Page 4 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2026 City Council Approves Medical Equipment Loan Program Request By Barbara Taormina C ouncillor-at-Large Robert Haas III presented a motion, favorably recommended by the Health and Human Services Subcommittee, that Mayor Patrick Keefe be requested to establish a Medical Equipment Loan Program through the Elder Affairs and Public Health Departments. The program would allow seniors in need of medical equipment or any resident who undergoes a procedure and is in need of equipment to “borrow” items, such as a wheelchair, walker, transport chair, commode, shower bench/chair, cane, knee scooter, etc. 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only:Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & W Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook!Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! There would be no charge to the city — simply storage and tracking of said equipment — as well as zero cost to the residents who take out the equipment. The inventory and supply of equipment would rely on donated items, allowing the program to start from the ground up and essentially run itself over time. The program would also feature a waiver that the resident would sign before taking the equipment home. This program would allow our residents easy access to items while avoiding large purchases on medical items, especially if the resident is in need of the equipment for only a short period or recovery window. PROGRAM | FROM Page 1 er access to vocational education,” Caggiano told fellow committee members. “Let’s see how it goes.” Caggiano said Revere is the only community participating in the pilot After Dark program. He said Revere has the highest number of students applying to attend the regional school. Caggiano said Revere’s interest in the Voke has been growing. He said 400 students applied and competed for 100 openings. But he added that the new Voke will have space for more students. “We’ll be getting more kids www.810bargrille.com at the Voke now that we have extra room,” Caggiano said. “In the future, we’re looking Councillors praised the intent of the motion, but several members opposed it. Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky recalled when Disabilities Commission Chairman Ralph DeCicco ran a similar program for about a year and a half. “People didn’t bring back the equipment. They wanted DeCicco to pick it up. We don’t have the room or the people for this. It’s extra work for the DPW to clean the stuff . It’s too much for us to handle,” stated Novoselsky Councillor-at-Large Marc Silvestri said the Veterans Department tried a similar program for a very long time. Silvestri’s opposition to the motion was due to the director of Elder Aff airs at more curriculum and more students,” he added. School Committee member Aisha Milbury-Ellis thanked Caggiano for bringing the trades to Revere High. “I know there was a lot of leg work going on,” she said. “I couldn’t be happier to have someone on our committee from the other side,” she added. Caggiano admitted that being on both school boards made it easier to get the After Dark program off the ground, although he said it was a learning process. He described After Dark as a pilot program centered on Revere because Revere has the highest number of students on the Voke’s waiting list. About 20 percent of the students at the vocasaying a medical equipment loan program is not something she wants to do or needs. “I’m not comfortable telling them what they should do,” said Silvestri. Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro said Haas is now running a similar program in Danvers and its working. “I’m willing to give this a chance,” he said. “If it’s not working we stop.” City Council President Anthony Zambuto said the director of the senior center opposes this. “We’ve had this here and it failed,” said Zambuto. “I’m going to side with the person who runs the senior center.” The City Council voted 7-4 to approve the motion. tional school are from Revere. “The kids love it, and now we have a chance to expand it,” he said. “This is the beginning, hopefully. Right now we have 12 students. In years to come, we’ll be off ering the program to other cities and towns. And there will be other programs at the Voke.” Caggiano said repeatedly that the School Committee and the district administration have been very supportive of strategies to off er vocational education to Revere students. According to Caggiano a state grant is picking up the cost of the After Dark program. “This is something new and we should all be proud of it,” said Caggiano. “It’s a small step but a big step going forward.”
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