ELECTORAL COLLEGE HAS SPOKEN: JOE BIDEN IS OUR 46TH PRESIDENT. PAGE A6 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2020 Lynn closing in on another COVID shutdown By Gayla Cawley Beginning on Friday, Lynn will roll back ational and athletic facilities, except for restaurants to remain open with partic- ITEM STAFF to a modi ed version of Phase 2, Step 2 youth 18 and under; indoor recreational ular adherence to bar seating guidelines of the state’s reopening plan, a decision venues with potential for low contact, and permission from the city’s public LYNN — Mayor Thomas M. McGee has that McGee said was aimed at limiting such as batting cages, bowling alleys, health department. Bar-related activities announced Lynn will join Boston and the sizes of social gatherings and one driving ranges and rock climbing; indoor such as pool tables, darts and trivia will several other large communities in the that requires certain businesses to close historical spaces and sites; and indoor be prohibited, according to executive or- region in rolling back its economic re- that were allowed to operate in Phase 3. event spaces, such as meeting rooms and ders issued Monday by McGee and Public opening in the midst of the skyrocketing Indoor gyms and tness centers; indoor social clubs are required to close on Fri- Health Director Michele Desmarais. coronavirus case numbers that have fol- non-athletic instructional classes in arts, day. lowed the Thanksgiving holiday. education and life sciences; indoor recre- The changes allow for indoor dining in COVID, A7 Giving Tree helps Peabody Thomas L. Demakes, CEO families of Old Neighborhood By Thor Jourgensen Foods, was a prime bene- ITEM STAFF factor in the building of the new Lynn YMCA. MIDDLETON – Peabody families are among those helped this holiday season by Community Giving Tree, Lynn Y which collected new kids clothing for its annual Holi- day Gift Program. has a For the holiday season, donations were collected from local businesses in new name: person and virtually in No- vember to provide some- thing new for hundreds of Demakes children. By Steve Krause Kim Goulette, CGT’s ex- ITEM STAFF ecutive director, said 2020 will probably go down in LYNN — The new Lynn YMCA history as one of the most building on Neptune Boulevard challenging years in the or- will be named for Lynn busi- ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO ganization’s history. nessman Thomas L. Demakes “These are the basic es- and his family. The Gerry School under construction in Marblehead on Monday afternoon. sentials Community Giving The new 70,000 square-foot Tree is focused on provid- facility, which is adjacent to the ing this holiday season,” current Y building, will open in Marblehead’s Gerry School said. “These brand-new the spring of 2021. And when it items will be given as hol- does, it’ll be called the Demakes iday gifts to children going Family YMCA, in recognition work is now an inside job without, from toddlers to- of the family’s “legacy of giving teenagers.” back and lifetime of philanthro- By Thor Jourgensen ment running by Friday, ac- “At this point, the new On Dec. 11, social workers py.” who assist families came ITEM STAFF cording to a town website up- school project is going along Demakes is the CEO of Old to CGT’s warehouse in date on the project. very smoothly. The progress Neighborhood Foods on Water- Middleton to do some free MARBLEHEAD — Work The new 83,000-square- is remarkable, and we are ex- hill Street, Lynn. He and his shopping for their young- on the new Elbridge Gerry foot school building is being tremely pleased with the col- family spearheaded the capital est clients – children across Elementary School is shift- built on the Baldwin Road lective work of our Building campaign for the new building, the North Shore and Merri- ing indoors just in time for location of the former Bell Committee and project part- raising more than $12 million mack Valley who live below the season’s rst snowstorm’s School. It will provide space ners Gilbane (construction), in capital donations from doz- Thursday arrival. for 450 kindergarten through the poverty level. ens of contributors. The YMCA Left eld (project managers), Working closely with lo- Temporary heaters and third grade students and two and RDA (architects). secured new market tax credits equipment to provide heat in pre-kindergarten classes. The cal social workers, CGT en- and other nancial instruments “The exterior brickwork has sures donations go directly the building are scheduled building will include a media made signi cant progress, the that made the completion of the to be delivered and set up center, cafeteria, gymnasium to those most in need. The $25 million project possible. Wednesday with the equip- and stage space. GERRY, A3 organization works to con- “We looked at the idea of build- nect people who can help ing the new YMCA in anoth- children whose families er location, but ultimately we lack resources or have suf- decided that we wanted it and INSIDE fered hardship. needed it to be right where it is,” “New gifts for children Demakes said. “This new building Local LOOK! Sports will offer warmth, joy and Opinion Virus cases soar in Lynn independent lm St. Mary’s girls is going to be something special Making change stick. dignity this holiday season,” Lynn, Peabody and gets prime distribution basketball returns A4 DEMAKES, A3 Revere. A7 deal. A8 to the court. B1 GIVING TREE, A3 Salem State mourns former president Harrington By Guthrie Scrimgeour 1990 to 2007. Keenan described her as a “trail- ITEM STAFF “If anyone ever was, she was the blazer and mentor” to many, embodiment of Salem State,” said known for her “talent, leadership, Fourth grader SALEM — Nancy Harrington, Julie Whitlow, the assistant pro- and deep commitment to (SSU) who spent more than half-centu- vost for global engagement, who students.” ry on the Salem State University worked with Harrington for 15 He applauded her for being a wants parents campus as a student, dean, and years. “There was never a doubt partner to the Salem community. eventually as the rst woman to that all that she worked for was “Growing up in Salem was to be happy serve as president, died Sunday to make Salem State the best ex- something she held dearly. She after suffering a heart attack. perience possible for the students, made sure that everyone on Harrington, a Salem native, the faculty and staff.” campus was a good community By Mike Alongi served as the 12th president of ITEM STAFF In a letter sent to the facul- Nancy the university for 17 years, from ty, current SSU President John HARRINGTON, A3 Harrington Every child wants presents from San- ta Claus when the Christmas season rolls around. But for one local fourth grader, the real present would just be to see her family happy for the holidays. STOP THE SPREAD. FOLLOW THE RULES. “I would really be happy if you could give my mom and dad a great Christ- STAY WEAR A MASK NO MORE THAN WASH YOUR HANDS mas Eve for Christmas this year,” the 10-year-old wrote. “It’s been a hard year and I think it would be nice if they both had a good day.” Of course, as a 10-year-old, toys aren’t too far from the top of her mind either, FEET APART IN AN INDOOR10 GATHERING and she still has her list prepared for ITEM SANTA, A7 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 33° VOL. 141, ISSUE 7 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ...............................B6 LOW 16° POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 BUSINESS ................................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2020 OBITUARIES Mary (Sweeney) McGinty, 91 Madge Claire (Collins) Jeffrey McNeil, 52 1929 - 2020 Hayes, 91 LYNN - Jeffrey Frederick Mc- SOMERVILLE - Mary (Swee- Neil, age 52 years, of Lynn, ney)McGinty, 91 years of age, LYNN - Madge C. (Collins) formerly of Andover, passed of Somerville and for long Hayes, age 91, of Lynn, died away unexpectedly at his home years of Lynn, went home peacefully on Wednesday shortly after testing positive for to God early in the morning at Salem Hospital with her Covid. He was born in Lynn, MA hours of Saturday, December daughters by her side, after a as the son of Max Arvard and 12th. Mary was born as one brief illness. She was the wife Mary Jane (Greehan) McNeil of of the five children of John of the late Thomas F. Hayes. Andover. and Margaret Sweeney in the Born in Lynn, she was the Jeff loved his family and hamlet of Scotland, in the vil- daughter of the late Arthur and friends more than anything in lage of Roos, near the town of Mary (Hagan) Collins. She was the world...except for maybe Hollymount in County Mayo in a lifelong Lynn resident, and the New England Patriots, the the Republic of Ireland on St. was a graduate of St. Mary’s Boston Red Sox, the Boston Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1929. Girls High School in Lynn and Bruins, boating, fishing, scratch When her mother died Mary, Burdett Business College. tickets, football pools, iced cof- in her mid-teens, effectively Madge worked as the school fee, and iTunes gift cards. became mother to her sis- secretary for Our Lady of the Although Jeff’s life was short- ter and brothers as they grew Assumption School in Lynn- er than average, it is nothing up. In 1954, she emigrated field for many years until her less than miraculous that he pendable.