Published in the May 10, 2017 edition
LYNNFIELD ROTARY presented its first annual Jail and Bail fundraiser on May 4, which raised funds for Reid’s Ride. Sitting is Judge Jay Kimball. Back row, from left, Police Chief David Breen, Lorraine Sacco, Lisa Pappas, Victor Saldanha, Ron Block, Patti Nardone, Paula Parziale, Dick Dalton, Tes Mercedat and Dave Drislane. Missing from photo is Bob Priestley. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Getting arrested never felt so good.
Lynnfield Rotary hosted its first annual Jail and Bail fundraiser at MarketStreet Lynnfield May 4. The event raised funds in support of the Reid’s Ride bike-a-thon.
“The first annual Jail and Bail came about because Rotary wanted to support Reid’s Ride and Rotary’s team,” said Lynnfield Rotary member Paula Parziale, who helped organize the event. “We got together with Lorraine Sacco and a couple of people on the alliance and Police Chief David Breen.”
Lorraine Sacco was amazed by the impressive turnout at the Jail and Bail fundraiser.
“I think it’s unbelievable,” said Sacco. “It constantly amazes me the great people that we have here on the North Shore and where the heart beats the hardest, right here in Lynnfield. Lynnfield Rotary has been with us since the inception of Reid’s Ride and they will be still with us all the way through the cure.”
In an interview with the Villager, Breen said he saw a previous jail and bail fundraiser at the Northshore Mall many years ago. He mentioned the idea to Lynnfield Rotary, which took it from there.
“Lorraine and Paula got a committee together to work on this event,” said Breen, who served as the court officer during the proceedings. “Rotary worked very hard to put this fundraiser together.”
Jail and Bail allowed townspeople to purchase arrest warrants for their family, friends, neighbors and other residents. In addition to purchasing arrest warrants, supporters could purchase immunity cards in order to stay out of jail.
Townspeople who had warrants issued for their arrest could either turn themselves in or could be arrested by the fundraiser’s Cancer Cops.
“We were fortunate to have most of our prisoners surrender themselves so our Cancer Cops didn’t have to be driving all afternoon,” said Parziale. “It was perfect.”
After people were arrested or turned themselves in, townspeople appeared at the MarketStreet Green to be arraigned by Judge Jay Kimball. Kimball set bail amounts commensurate with the gravity and creativity of the crime people were charged. Arrestees also had their picture taken by photographer Bob Priestley in front of a Green Screen depicting a jail cell.
When asked to comment on Jail and Bail’s proceedings, Judge Kimball stated “not in my courtroom.”
Additionally, Katie Bourque Bush and Jackie Bourque Tewksbury served as prosecutors.
Once arrestees were put in jail, they called family and friends in order to get bailed out. Arrestees sat in a jail cell made by Lynnfield High School drama students.
“Mrs. Sacco is friends with a bunch of the teachers at the high school,” said Parziale. “Physics teacher Stephen Smith got together a group of kids from the crew. They spent eight hours on a Saturday building the cell.”
Some of the well-known people who were arrested and jailed at the fundraiser included all three selectmen, Town Administrator Jim Boudreau, Town Clerk Trudy Reid, Town Accountant Julie McCarthy, High School Principal Bob Cleary, School Committee member Rich Sjoberg and Town Moderator Arthur Bourque. During Bourque’s arraignment, Judge Kimball said the town moderator was being punished for “doing too much for the town and loving it.”
“Half of Town Hall were issued arrest warrants,” Parziale joked.
Additionally, Chief Breen placed his wife, Robin, under arrest as well.
“It was the best pinch of my career,” the chief said.
While arrestees tried their best to get out of jail, the fundraiser’s attendees were able to enjoy some music. A Lynnfield High School band featuring saxophonist Danielle Colucci, keyboardist Louis Paine, guitarist Johannes Elliott, bassist Dominick Gravante, trumpet player Anthony Wilkinson and High School Band Director Tom Westmoreland on drums played smooth jazz for the event’s attendees.
Sacco thanked Westmoreland and the jazz band for performing at the fundraiser.
“Tom is phenomenal,” said Sacco. “He has always been there for us. He is always there for the kids and everything good that happens for the kids.”
Additionally, the band Classified performed a number of classic rock songs including Johnny Cash’s “Walk the Line.”
At the end of the fundraiser, Breen and Selectman Phil Crawford turned the tables on Kimball’s harsh sentences and had him arrested. Crawford threw the book at the judge.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to support Lynnfield Rotary’s team for Reid’s Ride this July. Parziale said Rotary will be announcing how much it raised after the bike-a-thon.
“Lynnfield Rotary is striving to be the number one team this year,” said Parziale.
The fundraiser’s sponsors were MarketStreet, Lynnfield Rotary, The Priestley’s Fine Art Photography and McKenzie and Miller Re/Max Leading Edge.
“They stepped up to make the first annual Jail and Bail happen today,” said Parziale.
Sacco also thanked Everett Bank for supporting Jail and Bail.
“They are our premier sponsor for Reid’s Ride this year,” said Sacco. “They are the best bank on the North Shore because they are putting adolescent and young cancers first. I am thrilled they have partnered with Reid’s Ride.”
Sacco thanked Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse for their support as well.
“They were going to open up their restaurant to us if it rained just to make sure this event happened,” said Sacco. “They have been a sponsor of Reid’s Ride since the beginning. They also donated complementary spring rolls to all of our prisoners. I want to thank Davio’s for going above and beyond for Reid’s Ride.”
