Page 18 ELECTION | FROM Page 1 of the repairs and renovations needed to transform the Beachmont Fire Station into the Revere Public Arts Center, one of McKenna’s pet projects. There is also money to rehabilitate a park and create a community garden on a patch of unbuildable land in Beachmont. Looking ahead, McKenna feels the next big project for the ward will be repairing the seawall which she considers a public safety issue. McKenna said she is working with U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark on the repair work and although they are in the beginning phases of planning, McKenna is hopeful there will be some climate resiliency money available to fund the repairs. “It’s a concern for everybody,” she said. McKenna is also keeping a watchful eye on Winthrop Avenue which is in line for $585,000 of street upgrades from National Grid which tore up the road to upgrade and install infrastructure for Suff olk Downs. She is also working on the rehabilitation of McMakin Field, which she said has some major problems with fl ooding. “We have to fi gure out how to fi x that,” she said. Citywide, McKenna seems encouraged by the progress on the new high school at the existing site. “It seems like we are moving forward,” she said stressing that it has to be an aff ordable project for the city. She voted against building at the Wonderland site because she feared what the cost of that project would mean for continuing city services. “We are building what the city can aff ord,” she said. McKenna again emphasized she is running on her record of bringing attention and improvements to Ward 1. Brian Averback felt being appointed to the conservation commission was a good opportunity to be involved in bolstering Revere which he calls his “forever home.” But he now feels he could have a greater impact as a member of the city council. Averback also said he decided to join the race because, “I didn’t feel the council represented me and my neighbors as it should.” Originally from Peabody, Averback is a real estate sales professional who also owns The Estate Kings which specializes in estate sales, liquidations and auctions. He knows the value of things tucked away in everyone’s attic and in the backs of closets. Averback feels more should be done to correct the fl ooding and problems with roads in Ward 1. “It’s been a big issue,” he said. He is also concerned with what he feels is a rise in violent crime in the ward. He suggested more police patrols and control on Revere Beach with fi nes and penalties for unacceptable behavior. Averback said while out THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2023 “We are very reactive as a city, not proactive,” he said. He believes the high school project, done correctly, will bring more people and businesses to settle in Revere. “I want to maximize people’s knocking on doors and speaking to residents he has heard that many in the neighborhood are upset with Suffolk Downs and the fact that their interests and concerns haven’t been heard. “It’s a gigantic space and there was never any talk about building a hospital which is something so many seniors could use,” he said. “It was never brought up and the City Council could have demanded it,” he added. Averback said the city needs some help from consultants to make the best decision about the different options for the high schools. “We need to move ahead with whatever makes the most sense fi nancially for the future of the city,” he said. He said Ward 1 is an amazing community and more should be done to unite residents. “We can start with the easier stuff ,” he said adding events such as properly advertised block parties that will bring people out and put them in touch with their neighbors. Averback welcomes the role of ward councillor, the person who gets the phone calls when something is wrong or needs repair. “When anyone has an issue or a problem, I want to be the person who is called,” he said. “I want to be someone who will protect the little guy, I want to be that guy,” he said. Averback wants to bring a new voice and a new perspective to city hall. “I am the future of Revere,” he said. John Joseph Stamatopoulos is a business consultant who hopes to bring his experience organizing and fostering successful businesses in the healthcare fi eld to local government. Stamatopoulos has three children in Revere public schools and his original intention was to run for school committee. He received plenty of encouragement from friends and acquaintances. But after watching the Revere High School debate unfold, he decided to run for a seat on the council. “If the school committee doesn’t have the voice or the juice to get the job done, I decided I should run for the Ward 1 seat,” he said. He has some concerns about building on the existing site such as the lack of sports fi elds and having students housed in the middle of a construction site. And the city will still need a central middle school. property values,” he said. But it’s more than just the high school. “We need some change,” he said. “We need someone who is going to be a champion for the neighborhood.” Stamatopoulos is calling for more infrastructure support for Ward 1. “Flooding, traffi c and development, we need some change,” he said. “Every week our neighborhood has been flooded and that’s the norm around here.” He is concerned that Ward 1, which is densely packed with older wooden homes has a “Fragile water supply.” And when his son was hurt during a sports event, he recalled it took 40 minutes for and ambulance to arrive. An unacceptable response time. “Revere is understaffed,” he said. Stamatopoulos believes there needs to be more oversight and moderation of development. “I think it’s critical that we get this right,” he said. “The only places getting any love and attention are Broadway and Shirley Avenue.” He is concerned about Suff olk Downs and ensuring the area is getting an adequate amount of commercial development. “If we get it right, people will stay in Revere and more business will be attracted to the city,” he said. “It breaks my heart when I hear people want to move.” Stamatopoulos said he is frustrated by what he describes as a lack of forward vision. “We’ve known for a decade we need a new high school and infrastructure improvements. It’s not just major projects like the seawall.” A self-described neighborhood activist, he said he has been to scores of meetings where community input is on the agenda. “I hear people voice concerns but there’s no follow up - It’s time we change that,” he said. “We just feel forgotten, we don’t feel heard.” Stamatopoulos said McKenna has done the best she can but it’s time for change. He said McKenna suggested that he run for an at-large seat on the council. But as a fi rst-time candidate he decided on the ward race. He said when he’s out knocking on doors, he asks residents who their councillor is and many don’t know. “There is a lack of awareness in the neighborhood, but I want to make sure everybody gets heard. That has to happen,” he said. How to Plan a Green Funeral Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about green funeral options? At age 80, I would like to preplan my funeral and make it as natural as possible. Old Environmentalist Dear Environmentalist, Great question!Green funeral options are becoming increasingly popular in the United States as more and more Americans are looking for environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional funerals. Here’s what you should know about “green burial” and “green cremation” options, along with some tips to help you locate services in your area. Green Burial If you wish to be buried, a green/natural burial will minimize the environmental impact by forgoing the embalming chemicals (which is not required by law), traditional casket and concrete vault. Instead, you’ll be buried in either a biodegradable container or shroud with no vault, and you won’t be embalmed. This allows the body to decompose naturally and become part of the earth. If you want to temporarily preserve the body for viewing or a memorial service, instead of embalming, you can request dry ice or Techni ice, a refrigeration unit, or a nontoxic embalming agent. You’ll also be happy to know that green burials are much cheaper than traditional funerals, which average around $8,000 in 2023. By scrapping the coffi n, vault and embalming, which are expensive, you’ll save yourself several thousand dollars on your funeral costs. To fi nd green burial services in your area, a good fi rst step is to see if there’s a certifi ed green funeral home in your area and contact them. The Green Burial Council off ers an online directory of providers and other resources at GreenBurialCouncil.org. If there isn’t one nearby, your next step is to contact several traditional funeral homes to see if they off er green funeral service options – many do. You’ll also need to find a green cemetery. There are nearly 100 green cemeteries throughout the U.S., along with more than 300 traditional (hybrid) cemeteries that offer green burials too. To fi nd them, the New Hampshire Funeral Resources, Education and Advocacy website has a list at NHfuneral.org. Or, if you own rural property, you may be able to have a home burial there, if your state and county allow it. If, however, there are no green cemeteries nearby you can still make your burial more environmentally friendly by not being embalmed. And, if the cemetery allows, using a biodegradable casket or shroud and skipping the vault. If a vault is required, ask to have holes drilled in the bottom, or use a concrete grave box with an open bottom so the body can return to the earth. Green Cremation If you would rather be cremated, you have some green choices here too. While cremation has always been touted as being more eco-friendly than a typical burial, a traditional cremation, which uses high heat to incinerate the body, does emit greenhouse gases into the air. A green cremation, however, uses water and potassium hydroxide to reduce a deceased body to its basic element of bone ash within a few hours. This green technique, which is known as alkaline hydrolysis, is a little more expensive than traditional cremation but, unfortunately, it’s not legal in every state. Contact some local funeral providers to fi nd out if this is available in your area, or Google “alkaline hydrolysis cremation” followed by your city and state. Another green consideration is deciding what to do with the remains. Instead of scattering, which can be harmful to the environment, there are a wide variety of biodegradable urns that dissolve into the earth or water over time, and memorial urns that will grow a plant or tree in combination with your ashes. 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.
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