News Briefs

COMMISSION OF DISABILITIES HOLDS Meeting

The Commission on Disabilities held its February meeting last Tuesday, discussing a number of items of interest to residents with disabilities:

Website updates: The Commission on Disabilities’ website, http://www.revere.org/departments/commission-on-disabilities, has been updated with application forms for handicap parking spaces, and an FAQ guide on the rules and regulations governing eligibility for handicap parking signs. You can print the forms off the website and mail them in to City Hall, or scan and email them to [email protected].

Constituent services: The Disabilities constituent services hotline is up and running at 781-286-8267, or via email at [email protected]. Staff is available to respond to your concerns about accessibility issues in our community.

Valentine’s Day Party and weekly play group: Revere parents, in conjunction with the Revere Recreation Department, recently hosted a successful Valentine’s Day Party for students with special needs.

This party builds off the weekly Drop and Stay Play Group for kids with special needs, held each Monday from 6 PM-7:30 PM at the youth center (150 Beach Street). Kids have the opportunity to play, explore, and meet friends, while parents have a chance to chat with other parents.

​Cost is $5 per child and siblings are welcome. Drinks and a light snack are provided.

​For more information please call Jen Duggan at (617) 538-7695 or Enza Goodwin at (781) 485-7163.

Special Olympics: The Special Olympics Young Athlete program returns to Revere in March  – a free program introducing kids age 2-7 to the world of Special Olympics.

Sessions will be held on Saturdays from 11 AM to 12 PM at the Paul Revere School gymnasium, starting March 11.

The program is volunteer-driven; those interested in volunteering should contact Enza Goodwin at 781-485-7163 or email [email protected] with any questions.

Children can be registered to participate in the free program at specialolympicsma.org/YARegistration.

NEXT MEETING: The next meeting of the Commission on Disabilities will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 6 PM. If you have an agenda item you would like discussed, please email [email protected].

 

Grant awarded to Garfield School

State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and Jack McCarthy, MSBA Executive Director and Deputy CEO, announced that the MSBA Board of Directors has approved up to $54,303,504 for 35 Accelerated Repair Projects in 20 school districts, including Revere.

The Garfield Middle School received a $871,699 grant for a boiler with the total project worth $1,288,843.

 

“The Accelerated Repair Program allows us to make critical repairs to more schools in less time,” said Goldberg. “By improving the learning environment for our children, the Program also makes schools more energy efficient and generates significant cost savings.”

The main goals of the Accelerated Repair Program are to improve learning environments for children and teachers, reduce energy use, and generate cost savings for districts. The program provides funding for the repair or replacement of roofs, windows, and boilers in schools that are otherwise structurally, functionally, and educationally sound.

“The MSBA continues to partner with Massachusetts communities in the ongoing work of upgrading their public schools,” McCarthy said. “These improvements to school facilities can only enhance students’ ability to excel in the classroom.”

The MSBA partners with Massachusetts communities to support the design and construction of educationally-appropriate, flexible, sustainable, and cost-effective public school facilities. Since its 2004 inception, the Authority has made over 1,750 site visits to more than 250 school districts as part of its due diligence process and has made over $12.4 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.

 

Shuttle bus at MBTA blue line

Due to necessary track work, buses will replace Blue Line trains between Bowdoin and Airport Stations in both directions from start to end of service on the following weekend:

Saturday, February 25, 2017 and Sunday, February 26, 2017

Regular Blue Line train service will resume at the start of service on the following Monday.

All shuttle bus stops are accessible for persons with disabilities.

Shuttling the following stops:

Airport (busway)

Maverick (busway)

Aquarium (State Street @ Surface Artery)

State Street (State Street at Washington St bus berth)

Government Center

Bowdoin

Customers looking to board shuttle bus service at Government Center and Bowdoin Stations must do so at the State Street bus stop.

 

Team Receives Alzheimer’s Supportive Home Care Training

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions.  Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s today according to the Alzheimer’s Association. In the Home Healthcare field, agencies like ABC Home Healthcare Professionals providing care for people with Alzheimer’s require their Home Health Aides undergo specialized training in this area to ensure they provide the best possible care to these clients.

ABC is pleased to announce that we recently had nine more Home Health Aides complete the Alzheimer’s Supportive Home Care Aide training bringing our total to over 60 Home Health Aides on staff trained to work with clients living with this disease. The two-day intensive training was provided by Mystic Valley Elder Services, a non-profit agency which partners with elders, adults living with disabilities, and caregivers residing in Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Revere, Stoneham, Wakefield and Winthrop. Mystic Valley Elder Services provided this training opportunity to our Home Health Aides to support the growing need in the local communities.

This program provides our Home Care Aides with critical skills and knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia Care. “We’re proud that our team continues to work hard to further their skills and knowledge,” said Jeannette Sheehan, founder and Nurse Practitioner of ABC Home Healthcare.

ABC Home Healthcare Professionals is a local family owned private home healthcare organization, managed by a Nurse Practitioner and Certified Case Managers. ABC provides personalized medical and non-medical care from 1 hour a week to 24 hours a day throughout Metro Boston, North Shore, Merrimack Valley and Cape Ann communities, as well as live-in care across the state. ABC in collaboration with elder service agencies and other community organizations assist seniors to maintain their independence within the comfort of their own home.  For more information call ABC Home Healthcare Professionals at 781-245-1880, email [email protected] or visit them on the web at www.abchhp.com.

 

NEW RESTAURANT OPENS IN REVERE

On Saturday, February 18th., a new and exciting restaurant named Aladdin’s  Grill opened in Revere and celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Aladdin’s Grill features the cuisine of Morocco and other Mediterranean countries. Attending the ceremony was Mayor Arrigo, members of the City Council and other city officials, as well as a large crowd of well wishers. A fabulous array of food featuring this exotic cuisine was served to the guests and received praise from everyone. Featuring breakfast, lunch and dinner, Aladdin’s Grill is located at 148 Squire Road. The website is http://aladdinsgrill.com/

 

Licensing Commission approves licenses

The Revere Licensing Commission approved several licenses at its meeting last Wednesday.

The commission approved a special one-day license for malt/wine, common victualler and entertainment license to the Immaculate Conception School for a Pot of Gold fundraiser on March 11.

Toretta’s Bakery and Cafe in Beachmont was granted a transfer of a common victualler license from Salvatore Ice Cream to Toretta’s Bakery and Cafe. All operations remain the same.

A malt/wine restaurant license  was transferred from Antonella’s to Sabor Peruvian Fusion, 744 Broadway. Seating is for 24 and an entertainment license is for a widescreen cable television.

A change of manager at the Beachmont VFW was granted to Frank Matt.

A hearing was continued from January for R&R Realty Trust, 194 Shirley Ave. landlord Edward Rizzo for the renewal of a lodging house license. There had been some issues with the fire department and inspectional services. The landlord did work with the city to resolve the issues. Seeing no problems the commission granted the lodging house license.

 

Wynn to meet with current, former Suffolk Downs employees

The Wynn Boston Harbor organization has scheduled a meeting in East Boston to begin talking with former and current Suffolk Downs workers about getting first-crack at job opportunities in the resort casino.

Bob DeSalvio, president of Wynn Boston Harbor, told the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) on Thursday, Feb. 16, that they have scheduled a follow-up meeting with track workers for April 24 in East Boston.

“We had a meeting some time ago with track workers who might be interested in working at Wynn Boston Harbor,” he said. “We’re going to do a follow up meeting and we’ll do that on April 24 in East Boston at the Hilton Garden Inn. We wanted to let you know we were continuing to meet with those folks.”

In 2014, Wynn announced that it would give job preference to hundreds of Suffolk Downs employees if granted a gaming license. After winning the license later that year, Wynn said it would honor that offer and it would also institute a comprehensive training program to those workers who choose to join Wynn. The Wynn Boston Harbor resort casino in Everett is currently under construction and is expected to open in June 2019.