FRIDAY MAY 28, 2021 Swampscott ready to play with new Windsor park design By Tréa Lavery sign of the park renovation, for for Communities (PARC) grant elements to provide for safe, soft na Davidovski. ITEM STAFF which funding was approved at program, on top of another landings. Galazka said that the current last week’s annual Town Meet- $40,000 approved by a previous Some residents in Wednes- design with two swings was due SWAMPSCOTT — The new- ing. town meeting. day’s meeting requested that to a required “safety zone” to ly-renovated Windsor Avenue “We are very excited about As presented, the accessible the playground include more allow for full extension of the park and playground will in- the opportunity to enhance the playground design includes the swings, as those are the most swingset and a safe “landing clude a climbing gym, swings, distance”, but added that the benches and a combination bas- playground features,” Galazka climbing gym, two swings — one popular features at the current said. with a bucket seat for younger playground. design team could take another ketball and pickleball court. look at the plans to see if more Town Meeting allocated children — and two “rockers,’’ “Right now there are four In a neighborhood meeting swings could be added. $40,000, which will be reim- which children can climb on. A swings, and still there is a line Wednesday night, Community Another concern raised by Development Director Marzie bursed by the state’s Parkland poured-rubber surface will be with kids waiting for the Galazka presented the draft de- Acquisitions and Renovations installed below the playground swings,” said resident Ele- WINDSOR, A6 CAPPING OFF A CHALLENGING YEAR ITEM PHOTO | JULIA HOPKINS COURTESY PHOTO | BISHOP FENWICK St. Mary’s Class of 2021 graduates toss their caps at the conclusion of Bishop Fenwick seniors toss their graduation caps in the air to cele- the ceremony. brate the successful completion of their high school career. St. Mary’s sends off 93 Fenwick graduates 145 By Allysha Dunnigan hard work of the students and teach- By Steve Krause by the student body. This year, however, ITEM STAFF ers, which allowed the administration ITEM STAFF the award was given by acclamation to to hold in-person classes all year. school nurse Jennifer Faragi. LYNN — St. Mary’s hosted its 140th “If there was one group that I am PEABODY — Bishop Fenwick High Meehan, who died suddenly this commencement ceremony on Thursday so happy and so proud to get to expe- School conferred 145 diplomas during spring, was the director of facilities at night in the school’s Mosakowski Gar- rience, it is the Class of 2021,” Dolan its 59th graduation ceremony Thurs- Fenwick and previously worked at St. dens. said. “Class of ‘21, you deserve it, you Mary of the Annunciation in Danvers. Ninety-three seniors received their day night at Donaldson Field. have earned it and we are so proud of New to the ceremony this year was Principal Cecilia Marquez presented diplomas during the first commence- what you have achieved.” the Bishop Benedict Joseph Fenwick ment ceremony the school has held out- the John J. Meehan Service Award, Dolan led off the ceremony by award- which was given to a person on cam- Award to a male and female student side, due to the pandemic. ing a formal diploma to former St. who, in the eyes of the administration In a year like no other, Head of School pus for distinguished service. In the Dr. John F. Dolan acknowledged the ST. MARY’S, A6 future, that award will be voted upon FENWICK, A7 Nahant Saugus welcomes a new superintendent achieves By Elyse Carmosino David DeRuosi upon his re- contract is considerable in ITEM STAFF tirement from the position comparison to many of the on June 30. town’s previous three-year vaccination SAUGUS — The School Under the contract, which superintendent contracts, Committee voted (4-0) Thurs- lasts a notable five years, Mc- which the committee said day to approve a contract for Mahon will receive an annu- was done intentionally to en- milestone Erin McMahon, the district’s al salary of $196,000, as well sure stability in the district. “We really talked about newly-hired superintendent as the flexibility to pursue a changing the culture (of the By Elyse Carmosino of schools, who will replace Ph.D. at Boston College. ITEM STAFF current Superintendent Dr. The length of McMahon’s MCMAHON, A6 Erin McMahon NAHANT — The town is celebrat- ing a pandemic milestone this week with the news that 67 percent of residents are now fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. ‘Distraught’ moped “When you compare it to the rest of the state data, we’re a little bit ahead of the game,” said Public Health operator leads police Nurse Deb Murphy. “In fact, if you look at our population that’s aged 60 and older, our numbers are much on low-speed chase higher than that.” For comparison, 51 percent of Mas- By Tréa Lavery was spotted driving north on sachusetts residents have been ful- ITEM STAFF the southbound side of Route ly vaccinated for COVID-19 as of 95. He got onto Route 114 east- May 27. DANVERS — A 28-year-old According to state data available for bound and state police cruisers ITEM PHOTO | JULIA HOPKINS man has been brought to Mas- began following, without lights nearby communities, as of May 21, sachusetts General Hospital by Lynn had fully vaccinated 41 percent Vincent Palmer scored two goals in the and not in pursuit, state police State Police for evaluation after said. of its residents, while Revere had ful- Swampscott lacrosse team’s 16-2 victory over driving a moped erratically for ly vaccinated 47 percent. As of May Winthrop Thursday. (More sports, B1.) The driver continued into close to two hours Thursday Middleton, sometimes driving 25, Peabody had fully vaccinated 48 morning. on the wrong side of the road. percent of its residents. Danvers Police attempted to INSIDE Police did not pursue the moped “We’re doing really well in that re- stop the man, who reportedly but positioned themselves to gard,” said Town Administrator An- Opinion LOOK! Sports had a knife and had threatened tonio Barletta. “We are extremely protect other motorists, includ- Jourgensen: RAW opens Lynn students to harm himself, at approxi- proud of our residents and the effort ing by blocking intersections Freedom is not exhibition of honored as mately 9 a.m. He was later seen that they’ve put in to get vaccinated. free. A4 student art in GBL Scholar- and side streets to prevent colli- in the area of Centennial Drive We’re also very thankful to the City of Lynn. A8 Athletes of the sions. The State Police Air Wing in Peabody on the 2019 Yamaha Year. B1 VACCINE, A6 YW50 moped, then soon after MOPED, A6 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 58° VOL. 142, ISSUE 145 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 47° POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 ENTERTAINMENT .......................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM FRIDAY MAY 28, 2021 OBITUARIES NEW ENGLAND BRIEFS Massachusetts’ commissioner “Commissioner Bharel’s Commissioner Angélica JetBlue to resume flights steadfast work ethic and Infante-Green says she from Worcester to JFK, Florida Gina Zuchero Birmingham, 64 of public health stepping down commitment to health eq- hopes to select an inter- WORCESTER, (AP) — 1957 - 2021 uity has made a lasting im- BOSTON (AP) — A key im superintendent for the JetBlue is restarting ser- pact on hundreds of thou- player in Massachusetts’ Providence public schools vice between Worcester SIOUX CITY, IA - Gina Zuchero sands of residents of the response to the coronavi- by the end of the week. Regional Airport and New Birmingham, 64, passed away Commonwealth,” Health rus pandemic announced Former Superintendent York City and Florida lat- on May 15, 2021 at home in and Human Services Sec- Thursday that she is step- Harrison Peters was pres- er this year, officials an- Sioux City, Iowa after a short retary Marylou Sudders ping down. sured to resign last week nounced Wednesday. battle with cancer. Gina was said. “Her tireless advo- Dr. Monica Bharel, com- after coming under fire for Daily flights between born on February 4, 1957 in cacy for the public health missioner of the Depart- hiring Olayinka Alege, a Worcester and JFK Inter- Lynn, Massachusetts to William of all residents helped the ment of Public Health, is school administrator who national Airport in New and Patricia (Glass) Zuchero. administration navigate resigning effective June was charged with the mis- York are scheduled to Aug. Gina grew up in Swamp- the darkest days of the 18, according to a state- 19, with a second daily scott, MA and attended both COVID-19 pandemic with demeanor simple assault ment from the Executive flight scheduled to start St. John’s school and Swamp- compassion.” for allegedly fondling a Office of Health and Hu- Oct. 21, according to air- scott High School where she During her time, Massa- teenage boy’s foot at a War- man Services. line and Massachusetts graduated in 1975. She was chusetts became the first wick gym in late April. No reason was given. Port Authority officials. adventurous and spent her state in the nation to con- He was hired even though “After serving in this role JetBlue will begin its last semester at Salem State trol access to vaping prod- he had faced similar accu- for more than six years, once daily flights to Fort College living in France. Upon ucts and tobacco flavors, sations when worked at a which is longer than any Lauderdale, Florida on graduation, she moved to Cali- including menthol.