Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, FEbRuARy 9, 2024 Middlesex Sheriff’s Offi ce urges residents to be alert for arrest scams W OBURN, Mass. – The Middlesex Sheriff ’s Offi ce (MSO) is urging residents to be aware of ongoing arrest scams in the area. The new warning comes after multiple local residents – including four on January 29 alone – reported receiving calls from individuals falsely posing as Middlesex Sheriff’s Office deputies or staff members. In two instances, the residents were told they had missed jury duty and owed $5,000 in fi nes. One of the residents was told they needed to surrender themselves at the MSO offi ce in Woburn, while the other was told they could pay the fi ne using PayPal or a virtual currency kiosk. A third resident was told they needed to surrender in Lowell. In a second variation of the scam, one resident was falsely told she had missed court where she had been expected to serve as an expert witness. Fortunately, none of those who reported the calls to the Middlesex Sheriff ’s Offi ce lost MOVES EVERETT | FROM PAGE 1 Mid-grade Regular $3.88 94 64 87 Over 45 Years of Excellence! Full Service $3.57 Order online at angelosoil.com said Molinari. Jenkins-Sullivan was particularly interested in the project’s ability to explore the details and nuances of “how individuals travel to and from school and some of the barriers they face with safety on our roads, while uplifting the voices of those who choose methods besides cars for travel.” Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria JOHN MACKEY & ASSOCIATES ~ Attorneys at Law ~ * PERSONAL INJURY * REAL ESTATE * FAMILY LAW * PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY * LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES 14 Norwood Street Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 WWW.JMACKEYLAW.COM said, “The data gathered in this study has reaffi rmed what we already knew, Everett students overwhelmingly walk to school. We are committed to improving road safety for all our students, especially those students who walk, take transit, bike or roll to school and are the most vulnerable road users. This will be instrumental in continuing the work we have already started through the Safe Routes To School program in partnership with MassDOT.” The project began with an unprecedented survey of the entire student body. Of roughly 7,000 students in the district, 4,500 students participated in answering questions any money. Members of law enforcement will never threaten arrest or demand fi nes be paid over the phone and no legit law enforcement professional will ever demand fi nes be paid using bitcoin, gift cards or other similar means. These are clear signs of a scam. The MSO urges any resiabout their commutes and what transportation modes they would like to try. GSI then hosted and recorded on video one-on-one conversations with 19 Everett students, parents or guardians and faculty or staff about their challenges, insights and suggestions for improvements they have regarding their commutes to school. Findings and highlights While the Planning Department and other city staff knew that many students walked to school, this study confi rmed that Everett is truly a city of walkers! The percentage of students who walk is signifi - cantly higher than any other mode, and is far greater than what the Planning Department staff expected to fi nd. Other highlights: · There is a potential positive correlation between higher income schools and kids who get driven to school. · Many students mentioned the need for more MBTA buses, and possibly a train, in Everett. Students highlighted the frequency and timing of buses. Some students also mentioned not being able to access a bus at all, due to where they live and to fi nancial considerations. · While only one to two percent of students bike to school or elsewhere in Everett, 16% would like to do so. That said, students didn’t seem to understand the Bluebikes bike share system or that it could be an option for some of them to use. Next steps Thanks to this data, the city is exploring improving transit opportunities, including for the school community. The Planning Department is looking into options for increased bus travel and better connections to the nearby Orange Line stations. Everett is also considering advocating for bike safety and bike educadent who receives a similar call to disconnect and report the call to authorities immediately. Residents who receive scam calls in which individuals falsely identify themselves as MSO deputies or offi cers may contact the MSO at 978-6671711 and ask to speak with the Inner Perimeter Security (IPS) Unit. tion, and, since the study concluded, began working with the Safe Routes to Schools program. Another way the city is following up on the What Moves Everett Schools project will be through a What Moves Everett Transportation Fair scheduled for June 2024, spearheaded by Green Streets Initiative. The event will showcase a wide range of healthy and environmentally friendly ways to get around Everett and related gear and equipment, as well as local food and music. Partners will include various city agencies and local organizations. Finally, Eric Molinari and the Everett Planning Department are also rolling out a new speaker series called “Street Level Everett.” Street Level Everett’s inaugural event was on December 11, 2023, at Night Shift Brewing in Everett. Everett Director of Transportation and Mobility Jay Monty led the discussion on the City’s Transportation Demand Management ordinance and “How to Encourage New Development to be Less Car-Centric in a Rapidly Growing City.” The next “Street Level Everett” event is scheduled for Monday, March 25, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. at Night Shift Brewing in Everett. Lessons for other communities According to Shannon Sullivan, Project Manager of the Green Streets Initiative, “You won’t know how people get around or what they know about their transportation options until you ask them. And what you fi nd may surprise you!” The project found that crowd-sourced solutions were very useful and creative, and that transit users had great ideas about bus timing and connections. It also turned out that students, faculty and staff would love transportation benefi ts, including free or reduced MBTA passes.
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