׉?4ׁB!בCט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://UBEfFVcQ2oxyMZSCTz3dfdIaQpXrUYQ0ZNbNlJXnMX0f`)׉ 7cassandra://QuBel5k55lhuL5BAh44dppf86g6NyyxJi41dDWIg3_Uͣq`J׉ 7cassandra://bBEpYsVh-RQF7-kmItv_XD1WSE6LY6sP9ihuRqScwVY/&`̰ehah@h/נehah@h1̿ 9ׁHhttp://www.advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј׈Eeh_h@h׉ELocal News & Sports in 6 Languages. Advocate Online. - Scan Here! Vol. 33, No.48 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday Novoselsky Honored For 60 Years as RHS Football Game Timekeeper 781-286-8500 Friday, December 1, 2023 Recount for mayoral race begins today at City Hall $30K appropriation to cover recount approved by City Council By Barbara Taormina T he process begins for the recount for Revere’s mayoral election which will begin Friday at 9:00 a.m. at City Hall. Councillor-at-Large Dan Rizzo, who lost to Mayor-elect Patrick Keefe by 367 votes, fi led for the recount, which will take place over a two-day period. Rizzo has said he has some concerns ONE LAST TIME: Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky was recognized for his dedication as the game timekeeper for the RHS football games for 60 years, noting that it was his last game this past Thursday. Shown from left, School Committee member John Kingston, RHS Patriots Head Coach Lou Cicatelli, RHS Athletic Director Frank Shea, Mayor-elect Patrick Keefe also presented a City of Revere Citation, and Seth Novoselsky. (Advocate photo) A season of grit: Revere High School football’s 2023 journey Football Pats shutout by Winthrop in Turkey Day battle By Dom Nicastro A s the autumn leaves transitioned from their vibrant colors to the faded hues of winter, so did the fortunes of the Revere High School football team throughout their tumultuous 2023 season. It was a campaign that began with the sting of defeat, as the Patriots stumbled out of the gate with an 0-5 record. However, the resilience of the team shone through as they rallied impressively to a 4-6 standing after winning four out of fi ve, setting the stage for a Thanksgiving Day fi nale steeped in tradition and rivalry. The Thanksgiving Day game, a cherished event that saw the streets of Revere buzzing with anticipatory excitement and the players given one more chance to shine, ended in a 22-0 loss to Winthrop, unfortunately. “The energy building up to Thanksgiving morning was immaculate,” senior captain Hakim Malki, speaking for his fellow captains, said. “Everyone showed up to play, and the loss defi nitely can’t be credited to a lack of motivation. We all played with love for one another and left everything we had C ity Councillors were unanimous in their support of an application from the Beachmont VFW Post 6712, 150 Bennington St., to use part of their parking lot as a commercial auto lot where vehicles can be parked by fee or lease. Post Quarter Master Gerry Goodwin said blocking off 22 spaces in the 73-space lot for paying customers would provide the nonprofi t the opportunity to generate some muchneeded revenue. Councillors all agreed with Goodwin that city veterans should have a nice place to gather. But the plan had support from MAKE WAY: Patriot junior Danny Hou is shown facing the Viking defense during the Pats’ Thanksgiving Day game at Harry Della Russo Stadium. (Advocate photo) on the fi eld. We played certain parts of our game exceptionally well, but in a rivalry like the one we saw that morning, big plays make all the difference. Ultimately, that’s what hurt us in the end. Three big plays that let up three big touchdowns. We gave everything we had to pick up the pieces and try and recover, but sometimes, your best just isn’t enough. Good teams and good leaders adequately celebrate their victories, but even more so know how to accept their losses.” The calm, clear morning at Harry Della Russo Stadium was charged with energy. Yet, despite the pregame atmosphere and the unwavering motivation of the Patriots, who had won three in a row, the day belonged to Winthrop. Revere’s campaign FOOTBALL | SEE Page 17 more than veterans’ advocates. Arcadia Street resident Anthony Parziale told councillors he supported the idea because as a small businessman it would provide a spot for him to park his dump trucks. He doesn’t like to take space on his street with commercial vehicles. While the council was in favor of the plan, they did have a few questions and requests. City Council President Pro Tempore Joanne McKenna, who represents Beachmont, asked Goodwin if the club could clear away the rocks and concrete on the about how votes were tabulated, particularly mail-in ballots and those cast during early voting. He said a recount is the only way to get all the answers. On Monday evening, the City Council unanimously approved a supplemental appropriation of $30,000 for the Election Department to cover the cost of RECOUNT | SEE Page 8 City Council approves Beachmont VFW’s request for commuter parking New revenue source would help defray costs for veterans’ post By Barbara Taormina side of the building and clean up the property. Goodwin explained that the VFW has been working on the exterior of the building and has changed the charity in charge of the clothing donation bin so items would be picked up more frequently. Goodwin agreed to spruce up the exterior of the club. Councillor-at-Large Marc Silvestri asked about insurance for cars paying to park. Councillor-at-Large Dan Rizzo said the city would do anything it can to support a place for veterans. “I stand with all of you,” said Rizzo. Ward 6 Councillor Richard Serino asked who was the target for the new spaces. Goodwin said he fi gured it would be commuters who would be parking from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., thus no nighttime disturbances. “We used to have a dozen veterans’ places in the city,” said Ward 5 Councillor John Powers. “This is a great way to raise money. We don’t want to lose any more veterans’ places.” Councillor-at-Large Gerry Visconti also expressed his appreciation for the idea. “Congratulations to you and the people working with you to make it a respectful and nice place for veterans,” Visconti told Goodwin. ׉ 7cassandra://bBEpYsVh-RQF7-kmItv_XD1WSE6LY6sP9ihuRqScwVY/&`̰eh_h@heh_h@h PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://H8iJHNGX9qVsIhE0q5if3tbU22FM6aV2lG1rsAcRPUkM`)׉ 7cassandra://0HKfe84M-Pp96qUyH1_5G_fSLvb2qHGsQ86W1KAHHvUͦ`J׉ 7cassandra://3lhnoRNGudW6bnisMJXLocEvbjbMMen_Golw-t_0Avs0`̰ehah@h2ט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://IKY8kied4Udo40xwmLqaXMDHqTokssBmqJuuoeBtMwU"*`)׉ 7cassandra://dXfbOnH_fWj9IdQJ-idKqSNN-4aKA1fMrdEJECVbX1c͗`J׉ 7cassandra://CEhQa3WUQCNLYu_Af761W3-Uhk0MJHGWiGTrRTTBMig-`̰ehah@h3נehbh@h9Y9ׁHhttp://WWW.SABATINO-INS.COMׁ ׁ Јנehbh@h89ׁH mailto:lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.netׁ ׁ Јנehbh@h7LL 9ׁHhttp://erties.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 2 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 JROTC wins first place nine times during Commonwealth of Mass. Army League Drill Team Competition Revere High School on track to win another State Championship T he Revere High School Army JROTC Patriot Battalion Drill and Color Guard teams competed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Army League (COMAL) Drill League competition. COMAL consists of the 12 Massachusetts Army JROTC programs throughout the state. Drills and ceremonies are one of the key ingredients of the Army JROTC program. Drill is conducted in accordance with current Army Training Circular 3-21.5, Drill and Ceremonies, dated May 3, 2021, which is the Army standard for executing the Manual of Arms. This category also includes exhibition drills in accordance with league-published standards. The RHS JROTC Drill Team is subdivided into the Armed Division and the Unarmed Division. Within each division, cadets compete in Color Guard, Regulation, Inspection, Dual Exhibition, Platoon Exhibition and New Cadet Squad. The Drill Team has The Revere High School Army JROTC Patriot Battalion Drill and Color Guard (Courtesy photo) ARMED DIVISION won fi ve COMAL League state championships and is on track to win another state championship. The Revere High School Army JROTC Drill Commander, Cadet Walid Harda, is leadOur 51st Anniversary Dan - 1972 We Sell Cigars & Accessories! ALL MAJOR BRANDS Singles * Tins * Bundles * Boxes * Travel Humidors * Desk Top Humidors * Many Types of Lighters * Ash Trays * Juuls * Vapes * Glass Pipes * Rewards Program * CBD Infused Products * GIFTS UNDER $30 - GIFT CERTIFICATES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR STOREWIDE PRICE REDUCTIONS! AKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR STOREWIDE PRICE REDUCTIONS! STORE HOURS: Sun. - Wed.: 9AM - 6PM / Thurs. - Sat. 9AM - 7PM The Holiday Season is Here! R.Y.O. TOBACCO & TUBES ON SALE! WE MAKE HOUSE KEYS! -------------------WE HAVE GIFT CARDS! Green Label Cigar Sale! Buy 2 Cigars, Get One FREE! A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE (781) 289-4959 Chris - 2023 Platoon Exhibition 1st Place Platoon Exhibition 1st Place ing this team to victory. Cadets practice every morning before school to improve their precision, accuracy and unison in their specifi ed routines. The dedication and commitment of all cadets led to their tremendous accomplishments. The unarmed drill team is coached by SFC (R) James Burke and the armed drill team is coached by CSM (R) Robert Callender. On Saturday, November 18, 2023, 54 RHS JROTC Drill Team cadets participated in the 2nd COMAL Drill Competition hosted at Revere High School. The remainder of the Patriot Battalion was on hand to provide support for the competition. Support cadets were broken down into three teams: security, subsistence and event operations. In the Armed Division, Revere placed fi rst in Color Guard, commanded by Cadet Ambra DeCicco; New Cadet Drill, commanded by Cadet Sofi a Lee Li; Dual Exhibition by Cadets Walid Harda and Caua Berger; and Platoon Exhibition, commanded by Cadet Walid Harda; and placed second overall in Inspection, commanded by Cadet Brianna Restrepo; and Regulation, commanded by Cadet Walid Harda. In the Unarmed Division, Revere placed fi rst in Regulation, commanded by Cadet Karla Leal; Inspection, commanded by Cadet Paris Peguero Pena; New Cadet, commanded by Cadet Kauanny Souza; Dual Exhibition with Cadets Santi Gil and Ashley Rodriguez; and Platoon Exhibition, commanded by Cadet Santi Gil; and third in Color Guard, commanded by Cadet Christopher Guerrero. Individual awards during knockout were presented in the Unarmed Division to Cadets Paris Peguero Pena and Rebekah. In the Armed Division, individual awards were presented to Cadets Brianna Restrepo, Helen Sorto Cruz, Vietnam Nguyen, Ashley Rodriguez, Stephany Vargas-Vargas and Rebecca Arias. The Revere High School Army JROTC Drill Team is currently in first place for the Governor’s Cup. Their fi nal competition will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Lawrence High School! Great job, Patriot Battalion! Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma UNARMED DIVISION Color Guard Regulation Inspection 1st Place Color Guard 2nd Place Regulation 2nd Place Inspection 1st Place Dual Exhibition 3rd Place 1st Place 1st Place New Cadet Squad 1st Place New Cadet Squad 1st Place Dual Exhibition 1st Place ׉ 7cassandra://3lhnoRNGudW6bnisMJXLocEvbjbMMen_Golw-t_0Avs0`̰eh_h@h׉E jTHE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Page 3 Sounds of Christmas concert December 17 T he North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra will make its traditional visit to Revere on Sunday, December 17 at 4:00 p.m. when Music Director Robert Lehmann conducts the annual Robert A. Marra Memorial "Sounds of Christmas" Concert at St. Anthony's Church. The concert has been a staple of Revere's holiday season since 1976. Admission is free to everyone who brings a generous donation of non-perishable food to benefi t the Revere Food Pantry. Concert co-chair Robert A. Marra Jr. expressed gratitude to the concert sponsors. "We are grateful for the support of the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, MassPort, Comcast, Astound Broadband, Action Emergency Services, and of course Bocchino Insurance," he said. "Co-chair of this concert Dom Bocchino stepped up in 2006 and Bocchino Insurance has been an integral part of this concert ever since." Marra also noted that Comcast has been involved in the concert going back to 1991. "It's a wonderful time for everyone, and a time of happiness and generosity," said Marra. "The Revere Food Pantry does such important work in our community, and the concert gives so many people the chance to help our neighbors." The concert program will include traditional holiday music and an original holidaythemed narration by a Revere High School student. "The concert bears my father's name," said Marra, "and I am sure he'd be so pleased that his beloved North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra carries on this tradition, and that an RHS student has a role in this concert." Melrose 200 Club planning Holiday Fair and Gift Basket Gala O n Saturday, December 2, the 200 Club of Melrose will hold this year’s Holiday Fair and Gift Basket Gala. It will take place at the Fuller House (101 Cottage St.) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come pay a visit and get into the Holiday Spirit on this exciting weekend. This year the location will be included on the Melrose “Home for the Holidays” Trolley Route. This event is scheduled as part of the Melrose “Home for the Holidays” weekend, which starts with Santa Claus arriving at the downtown fi re station on Friday evening and includes many varied and exciting events around the city. The Gala will include Gift Basket Raffl es, Bake Sale items, cosLawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ tume jewelry and the very popular “50/50” raffl e. It will also feature several outside vendors with interesting craft items to off er. Any vendors interested in participating may purchase a table for $25.00 – which will be provided – and should call or email Beth Vellante at 617-3042273; bvellante@peabodyproperties.com. * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net SABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available Sabatino Insurance is proud to welo welcome the loyal cust mers o tino Insur nce is p yal customers of co PHONE: (617) 387-7466 FAX: (617) 381-9186 Visit us online at: WWW.SABATINO-INS.COM ׉ 7cassandra://CEhQa3WUQCNLYu_Af761W3-Uhk0MJHGWiGTrRTTBMig-`̰eh_h@heh_h@h PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://ufdC33v6-prpo8iI_bB5I1RC8x9vEb8RWOQZawC-VAI`)׉ 7cassandra://6JR0yQBfrYd3-2AeBirK_brNCTC1oKm0RUCH9HlAuyg͝`J׉ 7cassandra://W0-flta_psAnKwGfsE8VaP_aiRu6ARK8XSYlZXP4Q-Y/`̰ehah@h6ט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://T2UeXdF-0RhIe20WJbXPciDggKjROuxIkGItEeW4v_Eu`)׉ 7cassandra://4x47qVPxTZw9zxGEoZBuRf-d8rtJ6N47gu2qttyx1Ew͡[`J׉ 7cassandra://Bxfy3ZR3IfEi2EnGS11YLk7QMZ5E7sMxnHOhWIFa-q4-m`̰ehbh@h;נehbh@h?T*9ׁHhttp://WWW.JMACKEYLAW.COMׁ ׁ Јנehbh@h>Lg9ׁHhttp://MysticRiver.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉E +Page 4 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Local Watershed Association adds four new experts to Board of Directors 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Daily 4:00 PM Closed Sunday Starting Monday, September 11... We’re back to serving our Full Menu featuring all your favorite Italian Specialties and American Classics! Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s www.eight10barandgrille.com Helen Quach Ryan Dings works to “climatetech” entrepreneurs working to build and scale the technologies we need to decarbonize the planet. In addition to his role at ClimateHaven, Ryan is a venture partner for Connecticut Innovations’ $100M ClimateTech Fund, which is designed to invest capital and strategic support in early-stage companies whose technologies will address the many challenges presented by climate change. Prior to these roles, Ryan served as the Chief Operating Offi cer & General Counsel of Greentown Labs. Prior to joining Greentown Labs, Ryan served as the Chief Operating Offi cer & General Counsel of Sunwealth, where he helped launch the Solar Impact Fund. Ryan also served on the executive team of venture-backed prefab home builder Blu Homes and has advised numerous early-stage clean tech and Greater Boston area with his wife, Kate Rigby, and their two daughters. “The Mystic River is such an incredible resource for our region and provides a vital connection to the natural world for so many communities. The benefi ts of a vibrant Mystic River cannot be understated, and the watershed’s role will only grow in importance as we navigate the challenges presented by climate change. I’m honored and excited to join the MyRWA board and commit my time and energy to making the Mystic as healthy and accessible for our communities today and generations to come.” Monica Ghosh Driggers (she/ her) is a Winchester resident. She studied environmental law and began her career examining waEXPERTS | SEE Page 5 Monica Ghosh Driggers Kelly Ryan I n November the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) announced the addition of Ryan Dings, Monica Ghosh Driggers, Helen Quac, and Kelly Ryan to its Board of Directors on October 24, 2023, bringing expertise in climate technology, environmental law, public health, and fi nance. Ryan Dings (he/him) serves as the founding chief executive offi cer of ClimateHaven, a community of climate technology companies and the passionate people that support them. Rooted in New Haven, Ct., ClimateHaven provides incubation, targeted programming and valuable netbuilding tech companies over the past 15 years. Ryan started his career as a lawyer and holds graduate degrees in law from Wake Forest University School of Law and in design from Harvard University Graduate School of Design, and a Bachelor of Arts from UNC-Chapel Hill. Ryan currently lives in the ׉ 7cassandra://W0-flta_psAnKwGfsE8VaP_aiRu6ARK8XSYlZXP4Q-Y/`̰eh_h@h׉ETHE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Page 5 What holiday foods are on veterinarians’ naughty and nice lists? Thrive Pet Healthcare shares insights to help pet owners keep their pets safe during the holiday season T hrive Pet Healthcare, a fi rstof-its-kind veterinary healthcare network with more than 380 locations in 37 states across the United States, is urging pet owners to prioritize the safety of their furry companions during the holiday season. As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s essential to be aware of the potential EXPERTS | FROM Page 4 ter rights and forestry issues in the Intermountain West. She went on to spend 30 years working closely with policy makers to change state and federal court processes, specializing in evaluating systems that work with marginalized communities. She has conducted long-term studies on topics ranging from domestic violence to parole to the rights of disabled persons. Having never lost her commitment to the environment, she volunteered for many years with MyRWA’s Policy Committee. She is now a Senior Program Director at the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, helping that organization expand all of the work it does to protect rivers. In her free time Monica walks her dogs along local riverways and tries to become a better watercolor painter. “Several years ago I moved to an area close to Upper Mystic Lake and noticed the Bald Eagles fl ying overhead. This beautiful welcome to my new neighborhood inspired me to learn more about the habitat of eagles and the other wonderful wildlife that we have here. That’s when I discovered how much MyRWA does to protect the ecosystem supported by the Mystic River. I decided to do my part by joining the Policy Committee and MyRWA has been a great part of my life ever since. MyRWA gives me the opportunity to do something for my community while teaching me new things about the places and the people that surround me.” Helen Quach (she/her) was born and raised in Boston and is now a Wakefi eld resident. Her professional background is in the fi eld of nonprofi t and public healthcare, and she is currently working as Executive Assistant to the Dean at the Offi ce of Faculty Aff airs at the Harvard School of Public Health. Helen has always been passionate about advocating and volunteering, and in the past has dedicated her time to the Department of Youth Services and Chinese Progressive Association. Now she spends most of her dangers associated with certain holiday foods. Dr. Anthony Coronado, Thrive Pet Healthcare’s National Director of Emergency Services and Urgent Care, provides valuable insights to help pet owners safeguard their pets this holiday season. Holiday Foods on the Naughty List: Certain holiday foods can time helping with all things dragon boat–related from the Boston Dragon Boat Festival to running her team, Living Root Dragon Boat, which is now based in Rivergreen Park in Everett. Helen favorites include distance running, paddling, hiking and walking miles upon miles with her senior beagle. “I became involved with the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) a couple of years ago, after volunteering at the annual Mystic River Herring and Paddle, plus running and paddling the race almost every year since 2015. I felt inspired by all the hard work that the MyRWA does to keep our waterways clean and accessible to underrepresented communities, and learned about the programs that they provide to enrich the lives of the communities, educational programs for youth, and overall, fostering a healthy and vibrant environment for the watershed. Just from reading their newsletter, you know MyRWA does a lot! As a board member, I hope I can contribute to spread awareness of MyRWA’s mission, and represent the organization well in any capacity.” Kelly Ryan (she/her), CPA is a pose significant risks to both dogs and cats. “Cats tend to be more discerning with foods than dogs, but because of their smaller size, even when they ingest small amounts of harmful foods, it can result in a trip to the ER,” said Dr. Coronado. PETS | SEE Page 16 Vice President at J.P. Morgan. She has over 15 years of experience working in various aspects of the fund services industry. Recently she received a Certifi cate in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing from the CFA Institute. Kelly holds a B.A. from College of the Holy Cross, where her deep commitment to serving others was ingrained. She is a resident of Boston and can often be found strolling around the Harbor. “The Mystic River is part of my family history, and I am honored to be able to assist MyRWA in continuing its unbelievably powerful work for the watershed and all its residents as a board member.” At the MyRWA annual meeting, Charles Holley, Maricia Manong, John Reinhardt and Britney Satterlee were reelected to second terms on the Board of Directors. The board, which is now 17 members strong, is charged with organizational oversight, leadership in strategic planning and connecting to the wider community. MyRWA is led by professional staff and also organizes thousands of volunteers working together on a project-by-project basis. For more information see www. MysticRiver.org. Need a hall for your special event? The Schiavo Club, located at 71 Tileston Street, Everett is available for your Birthdays, Anniversaries, Sweet 16 parties and more? For more info, call (857) 249-7882 JOHN MACKEY & ASSOCIATES ~ Attorneys at Law ~ * PERSONAL INJURY * REAL ESTATE * FAMILY LAW * PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY * LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES 14 Norwood Street Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 WWW.JMACKEYLAW.COM Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 ׉ 7cassandra://Bxfy3ZR3IfEi2EnGS11YLk7QMZ5E7sMxnHOhWIFa-q4-m`̰eh_h@heh_h@h PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://qQZ4hOrlJ_beKr22l57nvAcjn9iJcJcQrDLEWpOvV8I`)׉ 7cassandra://SulW2RTxREF6slUpnbph3AW2WR8NT4IaWLBdWe0yR3g͔"`J׉ 7cassandra://UIm6zS5JjUelBB5Da4lx1JolZAc3GmlAGUVrrks7gIM*`̰ehch@h@ט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://etzJSCmr7v_WXo8Js6KTo1z9pYsxqQbET3gadXJ34BU`)׉ 7cassandra://SEfKs3TjVare0cNDCyhmGPysv0czzcbEo1qm_H40lqg͕`J׉ 7cassandra://qqnMSrvG4LYbhQFACTmrKHCgBmcw-qzEZ0CD1tKrM6I+`̰ehdh@hAנehdh@hLL̝9ׁHhttp://bbb.org/scamtracker.ׁ ׁ Јנehdh@hK!k9ׁH$http://Facebook.com/Advocate.news.maׁ ׁ Јנehdh@hJf̭9ׁHhttps://www.bbb.org/arׁ ׁ Јנehdh@hIX<̽9ׁHhttp://www.bbb.org/all/holidayׁ ׁ Јנehdh@hHX9ׁHhttps://www.bbb.org/all/onlineׁ ׁ Јנehdh@hGL9ׁHhttp://www.bbb.org/all/bbbׁ ׁ Јנehdh@hFLa9ׁHhttp://bbb.org/all/onlineׁ ׁ Јנehdh@hEL79ׁHhttps://www.bbb.org/all/onlineׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 6 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 ~ GUEST COMMENTARY ~ With Thanksgiving In The Rear View Mirror, It Is On To Christmas And Beyond By Sal Giarratani H ope one and all had a great Thanksgiving. I love this holiday so much, I usually do it twice: first at my daughter’s place and then at one of my niece’s places. They live about fi ve miles apart so the commute from dinner table to dinner table is pretty quick. Now, it’s off to Christmas, News Year’s and beyond. Seems like every year and time itself passes faster; holidays zoom by and most of all our birthdays pass faster and with more and more candles on the top. The older I get the more I realize the puzzle of life; I realize the meaning of life, the more I realize how important time is. We only take this voyage of ours once around. Then, the curtain drops and the room is black. I usually use the last few weeks of a year to fi gure out things like my future or my past. As long as we are awake, time is ours to be used. Our priorities change all the time. When I was a kid, all I wanted was a bunch of toys but now all I get from folks is brand-new underwear and socks. Not as fun but still, I guess, important? When I was a child, I thought like a child. Time seemed endless and time dragged on. Not anymore; before you know it, we’ll be planning another Thanksgiving dinner with family. Happens, it seems, just that fast. Prepare for Christmas with an upbeat manner and just keep positive. The alternative isn’t that good. As that old rock song goes, “The wheel in the sky keeps on turning” and may it keep on turning. I can wait for the last train station, hopefully, way up ahead, so I’ll keep riding the rails and having fun for as much time as I can get out of this world of ours, we all share together. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, too! Special permit request draws concerns from abutters By Barbara Taormina 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $9.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Adult Night 18+ Only Private Parties Private Parties 4-7 p.m. $9.00 12-9 p.m. 7:30-11 p.m. $10. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM $9.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Call For Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com PRICE MELROSE, MA 02176 NEW CUSTOMER’S WELCOME ACCEPTING VISA, MASTERCARD & DISCOVER (781) 397-1930 OR (781) 662-8884 100 GALLON MINIMUM RON’S OIL T he City Council held a public hearing on Nicholas Giacobbe's application for a special permit to renovate a non-conforming dwelling at the back of his property at 164 Harris St. into a one- or two-bedroom rental unit. Attorney Lawrence Simeone, who represented Giacobbe at the council meeting, said the dwelling was a cottage built back in 1924. Simeone said Giacobbe wants to fi x the building, and add to the value of his property. "We feel it would be in the best interest of the neighborhood and the owner," Simeone told councillors. But Giacobbe's neighbors and several councillors didn't agree. John Colleran, whose property abuts Giacobbe's property, spoke against the proposal. "I'm against this, this property is falling down, there's no foundation, it's ready to fall over, it's an eye sore," said Colleran. "It's two to four feet from my property and it would impede on my privacy." Mark Mattera, who also has property that abuts Giacobbe's, wanted to know about the height of the renovated dwelling and the use of the garage. Councillor-At-Large Gerry Visconti said what was being described as a cottage might also be called a shack. Visconti said he worried about setting a precedent for other property owners with similar backyard structures. Councillor-At-Large Dan Rizzo also expressed concerns and noted the opposition of a direct abutter was a signifi cant drawback. Council President Pro Tempore Joanne McKenna said she went down to look at the property and found it uninhabitable. She said it should be torn down and that she was troubled by how close it was to Colleran's property. The council referred Giacobbe's application to the zoning subcommittee meeting on Dec. 4. Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro said in the meantime he would work with Giacobbe to contact neighbors to see what concerns they might have about the proposal. Melrose 200 Club planning Holiday Fair and Gift Basket Gala O n Saturday, December 2, the 200 Club of Melrose will hold this year’s Holiday Fair and Gift Basket Gala. It will take place at the Fuller House (101 Cottage St.) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come pay a visit and get into the Holiday Spirit on this exciting weekend. This year the location will be included on the Melrose “Home for the Holidays” Trolley Route. This event is scheduled as part of the Melrose “Home for the Holidays” weekend, which starts with Santa Claus arriving at the downtown fi re station on Friday evening and includes many varied and exciting events around the city. The Gala will include Gift Basket Raffl es, Bake Sale items, costume jewelry and the very popular “50/50” raffl e. It will also feature several outside vendors with interesting craft items to off er. Any vendors interested in participating may purchase a table for $25.00 – which will be provided – and should call or email Beth Vellante at 617-3042273; bvellante@peabodyproperties.com. ׉ 7cassandra://UIm6zS5JjUelBB5Da4lx1JolZAc3GmlAGUVrrks7gIM*`̰eh_h@h׉EjTHE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Page 7 BBB Tip: Shopping from overseas retailers T he holiday season is here, and shoppers want to score a deal. You may see social media ads or emails from unfamiliar websites and brands, but they have items that check boxes on your gift lists. You click on the ad, and you’re taken to a website you’ve never heard of before, then you are redirected to another page. Before you click and fi ll your cart, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a few reminders: • Look for the BBB Seal. Check if the businesses you want to shop from are BBB Accredited. If a business has a BBB Accreditation, it shows consumers that the business prioritizes trust in the marketplace and adds a layer of confi dence and peace of mind for all consumers. When shopping online, look for the BBB Seal, the Sign of a Better Business. • Is the retailer based in North America? Does it have a local presence? We know several online retailers operate overseas. Before you place an order, make sure to check where the package originates, the time frames for delivery, and return policies. • Are there extra fees such as for returns, shipping, etc.? Are you comfortable paying those fees, and if you must make a return, is there a fee associated with it? • Check the website and social media of the retailer. Does the website have contact information, an address and a return policy? Head over to the social media pages. Are there comments? Is the page new? Are the comments a little too “nice” and not negative? If there are negative comments, is the retailer responding? • Check the privacy policy and make sure you are comfortable with how the website uses your personal information. If there is no visible privacy policy, that is a red fl ag, and you should consider other options. After you do your due diligence, you will be able to decide if shopping at an unfamiliar website is right for you. You can also ask your local BBB for assistance and check customer reviews to help you choose trustworthy businesses. For more information: Before shopping online, review the https://www.bbb.org/all/onlineshopping and read https://www. bbb.org/all/online-shopping/ smart-shopping-online. When possible, do business with a BBB Accredited Business – https:// www.bbb.org/all/bbb-accreditation-standards. BBB Scam Alert: Looking for this season’s hot toy? Beware of scams E very year, there are always a few “must-have” toys on most kids’ holiday wish lists. The hot toy sells out fast and becomes expensive and hard to fi nd. In 2023, the hot toy lists include Furby, Barbie Dreamhouse, Fingerlings, Bitzee, Lego, Elmo Slide, Dog-E, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem Pizza Fire Delivery Van, and Beast Lab. If you are shopping for a child this holiday season, don’t let scammers trick you into accidentally buying a fake (or nonexistent) version of a popular toy. Watch out for tricks. How the scam works: You are looking for this season’s hot toy, but it’s sold out at every store you visit. You decide to do a quick online search, or you spot an ad in your social media feed. This takes you to a website that miraculously has the toy in stock. The site might look professional and have original images of the product. It might even off er the product at discounted prices, claiming a “lastminute deal” or “fl ash sale.” Unfortunately, many such offers are fake. In many cases reported to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker, buyers thought they were ordering a high-quality toy. Instead, they received a cheap counterfeit version. In other cases, the products never shipped and the websites vanished. In either case, when the dissatisfi ed customers tried to follow-up with the company, they found that the staff either didn’t respond or refused to provide a refund. Tips to avoid toy scams • Only buy toys from reputable stores and websites. The best way to avoid getting scammed when purchasing toys is to buy them directly from a seller you know and trust. • Don’t be fooled by extra-low prices. Unreasonably low prices are a red fl ag for a scam on many products. Avoid making a purchase from a retailer you aren’t familiar with just because the price sounds too good to be true – it probably is! • Research before you buy. If a company seems legitimate but you aren’t familiar with it, be extra careful with your personal information. Before off ering up your name, address and credit card information, make sure the company has a working customer service number. For more information: See https://www.bbb.org/all/onlineshopping for more online shopping tips. For more tips this holiday season, check out https:// www.bbb.org/all/holiday and the 12 scams of Christmas article – https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23497-thenaughty-list-bbbs-12-scams-ofchristmas. If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma Lawn and Yard Care SNOW PLOWING *REASONABLE RATES * PROMPT SERVICE * PARKING LOTS USA 781-521-9927 money), report it to https://www. bbb.org/scamtracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim. Call Driveways from $35 ׉ 7cassandra://qqnMSrvG4LYbhQFACTmrKHCgBmcw-qzEZ0CD1tKrM6I+`̰eh_h@h eh_h@h PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://LxQd0zxOKMciPCoxb5Uy-oM_jE2xEoMLppiS1u4bSBo`)׉ 7cassandra://KMW-lnQh2JdDYxVGG6aYXEmn8KtzijJN1PyGkRwcLBs͎=`J׉ 7cassandra://e0obfiFpnJQk9Hl3zvUXLaOcegfvl15_vgfGVIaQ66k*T`̰eheh@hMט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://zb2jwgkaDhL44hljB7tq8W3XPS87PkdBVk5DzymXiAYq`)׉ 7cassandra://1vpwcWy3lSP1WY_H0mWHnUkNsEpDQLI0qoXcCr7pZNM͜`J׉ 7cassandra://ED8xjpuVWDGUDlfzNjj170t0uz6oDyxiY5pjWpuSNQk,{`̰ehfh@hOנehfh@hU/9ׁH$http://Facebook.com/Advocate.news.maׁ ׁ Јנehfh@hT@a9ׁH#http://www.legodiscoverycenter.com/ׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 8 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Record turnout celebrates Thanksgiving at Mass Badge’s 10th Annual Community Dinner By Tara Vocino A pproximately 1,000 people – a record turnout – attended last Tuesday’s Mass Badge 10th Annual Community Thanksgiving Complimentary Dinner at Casa Lucia Function Facility. At left, shown from left to right: Michael Scaramozza, Mayor-Elect Patrick Keefe, Jr., Offi cer Joe Duca, Shannon Duca, Steve Penta and Corrie O’Neil. At right, shown from left to right: Anthony Pio, Rick Griffi n, Offi cer John Papasodora, Denise Papasodora and Alita Bransfi eld. In the center is The Good Diner owner Saber Abougalala. RECOUNT | FROM Page 1 the recount. On Friday morning, the Elections Department will sort the 9,660 ballots cast into blocks of 50 to prepare them to be counted. The actual recount begins at 9 a.m. at the Revere High School gym. There will be 24 tally clerks hand counting ballots and recording the count results. Attorneys for Rizzo and Keefe will be present as well as an attorney for the Board of Election Commissioners. There can be challenges to the way each vote is counted. Challenged ballots are reviewed by Election Commissioner Paul Fahey and the Election Commission, who will decide which candidate receives the vote. Fahey said any recount has the potential to change the fi nal number of votes for each candidate. But the changes are typically small, and even Rizzo said he doesn’t expect the recount to overturn the election. There have been some stories and gossip making the rounds that there were batches of suspicious ballots found. But Fahey said there are no credible reports or complaints about voting or votes. “If there is anything people are concerned about, they should call the Elections Department,” said Fahey. Both days of the recount are open to the public. In other City Council news: The City Council moved forward this week with some common-sense issues related to the city’s workforce. Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro, who chairs the council’s subcommittee on appointments, explained that the Zoning Board of Appeals Clerk had not received a salary upgrade for 25 years. The assistant city clerk, who has worked for Revere since 2006, is in a similar position because her job is classifi ed as an administrative assistant. “We’re just trying to make this right,” Cogliandro told fellow councillors, who agreed and approved making the corrections. Cogliandro asked the council to approve Acting Mayor Keefe’s temporary appointments of Savanah Carlson and Joseph Heafitz to the Cultural Council. Earlier this year, the council voted to limit the acting mayor’s ability to hire or appoint personnel to cases of extreme need or emergency. Cogliandro explained that the Cultural Council presently doesn’t have a quorum. The council controls the distribution and use of state funding, some of which is earmarked for the library. The appointments would allow the council to get the funding to the library. Carlson’s and Heafitz’s appointments run through Jan. 1, 2024, at which time the mayor can reappoint them. Shown from left to right: Christian, Viviana, Gabriel and Michael Arias enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal during last Tuesday’s 10th Annual Community Thanksgiving Complimentary Dinner hosted by Mass Badge at Casa Lucia Function Facility. Mass Badge volunteers, shown from left to right: Lisa Granese, Shawna Varacelli and Katie Aborn with event organizer Joseph Internicola. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) Shown from left to right: Stephen Fiore, Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto, Michael McLaughlin and Councillor-at-Large Gerry Visconti. Rita Priore and Gail Hagstrom wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. ׉ 7cassandra://e0obfiFpnJQk9Hl3zvUXLaOcegfvl15_vgfGVIaQ66k*T`̰eh_h@h!׉ETHE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Page 9 RevereTV Spotlight W e have offi cially entered the 2023 holiday season! Start your celebrations with the City of Revere Tree Lighting event at City Hall on Saturday, December 2, at 4:30 p.m. Acting Mayor/ Mayor-Elect Patrick Keefe will be joined by Santa to lead the festivities. There will be ornament and cookie decorating, vendors, activities and carolers. This will be the fi rst of many community celebrations covered by RevereTV so if you miss it or want to watch it back, you can view a highlight reel on the Community Channel and RTV YouTube page. Plan for the Annual Robert A. Marra Memorial Sounds of Christmas Concert to be a little later than usual this year. The North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra will once again perform holiday carols at St. Anthony’s Church – at 4 p.m. on December 17. This concert is a multi-camera shoot that is a full-team eff ort to stream live on RevereTV. The concert is also a food drive, so attendees are asked to donate nonperishable food items upon entering. If you cannot attend in person, watch this year’s “Sounds of Christmas” on the RevereTV Community Channel or on YouTube in a few weeks. A new episode of “The Wave” is now playing throughout this month on the Community Channel. This program is monthly and hosted by the Revere Chamber of Commerce. Each episode features an interview with a local business owner and member of the Chamber. Watch this month’s show to hear from the general managers of Mission Beach House and Springhill Suites Marriott. Both businesses are at the same location on Revere Beach. You can also watch to learn more about a Coats for Kids drive at Dryft to be put on by the Chamber of Commerce on December 7. This new episode of “The Wave” can be watched at various times daily on the Community Channel or on YouTube. For this program and all other community event coverage mentioned above, you can watch the Community Channel on channels 8 and 1072 on Comcast and 3 and 614 on RCN. A new month brings a whole new cycle of local government meetings at City Hall. Tune in to RTV GOV to view the livestreams and replays of meetings from the last few weeks. The meetings include the License Commission, Traffic Commission, Zoning Sub-Committee, Revere City Council, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. RTV GOV is channel 9 for Comcast subscribers and channels 13 and 613 on RCN. Build Merry Memories at LEGO® Discovery Center Boston’s Holiday BRICKTACULAR Event! LEGO® Discovery Center Boston’s Holiday Bricktacular Event Runs Through December 31st S omerville, Massachusetts (November 29th , 2023)- ‘Tis the season for LEGO® Discovery Center Boston’s family favorite Holiday Bricktacular event. Take a family photo with a giant holiday LEGO creation and witness the breathtaking MINIWORLD featuring a LEGO replica of Boston, Massachusetts, transformed into a winter wonderland. Don’t miss out on meeting the jolliest LEGO of all, LEGO Gingerbread Man, for that special selfi e. Families can enjoy activities including: • Take a picture with our lifesized Santa’s Sleigh made completely out of LEGO® bricks! • A Merry MINIWORLD: LEGO® Discovery Center’s MINIWORLD transforms into a winter wonderland where you can try to spot all your favorite Boston scenes. • Take a photo with a LEGO Gingerbread Man every day in December. • Build an ornament out of LEGO® DOTS™ to hang on our attraction Christmas Tree. • Attend a Holiday themed workshop class with a Master Model Builder. • Hunt for the 12 missing LEGO elves in MINIWORLD®. For more Holiday Bricktacular event information, attraction hours and ticket prices, visit www.legodiscoverycenter.com/ boston/whats-inside/events/ holiday-bricktacular/ Please let me know if you are interested in coming to LEGO Discovery Center Boston to experience any of these bricktastic activities or we can even have a Master Model Builder pay a visit in-studio or via Zoom! We are available throughout the duration of the event. Visuals: LEGO Discovery Center Boston Holiday BRICKTACULAR - Google Drive Have a BRICKtastic day! About LEGO Discovery Centers Welcome to our new LEGO Discovery Center. It’s the home of LEGO play, where you and your family can create your own adventures in the ultimate indoor LEGO playground with over two million bricks. From interactive MINIWORLD and masterclasses with our Master Model Builders, to a 4D Cinema – your imagination will run wild. The new LEGO Discovery Center Boston is the fi rst in the northeast United States of the next generation of LEGOLAND Discovery Centers in North America, of which there are 27 across the globe with the world’s first LEGO Discovery Center in Brussels and third location in Boston. Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma ׉ 7cassandra://ED8xjpuVWDGUDlfzNjj170t0uz6oDyxiY5pjWpuSNQk,{`̰eh_h@h"eh_h@h! PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://QJL3Qy9q6pMYVd-MVFVPwfGuu_g6_wDGUJydBVatbD4F`)׉ 7cassandra://ybYuvOXvB3GGf8-7o3ozpCJLLeF8SPlHAk0RSXTGTpk͝'`J׉ 7cassandra://Vbfbmk-1ja9b4WGZhadTtEz5QG0qA6tbz78mgyYv0aE1`̰ehfh@hQט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://rKigu99Bg6FDveZ_3WTcv8-yy_RSmG0y5xeo0bH8MncQ`)׉ 7cassandra://DzMTRmxvYEP9p9asshYKrMceE9rdfSK6CWXDyqTlWek͜`J׉ 7cassandra://RugtgDMC_X-vTODFbmbE1SALKWU6nzEuRezf-BpIUN82`̰ehfh@hR׉EPage 10 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 RHS Football Patriots Versus Winthrop Vikings During Annual Thanksgiving Day Game at Della Russo Stadium The seniors of the RHS Patriot Cheering Squad. From left; Natalie Rodriguez Lopera, Dylan Misci, Samira Cammarano, Carlos Moran Hernandez, Brianna Rodriguez. Center Bryan Maia and guard Nick Aguirre at the line of scrimmage. Danny Hou leads the way for Nick Aguirre as he heads up fi eld. Junior Danny Hou had a great game despite the loss Hou will be a big asset to the team next season as well. The RHS Patriots head onto Harry Della Russo Field for the Annual Thanksgiving Football Game, led by Quarterback Senior Carlos Rizo Jr. ׉ 7cassandra://Vbfbmk-1ja9b4WGZhadTtEz5QG0qA6tbz78mgyYv0aE1`̰eh_h@h#׉ETHE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Page 11 Pats Geo Woodard takes the opening kickoff with help from Abbas Atoui. Patriot defenders Abbas Atoui, Danny Hou, and Javan Close stop a Viking cold at the line of scrimmage. Senior Felipe Maia sends the fi rst punt of the game deep into Viking territory. Senior QB Carlos Rizo Jr. left it all on the fi eld at his fi nal home game as a RHS Patriot. Rizo is shown making a pass for a Patriot 1st down. Melvin Dubon puts a big block on a rushing Viking. Head Coach of the Patriots, Lou Cicatelli paces the side lines. Giving Rizo time to make a play, Patriot linemen Melvin Dubon and Carlos Jimenez. Patriot Ahmed Bellemsieh grabs a Rizo pass for a big Revere gain. (Photos by the Advocate) Geo Woodard is part of the team coming back in 2024, adding a great running game to the team. The RHS Champion Patriots Battalion Honor Guard opened the game with the National Anthem. ׉ 7cassandra://RugtgDMC_X-vTODFbmbE1SALKWU6nzEuRezf-BpIUN82`̰eh_h@h$eh_h@h# PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://EiZRBfG4TYo_3UEWBwTsMyEFpMhgqQz_HoawWQeLS7I N`)׉ 7cassandra://S-F_HvDJEd3QrfZr9rd_1rkQ_21u3pk7kYgDbD549Y0͘`J׉ 7cassandra://4QuVENmSqr_iSIrDjli0xuY1QIC2pb-ChkCb0iLiyiw(`̰ehfh@hWט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://cockWwZXDRB0mwSfiQVAC5pp4HhLQxL139pDqfokvu8 6`)׉ 7cassandra://GQMKb03JS2aG_A3MtvUDo6R9Vo3HEW-WRqzh9HAgfQM͞`J׉ 7cassandra://s_gTbTEhfV0UrorXfiuaJ7C3pjjtnf0wprBbWMYQvxM)`̰ehgh@hX׉E& Page 12 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Sweeping the greens: Revere/Malden co-op golf team captains reflect on triumphs, camaraderie By Dom Nicastro T he Revere/Malden golf program clinched its fi rst Greater Boston League championship with a 44.5-27.5 win over Lynn Classical at Kelley Greens last month. It was the culmination of a tremendous body of work for the team on the links this fall. According to coach Brandon Pezzuto, it was the fi rst time either program has won the GBL championship since 1981, over 42 years ago. The team fi nished 9-1-1. The Advocate caught up with captains of the historic team – Ryan Coggswell of Malden, Saul Kruckenberg of Malden and Ollie Svendsen of Revere – for a Q&A. Here are the Qs we asked the golfers: 1. Tell us your position, how many years you’ve played golf and any particular stats/other individual accomplishments you are proud of. 2. What was the message you were sending to the team at the beginning of the season as captain? 3. The team was so consistent and clutch in big matches. What were the consistent parts of the team that led to such competitiveness? 4. What was the biggest team win and why? 5. What was it like working under this coaching staff ? 6. What is your message to the team about keeping this program momentum going? 7. What’s next for you athletically and academically? Ryan Coggswell of Malden 1. I played the seventh and eighth spot for the majority of the season. This was my third season playing golf, as I started when I was a sophomore. I am proud of winning the Spirit of the Game Award for the team last year for exhibiting honor, integrity and respect. 2. At the beginning of this year, I wanted to let our team know that this was our shot. I let them know that this was the end of our three-year growth. The fi rst was a rough season with a lot of new players. The second showed much improvement and gave the team experience. This one, the third, was primed to be our shot at a championship. 3. We were clutch in the big matches because we were the most well-rounded lineup in the league. Every player from 1-8 was going out there and competing. We even had guys coming off the bench due to injury and winning those matches as replacements. When the top of the lineup struggled, the back end would pick them up with big victories and vice versa. 4. The biggest team win of the season came in our last GBL matchup with Lynn Classical. Our fate was in our own hands, with a win clinching the league title while a loss meant that Lynn English could win their last two matches and take it. As a team, we competed from top the bottom. The entire squad came out to play and shut them down 44.5-27.5 to take the championship home. As a team, that was probably the best match we played as a whole. 5. This coaching staff was excellent. Coach Malatesta from Malden has not only incredibly improved our golf game but taught us how to be great human beings. I can only say the same about Coach Pezzuto and Coach DiPlatzi from Revere, who introduced us to the delicious Grand Slam from The New Deal. This coaching staff was the perfect mixture of fun, respectful, kind, caring and helpful. I credit these three coaches for the past few years of improvement in the program as they have truly developed every single player on the team. 6. My message would be to go out there and recruit more kids. We want more kids to learn the game and keep the program numbers up so it never has to fold. For the other kids on the team, I would tell them to stay driven toward success and keep listening to your coaches on how to improve your game. 7. Personally, I will be playing for the Malden High baseball team in the spring, but my competitive golf career is coming to an end. Next year, I plan on attending a four-year university for nursing. Saul Kruckenberg of Malden 1. This year I spent the majority of the season as an alternative player. This is the fi rst season I haven’t been in the starting lineup so it was a bit of a change but it was still wonderful as that meant that our program had gotten better, and we were much more competitive. I started playing my sophOllie Svendsen of Revere 1. This year I was up and down the lineup as the season went on. At the beginning of the season I struggled a bit, not playing in the fi rst match. Then I found my swing and kept battling in every match I played in, and it paid off in most of the matches that had some tight fi nal scores. 2. Keep practicing. Golf is Shown from left to right, Revere/Malden coach Brandon Pezzuto and captains Saul Kruckenberg, Ollie Svendsen and Ryan Coggswell. omore year and spent most of sophomore and junior season in the middle of the lineup. It was a wonderful few years, and I’d say that my biggest achievement with the team was growing the program and building a team that was so much like family. 2. As this was my last year with the program, I started the season just trying to make sure all the players knew that this group of young men had potential to become friends for life. I knew we had a shot at leading the GBL, and I thought one of the best ways to strengthen our team was to strengthen our friendship. I tried to emphasize the power of family throughout our team. 3. An attribute that led to our ability to stay clutch and consistent this year was trying to stay focused and not get down on bad holes or matches. Being able to come back from a bad streak is a fundamental skill needed in golf. Our team this year was much better at forgetting about the bad holes in the past and just slowly working our way to small victories. These small things helped us fi nish strong in all of our matches. 4. By far the biggest win of the season was our fi nal GBL matchup against Lynn Classical. Going into that match we were feeling great. We had had a very strong season and were used to winning. But we all knew that this match mattered the most. Winning against Classical would secure us as the GBL league champions. We all put aside the feelings of victory that we had all season so that we could put our all into one fi - nal GBL match. Hearing that we won and were champions was an unmeasurable feeling of joy and victory. 5. This coaching staff is one of the best coaching staff s that I have ever been able to play for. All three coaches were always available to give tips or help us improve all parts of our golf game. I started out sophomore year with only a few times ever swinging a club in my life; I had no clue what I was doing. After these three years I can confi dently say these coaches have helped me fall in love with the game, and I will defi nitely be playing it as long as I possibly can. But these coaches did more than just coach golf; they taught us boys respect, honor and strength. Me and my fellow teammates have become such better golfers and overall humans because of this wonderful coaching staff . There is no one else I would ever rather coach this team. 6. This is a very powerful and competitive team we have here in Malden/Revere. We only have a few seniors moving on and will have plenty of underclassmen that will soon be able to fi ll in the gaps. I have no doubt that this program will return even stronger next year and will have a great fi ghting chance to be back-to-back GBL champs. We have some wonderful young talent, and I know that will be even more golfers who join the program and will help continue its legacy. 7. Athletically I will continue playing for Malden on our lacrosse team in the spring. After I fi nish up my senior year, I will be moving on to a four-year college. While I am not sure what I will study or where I will end up, I know that I will take the love for the game, along with all the wonderful life skills I’ve learned over the years, to whatever comes next for me. arguably one of the hardest sports in the world. It’s not how athletic you are, and you just have to stay in the right mental state. Putting in the work is the most important factor, and we did that as a team while also having a ton of fun. 3. Competition in practices and match play against teammates at practice always kept us in game mode. When it came down to clutch moments, I felt as though we were relaxed and just out there playing the game we love, enjoying it while still being in the zone to succeed. 4. Lynn Classical was a crucial match as it would be the clincher for the team’s fi rst GBL championship in many years for Malden and the fi rst for Revere. We were all a little tense, but we stayed locked in. Shout out to Saul Kruckenberg who came as an alternate and came in clutch as one of our players went down with an injury in the middle of a match. This was a great moment for our team, and we all participated in the win. 5. I’ve known Coach Pezzuto since I was in the sixth grade. He never gives up on a player. He always tries to fi nd a way to make us better whether it is with a game or target practice or a specifi c swing. Same thing goes with the other coaches, Coach “Mal” and Coach DiPlatzi. Always trying to fi nd little tips and tweaks to get us to our full potential and beyond that. They are champions, too. 6. Keep being the great group of people you are and encourage more people to join. It’s not just all about the game; there’s more to that. Going out to eat after practices or matches, having fun in group chats and play some football in the parking lot after practice. Keep it going. 7. I am currently playing hockey for the Revere-Everett-Malden-Mystic Valley High School team, and I will be playing baseball for Revere High School in the spring. I plan to attend a four-year college; I have not decided where that will be. I am excited for what’s next. ׉ 7cassandra://4QuVENmSqr_iSIrDjli0xuY1QIC2pb-ChkCb0iLiyiw(`̰eh_h@h%׉E%THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Page 13 Remembering the Kennedy Assassination A brush with history: From US Treasury worker to Secret Service agent, local business owner recalls a day with First Lady Jackie Kennedy By Tara Vocino ABC Cigar co-owner Dan Moore was 32 years old when he worked as deputy administrative assistant to the comptroller of the currency when he was assigned to protect First Lady Jackie Kennedy after the late President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Moore says he still remembers it like it was yesterday. As the country – and literally, the world – fell into shock and mourning of the loss of the leader of the Free World, the capital was on edge as the government sought answers to the murder of Pres. Kennedy. Moore recalls sitting in his offi ce at the main U.S. Treasury building in room 311. “Every day I was in town, several Treasury offi cials would come by at 1:00 p.m.,” Moore said at his Revere Street cigar store on Tuesday. “We’d go across the street at the Washington Hotel for lunch.” When they didn’t show up, he kept on working. At 1:30 p.m., the door opened and his fellow Treasury workers stood silent. It was then he learned that President Kennedy had been assassinated, Moore said. “Needless to say, not much was said at lunch.” Several days later, Moore got a phone call from the chief of the U.S. Secret Service, who wanted to see him in his offi ce immediately to discuss a special assignment. He was told to meet with David Powers, was Special Assistant and assistant Appointments Secretary to President Kennedy. “We had a working relationship prior to the assassination when I had to go the White House to see Powers,” Moore said. “He was very close to the president.” When Moore would want to go to the White House, he’d call the Secret Service to take him directly. The first time he met with Moore in his offi ce at the White House, Powers closed the doors to his inner offi ce, and what he was going to tell him was not to be discussed with anyone. “She’s coming tomorrow to present an award for bravery to the Secret Service agent, Clint Hill, who was assigned to the [President’s] car in Dallas,” Moore said. “They gave me her schedule.” They wanted Moore to meet Moore had to go out in the hall to find him. Finally, everyone was together to present the award to Agent Hill, who had jumped on the president’s car during the assassination in order to protect the First Lady. Following the ceremony, Moore walked her back to the elevator. Later that afternoon, the Chief of Secret Service came down to see him and said he did a nice job. For a couple hours, Moore was a Secret Service agent at the U.S. Treasury offi ce in 1963. He spoke to Jackie briefl y and her sister. ABC Cigar co-owner Dan Moore holds a photo of himself at the age of 32, as a member of the U.S. Treasury Dept., when he was assigned to protect First Lady Jackie Kennedy following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) the First Lady at the elevator at a certain time. “She’s yours,” they said. “I asked, “Why me?” His answer was that Moore knew so many people in the building. Moore’s concern was that he had no formal training as a bodyguard in order to protect the First Lady. They weren’t going to make any announcement of her arrival, so no one would know she was there until then. On the day of her arrival. Moore went to the elevator banks and took control of all access inside the building, which shocked many of the government workers inside. Suddenly, everything just stopped. “The elevator door opened,” Moore said. “She stepped out with her sister, and I greeted her.” They walked down to the main conference room. The Secretary of the Treasury wasn’t there to present the award, so “That’s something that doesn’t happen every day of the week,” Moore said. “It was very quiet – you could hear a pin drop.” Moore said, “Good afternoon, madam” and “This way, please” to the First Lady. He remembered making small talk with the First Lady before and after the award ceremony, adding that she was focused, polite and very calm in spite of all that had happened to her in Dallas just a week or so before. After all these years, Dan says it’s just something one can never forget. A moment in time – a moment in history. BBB Study: Growth of gift card scams causes retailers to innovate solutions A s the holiday shopping season grows near, consumers should be extra alert to scams. More people reported gift card fraud to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam TrackerSM this year, with a 50% increase compared to last year. Online shoppers were hit the hardest. Since BBB issued its 2021 study, “Gift Card Payment Scams, BBB reveals why scammers love gift cards,” scammers have doubled down on gift cards as a method to steal money from consumers while the public embraces digital versions of the cards. For years, scammers preferred a gift card as payment because it’s treated like cash. If a victim is convinced to hand over the 16-digit code and PIN, the money is instantly in the scammer’s pockets. With the introduction of mobile wallets and virtual gift card compatibility over the years, gift cards are more convenient, allowing money to be shuttled across the world in a matter of seconds. Some industry partnerships between retailers and law enforcement have had success in stopping scammers. One initiative started the process of returning more than $4 million in stolen funds to consumers. However, scammers remain resourceful. How do gift card scams work? Scammers persuade individuals to purchase gift cards by impersonating online sellers, pet breeders, government or sweepstakes offi cials and others. They frequently change their methods of getting consumers to pay with cards instead of money, making them hard to stop. In most instances, scammers ask people to buy gift cards and send them the bar code and PIN on the back. Gift cards are essentially cash, meaning anyone who has the code can spend the amount on the card. Sometimes scammers ask for a popular brand (Apple Inc., Google, Target Corporation, Walmart, Best Buy), and other times they ask for a general-use card, such as a Visa Vanilla or American Express gift card. In both cases, scammers want the card number. Some scams involve fraudsters going to stores where gift cards are sold, recording the numbers from the cards and attempting to steal the funds after the cards are loaded. There have also been instances of outright forgery of cards, like one involving a “lab” bust in Canada earlier this year. However, most reports to BBB are the result of fraudsters impersonating sellers, businesses or governmental agencies in order to convince consumers to send them gift cards. Persuading victims that they have an unpaid tax bill, owe fi nes or have a hacked personal account are all common ruses used as part of gift card scams. Losses from scams involving gift cards tend to be much higher than in most other payment methods, ranking third behind wire transfers and cryptocurrency, according to a 2022 BBB Institute for Market Trust report. Gift cards are treated like cash, which makes stolen funds hard to recover. Last year no consumers reported to BBB Institute that they recovered money sent in a gift card scam. What are scammers doing with gift cards? While gift cards might seem harder to spend than cash, fraudsters are able to spend stolen gift cards quickly through networks of associates working in both North America and other countries. BBB reviewed court fi lings and victim reports and talked with experts to track how these scams operate from start to fi nish. In many cases, gift card fraud involves a complex, multi-national network preying upon vulnerable populations. At least 15 reports to BBB since 2020 involve FBI impersonation, with many other government agencies being used for ruses as well, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security. Another dozen pretended to be from Microsoft Corporation, one of many businesses impersonated in gift card scams. Online shoppers are at high risk for encountering gift card scams, according to BBB data. Technology companies like Apple and Google are popular gift card sources for scammers because they can purchase pricey items like computers and resell them later. Millions of dollars are lost on these types of scams each year, according to Federal Trade Commission data. BBB recommends state and federal law enforcement agencies continue collaboration with retailers and add additional programs to help consumers recover funds. State regulators should work with federal law enforcement to develop best practices and create a coalition to share best practices and go after international scammers. Stopping gift card scams Experts interviewed by BBB say the instantaneous transfer of funds from one party to another enables fraudsters to act fast, either spending the money or shuffl ing the money onto a new gift card to obscure their crime. Recently, retailers most aff ected by gift card scams began partnering with authorities to sniff out the digital trail left behind during gift card purchases to catch scammers in the act. Public education remains the number one method of deterrence, said Martha Weaver, a member of the board of directors for the Retail Gift Card Association, because alert consumers can often spot a scam before any money changes hands. SCAMS | SEE Page 18 ׉ 7cassandra://s_gTbTEhfV0UrorXfiuaJ7C3pjjtnf0wprBbWMYQvxM)`̰eh_h@h&eh_h@h% PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://zfyCr0rvrHYuY8qjWw2Hssx8bFsRTgPYYuDo0YEJjCQ 0A`)׉ 7cassandra://u4Zh0AGM9U4f97ioCKcxs56UTPg1GJ11PpxGcb1XqsM͢l`J׉ 7cassandra://nN7EB3pJ5kQzHhGqG18s3XmfxgXMbs48ZkdHapy4m2g*`̰ehgh@h[ט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://aYhORETPM0RxSQmc-yevA-4q2ynBDsMyCMrK5f6bp0gޒ`)׉ 7cassandra://jFiRCoZqvYMd_g3Up_fkXQS-sUwo-0V6N7fcxwuBH1sͳ|`J׉ 7cassandra://RQljJxjaF-DQ182pA8tBNSjbNm6DG4ZikLKsi7x2uMA6`̰ehhh@h\נehhh@h` (9ׁH mailto:AAfordablemason@gmail.comׁ ׁ Јנehhh@h_m#9ׁHhttp://www.advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј׉E2Page 14 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Massachusetts Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program’s Winter Heating Season to Begin November 1 Applications are now open for eligible Massachusetts households to apply for fi nancial assistance this heating season (Nov. 1, 2023 – April 30, 2024) Oct. 30, 2023 (BOSTON) – The Massachusetts Executive Offi ce of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) is pleased to announce November 1 as the start of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) 20232024 winter heating season. LIHEAP is a free, statewide service funded by the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program that helps eligible households stay warm during the winter months by paying a portion of winter heating bills. Applications for home energy assistance are currently being accepted online at toapply. org/massliheap, and incomeeligible households may receive fi nancial help to off set heating bills from November 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024. Both homeowners and renters can apply online or through local administering agencies for LIHEAP assistance. Households must meet specifi c eligibility requirements to qualify for aid, which will be paid directly to their heating vendor. Eligibility is based on several factors, including household size and combined gross annual income of residents 18 and older. Qualifying households – including those with the cost of heat included in the rent – can receive assistance for all sources of heat, including oil, electricity, natural gas, propane, kerosene, wood and coal. “The Massachusetts home energy assistance program is free, because no resident should have to worry about heating their home during the wintertime,” said Ed Augustus Jr., Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities. “High fuel costs can have a devastating eff ect on household budgets and can even endanger Massachusetts’ most vulnerable residents. We encourage anyone who needs heating assistance to explore their eligibility by applying online or visiting the nearest administering agency. And to please share the information with loved ones or neighbors who could benefi t from this free resource.” For more information, or to fi nd your local LIHEAP agency, visit www.toapply.org/MassLIHEAP. About EOHLC The Executive Offi ce of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) was established in 2023 to create more homes and lower housing costs in every region. EOHLC also distributes funding to municipalities, oversees the state-aided public housing portfolio, and operates the state’s EA family shelter. New Tax Foundation report shows Mass. is 5th 1. On Dec. 1, 1959, 12 countries signed off on the Antarctic Treaty, which created what? 2. How are The Three Stooges, The Supremes and Alvin and the Chipmunks similar? 3. When is a legal case almost like a cake? 4. On Dec. 2, 2001, what energy-trading company fi led for bankruptcy? 5. What country’s capital has the word “New” in its name? 6. What animal’s meat is not called by its name on restaurant menus? 7. December 3 is the fi rst day of Advent; what were the fi rst Advent calendars made of? 8. Whose fi rst novel was highest taxed state in the country at $8,101 per capita Florida is 3rd lowest ($4,405) and New Hampshire ranks 20 places better at $5,426 R ecently the Tax Foundation released a new report that looks at state and local tax collections per capita in each state as of fi scal year (FY) 2021, the most recent year for which full state-bystate data are available. Their report shows that Massachusetts ranks 5th highest in the country. Of the two top destinations for people leaving the Commonwealth, New Hampshire comes in at 25th and Florida is the 3rd est at 47th low. New York is the highest at $10,266 in state and local tax collections per person, with Connecticut ($9,458), California ($9,175), New Jersey ($8,303) and Massachusetts ($8,101) rounding out the top fi ve. This newest report from the Tax Foundation does not account for the new income tax surtax or the new marriage penalty, which will only increase the overall tax burden for Massachusetts taxpayers. The Tax Foundation is a Washington, D.C. based nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank that is considered a gold standard for national and state tax analysis. “Despite their lip service to our current predicament, State House politicians continue to pass new, damaging tax hikes like the income surtax of last year and the marriage penalty of this year. This is in addition to ideas like Governor Maura Healey’s local-option transfer tax. It is worth noting that even before all these new tax hikes can be entered into the equation, Massachusetts already ranks 5th highest in the nation for tax collections per capita. When State House politicians wonder why so many taxpayers are leaving Massachusetts, it’s because 45 other states have a lower tax burden per capita than Massachusetts,” noted Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance Spokesperson/Board Member Paul D. Craney. “New Hampshire and Florida are the two top destinations that Massachusetts taxpayers fl ee to. Governor Healey, Speaker Ron Mariano, and Senate President Karen Spilka should be doing everything they can to compete with these two states. Their low tax burden should be a goal for what Massachusetts politicians strive for,” continued Craney. “Governor Healey and State House politicians need to realize they cannot tax their way out of their spending problem. These high tax policies do nothing but make Massachusetts an unaff ordable place to live, retire, and do business in,” concluded Craney. According to the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance’s Mission Statement, it “advocates for fi scal responsibility, transparency, and accountability in state government and increased economic opportunity for the people of our Commonwealth.” originally titled “The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, Containing a Faithful Record of the Perambulations, Perils, Travels, Adventures and Sporting Transactions of the Corresponding Members”? 9. How are Pandora and Eve similar? 10. December 4 is National Cookie Day; according to Guinness World Records, the largest fortune cookie ever was created in 2022 in Boston Answers and weighed about how many pounds: 1, 2 or 3? 11. In what movie is the line “Some people are worth melting for”? 12. The Commonwealth of Dominica has created the fi rst marine protected reserve for what? 13. On Dec. 5, 1782, U.S. President Martin Van Buren was born, who would have the nicknames “Red Fox of Kinderhook” and “The Little Magician”; what state was he from? 14. What U.S. national organization is female lineage-based? 15. Reportedly, a Venice, Calif., book club in 1995 started reading James Joyce’s last book and fi nished it in October 2023; what is the book’s name? 16. In English, what does BMW stand for? 17. December 6 is Saint Nicholas Day; the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” is more commonly know by what fi rst line? 18. What is a cluster of bananas called? 19. How are blue, hermit and snow similar? 20. On Dec. 7, 1956, what basketball player was born whose last name is also in the name of a Muppet? 1. A peaceful zone to be protected for cooperative scientifi c research 2. They are groups of three. 3. In a tort, which is a legal term meaning a wrongful act that is not a breach of contract. (A torte is a type of cake.) 4. Enron 5. India (New Delhi) 6. Deer (venison) 7. Wood (in Germany) 8. Charles Dickens’ (a serialized novel better known as “The Pickwick Papers”) 9. They were earth’s first females, according to Greek mythology and the Bible, respectively. 10. 3 (3 lbs., 3 oz. and 6 x 7 inches) 11. “Frozen” 12. Sperm whales 13. New York 14. Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) 15. “Finnegans Wake” 16. Bavarian Motor Works 17. “’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house…” 18. A hand 19. They are types of crab. 20. Larry Bird (Big Bird) ׉ 7cassandra://nN7EB3pJ5kQzHhGqG18s3XmfxgXMbs48ZkdHapy4m2g*`̰eh_h@h'׉EjTHE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Page 15 Clean-Outs! 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Classifiedsfieds     ׉ 7cassandra://RQljJxjaF-DQ182pA8tBNSjbNm6DG4ZikLKsi7x2uMA6`̰eh_h@h(eh_h@h' PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://yTlKrhq_O0NjVHPY98AxIGEwmZE-fLhPGs_rVJrtmZo n`)׉ 7cassandra://Y82Bj8v__ppk8CiLanDVdEHS7Jrq8-9FtlVKyLBX2xM͐`J׉ 7cassandra://J1jVzAavDzc0H3CdauseV3_c8qM97ZZW29xc0aCm-1w#`̰ehhh@haט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://Kgwn4AeiyFbXtwmpqaKJ9eMPQk17OTLCqC62mlX3d3A 0'`)׉ 7cassandra://02VHrLb5KZIdIjPYrWw2EA4X7w8xyXHG6x7VJRpQp-s͖`J׉ 7cassandra://riCrghk-sIdVA8SxOylJ46e25g56E91zqQNQC69bHsE'h`̰ehih@hbנehih@hm ^̇9ׁHhttp://SavvySenior.orgׁ ׁ Јנehih@hlf^9ׁHhttp://IRS.gov/pub/irsׁ ׁ Јנehih@hkL9ׁH http://woundedwarriorproject.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉E1Page 16 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.) Sen. Lydia Edwards By Bob Katzen If you have any questions about this week’s report, e-mail us at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com or call us at (617) 720-1562 GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and infl uence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: https:// lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/ aPTLucK THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes from recent sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. CREATE COMMISSION TO EXAMINE CURRENT EMERGENCY SHELTER SYSTEM (S 5250) Senate 39-0, approved an amendment creating a bipartisan commission to study and make recommendations by March 1, 2024 on the fi nancial impact and sustainability of the state’s current emergency shelter system and the various supports that are currently off ered to individuals and families. “Our state’s emergency shelter program was simply never meant to handle the number of individuals that it is PETS | FROM Page 5 Keep the following holiday foods away from pets: • Turkey trimmings: Ensure proper disposal of turkey trimmings, including the trussing string, which might attract curious pets and lead to ingestion, potentially causing health issues. • Turkey skin: Consumption of turkey skin can trigger life-threatening infl ammation of the pancreas, resulting in enzyme malfunctions that digest the pancreas. • Meat with bones: Sharp bone fragments in meat can cause mouth, stomach and intestinal injuries, potentially leading to life-threatening infections. • Alcohol: Alcohol poisoning symptoms can appear quickly. The higher the alcohol proof, the higher the risk. Be cautious of alcohol-containing foods like rum-soaked cake and raw bread dough with yeast. In addition, dogs and cats often will investigate and sometimes drink glasshousing today and we need to take a hard look at the fi nancial stability of our emergency housing assistance program, and the impact it is having on our municipalities and commonwealth as a whole,” said amendment sponsor Sen. John Velis (D-Westfi eld). “Otherwise, we will soon be faced with some very diffi cult decisions on other funding priorities that we value so much. In the absence of federal action, we need to have an honest conversation about these growing costs and what our off -ramp, if any, is going to be. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes REQUIRE PRICING DATA (S 2499) Senate 38-0, approved an amendment to a section of a drug price reform bill. A section of the bill gives the state’s Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA’s) the option to fine pharmaceutical companies up to $2,000 per week if they do not submit drug pricing data by a certain deadline. The amendment would require CHIA to fi ne the companies. “For far too long, the pharmaceutical industry has exploited taxpayers, patients and the government through insidious lobbying tactics that have prevented any meaningful price control for decades,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford). “The industry has fought every common-sense cost-saving policy I have sponsored for over 20 years, ranging from bulk purchasing to simple price transparency.” es of alcoholic beverages that are left unattended at large gatherings. • Raisins, grapes and currants: Found in various holiday treats like fruit cakes, cookies and breads; ingestion can lead to kidney damage or life-threatening kidney failure. • Chocolate: Baking, semisweet and dark chocolate are most harmful. Chocolate contains theobromine and caff eine, both toxic to pets. • Onions, garlic and chives: These are common ingredients in holiday dishes. Small amounts can lead to severe health complications, including anemia and organ damage. • Artifi cial sweeteners: Xylitol can take the place of sugar in some desserts but is toxic to dogs even in small amounts and can cause low blood sugar, seizures and liver failure. Holiday foods on the nice list: Dr. Coronado recommends the following safe food options to share with your pets this holiday season: Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL 2024 BALLOT QUESTION – Campaigns to put questions on the November 2024 ballot had until November 22 to collect and fi le with local city and towns clerks the 74,574 signatures necessary to take the next step toward getting their proposals on the November 2024 ballot. The next step is for supporters to fi le the signatures, following certifi cation by local offi cials, with the secretary of state’s offi ce by Dec. 6. The proposal would then be sent to the Legislature and if not approved by the Legislature by May 1, 2024, proponents must gather another 12,429 signatures and fi le them with local offi cials by June 19, 2024, and then the secretary of state’s offi ce by July 3, 2024, in order for the question to appear on the November 2024 ballot. Several proposals seem poised to get the 74,574 signatures although nothing is offi cial yet. The proposed laws include ones to change the rights and benefi ts for on-demand drivers like Uber and Lyft; permit the state auditor’s offi ce to audit the Legislature; increase over fi ve years the minimum wage for tipped workers to the same as the general minimum wage; legalize some psychedelic substances including psilocybin and psilocyn found in mushrooms to treat mental health disorders including major depressive disorder and substance abuse; remove the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam as a high school graduation requirement and instead require students to complete coursework certifi ed by the student’s district as demonstrating mastery of the competencies contained in the state academic standards in math, science and technology and English FREE PHONE CALLS FOR PRISONERS (S 4502) – Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a bill that beginning • Unseasoned, cooked turkey (without skin or bones) • Steamed or mashed sweet potatoes (plain) • Canned pumpkin (not pie mix or seeds) • Unseasoned, grilled or canned salmon (no bones) • Steamed, chopped green beans (plain) Recognizing signs of harmful ingestion: Some of the common symptoms that your pet has ingested something harmful include: • Gastrointestinal issues: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and abdominal pain. • Behavioral changes: lethargy, depression and weakness. In severe cases, pets might display elevated heart and respiratory rates, pale gums or loss of consciousness. Do not attempt to induce vomiting at home as it can be diffi cult and unsafe. When to seek veterinary care: Pet owners are advised to act promptly if they witness or suspect their pet has ingested something toxic. Call your veterinaron December 1, 2023, will provide free phone calls and video calls for all prisoners in Massachusetts. Currently there is no legal requirement for free phone calls in correctional facilities. Each facility contracts separately for telephone service. “Ensuring that individuals in state and county prisons can keep in contact with their loved ones is key to enhancing rehabilitation, reducing recidivism and improving community safety,” Healey said. “I’m proud to sign this important legislation.” “Providing free phone calls in Massachusetts prisons and jails has been a longstanding priority of mine and I am thrilled to see the commonwealth recognize the importance of keeping families connected by codifying this reform into law,” said Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton). “By eliminating these excessive fees, we are helping families during an already traumatizing period of separation, improving public safety outcomes by reducing recidivism, and ultimately ending a regressive and outdated policy.” At the time the Legislature approved the bill on November 8, Rep. Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick) who opposed the measure said, “Every law abiding citizen that has a job and works 40 plus hours a week has to pay for phone calls. Why are criminals entitled to free phone calls? It’s completely ridiculous and absurd that Democrats are giving free anything to criminals. Criminals and their families should be paying for their phone calls, not taxpayers.” DWARFISM AWARENESS DAY (H 3044) – On November 20, the House gave initial approval to a bill that would make October 25th Dwarfi sm Awareness Day in the Bay State. The legislation would not apply until October 25, 2024 since October 25, 2023 has already come and gone. Despite repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call, sponsor Rep. Jim ian immediately or Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. Early intervention and decontamination can prevent life-threatening complications. “Most pet emergencies that take place during the holidays involve the ingestion of turkey bones,” said Dr. Coronado. “It could be too late if you wait until your pet shows symptoms. If you plan to take your pet with you when you travel over the holidays, determine ahead of time where you could take your pet if they need immediate veterinary care.” Veterinary care during the holidays: When seeking veterinary attention for your pet over the holidays, Dr. Coronado recommends: • Advance communication: Contact your local veterinary urgent care or emergency hospital ahead of time. Inform them of the nature of your pet’s emergency and your estimated arrival time. • Patience: Due to increased holiday emergencies, some hospitals might experience longer wait times. Emotions can run Hawkins (D-Attleboro) failed to respond to requests asking him to comment on his proposal. In the 2021-2022 session, the bill was approved by the House but died in the Senate. At that time, Hawkins, a retired teacher from Attleboro High School, said he fi led the measure after a request by former student Vicki Ziniti who has dwarfi sm. “She has organized an advocacy group of people with dwarfi sm and asked me about the possibility for ‘National Dwarfi sm Day’ in the commonwealth,” said Hawkins. Since graduating, Vicki has gotten her teaching certification and is a classroom teacher so you know we were excited to fi le this legislation and advocate for its passage.” Supporters say that around the world people with dwarfi sm face social and physical barriers. They note that October 25 was chosen as the day for Dwarfi sm Awareness Day because it was the birthday of Billy Barty who was an American actor who had dwarfi sm, and in 1957 set up Little People of America—an organization that supports people with dwarfism as well as raising awareness about the issue. DOXING (S 1116, H 1707 and S 971) – The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on several bills that would make doxing illegal in Massachusetts. One of the measures defi nes doxing as “the knowing disclosure of personal identifying information of a person without that person’s consent that is intended to cause stalking, physical harm to person, or serious property damage, or to cause the person about whom the information pertains to reasonably fear for the physical safety of themselves or a close relation.” “We are living in a time when a truly alarming amount of hate is being directed at individuals and marginalBEACON | SEE Page 19 high during an emergency. Be patient with the staff . They are doing their best to accommodate everyone. About Thrive Pet Healthcare: Thrive Pet Healthcare is a leading veterinary service network that uniquely delivers a continuum of care to pet families and services to veterinary hospitals. With an industry-fi rst membership program and over 350 acute, primary and specialty providers, Thrive Pet Healthcare offers personalized, accessible care through every stage of a pet’s life and health. The veterinarian-founded organization provides premier benefi ts for practice staff while elevating privately held veterinary hospitals with innovative service and technology solutions. By focusing on the needs and aspirations of veterinary care providers, Thrive Pet Healthcare is supporting the well-being of the industry and raising the national bar for veterinary excellence. To learn more about Thrive Pet Healthcare, please visit www.thrivepetcare.com. ׉ 7cassandra://J1jVzAavDzc0H3CdauseV3_c8qM97ZZW29xc0aCm-1w#`̰eh_h@h)׉E)THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Page 17 OBITUARIES Vincenza (Viola) Salvaggio years to the late Giuseppe Salvaggio. The loving mother of Rose Cayton of Palm Coast, FL., Phyllis Palumbo & her late husband Frank Palumbo of Wilmington, & Maria Rosberg & her husband Michael Debye of Burlington. She is the cherished grandmother of 8 loving grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren & 1 great – great grandchild. She has & siblings living & deceased. She is also lovingly survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, & grandnephews. Family & friends were invitO f Revere. Died at the Massachusetts General Hospital on November 22nd. She was 94 years old. Vincenza was a native of Pietraperzia, Sicily, Italy. Vincenza married her husband, Giuseppe Salvaggio in Pietraperzia on August 12, 1946. They remained in Italy, where they began their family. In 1957, Vincenza made the journey to the United States joining her husband Giuseppe with their two daughters, settling Boston’s North End. They had another daughter 18 years later, all girls, and the family moved to East Boston, then later Hyde Park. In 1993, the family made their last move to West Revere. Vincenza was a devoted housewife and mother. She was the epitome of mother, showing her children what love & family means by her daily actions. She is the beloved wife of 66 FOOTBALL | FROM Page 1 concluded with a display of football’s harsh truths – turnovers can be decisive, and they proved to be the Achilles’ heel for Revere as Winthrop capitalized with scores after turnovers. Captain Malki, alongside his fellow captains and seniors – Walter Rodriguez, Abbas Atoui and Carlos Rizo – refl ected on the season with a maturity beyond their years. There’s no single reason the team can point to for its loss, the captains said. They were energized, motivated and full of love for each other and the game. Yet, in the end, it was the big plays that spelled their downfall. And all they could do was tip their caps, or helmets, shall we say. This sentiment resonated throughout the season, as the team faced their challenges head-on, learning and growing with each snap of the ball. Coping with injuries throughout the entire season, the Patriots battled, and, when near full strength, showed what type of team they can be. Whether it was a four-touchdown-run effort from Geovani Woodard, or a three-touchdown-pass game from Rizo, Revere ended up being a competitive team when ed to attend a visitation on Wednesday, November 29th in the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals, Revere. A Funeral Mass was celebrated at in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Revere on Thursday. Entombment followed in Woodlawn Cemetery Sheffi eld Mausoleum, Everett. Please omit fl owers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105. Andrew D. DeFrancesco O f Revere. Died on Monday, November 27 at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedplaying with a full deck. The captains’ parting message to the returning players was clear and potent: Begin in the weight room. “As for the returning players next year, we would all like to reiterate the same core values,” Malki said. “It all starts in the weight room. From January until Thanksgiving Day, good teams treat every day like it’ll make all the diff erence. When it comes down to the fi ne line between two good teams, the little things decide the winner. Show up to weight room, work hard, be a leader and most of all set the tone for the team’s morals. If there’s a crack in the foundation the whole structure goes down. Make sure the younger guys and new players know exactly what’s expected. Set the tone and normalize not tolerating laziness and complaining early on.” Discipline or a lack of it will make or break your season, Malki said, adding, “Push to your limits and enjoy your wins, but most importantly know how to handle your losses. All of us captains can tell you fi rsthand after this season that good leaders are the ones who claim accountability after losing. And even more so after losing time and time again. Winning reford at the age of 84. He was the husband of Sharon (Segalla) DeFrancesco with whom he shared 59 years of marriage. Born in Boston and raised in the South End, he was the son of the late Andrew and Maria (Cogliano) DeFrancesco. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam Era, Mr. DeFrancesco worked for many years as a General Contractor. A resident of Revere for the last 27 years, previously living in Malden, he enjoyed woodworking in his spare time. Mr. DeFrancesco was a member of the VFW Post #6712 in Beachmont and the DAV. Besides his wife he is survived by two children; Richard DeFrancesco and his wife Lourdes of Peabody, Denise Howard and her husband Dave of Topsfi eld, four grandchildren; Daria, Drew, Sofi a and Mia. He was the brother of Ettore DeFrancesco of Revere, Paul DeFrancesco of NH, John DeFrancesco of ME and Anthony DeFrancesco of TX. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral mass in St. Mary of Assumption Church, 660 Washington Ave., Revere, on Friday, December 1 at 11 a.m. Interment to follow at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody. In lieu of fl owers donations in his memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project @https://support. woundedwarriorproject.org. quires everything and guarantees you nothing. Even when you do everything right, work your very hardest, do your very best, sometimes, it’s just not your day. Anything can happen. You can be the better team and still lose. Accepting that and working your hardest anyways is what this sport is all about.” The future for these young men is bright, with Malki focusing on wrestling, Rodriguez eyeing a spring track while recovering from an injury, Atoui aiming for track success, and Rizo hoping to continue his quarterback career in college. As they move on to new challenges, they carry the lessons learned on the football fi eld – lessons of perseverance, teamwork and the relentless pursuit of excellence. As Revere turns the page on the 2023 season, the story of this team will be remembered not for the scores, but for the spirit, determination and heart they exhibited. This is the legacy the captains leave behind – a legacy not defi ned by wins or losses, but by the indomitable will to keep fi ghting, no matter the odds. “We’ll all defi nitely be keeping in touch with one another,” Malki said, “and with the family bonds we’ve made with this team over the last four years.” How a Health Savings Account Can Boost Your Retirement Savings Dear Savvy Senior, I’m interested in contributing to a health savings account to help boost my retirement savings but would like to better understand how they work. What can you tell me? Almost 60 Dear Almost, A health savings account, or HSA, is a fantastic fi nancial tool that can help you build up a tax-free stash of money for medical expenses now and after you retire. But to qualify, you must be enrolled in a highdeductible health insurance plan. Here’s an overview of how they work and how you can open one. HSA Rules HSAs have become very popular over the past few years as the cost of health care continues to skyrocket, and because more and more Americans have high-deductible health plans. The great benefi t of a HSA is the triple tax advantage that it off ers: Your HSA contributions can be deducted pretax from your paycheck, lowering your taxable income; the money in the account grows taxfree; and if you use the money for eligible medical expenses, withdrawals are tax-free. And if you change jobs, the HSA moves with you. To qualify, you must have a health insurance policy with a deductible of at least $1,500 for an individual or $3,000 for a family in 2023. In 2024, the deductible rises to $1,600/individual or $3,200/ family. This year, you can contribute up to $3,850 if you have single health insurance coverage, or up to $7,750 for family coverage. Next year (2024) you can contribute signifi cantly more – up to $4,150 for single coverage or up to $8,300 for family coverage. And people age 55 and older can put away an extra $1,000 each year. But you cannot make contributions after you sign up for Medicare. The money can be used for outof-pocket medical expenses, including deductibles, co-payments, Medicare premiums, prescription drugs, vision and dental care and other expenses (see IRS.gov/pub/irspdf/p502.pdf, page 5, for a complete list) either now or when you retire for yourself and your spouse as well as your tax dependents. Unlike a flexible spending account, an HSA doesn’t require you to use the money by the end of the year. Rather, HSA funds roll over year to year and continue to grow tax-free in your HSA account for later use. In fact, you’ll get a bigger tax benefi t if you use other cash for current medical expenses and keep the HSA money growing for the long term. Be sure to hold on to your receipts for medical expenses after you open your HSA, even if you pay those bills with cash, so you can claim the expenses later. There’s no time limit for withdrawing the money tax-free for eligible medical expenses you incurred any time after you opened the account. But be aware that if you do use your HSA funds for non-medical expenses, you’ll be required to pay taxes on the withdrawal, plus a 20 percent penalty. The penalty, however, is waived for those 65 and older, but you’ll still pay ordinary income tax on withdraws not used for eligible expenses. How to Open an HSA You should fi rst check with your employer to see if they off er a HSA, and if they will contribute to it. If not, you can open an HSA through many banks, brokerage fi rms and other fi nancial institutions, as long as you have a qualifi ed high-deductible health insurance policy. If you plan to keep the money growing for the future, look for an HSA administrator that off ers a portfolio of mutual funds for longterm investing and has low fees. Some of the top-rated HSA providers in 2023 are Lively, HealthEquity, OptumBank, Fidelity, HSA Bank and Bank of America. After setting up your HSA plan, adding money is pretty straightforward. Most plans let you do online transfers from your bank, send checks directly, or set up a payroll deduction if off ered by your employer. To access your HSA funds many plans, provide a debit card and most allow for reimbursement. 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. ׉ 7cassandra://riCrghk-sIdVA8SxOylJ46e25g56E91zqQNQC69bHsE'h`̰eh_h@h*eh_h@h) PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://spPBLqiDvmEm_mGiiIEVRHRTSIWJFlXMfgsMNeM5h8Q `)׉ 7cassandra://5vGLF3tR31_mdsZK0wsJujLJA16Q2gNwM3MhkjueFMw͚`J׉ 7cassandra://okoPyrK0JvP8Tphe1EPF0EgrsionLMHkIAXME2rIXBc'r`̰ehih@hhט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://f4uSkcA_eAkxQ596890QAbXqHsDdsekapuXDCfNtx90 .`)׉ 7cassandra://Cx6R4WnXK6rXl2AxSL8D82kw-5NEMXZNHH354uK_zkk͕ `J׉ 7cassandra://q2KpW8n-q-q5wSUx1381GHHZPMwj-TP5DFYV-eg-KTU'`̰ehih@hiנehjh@ht TH9ׁH!mailto:bob@beaconhillrollcall.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E&Page 18 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Copyrighted material previously published in Banker & Tradesman/The Commercial Record, a weekly trade newspaper. It is reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Warren Group. For a searchable database of real estate transactions and property information visit: www.thewarrengroup.com Mejia, Jhony L BUYER1 Trujillo, Julio REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS SELLER1 BUYER2 George Maglione Jr RET Ctc Lt SELLER2 Mclaughlin, John T Chan, Chiu 23 Mountain Ave 1129 N Shore Rd #6 ADDRESS DATE PRICE 11.02.23 900000 11.03.23 366000 The Blue Suit unravels: Leader Herald owner called the shots at press deadline (Editor’s Note: This article was published in the Oct. 27, 2023 edition of the Everett Advocate) By James Mitchell I n a continuation of a deposition by Everett Leader Herald newspaper owner Matthew Philbin on Oct. 13, 2023 – in the ongoing defamation lawsuit against him, the newspaper, his father Andrew Philbin, Sr., reporter Joshua Resnek and Sergio Cornelio – Philbin was presented exhibits in which he and, on many occasions, James Mahoney, his former newspaper layout person, received emails that showed drafts of Resnek’s Blue Suit columns, which he claimed were satirical. They described the mayor committing various criminal acts. The majority of the drafts were sent each and every week – the day before the newspaper edition went to press for that week. One of the most infl ammatory articles published by the Leader Herald describes the Blue Suit having a conversation with the corrupt reporter/publisher – stemming from a draft of an article in a March 31, 2020, email – which made claims that Carlo DeMaria, while working at his donut shop, was involved in a scenario where a knife was held to a female employee’s throat and that the police were called and a complaint was fi led and reported by the Revere Police. When asked by the mayor’s attorney, Jeff rey Robbins, if Resnek ever presented any evidence that a knife was held to anyone’s throat; or read a police report in connection with the article, or if any charges were SCAMS | FROM Page 13 With most gift card scams involving organized crime outside North America, experts, including Weaver, want consumers equipped with enough knowledge to combat scammers when confronted. “Scams are creating that level of fear or angst or urgency,” she said. Consumers should slow down and even hang up the phone if they fear they are being scammed, no matter what the person on the line is saying to them. fi led due to the police report against the mayor, Philbin replied that he didn’t ask Resnek if he had any evidence nor requested Resnek to prove an ounce of truthfulness of the article. Philbin was asked if he was ever aware that the person who fi led the complaint against the mayor that was refl ected in the police report was thrown out of court due to lack of probable cause; Philbin replied, “No.” “Did you make any effort whatsoever to ascertain the facts about the complaint that was fi led by the person in the police report?” “No. I left that up to Josh Resnek,” replied Philbin. “Did you ever seek to verify whether or not this woman had ever claimed that Mr. DeMaria had held a sharp object to her throat?” asked the attorney. “No. I’m not a researcher. I’m not a reporter. No. I did not,” stated Philbin. “You own the newspaper, right?” asked Robbins. “I do own the newspaper, yes,” he answered. Robbins asked Philbin if there was anything in the article that should be considered fi ction or satire; Philbin said that it was a blue suit talking to Resnek. When asked why there wasn’t a disclaimer stating that the article was fi ctitious, Philbin stated that it was about a blue suit. When asked why there were disclaimers on other Blue Suit articles claiming that the articles were “not reality,” the witness was asked if there was a disclaimer on that particular arIn cases where people have sent money to scammers, businesses are continually revising their rules around refunds and crediting consumers. Weaver said victims should keep receipts and any other digital evidence about their purchase, which can be used in the investigation and may lead to future refunds. “Brands are much more willing to help recoup,” said Weaver. “Some brands are starting to put together funds to help victims. It impacts their reputation. They have to have a good one, or people won’t buy [their ticle; Philbin said there wasn’t. “Do you see any reference to that, anything like that in this article?” asked Atty. Robbins. “No. Not in this one. I don’t,” said Philbin. “No.” In another email exhibit between Philbin and Resnek, Philbin is then provided with two copies of the same draft articles – one dated May 12, 2020, the other dated May 13, 2020 – in which Resnek writes, “…in the master bedroom’s en suite bathroom, (all polished marble and stainless steel donated to his cause by folks wishing to do business with the city) he usually shaves.” The attorney asked Philbin if Resnek has ever provided evidence or did he (Philbin) take any steps to verify that the mayor had accepted any goods or services from anybody. Philbin said he did not. Asked if there was any language of a disclaimer stating that the article was fi ction or satire, Philbin said he did not see one. Renek’s Blue Suit columns – despite almost never providing a disclaimer that the banter and scenarios between Resnek and a fi ctional Blue Suit, which he claimed was worn by Mayor Carlo DeMaria, were fi ctional and meant as satire – almost always mirrored the majority of Resnek’s page one articles describing scandals and crimes being committed by the mayor, particularly in 2021 leading up to the elections. Resnek would brag to many of his friends in emails on how his stories were destroying the mayor and his cards].” Red fl ags for potential gift card scams • Businesses or governmental agencies requesting gift cards • Cold calls about overdue tax payments • Paying for services or items with unrelated gift cards • Online sellers requesting gift cards as payment • Anyone asking to be sent a number or PIN over the phone or email • Promises to be reimbursed through check BBB tips to avoid falling for a gift card scam • Be on guard if anyone ever asks for payment through a gift card. • Stop immediately if a person claiming to be from the government asks for a gift card. • Contact the gift card seller, the actual business and government organization supposedly asking for money, and BBB to ask whether you are encountering a scam. reelection chances. Philbin, gifted the newspaper following its purchase by his father and fellow defendant Andrew Philbin, Sr., owner of Philbin Insurance, which was recently sold to Salem Five Savings Bank, hired Resnek, a former partner of the Independent Newspaper Group, which publishes the Everett Independent and Revere Journal newspapers. Resnek was shown the door when the group parted ways with him after it was discovered by the majority owner, publisher Steven Quigley, that Resnek had taken money from a vendor of the City of Boston. Resnek would also be fi red from a well-respected Boston public relations fi rm as well as a Jewish newspaper. During the deposition, Philbin was shown another exhibit of an Oct. 6, 2020, email, including to the newspaper’s layout person, James Mahoney, of a Blue Suit column that claims the mayor was always taking bribes in form of money and casino chips thanks to the Encore Casino development. Atty. Robbins showed Philbin the draft of the column where Resnek writes that the mayor is involved in, among other things, secret deals. When asked by his Blue Suit character how he knows of any deals, Resnek, answering the Blue Suit, states that he’s written a book about the casino land deal, co-written by Forbes Magazine investigative journalist Walter Pavlo, and boasts of having a publisher. Resnek has previously testi• A message from a work superior asking to purchase gift cards fi ed in his deposition that he had a manuscript but failed to fi nd a publisher, and promised Philbin that he would split the profits if he was able to promote it in the newspaper. Philbin denied knowing of Resnek’s “deal” to split the sale of the book profi ts. In the draft presented to Philbin, Resnek wrote that the mayor received a “bouquet” of cash for doing favors and that the FBI agent Elio was allowing the mayor to “run around without being touched by the law.” Resnek also implied that the mayor received a commission for the sale of the land to Encore. “Did you make any eff ort to verify any of the information contained in this draft?” asked the attorney. “No. I had no reason not to believe it. He said he was the investigative reporter. He’s in charge of these articles and columns…40 years of him doing this, I thought that he would have evidence and do it right. Yeah,” answered Philbin. “Did he ever show you any of the evidence?” asked Robbins. “No,” he replied. Philbin stated that Resnek never provided any evidence that the mayor had committed any of the things that was written in his article. Philbin would be provided with emails of drafts of articles he received from Resnek the day before the weekly editions were sent to press, proving that Philbin was the fi nal word before every edition went to press. • Keep all information related to purchase if scammed. Where to report a gift card scam • www.bbb.org • https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or call 877-FTC-Help. • https://www.ic3.gov/ – if you have bought a gift card as a part of a scam, report it to the company. Any third-party trademarks mentioned in the report remain the intellectual property of their respective holder, and use of them does not imply affi liation with or endorsement by them. Revere ׉ 7cassandra://okoPyrK0JvP8Tphe1EPF0EgrsionLMHkIAXME2rIXBc'r`̰eh_h@h+׉ETHE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 Page 19 BEACON | FROM Page 16 ized groups of people, including identity-based bigotry,” said the sponsor of S 1116 Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “That hatred can manifest as dangerous doxing, publishing someone’s personally identifying information without their consent and with malicious intent. [The bill] establishing a right to freedom from doxing, would explicitly declare doxing to be unlawful and provide recourse for doxing through either a private cause of action or civil suit fi led by the attorney general.” “My commitment to the well-being and safety of the commonwealth is one of my top priorities,” said Rep. Tram Nguyen (D-Andover), the sponsor of H 1707. “In an era where technology connects us, it’s important to provide protections against doxing so that no one lives in fear of harassment, stalking, or harm. This bill will advance our shared responsibility to establish a safer and more respectful digital community for all.” “I believe that everyone has a fundamental right to privacy online, which is why I fi led legislation to protect individuals against incidents of doxing,” said Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover), the sponsor of S 971. “Ensuring privacy for all residents within the commonwealth, especially those most vulnerable to this malicious action, continues to be one of my legislative priorities.” BAN PHISHING AND TRACKING (H 1573) – The Judiciary Committee hearing also included legislation that would outlaw the practice of phishing, which involves using fraudulent e-mail solicitations in an attempt to obtain an individual’s personal information, including computer passwords, bank account and credit card numbers. The bill would establish the punishment for phishing as a fi ne of up to $5,000 and/or up to a 2.5 year jail sentence. “Phishing scams are evolving daily, morphing into more complex schemes intended to defraud a wide range of targets, from individual residents of the commonwealth to large financial service institutions,” said sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “As these phishing attempts become more sophisticated, it is imperative that we continue to modernize our laws to combat and prevent these types of scams to protect the public.” The committee’s agenda also included a bill fi led by Jones that would prohibit the use of motor vehicle tracking devices without the consent of the vehicle’s owner. The provisions of this bill would not apply to systems installed by the manufacturer of a motor vehicle, car rental businesses or insurance companies with the vehicle owner’s consent. “Motor vehicle tracking devices provide a useful tool for law enforcement, parents and legal guardians of children who are minors, and business owners tracking company vehicles, and those uses would continue to be allowed under this bill,” said Jones. “The real purpose of this bill is to promote public safety by preventing individuals from using these devices to engage in predatory activities such as stalking.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “Through the creation of readiness plans on college campuses, we are ensuring that more people will have safe and eff ective options for reproductive health care. Schools can and should use this toolkit to evaluate and improve their capacity to provide sexual and reproductive health services. Every student in Massachusetts deserves thoughtful and comprehensive support when making decisions about their own health.” ---Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announcing the launch of the Medication Abortion Toolkit for Public Colleges and Universities. The toolkit is designed to assist Massachusetts’ public colleges and universities in preparing medication abortion readiness plans to provide, or make referrals for, medication abortion on college campuses in accordance with new Massachusetts law. “Work authorization is key to helping new arrivals get jobs that will help them support their families, move out of emergency shelter into more stable housing options, and fi ll critical workforce needs across our economy. We’re proud that the fi rst week of this clinic has proven to be such a success, with more than 1,000 people served.” ---Gov. Maura Healey announcing that her administration assisted some 1,200 work-eligible migrants staying in emergency family shelters with obtaining work authorizations in the fi rst week of its Work Authorization Legal Clinic in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “Quick Temp repeatedly denied their employees a prevailing wage and other benefi ts guaranteed to them by law. As we approach the holiday season, these issues of wage theft become even more pressing to resolve. My office will continue to hold accountable those who violate our wage and hour laws and do so in partnership with our unions and trades.” ---Attorney General Andrea Campbell announcing a series of citations against Quick Temp., Inc., totaling $1,392,665, in restitution and civil fi nes for violations including failure to pay a prevailing wage, failure to pay minimum wage, failure to pay overtime, non-payment of wages and failure to accrue earned sick leave. “Gov. Healey and Statehouse politicians need to realize they cannot tax their way out of their spending problem. These high tax policies do nothing but make Massachusetts an unaff ordable place to live, retire and do business in.” ---Paul Craney, spokesman for the Mass Fiscal Alliance commenting on the Tax Foundation’s new report that ranks Massachusetts as in fi fth in the most state and local tax collections per capita in each state as of fiscal year fi scal year 2021, the most recent year for which full state-by-state data are available. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions. During the week of November 2024, the House and Senate both met for a total of 30 minutes each. Mon. Nov. 20 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:24 a.m. Senate 11:05 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. Tues. Nov. 21 No House session No Senate session Wed. Mon. 22 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:07 a.m. Senate 11:15 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. Thurs. Nov. 23 No House session No Senate session Fri. Nov. 24 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019. ׉ 7cassandra://q2KpW8n-q-q5wSUx1381GHHZPMwj-TP5DFYV-eg-KTU'`̰eh_h@h,eh_h@h+ PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://myH0YyJNRnTRJurzI40Y6eI94DU6s_rVWXW8xu3zLTM`)׉ 7cassandra://oT34FatWYXM-TX5OrZTprCRsCwEXIK2QbOuPqENyhXc͎X`J׉ 7cassandra://Uk2K2namkun7J4CqvrteAQfXrgt4nwS_2x2REI24XKk-`̰ehih@ho׉E=Page 20 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023                                                                                                                                                                                            FOR SALE FOR SALE- COME SEE THIS REMODELED 4 BEDROOM, 2 BATH CAPE FEATURING A BRAND NEW KITCHEN WITH STAINLESS APPLIANCES AND QUARTZ COUNTERS. 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FOR SALE FOR SALE-FOUR FAMILY INVESTMENT PROPERTY IN DOWNTOWN SQUARE AREA CLOSE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. EACH UNIT IS RENTED WITH LONG TERM TENANTS AND EACH UNIT HAS IT’S OWN SEPARATE ENTRANCE. TWO NEWER GAS HEATING SYSTEMS, SEPARATE ELECTRIC METERS, 2 DRIVEWAYS AND PARKING FOR UP TO 8 CARS. WILL BE DELIVERED OCCUPIED. PEABODY $975,500 CALL RHONDA 781-706-0842 DEBBIE MILLER 617-678-9710 CALL HER FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS LOOKING FOR EXPERIENCED AGENTS WHO WANT A NO HASSLE, NO NONSENSE OFFICE. WE ARE LOOKING FOR AGENTS WHO WANT TO MAKE A DECENT PAY WITHOUT PAYING HIGH FEES. ARE YOU A GO GETTER? PERHAPS BI-LINGUAL? CALL US TODAY! KEITH 781-389-0791 ׉ 7cassandra://Uk2K2namkun7J4CqvrteAQfXrgt4nwS_2x2REI24XKk-`̰eh_h@h-׈Eeh_h@h.eh_h@h- P,Revere Advocate 12/01/2023Revere Advocate 12/01/2023eh]U1