Back to School, September 2007

 
Sarsha Martin, a Classical freshman, receives a treat at the ice cream social in the Fecteau-Leary cafeteria Friday.

Classical Students Forming Bonds Despite Distance Between Classes

By Dan Baer / The Daily Item, Friday, September 21, 2007 

LYNN - When school opened for Classical High School freshmen at the Fecteau-Leary Building on North Common Street earlier this month, administrators were overly cautious of creating a divide between new students and the upper classmen who are getting their education on O'Callaghan Way.

Now three full weeks into the school year, students and faculty say the distance has been made shorter with the start of sports and after school activities, and at the same time, a positive bond has been created among the freshmen experiencing high school for the first time.

"Now that clubs and sports have started the students are really getting involved a lot more," Acting Principal Judith Taylor said as she supervised an ice cream social in the Fecteau-Leary cafeteria Friday. "Mr. Courier, who runs the Key Club volunteer organization had 30 kids at his meeting this week, and that is one we hold here."

Taylor said since sports have started up, it has created a bond and school spirit among students, especially when talking about the freshman football team, which has started the season 3-0.

"We announced it when they beat Winthrop 14-8 last week, and all of the students were clapping and talking about the game, so it has created a real camaraderie, which is something we wanted to build here," she said.

While the first floor of Classical is under construction to repair the school's sinking slab, freshmen are bused from North Common Street to O'Callaghan Way for after school clubs and sports, and will be included in assemblies at their future home away from home. Taylor said it is her goal to make sure all of the students abide by the rules of the school, even while they are at a separate location, and get involved with community activities early so that they know what to expect when entering higher grades.

"Even if it is something minor, like telling someone to tuck their shirt in, it is a dress code rule at Classical so we are going to do it here also because that is what they have to expect when they get up there," she said. "Maybe it is just the guidance councilor in me, but we also want to encourage kids to get involved in helping the community, so they don't wake up one day as a senior and realize they haven't done anything to help them get into college."

Students at the school say the situations that arise from attending a separate school are easily manageable, but there are some negatives to being so far away from other students.

"There is some good and some bad. I like (being at Fecteau-Leary) as a freshman because it gives me a chance to just get a feel for being a freshman and being around just us," said Gabriella Galeazzi, who takes the shuttle bus to Classical to play on the soccer team. "But I also wish that I could be with the upper classmen and get to know them a little bit more, but we haven't missed out on much so far."

Moplow from Thailand eats ice cream for the first time at the freshmen ice cream social for the freshmen class Friday at Fecteau-Leary.

Football player Stephen Armand says he is enjoying his experience, because the school has good teachers and a competitive football team.

"The teachers do a pretty good job of keeping us together - we feel like we are at the same school most of the time," he said.

Taylor said opportunities, such as the ice cream social, that get students to know one another are essential to building closeness between students, and will allow for new relationships to come forward between students who may not know one another.

For some, the ice cream social was more than a networking opportunity, it was a chance to taste one of America's favorite treats for the first time. English as a Second Language student Moplow, of Thailand, Moosar, of Burma, and Salum Amisi of Tanzania, were learning how to describe sensation with biology teacher Amanda Curtis, when she attempted to use ice cream as an example for something cold.

The students did not know what ice cream was, and were treated to their first taste later that day. While the language barrier prevented the students from expressing what they really felt about the treat, the broad smiles and empty bowls served as an adequate indicator.

"We have ESL students in here that don't speak English at all," said Taylor. "But this is a great way for the teachers to use this as an example to learn some new things. I bet they are able to say 'sauce' or 'ice cream' now."

 

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Fecteau-Leary Ready to House Classical's 9th Grade Academy

Mrs. Taylor will fill in as Assistant Principal  for the 9th Grade     Academy this coming year. Pictured with Ms. Pension, Assistant Athletic Director .

By Dan Baer / The Daily Item of Lynn, 9/4/07

LYNN - Finishing touches have been completed on the Fecteau-Leary Building just in time for 280 new Classical High School freshmen to enter Wednesday morning for the start of the 2007-2008 school year.

The freshmen will spend the entire year at the school while construction begins on the current Classical location on O'Callaghan Way, a project that will displace the next two freshmen classes.

Superintendent of Schools Nicholas Kostan said Friday that despite the adversity facing the school and its repair needs, the enrollment numbers were higher than anticipated, even if they were a bit short of what the school usually sees.

"Things are going very well, and we are confident that everyone will be ready to go on Wednesday when the freshmen class comes in," he said. "The numbers are a little higher than we expected - we are up to 280 as of this week, which is actually down a little bit from our usual enrollment, but considering the status of the situation at O'Callaghan Way the numbers are pretty good."

The former middle school had been vacant since Classical students left in 1999, with the exception of the basement and first floor, which are used by students from the Career Development Center. Several renovation projects have since been completed, including new paint, window fixtures and an upgraded fire alarm system to go along with a new boiler and heating system that was installed last year.

Kostan said the classrooms have also been outfitted with 12 new SmartBoard learning devices, and one room has been renovated into a television studio. Teachers will enter the new school today for a training session on the new equipment.

Inspectional Services Director Michael Donovan was out of the office Friday, but said last week that progress looked good at the school and repairs were "95 percent complete."

With the repairs and upgrades out of the way, Kostan said the primary focus entering the school year will be maintaining unity among the displaced freshmen and their future school on O'Callaghan Way.

"We are very cognizant of the fact that we do not want this to be considered a split school," he said. "We don't want the new students to feel like they are separated from the rest of the student body, so we are going to do everything we can to keep the spirit of Classical alive even if they are not there."

Classical Principal Warren White will spend time at both schools, and has chosen guidance councilor Judy Taylor to lead the students in a permanent Assistant Principal position at Fecteau-Leary. Shuttle buses will also be available to take students to and from each location for after school activities, extra curricular activities and school-wide assemblies.


While the ideal situation is certainly to have all of the students in one school, Kostan said the split would also be an opportunity for the next two freshmen classes to become very close and have a healthy interaction with students, faculty and staff.

"Sometimes adversity permits opportunity," he said. "Although the goal is to eventually have everybody together, this creates an opportunity for those freshmen to really become a close-knit group and get to know one another very well."

Construction is slated to begin on the freshmen wing of Classical High in late November- early December and is expected to take an estimated 18-24 months.

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Summer News 2007 Scroll down for recent articles


Christian Lopez and David Lopez (in dark shirt) perform a wheelbarrow exercise at soccer practice at Lynn Classical on Tuesday. (ITEM PHOTO / OWEN O'ROURKE)

New Coaches Optimistic for Classical Boys Soccer


The Classical High boys soccer team has a new yet familiar face prowling the sidelines this fall.

Joe Skahan is new to the head coaching job, but not the program. He coached the Classical junior varsity team to a 14-1-1 record with the highlight of the run being a 14-game winning streak. Although there's no state tournament for JV players, Skahan is confident last year's group would have fared well if there had been one and he's hopeful that success will carry over into the new season.

"It's great already knowing the strengths and weaknesses of most of the guys," Skahan said. "We only lost a couple of key players and the guys who are returning are dedicated to the program. The new kids coming in know the type and caliber these players are."

In 2006, under former coach Ken Norris, the Rams earned a berth into the state tournament, but were soundly defeated 5-0 by a North Andover team described as dominant by Skahan.

The Rams lost star sweeper Betim Luzha and striker Francois Mutumbo to graduation, but Mutumbo's scoring partner Carlos Cifuentes (14 goals, 2 assists) has returned as captain along with goalie Eric Silva.

 

 

 

 

 

Good News - - - Lynn Upgraded to Priority 2 School District, Classical Freshmen's New Classrooms Almost Ready to Go

By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item, August 14th, 2007

LYNN - Being a top priority would seem to be a good thing, but not when the designation is the result of being an underperforming school or school system in need of help to correct its deficiencies under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Lynn school officials received encouraging news recently with word the city's schools no longer fall in the state's Priority 1 group, which includes Boston, Brockton, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, New Bedford, Springfield and Worcester.

Lynn is now one of 15 Priority 2 school districts, the others being Cambridge, Everett, Gloucester, Haverhill, Holbrook, Malden, Medford, Methuen, Peabody, Plymouth, Randolph, Salem, Somerville and Wareham.

The change in designation, which tracks academic achievement in relation to poverty levels, puts Lynn in a group that is populated primarily by suburban communities, despite the fact the city has one of the larger student populations.

"I think we're doing a pretty good job," Superintendent of Schools Nicholas Kostan said, adding he believes Lynn is becoming one of the top urban school systems around.


Incoming Classical High freshmen who will be calling the old Classical High School on North Common Street home for the 2007-2008 school year will be happy to hear that workers are nearly done sprucing up the second and third floors of the Fecteau-Leary Building.

Kostan told school committee members that the work is 98 percent complete and includes a new heating system and newly painted classrooms on the second and third floor, which is where the ninth graders will be placed. The renovations also include new emergency lighting, the installation of white boards, an upgraded fire alarm system, new window shades and new Smart Boards, among other improvements.

The superintendent said a stairway to the gym has also been redone and five or six of the classrooms already have their furniture. There is still some computer wiring to do, but Kostan was confident the building would be ready for the start of school. Kostan said he's hoping Classical Principal Warren White will be able to schedule an open house sometime soon. White said the number of ninth graders is expected to be between 250-260.

 

On Facebook, a Rising Concern over Predators

By Brad Stone, New York Times News Service  |  July 30, 2007 Reprinted courtesy of the Boston Globe

SAN FRANCISCO -- Facebook, the online social network, has stolen some of MySpace's momentum with users and the news media. Now, it is being subjected to the same accusations that it does not do enough to keep sexual predators off its site.

Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut's attorney general, said investigators in his state were looking into "three or more" cases of convicted sex offenders who had registered on Facebook and had "also found inappropriate images and content" on the service. The inquiry continues, he said, and state officials have contacted Facebook and asked it to remove the profiles.

"There is no question that Facebook is encountering some of the same problems that MySpace has posed," Blumenthal said. "They should be held accountable, and we intend to do so."

MySpace has been implicated in dozens of cases around the country in which predators used the service to contact and arrange improper meetings with minors. Some of these encounters have led to criminal charges against the offenders, and civil suits against MySpace.

Chris Kelly, Facebook's chief privacy officer, said he was not familiar with the Connecticut investigation but that the company has received "a number" of such reports and usually takes down such profiles within 72 hours.

"We want to be a good partner to the states in attempting to address this societal problem," Kelly said. "We've worked with them for quite some time now, and we look forward to continuing our fruitful partnership."

Facebook, founded in 2004 and based in Palo Alto, Calif., has positioned itself as the safe social-networking alternative. It has generally gone to greater lengths than rivals to keep adults and underage users apart, at first allowing only college and high school students to join the service, and then largely restricting online communication to users at the same school.

Last year, the site opened to the general public, but it still maintains various restrictions. For example, a user's full profile is not accessible to the general online public, and the full profile of an under-18 Facebook member is not viewable by a user who is over 18, unless the two are confirmed friends on the service. But in some cases, Facebook's younger users are vulnerable to sexual solicitations from older users, as was demonstrated last week to The New York Times by an anonymous person who described himself or herself in an e-mail message as "a concerned parent."

In early July, this person opened a fake account on the site, posing as a 15-year-old girl named Jerri Gelson from North Carolina. The photograph on the fake profile page is of an under-age girl whose hair conceals her face. On the profile page, Gelson -- whom the "concerned parent" said was not a real person -- is described as looking for "random play" and "whatever I can get."

This person then signed up for three dozen sexually themed groups -- forums of users organized around a particular topic.

When the Jerri Gelson profile was linked to these groups, her name and profile photo became visible to the group's other users, and adult men began sexually propositioning her with e-mail messages over Facebook.

Kelly said, "We want to, by default, protect people, but if there's a situation where younger users are reaching out, there's only so much we can do."

 

Fecteau-Leary Work Heads 'to do' List for Start of Classical Projects

By Thor Jourgensen and Robin Kaminski/The Daily Item of Lynn, July 19th, 2007

LYNN - Renovations to the Fecteau-Leary Building are on target to meet an Aug. 1 deadline for teachers to move into the building and resurrect it as a high school.

Ninth graders will attend the former Classical High School on North Common Street this fall and in 2008 to make room for repairs to the new Classical where the 7-year-old building slab is sinking into a former trash dump.

Beginning in November, workers will readjust the slab by jacking it up by sections and packing mud-like filler into the gaps created by the readjustments.

All told, they will spend 21 months drilling holes for 1,200 piles that will form an interconnected underpinning system for the O'Callaghan Way School.

Special drilling and pile driving machines capable of fitting through a 36-inch doorway will work in cordoned off sections of Classical's first floor while the business of education continues on upper floors.

"The work will move from one area to another, progressing through the school," Inspectional Services Director Michael Donovan said.

Boston-based architectural and engineering firm CBI Consulting Inc. has been chosen as the project manager for the large undertaking, which is estimated to cost $12 million.

Donovan said the company was selected to oversee the contractor, who has yet to be chosen, following a two-month long designer selection process laid out by the state.

"We received about 14 proposals and the five person committee ranked the proposals for their criteria and what they were looking for," he said. "They then picked the top three for interviews and CBI was chosen."

Donovan said he is confident CBI would be appropriate for the job and that the selection process for a contractor would take place shortly.


Preparing Fecteau to be a school for freshmen requires painting, roof repair and boiler work. That work is done and workers are finishing an exterior stairway and preparing to move furniture from O'Callaghan Way to North Common Street.

"I'd say we're about 95 percent done," Donovan said.

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Lynn Police Remind Parents of Curfew Hours for Teenagers

LYNN-With the hot summer months upon us, police have seen an increase in the amount of children aimlessly out and about during late night and early morning hours. Therefore, the Lynn Police Department reminds parents of Lynn’s youth protection ordinance. This ordinance restricts any person under the age of 18 from public places during the hours of midnight to 6 a.m. In addition, police would like to remind business owners and managers of their obligations as well.

If any place of business has minors on the premises in violation of the ordinance, the owner or operator may be fined $300 per violation. However, owners or operators may protect themselves from prosecution if they promptly advise any violators to leave the establishment. Business owners are advised to notify the police if they refuse to leave. The ordinance does allow for some exemptions, which include: if the child is in the company of their parents, at work or using a direct route to or from work, reacting or responding to an emergency, and others. For complete details please visit the Lynn Police Department web site at www.lynnpolice.org

Police say the youth protection ordinance is an invaluable tool, which authorizes Lynn Police to take children into protective custody during late night and early morning hours. The proactive enforcement efforts of officers have undoubtedly prevented many children from participating in, or becoming a victim of crime. When a child is found to be in violation, he or she is typically transported to the police station, and a parent or guardian is contacted. The interested adult is requested to respond to the station to take custody of their child, and encouraged not to allow a repeat offense. In the event that a child is on probation, officers will also inform juvenile probation of the circumstances. If a child is a repeat offender, and/or there are indications of neglect or abuse, the Department of Social Services may be asked to become involved. This ordinance was designed to protect the youth of our city. We ask that parents and guardians also utilize this as a tool, when deciding the appropriate curfew for children.

Statistics provided by Lt. Peter Holey revealed that 101 children were found to be in violation of the ordinance from January 1 to June 24 of this year.

This article was created as a press release composed by the Lynn Police Department.


An Angry Letter to the City of Lynn

Dear City of Lynn,

It's been years since we last bumped in to each other.
In 2001, when I broke the last Track & Field Junior American record of Steve Prefontaine, I was attending Georgetown University on a full athletic scholarship. You would label me as "the great runner from Lynn." Now I am honored to tell you that my dream of graduating from college became a true reality. It feels good to have a degree. And I strongly advocate those individuals with hope and a dream.
However, you still make it 6 times harder for dreamers’ living in your neighborhood. Since I’ve been gone, you have remained bitter, a tough place to raise the future. You still greet people with so much violence; and it's like you want to make people idle and even ill in this place. While growing up in your streets, you pushed my buttons many times.
But nothing like the day of our Independence Day, when I saw my younger brother on the floor of the young night, in his own blood, almost dead.
Believe me; I have been suffering deep inside; lamenting this terrible incident of a cold blooded crime that has yet to stop haunting my sleepless nights.
Although I am fortunate that my brother survived the six bullets he took from a coward, I remain bitter. Yes, I thank the higher being for his miracle, and yes, my condolences to family and friends who lost a beloved daughter, or son, brother, sister, mother, father, and friend. Nonetheless, where is the justice?
I am frustrated at my Hispanic people for not coming together as much as we should. I am more bothered at my community as whole, Hispanics, Whites, Blacks, and Asians. Not for their color of skin, but for their lack of support to one another.
City of Lynn: I wish you could understand this feeling inside of me. This anger I have in me wants to make me fight; a fight not worth a dime. Aside from our lack of responsibility as parents and our obligation to educate our children in this place, you and your leaders are also responsible for this chronic disease, all the violence in our streets. It takes an Army to win a war; not one individual.
I want to know why we have all these criminals running loose, with guns, committing crimes in our streets and why nothing is being done?

Truly,
Franklyn Sanchez,  fsanchez24@yahoo.com

 

Louis E. Coviello, Lynn Classical History Teacher, Passes Away

PEABODY - Louis E. Coviello, 64, beloved husband of Leslie (Moore) Coviello, died unexpectedly on Sunday at the North Shore Medical Center-Salem Hospital in Salem following a lengthy illness.

Born in Lynn, he was the son of Virginia (Frasca) Doherty of Lynn and the late Rocco Coviello, Sr. He grew up in the “Brickyard” section of Lynn, and lived in Lynn for 26 years where he attended schools. He graduated from Lynn English High School, Class of 1961. Later in his career he graduated from Salem State College and received his Masters Degree there also. He lived in Peabody for the last 38 years.

Mr. Coviello was employed with United Parcel Service (U.P.S.), and most recently was a History Teacher at Lynn Classical High School for several years.

Louis was active at Classical High School, where he served as Faculty Advisor for the Key Club, was a Building Representative for the Teachers Union, and could be heard as the Public Address Announcer for Classical Football home games. He was a member of the Teamsters Union, Local 25 from UPS, and he served on the Peabody School Committee in the mid 1990’s, from 1994 to 1998. He loved woodworking, sports—especially the Red Sox and Patriots, and most important to him was time spent in social gatherings with friends and family as he cherished the children.

He is survived by: his wife, Leslie (Moore) Coviello, of Peabody, with whom shared 43 years of marriage; five daughters and four sons-in-law, Jane & Richard Gardner of Lynn, Wendy & Patrick Ambrose of Danvers, Julie Puzzo of Peabody, Stefanie & Robert Baughman of Derry, NH, and Stacie & Steven Mastrangelo of Peabody; eight grandchildren, Patrick, Brenna, & Aidan Ambrose, Domenick Louis Puzzo, Jacob, Grace & Emma Baughman, and Steven Louis Mastrangelo; his mother, Virginia (Frasca) Doherty of Lynn; two brothers, Joseph Coviello of Lynn and Rocco Coviello of Newburyport; a sister, Cynthia Murphy of Lynn, several nieces and nephews, and a special friend John Beaulieu of Lynn.

Service Information: A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody. His funeral will be held on Thursday at 10 AMfrom the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. in St. John the Baptist Church, Peabody, to which relatives and friends are kindly invited. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Memorial donations may be made to My Brother’s Table, 98 Willow St., Lynn, MA01901. Please visit www.ccbfuneral.com for info & sign guestbook.

 


Various participants from the Agganis football, baseball, softball, men's and women's basketball and men's and women's soccer team gathered Sunday for the annual awards breakfast. ITEM PHOTO / JONATHON WHITMORE

Athletes and Scholars Gather in Memory of Harry Agganis

 

By Matthew Roy/For The Daily Item of Lynn, 7/9/07

LYNN -- Agganis week in the City of Lynn kicked off on Sunday morning at Fraser Field with the annual Agganis Awards breakfast, where participants in the seven all-star classics received their jerseys.

The 16 Agganis scholarship winners were also recognized along with the five newest members of the Agganis Hall of Fame.

Agganis was a standout football, basketball and baseball player at Lynn Classical. He later starred for Boston University in both football and baseball, and was playing for the Red Sox, and hitting over .300, when he died on June 27, 1955, of a pulmonary embolism.

For one of the five award winners, it was a chance to go back in time and remember one of his good friends.

Tom Costin has spent most of his life helping to make Lynn a better place. At age 29, Costin was elected as the youngest mayor in the city's history, serving from 1956-1961.

He was then appointed Postmaster of Lynn by President John F. Kennedy and he served in that capacity for 31 years, retiring in 1992.

And on Sunday, Costin was named as the recipient of the Paul F. Cavanagh Community Award. Cavanagh, a star athlete at Lynn English, was killed in 1990 at age 43 in a plane crash while on assignment for the FBI.

The Cavanagh award is given to someone who conveys the Agganis Foundation's ideals of sportsmanship, education and community.

"I really appreciate this," Costin said. "I knew Paul well and its an honor to be in the same company as these people."

Costin joins other winners of the Cavanagh award such as Barry Gallup, the former head football coach at Northeastern; former Lynn mayor Pat McManus and North Shore Spirit owner Nick Lopardo - among others.


This year's scholarship winners were also recognized at Sunday's breakfast. ITEM PHOTO / JONATHON WHITMORE
"These kids will take this with them for the rest of their lives," Costin said. "This holds a lot of meaning and for all of them to be here shows the importance of this event."

The other new member of the hall of fame on hand was a name familiar to most Boston and local sports fans. In 1992, David C. Weidner was a 24 year old sports writer for the Item and was well on the way to stardom. But he was struck down with a massive heart attack while covering a football game at Manning Bowl.

Since his death the Weidner/Media Award has been given to a repoter who provides coverage and support of youth and amateur sports and the Agganis All-Star Classics in particular. This year the award went to Dan Ventura of the Boston Herald.

Ventura is a fixture at high school football and baseball games along with covering the four major Boston sports teams. He also has brought high school wrestling into the forefront with his "No Holds Barred" column.

"When they called me, I couldn't believe it," Ventura said. "It's really a humbling honor. I knew David and it was a tragedy what happened. He had so much to offer."

The Dr. Elmo F. Benedetto Athletics Award wernt to Breed Middle School principal Jim Ridley. Ridley, who was head basketball coach at Lynn Tech, graduated from Tech and is now a part of the Lynn Classical girls basketball boosters club.

The Harold O. Zimman Foundation award, given to a person for dedication and service to the Agganis Foundation and its ideals of athletics and academics, went to Dr. Dan Dill, psychologist for the Lynn Public Schools.

Dill, who won an Agganis Scholarship in 1971, was a two-sport star at Classical and coached in the 1979 and 1980 Agganis Football classics. He is a member of the Classical Hall of Fame and is on the hall's induction committee.

The third annual Attorney Charles Demakis Heritage Award, presented to a person of Greek heritage who advances the Agganis Foundation's ideals of academics and ethics, with to former Gov. Michael S. Dukakis.

Elijah Meadows Killed in Malden Crash

By Aubrey Gibavic, Globe Correspondent, June 30, 2007 

( Webmaster Note : Elijah was a well-known and popular student at Lynn Classical, a Varsity Football player, who was in the Class of 2006.)

An 18 year-old man was killed early this morning after he lost control of his car on the northbound side of Route 1 in Malden.

Elijah B. Meadows of Lynn lost control of his 1995 Ford Probe at approximately 5:55 a.m., striking the barrier in the median, and spinning into the 

right travel lane, state police said.  Meadows was taken to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A preliminary investigation indicated Meadows wasn't wearing his seatbelt, police said in a statement.

The accident remains under investigation.

 

The Daily Item of Lynn Spring Sports All-Stars, June 26th, 2007

Girls Track

FRANCES MATHIEU, Classical - Sophomore ... Set a personal best in the triple jump (32-61/2), long jump (15-51/2) and 200 (28.1) ... Qualified for the state tourney in the triple jump ... Has very good work ethic ... Also a member of Rams spring track squad as a freshman ... Plays basketball in the winter for Classical, as well as AAU hoops.

Girls Softball

Melissa McLaughlin, Classical High softball pitcher... McLaughlin, a senior, finished 13-7 this season with an earned-run average of 1.99. She pitched 123 innings and struck out 105.
McLaughlin, who is also an Agganis All-Star, battled through injuries all season. She finished her high school career with 34 wins and a trip to the state tournament. McLaughlin plans on attending the University of Massachusetts-Lowell after a year at North Shore Community College.

SAVANNA CLEMENS, Classical - Senior center fielder ... NEC all-star ... Hit .522 with 17 runs scored and 13 stolen bases ... .543 on-base percentage with six assists ... Only made two errors for a .970 fielding percentage.

AFTON DEAN, Classical - Junior shortstop...NEC all-star two years ... 393 average with 20 runs scored and 13 RBI ... .950 fielding percentage ... .507 on-base percentage.

Boys Tennis

ALEX RITTERSHAUS, Classical - Junior captain ... Had a 9-8 record at third singles for the Rams ... National Honor Society member ... "Would run down any shot," coach Penny Pension said.


ERIC SILVA / EVAN D'AVOLIO, Classical - Junior captains ... Played first doubles ... Had a 5-7 record ... National Honor Society members ... Strong players who meshed well together, according to coach Penny Pension.

Boys Baseball

BRYANT GAUTHIER, Classical - Senior pitcher ... NEC all-star ... Nearly carried the Rams into the state tournament by himself ... Had a 7-3 record on the mound with a 2.60 ERA.

LYMBEL GUERRERO, CLassical - Senior third baseman ... NEC all-star ... One of the most dangerous hitters in the conference ... Hit .420 with three homers, 24 RBI and three triples.

 

Boys Lacrosse
GREG GAUDET, Lynn Classical - Senior captain, goalie ... Two time NEC honorable mention ... Fifth-eight percent saves ... Kept young Rams team in games late.

KRIS MURPHY, Lynn Classical - Junior midfield ... Second team NEC ... Played in the NEC/CAL all-star game ... Face-off specialist ... Named both team's offensive player of the year and player of the year ... Most goals on team (13) and tied for most points on team (16) ... Elected team captain for next year.

Boys Track
CALVIN HARRIS, Classical - Sophomore ... Recorded NEC's fastest time in 100 with 11.0 ... Also set conference best in long jump with 22-0 ... Part of NEC's top 4x100 relay team ... NEC all-star ... Confident runner.

QUIVARI JACKSON, Classical - Junior ... Took first in NEC in triple jump (41-7), was a member of Rams 4x100 relay squad that recorded best time in NEC and sixth in state ... Also competed in the 100 and long jump ... NEC all-star ... Also plays football and basketball.

ANDREW KINLOCH, Classical - Senior captain ... Had top throw in NEC in the shot with toss of 43-5 ... Also competed in the discus ... NEC all-star ... Played football in the fall ... Headed to UMass-Dartmouth for football.

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Lynn City Council  Enacts Cellphone Ban on Teen Drivers, Effective Immediately !

By Robin Kaminski / The Daily Item of Lynn, Wednesday, June 27, 2007

LYNN - The City Council has a message for teenage drivers in the city of Lynn: keep your eyes on the road and both hands upon the wheel, or you could be subjected to getting a fine.

Effective immediately, teenagers under the age of 18 are banned from using their cellular phones to text and talk while operating a motor vehicle within city boundaries, following a vote by the council Tuesday.

Spearheaded by City Council President Timothy Phelan, teens now face fines of $200 for the first offense, $250 for the second offense and $300 for the third offense if they are caught chatting on their cell phones while behind the wheel.

Several Lynn residents and a school-driving instructor voiced approval to prohibit young drivers from using their phones in their cars, and that they should pay more attention to the road than an incoming phone call.

However, Councilor At-large Loretta Cuffe O'Donnell voiced opposition to the ordinance and said the council didn't have the right to ban teens from using phones in their vehicles.

"I asked the opinion of the city solicitor (Michael Barry) and it struck him as unlawful," she said. "My feeling is that it doesn't matter what we say because this is frankly a state issue and we should ask the legislature to make this a bill."

Jerry Cilbey, father of the late Jordan Cilbey, who was killed in a car crash on May 13 after he dropped his cellular phone while driving and hit a tree, said his son might still be alive if the ban had been enacted in his community.

"He wasn't speeding or doing drugs, he was killed instantly while he was talking to me on his cell phone," he said. "It takes two hands to drive a car ... Cell phones are just as deadly as alcohol and drugs."

Still, Cuffe O'Donnell said she didn't think the Lynn Police Department has the manpower to enforce the law.

"I think it's a very good law to pass, but I think the police department has better things to do," she said.

Regarding enforceability, Police Chief John Suslak said he anticipated officers would issue a secondary violation to drivers if they were pulled over for a separate offense.

"This is really a public safety concern and those who were caught using a phone while driving through the city that were not residents, would most likely be given a notice."

Councilor At-large Charles O'Brien suggested the ordinance be extended to all drivers in the city, not just teenagers, however the idea was denied by other councilors.

Ward 2 Councilor William Trahant said the need to protect young drivers behind the wheel is a must.

"This is a no brainer to me," he said. "Until the state comes down and says that we can't do this, it's worth it even if it saves just one life."

 

Teen age Cellphone Ban Talk of Lynn

By Robin Kaminski / The Daily Item, Tuesday, June 26, 2007

LYNN - The recent proposal to ban individuals under the age of 18 from using their cellular phones while operating a motor vehicle within city boundaries is scheduled for a public hearing tonight at City Hall at 6:30 p.m.  If approved, the ordinance, initiated by City Council President Timothy Phelan, could have teens facing fines of $200 for the first offense, $250 for the second offense and $300 for the third offense.

In an effort to gain input from other teenagers, Phelan said he has invited four class presidents and valedictorians from area high schools, along with driving school instructors and Chief of Police John Suslak to weigh in on the issue.

Despite the possibility of a large turnout of people in opposition to the ordinance, Phelan said he is prepared to stand by his claim that new drivers should focus on learning how to drive instead of being distracted by talking on the phone.

"The only opposition that I have heard so far about the ordinance, is of people who said they want it extended for all ages," he said. "But the difference is that an older person has much more experience driving and this is for new drivers."

Referencing the Junior Operator Law that was recently implemented by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, Phelan said the law is relevant to the proposed ordinance.

"It targets the same age bracket that the ordinance does and focuses on hours of operation, having passengers in the car and increasing the amount of classroom instruction prior to licensure," he said. "Basically the ordinance and the law eliminate the potential of being distracted while driving."

However, Councilor At-large Loretta Cuffe O'Donnell previously said she feels the ban would be a strong infringement on people's rights and that the Council "shouldn't chastise those who can't vote yet."

Still, Phelan stood by his claim and said teens are given the privilege to operate a motor vehicle and that it isn't a right.

"This may ruffle a few feathers, but if it saves just one life, it's worth it," he said. "In my opinion, Lynn should remain the city of firsts and set an example for others to follow in protecting our most precious resource, children."

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