People, Places and Things: 12-9-14

Blue Ox’s Gaeta honored by ZagatCount him among the young and talented. Charles Gaeta, 29, of Lynn was among the Zagat 30 Under 30 Boston honorees Monday night with the prestigious dining guide saluting accomplished local culinary achievers.Gaeta thanked his parents, Charles and Elizabeth Gaeta, and Blue Ox owners Matt and Joanna O’Neil for giving him the chance, beginning in 2008, to jump from the world of high finance to the restaurant world. He started working as a bar-back at the Ox, working his way up the ladder in the Oxford Street restaurant where he is currently general manager and beverage director. He is a graduate of Boston University’s Wine Program and is currently studying to attain advanced level status in the Court of Master Sommeliers.Christmas spirit in Sin CityGreg Domey Sr., owner of Sin City Cycles in Saugus, and Everything’s Hair owner Donna Russo of Saugus are thanking generous donors who brought gifts for more than 100 children to the Franco-American Veteran Post in Lynn Saturday night. Domey credited friends Jodi Cooksey, Mary Lee and Michele Gelosi with making Christmas for Kids a success with more than 500 people stopping by during the evening. He said donations will provide about 20 gifts for each child and said more children’s names will placed on the donation list.Global view on Swampscott’s SimonsCongrats to Swampscott resident Jo Ann Simons, President and CEO of Cardinal Cushing Centers in Hanover, on being named to the Globe Magazine/Commonwealth Institute Top 100 Women-led Businesses. Simons and Cushing checked in at 66.Lynn vet director back from AfghanistanLynn Veterans Director Michael Sweeney finished six months of military service in Afghanistan last week and is back in Massachusetts completing service-related duties before returning to his City Hall job.Swampscott educator is JollyLois Longin, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Swampscott Public Schools, ran in the Danvers Jolly Jaunt, a 5K road race to benefit Special Olympics. Word is the former Clarke School principal looked very stylish in her tutu and reindeer ears.