Revere’s local news source for over 30 years!Revere’s local news source for over 30 years! Vol. 31, No.7 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net School Committee lifts mask mandate By Adam Swift T he School Committee unanimously voted to lift the school mask mandate, effective March 14. Students and staff will still have the option to wear masks to school, if they so choose. The lifting of the mandate will take place two weeks after the date the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) set as the earliest date school districts can lift the mandate. The additional time means the mask mandate will not be dropped immediately after the end of February school vacation, when many students and parents could be returning from travel. “I know there’s never going to be one way that’s going to make everyone happy,” said School Committee Vice-Chair Stacey Bronsdon-Rizzo. “I think we are all here, along with the community, to do what we think is best for our students and staff .” Masks will still be required for students and staff following a positive COVID-19 test, on school transportation and in school health offi ces. “I’m looking forward to a new chapter and a new day where we are moving away from this pandemic and learning to live with it responsibly, but bringing back a sense of normalcy to these kids and staff and our way of living,” said School Committee Member Aisha Milbury-Ellis. “I am happy about this vote, and I think we will restore some conFree Every Friday 781-286-8500 Friday, February 18, 2022 Revere Girls Travel Basketball League players go courtside at Boston College AISHA MILBURY-ELLIS School Committee Member fi dence that we are taking some proactive measures to bring to our families.” During the public speaking portion of last Tuesday’s School Committee meeting, several parents spoke in favor of lifting the mask mandate, stating that they want their children to return to a school routine with a sense of normalcy. Parent Ralph DeCicco, however, cautioned the School Committee against lifting the mandate too soon. He also said it was unfair for DESE to punt the fi nal decision down the road to the individual school districts. “I think it was poor judgment by DESE to put this on the schools and the communities for a date of the 28th, which is a day after school vacation,” said DeCicco. MASK | SEE Page 2 Quality Inn gets approval to reopen By Adam Swift T he License Commissio n has given the okay for the Quality Inn on Rt. 1, which has been closed since March 2020, to reopen. At last Wednesday’s meeting, the commission unanimously approved an application of renewal for Sudguru Hotel, LLC in Brockton for the hotel at 100 Morris St. Jiten Patel of Sudguru Hotel said there is no set date to reopen, but that the company is hoping to reopen the Quality Inn this year. “Just looking at the trend in the city, 2020 was at 25 percent capacity for hotels, and last year it was at 45 percent for all hotels,” said Patel. “So the trend is in the right direction and I think we are going to get there when we get more groups and there is travel back into the city, and also when concerts come back into the Garden. We want to reopen; no one is more moLICENSE | SEE Page 4 The Revere Girls Travel Basketball League players joined Boston College guard Cameron Swartz on the court at halftime and after the game at the Conte Forum on Tuesday. The girls were guests of the BC Eagles basketball team during their game against the University of Pittsburgh. Pictured from left to right: Back row: Alyson Oliveirra, Pina Piccardi, Jazmin Rodriguez, Shayna Smith and Addison Ulwick with Boston College Guard Amaria Fields and Destiny Borges Kelly; front row: Aicha Hdaoui (in center), Mariana Lopez, Sofi a Correa, Alana Trinidad and Abby Smith. See photo highlights on page 12. (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) A Happy Valentine’s Day for Revere’s Seniors Mayor Brian Arrigo and Deb Peczka from the Rossetti-Cowan Senior Center stopped by the Jack Satter House, pictured above with two Satter House residents, Friendly Gardens, and The Prospect House on Valentine’s Day last Monday afternoon to drop off valentines for Revere seniors. (Photo Courtesy of The Mayor’s Offi ce)
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