Voting information for tomorrow

The day has finally come for the nation to decide who the next President of the United States should be, along with many local and state elected positions. The City of Lynn participated in Early In-person Voting this year from October 17-30 and 6,532 registered Lynn voters took advantage of this, according the Lynn City Clerk & Chief of Elections Janet Rowe.

As of last Wednesday Rowe reported that 11,201 mail-in ballots were received as well. If you did not mail in your ballot you can drop off your ballot at City Hall in an official ballot drop box in the Johnson Street lot before polls close tomorrow. The City of Lynn Election office has put forth several protections to ensure your vote is protected and eventually counted on Election Day. According to Rowe, “Folks can drop their ballot in 24 hours day.  We have camera surveillance, extra lighting and police will be patrolling until November 3^rd.  We check the box every 2 hours.”

Extra poll workers have been hired to assist on Election Day itself, social distance and mask wearing will be enforced as well. “Please be patient and kind as our Poll workers are safely checking voters in and adhering to all Covid-19 rules and regulations from the State and our Public Health Director”, said Rowe.

Many planed to vote in person tomorrow over mail-in ballots and voting early. For those people we wanted to compile a list of resources to ensure that your vote is heard this election. Below is information we have sourced from the City of Lynn & community organizations for voting in Lynn tomorrow.

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Gov. Baker issues updated COVID-19 restrictions to combat alarming rise in cases

Lynn Family Resource Center’s November calendar

Good afternoon,

• Parenting Journey will be offered in Spanish beginning November 12th! Please contact Yari at yjiminian@centerboard.org to register.
• We are excited to begin offering Nurturing Families in Recovery. This evidence-based parenting curriculum is offered to caregivers who are impacted by substance use. Please contact Amanda (adiciero@centerboard.org) or Kearra (kgreene@centerboard.org) to register.
• The FRC, in conjunction with the We Rise program, is offering a 10-week healing and recovery group from young women 13-18. Please contact me or Erin (ecurley@centerboard.org) to register.

Marissa A. Speranza, LICSW

Program Director-Family Resource Center

The above information was provided to us by Lynn FRC.

Statement from Mayor Thomas M. McGee on today’s fatal officer involved shooting

The Essex District Attorney’s Office and the Essex State Police Detective Unit are investigating a fatal officer involved shooting on Witt Street in Lynn this morning. The suspect, a Caucasian male, was being pursued by Revere Police after allegedly robbing a Walgreen’s in Revere. The Lynn Police officer who was working a nearby detail responded on foot to assist Revere Police on Witt Street. A Revere Police officer was transported to Mass General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Per City of Lynn Police Department policy, the officer involved will be placed on paid administrative leave. I am confident that the District Attorney’s Office will undertake and complete a full and fair investigation of this incident.

The above press release was sent to us by Mayor McGee’s office.

Essex County Sheriff’s Department awarded $2.1 million in federal grants to help in battle against opioids

The Essex County Sheriff’s Department has been awarded $2.1 million in federal grants aimed at combatting opioid addiction through pre- and post-release supports, Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger announced.

The largest grant comes from the U.S. Department of Justice Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP). The Department was awarded $1.2 million to expand its Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program beyond the walls of the jail to be able to continue treatment and supports for incarcerated persons when they are released into the community.

The Department also received $900,000 from the Justice Department for a partnership program between the Sheriff’s Office, Roca and UTEC to create a comprehensive pre- and post-release program for 200 to 250 young people between the ages of 18 and 24 with ongoing substance abuse issues who are at high risk for recidivism.

“Our job and our mission are to help those who come to us find a path to a more productive and successful life as a citizen. Far too often, we see people who cannot find the treatment and supports they need on the outside to maintain their progress and they end up back in our facilities,” Sheriff Coppinger said. “These two grant programs help us focus on their needs when they come to us and allow us to continue to invest in their success when they leave us through extensive community supports in case management, treatment, behavior and case management.”

About the grants:

• $1.2 million for ECSD’s Essex Medicated Assisted Treatment Recovery Project for pre- and post-release services for 3,000 inmates. The program will provide Naloxone, behavioral supports, and both inside the facility and when they return to the community. The program also provides transitional housing and peer recovery supports for up to 825 inmates.
• $900,000 for ECSD’s Improving Re-entry for Adults with Substance Use Disorders to offer at-risk young people through pre- and post-release supports in Medication Assisted Treatment and health and behavioral supports. While incarcerated, those selected will be eligible for a variety of programming dealing with violence, drug and alcohol abuse, medication assisted treatment, parenting and pre-trial diversion through our CASE unit. In addition, they will receive intensive case management and one-on-one and group training through both Roca and UTEC. As they prepare for re-entry, transition plans with individual goals and services will be developed for these at-risk youth. They will be enrolled in an intensive, long-term behavior change program in the community and will receive intensive case management and targeted behavioral health care including supports in life skills, parenting, employment and educational support.
• The Department also received $250,000 to expand ECSD’s current Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) program from the federal Bureau of Justice. This expansion includes bringing in a PREA Mental Health Clinician to prevent, detect and respond to sexual abuse and harassment in corrections facilities, more specialized training for officers, and provides for cameras in blind spots to enhance inmate safety.

These three grants are in addition to a $4 million grant awarded in July by the U.S. Department of Labor for the Department’s Re-Entry Vocational Training Center. This program will help incarcerated persons find wage-sustaining employment while receiving post-release comprehensive rehabilitative services. The Center serves 550 participants from the Middleton House of Correction, the Essex County Pre-release and Re-entry Center in Lawrence and the Women in Transition Program in Salisbury. The program offers pre-release participants training in asbestos removal, C-Tech, and hardscaping as well as the opportunity to take both credit and noncredit courses at Northern Essex Community College.

Nov. episode of GLSS TV now out!

From GLSS: In the November show, GLSS TV honors our veterans —  Vietnam era Veterans in particular. The show will also look  at a unique collaboration between GLSS, The Food Project, and the city of Lynn. There will be some exercises around good balance and best of all, a taste of the best pumpkin pie ever, that YOU can make.