TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019 ‘The new emergency room at Salem Hospital cannot handle what both facilities handle right now. I think it’s going to impact the citizens in a negative way.’ — Fire Capt. Joseph Zukas Union closing already of concern By Gayla Cawley ready overcrowded and he doesn’t believe proved a $180 million expansion of North ITEM STAFF the new ER being built on the Salem cam- Shore Medical Center (NSMC) in 2016 pus will have the capacity for patients it that will close Union and move the beds LYNN — The impending closure of will see when Union Hospital closes. to a new Salem campus. The medical fa- Union Hospital is already having a neg- ative impact on the availability of ambu- Union Hospital is scheduled to close in cilities in Lynn and Salem are part of lance service for medical call response in May 2020, which will coincide with the Partners Healthcare. the city, according to the Lynn Fire De- opening of a new medical village on the “I don’t think people are fully prepared partment. site. The new facility will have urgent for it,” said Zukas, the city’s emergen- Lori Ehrlich Lynn Fire Capt. Joseph Zukas said with care services, but the city will no longer cy medical services (EMS) director. “The an increasing amount of the city’s ambu- have an emergency room after the hospi- new emergency room at Salem Hospital lance transports being diverted to Salem tal’s closure. Women lead Hospital, the emergency room there is al- The Department of Public Health ap- UNION, A3 the way in A salute to Memorial Day Swampscott By Bella diGrazia ITEM STAFF SWAMPSCOTT — Inspired by the town’s rst majority female Board of Selectmen, Swampscott will host its initial Women’s Leadership Forum. The women’s networking event will be on June 6 at ReachArts on Burrill Street, with state Rep. Lori Ehrlich as the keynote speaker. Selectwom- an Naomi Dreeben said the initial idea for the event came from Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald after he reminisced on his days of growing up visiting family members in town when there were numerous events led by women he felt proud of. “That’s how we took off on it,” said Dreeben. “It hadn’t been done before and we thought it was a good idea since there are more women on the board now. There are many women leading volunteer committees who are doing tremendous work for our community and this can bring them together.” Along with the state representa- tive, there will be speaker presenta- tions from Erin Calvo-Bacci, owner of CB Stuffer; Deb Ansourlian, exec- utive director for Girls Inc. of Lynn; and Kate Leonard, Swampscott High School’s varsity basketball ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK coach. Dreeben said the goal is to let attendees hear from leaders in the Charles DiMare, commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 115, salutes the ag as Taps is played during the Saugus Memorial Day parade on Saturday. For additional holiday remem- SWAMPSCOTT, A3 brances from around the region, see page A8. STEVE KRAUSE AT LARGE Boston BY BILL BROTHERTON Sesame St. is erred in Chantha Luk and Carolyn Cole act in a remake how you get to blaming of the famous Sesame Street song, “What’s Central Square Buckner the Name of that LYNN — Carolyn Cole, dressed in Abby Song,” turning Cadabby pink, stood on the steps of City Events of the last 15 it into “What’s Hall Friday morning, singing and strum- years have eased the the Name of this ming a shocking pink, plastic ukulele. sting of seeing the ball go Place,” and sing Cole, director of the Downtown Lynn Cul- through Bill Buckner’s about what’s tural District, was taking part in a remake legs in Game 6 of the great about Lynn of the classic “Sesame Street” video “What’s 1986 World Series. But as Koeun Neak the Name of that Song?” The promotion- the memory of that mo- and David Riley al video, which was the idea of downtown ment cannot be complete- lm them and resident Jennifer Adler, has been renamed ly obliterated. director Carla “What’s the Name of this Place?” and the But it is not for the rea- Scheri calls the lyrics have been reworked to highlight all sons you might think. shots. the Cultural District has to offer. As any Red Sox fan can “The most exciting part of this is that we tell you, the team lost ITEM PHOTO | that game when Buck- SPENSER HASAK VIDEO, A3 ner let a Mookie Wilson ground ball go through his legs with Ray Knight on second base in a tie Bee winner earns a spell in D.C. INSIDE ballgame. Knight came Obituaries around to score the win- By Steve Krause in National Harbor, Md. The Item Bill Buckner dead at 69. A2 ning run on the play. ITEM STAFF sponsored the regional spelling bee, Fans also know that the which she won, in March. Opinion Red Sox went into the Ranjana Ramesh of Chelmsford is Monday, the 567 spellers gathered in Brotherton: Make bottom of the 10th inning extremely interested in roots. the ballroom of the Gaylord National Astrology Great Again, with a 5-3 lead, and Not necessarily her family’s roots, Resort and Convention Center for the Trump-style. A4 reliever Calvin Schiral- nor rutabaga roots, and certainly not preliminary round, which — similar di got two y-ball outs square roots. to the Item’s preliminary this year — Entertainment before giving up three Her thing is word roots. That, she says, consisted of a written test. A mixed bag singles and a run. Then, is her key to succeeding in spelling bees. Contestants will continue the bee for Boston Calling. A7 Bob Stanley relieved him, Ramesh, 14, an eighth grade student through Thursday. All rounds will be and threw a wild pitch to at Ste. Jean D’Arc School in Lowell, televised on ESPN. Sports Great weekend is this area’s representative in this for St. Mary’s. B1 BUCKNER, A3 week’s Scripps National Spelling Bee BEE, A3 Ranjana Ramesh OBITUARIES ..............................A2 ENTERTAINMENT .......................A7 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 58° VOL. 141, ISSUE 144 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 50° POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 COMICS ....................................B4 BUSINESS ................................B8 PAGE A8 ONE DOLLAR A2 THE DAILY ITEM TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019 OBITUARIES Karen J. Malionek Ernest R. Bragdon Jr., 86 1947-2019 LYNN — Karen J. Malionek, LYNN — Ernest R. Brag- of Lynn, passed away at her don Jr., age 86, of Lynn, died home on May 16. peacefully at his home on Karen was an Army brat Friday, May 24, 2019 sur- (her late father was retired rounded by his family. He was Lieutenant Colonel William the husband of Patricia (By- Foutes) and grew up in Vir- rne) Bragdon, with whom he ginia, Austria, Germany and shared 68 years of marriage France. Though she traveled in September. the world, she chose Lynn as A lifelong resident of Lynn, her longtime home and always he was the son of the late said it was the “best place to Ernest and Blanche (Cote) be.” Her passion and deep Bragdon. He attended Lynn schools and was a standout love for the city and historic FILE PHOTO | ASSOCIATED PRESS preservation led her on a path athlete at St. Mary’s Boys High of multiple accomplishments. School, Class of 1951. Former Boston Red Sox rst baseman Bill Karen was the chairwom- Ernest had been the own- Buckner, who was a member of the 1986 World an of the Grand Army of the er for more than 35 years of Series team that lost to the New York Mets, Republic Museum (G.A.R.) in Certi ed Drapery Service, and throws out the ceremonial rst pitch for the Pa.; and many nieces and Lynn for 28 years and fought serve the old and teach others was a member of the Knights home Opening Day baseball game against the nephews. successfully to save and pre- about the rich history of the of Columbus 4th Degree. Detroit Tigers in Boston. city she loved so much, Lynn. His greatest joy came from Service information: His fu- serve the building and its neral will be held on Wednes- vast war memorabilia. Karen’s Karen’s family and friends will the time he spent with his miss her beaming, exuberant children, grandchildren and day at 10:30 a.m. from the proudest accomplishment was and loving personality that at- great-grandchildren. SOLIMINE Funeral Home, Bill Buckner, forever establishing her historic home, tracted everyone around her. In addition to his wife, he is 426 Broadway (Route 129), the Lydia E. Pinkham House, Karen is survived by her survived by his children, Mi- Lynn, followed by a funeral as Lynn’s rst National His- known for error in husband of 18 years, Michael chael Bragdon and his wife Mass at 11 a.m. in St. Pius V toric Landmark designated by Malionek; children, David Ring Kathy of Beverly, Eileen Dou- Church. Burial will be in Pine the Secretary of the Interior in and Diana Ring (Ronnie); cette and her husband David Grove Cemetery. Relatives World Series, dies 2014. Karen recognized the step-children, Meaghan Bak- of Boxford, Robert Bragdon of and friends are respectfully historical signi cance of the er (James), Michael Malionek Haverhill, Joanne Vergilis and invited to attend. Visitation By Ben Walker Stadium. The Mets tied it home as being the incubator (Michele), Meredith Malionek her husband George of Flori- from 9-10:30 a.m.