Page 4 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, ApRil 29, 2022 City Solicitor to leave Everett end of May By Christopher Roberson A fter serving as Everett’s legal counsel for the past two decades, City Solicitor Colleen Mejia will walk out of City Hall for the last time on May 25. “Being able to serve the city where I was born and raised was an honor I will treasure forever,” she said. Mejia’s time in Everett began in 2002 when she was hired as assistant city solicitor by then-Mayor David Ragucci. Six years later, she was promoted to city solicitor under Mayor Carlo DeMaria. “I want to thank Mayor DeMaria for believing in me,” said Mejia. “Having the opportunity to be part of the historic transformation of Everett under his leadership has been the highlight of my career.” However, Mejia has not shared her specific plans for the future. “I was offered an opportunity to transition the latter part of my career in a different direction,” she said. “I’m excited to transition into my next career but I will be forever grateful to Mayor DeMaria and the City of Everett for the opportunity to serve the city.” DeMaria said Mejia has been an integral part of the city’s daily operations. “While Colleen’s departure will leave many missing her wisdom, advice and guidance, the Administration would like to thank her for many years of outstanding leadership,” he said. “Everyone agrees that she possesses a rare combination of vision, fairness and understanding, crucial qualities for an effective city solicitor.” Councillor-at-Large Stephanie Smith agreed that Mejia has certainly had a positive impact on the city. “Solicitor Mejia has been a great asset to the City of Everett over the past 20 years and her expertise and passion for the city will be missed,” she said. “I wish her the best in her future endeavors.” Weigh Better U Workout Safety By Sam Amado S ome people are tempted to skip pre- and post-workout activities for the sake of saving time. However, the time spent prepping for and recovering from a work out will save discomfort and soreness later. Before a workout, make time for active stretching. Active stretching (such as shoulder rolls and trunk twists) involves rotating and moving joints. The goal is to make, and keep, yourself flexible without expending too much energy before the workout. After a workout, your muscles will likely shrink/relax, causing your limbs to be weak/ stiff. The best way to avoid this is to use static stretching (stretching limbs or back) to expand your muscles, allowing them to relax back to a normal size (avoiding post-workout stiffness). Hydration is also important, particularly as the weather Everett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Owned & operated by the Conti family since 1958 • 57 Years! family since 1958 • 64 “Same name, phone number & address for over half a century. We must be doing something right!” •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roof ng • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! gets warmer. Dehydration can lead to muscle spasms/cramps or cause fatigue. There is also the potential for more serious, long-term consequences, such as kidney failure and brain swelling, if people are severely dehydrated. Luckily, even a token effort at staying hydrated (64 ounces of water per day) is generally enough to avoid the worst dangers. When working out, especially in hot weather, drink more water. The more you sweat, the more you need to drink. Post-workout recovery is almost as important as hydration. Protein bars and shakes are fine for post-workout recovery, and as an occasional meal replacement. Check the labels. The more protein and the fewer carbohydrates a bar or shake has, the better it is. At the risk of wasting space on the obvious, sports drinks (Gatorade) and energy drinks (Red Bull) are not the same. Sports drinks have sugar and Sam Amado electrolytes (useful before or during a workout, particularly for athletes) while energy drinks have caffeine (which causes dehydration). Be safe. Have fun. Stay focused. And, as ever, contact me if there are any topics that you would like to see discussed in this column at samamado@weighbetteru.com. Spring is Here! Colleen Mejia City Solicitor
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