People, Places, and Things: 12-10-14

Saugus student is a Jenner of academiaCongratulations to Austin Prep senior Drew Ciccarelli of Saugus, who took home a bronze medal in the Honors category for science and economics in the regional Academic Decathlon competition. Ciccarelli helped his team to a first-place trophy in the Small Schools division, beating out 14 other schools. The theme for the competition was New Alternatives in Energy: Ingenuity and Innovation.Drew is the son of Michael and Carol (Savage) Ciccarelli, and the grandson of Paul and Mary Ciccarelli, longtime proprietors of Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, which is now run by Michael and his sister, Ann. Drew’s younger brother, Justin, is a freshman at Austin Prep, where Michael is an assistant soccer coach. Lynners will remember Carol, a Nahant native, as an all-star softball pitcher at St. Mary’s (Class of 1980). Carol’s mother, Jeanne, lives in Nahant.Four score and one year ago …Birthday wishes to John Pace, who blew out 81 candles Tuesday (with no intervention from Chief Jimmy McDonald and the LFD). Pace’s boundless energy and constant presence around the city clearly put him in the spry octogenarian category.A retired dental supply salesman, Pace worked for the Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development until about a dozen years ago. Since that time, he has served as a board member for Neighborhood Development Associates, LHAND’s development arm. He also works part-time for Solimine Funeral Homes and is a former member of the Licensing Commission. Those who have been around for awhile will recall his serving as campaign manager for former mayor Tony Marino.Happy Birthday, John.Remembering RalphPrize donors and raffle ticket buyers have stepped up to raise money for Santa’s Helping Hands, the favorite charity of deputy tax collector Ralph Cronin, who died last February. Cronin enjoyed the holidays, especially Christmas, and dressed up to extend holiday cheer to one and all who came to City Hall. More than 175 tickets have been sold in City Hall and by local businesses with tickets for the “Ralphie’s 12 Days of Christmas” raffle available in the city Assessing Department until Friday at 12:30 p.m.?Tish’ dishes decorationsLynn resident Robert “Tish” Muise is getting offers to create more of his distinctive purple and pink holiday wreaths, reindeer and bows that are currently sprucing up in Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy’s office. Mayoral aide Mary Fountain said Muise, well-known to Fran’s Place patrons, limits his creations to gifts for friends. “He’s very humble,” Fountain said.Women in businessWomen are moving into the Revere Chamber of Commerce’s two top spots with Revere resident and Kinship Floral owner Kerri Abrams to be sworn in as the new chamber president in January and East Boston resident Stephanie Scopa-Andrede taking over as executive director of the 175-member organization.