Page 8 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2026 SURPRISE | FROM Page 1 “I thank them from the bottom of my heart.” North Suffolk Community Services Behavioral Health Unit Clinician Kate Moore, LICSW, said West loves company and loves to be around people. “I go to her home and hang out with her,” Moore said. FIRE OFFICIALS | FROM Page 1 want to make sure we’re mitigating all risks,” said Keefe. Councillors believe the Waneta West walked into her birthday party with North Suffolk Community Services Behavioral Health Unit Clinician Kate Moore, LICSW. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) Police Chief Maria LaVita congratulated Waneta on her birthday. storage facility is protected by the state’s Dover Amendment, which limits how municipalities can use zoning regulations to block or restrict solar energy projects. Cullen told the council that, Mayoral Legislative Aide Rose Burns presented a City of Revere Certifi cate of Recognition to the birthday girl, thanking her for her service to our country and wishing her a happy birthday. due to the increased demand on the power grid, battery energy storage systems are being planned throughout Massachusetts. Similar facilities are planned for Saugus, Everett and Chelsea. Cullen said he met with offi cials from Flat Iron Energy, the company proposing the facility, to discuss fi re suppression and necessary infrastructure improvements. According to Cullen, the facility will require a new water main for water delivery and accessibility to the entire site. He also said the department will need a high-powered apparatus. Cullen said the response Waneta West had a happy birthday. Shown from left to right: Police Chief Maria LaVita, Mayoral Legislative Aide Rose Burns, Veteran Waneta West and Behavioral Unit Health Clinician Kate Moore, LICSW. to any hazardous materials will be the same as with other fi res and Revere has a robust hazardous material response system. The Fire Department does not anticipate any need for evacuation. Several members of the department have already travelled to Nevada for emergency response training. Captain Kevin O’Hara told the council that should a fi re occur, residents should be at home with their windows closed. He said the Fire Department’s response will be to contain any fi re to keep it from spreading and to let it burn out. O’Hara said he was initially against the facility, but he now seems convinced the city can safely manage it. “It’s not the greatest site and the company will come in and clean it up,” he said. “We are the fi rst city stepping up with this. Revere is going to set the standard for the state,” said O’Hara, who added that 15 to 20 percent of the country will have these systems. Councillor-at-Large Kelley was not convinced. “These facilities are not in densely populated areas, or near protected areas like the marsh, or near a major highway. This specifi c location doesn’t seem to be a good fit,” she said. Councillor-at-Large Marc Silvestri said that through his own research he had learned that the batteries in the storage facility are diff erent from the batteries in electric vehicles. Silvestri seemed reassured that each battery has a separate container to prevent the spread of fi re, and he was convinced by the Fire Department’s strategy to contain fi res and let them burn out. Silvestri also proposed placing water basins around the site to prevent contamiFIRE OFFICIALS | SEE Page 11 Police gathered around West making her birthday wishes come true. Shown from left to right, are: Sgt. Milton Alfaro, Capt. Charles Callahan, Lt. Robert Zagarella, Capt. Thomas Malone, Chief Maria LaVita, Korean veteran Waneta West, clinician Kate Moore, Off . Shayna Mullens, Capt. Brian Chapman, Off . Orion Kong, Lt. Glenn Malley and Off . Kevin Arango applauded West.
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