THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020 Page 9 Loretta LaCentra of Revere honored as Unsung Heroine by Mass. Commission on the Status of Women L oretta LaCentra of Revere has been honored as a member of the 2020 class of Commonwealth Heroines of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW). She has been honored with the other Commonwealth Heroines for her outstanding contributions to her community. MCSW virtually celebrated the 17th annual Commonwealth Heroines Class of 2020. LaCentra is a shining example of a community activist who works tirelessly to make her neighborhood and Revere a healthier and safer place for all to live, work and recreate. As a longtime advocate for herself and her neighbors in the Riverside section of Revere, and a founding member of the Alliance for Health and Environment, LaCentra has been a fi erce advocate in the fi ght for environmental justice. She is the leading neighborhood voice in standing up against the actions of the company that operates the country’s oldest incinerator and the Commonwealth’s only unlined ash landfi ll directly across the river from, and less than a half mile from, her family’s home. For her advocacy for the environment, she was recently honored by the Saugus River Watershed Council as a “River Stewardship” hero. Always armed with facts, LaCentra never shies away from speaking the truth when it comes to protecting her neighbors and the natural resources in the Rumney Marsh and Pines River. Be it issues with ungodly noise or off ensive odors emanating from the incinerator or proposals to expand COVID-19 | FROM PAGE 7 On Tuesday, June 23 from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM, the Reopening Team will hold office hours in English and Spanish for restaurant owners with questions regarding outdoor dining and reopening for indoor dining under the second step of Phase 2. Business owners should register in advance at www.revere.org/offi cehours. The City's Reopening Team continues to support local businesses in their reopening eff orts, through collaboration on safety plans, permitting assistance and the City's Emergency Small Business grant program. To-date: • Seven dining establishments have applied and been approved for outdoor dining through the City's Licensing Commission. This is in addition to establishments that had previously operated outdoor dining. • 78 Revere businesses have been awarded $219,000 in emerneighborhood cleanup efforts in Revere. You will also fi nd her volunteering at “My Brother’s Table” in Lynn, helping to serve free meals to the most vulnerable of populations. Perhaps most important to her, LORETTA LACENTRA the landfi ll or allow the incinerator to skirt 21st -century emissions standards, Loretta is always there to speak up. She fi nds the time in her busy schedule to attend every neighborhood meeting and every Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection public hearing when the subject of the incinerator or landfi ll is on the agenda. She has helped in numerous community based-eff orts to reduce pollution and promote a cleaner, more sustainable economy. Loretta is engaged, knowledgeable, and persistent – truly a force to be reckoned with. In addition to her environmental advocacy, she gives of herself to the community in other ways to help make people’s lives better. She is a volunteer at North Shore Elder Services, where she works as a money manager helping seniors with their fi nances and bill paying. She is always ready to lend a helping hand during community playground builds and gency small business grants • 6 offi ce hours and listening sessions have been held to help business owners work through challenges • Masks have been distributed for businesses' use for employees and customers through the City’s Mask Up Business Program. To fi nd up-to-date information regarding Revere’s small business, such as what restaurants are open during the pandemic, please use the interactive map on https:// shoplocal.revere.org. If your business is open with restrictions due to Covid-19, please fill out the form at www.revere.org/shoplocalform to ensure representation on the website. Although restaurants and other businesses are now open, we are still urging Revere residents to stay vigilant. Wearing facial coverings, socially distancing, and regularly washing hands have remained eff ective in slowing the spread and are still important guidelines to follow. In-Person and Telemedicine Appointments at Our Stoneham and Malden Locations Are you coping with an injury, joint problem, sprain or strain? Some healthcare needs can’t and shouldn’t wait. Even during this uncertain time, our expert orthopedic, pain management, physical therapy and occupational therapy specialists are here to help you. Both of our locations are open and we are offering in-person and telemedicine appointments during regular business hours. We’ll work with you to determine the best option for your needs. Contact us to schedule an appointment: (781) 279-7040 • agilitydoctor.com Agility Orthopedics Loretta is a family woman, devoted to her husband, Ricci, and her two adult children, Ricci and Erica, and the dedicated caretaker of her elderly parents, Louis and Lucille San Miguel. “Having worked with Loretta on the Alliance for Health and Environment and on issues impacting the City of Revere, Loretta’s tenacity and courage to stand by her convictions inspire and amaze me,” said State Representative RoseLee Vincent (DRevere). “Loretta is always ready to roll-up her sleeves to get the job done – whether it’s canvassing her neighborhood to turn her neighbors out to a public meeting or volunteering her time to the underserved members of our community, she quietly makes a positive diff erence in Revere. As someone who knows the incredible woman Loretta is, I am proud to have nominated Loretta to be Revere’s 2020 Unsung Heroine.” “Loretta LaCentra is a strong and effective advocate for her neighborhood and her community. Her recognition as an “Unsung Heroine” is well-deserved and truly appropriate, for Loretta goes about her work without fanfare and never in search of plaudits,” said Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo. “Her scrutiny of the issues that impact the environmental conditions of the Saugus-Pines River area, and her concern for those who lack a voice in the community, are powerful reminders of the benefi ts that resident advocacy can provide to an entire community. Loretta truly “walks the walk” when it comes to assuring environmental and social justice in our city.” “Loretta is a shining star in the community. We applaud Loretta’s commitment to environmental justice. Her advocacy stretches far beyond environmental eff orts, as Loretta makes time to volunteer across our community and positively engage in so many people’s lives,” said Senator Joe Boncore (D-Winthrop). “We are grateful for Loretta’s leadership and service. This recognition as an Unsung Heroine is well-deserved.” More about the Commonwealth Heroines and the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women The Commonwealth Heroines are women who don’t make the news, but make the diff erence. Thousands of women in every community of the state perform unheralded acts daily that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities and towns better places to live. Commonwealth Heroines use their time, talent, spirit, and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others in their community. They are mentors, volunteers and innovators who strive to protect and represent the interests of seniors, victims of violence, children, immigrants and other vulnerable populations. They are the glue that keeps a community together. MCSW is an independent state agency that was legislatively created in 1998 to advance women of the Commonwealth to full equality in all areas of life and to promote their rights and opportunities. The MCSW provides a permanent, eff ective voice for the women of Massachusetts. WE’RE OPEN and Here for You
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