Benjamin Pierce

Boston

Sports and News Journalist at The Daily Item

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Articles

Election Day surprises were few and far between

Nov 5, 2024 | itemlive.com | Adam Levine |Benjamin Pierce

Residents of Essex County voted early, mailed in their ballots, and showed up in numbers to their polling stations on Tuesday. As of press time, the City of Lynn did not release its unofficial results. Clerk of CourtsDemocratic incumbent Tom Driscoll of Swampscott came into the election seeking his fifth six-year term in the role. He was challenged by Unenrolled candidate Todd Angilly of Lynnfield and Independent Doris Rodriguez of Lawrence.
Community meets the Superintendent candidate in Swampscott

Nov 4, 2024 | itemlive.com | Benjamin Pierce

SWAMPSCOTT — Community members gathered at the new Swampscott Elementary School’s cafetorium Monday night to take part in a public forum with Superintendent of Schools candidate Jason Calichman. In September, current Superintendent of Schools Pamela Angelakis officially endorsed Calichman to be her successor when she retires on June 30, 2025. Calichman has held a leadership position at the middle school since 2011, when he started as an assistant principal.
Swampscott Board of Health wants in on beach quality fight

Nov 3, 2024 | itemlive.com | Benjamin Pierce

SWAMPSCOTT — The Board of Health discussed the ongoing efforts to mitigate local beach pollution and the role it should have regarding the task. Member Gargi Cooper listed the entities that have been involved, such as the town’s Water Sewer Advisory Committee, Department of Public Works, State Rep. and Sen. Jenny Armini and Brendan Crighton, and the advocacy group Save King’s Beach. “I feel like there’s a lot happening,” Cooper said.
Nahant has lots on its agenda

Nov 1, 2024 | itemlive.com | Benjamin Pierce

NAHANT — Town Administrator Tony Barletta and the Board of Selectmen announced that the town has closed the sale on one and is on the verge of closing on another of the lots that were once Coast Guard housing properties on Castle Road and Goddard Drive. Nahant purchased the Coast Guard housing land from the federal government in 2004.
Ballot Question 5 asks whether minimum wage should be increased for wait staff. The question is: Tipping the scale on wages?

Nov 1, 2024 | itemlive.com | Benjamin Pierce

Question 5 of the state’s five ballot questions for the Tuesday, Nov. 5 national election asks voters of the Commonwealth if they would like to see the “tipped minimum wage” of $6.75 for restaurant wait staff replaced with the standard minimum wage, which is currently $15, that is implemented in all other fields. Voting ‘yes’ represents support for implementing the change, while voting ‘no’ would support maintaining the current structure of a tip-adjusted wage.
Swampscott Police do a drug sweep

Oct 31, 2024 | itemlive.com | Benjamin Pierce

SWAMPSCOTT — The Police Department recently collected approximately 25 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs through its participation in the National Take Back Initiative. Residents were invited to the station earlier this week to deliver their pills. According to Sargent Candace Doyle, the department worked in conjunction with the country’s Drug Enforcement Administration to properly dispose of the drugs in an undisclosed location.
Police Log Thursday, Nov. 1

Oct 31, 2024 | itemlive.com | Benjamin Pierce

All address information, particularly arrests, reflects police records. In the event of a perceived inaccuracy, it is the sole responsibility of the concerned party to contact the relevant police department and have the department issue a notice of correction to The Daily Item. LYNN Arrests Ismael Diaz, 46, of 275 Summer St., was arrested on three charges of drug possession with intention to distribute and one charge of trafficking a Class B drug at 6:24 a.m. Thursday.
Swampscott Board of Health briefed on opioid relief efforts

Oct 30, 2024 | itemlive.com | Benjamin Pierce

SWAMPSCOTT — The Board of Health received an update from the town’s Public Health Nurse and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Neia Illingworth on the efforts to address the opioid epidemic as it pertains to Swampscott during its meeting Wednesday night. Illingworth emphasized that based on a survey conducted in January that yielded 195 responses, a sizable portion of residents have been impacted by the epidemic in some form.
Nahant students walk to school in spooky fashion

Oct 30, 2024 | itemlive.com | Benjamin Pierce

NAHANT — Johnson Elementary School students took to the streets dressed as creepy creatures and familiar pop culture icons for the annual “Spooky Walk to School” Wednesday morning. Some featured costumes included Marvel superheroes Spider-Man and Iron Man, NBA legend Michael Jordan, and musical artist Taylor Swift. Kensie Mills, 5, and Whitney Locke, 4, are best friends who dressed up as dogs Bluey and Scooby-Doo, respectively.
Swampscott medical service pays $380,000 settlement

Oct 29, 2024 | itemlive.com | Benjamin Pierce

SWAMPSCOTT — RM Transport, a non-emergency medical transport service, will pay $380,000 to the Commonwealth as part of a settlement with Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell’s Office. The settlement is meant to resolve allegations that the organization headquartered on Paradise Road charged the state’s medicaid insurance program, MassHealth, for services RM Transport did not actually provide.