REVERE
ADVOCATE Vol. 28, No. 29
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15th Annual International Sand Sculpting Festival Schedule see page 7
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Beach City to welcome thousands to 15th Annual Sand Castle Festival
Friday, July 20, 2018
Commission creates two-tier, yearly rate system for commercial parking By Sara Brown
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major component of the first phase of the program. “We expect that this will at least be a start,” said Mayor Arrigo. “Still, as I have repeated over and over, no rodent control program will have any long-term success unless everyone in the city helps out. It is imperative that people are careful with storage and disposal of trash, and that they keep their property free of items or overgrown shrubs that can serve as shelters for rats.” Meanwhile, Revere’s Inspectional Services Department has stepped up enforcement
he Revere License Commission made a final decision on commercial parking in the city. In April, the commission voted to change the fee for parking lots from $25 a space to $365 a space per year. However, after complaints from business owners, the commission decided to reconsider their vote and lower the price. They have had several hearings on it in the past few months. Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky said at the July 18 meeting a rate increase was needed and suggested a tier system. He also said they might want to consider a distinction for parking lots that just store vehicles. Those don’t really exist in Revere currently, but Novoselsky said they could in the future. However, Commissioner Linda Guinasso disagreed. “I don’t think that’s the future we want in Revere,” she said. Chairman Robert Selevitch also suggested the two-tier system where one license is for commuter parking lots and another is for park-andfly lots to the airport. The commuter lots can only operate during hours when the MBTA is open. The fee for the commuter lot would be $100 a space a year, and the park-and-fly would be $200 a space a year. Guinasso wants the commuter lots to only be open during traditional commuter hours, such as from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., saying that there are some nights when the MBTA is open all night and that would essentially allow for two 24-hour businesses. “These cars are going to be all over the streets,” she said. “I can hear them going down the streets all night as is. I think it’s an open door policy.” Selevitch said the only night he can think of when
FIRST PHASE | SEE PAGE 6
RATE SYSTEM | SEE PAGE 2
PAID IN FULL: Pictured during the $10,000 check presentation with the sponsors this past week for the 15th Annual Revere Beach Sand Castle Festival taking place this weekend, from left to right, are; City Councillors Anthony Zambuto, Steve Morabito, and Ira Novoselsky, with Mayor Brian Arrigo, John Hamel, Executive Director of Revere Beach Partnership, with RBP Board Members Carol Tye, Kathleen Heiser, and Linda DeMaio. See more photo highlights on pages 12-13. (Advocate photo by Katy Rogers)
By Sara Brown
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he most awaited summer event is near as the sand drops this Friday for the 2018 International Sand Sculpting Festival at Revere Beach. The 15th annual festival will showcase live music, food trucks, fireworks and of course sandcastles. This year’s theme is literacy, and the centerpiece will be a 20-foot-tall, 30-foot-wide sculpture of beloved characters from children’s books.
“We try to improve each year … This year is going to be the best one yet,” said Chairperson of the festival John Hamel. The competition will feature 15 sculptures as well as five duos from around the world. Hamel said the festival has grown over the years and is the third-largest event in the state behind the Boston Marathon and the Big E festival. The annual festival draws upwards of 1,000,000 spectators from all over the country.
“It’s become a New England tradition,” he said. “People from all over come to Revere to see these beautiful works of art and enjoy the beauty of the beach.” The centerpiece will start being built this Saturday, and the competitors can start their masterpieces next Wednesday. The awards will be given out next Saturday, and afterwards participants can enjoy a fireworks display. There will also be a special performance on Saturday from Luzia by Cirque De Soleil.
“This year, Cirque de Soleil Luzia will be performing a 10- to 15-minute performance for the festival on Saturday at noon at the main stage. This will include seven of their artists performing some of their juggling and football dance acts. Luzia is at Suffolk Downs from June 27 to August 12, and we are excited that they have agreed to share some of their artistry at the festival,” said Hamel.
FESTIVAL | SEE PAGE 4
Mayor calls first phase of rodent control program a success Special to The Advocate
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ver 560 property owners the City’s intensified effort to responded to Phase One of control rodent infestation in the past three weeks. “The four professional exterminators retained by the City have been provided with all the addresses; most have been addressed; and the remaining locations will be addressed in the near future,” said Mayor Brian Arrigo. “But this is not the end of our effort.” He announced the rodent control program at the end of June and that he had allocated $150,000 in the FY 19 budget for rodent control. The retention of professional extermination companies was a