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Chamber of Commerce hosts winter coats donation drive
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Mayor, Superintendent say new high school on horizon Special to The Advocate
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Shown druing the Chamber of Commerce Christmas Party at the Comfort Inn & Suites on Friday night are, from left to right: Police Chief James Guido, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Wendy Millar-Page, Comfort Inn & Suites Director of Sales Polita Zambrano, Santa, Mayor Brian Arrigo and Chamber of Commerce President Karen Gallo. (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino)
By Tara Vocino
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hamber of Commerce board members and residents donated new winter apparel and toys for needy Revere Public Schools students during the Chamber of Commerce Christmas Party at the Comfort Inn & Suites on Friday night. “There are approximately 147 registered homeless/ needy children in Revere, and
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that number is probably higher than reported,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Wendy Millar-Page said. “We try hard to make sure those citizens are part of our community and that we take care of each other.” Coat donors Mary and Tom Turner said the reported number was higher than they thought, and they felt led to give to an overwhelming com-
munity need. “Because we are blessed and grateful, we are glad to help,” said coat donor Mary Turner, who gave blue and purple coats, hats and gloves to needy children. Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Members Maria and Steve Williams donated two boys’, two girls’ and one unisex Gap sweatshirt
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ublic education in Revere took a major leap forward Wednesday when the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) announced its initial approval of the City of Revere’s bid for a new Revere High School. “This is news we have wanted to hear for the past three years,” said Mayor Brian Arrigo, who appeared before the MSBA with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dianne Kelly on Wednesday. “This assures that future generations of Revere Public Schools students will have the opportunity to avail themselves of the technological features and accommodations that form the pillars of high school education in the modern age.” While the MSBA news is most welcome, Mayor Arrigo tem-
pered any unrealistic expectations of how soon the doors would open at a new Revere High School. “This is a first step,” he said. “It’s a huge first step, and without it, there is no second step. But now we embark on the long process that only begins with MSBA approval. We move on to feasibility studies, site selection, design, and eventually construction.”He estimated that the entire process could take six to eight years. Superintendent Kelly greeted the news with visions of a new landscape for Revere Public Schools. “We have made tremendous progress in our school system over the years, but the one missing piece from the equation was a state-of-theart high school,” said Kelly. “Optimistically, I’d envision a new
SCHOOL | SEE PAGE 2
City shaken following tragic death of two children
DONORS | SEE PAGE 11
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Friday, December 14, 2018
Resident Carl Svendsen added small flags to the memorial on Tuesday night at the intersection of Route 145 and North Shore Road, where two young Revere residents died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash when they were hit on Sunday night while crossing the street by an allegedly impaired driver. (Courtesy photo, Carl Svendsen)
By Tara Vocino
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five-year-old girl and twomonth-old baby died after walking across the grass median strip at the intersection of Route 145 and North Shore Road when they were reportedly hit by a SUV that swerved off the road – driven by a driver who may have been impaired – on Sunday night. Two-month-old Natasha Nicole Mejia-Rivera died early Thursday morning, and five-year-old Adrianna Meja-Rivera died upon im-
pact, according to Jake Wark, spokesperson for Suffolk County District Attorney John Pappas. Natasha Meja-Rivera spent approximately a week in a coma at Massachusetts General Hospital in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Wark said. The operator of the SUV that reportedly struck the group, 42-year-old Autumn Harris of Beacon Hill, was arraigned Monday on charges of motor vehicle ho-
DEATHS | SEE PAGE 8