Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUly 11, 2025 Community Gathers to Launch MVES’ 50th Year Mystic Valley Elder Services Celebrates 50 years of independence for Older Adults & People with Disabilities (Editor’s Note: Mystic Valley Elder Services recently issued the following press release.) M ystic Valley Elder Services (MVES) kicked off its Golden Anniversary on June 24, launching a yearlong commemoration of five decades of service to older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers. To mark this milestone, MVES welcomed community leaders, partner organizations and supporters to Rivers Edge in Medford. The gathering honored the strong partnerships and shared commitment that have made MVES’ mission possible. MVES serves Malden, Everett, Revere and eight other communities north of Boston. Over the past 50 years, MVES has grown from a handful of staff to a team of several hundred, added a team of dedicated volunteers, and expanded the agency’s scope of services far beyond its initial Home Care offerings. The nonprofit has provided many thousands of meals, rides, inhome supports, referrals, and more. HELPING | FROM PAGE 5 ed in the project are Nathan Blauvelt, of Stoneham; Pedro Luis Rodriguez, of Revere; Isaac Fernandes, of Malden; Makayla Bellavance, of North Reading; Matthew Case, of Revere; Antonio Gasbaro, of Woburn; Shane Comeiro, of Woburn; Kimberly Juarez, of Chelsea; Bryan Aguirre Lemus, of Revere; Samuel Villanueva Portillo, of Chelsea; Cory Pleitez, of Chelsea; Yoselin Martinez Santamaria, of Chelsea; Destiny Faith Shaw, of Winthrop; Joseph Kohanski, of Saugus; Vayron Orellana, of Malden; Lindsay Dabrillo, of North Reading; Daniel Escobar, of Revere; Yeudiel Zelaya, of Chelsea, and Kevin Rodriguez, of Malden. “My new shed has helped me so much, giving me more storage space, which State Senator Jason Lewis presents MVES CEO Lisa Gurgone with a Resolution from the Massachusetts Legislature recognizing the agency’s history and role in the community. “What began in 1975 as a small grassroots effort has become a cornerstone of our community. All of this was possible thanks to our connections and collaborations with the cities and towns we serve, state and local leaders, our community board members, business supporters, nonprofit partners and fellow aging services professionals,” explains Lisa Gurgone, MVES Chief Executive Officer. “It was an honor to kick off our 50th celebrations with the people who helped us reach this was much needed,” said Mattuchio. “I am so grateful for Northeast Metro Tech and its students for building me this incredible shed. Seeing the kids every day and watching them with the rescue dogs was a fun bonus!” “This was a rewarding project that involved both junior and senior students, and which will benefit the animals at Eddie’s Ranch for years to come,” said Superintendent DiBarri. “I am proud of our students for their fine craftsmanship, but also for their caring and community spirit. This is exactly the type of community support and involvement that we love to see from our students here at Northeast Metro Tech.” To learn more about Eddie’s Ranch, visit: https://eddieonwheels.com/. milestone.” The event included Keynote Speaker Edward Alan Miller, Professor of Gerontology and Chair of Gerontology at UMass Boston, who is also a Melrose resident. Dr. Miller discussed the growing need for longterm support services, both locally and nationwide, and explained how sustained investment and innovation are necessary to meet this challenge. MA Senator Jason Lewis also addressed the audience. He presented MVES with a Resolution from the MassachuREADING | FROM PAGE 7 There are even special holographic cards to collect. Did we mention free programs? In addition, there will be special visits by Wildlife Encounters, Vinny the Bubble Guy, the Saugus Fire & Police Departments, Pikachu + Sonic characters and Toe Jam Puppet Band, plus a family dance party, a concert for kids and bubble, magic and puppet shows. Check out the Library’s onAttorneys Andrea Witt, Alexandra Green and Francine Dawicki (left to right) attend MVES’ 50th anniversary kickoff event. The three attorneys are from Spano Dawicki & Witt, a Saugus-based firm that specializes in elder law, estate planning, probate and more. (Courtesy photos/Nicole Hendrickson for MVES) setts Legislature recognizing the agency’s history and role in the community. The MVES executive team and Board of Directors offer their thanks to all who attended, with special recognition for Dr. Miller and Senator Lewis, as well as event sponsors Agero, the Cross Country Group and Preotle, Lane & Associates. Mystic Valley Elder Services is also celebrating its 50th in several other ways. Visit www. line event calendar for upto-date information. Create a reading routine The library is here to help families create a summer reading routine that is fun for kids and their families. Turn off the media before bedtime, sit with a child, share a book or read alongside them. Ask them questions, but above all, make it fun! Research shows that children who read during the summer months maintain literacy skills that they’ve worked hard to build mves.org/mves50 to learn about a series of events in each community MVES serves, nominating an outstanding individual for the MVES Community All-Stars Award, and special upcoming event with a nationally recognized anti-ageism leader. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Questions may also be directed to the MVES Development Department at 781388-4802 or development@ mves.org. during the school year. According to Reading Rockets. org, research with 116 first-, second- and third-graders in a school in a middle-class neighborhood found the decoding skills of nearly 45% of the participants and the fluency of 25% declined between May and September. Stay smart! Have fun! Stop by the library to register for summer reading or to find a just-right book for your child. It’s all free, all summer at the Saugus Public Library! For Advertising with RESULTS, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-233-4446 or info@advocatenews.net
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