Scout, Also Known as Whiffle Readying Himself for 2022

He Has No Preferences When It comes to Food

By Josh Resnek

This is a classic dog story about Scout, also known as Whiffle.

He is 6 years old, part greyhound, part who knows what, mostly gray, white and black with long legs, capable of moving him at lightning speed.

My wife and I adopted him. He came from Arkansas.

Scout is not just another dog. He is a presence. He is friendly. He is loving. He is playful. He can be serious.

In a perfect world, Scout would have been a beach dog – you know – the kind of dog who spends all his time at the beach, in the water, rolling in the sand, chasing sticks while at the same time not bothering other dogs but always sniffing around for a strange scrap of food here and there.

I take Scout to the beach every day.

Until the weather changed at the end of the summer, he swam every day.

I’d throw rocks into the waves. Scout chased them, diving with full force into the oncoming waves. He didn’t care how big the waves were. He dove into them chest first.

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— Eye on Everett —

The Blue Suit

“This year’s inauguration was definitely the lowest energy inauguration I’ve witnessed since Carlo got elected. What was that all about?”

– The mayor’s Blue Suit asking Josh Resnek a question

By JOSH RESNEK with THE BLUE SUIT

The inauguration was a giant anti-climax this year. With the COVID acting up again and sweeping through the city, the state, the nation and the world, well, it did not seem like a time to call for a big public party.

Not many attended the inauguration. Even fewer saw it as the ECTV broadcast was botched. But then, what is an inauguration anyway that is not open to the public which is botched by ECTV?

The Blue Suit did not attend the inauguration.

The mayor wore a tuxedo as did all the male members of the city council and the school committee.

“You know, several people asked me why the inauguration couldn’t have been held at the casino right on the gaming floor within earshot of the hum and clang of electronic slot ma- chines,” I said to the Blue Suit as we drove around in my red Honda Tuesday afternoon.

“The casino does a great job with keeping the casino area clean and free of COVID. Don’t you think it would have been good to have the inauguration there. Encore has a great air filtration system. The crowd could have played the slots while watching the new city government members being sworn in. Voila – a real Everett style time. That’s called killing two birds with one stone by some, a double header by others,” I added.

“Come on, Josh. Who are you kidding. The inauguration in the main slot machine room of the casino? You’ve got to be kidding. If you’re trying to be a comedian, I’d advise that you don’t give up your day job. You just aren’t funny. You may think you’re funny, but you aren’t,” the Blue Suit said to me.

“I happen to think I’m very funny,” I complained.

We looked at one another and laughed.

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COVID, COVID and MORE COVID

DECEMBER 29: The long line for COVID test wrapped all away around Rivergreen Park and the wait was more than three hours. (Photo by Jim Mahoney)

A New Massive Wave of Infections Obscures End

By Josh Resnek

It grows more difficult every day to figure out the dangers and the oddities of the COVI- 19 attack on America and the world.

As we began the first week of the New Year, COVID-19 and Omicron cases by the millions have raised serious questions about the economic recovery from the pandemic which appears not only stalled but buried, at least for now.

Infection figures in Massachusetts soared over the top last week and into this week.

Massachusetts reported 135,000 new cases during the last two weeks ending on January 2. On January 3, 21,000 new cases were reported.

Testing is ongoing. More than 100,000 people a day are being tested in Massachusetts. Almost 2,000 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19.

Of that number, 387 are presently patients in Intensive Care Units, with 243 patients on respirators. The Omicron strain of the COVID virus is spreading across the nation like wildfire.

While deaths and hospitalizations remain manageable, it is the economy that is beginning to suffer because of the disruption the sickness brings to the nation’s business life.

All businesses remain in flux because of the upsurge in new cases.

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Is An Encore Performance Facility Across The Street From The Casino Allowed

Encore has filed plans for a large expansion using its current parking lots. (Photo by Jim Mahoney)

Questions Raised About Proposed Performance Venue

By Josh Resnek

During the first week of December when Encore announced it is going to build an 1,800 seat performance venue for concerts, and sporting events across from the casino on land it owns, the proposal was met with wows by Everett officials.

It will cost many millions to build such a facility and with the added parking garage in the development package, such a facility was perceived as an adjunct to the casino property across the street.

With such a facility, Encore’s client base could be expanded geometrically, and especially on the nights of performances attracting thousands of people who would ultimately saunter across the street, over the proposed bridge, and finish off the night gaming at the casino. The only problem?

State gaming laws blocks performance venues at casinos.

Why?

Because local theater owners and such facilities in Greater Boston might be negatively affected.

The state law prevents entertainment venues ranging in size from 1,000 to 3,500 seats from being built in casinos. But Wynn plans to build the venue across the street from the Encore property and bring in a separate business, most likely Big Night Entertainment Group, to operate it. And Wynn says the venue will operate without a subsidy from the casino, according to a recent report in the Boston Globe.

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New City Government Inaugurated; Mayor Begins Four More Years

Mayor Carlo DeMaria. (Photo by Katy Rogers)

Hanlon to Chair Council; Cristiano to Chair SC

By Josh Resnek

The 2022 Everett City Government was sworn in at a virtual inauguration held at Everett High School early Monday evening.

Family members and those inaugurated were the only members allowed in the auditorium.

The inaugurations of the mayor, the City Council and School Committee were followed by organizational meetings of those two bodies.

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