THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, ApRil 26, 2024 Page 17 VOTES DOWN | FROM PAGE 1 and storage space for city vehicles and voting equipment, among other things. This matter was a topic of discussion at meetings in mid-March and early April. Right now, things are up in the air. “We’ll need to evaluate our next steps,” DeMaria’s Chief of Staff, Erin Deveney, said after the meeting. “We don’t have municipal spaces to house the uses, including the city’s own uses, but the mayor is committed to preserving the uses.” In discussion, Ward 4 Councillor Holly Garcia, who later voted for the appropriation, pointed out that the city is required to provide services to the Webster Extension students. “If the roof doesn’t get done, what happens?” she asked rhetorically. “If we don’t do the roof, we’ll lose the program we’re mandated to do,” DeMaria agreed. He also mentioned that insurance will expire at the end of the year without a new roof. “Is there a plan for where we’d house the organizations there now?” Jabouin asked. “No,” DeMaria answered. Theoretically, the preschool could be moved to the now unused Pope John High School, but a cost analysis presented by Planning Director Matt Lattanzi said renovating it would cost $31.3 GBL | FROM PAGE 16 2023, the upstart Revere High Patriots Boys Volleyball program reeled off a bunch of wins and captured the GBL title last season. Head Coach Lianne O’Hara Mimmo took over the program in 2019 and revved the engines right to the GBL Championship with the Patriots’ best-ever, 16-4 overall record. This year, led by senior captain and outside hitter Ruben Rodriguez, Revere is once again at the top of the list in the GBL, tied with Malden – both with 6-1 league records. Revere’s roster includes Isaac Portillo, Kawan Dias, Lucas Jiminez, Jacob Lopez, Ruben Rodriguez, Melih Yilmaz, Christopher Choc Chavez, Rayan Echelh, Medhi Echelh, Joao Almeida, Juan Perez, Omar Solano Garcia and Preston Kimemiah. Malden’s only loss was a 3-0 shutout to Revere at the Revere High School gym, while the Patriots’ only league loss was a 3-2 slip on the road at Chelsea. Probably regarded as an upset at the time to the million for work on its roof, HVAC and electrical systems, accessibility and other general repairs. He also said Pope John is less centrally located in the city and the old High School is better served by public transportation and “doesn’t provide space for the Health and Wellness Center, the Eliot Center, the boxing club or storage.” There has also been talk about an 8th Grade Academy to alleviate overcrowding in neighborhood K-8 schools, but DeMaria told the Councillors he doesn’t know if School Supt. William Hart wants to house that at Pope John or the old High School if it happens at all. “The $11.5 million request doesn’t relate to school overcrowding,” Lattanzi added. “It’s not about an 8th Grade Academy. That would be significantly more money. We’d need a cafeteria and different toilets. The $31.3 million for Pope John is to allow preschool students to use an equivalent space as at the old High School. The $11.5 million for the old High School is to maintain its current use and allows for additional appropriations for additional uses.” “The issue is not between the old High School and Pope John,” Smith feels. “This is a broader conversation of a Master Plan for all our buildRed Devils, it does not look like it as much right now. Chelsea, at 4-1 in the league (its only loss, 3-0 at Malden) has made it a three-team race in the GBL. Malden was up-and-down earlier in the season, but program founder and Head Coach Dan Jurkowski has the Golden Tornado ship pointed in the right direction. Key games for Malden are coming up quick: back-toback Wednesday home dates, hosting Chelsea on May 1 and a week later hosting Revere on May 8. Both are 5:15 p.m. starts. Medford, Everett and Revere going at for Girls Softball lead in GBL M edford’s unbeaten (for now) in the Greater Boston League Girls Softball race, as Everett and Revere jockey for the top spot as well. It looks like it will be a three-team race moving forward with Medford unbeaten (5-0 GBL) and Everett (5-1 GBL) and Revere (5-2 ings. The garage at the old High School won’t be there forever. We need a new building for storage. We need a full Master Plan for all these buildings. I can’t vote for this until I know about the other buildings.” DeMaria answered that the cost for new buildings could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. “Until we can realize development of Lower Broadway, I’m not going to give you a plan for $500 million,” he said. In Public Comment at the outset of the meeting, unsuccessful 2023 Councillor-at-Large candidate David Senatillaka, who was later named to the Charter Review Committee, said the appropriation request for a roof for the old High School “needs to be considered on its own. Pope John is a separate issue. This has become a politicized issue, but we need to look at it holistically. If the roof isn’t replaced, we’ll lose use of a building that is a resource for groups in the city. I hope we won’t be back here in five years trying to rent space from a private company. Even if the roof isn’t replaced and the city maintains ownership of the building, what is the cost of maintaining it?” In a separate agenda item, Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins asked the administration to share its curGBL) close behind as the first league go-around concludes soon. Returning GBL champ Everett is not going away anytime soon, but at 6-1 overall (5-1 GBL), its only stumble is a 5-2 loss to Medford earlier this week on Monday. The Crimson Tide softball roster includes freshman Mia Allen, senior Arabela Cvitkusic, junior Jayla DaVilla, senior Stephany DeSouza, freshman Olivia Dresser, senior Alessandra Foster, senior Emma Longmore, junior Emilia Maria-Babcock, senior Bryanna Mason, senior Gianna Masucci, junior Kassidy Rivera, senior Chloe Salvi, junior Ashley Seward, junior Alexa Uga and junior Peyton Warren. Revere, at 5-2 GBL (5-2 overall) is looking to challenge as well, but did not fare well in its first two matchups with the leaders Everett and Medford. GREATER BOSTON LEAGUE STANDINGS GIRLS SOFTBALL Team Medford GBL All 5-0 5-1 rent economic plan with the City Council as part or separately from a Master Plan. “Do we have an economic plan?” she asked. “I don’t think we have one.” Earlier she called the old High School “part of Everett’s history. No one wants it torn down, but there’s no way around it. It needs a new roof.” Van Campen, who ceded the gavel to Smith for parts of the discussion before she ceded it to Marchese, feels the $2.5 million for additional work beyond the roof at the old High School is a low estimate. “I’d like to see more detail if we’re going to repurpose a floor,” he said before the vote. “There’s a lot of uncertainty as to whether you [DeMaria] and the Superintendent are aligned as to the use of Pope John.” DeMaria confirmed Van Campen’s comment about the cost, but added that the city is seeking grants, including state aid for real estate technical assistance in issuing Requests for Proposals and Interest. Sensing the mood of the members, Martins motioned the matter be tabled, but only she, Garcia and Ward 3 Councillor Anthony DiPierro voted for that. In discussion of that motion, to no avail DeMaria said, “If we need to take more time, we can do that. I’m good with that.” Everett Revere Somerville Chelsea Team Somerville Medford Everett Chelsea Team Medford Malden Lynn Somerville Revere Team Somerville Malden Medford Everett Revere 5-1 6-1 5-2 6-2 Lynn Classical 4-2 4-3 Lynn English 2-3 3-3 Malden 1-4 1-6 1-5 2-6 0-6 0-6 BOYS BASEBALL GBL All 6-0 7-2 Lynn Classical 4-2 4-3 Malden 3-3 6-3 2-2 1-5 Lynn English 2-2 2-3 Revere 2-3 3-4 1-6 1-6 0-5 2-5 BOYS LACROSSE GBL All 5-0 7-1 3-2 4-3 3-3 4-5 2-3 3-4 0-5 0-5 GIRLS LACROSSE GBL All 4-0 4-2 3-1 3-3 2-2 2-4 1-3 1-4 0-4 0-6 OBITUARY Robert “Robbie” Stoddard O f Everett. Passed away on Friday, April 19th, 2024, after a long battle with COPD. Robert was the son of the late George Stoddard and his wife, Dale. Born in Revere, MA, Robert made his career as a Heavy Equipment Operator and worked for many different construction companies. Robert loved to play pool and darts, and spending time at Revere Beach. Rob had a great sense of humor and a contagious smile. He made his home in Everett where he lived with his loving companion, Maria Guerriero Coolen, for more than 30 years. Robert leaves behind his brother, Dick and his wife Barbara, his daughter, Justine Blount, and his grandsons, Ronan and Julian. He also leaves behind his nephew, Lance Stoddard, and his niece, Kerri Stoddard. In memory of Robert, donations made be made to The American Lung Association @ www.lung.org. A Celebration of Life for Rob will be held at a later date.
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