LYNN  — It was a sea of green in the Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development (LHAND) building, as Executive Director Charles ‘Charlie’ Gaeta hosted the agency’s 26th alcohol-free St. Patrick’s Day Lunch. 

The event included a greeting from the city from Mayor Jared Nicholson, an awards presentation and entertainment from emcees Joe Scanlon, who serves as LHAND finance director, and State Rep. Dan Cahill.

Roger Ennis, the very first recipient of The “Irish” Person of the Year Award, talked about changes in the event since its inception in 1998.

“Initially, it was put together through a bunch of folks who were involved in the local recovery community,” Ennis said. “And these men thought, ‘wouldn’t it be good community outreach to have an alcohol-free St. Patrick’s day event? A luncheon?’ It was so well attended, and the community came right together.”

Ennis said that the event has thrived for so long, due to the great message of recovery it sends to the community, and the camaraderie of the event-goers and LHAND.

Thursday, the room was filled with businesses and elected officials, as everyone celebrated the community of Lynn.

“The (LHAND) has such an important initiative of supporting our community and helping people find their homes, keep their homes, develop their homes, and develop their lives around their community,” Nicholson said in his greeting. “The Lynn Housing Authority (hosting) events like this help us create that sense of community throughout the city.”

The first award presented was the Laurie Walsh Memorial Commissioner’s Service Award, which was awarded to Susan Barrios and staff. Barrios works for LHAND, specializing in the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program.

“We’re very honored, we have a great team at RAFT,” Barrios said. “They all work hard.”

The second award presented was the John Sullivan and Ralph Cronin Community Service Award, which was awarded to Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger.

“Seriously, thank you so much,” Coppinger said. “There’s a lot of people in this room that have helped us, whether (in) my time here at Lynn Police or my time in the Sheriff’s office. They helped us achieve the goal that we’re trying to do: just to help people, and keep them out of jail, and make our communities safer and much better.”

The final award of the day was the newly named Buzzy Barton, Jimmy Lyons and Tom Muldoon “Irish” Person of the Year Award, presented by Ennis, and awarded to retired educator Jim Ridley.

“This year’s Irish (person) of the year award is meant to honor three men who dedicated their lives to helping others: Tom Muldoon, Jimmy Lyons, and our dear friend Buzzy Barton,” Ennis said. “I know they would be very proud today that their legacy is being carried on by today’s recipient. He’s a devoted family man, an educator, a coach, a tireless supporter of the Lynn community, a true friend to those in the recovery community and, I’m blessed to say, my friend, Jimmy Ridley.”

Ridley accepted his award, thanking everyone for the honor.

“I’m very, very honored. Thank you,” Ridley said.