THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 31, 2025 Page 25 BEACON | FROM PAGE 24 came forward to share their stories.” “Our public transit system runs because of the dedication of workers who show up every day to serve us,” said Rep. Mike Day (D-Stoneham), House Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary. “Today we affirmed the House’s continued commitment to protect those workers who are essential to the success of the commonwealth and our everyday lives.” “We thank the House for voting in favor of this important legislation to protect our MBTA train and bus operators, and all public transit employees,” said Jim Evers, President of the Boston Carmens Union Local 589. “Protecting transit workers is essential to maintaining a safe and quality public transportation system. This bill will ensure the safety of the essential workers who keep our communities moving every day. We look forward to swift passage in the Senate so that these vital protections can be signed into state law to safeguard transit workers for generations to come.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes ENHANCE CHILD WELFARE PROTECTIONS (H 4645) House 159-1, approved and sent to the Senate a proposal that supporters say would strengthen oversight, transparency and accountability within the state’s child welfare system. Provisions include consolidating reporting by the Department of Children and Families (DCF); clarifying the independence of the Office of the Child Advocate; improving educational stability for children in care; and providing for the creation of a state child fatality review team. “Every child in Massachusetts deserves safety, stability and opportunity,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “This bill strengthens oversight, improves coordination between agencies and ensures that children in state care receive the support that they need to thrive.” “This bill strengthens the systems that protect the commonwealth’s most vulnerable children,” said Rep. Jay Livingstone (D-Boston), House Chair of the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. “It gives DCF, the Legislature and the public more tools to better understand what’s working, identify where improvement is needed and continue improving outcomes for children.” “DCF is being weaponized against potential foster parents of Christian faith and laws are beginning to encroach on religious freedom,” said Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver) the only member who voted against the measure. “Buried in this legislation is a requirement for gender affirming care. We should be moving away from this practice and moving toward gender confirming care. Gender dysphoria is still a mental health problem that children need help navigating through and toward a healthy lifestyle. Foster children are our most vulnerable children and they need our protection.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes UNION REPRESENTATION (H 4645) House 159-1, approved an amendment to ensure that DCF social workers have union representation on the state’s child fatality review team. “As a licensed DCF social worker with nearly 25 years of experience, I know firsthand the importance of hearing the voices of frontline care workers in policymaking,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Jim O’Day (D-West Boylston). “Therefore, I filed a successful amendment to ensure that DCF social workers have union representation on the state child fatality review team. Ultimately, I’m proud of the work that the House is doing to strengthen our state’s child welfare infrastructure and prevent future tragedies.” “This amendment sought to include another member to a review board that is a union administration person,” said Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver) the only member who voted against the amendment. “I am not opposed to union representatives standing up and assisting in the defense of a member, but they should not be a part of a review board.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes $1.5 MILLION FOR SEWER RATE RELIEF (H 4240) Senate 38-0, override Gov. Healey’s veto of the entire $1.5 million for the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund which was established in 1993 to help reduce the rising costs of sewer services in the Bay State. “This veto would eliminate important funding that is used to reduce [consumers’] sewer and water rates, and for the commonwealth’s cities and towns utilizing the MWRA systems,” said Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Vice Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. “These reductions directly affect the financial wellbeing of our residents. We have made this funding available for several years to lower the amount that individual ratepayers owe, ensure proper disposal of wastewater and process timely payments of debt service. It’s critical that we make these investments now to support the commonwealth’s long-term environmental and financial goals.” In her veto message, Gov. Healy said, “I am vetoing this item to an amount consistent with my House [budget] recommendation.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $1.5 million.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes $300,000 FOR PROGRAMS FOR THE BLIND (H 4240) Senate 38-0, overrode Gov. Healey’s $300,000 veto reduction (from 8,864,721 to 8,564,721) in programs for the blind. “This particular veto would eliminate earmarked funding for maximizing the independent living skills of legally blind residents,” said Sen. Comerford. “The earmarked BEACON | SEE PAGE 26 SPORTS | FROM PAGE 19 they had fun doing so,” the veteran coach added. “Knowing that we weren’t going to make the (state) tournament, they realized they just wanted to play for fun. We did have a couple of good (scoring) opportunities, especially in the second half, but just couldn’t finish them off.” Rosa Romero, Casey Martinez, Kathleen DeSouza, Jasmine Morias, Kayla Andrade, Melanie Ribeiro, Odalis Sandoval and Sofia Arana-Quintanilla were singled out by the coach for solid efforts in this game. Arana-Quintanilla, in fact, had a chance to play her natural position on defense, and as a result was thriving throughout. Tiffany Aguilar started in goal, and “played well making saves, despite the final score,” the coach said. “This is a new position for her, but she will be the goalie for us next year. She has the (talent) to adjust in order to play (net on a regular basis).” The Everett girls have since taken on non-league Lowell at home earlier this week on Tuesday (Oct. 28) to wrap up the 2025 schedule after press deadline. Boys’ soccer misses playoffs by one slim win T he boys’ soccer team (68-4) ended the season last week with mixed results, sort of a microcosm of the past two months. The Tide began the week with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Somerville at Somerville’s Dilboy Stadium on Oct. 21. “We got off to a rough start,” said coach Rodney Landaverde after the Somerville game. “We just couldn’t generate much offense, but we also gave up two very early goals, which set us back for the whole game.” The Tide, however, still couldn’t get it going until late in the game, when sophomore Daniel Henriquez sent a cross to freshman Miguel Santos, who headed home the team’s only goal of the game. But two days later in Medford, the Everett boys reversed the Somerville final to beat the Mustangs to end the year on a triumphant note. Medford scored the first goal of the game, but a few minutes later, the visitors tied it up on a rebound in the box. Santos netted the goal, his fourth of the season. It was a fairly even game throughout the first half, with both teams battling mostly at midfield. Two JV players – sophomores Luis Sorto-Rosales and Eric Melara – were able to get quality minutes after being brought up this past week. Late in the second half, senior Lucas Rabelo scored the game-winner on a set piece header from sophomore Samuel Silva off a corner kick. It was Silva’s first varsity assist. “We missed the postseason by just one win,” said Landaverde. “It was an unfortunate way to end the season, but I’m confident going into the next couple of years, because we have a lot of returning players. “ I ’m grateful to have coached this year’s seniors. They made many contributions to the program,” added the second-year Everett coach, “while also (specifically) setting a (high) standard of core principles and expectations on and off the field (for their successors to follow). I’m truly honored to see them move on to the next level, both academically and athletically.” Final Tide stat line for 2025 T he team’s offensive contributors this year were as follows: Gabriel Garcia (10 goals, 1 assist), Miguel Santos (3 goals, 3 assists), Saymon Coelho (2 goals, 2 assists), Whitney Pereira (2 goals, 2 assists), Rene Lainez (3 assists), Kevin Renderos (1 goal, 3 assists), Lucas Rabelo (2 goals), Daniel Henriquez (1 goal, 2 assists), Jonathan Hernandez (1 goal), Jason Santos (1 assist), Samuel Silva (1 assist) and Kerim Memic (2 goals). Goalie Edwin Menjivar Carbajal had four clean sheets this year of solid shutout performances.
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