PRACTICE SAFE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND BE SAFE!
Vol.29, No.22
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Friday, May 29, 2020
COVID-19 survivor discharged Revere remembers its fallen heroes By Barbara Taormina last weekend receives Services Director welcoming communal drive-by Veterans Marc Silvestri stood behind a small sea more than 1,000 of By Tara Vocino Revere resident who was diagnosed with COVID-19 received a warm welcome home last weekend after 21 days on a ventilator, first at Beth Israel Hospital and next
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at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Elayna O’Neil initially went into the hospital in April for increasingly low oxygen levels, body aches, a fever and fa-
COVID-19 | SEE PAGE 11
Husband Bill, daughter Taylor, survivor Elayna O’Neil and son Brandon outside their Malden Street home. (Courtesy photos, Taylor O’Neil)
American flags staked on the lawn of the American Legion and quietly opened the city’s 2020 Memorial Day service. “Memorial Day is not about the perfect ceremony or a big parade, it’s about honoring the men and women who died while serving in the United States military,”he told residents who watched the service safely from their homes. Silvestri and Assistant Veterans Services Director Donna Dreeszen organized a simple and solemn Memorial Day ceremony against the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis. Some traditions were kept in place. Olivia Freni, a member of the Revere High Class of 2020, sang a powerful rendition of the na- Revere Veterans Service Director Marc Silvestri is shown opentional anthem, wreathes were ing the city’s Memorial Day service at the American Legion Lawn. laid and a bell was struck after (Photo by RevereTV) each name of the city’s 206 veterans who died while serving in offered remarks during a prere- look different but the reason we observe is still the same,” the armed forces and six veter- corded video. “Right here, right now, our said Dreeszen. “It is to honor the ans who were lost to COVID-19 was read. But rather than stand- world and lives are changed. ing at a podium, elected officials Memorial Day observances | SEE PAGE 12
HEROES
Revere heads back to the beach * Mulching * Spring Clean-ups * Trimming & Maintenance NOW BOOKING NEW CUSTOMERS!
Call 781-321-2074 WALKATHON: Since the warmer temperatures, beachgoers to Revere have drawn walkers, sunbathers and exercise buffs during the pandemic. The barrels placed along the boulevard may have eliminated parking, but visitors still find a way to get to the Beach City. (Advocate Photos)
By Barbara Taormina evere Beach reopened on Memorial Day but thanks to plenty of clouds and cool temperatures, crowds were thin. However, with warmer weather moving in, more people are expected to head to beach for the first days of summer. And
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that worries Mayor Brian Arrigo, who has called on residents to remain vigilant because COVID-19 is still here and is still a serious a threat. Last Friday, Arrigo met with Kathleen Theoharides, secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Kim Hanton, Revere’s director of Health and Human Services and
Captain Matthew Gravini of the Massachusetts State Police to review the state’s public safety guidelines for the beaches. Beach managers are advised to control parking to limit beach capacity and allow for social distancing. Restrooms, which are
BEACH | SEE PAGE 13