Revere 2024 – A Year In Photos

JANUARY

 

Mayor Keefe’s inaugural speech: Move Revere forward through resident satisfaction

 

Revere opened the 2024 term of city government with pomp, color, a deep bench of distinguished guests and inspirational messages at a New Year’s Day inauguration ceremony.

Six new city councillors, two new members of the School Committee and newly elected Mayor Patrick Keefe were among the officials sworn in by City Clerk Ashley Melnick. Special guest Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll told elected officials, “It’s an honor people came together to put you in office.”

 

 

Mayor Patrick Keefe delivered his Inaugural address on New Year’s Day.

 

 

Robert J. Haas Jr. Health & Wellness Center opens

 

Family:

 

The Robert J. Haas Jr. Health & Wellness Center, named after the beloved late mayor, opened its doors with an official grand opening on Tuesday. City officials and well-wishers joined the Haas family for the event. The new health and wellness facility is a full fitness center that was funded by the city’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The fitness facility will now continue to operate as a regular gym funded by memberships. Shown from left to right: daughter Rachel Shanley, daughter Jennifer Haas, grandson Brayden Shanley, wife Juanita, daughter-in-law Nanci Haas, grandson RJ Haas, 5, son Councillor-at-Large Robert Haas III, son-in-law John Coyne and granddaughter Leni Haas, 2.

 

 

 

Honoring a Revere Icon in Youth Hockey, Joseph DeSantis, with Cronin Rink Plaque

 

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The DeSantis family – Joseph, Erin and Frankie DeSantis and Gennara and Jack DeSantis – and a special part of the DeSantis family for many years, Africa Graham.

 

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This bronze plaque will forever remind anyone playing the sport of hockey that a leader in the program – teaching sportsmanship and fair play – played here, taught here and was loved by the community he dedicated his life to, Revere Youth Hockey Association President Joseph DeSantis.

 

 

Crime-plagued Lee’s Trailer Park is gone; improvements begin at Winthrop Avenue site

 

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Gansett_trailer/418 Revere Beach Parkway:

 

A firefighter is shown dragging a fire hose at the scene of a fully engulfed mobile home last year. A proposed redevelopment project at 418 Revere Beach Pkwy. will bring modern housing and transformative neighborhood improvements to an area long blighted by the dilapidated Lee’s Trailer Park. Local development firm Helge-Gansett plans to create a mixed-use, 250-unit residential building – providing the first privately funded affordable housing opportunity ever in the history of Revere and contributing significant financial support for the creation of a community arts center in Beachmont.

 

FEBRUARY

 

 

State Rep. Giannino Chairs House of Representatives’ Informal Session

 

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State Rep. Jessica Giannino is shown on the rostrum as she chairs an Informal Session of the House of Representatives at the State House on Feb. 15. State Rep. Donald Wong of Saugus is shown standing behind her during the session.

 

MARCH

 

 

Revere voters cast their ballots on Primary Day

 

Committee:

 

Voters cast their ballots at the polls on Tuesday at Revere High School for the Presidential Primary and state committees. Republican State Committee member Paul Ronukaitus, who is shown campaigning with Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto, said he cast his ballot for Trump because he’s a Second Amendment supporter and he controlled the border during his term.

 

 

APRIL

 

Mayor Keefe’s State of the City Address highlights progress, city’s momentum for the future

 

Mayor Patrick Keefe delivered an uplifting State of the City Address that couldn’t help but make every resident, city employee and elected official feel Revere is on the right track. “Our city is on the path to greatness and I call to everyone to play a role,” said Keefe repeatedly throughout his speech.

 

 

Mayor_Keefe:

 

 

Mayor Patrick Keefe smiled at the audience during his State of the City Address at the Susan B. Anthony Middle School auditorium. (Advocate file photo)

 

MAY

 

School Committee focuses on cell phones and attendance

 

The School Committee tackled two issues this week that raised the question of whether Revere was returning to the old days of education.

Committee member Anthony Caggiano opened a discussion on cell phones. “Cell phones have to leave the classroom, period, end of conversation,” said Caggiano, adding that it’s impossible not to see how disruptive they are.

The committee approved a cell phone policy last year that does not allow cell phone use in class.

 

CUTLINE

 

Anthony Caggiano

School Committee Member

 

JUNE

 

Caps off to the Class of 2024 Revere High School and CityLab Innovation High School graduates

 

Embrace:

 

Mayor Patrick Keefe embraced his son, Patrick, as he crossed the stage during the RHS graduation exercises in June 2024.

 

Liberty Park reopened and rededicated to Lt. John Jones

 

Liberty Pocket Park, which is located at the intersection of Hywood Street and Breedens Lane, celebrated its grand reopening on Monday afternoon. The pocket park is within walking distance of residents, is designed by neighbors, is handicapped accessible and is for all abilities.

Mayor Patrick Keefe hosted the grand opening and dedication of Lt. John Jones Memorial Park in North Revere.

 

Councillors:

 

Lt. John Jones family members and officials, shown from left to right: Councillor-at-Large Robert Haas; State Representative Jessica Giannino; nephew Jayden Jones; daughter Joyanne Jones; grandsons Myles and Marcus Jones; granddaughter Sahara Jones; son J.J. Jones; daughter-in-law Michelle Jones; Open Space and Environmental Planner Elle Baker; Ward 6 Councillor Christopher Giannino; Councillor-at-Large Michelle Kelley; Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya; Hanscom Air Force Base Deputy Division Chief, Force Protection Division, Lt. Colonel James Townsend; and Ward 2 Councillor/City Council Vice President Ira Novoselsky.

 

JULY

 

 

Suffolk Downs development “not stalled,” says HYM Developer O’Brien

Sunday Globe story sets off uneasiness over new high school funding

 

A story published in Sunday’s edition of The Boston Globe that put Suffolk Downs in the spotlight set off a citywide buzz in Revere. City Council President Anthony Cogliandro figures about 100 people sent him a copy of staff writer Andrew Brinker’s article about the residential construction industry and the troubles developers are facing. Brinker used Suffolk Downs as a symbol for the industry struggling with escalating material and labor costs as well as spiking interest rates.

 

CUTLINE:

 

Tom O’Brien

HYM CEO

(HYM website)

 

 

Park bench plaque honors late Beachmont resident Peggy Connolly

 

PHOTO– SIZE 6 INCHES

 

Peggy Connolly was a lifelong resident, a painter and a staple in the Beachmont community. For years, Peggy would walk over to Leach Park, which was directly across the street from her house, sweep and pick up the litter. On Sunday afternoon, a bench with a plaque honoring Peggy’s life was celebrated by her family and friends – joined by Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna and former Ward 1 Councillor Rita Singer. (Photos courtesy of Clr. McKenna)

 

 

AUGUST

 

Ernie Boch, Jr. and Music Drives Us grant new instruments to MGH Revere Youth Zone

 

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Ernie Boch, Jr. (left) is shown presenting a plaque to Michael Lenson, program manager for MGH Revere Youth Zone, marking the occasion after the philanthropist donated musical equipment through his music foundation, Music Drives Us.

 

 

SEPTEMBER

 

Sen. Markey joins Amazon workers, Teamsters in Revere to demand protections for warehouse workers

 

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State Representative Jessica Giannino addresses attendees as U.S. Senator Ed Markey looks on. (Courtesy photo)

 

 

OCTOBER

 

Broadway Master Plan presentation proposes central park space, underpass art

 

Like many parts of Revere, Broadway has a Master Plan, and the City’s Dept. of Planning & Community Development recently presented the final draft of that plan to the community.

An architect’s drawing of a proposed park on Broadway was presented at the Broadway Master Plan public meeting on Sept. 25. (Courtesy of City of Revere)

 

Councillor Guarino-Sawaya named World Ambassador of Mirabella Eclano, Italy

 

Mayor:

 

Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya is shown being presented a plaque commemorating her Ambassadorship by Mayor Giancarlo Ruggiero of the city of Mirabella Eclano in the province of Avellino, Campania, during her recent trip to her parents’ homeland. (Courtesy photo)

 

 

Cicatelli earns 99th win as Pats powers past Lynn Classical in GBL showdown

 

  Patriots Head Coach Lou Cicatelli is one step closer to the 100-win club, and the Revere Patriots are starting to play like a football team on a mission. In his 22nd season as Head Coach, Cicatelli notched career win No. 99 in electrifying fashion as the Patriots steamrolled Lynn Classical, 46-28, under the lights of Harry Della Russo Stadium on Friday night. The victory, their second straight, marked the first time all season the Patriots strung together back-to-back wins, improving to 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the Greater Boston League (GBL).

 

NOVEMBER

 

Revere residents and the City Council say NO to recreational marijuana

 

Supporting Councillor-at-Large Michelle Kelley’s motion to stop the sale of recreational marijuana in the city of Revere, Amarilis Miranda, Jorge, Ana and Jory Santos displayed their signs during the November City Council meeting at City Hall. The City Council moved forward and voted 10-2 to place the motion on file, with Councillors Kelley and Zambuto voting against.

 

Mayor initiates long-awaited revitalization of a community favorite, McMackin Field

 

CUTLINE:

 

This project, which is expected to be completed in spring of 2026, was championed by residents for a decade, since the field shut down in 2014. Much of the work on the project will be completed in-house by members of the Department of Public Works. The project is bolstered by a $25,000 earmark secured by Representative Jessica Giannino (D-Revere). Bulldozers are shown moving dirt and stone onto McMackin Field recently. (Courtesy of Mayor’s Office)

 

 

Revere Patriots Football team beats Everett for first time since 1991

 

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SCOREBOARD: Revere High Patriots football team players and coaches line up right in front of the winning scoreboard at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Everett. (Steve Freker Photo)

 

Mass Badge hosts annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner

 

Robert:

 

The Revere community celebrated Thanksgiving on Tuesday with the 11^th annual Mass Badge Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Casa Lucia Function Facility. Shown from left to right: Police Detective Robert Impemba, Taylor Guiffre, Rose Burns, Revere Veterans’ Agent Julia Cervantes, Michael McLaughlin, Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya, Michael Wells, Brian Chapman, Michael Zaccaria and Police Captain Amy O’Hara.

 

DECEMBER

 

 

9th Annual Coats for Kids event a great success

 

The 9th Annual Coats for Kids Ugly Sweater Party collected jackets for needy children at Dryft Revere. Shown from left to right: School Committee Secretary John Kingston, James Nigro, Mayor Patrick Keefe, Patricia Pace and Patrick Fullerton.