Have a Safe and Happy New Year 2021 Vol.29, No.53 -FREEwww.advocatene ene ews.net ~ IN APPRECIATION ~ Speaker DeLeo leaves a lasting, impressive legacy Longest-serving Mass. House Majority Leader represented 19th Suffolk District for 30 years O n his last offi cial day in offi ce Tuesday, the longest-serving Speaker in Massachusetts House of Representatives history made it clear where his top priority has always stood. “What this job is all about, very simply, is helping people,” Speaker Bob DeLeo said during an emotional farewell address before his colleagues at the State House. “Since the day I walked in here and now the day I’m leaving here, that’s always what I believed in.” Speaker DeLeo offi cially announced he was ending a long, successful career as one of Massachusetts’s most eff ective state legislative leaders to pursue a position in the education fi eld at his alma mater, Northeastern University. He walked out of the golden-domed State House this week with his head held high and, we trust, a strong sense of accomplishment. The man who has represented Winthrop and much of Revere in his 19th Suff olk District for three decades has been a true leader who has helped guide the Commonwealth through one of its most turbulent periods – and the most eventful and precarious year this millennium – in the position many REP. BOB DELEO Speaker of the House of Representatives SPEAKER | SEE Page 6 Silvestri readies run for vacant 9th Suffolk State Rep seat By Adam Swift A s House Speaker Bob DeLeo steps down to take a position at Northeastern University, the race is on to replace the powerful, longtime state representative of the 19th Suffolk District. Revere’s Veterans Service Offi ce Director, Marc Silvestri, said he is in the race to represent a portion of Revere and Winthrop. “It’s been something I’ve been thinking about for a while for when the Speaker retired and was out of the seat,” said Silvestri, 42. “Here we are, a couple of years early, and it’s a prime opportunity.” Silvestri praised DeLeo as being a champion for veterans in the state. He said his experience as Revere’s veterans services director, as well as his position on the mayor’s Covid-19 response team, position him well to be a A F Free Eve ery Friday 781-286-8500 Thursday, December 31, 2020 Speaker DeLeo offers farewell address to his constituents Served the 19th District of Revere and Winthrop for 30 years By Adam Swift s Speaker of the House, Robert DeLeo gave his farewell remarks from the State House Tuesday afternoon, the Winthrop Democrat hit on themes of service, gratitude and cooperation that have been missing from much of the national political debate in recent years. DeLeo, who represents the 19th Suffolk District, including Winthrop and parts of Revere, has served on Beacon Hill for nearly 30 years, the last dozen as Speaker. Tuesday offi cially marked his resignation from the House and as its leader. Several times during his speech, DeLeo noted the role of a legislator as someone who is there to help his constituents and district. Over the past few days, DeLeo said, he has received numerous calls from people thanking him for the actions he has taken and how those actions have helped their lives. “These calls have taught me what this job is all about,” said DeLeo. “Very simply, it is about helping people. Since the day I walked in here, and now that I am leaving here, that was all I believed in, and most importantly, what I strived to do.” DeLeo thanked his family, friends and staff for all the support he has received over the years through the good, and not so good, times. He also spoke about how his parents taught him the value of hard work, persistence and fairness. He said his mother, who FAREWELL | SEE Page 16 Food Services prepares for return to in-school learning “I want to bring commonsense solutions to Beacon Hill,” Silvestri said. “I’ve talked to my family and friends, and there has been a great reaction so far.” Silvestri brings the kind of real-life experience that could set him apart from other candidates and underlines his commitment to issues related to veterans, substance abuse and mental health. He was in the military for fi ve and a half years, serving as a US Army 19th Delta Cavalry MARC SILVESTRI leader on several key issues in the district and across the state. “I want to make sure we rebound in both the short- and long-term from COVID,” said Silvestri. The pandemic will have a long-lasting impact on issues such as homelessness and jobs. Scout and doing tours of duty in Afghanistan in 2008 and 2009, where he was injured. Silvestri earned a Bronze Star for his act of heroism after being pinned down by the Taliban, saving his fellow soldiers during an ambush. The lifelong Revere resident medically retired from the military in 2011 and coped with injuries and substance abuse isSILVESTRI | SEE Page 17 By Adam Swift O ut of everything that has changed for the school district in nearly a year of remote learning, how students get lunch might be near the top of the list. Cheryl Cole, the district’s food services director, recently updated the School Committee on the challenges her department has faced since March and it’s plans for when students return to inperson learning and the cafeterias. Cole, who has been in that position for the past nine years, said the goal of her department has always been to provide a quality food service program for the district’s students. “More so, now than ever, the program being designed for our students is what matters most,” said Cole. During the pandemic, that has meant having meals for students ready for pickup at six pickup locations throughout the city, being able to deliver meals to families that might be in quarantine, and working with community partners to improve communication to students and families. The food services department, with 31 employees serving the community, has prepared an average of 3,430 meals per day and served over 265,000 meals since Sept. 1. Cole said the district was also able to operate an eff ective summer food service program to the city this year. In addition to communicating with families and community partners, Cole said her department has focused on adapting to change in the time of COVID-19. “One of the things we knew was important was to increase our meal participation, so we needed to change the operation to serve the needs of students and FOOD | SEE Page 13
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