SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2021 Swampscott plans special Town Meeting By Trea Lavery ITEM STAFF SWAMPSCOTT — The town will hold a special town meeting on March 1 to decide Wendy Reed whether to approve a replacement to the Swampscott Middle School roof. Peter Spellios, chair of the Select Board, explained in the board’s Wednesday night Saugus meeting that the repair could not wait to be approved at the annual town meeting in May. clerk “This project is of signi cant scale and it takes time to mobilize,” Spellios said. “The duration of the project will take the entire- Reed ty of the summer. Therefore, it is important COURTESY PHOTO that that project is able to start the day af- ter school is over.” Mary Darby gives the camera a thumbs up after being vaccinated at Mass Gen- While some parts of the roof have been dead eral Brigham Healthcare Center in Lynn. repaired or replaced over the last 20 years, Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald ex- plained that much of the roof was installed 336 receive vaccinations in 1996, and has outlived its expected life at 57 cycle. The part of the roof that holds solar By Elyse Carmosino panels, however, will not have to be re- ITEM STAFF placed. at Lynn medical center While there is not yet a set price for the SAUGUS — Board of project, it is expected to cost up to $2 mil- Selectmen clerk and for- By Gayla Cawley received the rst dose of the P zer vaccine lion. A more speci c price will be deter- mer School Committee ITEM STAFF over the rst two days of a new COVID-19 mined before the March 1 town meeting. chair Wendy Reed died vaccination clinic that has opened at Mass In addition to the roof replacement, LYNN — Lynn resident Mary Darby could General Brigham Healthcare Center in Lynn. Friday morning of a heart barely contain her excitement as she waited town meeting members will vote whether Massachusetts residents 75 and older be- to approve an additional $165,000 for the attack, the Saugus Police to be vaccinated at the former Union Hospi- came eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on feasibility study for the new Swampscott Department and Board of tal site on Wednesday night. Selectmen Chair Anthony February 1, as part of the second phase of the Elementary School. The original $750,000 “I’m so eager to get this vaccine,” Darby Cogliano con rmed. She state’s vaccination rollout plan. devoted to the project has been used up, said while awaiting her rst dose. “This is was 57. While Mass General Brigham started vac- but Spellios explained that there are more the rst step to getting back to a normal life.” Characterized by many cinating patients at some of its other loca- questions that the School Building Commit- who knew her as a giv- Darby was one of more than 336 patients, tions this past Monday, the Lynn clinic that tee would like to answer. ing spirit, her death was ages 75 and older, of North Shore Physicians met with an outpouring Group and North Shore Medical Center who LYNN, A5 SWAMPSCOTT, A3 of grief from the Saugus community. Cogliano, who was a member of the board Marblehead when Reed was rst hired Salem is music to her clerk position in the 1990s, described her as “just a genuine, good Arts opens to artist’s ears person,” and said from By Guthrie Scrimgeour the moment she stepped ITEM STAFF into the role, she became exhibition an “instant asset” to the By Trea Lavery SALEM — Devin Pinkham (stage name Dev So- town. ITEM STAFF ter), whose new indie project “The Dida Tapes” is “She knew the position dropping this week, credits the city of Salem for his inside and out and was MARBLEHEAD — The Marble- eclectic taste in music. like having a sixth se- head Arts Association’s annual “Culturally, how diverse we are has a huge in uence lectman,” Cogliano said. exhibit, Variations, is now open, on my sound. I grew up with a mom who loved the Back- “I don’t know what I’ll do showing pieces by artists around street Boys and a dad who loved rock,” said Pinkham, without her.” the country. who grew up in the city. “Then going to Salem Public School Committee mem- While the six-year-running ex- Schools, I got a lot of hip-hop and pop in uences.” ber and friend Dennis hibit has always been open to both Pinkham produced the new six-track project on Gould worked alongside MAA members and non-members, Logic X in his home studio, starting with drums, Reed while she served this year is the rst time that the then weaving in vocal lines, guitar and bass. as director of the Saugus organization has opened the ex- “I like to experiment with different things,” he Food Pantry for years. He hibit to applicants outside of New said. “Whether it be adding an ‘80s synth, or a dis- said her enthusiasm for England. torted guitar. I like to air out my drums, or I add helping others and her “We spoke about it last year and sub-bass to a song that really doesn’t need sub- natural leadership abil- thought we would try and expand bass, which gives it character to me.” ities were evident to all our footprint,” said MAA Execu- ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK The tracks are mixed with the help of Tyler who had the pleasure of tive Director Patti Baker. “We had Ledger, another Salem artist. Musician Dev Soter of Salem is dropping knowing her. “Wendy was a kind and MARBLEHEAD, A3 new album, “The Dida Tapes,” February 10. SALEM, A3 giving person,” he said. “She always gave her- self willingly, and not for awards or recognition, but Crossing into to truly assist others.” However, the full extent of Reed’s community ser- retirement in vice isn’t widely known, he said, recalling the work she did alongside Pastor Mar- Lynn eld tha Leahy of First Congre- gational United Church By Anne Marie witch on Halloween to ty- of Christ to combat home- Tobin ing shoelaces and xing lessness in Saugus, as well ITEM STAFF as her involvement with bicycles to administering nonpro t organization, LYNNFIELD — Call- rst aid — always with a HAWC (Healing Abuse ing Carol Kilroy popular little tender-loving care Working for a Change). is an understatement: — to even helping a stu- A local school crossing Reed was also recog- dent in tears after los- nized as a 2020 Commu- guard, who kept town nity All-Star by Essex children safe for 42 ing a rock in the middle Media Group for her ded- years, makes Kilroy a de of the street, Kilroy has ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK ication to feeding families facto Lynn eld institu- seen it and done it all. tion. Carol Kilroy has retired after being a Lynn eld crossing guard for the SAUGUS, A2 From dressing up as a LYNNFIELD, A3 past 42 years. INSIDE STOP THE SPREAD. GET VACCINATED. Opinion Shribman: STAY WEAR A MASK NO MORE THAN WASH YOUR HANDS Military stands tall by standing back. A4 • Why wasn’t America ready to vaccinate? A5 FEET APART IN AN INDOOR10 GATHERING LOOK! Peabody Rec is warming up winter. A8 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 39° VOL. 142, ISSUE 51 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 27° POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 REAL ESTATE .............................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2021 OBITUARIES Miriam J. Ross, 97 Oscar winner, ‘Sound of Music’ 1923 - 2021 MURRELLS INLET, SC. - Mir- lived most of her life in Lynn- star Christopher Plummer dies iam J. Ross passed away Jan. field, MA. Her obituary can be 30,2021 at NHC Garden City. viewed online at Grand Strand By Mark Kennedy rector who becomes open- She was born in Lynn, MA. and Funeral Home and Crematory. AP ENTERTAINMENT ly gay after his wife of 44 WRITER years dies. His loving, fi- nal relationship becomes NEW YORK — Christo- an inspiration for his son, pher Plummer, the dash- who struggles with his Janet Benham - Harkins, 59 ing award-winning actor father’s death and how to 9/23/2020 - 12/31/2020 who played Captain von find intimacy in a new re- Trapp in the film “The lationship. LYNN - Janet is survived Service Information: A Sound of Music” and at 82 “Too many people in the by her daughter, Virginia and Memorial Service will take became the oldest Acade- world are unhappy with her son Jon Harkins , and 3 place at St Mary’s Church in my Award acting winner their lot. And then they grandchildren, several siblings, Lynn on Thursday, February in history, has died. He retire and they become nieces, nephews, cousins and 11th at 10am. Burial ser- was 91. vegetables. I think retire- many friends. vices will be private. Plummer died Friday ment in any profession is morning at his home in death, so I’m determined Connecticut with his wife, FILE PHOTO | ASSOCIATED PRESS to keep crackin’,” he told Elaine Taylor, by his side, Christopher Plummer attends the premiere for AP in 2011. Michael G McClory, 61 said Lou Pitt, his longtime “Knives Out” on day three of the Toronto Inter- Plummer in 2017 re- 1959 - 2021 friend and manager. national Film Festival in Toronto. placed Kevin Spacey as Over more than 50 years J. Paul Getty in “All the EAST HAMPSTEAD, NH - in the industry, Plummer humor into it,” he told The memoir in 2012 was titled Money in the World” just Michael G.