By MARK SARDELLA
The tree removal company could only promise that they would be here before noon, so voting will have to wait until after they leave.
11 a.m. — The tree crew arrives. They work quickly and efficiently and within one hour a maple that was leaning on my roof and a sumac that was — well, being a sumac — were reduced to wood chips. Both trees were weeds. They have no business being there and were encroaching on trees that were supposed be there.
Noon — Time to head out to vote and hopefully help weed out some politicians who have no business being there and bring some badly needed change and balance to Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill. No line at the polls. But it takes some time to vote. With all the races and questions, the ballot is three pages long.
2 p.m. – It seems only fitting for John Encarnacao’s wake to take place on Election Day. Few local elected officials can lay claim to his electoral longevity and success. The doors of McDonald Funeral Home open a few minutes before 3 p.m. and the line is already across the parking lot and down Yale Avenue, a fitting tribute to a man who did so much for the town he loved.
John was seven times elected to the School Committee, serving 21 years. He followed that up with a second act as a selectman for 17 years. I had the pleasure of covering the Board of Selectmen for the last 10 years of John’s tenure. Most of the time I agreed with his common sense positions but even when I didn’t I never doubted that he had the best interests of Wakefield at heart.
John served as chairman of the Permanent Building Committee right up until his death. He oversaw a number of worthy building projects during his tenure, the crowning achievement of which is the brand new Galvin Middle School. I’m glad he lived to see the new school that he played such a huge role in bringing to reality but sad that he will not be there on Nov. 15 for what now will be a very bittersweet Galvin Middle School Dedication Ceremony.
Rest in Peace, John.
4:30 p.m. Dinner of shepherd’s pie at Brothers Deli & Restaurant.
6 p.m. – Home for a quick cat nap in preparation for what will be a long election night.
8:30 p.m. I arrive at the Richard Tisei/Donald Wong election night event at the Kowloon in Saugus just in time to hear Rep. Wong announce that his opponent Chris Finn had conceded the Ninth District race, giving Wong a third term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
9 p.m. Wong tells me in an interview that he credits his success to the work ethic instilled in him by his parents.
9:25 p.m. Word spreads through the crowd that Richard Tisei is about to make an announcement. The subdued tone in the room, where supporters have been watching Sixth District returns on the big screen TV, foreshadows the news that Tisei is about to concede to Seth Moulton.
9:30 p.m. A gracious Richard Tisei tells the crowd that he had just called and congratulated Moulton and wished him well in Congress.
9:45 p.m. Tisei tells me that he appreciates the support that he’s gotten from Wakefield over the years and he intends to continue being an active member of the community.
10:30 p.m. An unexpectedly early exit as I head home to write two stories and watch TV coverage of the tight races for Massachusetts Governor and New Hampshire Senate.
Sometime after midnight: Off to bed, secure in the knowledge that the sun will come up on Wednesday.
