THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017 Nahant wants update on Peabody wants cable town administrator job companies to compete By Bridget Turcotte on what changes should be made to the By Leah Dearborn new provider expressed an interest. ITEM STAFF language of the act establishing the po- ITEM STAFF “They have to want to come here,” she sition of the town administrator for the said, adding that the number of smaller NAHANT — A committee will honor town of Nahant. PEABODY — City of cials are on the providers in the area has dwindled over the request of Town Meeting ve years Selectmen said Wednesday it’s a mat- lookout for competition to rival its sole the years. ago and review a 25-year-old Town Ad- ter of routine housekeeping and not a cable provider, Comcast. She said about a decade ago, Boston ministrator Act. re ection of current Town Administrator Mary Bellavance, secretary of the Ca- Edison, now part of Eversource Energy, At a meeting tonight, the Board of Jeff Chelgren. ble Commission, said the commission has was close to making a deal with the city Selectmen will advise a committee, set advertised for cable companies to come to out to update the language town bylaws, NAHANT, A7 the city, but it’s been a long time since a CABLE, A7 Mayor makes the case for new schools By Thomas Grillo ITEM STAFF LYNN — Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy is taking no chances when it comes to passing a controversial bal- lot question to fund a pair of new middle schools. On Wednesday night, the mayor and her City Hall team made the case for the $188.5 million project to more than three dozen seniors who packed the recre- ation room at the Stadium Condominiums. “Right now, the library at Pickering consists of two roll- ing carts with books and there are no science labs,” Ken- nedy said. “When you contrast that with what we see at the new Thurgood Marshall Middle School, the kids are simply not getting the same educational experience.” In a passionate plea, Superintendent Dr. Catherine Latham said every child who attends a middle school ITEM PHOTO | THOR JOURGENSEN should have the same opportunity as every other child. SCHOOLS, A7 A PUBLIC PLATFORM Mayor Judith Flanagan FOR ASH WEDNESDAY Kennedy Robert Rao was happy to receive ashes on ther Flynn made the sign of the cross on addresses the Central Square elevated commuter rail the foreheads of 25 commuters who took a crowded platform on Wednesday — after all, it was ashes. He accepted polite “no thank yous” room at Sta- from other surprised rail riders. dium Con- the occasion, not the location, that mat- dominiums tered to the West Lynn resident. A conversation with Russo prompted Fa- in Lynn to Rao, who worships mostly at Sacred ther Flynn to bring Ash Wednesday out of speak about Heart Church, joined the Rev. Brian Flynn, the church. the proposed Lynn Catholic Collaborative pastor, and St. “We thought about places to make public two new mid- Mary’s Church parishioner Drew Russo in awareness that we are entering Lent and dle schools. marking the start of Lent. leading up to that one amazing night — the Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fast- Easter vigil (Saturday, April 15),” Father PHOTO | ing and prayer, that takes place 46 days before Flynn said. PAULA MULLER Easter Sunday. As the priest applies ashes to Father Flynn returns to the commuter a person’s forehead, he says, “Remember that platform next Wednesday from 6:30 a.m. to you are dust and to dust you shall return” or 8:30 a.m. to hear confessions. “repent and believe in the Gospel.” Thor Jourgensen is the Item News Editor and Arriving on the platform at 6:30 a.m., Fa- can be reached at [email protected]. Job It’s story time drought in Swampscott worries Storyteller By Leah Dearborn Len Cabral ITEM STAFF entertains service the students SWAMPSCOTT — Don’t ever go into the at the Hadley woods. Elementary That’s how storyteller Len Cabral began his tale on Wednesday at Hadley Elementary providers School on School about a young girl and her capture by a Wednesday. By Bridget Turcotte creature called a Gunniwolf. ITEM STAFF Cabral specializes in verbal storytelling, us- ITEM PHOTO | ing sounds and theatrical gestures to commu- PEABODY — Local or- OWEN O’ROURKE nicate events to his young audience. ganizations like North- Students were eager participants in the nar- east Arc are feeling the rative, singing when prompted and making effects of an increase in slapping noises to imitate running. demand for human ser- When Cabral said, “The door had three old, vice jobs even as the profession’s workforce STORYTELLER, A7 shrinks. A study by the Univer- sity of Massachusetts Donahue Institute and INSIDE UMass Dartmouth found Restaurant owner announces a workforce shortage In Medford of “crisis proportions” Celebrating a Mystic bid for Lynn City Council among the state’s human River milestone. A2 service providers, which In Travel By Thomas Grillo Married with two children, Nikolako- are generally nonpro t ITEM STAFF poulos said he will focus his campaign organizations that rely on Layover in Zürich: on a handful of issues that promise to state funding. The downtown dash. A5 LYNN — Taso Nikolakopoulos is “We have baby boomers the latest candidate to throw his hat advance the city. who are aging and are go- In Sports in the ring for an at-large seat on the “The key is economic growth,” he said. ing to require additional Classical girls basketball City Council. First, the city must invest in a planning care,” said Northeast Arc wins thriller. B1 “I see a lot of disconnect between department, he said. While other com- Chief Executive Of cer the council, the mayor’s of ce and the munities like Salem and Somerville have Jo Ann Simons, adding, “I In Entertainment community,” said the 47-year-old own- robust planning divisions that guide de- have children and adults Forty Steps Dance ITEM PHOTO | OWEN O’ROURKE er of John’s Roast Beef & Seafood. “We velopment, he said Lynn is lacking. to debut complete need more of a collaborative effort and ARC, A7 work, “Spirits.” B8 Taso Nikolakopoulos I really think I can change things.” NIKOLAKOPOULOS, A6 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 COMICS/DIVERSIONS ........... B4-5 HIGH 48° VOL. 139, ISSUE 73 OPINION ...................................A4 LOOK! .......................................A8 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 24° TRAVEL......................................A5 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 ENTERTAINMENT .......................B8 PAGE A8 ONE DOLLAR A2 THE DAILY ITEM THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017 OBITUARIES Georgios D. Papadopoulos, 82 Edward Harris Celebrating a LYNNFIELD — Mr. Georgios eight children; he also leaves LOWELL — Edward General Electric in Mystic River D. Papadopoulos, age 82, of five brothers and sisters and Harris of Lowell, fond- Lynn, and Old Do- Lynnfield, died Wednesday several nieces and nephews ly know as T-Shirt minion Trucking in March 1, 2017. He was the in Greece. Eddie, passed away Lowell, eventually husband of Efthymia (Ladas) Service information: His fu- on Tuesday, Feb. 21, starting his own milestone Papadopoulos, with whom neral will be held on Friday at 2017. Eddie was trucking company, he shared nearly 46 years of 11 a.m. in St. George Greek the significant other Harris Trucking. By Steve Freker ron called “a lot of exciting marriage. Orthodox Church, 54 S. Com- of Olene Gerald and Service infor- FOR THE ITEM things are happening in Born and raised in Akovos, mon St., Lynn. Burial will be father of Avis Harris. mation: Saturday, and around the Mystic Greece, he was the son of in Forest Hill Cemetery, Lyn- Born in Macon, March 4, 2017, MEDFORD — It’s a River in Medford.” the late Dimitrios and Milia nfield. Relatives and friends Ga., Ed was one of eight sib- Concord Baptist Church, milestone birthday for the He said the Mystic (Sofronos) Papadopoulos. He are respectfully invited. Vis- lings: Willie Lee, Joseph Sr., 180 Blue Hill Ave, Milton, Mystic River Watershed Greenways initiative is had resided in Lynn and Cam- itation will be in the church Curtis, Deloris, Sheila, Marga- MA, Wake 10-11 a.m., Ser- Association (MyRWA) this closing the gaps in the bridge, and had lived in Lyn- on Friday from 9:30-11 a.m., ret and Dorothy. vice 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Buri- year, and its members multi-use trail network nfield since 2001. Georgios prior to the funeral. In lieu of After graduating high al following Service at Pine and leaders are looking and a new herring mon- had worked as a painter for EJ flowers, donations may be school, Ed served in the Grove Cemetery Lynn, MA, tonight for more local and itoring program is being Orfanos for many years until made to St. George Greek Army before relocating to Repast immediately fol- area residents to join the introduced in the Medford his retirement, and had also Orthodox Church, 54 S. Com- Massachusetts prior to re- lowing at Concord Baptist push for healthier and schools,” Herron said. worked at Jimmy’s Harborside. mon St., Lynn, MA 01902 or tirement, Ed did tenure with Church. more accessible water- Today’s meeting includes In addition to his wife, he to the Hellenic Nursing and ways and parkland. short presentations, a is survived by his two chil- Rehabilitation Center, 601 Friends of the Mystic question and answer ses- dren; Irene Duros and her Sherman St., Canton, MA River (FOMR) and MyR- sion and information on husband Van of Lynnfield, 02021. Arrangements by the Eva N. Glew, 92 WA host a “Mystic Meet how to get involved in and James Papadopoulos of SOLIMINE Funeral Home, and Greet” at 7 p.m.