At Monday night’s city council meeting, Brian Dakin of Leftfield, the owner’s project manager for the new high school project, provided a brief update on the finances and construction timetable for the building.

The council approved a $493-million bond to build the new high school on the 33-acre Wonderland property in 2024. Grants from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) could cover almost half the cost of the construction of the school, which is scheduled to open for students and staff at the beginning of 2029. Dakin said the exact amount of reimbursement could vary depending upon the latest budget figures for the project.

“On the budget side of the high school project, bidding is complete,” said Dakin. “The end culmination of bidding put the project $14.8 million under the previously established construction costs.”

The total bidding amount, Dakin said, is the difference between the estimated $950 per square foot for construction and $935 per square foot, where the project ended up after bidding.

“The bid savings of about $14.8 million will be transferred into the project’s hard-cost contingency, resulting in that contingency moving from $18.5 million.”

Dakin noted that none of the project’s contingency funds have been spent at this point.

“As with any contingency, or allowance, in the project, if it is unspent it comes back to the city at the end of the day,” said Dakin. 

The city has also submitted the whole guaranteed maximum price final construction contract to the MSBA for its analysis, which Dakin said will likely take a few months.

“The final update to the MSBA agreement, which you call the PFA bid amendment, that adjusts the budget to the actual bid costs, not the estimated cost, and provides us the final breakdown of range of reimbursement,” said Dakin. “So once we get that PFA bid amendment back, a topic of discussion at a future update meeting will be how the bottom line cost to Revere has evolved – what Revere is putting up front minus what it is getting back from the state. Ultimately, the project is very healthy financially; we do anticipate – barring any unforeseen, out-there events – we absolutely anticipate being able to deliver the project under budget.”

The question right now is how far under budget the final tally will be, Dakin.

The project is currently 15 percent complete with construction for the four-story school, Dakin said.

“Site work is ongoing, and that includes grading, underground utilities, ground improvements,” said Dakin.

The soil exporting process is complete in two zones around the building, and the soil exporting is moving toward the northern portion of the site, he said.

“Geothermal wells are also in the process of being drilled,” Dakin said. “We have multiple rigs that are drilling between three and five 350-foot holes for the geothermal system per day. That will take the next two to three months to complete.”

Concrete pours for the foundation and footings are also underway. There are three to five pours per week that translate to a couple hundred trucks coming and going.

“All of that puts us on schedule for the receipt of structural steel,” said Dakin. “The second week of July, the crane will show up; by the third week of July steel will start arriving from Canada and erection will begin and run through December.”

By the time fall turns to winter this year, Dakin said contractors will be done with ground improvements and foundations and the soil exporting from the site will end.

“We will have the steel erected and be moving into cladding the envelope of the building as steel goes up,” he added. “That envelope work will run straight through next fall, and as portions of the building are closed in it will be rapidly followed by mechanical systems and interior construction.”

The project is still on schedule to be turned over to the city in the fall of 2028 with occupancy after the winter holiday break, Dakin said.

Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro asked Dakin if he sees any potential need for use of the project’s contingency funds. Dakin noted that there may need to be a closer look at the internal furnishing and technology budget once the project is closer to completion.

“I expect the furniture/equipment budget to be inadequate; I don’t know by how much,” said Dakin. “I think there is going to be a decision point a little further down the road with the building committee of potentially tapping contingency to right the furniture budget, but that’s probably a number of months away. That budget is a few years old at this point, and nothing good has happened in that industry in terms of cost.”

That increase sets up a 4 percent increase for the combined water/sewer rates for residential and commercial properties for FY27.

Under city ordinances, the council approves the water rate, while the city administration sets the sewer rate.

The approved combined water/sewer rate for FY27 is $21.09 per HCF (hundred cubic feet) for residential properties and $34.82 per HCF  for commercial users.

The water and sewer budget operates under a revolving fund, where the money taken in through fees covers the expenses. City finance director Richard Viscay said the increased assessments from the MWRA are the driving factor behind the rate increase.

“It is my expectation that a 4% increase in the effective water/sewer rates for FY2027 will generate enough revenue to cover all direct and indirect costs of the water/sewer enterprise fund,” stated Viscay.

Several councillors asked if there was a way to increase exemptions for senior citizens or look at ways to lessen the impact of the rate increases, especially given that residents faced a rate increase of over 9 percent last year. There were also questions about whether use of existing stabilization funds this year were worthwhile to hold off on a rate increase.

Viscay noted that using the stabilization funds this year would effectively lead to doubling the increase for FY28, as the stabilization funds would have to be built up again.

Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio asked about the city looking at a tiered approach to water rates, where residents who use less water would pay a lower rate. He noted that a tiered approach would likely benefit senior citizens and others who do not use as much water.

“I think it is a great idea and I’d be happy to work with the DPW, water and sewer, whomever,” said Viscay. “That might be something where you want to bring in a consultant … you can set all these tiered rates, but if we miss, we put ourselves behind the eight ball. But I think there are organizations out there that can do a pretty comprehensive exam on that; and … those who use less water would pay less.”

Argenzio noted that a tiered rate might also promote water conservation.

“I guess you are asking us to either pay now or pay later, but we’ve got to pay,” Council President Anthony Zambuto said before the vote. “The decision is do we want to kick the can down the road and pay it next year, or do we go with the 4 percent increase that MWRA is charging us; so it is as simple as that and it’s up to us to make the decision.”

The water rate hike passed with an 8-2 vote, with Councillors Michelle Kelley and Marc Silvestri voting no and Councillor Robert Haas III absent.

The members first took up a request for approval of a Notice of Intent (NOI) filed by Chris and Tracy Ciaramella, 1165 North Shore Road, LLC, who propose  to raze an existing single-family home and build a 12-unit residential structure at 1165-1167 North Shore Road, which is at the corner of No. Shore Rd. and Agawam St. on the southbound side of No. Shore Rd.

The proposed building will be four stories high, with parking on the ground level and four apartments on each of the three floors. There will be six one-bedroom units and six two-bedroom units.

Rick Salvo from Engineering Alliance, Inc., presented engineering plans to the members. Salvo said the land is located within the 100 year floodplain and is at an elevation of 12 feet, with the first floor of the building at an elevation of 19 feet.

 “This project will result in a net increase in flood storage capacity on the property because the existing foundation will be removed,” said Salvo, who noted that the project already was approved for the necessary variances by the Zoning Board of Appeals in February.

There were no opponents and the commission unanimously approved the NOI and issued an Order of Conditions.

Next up was a Request for a Determination of Applicability (RDA) by Scott Morrison, a Professional Wetlands Scientist with the firm VHB, for the property on Fenno St. that is located on the Chelsea (westerly) side of Route 1.

The City Council recently rezoned the land, paving the way for construction of a 96-unit apartment complex that will be constructed in two-phases. The land is owned by the Procopio Companies, which is working with the non-profit agency Boston Communities to bring affordable housing to the city.

This matter had been continued from last month to enable the commissioners to walk the property. The land has been used as a dumping ground for decades — it is littered with debris of all sorts — and most recently was even a homeless encampment. The land is heavily-treed and essentially is an urban wildland.

Morrison was asking the commission to confirm that a concrete-lined diversion channel (which has been in existence for more than 70 years and that runs through the site) meets the definition of a man-made “canal” under the Wetlands Protection Act (WPA) and also to confirm the site as an “historic dumping ground and degraded area” prior to August 7, 1996 under the WPA.

If both of those conditions are met, then any construction will not be subject to the WPA and thus not within the jurisdiction of the ConsComm.

The ConsComm was told last month that the diversion channel, which proceeds under the Northeast Expressway and eventually drains into Mill Creek, is subject to tidal flow. 

“This property is really just sitting there as a pit,” said Averbach. “There never would be any incentive to clean this area up unless there is going to be a development there. The land right now is not helping anyone and not helping the environment. This project will be a positive for the environment.”

“This is strictly a 100 percent man-made canal and you should not be subject to the Wetlands Protections Act,” added Carleton.

The members voted unanimously to accept the waterway as a man-made canal. However, after some discussion (which referenced the members’ walk-through of the site last week), they determined that only a portion of the property should be deemed an historic dumping ground, with the limits to be defined at a later time and upon further analysis, which ultimately could require a delineation of wetlands.

The dual vote essentially means that the members rejected VHB’s request for a Negative RDA, and therefore the ConsComm will retain jurisdiction over future development on the property.

A brief look of the authors, and their backgrounds that inspired this exhibit of the historical coastal region, we call home. 

In the shadow of the Boston skyline, Revere Beach, Massachusetts, is a life in pictures: the natural blue ocean horizon, the restaurants and the bars, the cars cruising up and down, the teenagers in packs on hot summer days, the retired folks walking the boardwalk. This urban beachfront also houses many poetic stories: a honky-tonk history, a revolving door of immigrants, gangsters and gamblers, and an often-crowded boulevard teaming with beachgoers from surrounding cities. 

Poets Kevin Carey and Jennifer Martelli grew up in Revere in the 1960s. They’ve both written extensively about this city and its three-mile beachfront, which is the first public beach in America. Stephenie Young, a Somerville photographer, is originally from California. During the Covid epidemic, Young was drawn to this local East Coast ocean and its unfamiliar culture. Thus began a long-term photo project about everyday life in the beach city. “I wanted to use my camera to show my own vision of Revere Beach—the diversity of people, the beauty of the ever-changing color of the sky and the water.” After a chance conversation over those photographs and a few poems, a collaboration was born. “We met at a bakery on Broadway and kicked around ideas about how the photos and the poems could interact with each other as stories,” Carey remembers. 

This exhibition attempts to capture the complicated nature of Revere Beach, through the combination of a newcomer’s eye and the personal reflections of poets who have history here. Often overlooked by metropolitan Boston, Revere Beach is not Cape Cod or Nantucket, and that’s part of what makes it unique. Through still images and poetry, it shows the spirit of a place that has profoundly influenced each of these artists, bringing to life an often-forgotten urban beach culture, its memories and its enduring presence. 

“We dedicate this show to poet Jennifer Martelli,” Young says, “it’s bittersweet to be doing it again without her, especially in Revere, since Jennifer’s passing in the fall of 2026.” “We miss her greatly,” Carey added, “but we know her spirit lives on in this show and the unique voice she brought to her poems.”

After events at the Winfisky Gallery at Salem State University and the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem (as part of the Mass Poetry Festival) this exhibition will be at the Revere Historical Museum, 108 Beach St, Revere, MA. It opens with a reception on July 16 at 6:30 and will remain on display through July 19. 

Monday night, the council approved a motion made by Councillors Angela Guarino-Sawaya and Ira Novoselsky to approve the installation of a portrait for Catherine Penn, who died earlier this year, in honor of her being the first woman elected to serve as President of the city council in 1983 and the first woman elected to represent Ward 2 in 1980.

“I’m proud to file this motion, along with Councillor Novoselsky, to honor the legacy of Catherine Penn,” said Guarino-Sawaya. “As the first woman elected as the first woman elected to represent Ward 2 in 1980, and the first woman elected president of the Revere City Council in 1983, she broke barriers and helped pave the way for women in local government, like you and me. As the first woman ever elected to serve as Ward 5 Councillor, this recognition holds special meaning for me.

“Leaders like Catherine Penn demonstrated that women belonged at the decision-making table long before it was common to see women serving in elected office.”

Novoselsky said he knew Penn for over 60 years and lived near her.

“Believe it or not, I had the honor of losing to her to allow her to come onto the council,” he said. “She did a great job … and she was proud to be a city councillor and a teacher in the Revere school system.”

Penn’s daughter, Marcy Mucci, thanked Guarino-Sawaya and Novoselsky for the motion and tribute to her mother.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t like politics,” she said. “I was born into it, and it was my mother’s life … I can’t say how much she enjoyed serving in Revere politics, and I just wanted to thank everybody tonight.”

In other business from the appointments subcommittee, the subcommittee approved the reappointment of Daniel Occena to the licensing commission. Occena was present for the meeting and his reappointment was later approved by the full council.

Several councilors spoke in favor of Occena continuing to serve on the licensing commission.

“During his service, he has been a tremendous, tremendous asset to the commission, bringing forth both professionalism and strong understanding of the legal matters that come before him,” said Guarino-Sawaya.

The council placed on file a request from Mayor Patrick Keefe to appoint former City Councillor Juan Pablo-Jaramillo to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board. Appointments subcommittee chair Joanne McKenna noted that Jaramillo did not appear before the subcommittee the two times his appointment was on the agenda.

When RetirementPlus launched, an estimated 6,500 to 8,500 teachers inadvertently missed the enrollment window. S.3109 corrects that long-standing gap by allowing eligible educators to make retroactive contributions, with interest, as though they had been enrolled over the past 25 years. This approach restores fairness for affected teachers while maintaining the long-term fiscal health of the retirement system.

What does this
legislation do?

Allows Longtime Teachers to Opt Into Savings Plan. Gives current teachers who were already active in 2001—when RetirementPlus was first made available—another chance to join the enhanced pension program. 

Requires Back-Payments to Join. Stipulates that teachers who choose to join RetirementPlus through this one-time window must pay into the program with a make-up contribution equal to the amount they would have contributed if they had chosen to join prior to July 1, 2001, plus actuarial assumed interest.

Requires Due Notice to Teachers. Calls on the Teachers’ Retirement System and the Boston Retirement System to notify eligible teachers of this new one-time opportunity to join the RetirementPlus alternative superannuation retirement benefit program.

The opt-in window would be open from the effective date of this new law until June 30, 2027, ensuring ample time for teachers to be made aware, weigh their options, and choose whether to participate. 

“Today’s vote reaffirms the Commonwealth’s commitment to our teachers,” said Senator Lydia Edwards, State Senator for the Third Suffolk District. “For too long, many dedicated educators were excluded from RetirementPlus due to missed enrollment deadlines, often caused by maternity leave, medical leave, or confusion during the program’s original rollout. This legislation corrects that inequity and ensures that teachers who have spent decades serving our students and communities can retire with the security they have earned. Our educators invest in the future every day—it is only right that we invest in theirs.” 

S.3109 will now move to a conference committee for further consideration. To track the status of the bill, visit malegislature.gov.

Her life was focused on her family and her children’s pets

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Thursday, June 11th from 5: to 7 p.m. in the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals, 262 Beach St., Revere, for Anne. T. (Sciarappa) McCarthy who died on Thursday, June 4th at theBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston following a brief illness. She was 62 years old. The family will honor Anne’s life by sharing words of remembrance beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Interment will be held privately.

Anne was born in Cambridge on July 24, 1963, to her parents, Walter and Sandra

Sciarappa. She was one of two girls happily raised and educated in Malden. Anne was a graduate of Malden High School, Class of 1981. She briefly attended college before focusing on her career in banking. Anne worked for several local banks, including Bank of America and M&TmBank. She rose to the title of Senior Relationship Liaison. Anne worked in Banking for over 40

years until the time of her passing.

Anne married the love of her life, Thomas McCarthy, on April 1, 1990. The couple began their life in Malden, then later relocated to Revere in 1997.

Anne was a loving wife and mother and cared for her family immensely. Anne was an avid reader and would never leave her house without a book or iPad in her hand. She was a huge collector of things, such as Legos, Snoopy memorabilia, Care Bears, and Funko Pops. Her life was focused on her family and her children’s pets; they meant the world to her.

Anne’s passing due to her illness was very sudden and is devastating, but she would like her memory to be a happy one. We will honor her and celebrate her life.

The beloved wife of the late Thomas E. McCarthy of 29 years, she was the loving mother of Teresa A. O’Hara and her husband, Revere Police Detective, Kevin O’Hara and Amanda M. Esiason and her husband, Justin Esiason of Sturbridge;  the devoted daughter of the late Sandra (Wright) Yovienne and Walter A. Sciarappa; the cherished sister of Catherine M. Murray of Malden; the dear sister-in-law of Kathleen E. Maxwell of Hooksett, NH and Joseph F. McCarthy of Rockland. Anne is also the proud “fur baby grandparent” of Mr. Maple, Bean and Soup. She is also lovingly survived by several nieces and nephews.

At the family’s request, in lieu of flowers, donations in Anne’s name can be sent to BIDMC Gynecology & Oncology Department, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215.

To send online condolences, please visit www.vertucciosmithvazza.com. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals.

Edward Minor

Original Savio Spartan

Ed Minor, a member of the first graduating Class in 1962 at St. Dominic Savio High School, passed away on June 6th after an extended illness.

He was also on Savio’s first basketball team to make it into the state tournament then called the Tech Tourney.   

Ed went on to Boston College and had a long career as a financial manager including a stint as the Executive Director of Savio Preparatory High School, the successor school to St. Dominic Savio that he helped establish when the school transitioned to an independent Catholic school in 1992.

“Ed was a true Catholic gentleman of the highest caliber. A man of deep faith, integrity, kindness, and devotion to his family, he lived his life as a witness to Christ’s love and touched the lives of many through his humility, generosity, and unwavering commitment to others,” said Fr. DiPerri, a longtime friend of Ed’s and Pastor at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted in Waltham where Ed’s wife, Chandra, serves as Principal of Our Lady’s Academy.

Ed devoted many years to Savio as an alumnus and was a long-term member of the Savio Prep Board of Trustees serving as the school’s Treasurer.

“When the alumni took on the responsibility for operating Savio as an independent school, Ed was instrumental in developing the financial plan for the school and gave the Board and the Savio community budgets and reports without which we would have been struggling,” said Chuck Famolare, Savio Class of 1975 and a longtime member of the Savio Prep Board of Trustees. “He always had the long-term financial health of the school as his core concern and no one worked harder on that than Ed.”

Ed always credited Fr. Joseph Caselli, SDB and St. Dominic Savio’s first Principal with fostering his unwavering dedication to Savio. It was because of Fr. Caselli that Ed decided to attend Savio as a freshman from Everett in 1958 when there were no upper classmen despite having several alternatives like Boston College High School and Christopher Columbus High School that were both well-established Catholic high schools at the time.

“Father Caselli was a unique and inspiring Principal and I just felt like this would be the place for me, and it was,” said Ed during the dedication of Fr. Caselli’s portrait in 1993.

“When the call came to take on the responsibility for Savio in 1992, Ed did  not hesitate one moment to lend his support and expertise to the newly organized Savio Prep Board of Trustees.    

He gave us the confidence that we needed to move forward and continue the legacy of St. Dominic Savio High School,” according to Ed Gotgart, Class of 1964 and longtime Chair of the Board of Trustees at Savio Prep. “I had looked up to Ed as a freshman when I entered Savio and I knew that he was a special kind of leader. He was a true? Savio Spartan and we are so grateful that he gave so much to his alma mater.”

Nicotine is highly addictive and affects the developing adolescent brain in ways that rival other hard drugs. The still-developing human brain is susceptible to substances (including alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and drugs of all kinds) that alter  brain chemistry that can lead to a lifetime of addiction.

For example, children who start drinking alcohol at the age of 15 are five times more likely to become alcoholics than those who do not start to drink until they are in their 20s.

As for cigarettes, a study in England found that the most-common link among heroin addicts was that they began smoking as teenagers.

The FDA’s recent decision reverses a former policy that had banned fruit-flavored e-cigarettes (such as JUULS)  because of their appeal to children. Given that about 90 percent of the 1.5 million American teenagers from middle school through high school who use e-cigarettes (which typically are disposable imports that are not covered by the ban on JUULS) choose flavored products, the American Academy of Pediatrics and many public health advocates have criticized the FDA’s abrupt change in policy.

We should point out that thankfully, the FDA’s new policy will not overrule our state law here in Massachusetts, which has banned the sale of fruit-flavored e-cigs since 2019.

In addition, Glas Inc., the Los Angeles-based company that manufactures the e-cigarettes that received FDA approval, asserts that its technology will preclude young people from being able to use their products. Their authorized devices are designed to pair with smartphones via Bluetooth, so they will not work if separated from the phone of the verified adult owner.

Technology is a great thing, and we certainly hope that the tech being embedded in these new e-cigs will prevent them from being accessible to young people. 

However, e-cigarettes have been shown to cause long-term damage to the lungs of users at any age. In our view, whatever benefit there may be to allowing these fruit-flavored vapes to come on the market (in theory, to wean smokers away from cigarettes) is far outweighed by the great harm that can result from a lifetime of addiction to nicotine if begun at an early age.

To the residents of Revere,

Good planning + responsible management = a positive financial outlook and budget stability.  

I am pleased that on Monday, June 1, 2026, we presented our Fiscal Year 2027 budget.  As Mayor, I promised to be a good steward of your tax dollars which is reflected in our 2027 budget package. 

Our total operating budget is a culmination of good governance and fiscal prudence. Our budget is a reflection of the City of Revere’s respect and understanding of the taxpayers’ values: We treat our responsibilities to manage the budget in the same way you manage your home and finances, and we do not live above our means. 

There is a 1.8% increase in structural spending, and I want to impress again; it is a modest increase of only 1.8%. With the average national rate of inflation over 4%, we have made it a priority to do more while spending less of your money, forcing our hard-earned dollars to stretch further. Our success in combatting inflation is a result of our team’s approach of digging deep to identify necessities, remove waste, and maximize funds using technology, strong work ethic, and creating efficiencies across the board. This budget is built around right-sizing general government that invests in our core programs to enhance our residents’ quality of life. 

The fixed cost increases on items such as utilities, healthcare, and contractual growth, are managed by embracing new funding sources, maintaining strong labor relations, and exceptional management from our Chiefs and Department Heads. We are doing this all while making record investments in our Public Safety teams, educational portfolio, public works, City services, municipal buildings, infrastructure, and open space.    

I have to give true credit to our team of Department Heads for diligently making appropriate adjustments and coming together on what appears to be the leanest increase in municipal in quite possibly in all of Greater Boston.  I give large thanks to our CFO Richard Viscay who painstakingly works alongside me: We spend many late nights and weekends ensuring the city is in good financial standing, getting ahead of any surprises to make appropriate and timely course corrections.

It’s easy to see weekly headlines of communities failing to make ends meet or experiencing financial strain. However, I can confidently say this is not how we, the City of Revere, operate. We thrive in an uncomfortable environment because we constantly apply our own internal stress test, which I can see separates the good from the great.  This budget has been a culmination of the work we have done over the last three years, and a sign of the work we will continue to do in the years ahead. We will always ensure Revere is always moving forward, allowing sustainable growth while preserving affordability to our taxpayers.  Revere is the place to live, set deep routes, enjoy recreational amenities, get a great education, raise a family and to thrive.   

As we go through our budgetary hearings in the coming weeks, we hope to answer any and all questions, and look forward to another stable year in the City of Revere.

Patrick Keefe is the Mayor for the City of Revere.

Dear Editor,

On Sunday, in Natick, . nearly 11 months after saying goodbye, friends, family, and fellow servicemembers welcomed home the Soldiers of the 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and 26th Signal Company from their deployment to the Horn of Africa in support of the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. 

Earlier that afternoon at Hanscom Air Force Base, the returning Soldiers were greeted by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard, and other senior leaders of the Mass. Guard, as they departed their planes. 

Welcome home Yankee Brigade!

#Firsttofight #TheNationsFirst #WelcomeHome

—–

E4 Specialist Keefe was happy to be greeted initially by,  Maj. General Keefe, Governor Healey and First Lady Joanna Lydgate at Hanscom.

They received a police escort to Natick where his entire unit was greeted by family and friends and of course Jenn and I were happy to see him for the first time since last August.  As a family we have always appreciated the men and women in our armed forces.  Each soldiers duty of Discipline, Sacrifice, Honor and Support will not be lost on any of us. 

We are excited about Patrick’s future, while deployed he also enrolled at Salem State and is studying Finance,Intelligence Economics and Intelligence.  He will continue to serve in Massachusetts National Gaurd along with his studies at Salem State.  First order of business was a family dinner and some friends back at the house for a welcome reception at our house.   Welcome back son, you never have to worry about making me proud, now continue to make yourself proud. 

Mayor Patrick Keefe

There were 978 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths among Massachusetts residents last year – marking the first time since 2013 (992 deaths) that Massachusetts recorded fewer than 1,000 annual opioid-related overdose deaths. It also marks a nearly 60 percent decline in fatal opioid overdoses in the state since the devastating record high of 2,364 deaths in 2022.

“This projected decline represents thousands of lives saved, families kept whole, and communities strengthened,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It also represents the tireless efforts of clinicians, service providers, community support programs, and advocates across the Commonwealth who continue to dedicate themselves to this life-saving work.”

Opioid-related overdose deaths in 2025 are estimated to be 27 percent lower than in 2024, and build on a recent, and sustained, downward trend in fatal opioid overdoses in the state, which include a 36 percent year-over-year reduction in 2024 and a 10 percent reduction in 2023.

This major public health milestone is a direct result of sustained, statewide investments in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery support, and community-based wrap-around supports.

“This progress, experienced by families across the Commonwealth as years of extra joy and life, is the result of a comprehensive and collaborative public health response that has prioritized evidence-based care, community partnership, and compassion,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, M.D., MBA. “Data show us that providing access to housing, harm reduction, treatment options, and supportive peer communities works to prevent overdose—and the Commonwealth will continue its commitment to supporting and expanding access to these tools and services.”

DPH is conducting further data analysis and, by late summer, will be able to share more in-depth insights into how this decrease is reflected in Massachusetts communities and subpopulations. These data will be shared on the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) Dashboard.

DPH recently published its 2024 Opioid-Involved Overdose Report, which provides a comprehensive overview of the state of the opioid overdose crisis in Massachusetts and reviews trends in fatal and nonfatal opioid overdoses. The report outlines three primary hypotheses for the nearly 37 percentdecrease in deaths seen in 2024, including a potentially safer street drug supply resulting in reduced risk of fatal overdose; a decrease in the number of people at high risk for overdose; and the positive impact of expanded overdose prevention resources and treatment policies.

“Massachusetts remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding access to treatment, overdose prevention tools, recovery supports, and community-based services in ways that are equity-based and responsive to community needs,” said DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, M.D., PhD. “The recent decreases in overdose deaths reflect the positive impact and reach of this work and remind us that these efforts must persist. Overdose deaths are completely preventable. DPH will continue to invest in data-driven and dignity-affirming approaches to substance use.”

The overdose declines seen in the Massachusetts data reflect a broader national trend of declining overdose deaths; however, Massachusetts continues to rank among the leading states demonstrating the most substantial reductions in mortality.

“While a 27 percent decrease in opioid overdose deaths is encouraging and reflects the impact of sustained investments in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support, we must never lose sight of the fact that behind every data point is a person — a loved one, a family member, a friend, a neighbor,” said DPH BSAS Director Deirdre Calvert, LICSW. “Nobody is a nobody, and everyone has a somebody. Our work is ultimately about people, about saving lives, and about ensuring that every person struggling with substance use knows that they matter and that recovery is possible.”

The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to supporting public health strategies and resources to address substance use and substance use disorders. From 2023 to the present, the Administration has invested more than $1 billion in substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery programs across the state.

In fiscal year 2025 alone, this included funding over 150,000 naloxone kits for community organizations, over 10,000 naloxone kits for first responders, and nearly 400,000 fentanyl test strips for community use. Additional supports include funding SafeSpot, a virtual overdose spotting hotline; fostering access to inpatient, residential, outpatient, and other forms of treatment through the licensing and regulation of over 500 treatment programs; funding low-threshold housing; and investing in 39 peer-recovery support centers that serve over 13,000 individuals across the Commonwealth.

Special to the Journal

More than 550 seniors from Revere High School and CityLab Innovation High School will take a major step into the future next week when they cross the stage at Harry Della Russo Stadium and receive their diplomas during Revere Public Schools’ commencement exercises on June 10.

The ceremony will celebrate the achievements of a graduating class that has earned thousands of dollars in scholarships, distinguished itself through academics, athletics, the arts, and community service, and is preparing to pursue careers, military service, apprenticeships, and higher education opportunities across the country.

“Graduation is one of the most meaningful days of the year because it represents the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance, and growth,” said Superintendent Dr. Dianne Kelly. “Our graduates have overcome challenges, embraced opportunities, and left a lasting mark on our schools and the entire Revere community. We are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished and excited to see the impact they will make as they begin the next chapter of their lives.”

Revere High School (RHS) valedictorian Adam Ashour, RHS salutatorian Rose Cao, RHS class president Kepler Celamy, and CityLab Speaker Dulce Aguilar Cadenas will join Dr. Kelly, Mayor Patrick Keefe, the Revere School Committee, and high school principals Mr. Christopher Bowen (RHS) and Dr. Stacey Mulligan (CityLab) in welcoming the graduates.

“Every graduating class has its own story, and the Class of 2026 has distinguished itself through resilience, leadership, and a commitment to one another,” said Revere High School Principal Christopher Bowen. “These students have excelled in the classroom, on the athletic fields, on the stage, and in service to their community. We look forward to celebrating their accomplishments and watching them continue to succeed long after they leave Revere High School.”

Dr. Mulligan added, “At CityLab, we encourage students to discover their strengths, pursue their passions, and define success on their own terms,” said CityLab Innovation High School Principal Dr. Stacey Mulligan. “The Class of 2026 has demonstrated remarkable determination, creativity, and resilience. Whether they are heading to college, entering the workforce, joining the military, or pursuing other opportunities, they leave us prepared to make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world around them.”

The Revere Board of Health (BoH) held its regular monthly meeting this past Thursday, May 28, in the Revere City Hall City Council Chambers. On hand for the session were chair Dr. Drew Bunker and fellow members Kathleen Savage and Viviana Catano. Also in attendance were Director of Public Health Lauren Buck, Health Agent/Director of Inspectional Services Michael Wells, and Board of Health Clerk Paula Sepulveda.

Buck presented the Communicable Disease monthly report. She said that there was a “relatively low threshold” of communicable diseases in May, with only 13 reported cases of flu, several for COVID, and one for Lyme Disease.

Buck also spoke about the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa and that the “trajectory remains deeply concerning. All signs point to widespread and community transmission. Compared to previous outbreaks, the spread of infection is very fast. If you have travel plans to this region, it is time to cancel them now. However, the risk in the United States remains very low.”

Buck also spoke briefly about the hantavirus outbreak that originated on a cruise ship and that has been in the news lately, noting that the 18 American travelers who are still quarantined in the U.S. continue to test negative. However, symptoms of the virus may take up to 45 days to manifest from initial exposure.

Buck also discussed swim safety and outlined the safety precautions swimmers must take, especially during rip current conditions. She added that weekly testing for bacterial conditions at local beaches has begun.

Buck also noted that mosquito season is here and individual homeowners may request spraying from the Northeast Mosquito Control and Wetlands Management District for which there is a link on the City of Revere website.

Buck said that with many visitors expected to come to Revere for the upcoming World Cup, residents should be prepared for large crowds.

Buck finally mentioned that the Health Dept. is sponsoring its first “Baby Shower” in June and is asking for donations of diapers and baby wipes through June 15 at Revere City Hall and the public library that will be provided to the most vulnerable members of our community.

Wells presented the monthly report of the Inspectional Services Dept. Wells said that in the past month, ISD issued 30 certificates of fitness for housing units; performed 40 reinspections; and received 16 interior complaints. There also were 16 pool and spa inspections

In the food department, ISD performed 47 routine food inspections, six reinspections, nine complaint inspections, one pre-opening inspection, and five temporary food inspections.

In the exterior sanitation division, ISD agents issued 504 total citations for trash violations; 53 for overflowing dumpsters;  20 for junk heaps, dumps, and automobile graveyards; eight for multiple unregistered motor vehicles, and 50 violations for unclean and unsanitary land, which is overgrowth.

The board heard a presentation by the Research Study Team of Mass. General Brigham (MGB) on the relationship between transmission of HIV and Incarceration.

Dr. Alysse Wurcel, an Associate Professor at the B.U. School of Medicine who specializes in addiction and infectious diseases at the Boston Medical Center and who has been providing healthcare in Massachusetts jails for about 15 years, spoke to the board about a program that is known as Status Neutral HIV Care in the Suffolk County jails at South Bay and Nashua St.

Wurcel said that HIV outbreaks that have occurred in the past decade across the state have occurred primarily through sexual transmission, but also through shared needles by persons who inject illegal drugs.

Wurcel displayed a graph that showed that Chelsea had the highest rate of HIV infection in Suffolk County for the years  2022-24 with 19.6 cases per 1000 of population, followed by Boston at 17.4, Revere at 9.1, and Winthrop with five cases in total.

However, only about two-thirds of persons with HIV diagnoses are suppressing the disease with treatment.

Male-to-male sex accounted for 56 percent of the cases in Revere. Injection drug use accounted for eight percent of cases in the city, and about 16 percent of cases were attributable to heterosexual sex. There was no identified risk for 18 percent of infections.

Wurcel discussed the relatively new drugs, known as PrEP — Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis — that prevent HIV. “We really want to get people who are at risk on these medicines, which is why HIV testing is important in our jails,” said Wurcel, noting that in the past, those who tested negative in the jails were not offered HIV prevention treatments.

“However, in Massachusetts, the use of PrEP, especially in jails, is very limited,” said Wurcel, adding that testing for HIV in jails faces a number of hurdles.

However, Wurcel noted that her program, which has 18 team members from numerous institutions, including Tufts, MGH, UMass, the BMC, B.C, and Cornell,  has received federal funding because of the high level of transmission in Suffolk County.

Wurcel said the overall goal of the program is to increase both testing for HIV (as well as for syphilis and hepatitis C) and access to PrEP during both incarceration and post-incarceration.

The final matter on the agenda was a review of the draft regulations for the sale of kratom products in the city that the BoH has been working on for the past few months. Kratom is a natural substance derived from a tree in Southeast Asia that many use for relaxation and pain management. Natural kratom generally is regarded as safe.

However, synthetic kratom products, which are not regulated at either the federal or state level, have been linked to serious physical and mental health issues, especially in young people.

Buck briefly summarized the draft regulations, which call for a total ban on the sale of all kratom products in the city.

Claire Inzerillo, a Policy Writer and Analyst with the City Solicitor’s office, which reviewed the draft regulations, told the members that they have three options: to do nothing, to ban it, or to allow the natural leaf to be sold but to ban the synthetic products (as some communities in Massachusetts have done).

Inzerillo also mentioned that legislation is pending in the Mass. House and Senate, which range from a hybrid-regulatory scheme (for natural vs. synthetic), to an outright ban, to a full-on criminalization scheme that would classify kratom as a Class A drug similar to heroin.

She added that if the state legislature were to pass a law at some later point, the city would have to adjust its regulations to reflect whatever the state law mandates.

After Inzerillo’s succinct and excellent presentation, Bunker asked for public input. Allison Smith, who lives in Washington, D.C. and is the Director of Government Affairs for the Global Kratom Coalition, a non-profit organization that works to implement regulations for the sale of kratom and to ban synthetic substances and drugs, spoke against the blanket ban of kratom. .

“This is a serious issue as far as access to these unregulated, high-potency substances that are dangerous and need to be addressed,” said Smith. “However, there have been thousands of studies about natural kratom that have shown that adverse events are extremely rare and overwhelmingly are tied to poly-substance use or a pre-existing medical condition. Natural kratom is a botanical product from Southeast Asia that was introduced to America by Vietnam War veterans in the 1970s and today, 23 million Americans use natural kratom safely.

“It is the highly-concentrated, synthetic versions that are making headlines for addiction, overdoses, and the so-called ‘gas station heroin’,” Smith continued. “These products (known as 7-OH) are chemically-manipulated, extremely potent, and openly marketed with a heroin-style branding.”

Sepulveda noted that the board had received only one letter in support of the ban, but had received 14 in opposition.

The members then discussed the proposed ban. Bunker said that at the present time, there is no way of knowing what exactly is in the products that are being sold because they are not FDA-regulated. He also noted that a family friend recently had passed away from a kratom overdose.

“As a physician, I think this is very important. We need to do something and we need to act because lives are at stake,” said Bunker, who pointed out that none of the letters that had been received in opposition to the new regulations came from Revere residents.

“Our job is to protect the public health in Revere and I cannot in good conscience allow kratom to be sold in Revere,” Bunker added.

Both Savage and Catano agreed with Bunker’s comments, noting that as a practical matter, city health and inspectional officials would be unable at the present time to assess and evaluate products on the shelves of local stores.

The board will take a vote in the proposed ban at its June meeting.

The FUN-damental Basketball camp, open to boys and girls in local area cities and towns, will be held July 20-24, 2026 at the Immaculate Conception Parish Center, located at 51 Summer Street in Everett.

The camp will take place between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. for boys and girls entering grades 3 thru 8 as of September, 2026. The cost of the camp is $125.00.

Tony Ferullo, boys’ varsity basketball coach at Mystic Valley Reginal Charter Schol in Malden, will be the Camp Director.

The purpose of the camp is to: provide all campers with the fundamental tools to help them become better basketball players; create a positive atmosphere where the camper will learn and have fun at the same time;  instill the spirit of the game into all campers; and inspire them to continue playing the game either competitively or just for fun.

Each camper will receive a camp t-shirt and certificate, and participate in various drills, scrimmages, and individual contests. Special guests will speak and share their personal basketball tips and experiences. An awards ceremony will take place on the last day of camp, and parents and friends are welcome to attend.

For more information about the FUN-damental Basketball Camp, please contact, Camp Director Tony Ferullo at 857-312-7002 or tferullo099@gmail.com.

Rainbow Revolutionaries Tours Return

The Freedom Trail Foundation’s new, first of its kind official Freedom Trail tour entitled Rainbow Revolutionaries will return to Boston’s streets this Saturday, June 6 at 10:45 a.m. The tours will run throughout the month of June on Saturdays and Sundays, and on select Saturdays in July and August.

The tours illuminate the lives, loves, and fights for liberty of Boston’s LGBTQ+ community, while exploring how queer individuals have been making history for centuries. Led by 18th-century costumed guides, the tours will travel along the Freedom Trail and visit seven places featuring Boston’s LGBTQ+ history, including official Freedom Trail historic sites as well as sites just steps off the Trail. Rainbow Revolutionaries will uncover the history of Boston Marriages, political milestones for LGBTQ+ rights, and the storied romances of some of Boston’s most famous individuals, from literary giants to a world-renowned actress, and even a Revolutionary war hero. Tour goers are invited to join in to bring this history to life and celebrate Pride by discovering the achievements of the queer people who have always been a part of and have helped shape Boston.

These special tours will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays throughout June, and Saturdays July 11 and August 8, departing at 10:45 a.m. Freedom Trail Foundation walking tours are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors/students, and $8 for children, and include a $1 donation to the Freedom Trail Foundation’s Preservation Fund. Tickets may be purchased at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center and online at TheFreedomTrail.org.

DCR is Growing Wild for Pollinators: Free Native Plant Kits Available

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), and the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) are currently distributing free native plant materials to help residents create habitats for pollinators across the state. The program kicked off with a launch event on Friday, May 29, at Mahoney’s Garden Center in Winchester.

Now entering its sixth season, the “Growing Wild” campaign provides a simple way for residents to strengthen local biodiversity. Up to 75% of all flowering plants and 35% of the plants that we eat rely on insects like bees and butterflies to move pollen and reproduce. Unfortunately, these vital pollinators are currently facing severe threats from habitat loss, the spread of invasive species, pesticide use, and climate change.

By planting native species, gardeners can provide essential food and shelter for these local insects, as well as birds and small mammals. Because native plants are uniquely adapted to Massachusetts’ specific climate, they can better endure local challenges like droughts or heavy rain. They also require less water and fossil fuels for maintenance, helping to increase stormwater absorption and improve overall air quality.

This season, the program is distributing free pollinator starter kits at 21 participating nurseries and six DCR parks across the state. Each kit contains:

• Two one-gallon native perennial plants

• Native seed packets

• Seed germination kits with native wildflower seeds

• Educational resources on pollinator-friendly gardening

• A Growing Wild Massachusetts sticker

Gardeners of all experience levels are encouraged to participate and can take the extra step of registering their new native plantings on the Massachusetts Pollinator Map to join a statewide network of eco-friendly landscapes.

Kits are available while supplies last at the following upcoming DCR park events:

• Middlesex Fells Reservation (Flynn Rink), Medford: Saturday, June 6, 2026, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Lawrence Heritage State Park (Riverfront Park), Lawrence: Sunday, June 7, 2026, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Waquoit Bay, East Falmouth: Saturday, June 13, 2026, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Blackstone River Greenway (Worcester Visitor Center), Worcester: Sunday, June 14, 2026, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Holyoke Heritage State Park, Holyoke: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Clarksburg State Park, Clarksburg: Sunday, June 21, 2026, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

A full list of participating nursery locations is available on the DCR website.

There has been a downturn in opioid-related overdose deaths and reported overdoses over the last several years in Revere, according to representatives from the city’s health department.

The information came as part of a presentation to the city council on the use of opioid abatement trust fund money over the past fiscal year and plans for the funds for the coming year. The council voted to appropriate $239,000 from the trust fund for FY27 for opioid recovery and abatement programs.

Before discussing the funding, city health director Lauren Buck reviewed two data points she presented to the council.

“I think they highlight some promising trends,” said Buck. “The first one shows the opioid overdose deaths … from 2016 to 2024. You can see that 2022, 2023, 2024; we’ve had a decreasing amount of opioid deaths.”

The information from the state’s substance use initiative bureau showed a decrease of 10 percent in overdose deaths from 2022 to 2023 and a decrease of 15 percent from 2023 to 2024. Buck said the data for 2025 should be out in July.

Data from the Revere Police Department also shows a positive trend, Buck said.

“It’s not necessarily comprehensive data that shows the complete picture of overdoses because there are many overdoses that happen, potentially, where someone doesn’t call 911 or they go right to the hospital and don’t use a first responder,” said Buck. “But this is a good picture that shows, as well, that we are decreasing in the total amount of overdoses for the last several years.”

In 2022, the police and fire departments responded to 149 overdoses. In 2023, that number went down to 122; and 2024 and 2025 saw a further decline to 75 and 55 responses respectively.

CarrieAnn Salemme and Nicole Palermo from the city’s Substance Use Disorder and Homelessness Initiatives (SUDHI) office reviewed the use of the opioid abatement settlement funds Revere has received over the past year.

The three major areas the funds have been used for include housing; community engagement and prevention; and harm reduction.

Salemme said the contracted programs offered through the settlement funds highlight the importance of low-threshold harm reduction, outreach, case management, housing support, access to medical and behavioral healthcare services, improving the quality of life, and reducing the strain on emergency response systems within the city.

In the coming fiscal year, Palermo said the money set aside for housing will be more flexible in order to help people with things other than just sober living.

“This could help people with things like moving expenses if they are just getting on their feet again and they don’t have any furniture because they are just coming off the streets,” she said.

The FY27 budget would also include funding for a high-intensity case manager to help people learn how to live independently once again. In addition, Palermo said the city will also be renewing its contract for a street medicine program.

City councillors want to see improvements to the traffic island at Hall’s Corner, but don’t necessarily want to see the traffic island removed.

At Monday night’s council meeting, Councillor-at-Large Michelle Kelley introduced a motion to reconsider a vote taken last month to ask that the traffic island be removed.

Kelley had initially asked that the city and the traffic commission evaluate the channel/traffic island located at Hall’s Corner due to repeated vehicles striking its curbing and recommend appropriate safety improvements, including but not limited to reflective yellow curb paint, delineator posts, and/or warning signage.

At the time, a successful substitute motion was filed to remove the traffic island altogether.

Monday night, Kelley successfully asked that the council reconsider that motion.

“I know that the amendment asked to remove the island entirely, but after the meeting, I had some reservations about removing it entirely because I really think its presence there is acting as a traffic calming measure,” said Kelley. “So I think, rather than just making a decision one way or another, we could ask the opinion of traffic and some other experts as to what they think might be the most viable option … that would provide the most safety. I don’t want to do anything that would be making anything worse, we want to try to improve this.”

Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky said he drives in that area a lot and supported the motion.

“I know it has been a bad intersection; that’s why we put extra stop signs there and I think that island is a calming measure,” Novoselsky said.

Ward 6 Councillor Chris Giannino said the traffic island is sticking out too far into the roadway, but thought that it could be reshaped or improved.

Council President Anthony Zambuto said he also believed the traffic island should be modified rather than eliminated and moved the motion to the council’s public safety subcommittee, giving engineers and other experts an opportunity to weigh in on the issue.

Teamsters Local 25 proudly awarded 37 scholarships totaling $74,000 to the children and grandchildren of members and retirees — the largest scholarship award announcement in the union’s history.

This year’s scholarships were made possible through the generosity and solidarity of Teamsters Local 25 members. The awards were presented during the union’s May General Membership Meeting in a ceremony featuring remarks from Teamsters Local 25 President Tom Mari.

Among the scholarship recipients is Angel Romero Morales of Revere, a recent graduate of Pioneer Charter School of Science who will attend Northeastern University this fall. Angel is the son of Jose Angel Romero, a Teamsters Local 25 member employed by Capitol Waste Services.

“We have the strongest membership in the country and among the most generous when it comes to supporting the children of our members,” said Teamsters Local 25 President Tom Mari. “For these students, the support goes far beyond financial assistance. Our union has always believed in uplifting the next generation. Our message to the 2026 scholarship recipients is simple: your future is bright, and your Teamster family will be with you every step of the way.”

Teamsters Local 25 also extends special thanks to the companies and organizations that sponsored scholarship awards: Feinberg, Dumont & Brennan; HILB Group, Inc.; Regan Associates, Chartered; Keches Law Group; Regan Communications Group; the Teamsters Local 25 Retiree Chapter; the Teamsters Local 25 Hispanic Caucus; the Michael C. Halley Memorial; the Joseph C. Conlon Memorial; the Francis Ciccarelli Memorial; and the George Rodrigues Memorial.

Since 2006, Teamsters Local 25 has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship funding to support the educational goals of members’ children and grandchildren. The union proudly provides annual scholarships to help the next generation of leaders pursue their academic and career aspirations.

Teamsters Local 25 is the largest Teamsters union in New England, representing 13,000 workers. For more information, please visit www.teamsterslocal25.com

The Revere Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) held its regular monthly meeting last

Wednesday, May 26, in the City Councillor Joseph A. DelGrosso City Council Chamber. On hand for the brief (10 minutes) session were chair Michael Tucker and fellow members Aklog Limeneh, Arthur Pelton, John Lopes, and James O’Brien.

The board continued the first matter on its agenda, a request from James Fitzpatrick, Trustee, 620 Revere Beach Blvd. Realty Trust, for a variance of Revere Revised Ordinances (RRO) Section 17.16.260 with respect to “no accessory structure can occupy more than 10% of the rear yard and not be located within the required side yard in the RA District to enable him to validate and permit an existing storage shed constructed approximately two years ago, a portion of which is located within a City of Revere sewer easement” at 620 Revere Beach Blvd.

Atty. Joseph Catoggio appeared on behalf of Mr. Fitzpatrick. “This was done inadvertently without permits being pulled, and we’re attempting to remedy that situation,” said Catoggio, who noted that Mr. Fitzpatrick is seeking relief from the Building Dept. and the Conservation Commission as well as the ZBA.

Catoggio asked for a continuance because he is seeking clarification from the DPW as regards the exact location of the city’s sewer easement. Two emails were received from neighbors opposing the application.

The members voted unanimously to continue the matter to its next meeting on July 29 (the ZBA will not be meeting in June).

The next item on the agenda was an application from Michael Colecchia, 30 Green Street, requesting a number of variances to enable him to subdivide 30 Oak Island Street and 14 & 20 Arcadia Street into proposed lots, Lot 1A, Lot 2A, Lot 3A, and Lot 4A. The variance requests pertain to:

1. RRO Section 17.24.010 with respect to minimum lot area requirement of 8,000

s.f. and frontage requirement of 80 feet within the RB District for proposed Lot

1A fronting on Arcadia Street;

2. RRO Section 17.16.260(F)(1) with respect to accessory structures occupying

more than 10% of the rear yard, minimum side yard setback requirement of 10

feet, and minimum rear yard setback of two feet for accessory structures within the

RB District for proposed Lot 1A fronting on Arcadia Street;

3. RRO Section 17.24.010 with respect to minimum area requirement of 8,000 s.f.

within the RB District for proposed Lot 2A fronting on Arcadia Street; and

4. RRO Section 17.24.010 with respect to minimum area requirement of 8,000 s.f.

and frontage requirement of 80 feet within the RB District for proposed Lot 4A

fronting on Arcadia Street.

Mr. Colecchia appeared on his own behalf, telling the board that he is seeking to subdivide the lots in order to build a house for his daughter on a presently-empty lot at the corner of Arcadia and Oak Island Sts.

The members unanimously approved the application.