THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 Spike de ates Lynn eld school plan Commercial By Anne Marie Tobin school as early as possible,” said School the district had originally planned to ITEM STAFF Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman. start the year with. Street to shut “I am disappointed for students, par- “We have been following and will con- LYNNFIELD — Due to a recent spike ents and teachers. This is not what any tinue to follow the data very closely. Our in the number of COVID cases, and the of us want.” biggest concern is that this is the rst discovery of two cases in school-age chil- down during “We want our kids back in schools, but time that school-age children have con- dren over the past 12 days, the Lynn eld we need to do right by them and act re- tracted the virus,” she said. “We have School Committee voted Wednesday to sponsibly,” said committee member Sta- 2,000 students and 1,000 staff to think of. suspend most in-school learning and piv- cy Dahlstedt. We need to do the right thing, and that is bridge repair ot to a fully remote plan through Sept. 30. Superintendent of Schools Kristen going with a remote learning model for “We are all reluctant ‘yesses’ (on the Vogel said she plans to continue moni- the rst two weeks of school,” adding that By Gayla Cawley vote) on this and I ask the communi- toring data trends in the hopes of being ITEM STAFF ty to do their best to get kids back in able to revert back to the hybrid model LYNNFIELD, A3 LYNN -— Commercial Street will be shut down to traf c for four weekends next year while the street’s commuter-rail bridge is being replaced. Sign of the For two of those weekends, train service will be shut down as well on the Newburyp- ort/Rockport line, for which the bridge car- times in ries service, according to Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., (VHB), the engineering and design rm that has been contracted by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Author- Swampscott ity for the project. Representatives from the MBTA and By Thor Jourgensen VHB outlined the transportation agency’s ITEM STAFF plan to replace the 107-year-old Commer- cial Street commuter-rail bridge — slated SWAMPSCOTT — Thomas Scanlon to begin in the spring of 2021 — during a draws waves, honks and an occasional mid- brief virtual meeting on Wednesday night. dle nger when he stands in front of the Originally built in 1913, the bridge is town Civil War monument holding a Black reaching the end of its useful lifespan, Lives Matter sign and waving to Bos- which is why it has been tapped for replace- ton-bound commuters. ment, according to MBTA Project Manager The town native who spent his career Mike Ryan. working for the Public Works Department “This existing bridge is in poor condition,” said his one-man standout supporting ra- said Andrew Burkholder, senior engineer cial justice is driven in part by his military for VHB. “It’s outlived its useful life. (This service memories and his family’s legacy as will) replace it with one that’s resilient and Irish-Americans. has a 75-year useful life.” The 79-year-old Navy veteran recalled The Commercial Street bridge carries com- serving in the South and walking along ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK muter rail service for the Newburyport/Rock- a street with fellow Seabees, including Most mornings for the past two weeks Swampscott resident Thomas port line over Commercial Street in Lynn Blacks, who walked in the gutter to comply Scanlon can be seen at the corner of Humphrey Street and Monument between the River Works and Lynn Station. SIGN, A3 Avenue in Swampscott holding a Black Lives Matter sign. BRIDGE, A2 COVID Revere approaches Saugus students getting a back-to-school gift 100 deaths. A2 By Elyse Carmosino lengthy safety policy that parents dents were sharing computers vices will help a lot.” LOOK! ITEM STAFF will be required to sign before their with siblings or with a parent Fisher said he’d heard from fam- Supplying Lynn student is administered a laptop. who was also working from home. ilies of students with otherwise SAUGUS — Every Saugus stu- students for the new Vice Chair Ryan Fisher said It limited the ability to schedule functioning laptops that their school year. A8 dent will receive a chromebook for the administration approved remote classes because not every- child was unable to keep up with the upcoming school year as part the initiative with the hope that one had access at the same time,” online classes last spring due to Sports of the district’s new 1-1 chrome- providing each child with a dis- said Fisher. “Being able to provide compatibility issues, either be- Lynn Babe Ruth book initiative. trict-owned chromebook will help every student with a chromebook cause of their device’s brand, or all-stars recap. B1 The program was announced at streamline the remote learning eliminates that obstacle and will because they didn’t have neces- • last week’s school committee meet- process for both students and bring a lot more structure to a re- sary updates. Lynn Woods ing, during which the board voted teachers. mote school day. Running wraps up to approve the rst reading of a “Back in the spring, many stu- “Everyone having the same de- SAUGUS, A3 ninth session. B1 Peabody Watching summer come to an end NSCC amps taking it to up search the streets for president By Thor Jourgensen By Anne Marie Tobin ITEM STAFF ITEM STAFF North Shore Community College’s PEABODY — Things are starting (NSCC) search for a new president to look a little more like normal at will include advice from a resident City Hall. Despite the drought, the living in a community surrounding grass is still green and members its campuses. of the public are gradually gaining “As we launch our presidential greater access to the building and search, we’re looking forward to in- city services. corporating voices from our communi- The building opened to the public, ty,” said Dr. J.D. LaRock, Chair of the by appointment only, last week. Be- NSCC Board of Trustees. “North Shore ginning next week, the city will offer has always been deeply in touch with expanded services to give residents the priorities of our region’s employers, more options in how they transact residents, and taxpayers. Including a their business. The city plans to set community representative on the pres- up two tents for service, sidewalk or idential search committee will help curbside-style, outside in front of the ensure that these priorities will be re- building for residents who are uncom- ected in the choice of our next leader.” fortable about entering the building Community members interested in who nonetheless need to communicate being selected to serve should email directly with City Hall employees. Dr. LaRock at jlarock@northshore. “We have started to open the build- edu, cc’ing VP of Human Resource ing now and it has been open for Development Madeline Wallis at appointments since last week. We’re ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK [email protected] by Friday, not getting many people, but it was Sept. 18. The Board hopes to approve Larry and Ann Cuzzi of Malden, who have been married for 61 years, look PEABODY, A3 out over Nahant Beach from their perch on Lynn Shore Drive on Wednesday. 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A2 THE DAILY ITEM THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 OBITUARIES Francis S. Ruggeri, 91 1929-2020 Francis S. Ruggeri, 91, of Lynn, beloved husband of the late Claire J. (Huskins) Ruggeri, died September 6, 2020 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. Born in South Boston he was the son of the late Sebastian and Christine (MacDonald) Ruggeri. He was raised and educated in “Southie” a grad- uate of Boston English High School Class of 1947. Frank went on to serve his country with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He was stationed in the Philippines where he was a surveyor during the Korean War. Frank continued his education after brother Donald Ruggeri. the service attending Tufts Service information: Pri- University and graduating vate services were held and with a degree in engineering. burial was in St. Mary’s Cem- Frank was employed by Bos- etery, Lynn. Arrangements ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK ton Edison. entrusted to the Nadworny The Commercial Street commuter rail bridge is slated to be replaced. Frank’s greatest joy in re- Funeral Home 798 Western cent years was attending his Ave., Lynn, MA 01905. For granddaughter’s graduations, guest book, www.nadworny- and sporting events. No mat- funeralhome.com Contribu- Commercial Street to shut ter where the games were tions in his memory may be held Frank was always in the made to The Special Olym- stands being very supportive. pics Massachusetts 512 Francis is survived by his Forest St.