For the first time in more than 30 years, Everett has a van that will pick up older residents at home and take them to the Connolly Center. The free service began Wednesday, November 4, announced in an October 29 release from Mayor Robert Van Campen’s office and promoted again on the city’s pages this week.
Residents 60 and older can book a ride by calling the Connolly Center at 617-544-6008, Monday through Thursday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., at least two days before the trip. The van runs Monday through Thursday. Morning pickups start around 8:15 a.m. with stops at the city’s senior housing buildings, and riders can also ask to be picked up at home. Return trips from the center at 90 Chelsea Street start around 2:30 p.m. Times shift with reservations, weather and events, and a staff member calls each rider to confirm. Riders who need help getting on or off should say so when booking.
The vehicle is all-electric, seats six, carries two more passengers in wheelchairs and has a lift. The city bought it for $58,000: $50,000 from the Capital Stabilization account, appropriated by the City Council in 2024, and $8,000 from a Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging and Independence grant. The purchase went out to bid as DPW-26-43. Drivers are trained in CPR and AED use, the wheelchair lift, defensive driving and emergency management, the city said.
“For many of our older residents, the Connolly Center is an important part of their daily lives, but getting there isn’t always easy,” Van Campen said in the city’s announcement. Council on Aging Director Dale Palma said the service “will make a meaningful difference for residents who rely on the Connolly Center.”
Tree lighting, Saturday, December 5
The city’s Christmas tree lighting is Saturday, December 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. in Everett Square, off School Street. The city says the evening includes live music, train rides, face painting, balloon art, food, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the Everett High School marching band and choir. The band won its division at the USBands state championship on October 31.
Asked under the city’s post whether there will be a Thanksgiving dinner at the Connolly Center this year, a resident answered that the dinner is run by the Mass Badge program through the Police Department and has not been announced. The city had not answered as of Saturday.
E Club dinner, Tuesday, November 17
The E Club of Everett’s fall dinner is Tuesday, November 17, at Spinelli’s in Lynnfield, with a social hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7. Tickets are $65 at eclubofeverett.com, the Everett Independent reported.
The club is honoring Al and Ginger Perillo for more than 50 years in Pop Warner football and cheerleading. Al Perillo joined the Everett Huskies in 1974, became president in 1978, ran the Greater Boston Pop Warner League from 1981 and later directed the Eastern Massachusetts conference and New England Pop Warner for more than 25 years; he went into the National Pop Warner Hall of Fame last year. Ginger Perillo started as a team mother the same year, took over the cheerleading program in 1980, helped form the Greater Boston cheerleading league in 1986 and was its president, then served 35 years as Eastern Massachusetts director of cheerleading. The couple marked their 63rd anniversary in July; their three children all came through the Huskies.
Also honored: the 1991 Everett High boys basketball team, which went 20-3 under John DiBiaso and assistant Paul Bertone, won the Greater Boston League and the Eastern Massachusetts title with a win over Catholic Memorial in front of 10,000 at the Boston Garden, and lost the state final to a Springfield Central team with future NBA first-round pick Travis Best. Co-captains were John “Bubba” Sagarino, the Globe’s Division 1 player of the year, and Malik Curry; Jerry Navarra, Corey Washington and Derek Motto were league all-stars. The 1991 cheerleading squad coached by Maureen DiBiaso is recognized with them. Club president Michael LaCourt said about a dozen players are expected.
The speaker is Mark Dennehy, the New Jersey Devils’ head of amateur scouting, a former Boston College defenseman who coached Merrimack College for 13 seasons and the AHL’s Binghamton Devils. Josh DelGaizo is the emcee.
Two other deadlines are in our Friday story: holiday gift cards and toys at the Connolly Center through November 19, and rent and mortgage assistance through November 25. The Veterans Day ceremony is Wednesday, November 11, at 10 a.m. at the Connolly Center, with retired Air National Guard Lt. Col. Karin Killeen speaking and the high school band playing; lunch follows, and parking is in the Spring Street lot.
