EVERET V Vol. 30, No.51 -FREEE E ER TT www.advocatenews Have a Safe & Merry Christmas! H H DVO ATCT C ee Every Friday 617-387-2200 We’ll be closed for the holidays December 24-25th. Wishing you happy holidays and thank you for being both customers and friends. As always, access our ATMs and your Online & Mobile Banking anytime. Enroll at www.EverettBank.com GREATER GOOD: State Senator Sal DiDomenico and Santa Claus during the DiDomenico Foundation’s annual Toy Drive last Thursday at Kowloon in Saugus. The Foundation purchased more than $23,000 in toys so that no needy children would be left out this Christmas. This was the most successful Toy Drive in the history of the Foundation. See pages 10 & 19 for photo highlights. (Courtesy Photo) City Council approves maximum tax shift for FY22 419 BROADWAY. EVERETT, MA 02149 771 SALEM ST. LYNNFIELD, MA 01940 WWW.EVERETTBANK.COM 617-387-1110 781-776-4444 Member FDIC | Member DIF By Christopher Roberson T SINCE 1921 Messinger Insurance Agency 475 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 Phone: 617-387-2700 Fax: 617-387-7753 NEW COMPETITIVE AUTO RATES AND BENEFITS AVAILABLE ACCIDENT FORGIVENESS DISAPPEARING COLLISION DEDUCTIBLE 11% DISCOUNT WITH SUPPORTING POLICY 10% COMBINED PAY IN FULL DISCOUNT AND GREEN DISCOUNT 10% GOOD STUDENT DISCOUNT Celebrating 100 years of excellence! Monday thru Friday: 8am to 6pm Saturdays 9am to 1pm! Check out our NEW website! www.messingerinsurance.com he City Council, during its special meeting on December 20, voted unanimously to adopt the maximum tax shift of 1.75 percent for fi scal year 2022. The new tax rates will be $10.36 per $1,000 for residential properties and $24.04 per $1,000 for commercial properties. By comparison, the residential rate in fi scal year 2021 was $9.87 while the commercial rate was $23.20. “We’re in a very hot real estate market,” said city Assessor B.J. Devereux. “Over the past two years it’s gotten very heated.” Although Everett’s property taxes will be going up, William Hart, chairman of the Board of Assessors, said the single tax rate would have been $13.74. Therefore, the shift of 1.75 percent from residential to commercial was the best option for homeowners. In contrast, Malden’s residential rate is $12.29 and its commercial rate is $19.17, and the residential rate in Cambridge is $5.92 while its commercial rate is $11.23. In fiscal year 2021, the residential rate in Somerville was $10.19 and its commercial rate was $16.69. Also in fi scal year 2021, the residential rate in Chelsea was $13.62 and its commercial rate was $26.64. In addition, Devereux said there are currently 8,685 properties in Everett for a total assessed value of more than $5 billion. Within that fi gure, Devereux said, the average single-family home is valued at $581,986. He also said the average condominium is valued at $296,222, representing a sizable increase compared to the average value of $278,439 last year. The City Council also voted unanimously to continue the residential tax exemption of 25 percent for owner-occupied properties. On the commercial side, Devereux said convenience stores have increased in value from $918,000 last year to $965,000 this year. Fast food establishments went up slightly from COUNCIL | SEE PAGE 21 DVOV CATE Friday, December 24, 2021 DiDomenico Foundation raises more than $23K for annual Toy Drive
Page 2 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Last, But Certainly Not Least By Gini Pariseau F inally, here it was…Christmas Eve. It was the night Allison had been waiting for. The family would gather around the tree as Allison and her two older brothers gave their parents their gifts. It was the fi rst year Allison had been old enough to be part of giving her very own present to her parents. Allison was excited about her gift because she had made it herself. As her parents sat in the two big chairs beside the fireplace, her brother Jamie pulled a red box with a green bow stuck to the top out from under the tree and handed it to his mom. She read the little tag aloud and opened the box. Inside was a beautiful red candle, and as his dad put a match to its wick, Jamie told them that it would smell like cinnamon in a minute. Everyone waited and commented on the wonderful cinnamon scent. Next came Peter, who proudly presented a gold box with gold ribbon to his Dad, who read the tag and opened the box. Inside was a wonderful assortment of jelly candies. Everyone sampled a diff erent flavor and commented how good their choice was. Allison came up next with her hands behind her back. In one sweeping action she presented her gift and held it in front of her. It was a big card that had a Christmas tree on the front with Santa and his reindeer going over the top of it. At the bottom, Allison had printed “Mom and Dad” with a diff erent color for each letter. Allison’s mom reached for the card, and both parents leaned together as they read the inside and commented on the pictures. Allison’s dad sat the card on the mantle and suggested everyone sample another round of jelly candies. He then turned the room lights down so they could appreciate the glow from the candle better. The card Allison had made for her parents faded out of sight on the mantle as the candlelight illuminated the coffee table and the candy box. Allison began to feel her gift didn’t match up to her brothers’. The card had only provided momentary excitement as it was opened. Already it had faded in comparison to her brothers’ gifts. She passed on the next round of jelly candy and expressed her desire to go to bed so Santa Claus LAST | SEE PAGE 21 Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish Christmas & New Year’s Schedule Friday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve 4 p.m. Family Mass 5:30 p.m. 7 p.m. Kreyol 9:30 a.m. 11 a.m. St. Mary’s (Bring a fl ashlight!) St. Mary’s Saturday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day 8 a.m. Our Lady of Grace Our Lady of Grace Our Lady of Grace St. Mary’s Please note that there will be no 4 p.m. Mass on that Saturday Saturday, Jan. 1, Solemnity of Mary Holy Day of Obligation 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31 St. Mary’s 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 1 Our Lady of Grace Sunday, Jan. 2, Epiphany 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1 St. Mary’s St. Mary’s 8 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2 Our Lady of Grace 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2 Our Lady of Grace
THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Page 3 Superintendent’s contract extension voted down I By Christopher Roberson n a rare 5-5 decision, the School Committee recently voted not to extend the employment contract of Superintendent of Schools Priya Tahiliani. Had it passed, the proposal would have moved the contract’s ending date from February 28, 2024, to June 30, 2025. Prior to the vote, Vice-Chairman Thomas Abruzzese spoke in favor of extending the contract. He also reminded his colleagues about how Tahiliani arrived in Everett three months prior to her original start date. “Superintendent Tahiliani did something that I don’t think people remember,” said Abruzzese during the committee’s final meeting of the year on December 20. “We were looking to have the superintendent begin in June of 2020. Superintendent Tahiliani made herself available in March of 2020.” The COVID-19 pandemic struck just nine days after Tahiliani took the helm. “Try to think back as to what kind of situation there would’ve been if we had not had our new superintendent in place,” said Abruzzese. “If Priya Tahiliani is the legacy I’m leaving behind, that’s just fine with me.” Ward 4 School Committee Member Dana Murray said a contract ending in February would be detrimental to the students. “Educators don’t leave their posts in the middle of the school year,” she said. “It’s never a good idea to have kids with an interim. Stability and permanency is really what makes kids thrive.” In a follow-up interview, School Committee Memberat-Large Millie Cardello said the Everett Teachers Association (ETA) has been unable to agree on a new contract with its members. “I had to take that into serious consideration,” she said. Therefore, Cardello said, she could not justify extending Tahiliani’s contract when teachers are still waiting for a new contract from the ETA. Ward 2 School Committee Member Joseph Lamonica said his colleagues who favored the contract extension maintained that Tahiliani had lost a year because of the pandemic. However, it was not enough of a reason for him to cast an affirmative vote. “We all lost a year,” said Lamonica. “Let’s just move forward.” Also during the meeting, Tahiliani addressed the rumors that continued to circuSERVING WITH DISTINCTION: Superintendent of Schools Priya Tahiliani (center) presented plaques of appreciation to the four outgoing School Committee members during the committee’s final meeting of the year on December 20. Shown, from left to right, are Chairman Frank Parker, Ward 1 Member Allen Panarese, Ward 4 Member Dana Murray and Vice-Chairman Thomas Abruzzese. (Photo Courtesy of the Everett Public Schools) late about her leaving Everett. “When it comes to my intentions, there is no ambiguity,” she said. “I have no interest in leaving this district. I’m not looking for another job.” She also said the district has been a leader throughout the pandemic. “As a district, we have progressed at a time when others have stumbled and faltered,” said Tahiliani. Since becoming superintendent, she said, some of her accomplishments have been establishing Day 6 programs for students, summer programming and the Teacher Diversification pilot program as well as subsidized degree and certification programs. “I still believe that I am the best person to lead this district,” said Tahiliani. “I will stop at nothing for our students.” New cleaning company for Everett High School In other news, the committee voted unanimously to allow the administration to go out to bid for a new overnight cleaning company at Everett High School. Maintenance Director Steven Bond said the recent TikTok Challenges have caused students to become increasingly destructive. “The bathrooms, this year, have been destroyed,” he said, adding that the damage is “much worse than in years past.” Mayor Carlo DeMaria said action needs to be taken sooner rather than later. “It seems like an issue; it seems like a problem,” he said. “This is something we shouldn’t be fooling VOTED | SEE PAGE 21
Page 4 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Everett student presents at Youth Power Summit of The 84 movement I n November, Samaga Pokharel, a resident of Everett and student leader from Teens in Everett Against Substance Abuse (TEASA), a program of Cambridge Health Alliance in Everett, was one of three facilitators and primary presenters for the Youth Power Summit of The 84 movement. After months of planning and preparation by Pokharel and others, young people from across the state attended the Youth Power Summit virtually, to come together to discuss race and racism in light of tobacco industry targeting. Chapters of The 84 movement shared experiences and worked to feel empowered to speak confi dently on racial equity through a variety of small group discussions hosted by young people for young people. The 84 is a statewide, youthled, anti-tobacco/vaping movement made up of coalitions, schools, faith-based organizations and community-based organizations. According to The 84’s website, “The 84 represents the 84% of Massachusetts youth who did NOT smoke when the movement began…. The 84 is a program of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program, developed and managed in partnership Samaga Pokharel with Health Resources in Action.” Learn more about The 84 Movement at the84.org. Schnitzer supports Everett Holiday Toy Drive Everett’s annual Holiday Toy Drive helps ensure that Everett’s children receive toys during the holiday season regardless of their families’ income. Michael Henderson, president of operations at Schnitzer Northeast, is shown presenting a $7,500 donation to Mayor Carlo DeMaria. “Schnitzer is proud to support Mayor Carlo DeMaria and the city of Everett’s Holiday Toy Drive this year,” said Henderson. “Through our longstanding partnership with the city of Everett, Schnitzer has had the opportunity to support important community resources like the Toy Drive that assist families in need, especially during the holiday season.” (Courtesy Photo) A trusted family name combined with exceptional craftsmanship & professionalism. Call for a consultation & quote. 63 Years! • Vinyl Siding • Carpentry Work • Decks • Roofing • Replacement Windows • Free Estimates • Fully Licensed • Fully Insured
THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Page 5 Santa visits Keverian School Pictured during Santa’s visit to the Keverian School last Wednesday are Assistant Principals Janet Taylor and Nerecesa Pires (left); in the center is Santa; at right are Parent Teacher Organization members, pictured from left to right: Vanessa Fernandes, Treasurer Shea Jackson, President Michelle Allen, Niki Zide, Vice President Christine Reno and Michelle Cardinale In back, pictured from left to right: Everett High School ambassadors Kamily Aguilar, Kevaeh Nelson and Hadassah Oliveira. In the center is Santa. At left is Amine Hmunna. Keverian School Parent Teacher Organization Vice President Christine Reno with her fifth-grader, Darius, and Santa. WE CAN HELP PAY YOUR HEATING BILLS! You may qualify for ABCD’s Fuel Assistance Program and be eligible for as much as $1,030 towards your heating costs (oil, gas, or electric). Maximum benefit is $1,030 Displaying Christmas tree sugar cookies are eighth-grader Grisnel Pena and fifth-grader Darius Reno. In the center are eighth-graders Emelly DeJesus and Katherine Martinez. In back is Encore Boston Harbor Staff Cafe Executive Chef Paul Emmett, who baked the cookies. Household of 1 = $40,951 Household of 2 = $53,551 Household of 3 = $66,151 Household of 4 = $78,751 Cold days are coming. ABCD’s got you covered. APPLY TODAY! Last day to apply is April 30, 2022 Residents of Boston, Brookline, and Newton: 178 Tremont Street, Boston, MA — 617.357.6012 Shown from left to right: Sixth-grader Ryan Cardinale, fifth-grader Darius Reno, Vice Principal Nerecesa Pires, third-grader Grace Jackson, fourth-grader Jessica Zide and fourth-grader Amania Allen display toys donated by Derek Barbosa, fire department members, PTO members, private donors and Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins. Each student received one toy. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) Residents of Malden, Medford, Everett, Melrose, Stoneham, Winchester and Woburn: 18 Dartmouth Street, Malden, MA — 781.322.6284
Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Everett Kiwanis hosts annual Holiday Luncheon D espite the Covid pandemic, the Everett Kiwanis concluded an amazing year of service on Tuesday with its Angel Tree Project where the club donated over $2,750 in $25 gift cards (110 cards) to the City of Everett Department of Human Services to be distributed to teens ages 12-16 years-old. On Tuesday, President KathyAnn Dottin acknowledged Santa Claus, as well as State Sen. Sal DiDomenico, who made special appearances at the event. The attendees enjoyed the musical talents of the Everett High School Acapella Choir under the guidance of teacher Nadia Monte. Supt. of Schools Priya Tahiliani, and her staff, enjoyed the holiday luncheon where 21 special education students received goodie bags for Christmas from the Kiwanis Club, Sen. DiDomenico’s and the Mayor’s Office. The Everett Kiwanis Club would like to thank the teachers of the EHS Culinary Arts Department including all of its students for an impressive menu! Santa Claus is pictured with Kiwanis Club President KathyAnn Dottin and the EHS Acapella Choir with teacher Nadia Monte (far right). Supt. of Schools Priya Tahiliani addresses the attendees at Tuesday’s Christmas luncheon. Everett Kiwanis Club President KathyAnn Dottin with Santa and State Sen. Sal DiDomenico. Everett Kiwanis Club President KathyAnn Dottin Everett Kiwanians Tricia LaRocca, Gina Maniscalco, Gianna D’Angelo-Dunn, and Joanne Parris are shown enjoying the luncheon. Everett Kiwanians, from left, Bernie Schwam, Fred Capone, John Mackey and Steven Rocco.
THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Page 7 Everett Kiwanians, along with Supt. Priya Tahiliani, and Santa are pictured with the 21 special education students at the Kiwanis Holiday luncheon at the EHS Crimson Café on Tuesday. The students and adviser of the EHS Culinary Arts program are ready to serve. The ginger bread houses and large bags of presents for the 21 special education students. Santa greets Kiwanians Gerri Miranda and Pres. KathyAnn Dottin on Tuesday. Santa Claus is pictured with the dedicated and very talented students of EHS Culinary Arts. Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation The EHS Acapella Choir under the guidance of teacher Nadia Monte performs for the many guests on Tuesday. * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation (Advocate photos by JD Mitchell) 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 Lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net Kiwanis Club President KathyAnn Dottin presents a check of $250 to EHS Acapella Choir with teacher Nadia Monte.
Page 8 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Santa, reindeer and Mrs. Claus arrive by sleigh to distribute toys A By Tara Vocino pproximately 1,000 people waited in line for toys and food during the Grace Food Pantry & Outreach toy distribution on Saturday. Santa and Mrs. Claus along with Boston Bruins National Anthem singer Todd Angilly were the guests of honor. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived via a toy sleigh during Saturday’s toy distribution event at Grace Food Pantry & Outreach. Santa and Mrs. Claus brought a sleigh full of toys. Santa and Grace Food Pantry Director Irene Cardillo, who is an incoming Councillor-at-Large Elias Vaquamo met Mrs. Claus.
THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Page 9 Santa, reindeer and Mrs. Claus arrive by sleigh to distribute toys Guests had their shopping carts ready. A long line on Church Street. Back row, pictured from left to right: Kevin Lopez, 8 months, Santa Claus, Bruins National Anthem singer Todd Angilly and Mrs. Claus. Pictured in front, from left to right: Adelin Lopez, 3, Agnes Lopez, 7, and Rosa Lopez, 4. Sgt. David Butler and some Everett kids with their new toys: Michaela Brown, 5, dressed as a firefighter, and Jazmin Brown, 6, dressed as Sparky. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net
Page 10 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 DiDomenico Foundation raises more than $23K for annual Toy Drive A nother hugely successful DiDomenico Foundation Toy Drive took place last Thursday at Kowloon in Saugus. The Foundation purchased more than $23,000 in toys through the generosity of many friends and supporters. In addition, hundreds of toys were also brought to the event. The room was bursting with toys highlighted by the amazing wall of toys in the front of the room. “We want to thank everyone who made our toy drive the largest one we have ever had,” said State Senator Sal DiDomenico. “Our main focus has always been to increase the number of toys we have purchased and collected to ensure that we make the holidays a little brighter for thousands of SEE PAGE 19 State Senator Sal DiDomenico and his family during last Thursday night’s DiDomenico Foundation toy drive at Kowloon. DiDomenico Foundation members, pictured from left to right: Patricia Cheever, Rosalie Eliseo, State Senator Sal DiDomenico, President Tricia DiDomenico, Marie DiDomenico, Roger Thistle, Richard Eliseo, Councillor-at-Large Richard Dell Isola, Daniel Skeritt, Michael Mangan and Brendan Mangan. Everett Haitian Community Center team members, pictured from left to right: Ydeslaure Leonard, Evemarie Chales and Rev. Myrlande Desrosiers. State Rep. Jessica Giannino with Bill Berardino, who is the Vice President of Boston Carmen 589 Union. 000 Everett Facilities staff worker Asima Memic, incoming Councillor-At-Large Irene Cardillo with her husband, Paul Cardillo. Everett High School Marching Band members, pictured from left to right: Shawn Shiek, who serves as Class President, Moses Herrera, who plays varsity soccer, and John Perkins, who is in the marching band. Helping to purchase toys across multiple stores were Councillor-at-Large Richard Dell Isola and his wife Lisa. Pictured from left to right: Jeanne Cristiano, State Senator Diana DiZoglio and John Cristiano. Shown from left to right: Margey Beckwitz, State Senator Diana DiZoglio, Tricia DiDomenico and State Rep. Joseph McGonagle. David Eastmond with Zion Church Ministries Bishop Robert Brown and David Skeritt. The DiDomenico Foundation recently purchased more than $23,000 in toys for the Foundation’s annual Toy Drive. (Courtesy Photo)
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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Page 19 DiDomenico Foundation raises more than $23K for annual Toy Drive FROM PAGE 10 children in our communities. This year we filled four U-Haul trucks! We are grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support and for our amazing group of friends who volunteer each year.” The Foundation’s Toy Drive is one of the largest of its kind in the area, and it is supported by countless members of the community: from small business owners to the Kowloon, which hosted the event; Everett Hardware and U-Haul Boston, for the trucks to transport the toys; radio personality Hank Morse; entertainment guru Fred Balboni; and so many people in the community who contributed to the success of this event. Resident Katy Rogers and Ward 6 School Committee Member-Elect Michael McLaughlin. Santa arrives to greet Senator Sal DiDomenico, the event organizer. Event organizer Sal DiDomenico thanks the elves who shopped for toys. In front, Chelsea School Committee Member Rose Marie Carlise and Almi Abeyta. In back, Myrlande Desrosiers, State Senator Sal DiDomenico, Disc Jockey Hank Morse, State Rep. Jessica Giannino, Ward 6 School Committee Member-Elect Michael McLaughlin and resident Roger Thistle. The stack of toys amounted to the thousands. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino)
Page 20 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Undefeated Everett 8U Pop Warner team wins national league championship, celebrates with championship rings By Tara Vocino he Everett Crimson Tide Pop Warner 8U team won a national championship with an undefeatT ed season. “We got off to a great start with a 45-yard touchdown run by Amari Ssembitto on the first drive of the game, and Ty Fiore’s touchdown put us on top again in the 4th quarter,” Head Coach Mel Fiore said. “We never looked back – a pair of touchdowns by Jerai Rogers and an interception by Patrick Walsh helped seal it.” They celebrated their win by receiving championship rings, T-shirts and plaques at Village Bar & Grille on Sunday. The only Everett team to win the league, they went 10-0 in the National League, outscoring opposing teams 188 to 39, with six shutouts during their fall season. “It was a great year for the kids,” Fiore said on Tuesday. Coaches displaying their championship rings, pictured from left to right: Assistant Coaches Nicholas Olson, Kendall Winters, Jay Papa and Steven Golden and Everett Crimson Tide Pop Warner 8U Head Coach Melvin Fiore. At bottom is Kaleb Olson. Wearing championship rings and champions T-shirts: Pictured from left to right: Kneeling: Joseph Mareira, James McLaughlin, Carrington Guzman, Remington Guzman, Evan Lovejoy and Tyson Fiore; second row: Tyler Janey, Amari Ssembitto, Lorenzo Papa, Ethan Rivas, William Brown and Xavier Winters; third row: Eddiel Aguesviva, Taylor Kennedy and Symon Golden; fourth row: Tallin Allen, Jerai Boisrond-Rogers and Jovani Namey; fifth row: Kaleb Olson, Assistant Coaches Nicholas Olson, Jay Papa, Kendall Winters and Steven Golden, State Rep. Joseph McGonagle, Head Coach Melvin Fiore and team mother Stephanie Fiore. Not present: Logan Salie, Samuel Eduardo, Sandrey Malvoisa, Lyaneer Matosoto, Jayden Groux, Patrick Walsh, Bryce Taylorson and Mason Marble. Everett Pop Warner 8U Center Josiah Val (left), of Everett, is in awe as he puts on his championship ring. The Everett Crimson Tide Pop Warner 8U team are undefeated national league champions. Everett Pop Warner Crimson Tide 8U Right Tackle William Brown with Offensive Lineman Logan Salie (right) showed off their championship rings at Village Bar & Grille on Sunday.
THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Page 21 COUNCIL | FROM PAGE 1 $1.9 million to $2 million, and warehouse values have gone from $2.5 million last year to $2.7 million this year. In addition, Devereux reported $2.4 million in new growth. “That was right in line with where we’ve been during the past several years,” he said. Speaking about the city’s tax levy, Devereux said the current levy is at $100 million, an increase of $8.4 million over last year. He also said the new levy limit is set at $156.3 million. $7.8M in free cash transfers In other news, the City Council voted unanimously to approve a free cash transfer of $700,000 from the Water/Sewer budget to offset the water/sewer rates for fiscal year 2022. In addition, $160,000 was moved from the ECTV free cash account to offset the fiscal year 2022 budget. Lastly, $7 million was transferred from the city’s free cash account to reduce the tax levy. VOTED | FROM PAGE 3 around with.” He also suggested bringing house matrons back to the high school. “This is a poor time to cut that service,” said DeMaria. Tahiliani said the district stopped working with the prior cleaning company as very few students and staff were in the building at the height of the pandemic. However, those needs have changed drastically as there are now approximately 2,400 students and staff in the building during the week. Tahiliani also said it would be more cost-effective to hire an outside cleaning company rather than to hire additional custodial staff. Until a cleaning company is hired, she said, Bond has built in overtime compensation for “intensive cleaning” on the weekends. LAST | FROM PAGE 2 could come. She went to sleep dreaming of a magic moment when her parents would like and enjoy her present the best. The next morning she came down the stairs to the living room, and while there were so many presents under the tree from Santa, the first thing she noticed was the coffee table. The candle had burned itself away and the box that contained the jelly candy was empty. But there, sitting high and proud on the mantle, was her card. MAPC launches new report ranking Metro Boston bike paths, greenways and trails H ow does your community stack up when it comes to creating safe, accessible walking and bicycling routes? A new report aims to help you find out. The “Metro Boston Municipal Trails, Bikeways & Greenways Inventory” study released this week by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is tracking the region’s progress toward building new bike and pedestrian facilities across Greater Boston – ranking cities and towns based on total mileMAPC | SEE PAGE 22 age recently built. It compares communities based on shareduse path, bicycle lane and foot
Page 22 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Sweet Dreams By Gini Pariseau I t was an especially dark night. The moon was only showing a sliver of itself. It looked like it had been dipped in chocolate. A hint of cloud that looked like a scoop of marshmallow fluff could be seen beside the sliver of moon. It was a night for sweet dreams. Some girls and boys knew what time of year it was by the change in the weather. Some knew by the amount of shopping their parents suddenly did. Others knew by the name of the month on the calendar…December! It was the time of year to be especially good. It was a night to catch a sweet dream. Sweet dreams love an especially dark night. They fly around out there by the dozens, bumping into each other, trying to find a lovely little sleeping child to share their magic. It is a very difficult and tedious task to make the perfect match. When morning comes, all sweet dreams must be gone. All are, hopefully, in the hearts and minds of children somewhere in this world. Babies in cribs, boys and girls in their beds, sleeping bags, tents and parent’s arms – all were sound asleep and hoping for a sweet dream. Now, it was getting close to morning and getting close to December 25. There was one dream still out there this night. It was floating around frantically trying to find some child who would cherish the magic of dreaming and would want what this sweet dream had to offer. It was December and children are very particular about their sweet dreams. But, that was the hard part… what this sweet dream had to offer. It wasn’t sweet like candy or fun like doing a puzzle or riding a bike. It was plain and simple and shared in a minute. As the sun came up and the moon melted into day, somewhere in this world a little child awoke from the night and remembered the sweet dream that was shared and whispered in their ear…you are loved! How sweet it is! MAPC | FROM PAGE 21 path availability. The report also examines access disparities by race and socio-economic status, and it offers a list of high-priority projects to link key routes regionally for greater equity. According to the report, Cambridge, Somerville and Boston are leading the region by bike lane mileage, with more than 15 percent of streets in Cambridge featuring some form of protected bike lane, and at least 10 percent of streets in Somerville and five percent of streets in Boston. The report is current through the end of 2020 and is using data pulled from trailmap. mapc.org, MAPC’s inventory of bike and pedestrian infrastructure in Greater Boston. The full report is available at mapc.org/ resource-library/trails-inventory. According to MAPC, the goal is to update the database MAPC | SEE PAGE 23
THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Page 23 Everett receives seventh achievement award for Excellence in Financial Reporting I By Christopher Roberson n recognition of Everett’s indepth financial report for fiscal year 2020, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) once again awarded the City of Everett with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. Everett has received this award every year since 2014. MAPC | FROM PAGE 22 annually. “It’s great to see this kind of data in one place, and to be able to show lots of measurable momentum toward building out a safe network of interconnected trails and bike lanes,” said MAPC Senior Transportation Planner David Loutzenheiser. “The goal is to get even more information, especially in light of how transportation patterns continue to evolve amid the pandemic, and to be able to use that to help cities and towns make a case for future investments.” “There’s great news in the report, showing the significant progress that’s been made since the time in the early 1990s when the Boston area bicycle and trail network consisted of the Paul Dudley White Path along the Charles River and the Minuteman Trail in Arlington,” said Malden Councillor-at-Large Stephen Winslow, who founded Bike to the Sea in 1993 to help create what is now the Northern Strand Community Trail, which connects Everett to Lynn and Nahant. Connecting the Northern Strand through to Salem is one of the five key regional routes identified in the report as a high priority for the region. “I’m hopeful that as more residents become familiar with the newest facilities being added through the Complete Streets and Shared Streets programs, that momentum will continue to build towards the vision of a transformative regional network,” said Winslow. Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Galen Mook said bicycling infrastructure helps to support a growing economy and attracts new development while alleviating traffic and pollution that is harmful to communities. “This ranking of bike lanes, trails [and bikeways] across the Metro Boston region by MAPC shows which municipalities are investing in their communities, and provides incentives and best practices for municMAPC | SEE PAGE 29 The city’s budget for fiscal year 2020 was $208,025,565, which reflected a decrease of $20,200 from the prior fiscal year. “The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management,” said Michelle Levine of the GFOA in her December 9 letter to Mayor Carlo DeMaria. “We hope that your example will encourage other government officials in their efforts to achieve and maintain an appropriate standard of excellence in financial reporting.” In addition to the Certificate of Achievement, the GFOA sent the city an Award of Financial Reporting Achievement to recognize those employees tasked with crafting the report. “I was very pleased to learn that the city received this award again for the seventh year in a row,” said the Chief Financial Officer Eric Demas. “This was a team effort by the administration as a whole, but I would like to specifically thank the entire finance team for all of their hard work and dedication.”
Page 24 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 City releases COVID-19 testing schedule at Rivergreen for weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Thursday, December 23 from 7 a.m. to noon Friday, December 24 – closed Saturday, December 25 – closed Monday, December 27 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 28 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 29 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, December 30 from 7 a.m. to noon Friday, December 31 – closed Saturday, January 1 – closed Normal testing hours will resume on Monday, January 3, 2022.
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Page 26 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST–Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by widely acclaimed and highly experienced writers Chris Van Buskirk and Keith Regan who introduce each article in their own clever and never-boring, inimitable way. MASSterList will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscriptions go to: www.massterlist.com/subscribe. THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on the percentage of times local senators voted with their party’s leadership in the 2021 session. No additional roll calls in the Senate are planned until 2022. Beacon Hill Roll Call uses 111 votes from the 2021 Senate session as the basis for this report. This includes all roll calls that were not quorum calls or on local issues. The votes of the 34 Democrats were compared to Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem (D-Newton), second-in-command in the Senate. We could not compare the Democrats’ votes to those of Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) because, by tradition, the Senate president rarely votes. The senator who voted with Creem the least percentage of times is Sen. Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) who voted with her only 83 times (74.7 percent). Rounding out the top three who voted with Creem the least number of times are Sens. Walter Timilty (D-Milton) who voted with her 91 times (81.9 percent) and Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton) who voted with her 96 times (86.4 percent) All in all, 31 of the 34 Democrats (99.1 percent) voted with Creem 90 percent or more of the time — including 11 (32.3 percent) who voted with Creem 100 percent of the time and six who voted with Creem all but one time. The votes of the two Republican senators were compared with those of GOP Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). In 2021, as in 2020, none of the two voted with Tarr 100 percent of the time. In 2021, the Republican senator who voted the lowest percentage of times with Tarr was Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) who voted with Tarr 82.8 percent of the time. Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) voted with Tarr 90 percent of the time. SENATORS’ SUPPORT OF THEIR PARTY’S LEADERSHIP IN 2021 The percentage next to the senator’s name represents the percentage of times the senator supported his or her party’s leadership in 2021. The number in parentheses represents the number of times the senator opposed his or her party’s leadership. Some senators voted on all 111 roll call votes. Others missed one or more roll calls. The percentage for each representative is calculated based on the number of roll calls on which he or she voted. Sen. Sal DiDomenico 100 percent (0) HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of December 13-17, the House and Senate each met for a total of 24 minutes. Mon. Dec. 13 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:12 a.m. Senate 11:05 a.m. to 11:18 a.m. Tues. Dec. 14 No House session No Senate session Wed. Dec. 15 No House session No Senate session Thurs. Dec. 16 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:12 a.m. Senate 11:06 a.m. to 11:17 a.m. Fri. Dec. 17 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Sa enir Sa y Senior Senio BY JIM MILLER H Old Di Dear Savvy Senior, Can you provide any tips to help seniors reduce their auto insurance premiums? I just got hit with a 15 percent increase on my car insurance and am looking for ways to save. Fixed Income Frank Dear Frank, Unfortunately, auto insurance rates went up signifi cantly over the past year as the pandemic eased and more Americans got back on the roads. But there are plenty of ways to cut your premium. To fi nd out what discounts may be available to you, contact your auto insurer and inquire about these options, and any others that may benefi t you. Low mileage discount: Most insurers off er discounts to customers who drive limited miles each year, which is usually benefi cial to retirees who drive less because they don’t commute to work every day. These discounts usually kick in when your annual mileage drops below 7,000 or 7,500, which is signifi cantly less than the typical 12,000 miles most Americans drive a year. Drivers Ed discount: Many states require insurance companies to off er defensive driving discounts – between fi ve and 15 percent – to drivers who take a refresher course to brush up on their safety skills. These courses, off ered by AAA (aaadriver.online/register/roadwise) and AARP (aarpdriversafety.org), cost $20 to $30 and can be taken online. Monitored driving discount: Many insurance providers off er discounts based on how and when you use your car. To get this, the insurer would provide a small monitoring device that you would place in your car to track things like your acceleration, braking habits, driving speeds, phone use and when you drive. Drivers are rewarded between 10 and 50 percent for safe driving and for not driving late at night. In addition, many insurance providers also off er discounts to drivers who do not have any violations or accidents for three or more years. Membership discounts: Organizations that you belong to can also lower your insurance premium. Insurers offer discounts through professional nior C S ior How Older Drivers Can Save on Auto Insurance associations, workers’ unions, large employers or membership organizations such as AAA, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, AARP, etc. You could even qualify for savings based on the college you attended or the fraternity or sorority you belonged to decades ago. Bundle policies: If your auto policy is issued by a diff erent company from the one insuring your life or home, call each insurer and ask if bundling the policies would be cheaper. Improve your credit: You may be able to lower your car insurance premium by paying your bills on time and reducing the amount of debt you carry. Insurers look at how their customers manage credit to get an idea of risk and to price policies. Better rates are given to those with good credit scores, typically 700 or above. Increase your deductible: While it’s not right for everyone, paying a higher deductible could save you big on premiums. For example, raising your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce the cost of your collision and comprehensive coverage by 15 to 30 percent. Going to a $1,000 deductible could save you 40 percent or more. Consider your car model: If you’re shopping for a new vehicle, call for an insurance quote before you decide what to buy. Some vehicles are safer and cost less to repair than others. Insurance companies collect data about each make and model and use it to determine how much to charge customers. Comparison shop: To fi nd out if your current premium is competitive with what other insurers charge, or to help you look for a different provider you should comparison shop. Online brokerages such as CarInsurance.com, TheZebra. com and QuoteWizard.com let you plug in basic details – such as your age and your car’s make, model and year – to compare rates from insurance companies. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Page 27 more populous, Brooklyn or Manhattan? 9. What U.S. state’s language is the derivation of a word for an appetizer? 10. Are flamingos always 1. On December 24 what country has a traditional “Feast of the Seven Fishes”? 2. In 1817, Hawaii’s first coffee was planted in what district of the Big Island? 3. On Dec. 25, 1821, Clara Barton was born – the “Angel of the Battlefield” and founder of the American Red Cross – in North Oxford in what N.E. state? 4. In 1970 who wrote and recorded “Feliz Navidad”? 5. Simba is a Swahili word for what animal? 6. December 26 is the first day of Kwanzaa, which has how many days? 7. What TV music show had a bubble machine? 8. Which NYC borough is pink? 11. On Dec. 27, 1932, what “Showplace of the Nation” opened at Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center? 12. How are thiamin, riboflavin and niacin similar? 13. What well-known Englishman wrote the 1842 travelogue “American Notes for General Circulation,” including the line “The tone of society in Boston is one of perfect politeness, courtesy, and good breeding”? 14. On Dec. 28, 1958, what teams – based in Atlantic Ocean ports – played at the first NFL sudden death overtime game? 15. How are shekel, rand and real similar? 16. “Frosty the Snowman” was first recorded in 1950 by what “Singing Cowboy”? 17. On Dec. 29, 1997, what Asian port began killing chickens to contain the spread of avian flu? 18. The Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball is covered with triangles made of what? 19. What two planets have polar ice caps? 20. On Dec. 30, 1865, Rudyard Kipling was born, who authored what book with a one-word title that is a person’s name? ANSWERS 1. Italy 2. Kona 3. Massachusetts 4. José Feliciano 5. Lion 6. Seven 7. “The Lawrence Welk Show” 8. Brooklyn 9. Hawaii (pūpū for pupu platter) 10. Flamingo chicks are grey or white, and a diet of plankton with carotenoids causes them to change color. 11. Radio City Music Hall 12. They are B vitamins. 13. Charles Dickens 14. The Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants 15. They are types of currency (for Israel, South Africa and Brazil, respectively) 16. “Gene” Autry 17. Hong Kong 18. Waterford crystal 19. Earth and Mars 20. “Kim”
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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Page 29 REAL ESTATE TRANSAC TIONS Copyrighted material previously published in Banker & Tradesman/The Commercial Record, a weekly trade newspaper. It is reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Warren Group. For a searchable database of real estate transactions and property information visit: www.thewarrengroup.com. BUYER1 BUYER2 Patel, Shailesh Patel, Jaimin Gu, Jingjing Wang, Jue MAPC | FROM PAGE 23 ipalities to inspire and educate leaders to take action,” said Mook. “Since this report showcases exactly where the gaps are, policymakers and SELLER1 Black Roof Properties LLC Carpineto, Joseph B municipal leaders in communities that didn’t rank as high will hopefully be motivated to invest in their infrastructure as the benefi ts of better bicycling and walking infrastructure become apparent.” SELLER2 Carpineto, Jane F ADDRESS 28 Revere St 55 Morris St CITY DATE Everett 03.12.2021 OBITUARIES Reynaldi Audate Cash Pay Guaranteed! "If it snows, you'll be working!" 35, of Everett, entered fully into the presence of his Lord and Savior on December 11, 2021. Reynaldi was born in Brooklyn, NY to Reynold and Henriette (Pierre-Charles) Audate on May 3, 1986. A graduate of Everett High School (‘04) and Merrimack College (BS ‘08, MS ‘21) and beloved by many, “Coach Rizz” devoted his life to coaching the youth on and off the football fi eld. As a player he was on three Everett Crimson Tide state championship teams and was on the coaching staff for five of their State Championships. He was a determined and loving man that was so devoted to the people he served. Selflessness was one of his greatest attributes and he truly enjoyed helping everyone around him to succeed. His genuine wide, bright smile was contagious and he helped bring many young people to understand and love God, their families (at home and on the field), and themselves. Through the game of football he taught so many young men how to love one anFRANK’S Housepainting (781) 289-0698 • Exterior • Ceiling Dr. • Power Wash • Paper Removal • Carpentry FREE ESTIMATES — Fully Insured ~ HELP WANTED ~ Construction Help Wanted Seeking Full-Time Laborers Basic construction knowledge, MA Drivers License with clean driving record a must. EVERETT ALUMINUM Call Steve at: (617) 389-3839 other and how to embrace each other’s success. He never solely claimed responsibility for anyone’s achievements, but rather saw himself as a guide that purely wanted to help raise a community of young people to reach their truest potential. In addition to being a dedicated football coach, Reynaldi was a Physical Education Teacher for Everett Public Schools, a true adventurer and a fitness enthusiast. Reynaldi spent his free time traveling, reading, training in mixed martial arts, and spending time with his friends and family. Reynaldi is is survived by his mother Henriette Pierre-Charles Audate and his father Reynold Audate; brother Rhandy Audate; brother Hantzley Audate; niece Aurielle Audate; uncles Gehy Audate, JN Robert Audate, Roloff Benjamin; aunts Mary Danielle Benjamin, Chantal PierreCharles, Firlande Pierre-Charles, Raymonde Pierre-Charles, Magalie Pierre-Charles, Marie Jude Pierre-Charles; and an abundance of loving cousins and extended family members on both sides as well as many friends. A man too humble to sound his own trumpets now can rest while we sound them for him. He was the truth. May his legacy and spirit of goodwill live on forever in each of us who knew him. PRICE $975 000,00 Everett 30.11.2021 $1 000 000,00 “Proper prep makes all the difference” – F. Ferrera • Interior
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