LHAND goes Irish

LYNN – There was a little roast served up with the Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Lunch on Thursday and two surprised honorees.”This started when a group of gentlemen from the community got together and decided to do something for the people who don’t usually partake in the holiday,” said emcee Joe Scanlon, LHAND’s Fiscal Director. “I want to thank (LHAND Executive Director) Charles Gaeta for allowing his staff to prepare the meal. So you’re about to enjoy the most expensive meal in the city of Lynn.”Dave Raymond, John Pace and their crew cooked and served up 120 pounds of corned beef and 60 pounds of cabbage, 70 pounds of potatoes and 50 pounds each of turnips and carrots for about 165 people. Packed in tight in the community room at 10 Church St. were folks from Sheriff Frank Cousins’ office, St. Mary’s High School, the business community, Project Cope and LHAND, along with a smattering of state and local politicians.Scanlon got a round of wry laughter when he quoted Sir John Pentland Mahaffy.View a photo gallery”In Ireland the inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs,'” he said. “Sounds like my days on the City Council where everything was unexpected and nothing ever occurs.”But the true stars of the afternoon were Michelle Simons from Project Cope and Pat Byrne from The Lynn Shelter Association. The pair were named the John Sullivan Community Service Award winner and The Jimmy Lyons/Tom Muldoon Award winner respectively.Introducing Simons, Project Cope Executive Director Mark Kennard said although Simons’ job title is housing case manager, she is really part rent collector, building manager and counselor. The demands on her are numerous, but so are the results she produces in helping people in their recovery, Kennard said.”She believes in a human connection with the people she serves,” he said. “She believes honesty and integrity are key in recovery ? She is someone who would have made John Sullivan proud.”Lynn Shelter Association Executive Director Marjorie St. Paul called Byrne, the shelter’s street advocate, a man who was just as comfortable sitting among a group of street people as he was amid a bunch of suits.”And the important part is he would treat them both the same,” she said.St. Paul said Byrne was a quick wit, who couldn’t be played and had a heart as big as the ocean. He is also willing to work with anyone who needs his guidance, counsel or an ear.Byrne said he was overwhelmed by the award, which, like Simons, came with a glass plaque and a citation from the City Council.”It’s incredible,” he said. “This type of event, it’s huge. It’s pretty cool to be recognized.”Simons said she was equally surprised. She said she listened to Kennard speak about her life for nearly a minute or so before she realized he was talking about her.”It was a complete surprise,” she said.The annual luncheon dates back to 1998, according to LHAND’s Lysa Newhall, and “All the proceeds go to Project Cope.”Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].