Although the calendar marks Sept. 22 as summer’s official conclusion, the season truly winds down when our students return to their classrooms and when Revere High School’s football and cheerleading squads, along with Pop Warner teams, commence their fall activities.
The months have brought considerable joy to Revere. Among the highlights were the seventh annual “Reach the Beach” Festival, the Revere Beach Foundation’s Kite Festival, and the Revere Firefighters Volleyball Tournament—all occasions that strengthen community bonds. The annual Revere Beach National Sand Sculpting Festival proved particularly noteworthy. We remain grateful for the presence of Revere Beach itself, a historic landmark as America’s first public beach. It’s been a great summer in Revere where the annual Revere Beach National Sand Sculpting Festival was a tremendous success, along with the seventh annual “Reach the Beach” Festival, bringing residents together through these wonderful summer events.
Yet the Summer of 2014 cannot be discussed without acknowledging the tornado that devastated the city on July 28’s morning. This extraordinary meteorological event will remain indelibly etched in the minds of our residents for years to come. The exceptional leadership demonstrated by Mayor Dan Rizzo, coupled with the exemplary performance of Revere’s Police and Fire Departments and its Department of Public Works in both the immediate aftermath and subsequent days, reflects the entire city’s capabilities. Coordinating emergency response from the scene itself, maintaining transparent public communication, and overseeing expedient and secure cleanup efforts were among Mayor Rizzo’s critical actions. Suffolk County had never before experienced a tornado until this unprecedented event, making his decisive leadership particularly noteworthy and deserving recognition.
At the McKinley School, students are beginning what will be their final year there, as a new facility will replace it on the former Hill Park location in 2015. The remainder of our student population begins classes Monday, and we extend our best wishes for the 2014-15 academic year. With school resuming, we urge motorists to exercise caution throughout our city’s streets.