief Fun Of cer” of Perfect Parties USA the COVID-19 pandemic. they were during in-person Mike Gallant runs Perfect Parties USA in Pea- in Peabody. LB Music owner Lauren body, which provides virtual slide shows for high Bateman said the reception MUSIC, A3 school graduates. PARTY, A5 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 56° VOL. 141, ISSUE 134 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ...............................B7 LOW 43° POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 BUSINESS ................................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2020 OBITUARIES Death toll rises in Sister Marie Bedard SNDdeN Bruce F. Perry, 82 1930-2020 Lynn, Peabody Sister Marie St. Henry Be- LYNN — Bruce F. Perry, age By Gayla Cawley infected and 280 people dard, 90, of the Sisters of 82, of Lynn, died Sunday, May ITEM STAFF have recovered, according Notre Dame de Namur, died 17, 2020, after a hard fought to Cameron. Saturday, May 9, 2020 at the battle with cancer. He was the The COVID-19 death Three more Marblehead Notre Dame Long Term Care husband of Judith (Oliver) Per- toll continues to climb in residents have died since Center, Worcester. ry, with whom he shared 58 Lynn and Peabody, which last Monday, May 11, which Sister Marie was born in years of marriage. A lifelong presents a stark contrast brings the town’s death toll Salem with the given name Lynn resident, he was the son to the declining number of to 19, and there’s been an Lorraine, daughter of the late of the late Leonard and Doris new cases that have been additional death in Saugus Henry and Rachel (Brilliant) (Rogers) Perry. reported in those same since last Friday. Bedard. She graduated from Bruce proudly served in the communities. Twenty-seven Saugus St. Mary’s High School in Lynn United States Marine Corps The majority of deaths residents have died from and entered the Sisters of No- from January 25, 1956-No- in Lynn and Peabody have the virus and 463 resi- tre Dame de Namur at age 18. vember 27, 1960. He worked been elderly residents, dents have been infected. She later graduated and from which is on par with what as a custodian for the Lynn Marblehead has 209 cases Emmanuel College in Boston other nearby communities Public Schools for 38 years — the town has report- in 1963 with a degree in Ed- have seen. until his retirement. After retir- ed an additional 46 cases ucation and Psychology. She Even with the declin- ing, he worked for Cal’s News- Doris Johnson and her husband since last Monday, when received a master’s degree in ing number of new cases, stand in Lynn running the lot- Linton; as well as many nieces figures were last reported. Elementary Education in 1974 E. Bedard of Danvers and Flor- Lynn has reached a grim tery. In his younger years, he and nephews, and his lifelong Marblehead, Saugus and from Salem State College. ida, and a sister Joan Salkins milestone, with more than worked for his father’s florist friends; Donnie Martin, Bobby Peabody officials have said Sister taught at schools of Vermont, nephews, nieces, 3,000 confirmed COVID-19 business, Perry’s Florist.