Revere Powder Puff Game

Found out Revere lost to Peabody 14-8 yesterday in their Annual Powder Puff game. Some great photo's of the game can be seen at the following website:

Revere High Powder Puff Photo's

Teen to plead guilty as accessory in shooting of Revere police officer

A teenager who allegedly set in motion a series of events that ended with the killing of a Revere police officer is expected to plead guilty today in a Dedham courtroom.

Derek Lodie was 17 years old when he walked onto the athletic field behind Revere High School at 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 29, 2007. A verbal confrontation occurred between Lodie and a group of adults who were drinking that included several Revere police officers.

Officer Daniel Talbot, a member of the department's gang unit, taunted Lodie about the Bloods, according to court records filed earlier in the case by Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office. Lodie -- who did not know Talbot -- allegedly used his cell phone to summon Robert Iacoviello Jr., 20, a suspected member of the street gang.

"As Talbot approached Lodie, who was continuing to taunt and in the process draw Talbot towards the parking lot, Iacoviello ambushed him," Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Edmond Zabin wrote in court papers.

Talbot, 30, was shot in the head and later pronounced dead. At the time, Talbot was in the park with his fiancée and three other Revere police officers splitting a six pack of beer, authorities have said.

Iacoviello has pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge and is being held without bail.

At the time of Lodie's arrest, defense attorney J.W. Carney Jr. called the events that led to Talbot’s death "very unusual and very suspicious."

The shooting led to the firing of Revere Police Sergeant Evan Franklin after an internal investigation. Franklin ran from the scene and ordered the first arriving police officer to drive him home, not provide assistance to Talbot, according to the investigation.

Relatives of Talbot are expected to address the court when Lodie pleads guilty today, according to a spokesman for district attorney. Lodie will appeared today in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham because Superior Court Judge Patrick Brady, who has handled the case, is now hearing cases there.

Convicted killer of Revere man gets six years in jail

REVERE - The man convicted of fatally stabbing a 26-year-old Revere man in a South Boston barroom brawl was sentenced to six years in state prison Wednesday.

Suffolk Superior Court Judge Linda Giles handed Bernard Piscopo, 40, of Dorchester, less than half of the 14- to 16-year term recommended by Assistant District Attorney Holly Broadbent.

Piscopo was originally indicted for second-degree murder for the June 17, 2007 stabbing of Adam Rich, but a jury on Tuesday convicted him of the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter. The jury acquitted Piscopo of stabbing a surviving victim during the same incident, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley.



Prior to sentencing, Rich's father and sister addressed the court to tell of what they lost when the young man was stabbed seven times, including once in the heart.

"The last thing I ever thought I'd have to do was tell anyone how special and loved Adam was," said Brian Rich, the victim's father, adding that the young man had scored high on a test when he considered a career as a Revere firefighter.

"The month of June is now a terrible month," he continued. "Adam's birthday was in June. So is Father's Day - the day he died."

The slain man's sister, Janelle Rich, spoke at length about "the hurt and agony" of his loss.

"I ... imagine, over and over, his last moments," she said, "bleeding from seven separate stab wounds, drowning in his own blood as his lungs filled up, suffocating, gasping for air with no one but a stranger to offer him assistance. He died with no one he loved to hold him, reassure him and comfort him ... Memories of how he died haunt me every day and those memories are engraved on my soul."

During two full weeks of trial, Broadbent introduced evidence and testimony showing that the victim and another man became embroiled in a fistfight at The 6 House on West Broadway in the early morning hours of June 17, 2007. The evidence showed that others present intervened in that melee, including Piscopo and the surviving victim.

Rich was escorted from the bar but soon returned and struck Piscopo. The evidence proved that Piscopo produced a knife and stabbed Rich seven times in the back, chest, stomach, legs and hand before fleeing through the bar's back door. Rich was pronounced dead of his injuries at the Boston Medical Center a short time later.

According to published reports, Piscopo, the father of two suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, sobbed uncontrollably as the judge issued his sentence.

Nicole Crosta was the victim-witness advocate assigned to the case. Assistant District Attorney Janis Noble second-seated Broadbent. Piscopo was represented by attorney Robert George.

Lucy of 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' fame dies

LONDON (AP) -- Lucy Vodden, who provided the inspiration for the Beatles' classic song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," has died after a long battle with lupus. She was 46.

Her death was announced by her husband, Ross Vodden, and St. Thomas' Hospital in London, where she had been treated for the chronic disease for more than five years.

Vodden's connection to the Beatles dates back to her early days, when she made friends with schoolmate Julian Lennon, John Lennon's son.

Julian Lennon, then 4 years old, came home from school with a drawing one day, showed it to his father, and said it was "Lucy in the sky with diamonds."

At the time, John Lennon was gathering material for his contributions to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," a landmark album released to worldwide acclaim in 1967.

The elder Lennon seized on the image and developed it into what is widely regarded as a psychedelic masterpiece, replete with haunting images of "newspaper taxis" and a "girl with kaleidoscope eyes."

Rock music critics thought the song's title was a veiled reference to LSD, but John Lennon always claimed the phrase came from his son, not from a desire to spell out the initials LSD in code.

Vodden lost touch with Julian Lennon after he left the school following his parents' divorce, but they were reunited in recent years when Julian Lennon, who lives in France, tried to help her cope with the disease.

He sent her flowers and vouchers for use at a gardening center near her home in Surrey in southeast England, and frequently sent her text messages in an effort to buttress her spirits.

"I wasn't sure at first how to approach her," Julian Lennon told the Associated Press in June. "I wanted at least to get a note to her. Then I heard she had a great love of gardening, and I thought I'd help with something she's passionate about, and I love gardening too. I wanted to do something to put a smile on her face."

In recent months, Vodden was too ill to go out most of the time, except for hospital visits.

She enjoyed her link to the Beatles, but was not particularly fond of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

"I don't relate to the song, to that type of song," she told the Associated Press in June. "As a teenager, I made the mistake of telling a couple of friends at school that I was the Lucy in the song and they said, 'No, it's not you, my parents said it's about drugs.' And I didn't know what LSD was at the time, so I just kept it quiet, to myself."

Vodden is the latest in a long line of people connected to the Beatles who died at a relatively young age.

The list includes John Lennon, gunned down at age 40, manager Brian Epstein, who died of a drug overdose when he was 32, and original band member Stuart Sutcliffe, who died of a brain hemorrhage at 21.

A spokeswoman for Julian Lennon and his mother, Cynthia Lennon, said they were "shocked and saddened" by Vodden's death.

Angie Davidson, a lupus sufferer who is campaign director of the St. Thomas' Lupus Trust, said Vodden was "a real fighter" who had worked behind the scenes to support efforts to combat the disease.

"It's so sad that she has finally lost the battle she fought so bravely for so long," said Davidson.

Susan Atkins, follower of Charles Manson, dies

61-year-old, who admitted killing Sharon Tate in '69, was fighting cancer.

Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkle and Leslie Van Houten, from left to right, are shown en route to court in Los Angeles, Ca., August 1970. The three women, displaying the symbol X on their foreheads as followers of the Manson cult family, were involved in one of the most notorious mass murders in California history.

LOS ANGELES - Susan Atkins, a follower of cult leader Charles Manson whose remorseless witness stand confession to killing pregnant actress Sharon Tate in 1969 shocked the world, has died. She was 61 and had been suffering from brain cancer.

Atkins' death comes less than a month after a parole board turned down the terminally ill woman's last chance at freedom on Sept. 2. She was brought to the hearing on a gurney and slept through most of it.

California Department of Corrections spokeswoman Terry Thornton said that Atkins died late Thursday night. She had been diagnosed with brain cancer in 2008, had a leg amputated and was given only a few months to live.

Fluffernutter nominated for official sandwich of Mass.

A Massachusetts legislative committee is considering what the state sandwich, candy and candy bar should be.

The Boston Globe reported that the foods under consideration are the Fluffernutter for the sandwich, Necco wafers for candy and Charleston Chew for candy bar.

Marshmallow Fluff was invented in Somerville and is now made in Lynn. Necco Wafers used to be made in Cambridge and now come from Revere. And the man who made the Charlestown Chew famous, Nat Sloane, was a native of Belmont.

Massachusetts already has five official state foods: the baked navy bean, corn muffin, chocolate chip cookie, Boston cream pie, and Boston cream doughnut.

$5G reward offered in 1974 Revere cold case

REVERE - Leigh Savoie was 10 years old when he left his State Road home to shine shoes, hoping to buy his mother an Easter present. It was April 7, 1974 - the last time anybody saw him.

Savoie's disappearance has remained a mystery. On Wednesday, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley and Revere Police Chief Terence Reardon jointly announced that a $5,000 reward has been offered in connection with the cold case.

The Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation, an independent private agency that provides awards in missing persons cases, has posted the reward for inf-ormation leading to Savoie's return or the prosecution of a suspect in his abduction.

"We are pleased that the Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation has provided funding in order to aid us in pursuing a case that we and they consider very much active and worthy of our best efforts throughout this passage of time," Reardon said. "We request that anyone having any information, no matter how trivial, regarding this case contact us in order to contribute to its successful resolution."

Conley echoed that sentiment. "As long as there's hope - hope of finding Leigh or hope of finding justice for him - we will not rest," he said. "With law enforcement resources bolstered by the Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation, and with the public's assistance, we have a chance to write this story's final chapter."

Savoie was last seen wearing blue pants, a blue sweater, brown shoes, and a white shirt reading, "Try it, you'll like it." He stood about four feet tall and weighed approximately 60 lbs. He had brown hair and brown eyes.

"Savoie sometimes shined shoes at nearby Suffolk Downs. On the day he disappeared, he left home with his shoeshine kit. Later the same afternoon, the owner of a Revere restaurant returned the kit to Savoie's home, saying the boy had dropped it off earlier in the day on his way to Revere Beach," said Conley spokesman Jake Wark.

Today, Savoie would be 45 years old.

Revere Police are investigating the case with the assistance of State Police homicide detectives assigned to Conley's office. In the absence of other information, the boy is currently classified as missing; should investigators develop substantive evidence that he was a victim of homicide, State Police will take the lead, Wark said.

Anyone with information on Savoie's disappearance is urged to call Revere Police at 781-286-8203 or State Police at 617-727-8817. Those familiar with the boy or his neighborhood in the early 1970s are also asked to call.

Daily Item

News from England

There Swifty goes!

Wonderland's last card end of an era

REVERE - There Swifty goes... and he's probably not coming back around the track.

Wonderland Greyhound Park is slated to hold its final 12 races tonight (post time is 7:25 p.m.) after voters passed a state ballot measure in 2008 ending dog racing in the state.

Wonderland opened its doors 74 years ago and soon after became one of the top nightlife attractions on the North Shore.

But time took its toll on the Route 1A complex, its customer base dwindled, entertainment choices widened and the voters' decision to ban dog racing served as the final straw.

After the final card, Wonderland's greyhound racing season ends and another won't be allowed to start next year as all dog racing in the state must end by January of next year.

Supporters of greyhound racing in the state say nearly 1,200 people will lose their jobs once the ban takes effect. Opponents say the ban already has been approved by voters and claim some track workers already are being trained for other jobs.

So it appears it's the end of an era for Wonderland, although there are several key efforts afoot at the State House level in support of Wonderland and its employees.

Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, who represents the Revere ward in which Wonderland is located, has long been a vocal supporter of slot machines at the state's race tracks, labeling them the "initial threshold" to any upcoming expanded gambling legislation, including a resort casino plan.

Last week, supporters of greyhound racing packed a State House hearing in support of a bill filed by state Rep. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, that would delay the racing ban for two years. Another bill, filed by state Rep. David Flynn, D-Bridgewater, would allow the two tracks to continue to take wagers on simulcast races.

Constructed on the site of the old Wonderland Amusement Park, the oval opened on June 12, 1935 when approximately 5,000 watched Pansy Walker win the oval's first-ever race. The parimutuel handle for the first card was $58,462, a princely sum in Depression-era America.

Greyhound racing took off on the North Shore and, just 17 cards later, the handle topped $100,000 and never went under that figure for the remainder of the initial 100-card meet.

Shortly after the World War II conflict ended in Europe, Wonderland hosted 22,607 fans on May 16, 1945, its single-card attendance record.

According to its Web site, Wonderland has featured more All-American greyhounds than any other track in the country. 35 All-American recipients have competed there, including 18 Derby Champions.

Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park in Raynham, the state's only other dog racing track, holds dog races year-round and will continue to hold live races until the ban officially takes effect in four months.

Actor Patrick Swayze Dies of Pancreatic Cancer

Actor Patrick Swayze died today after a 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer his publicist confirmed to ABC News. He was 57.

The "Dirty Dancing" star loses his battle with pancreatic cancer."Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months," his publicist, Annett Wolf, said in a statement released Monday evening.

Patrick Swayze's wife Lisa told ABC News' Barbara Walters that she and his brother Donny Swayze, were by his side when he died at his ranch on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

Swayze, best known for starring in the blockbuster films "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost," was diagnosed with cancer in January 2008, but outlived the prognosis of just several months he received.

His "Dirty Dancing" co-star, Jennifer Gray, said Swayze "was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace."

"Gorgeous and strong, he was a real cowboy with a tender heart," she said after learning of his death. "He was fearless and insisted on always doing his own stunts, so it was not surprising to me that the war he waged on his cancer was so courageous and dignified.

"When I think of him, I think of being in his arms when we were kids, dancing, practicing the lift in the freezing lake, having a blast doing this tiny little movie we thought no one would ever see," she said.

His last television interview was in December 2008 with ABC News' Barbara Walters.

Swayze spoke candidly to Walters about his prognosis and vowed to fight his cancer and "keep my heart and my soul and my spirit open to miracles."

"One thing I'm not gonna do is chase staying alive," Swayze said. "You spend so much time chasing staying alive, you won't live."

"He fought the bravest battle and sadly lost," Walters said today. "My heart goes out to his wonderful Lisa, his wife and soulmate for 34 years."

Lisa Swayze said that he had just recently completed the audio version of his memoir entitled 'The Time of My Life' in homage to the song he made famous in 'Dirty Dancing'.

Swayze's father, on the other hand, was a great outdoorsman, which is where Swayze got his love for horses.

His primary passion growing up was dancing, but eventually Swayze was forced to stop because of injuries and began investing his energy into acting.

He moved to New York and had his first big break in the Broadway musical "Grease" in 1978. His popularity on the Great White Way soon led him to Hollywood, where he appeared in a teenage movie called "Skatetown USA."

Although he was compared to Rudolph Valentino and John Travolta, Swayze decided not to go the route of being a teenage idol. Instead, he chose to pursue films such as "The Outsiders" and the television miniseries "North and South."

Swayze achieved true stardom with the biggest break of his life, starring as the gyrating dance instructor Johnny Castle in 1987's "Dirty Dancing" opposite co-star Jennifer Gray. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role, along with a cult-like following of fans.

He received another nomination for his 1990 blockbuster "Ghost," in which he starred alongside Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. He was named by People magazine as the "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991.

Moore released this statement upon hearing of Swayze's death, "Patrick you are loved by so many and your light will forever shine in all of our lives. In the words of Sam to Molly. 'It's amazing Molly. The love inside, you take it with you.' I will miss you. Demi."

Swayze continued acting in films, including "Point Break," "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar" and "Donnie Darko."

Remember September 11, 2001

Senator Edward Kennedy dies at 77

Pictured: Edward M. Kennedy, John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, the last surviving brother in a political dynasty and one of the most influential senators in history, died Tuesday night at his home in Hyannis Port after a year-long struggle with brain cancer. He was 77.

Kennedy was born at St. Margaret's Hospital in the Dorchester section of Boston, Massachusetts, the youngest of nine children of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald, who were both members of prominent Irish-American families in Boston. He leaves one surviving sibling, Jean Kennedy Smith. Pre-deceased siblings are Joseph P., Jr., John F., Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice Shriver, Patricia Lawford, and Robert F. Kennedy.

In nearly 50 years in the Senate, Kennedy served alongside 10 presidents — his brother John Fitzgerald Kennedy among them — compiling an impressive list of legislative achievements on health care, civil rights, education, immigration and more.

Fox 25 News - Zip Trip 02151

Join us on Revere Beach
this Friday morning, August 28th,
when the Fox25 Morning News Team
will be filming it's weekly ZIP TRIP
~ LIVE ~ 5am to 9am
directly across from Kelly's Roast Beef.

Freedom and Jeff

Freedom and I have been together 10 years this summer. She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn't open all the way even after surgery, it was broken in 4 places. She's my baby.

When Freedom came in she could not stand and both wings were broken. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vets office. From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lay in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks.

This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn't stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn't stand in a week. You know you don't want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn't want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn't bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.

We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington . We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV. Miracle Pets even did a show about us.

In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair - the whole bit. I missed a lot of work. When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again.

Fast forward to November 2000, the day after Thanksgiving. I went in for my last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they did the tests; and I had to come back Monday for the results. I went in Monday, and I was told that all the cancer was gone.


So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn't said a word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that for I don't know how long. That was a magic moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird.

On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled and he swore he could feel her power coarse through his body. I have so many stories like that.

I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedom. Hope you enjoy this.

Appeared on Boston.com as: Dude Looks Like (an old) Lady

Hmm. Judging from this photo of Steven Tyler and actor Chuck Slavin at Pembroke Center Liquors, the Aerosmith singer is indeed in no shape to continue the band's summer tour. Tyler's arm is in a sling as a result of a broken shoulder suffered when he fell off the stage in South Dakota. (Those Zsa Zsa Gabor glasses aren't doing him any favors.) In an apology over the weekend to fans via Twitter, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry made it sound like it wasn't his idea to cancel the remainder of the tour. "I am so sorry about vocalist Steven Tyler having to cancel our Aerosmith shows," wrote Perry. "I can't say I'm sorry enough you guys are great fans to have." Perry's solo CD "Have Guitar, Will Travel," featuring a German singer named Hagen, is out Oct. 13th.

He really looks rough. I wish him a speedy recovery.

Adios, Chihuahua! Taco Bell dog dead at 15

Gidget, known for the tagline ‘Yo quiero Taco Bell,’ died from a stroke

She charmed millions without ever saying a word — and managed to make fast-food tacos adorable. Gidget, the Chihuahua best known for her Taco Bell ad campaign (and her famous overdubbed tagline, "Yo quiero Taco Bell"), died from a stroke on Tuesday night at age 15.

"She made so many people happy," says Gidget's trainer, Sue Chipperton. PEOPLE met both Gidget and Sue at a Hollywood animals photo shoot in February, where the pup was a consummate pro and delighted the crew with her playful nature.

"When she's on a set, she comes alive," Chipperton said at the time. But when the mostly retired canine actor wasn't joining her trainer on shoots, the 15-year-old was happy to just kick back. "She goes on hikes with me and she loves the sun," said Chipperton, who added that Gidget was happy to sleep "for 23 hours and 45 minutes a day. She'll lay outside when it's 105 degrees! I like to joke that it's like looking after a plant."

In addition to her gig as spokesdog for Taco Bell, Gidget appeared in a commercial for the '90s edition of Trivial Pursuit and played Bruiser's mom in Legally Blonde 2 (Moonie, the dog who played Bruiser, was her best friend and sometime roommate at Chipperton's house).

Other than a few other small cameos, Gidget's working life didn't continue much beyond her Taco Bell legacy. But she left quite an impression. "One time, I kid you not, she actually pushed her stand-in out of the way because he was still there when she arrived on set," Chipperton recalled with a laugh. "Gidget always knew where the camera was."

Walter Cronkite dead at 92

Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009) was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years (1962–81). During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited in viewer opinion polls as "the most trusted man in America" because of his professional experience and kindly demeanor. Although he reported many events from 1937-1981, including bombing in World War II, the Nuremberg trials, combat in the Vietnam War, the death of JFK, Watergate, and the Iran Hostage Crisis, he was known for extensive TV coverage of the U.S. space program, from Project Mercury to the Moon landings (with co-host Wally Shirra), to the Space Shuttle. He was the only non-NASA recipient of a Moon-rock award. The Beatles' first American TV broadcast was for Walter Cronkite. Following one of his central tenets to "report the news, don't become it," the title "anchor" was invented as his role. In later years, he appeared as a host or guest-star in many TV broadcasts.

Revere’s recorder - Henry retires as City Clerk, ending a 31-year career as the institutional memory of the city

At the next City Council meeting on July 20, there will be a noticeable difference in personnel.

No city councillors will be missing, but for the first time in more than 30 years, former City Clerk John Henry won’t be coordinating the meeting.

Henry submitted his letter of resignation to the council late last week, which will become official today, July 15, due to his retirement as full-time city clerk.

“I submitted a letter of resignation to the City Council that is effective this Wednesday, July 15, due to the fact that I’m retiring as a full-time city clerk,” said Henry on Monday. “My wife just retired from the Revere School System, so she’s around, and I’m 65 now. I’m in that range where people retire.”

Henry has indicated that he will stay on as temporary clerk if the council so wishes, and that arrangement will likely be the council’s first order of business on July 20 - whether to keep Henry on a temporary basis.

Two things will prevent the council from making an immediate decision about his replacement.

First and foremost, there is a spirited battle going on behind the scenes between a handful of people who are looking to become the next clerk. The city clerk’s position is an appointed position from the City Council. Only the City Council can choose whom they would like to serve as city clerk, and a mere six votes gets someone the job.

Secondly, there is a piece of legislation at the State House that looks to repeal the life tenure of the Revere city clerk. That measure passed the council several months ago, but was only recently heard on Beacon Hill. It will be reported out of a legislative committee this week and could be adopted by the Legislature sometime this summer.

The measure would give the city clerk a five-year term. Right now, the clerk enjoys life tenure, as Revere voters approved such an arrangement in a 1923 ballot question.

So while the dust settles on those matters, Henry has agreed to work without pay.

“During the interim period of time, upon a determination by the City Council, I would be willing to serve as temporary city clerk without compensation until the Massachusetts Legislature repeals the City Clerk Tenure Act and the appointment of a new city clerk by the City Council,” Henry wrote in his resignation letter.

He also indicated that any savings from his salary could be put towards keeping City Hall open on certain Fridays after Labor Day.

Mayor Tom Ambrosino said he has asked Henry to stay on as parking clerk, as supervisor of the city’s parking lots and as the clerk of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).

“I have asked him to stay on,” said the mayor. “I certainly want him to stay on as long as possible.”

Under state pension laws, Henry can retire from the clerk’s position and still work and receive income for the three other positions, which carry much smaller salaries, compared to that of the clerk.

Ambrosino and others said the potential of losing Henry can’t be measured. He is the institutional memory of the city for the last 30 years, in addition to all of the information he inherited from his predecessors, Joseph McCristal and Albert Brown.

“I was surprised to hear of his retirement,” said the mayor. “John Henry is an exceptional city clerk and very knowledgeable. I’ve relied on him quite a bit in my tenure as mayor for all sorts of advice and counseling. I hope he stays because I would miss him terribly.”

Councillor George V. Colella, the dean of the City Council, said losing Henry is devastating to the city and to the taxpayers.

“He came in with great credentials and he did an absolute superior job as clerk,” said Colella. “It’s a devastating loss.”

Henry first mentioned that he might retire late in January when the state’s fiscal crisis began to rear its ugly head. He indicated at that time that if it would help the city financially, he would step aside.

In his 30-plus years, Henry has been the continuity of the city, seeing several mayoral administrations and city councillors come and go. The personalities, the in-fighting and the victories - he has been there for all of them. There have been issues upon issues, and he and his staff have been there to record those comings and goings, along with the more mundane duties of keeping birth and death records, dog licenses and marriage certificates.

A native of Revere, he became the clerk in 1978 after having worked for several years as the director of intergovernmental affairs for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).

He said one of the biggest changes has been new technology, not only at his office in terms of computerization and the Internet, but also at the City Council meetings.

“There are fewer and fewer people participating in the Chamber meetings,” he said. “When I first came in, the Chamber was packed. Every seat was taken. Now, about every seat is open. They have access to TV now, and they watch it there.”

He said the public has access to much more information than when he came in - from the meeting agendas, which are much more detailed, to the information on the city’s website.

In the meantime, Henry said he hopes to do some traveling and he will continue doing historical research on Revere - producing short historical pieces for the newspaper, for the local cable access TV and for local lectures.

Though he said he is ready for the change, he indicated there was some sentimentality in closing his chapter as Revere city clerk, a position that doesn’t see a retirement very often.

“There’s a little nostalgia about stepping aside,” he said. “When you sit in that chair [in the council chambers] and in the clerk’s office, you become part of the building. It’s a little emotional…I’ll still be on Broadway, though, at 7 a.m. having my coffee and then coming over here and starting my computer. Any way I can help the city, I will.”

Tall Ships visit Boston

I wasn't in town when the Tall Ships came, but a friend sent me a few pics. They are a really beautiful site when they're in the harbor.

2 headed to prison for hacking into phone system

DALLAS — A teenager and a 23-year-old man from Massachusetts are headed to prison after being sentenced in Dallas on conspiracy charges related to a phone hacking case.

Nineteen-year-old Matthew Weigman of Revere, Mass., was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to retaliate against a witness, victim or an informant and one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Twenty-three-year-old Sean Paul Benton of Malden, Mass., received an 18-month sentence after pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to obstruct justice.

Prosecutors say Weigman hacked into Verizon computers to obtain identifying information on customers and change or discontinue their service. He and Benton then harassed a Verizon investigator who was cooperating with authorities in the case.

Houston Chronicle (Texas)