׉?4ׁB!בCט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://FwwJAv16cxlcllDVprHvXmHqFsPpKMy6ffAXCj2yGYw`)׉ 7cassandra://1EjNO5YPf3g-przcMCr3NrMOFklTFOucw5AKN7nQrhQͬ`J׉ 7cassandra://tEU1sPBoXZ7nZwabqm-QmNuyTOyfCFFH-TO2bqb-olw5`̰׉ 7cassandra://eBac1wJSNe84ScgrDoirNJbtv5f6cgXzxtswZtGBr1E sMx ͠aLD,wj3x5נaLE,wj3x9 ʁf 9ׁHhttp://www.angelosoil.comׁ ׁ ЈנaLD,wj3x8̱ 9ׁHhttp://www.advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј׈EaLA,wj3x׉E+SAUGUS D Vol. 24, No. 52 -FREEL ast July 7 was a great day for Saugus as the incidence of the deadly Coronavirus seemed to be fading away. For the fi rst time in 16 months, Saugus had gotten through the week without a confi rmed COVID-19 case. But the cause for celebrating the demise of the killer disease turned out to be premature. Six months later, Saugus – like the Have a Prosperous & Joyous New Year! AD CAOCATOCAT www.advocatenews.net t Another Year of the Pandemic Facing the challenges of COVID-19 repeats as the top story in Saugus for 2021 as confi rmed cases pass 6,000 By Mark E. Vogler rest of Massachusetts and the nation – is experiencing a surge in the number of cases, which reached 285 during a seven-day period through last Tuesday (Dec. 28), pushing Saugus over the 6,000 mark since the outbreak of the global pandemic in March of last year. For the second year in a row, COVID-19 – and how the comPANDEMIC | SEE PAGE 5 Publ P ublished Every Friday 781-233-4446 ATE E Friday, December 31, 2021 Top Story of 2021: Another Year of The Pandemic A NIGHT OF PRAISE AND PRAYERS: Saugus High School a cappella singers held candles in memory of loved ones who died during 2021, as they stood on the front lawn outside Saugus Town Hall in September. They were among dozens who gathered to recognize heroes who helped the town get through the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic and to remember the 400 Saugonians who had died since March of last year – including the victims of the virus. Please see inside for more Year In Review coverage, including a month-bymonth breakdown of the top stories. This week’s “The Advocate Asks” has refl ections from selectmen and School Committee members on the major stories of 2021. (Saugus Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) Merry Christmas! COVID-19 Update Town reports 446 newly-confi rmed cases over the past seven days; doubling last week’s total By Mark E. Vogler T Santa Claus waves to the crowd during the town’s Christmas Eve Parade last Friday night (Dec. 24). See inside for more photos of the parade and other holiday photos. (Saugus Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) he Town of Saugus ended their COVID-19-challenged year with a dramatic surge – 446 newly-confi rmed cases over the past seven days, according to the latest fi gures released yesterday by Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. The latest numbers pushed the town’s overall total to 6,432 confirmed cases since March 1, 2020. Meanwhile, two new deaths linked to complications caused by the Coronavirus increased the death toll to 87. “Not sure, but I would have to say this has to be one of the highest weekly totals of all,” Crabtree told The Saugus Advocate yesterday. “Stay safe. This is crazy with the spread. These numbers don’t include home testing kits that are not reported,” Crabtree said. When asked if he thought the overall totals being released by the state Department of Public Health to the town each week are substantially understated, the town manager said that was possible. “You would have to think so because people are relying on these home testing kits rather COVID-19 | SEE PAGE 17 ANGELO’S FULL SERVICE Regular Unleaded $3.239 MidUnleaded $3.299 Super $3.419 Diesel Fuel $3.379 "43 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2021 KERO $4.81 DEF $3.49 9 Diesel $3.099 9 HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! 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We also invited them to share their New Year’s resolutions. Their comments to each of the questions follow. Q: In the world of Saugus, what would you consider the top story of 2021? Please give me one and a runner-up, if you like. Anthony Cogliano: For me, the biggest story of the year continues to be the virus. I would’ve never thought we’d still be in this situation today. Operation WARP speed handed the incoming President three vaccines in a nine month period where there were none, Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson.... only to find out Six months later we’d need booster shots, then along came The DelLawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 Lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net ta variant and now the Omicron. Today our numbers are worse than they were a year ago, testing lines are never ending and take home tests are hard to fi nd. Our kids are still wearing masks in school, sports teams can’t use locker rooms...and now the City of Boston is going to check vaccine cards beginning January 15, 2022 in order to dine out. Are we making progress...not as I see it. The Biden administration promised to shut down the virus....but they can’t even shut down the border. Millions of illegal aliens continue to pour into this country. Unvaccinated in the midst of the worst pandemic of our lifetime. Does anyone believe this is “Building Back Better”. Certainly not me. On a personal note, I lost my Dad to cancer in 2021, just six days after the birth of his fi rst great grandchild, Luciana Cross, my fi rst grandchild. I never thought I could love someone as much as my wife and children but Luci is right there with them. Her beautiful Editor’s Note: For this week’s FACING COVID-19: The current Board of Selectmen served most of their fi rst two-year term in the shadow of the pandemic. Getting sworn in by Town Clerk Ellen Schena after getting reelected to a second term in November, were, shown from left to right, Selectmen Debora Panetta, Anthony Cogliano, Jeff Cicolini, Corinne Riley and Mike Serino. In year-end interviews this week, each member cited the COVID-19 pandemic as the top story in Saugus during 2021. (Saugus Advocate fi le photo by Mark E. Vogler) little smile lights up my world and I can’t spend enough time with her. Board of Selectmen ViceHappy New Year! Chair Debra Panetta: In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues, we were able to substantially complete the school projects, and had three school buildings open in September for the start of the school year. The pandemic struck Saugus and our neighboring communities hard. The health and safety of all our residents is always my top concern. In the last 7 days, we’ve had 286 reported new cases of COVID and 2 (new) deaths in Saugus, so it’s important that people take the necessary precautions to stay safe. I sincerely appreciate how Saugus residents continue to go above and beyond to help their fellow neighbors. We also had some wonWe’re closed for New Year’s Eve (12/31) at 2 PM and New Year’s Day (1/1) all day. Wishing you peace and prosperity in 2022. As always, access our ATMs and your Online & Mobile Banking anytime. Enroll at www.EverettBank.com 419 BROADWAY. EVERETT, MA 02149 771 SALEM ST. LYNNFIELD, MA 01940 WWW.EVERETTBANK.COM 617-387-1110 781-776-4444 Member FDIC | Member DIF derful people pass away this year, including residents that were very active in our Town. The passing of Wendy Reed (Board of Selectmen Clerk & past School Committee Chairman), Greg Nickolas (Director of Saugus Youth and Recreation Center & Town Meeting member), Arthur Gustafson (past Saugus Selectman & past Town Meeting member), Cam Cicolini (past Charter Commission member & past President of Saugus Kiwanis), Theresa Whittredge (Saugus Little League & active fundraiser), and Kimberly Lepito Rossi (active fundraiser, Toys for Tots helper) were among some of the heartbreaking deaths we had this year. Selectman Jeff rey Cicolini: I feel like the biggest story in the last year still surrounds the pandemic and the continued impact it had on our residents and businesses in town. I am not only speaking healthwise but also from a fi nancial and emotional standpoint. There are so many businesses closing throughout the country given the lasting impact and unfortunately Saugus is not isolated from the impact. We have seen so many wonderful, long standing businesses shut their doors and it truly is sad and unfortunate. I do feel the town is doing a good job with providing information to our residents as well as off ering resources to help soften the impact as much as possible. Unfortunately many feel the government offered assistance to some businesses, namely restaurants and the like, a little too late and the negative impact was too much to overcome even with the assistance that was off ered. Selectman Corinne Riley: The top news story for 2021 continued to be COVID. It affected our health, how we work, how our students are educated, our local government, our economy both nationally and locally, recreational activities, and even how we interact with our family and friends. I also feel another story that was important and very concerning was the proposal to move Methadone Mile to the hotel on Route 1 on the ReASKS | SEE PAGE 3 ׉ 7cassandra://_yRNsdNy6lJZAxXGFZ2KI42NuXr9u0RYApPLG5bPu8M)`̰aLA,wj3x׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Page 3 ASKS | FROM PAGE 2 vere/Saugus line. We took immediate preventative measures to address the issue and, working with the State delegation, sent a message to the Mayor of Boston that this wasn’t the answer to Boston’s problem. I hope the plan that the new Mayor of Boston initiates takes care of moving those affected into a facility that helps them and gives them the care and services they need. It was great to see everyone work together. Selectman Mike Serino: I believe the Covid virus was the top 2021 Town story this year, as it has been around the world. Our residents have been hit significantly with the virus. Our administration has been doing the best we can by putting in place the proper procedures and equipment in order to protect everybody in town. Thank God, to date, I have not contracted the virus. I try to be very diligent in protecting myself by getting my vaccine shots and wearing a mask when I enter a store. On a personal note, the passing of close colleagues whom I have known and worked with for over twenty years has been hard. Steve Horlick, Wendy Reed and Greg Nicholas. School Committee ViceChair Vincent Serino: I believe the top town story of the year is and has been the Covid-19 pandemic. We have lost many great people from Saugus and around the world this year to the pandemic and many more were ill from the virus. We continue to struggle with Covid’s effects and how we go about our day-today life. As a School Committee member, I look back on how the educators and support staff have worked through these trying times. They all First, was the finishing of Veterans Early Learning Center, Belmonte STEAM Academy and Saugus Middle High School and transitioning all the students and teachers into a new three school system. This was a huge effort startEMBRACING A NEW ERA FOR SAUGUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS: In a year fraught with challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the town reelected these four members, who are pictured from left to right: School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge and Members Joseph “Dennis” Gould, John Hatch and Ryan Fisher. Despite the COVID-19 challenges, they look on 2021 as a year of great accomplishment – moving into a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility, consolidating into three school buildings and hiring a new superintendent, Erin McMahon, who has set lofty goals for student achievement. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) had the same focus and resolve, to get the students of Saugus through the pandemic and keep them learning. The administration and educators and staff have done a phenomenal job of keeping the students engaged and active in learning, as well as keeping them safe in the classroom and school events. As we look back on this year and look forward to the next, let us always remember the first responders and teachers who keep us safe and educated during these trying times. I am sure this too will pass and when it does, let’s remember those who we have lost and those who helped us along the way. School Committee Member Ryan Fisher: The hopeful, positive side of me says the top news story is that Saugus schools are back. We began the year still in remote learning, but through vaccines and the test and stay program, our schools and classrooms opened safely, and stayed open. We have kids in front of teachers every day, we’ve made big progress on restoring Kids Come First and bus service, all day kindergarten is now free and Superintendent McMahon, her team and all the teachers and staff are doing amazing work helping students not only recover from the pandemic, but raise achievement. That news story that we ended hybrid learning and went back full time was just the start of good things to come. I’m also reminded today how many residents Saugus lost in the past year. It wasn’t a single news story or on a single day, but ending the year, it’s notable who was here with us at the beginning, who we miss deeply today. They’ll never be forgotten, but we will make them proud. School Committee Member Joseph “Dennis” Gould: In my opinion, we had two top stories for 2021 for the Saugus School District and Town of Saugus. ed by the previous School Committee led by Jeannie Meredith, that got the Saugus School District to the point of having all new and/or refurbished schools, new computers, state of the art learning aids and what I believe is a new sense of pride in our District. I am confident all the work to get us to this point and launch the three school system will enhance the learning experience for all students and will show academic measurement improvements in the next couple of years plus will assist us to address many of the deficiencies and/or improvements needed listed in the State DESE report. The second top story in School District and Town I believe was the hiring of Ms Erin McMahon, as School Superintendent to lead the district forward. With the opportunity ahead of us with the new three school system, having all students and teachers from the same grade in one school and with the vision and leadership of Ms McMahon, I am very confident we will enhance all students educational experience and opportunities. The future under Ms McMahon looks bright, and we are shooting for the moon! School Committee Member John Hatch: I think obviously the top story of the year was the pandemic and how the entire town and every department came together to take care of the town’s people. As far as the school district, our ASKS | SEE PAGE 4 ׉ 7cassandra://3QWFHdjZuJiV-c1BkGpovnRhq3-5chns4IrDCNU_W08,`̰aLA,wj3xaLA,wj3x PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://zpfEcxTQHIF2PYuCM4VhRm3wutMHcp0G328MJ9FJi0Y `)׉ 7cassandra://vnWsQH9SgdJKPR1WjfGMk8RXByYO1NNexo0j_mqJL4sͮ`J׉ 7cassandra://AHGRyWln5VPHqKd9777B91wZMLpPEghQEQ5dYv4-CGk1'`̰׉ 7cassandra://rwPXFcThTiVB4Lov44dDdmdab6QX0MP1bj5pamjTh8oSv͠aLH,wj3xAט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://xl2utCJ9DenT-6s_0CBO97N6QVF1Q90GfE0TstGkPJc`)׉ 7cassandra://ZP7OEDFkAujaFNrDDdofqEEvQJyGWVaBtH-VG9UMuLoͩy`J׉ 7cassandra://aowCsQE8U0feNd9Hn3BwRtb72WWf8wztJhpSHCziKbo2`̰׉ 7cassandra://90eLGbfJ8AareeXge8dads0HbfAiQPxCmbARL-CnNk0nEN6͠aLH,wj3xBנaLI,wj3xF'O9ׁHhttp://gustv.orgׁ ׁ ЈנaLI,wj3xEO9ׁHhttp://www.saׁ ׁ Ј׉EnPage 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 ASKS | FROM PAGE 3 vote for to put in free all day kindergarten was the starting off point to bring about the culture change for our district, second to the school committee hiring such a qualified individual such as Erin McMahon to really change the district and the standards of education in our town. Q: What is your resolution for the New Year? Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano: As for a New Years resolution, I was thrilled to be re-elected as the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and will continue to work hard with my colleagues to make Saugus the best it can be. We have a lot of work to do with the vocational school vote, finding the right fit for our school buildings that came offline, signing a Host community agreement with Wheelabrator and building the much needed West Side fire station. I promise to keep my hand on the pulse community, always be accessible and accountable to all the residents of our town. Board of Selectmen ViceChair Debra Panetta: Every year, I have the same resolution. I try to become a better person: more giving, more understanding, and more patient than the year before. I also try to learn something new every year to continuously challenge myself. And I would like to wish everyone a happy & healthy new year!! Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini: As for my New Year’s resolution I feel the town needs to spend the next year assessing all of the school buildings that are coming offline and with community input sessions, decide the best use/purpose for each of the parcels. I can assure our residents these properties will not be sold to become more apartments. I have heard those rumors and they simply are not true. There are many needs and wants in town including much needed senior and veteran housing, green space, additional cemetery space, 3rd fire station, dog park, perhaps a larger youth and rec center etc. These are some of the things that have been discussed and community input will be the critical factor in determining next steps for each parcel. I wish everyone a happy holiday season and a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year! Selectman Corinne Riley: Regarding resolutions, aside from my personal goals, my resolution is to make progress on town goals despite COVID. Since COVID began, it has been at the forefront of local government, rightfully occupying much of the attention of the Town Manager, Health Department, School Department, and Board of Selectmen and others. However, the needs for a West-side Fire Station, Cliftondale Square revitalization, and improved communication and customer service are still very real. My resolution for 2021 is to make meaningful progress on these needs. I hope everyone has a healthy and happy 2022. Selectman Mike Serino: In closing, my New Year’s resolution is for the health experts to find a way to conquer the Covid virus so we can finally get back to having some type of normality. I wish everybody a happy and safe New Year. My best regards to all. MEETING THE COVID CHALLENGE: School Committee Vice-Chair Vincent Serino, a former School Committee member who was elected in November, says he’s impressed about how town educators and support staff have toiled through difficult months. “They all had the same focus and resolve, to get the students of Saugus through the pandemic and keep them learning,” Serino says. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) School Committee ViceChair Vincent Serino: I am not a New Year’s resolution guy, I think if it is worth doing you shouldn’t have to wait a year to get around to it. School Committee Member Ryan Fisher: New Year’s Resolution? I want to get past omicron and see a normal year for my family. Vacations and play dates that you don’t have to screen past covid protocols would be a big deal for us. School Committee Member Joseph “Dennis” Gould: I do not have a specific New Years resolution other than to keep my family healthy and safe from the pandemic. School Committee Member John Hatch: My New Year’s resolution is to spend more quality time with family and friends, because this year showed me how short life is. THIS WEEK ON SAUGUS TV Sunday, Jan. 2 from 9 to 11 p.m. on Channel 8 – “Sunday Night Stooges” (The Three Stooges). Monday, Jan. 3 all day on Channel 8 – “Movie Monday” (classic movies). Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 22 – SHS Hockey vs. Essex Tech from Dec. 24. Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 22 – SHS Hockey vs. Winnacunnet from Dec. 27. Thursday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. on Channel 9 – Planning Board Meeting ***live***. Friday, Jan. 7 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 22 – SHS National Honor Society Induction Ceremony. Saturday, Jan. 8 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 22 – SHS Hockey vs. Winthrop from Dec. 29. Saugus TV can be seen on Comcast Channels 8, 9 & 22. For complete schedules, please visit www.saugustv.org. ***programming may be subject to change without notice*** ׉ 7cassandra://AHGRyWln5VPHqKd9777B91wZMLpPEghQEQ5dYv4-CGk1'`̰aLA,wj3x׉E THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Page 5 Christmas Eve Pageant spreads biblical message S By Tara Vocino t. John’s Episcopal Church presented the nativity story based on the biblical account of Luke and Matthew on Christmas Eve during their Christmas Pageant. During the Christmas Pageant at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Christmas Eve, shepherds were played by Dante Brown, 10, and Mark Conley, 9, who attend the Belmonte STEAM Academy, and a sheep was played by Briele Brown, 5, who attends Veterans Memorial Elementary School. Jesus’ mother Mary, Kieron Sharwood, 18, who attended Pioneer Charter School of Science II on Main Street, as Joseph, and Baby Jesus. A Wise Man presented a gift to welcome Jesus into the world. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) Shepherds were the first to be notified of Jesus’ birth, according to the nativity story. PANDEMIC | FROM PAGE 1 munity is dealing with it – leads the list of top 10 news stories in Saugus. In a survey this week of the town’s Board of Selectmen, all five members listed COVID at the top of their respective story lists. (Please see inside for this week’s “The Advocate Asks.”) “It affected our health, how we work, how our students are educated, our local government, our economy both nationally and locally, recreational activities, and even how we interact with our family and friends,” observed Selectman Corinne Riley. Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini said he agreed that “the biggest story in the last year still surrounds the pandemic and the continued impact it had on our residents and businesses in town.” “I am not only speaking healthwise, but also from a financial and emotional standpoint,” Cicolini said. “There are so many businesses closing throughout the country given the lasting impact and unfortunately Saugus is not isolated from the impact. We have seen so many wonderful, long standing businesses shut their doors and it truly is sad and unfortunate.” Three Kings holding gifts for baby Jesus, pictured from left to right: Brendan Sharwood, 13, Destin Erickson, 20, and Nicholas White, 21, all of Saugus. A review of the weekly editions of The Saugus Advocate over the past year shows that the COVID-19 story has dominated the news pages like no other story. This year’s COVID-19 coverage included two dozen front page articles this year – twice as many as the next most prevalent news story – the 2021 Town Election, which was featured 12 times on Page One. Stories related to the beginning of a new, promising era for Saugus Public Schools was the subject of seven cover stories throughout the year. The Saugus Town Meeting’s creation of the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee to study ways to revive the once-thriving business district that’s been in decline for close to 40 years also garnered seven front-page articles. “For me, the biggest story of the year continues to be the virus,” Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano said. “I would’ve never thought we’d still be in this situation today,” Cogliano said. “Today our numbers are worse than they were a year ago, testing lines are never ending and take-home tests are hard to find. Our kids are still wearing masks in school, sports teams can’t use locker rooms...and now the City of Boston is going to check vaccine cards beginning January 15, 2022 in order to dine out.” Rounding out the newspaper’s list of top 10 stories for 2021: 2) A new era focused on the pursuit of excellence in Saugus Public Schools. The school district made major strides to turn its education PANDEMIC | SEE PAGE 9 ׉ 7cassandra://aowCsQE8U0feNd9Hn3BwRtb72WWf8wztJhpSHCziKbo2`̰aLA,wj3x aLA,wj3x PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://j9El8NRBeNFDsRAVR5pIdM0hhm8DPDLORatIMf2Dmis`)׉ 7cassandra://qitoTZ1tc1zg4ObZP7QHPcLWDyVswOsEwWQ2_29zIyIͤV`J׉ 7cassandra://fHEP4x6HdEV2SU4U3926Qw3r-w0MUFFkyWpJIKIT8Pk2X`̰׉ 7cassandra://qBJwJflBoLIOwBS1W3CULwZcWYtZDsAIPJTWA1k89GwH͠aLL,wj3xGט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://D82q29WPViEFvbvJQLy-P_cWEFZBQEEjh-zlLKsmiTs `)׉ 7cassandra://LBiHEOKqQcGJ3gn8VFWSnytt7wnmMIdRvD2fzFkWsn4ͫP`J׉ 7cassandra://7EVAlA_GR4sfDfJcgUBo25Ydb3pWOd0iBrzCF7EG4Ww/`̰׉ 7cassandra://2QrLOg-cmqswEMSUzG2HyZP6urRHa_Ni48Jl8Eq7l0YwP͠aLM,wj3xH׉EPage 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Christmas Eve Pageant spreads biblical message Angels pictured from left to right: Paige Littlehale, 18, Eliana Coppola, 20, and Gwyneth Littlehale, 18, bring the news to Mary that she is to be with child, although she is a virgin, according to Matthew 1:18-25 in the Bible. Angels brought tidings of great joy to declare that Mary and Joseph, who were engaged to be married, will bear a son, who most Christians believe will save people from their sins. The cast: shepherds – Dante Brown and Mark Conley; sheep – Briele Brown; angels – Paige Littlehale, Eliana Coppola and Gwyenth Littlehale; Mary, Jesus and Joseph, in center; and the three kings – Brendan Sharwood, Destin Erickson and Nicholas White. ׉ 7cassandra://fHEP4x6HdEV2SU4U3926Qw3r-w0MUFFkyWpJIKIT8Pk2X`̰aLA,wj3x!׉ENTHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Page 7 Sachems fall twice at Hillie Tourney T By Greg Phipps he Saugus High School hockey team hit a bump in the road after opening the 2021-22 season with two straight wins. After dropping a close 4-2 decision at Essex Tech, their first loss of the season, last Friday, the Sachems came up short twice at the annual Hillie Christmas Tournament in Haverhill. Saugus was blanked by a 7-0 count against Winnacunnet, N.H., in the first round on Monday and followed that up with a 4-1 defeat at the hands of North Andover in Wednesday’s consolation game. The losses put the Sachems at 2-3 overall on the early season. The trio of defeats was preceded by a 3-1 victory over Pentucket back on Dec. 22 at the Malden Valley Forum. Sauthis season with an 8-2 rout of Lynn. Along with Ventre, Ryan Ragus broke open a 1-1 deadlock with two third-period goals. Captain Massey Ventre netted two scores and Jason Monahan added the other tally. Head Coach Jeff Natalucci said before the season that this year’s squad is focused on contending for a spot in the postseason tourney. The Sachems finished with four wins in last season’s COVID-shortened campaign. They opened World Series Park looks for public’s help in catching players who vandalized the playing field a year ago; suspect photos released (Editor’s Note: World Series Park issued the following statement this week along with security film photos of suspects involved in a vandalism and break-in incident in October of last year.) O n Sunday, October 25, 2020 at noon, four people broke into the World Series Park field. They forced open the third base dugout gates and proceeded to do batting practice on the field for about a half hour. The field had its last games the previous day and was closed for the season. Posted signs state “when the gates are locked the field is closed.” Only teams who are scheduled are allowed to use the field. Damage was done to the hasps that secure the dugout gates. All of this was recorded on surveillance video. Saugus Police were provided with this video, but to date no one has been identified as those shown committing the breaking and entering. “This type of behavior makes me sick,” World Series Park Superintendent Bob Davis said after discovering the damage later that day. gucci and Chris Regnetta are sharing the leadership role as captains, as the Sachems move on to face Marblehead next Wednesday at the Salem State University rink. The Magicians were 1-4 overall as of this week (getting their first win over Beverly on Monday), so the Sachems will have their sights set on achieving victory number three when the two teams collide on Wednesday. Thus far, Saugus has netted 14 goals and allowed 18 over the first five contests. The seven given up against Winnacunnet contributed a lot to the goals-against number. Looking ahead, the Sachems have a road game against the Lynn Jets next Saturday, Jan. 8, at Connery Rink and then play their first home game against Swampscott on Jan. 12 at Kasabuski Arena. The Swampscott game kicks off a stretch of six straight home games for the Sachems. FROM THE VANDAL VIDEOS: Surveillance camera security film footage shows suspects who broke into World Series Park in October of last year. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) “Such lack of respect for the park that provides a first-class facility for the youth of Saugus to play baseball blows my mind. I work very hard to maintain the park and then for someone to come along and do something like this is unacceptable,” Davis said. “This is like someone breaking into your yard or your house. We have a very good security system with cameras that show all areas during the day and night. Anyone who causes problems will be seen. We did not publish the pictures at the time but choose to do so now,” he said. “I did provide these photos to adult leagues in the area but they weren’t able to identify the four people.” Anyone with any knowledge of this who can identify those who caused the damage and trespassed is asked to contact Saugus Police. MBTA wins award from TransitCenter for ‘Best Transit Street Upgrades’ in the nation T he MBTA along with its employees, municipal partners and advocates, celebrated special recognition for transit-priority design from TransitCenter, a national foundation that supports improving American public transit in cities. TransitCenter presented the MBTA with the Award for Best Transit Street Upgrades at its annual Frequency Awards ceremony to recognize outstanding achievements in the transit industry, which was hosted on social media. “This award comes at the end of what has been a banner year for the MBTA when it comes to transforming our bus system,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “In addition to partnering with the City of Boston to launch the center-running bus lanes on Columbus Ave., we have added nine miles of bus lanes across the region, nearly doubling the region’s bus priority network in 2021. This work would not have been possible without the commitment of the MBTA’s world-class staff of transit professionals and the leadership of our municipal partners. We thank TransitCenter for this prestigious honor.” The MBTA, the city of Boston, neighbors and advocates celebrated the launch of Columbus Avenue’s transformative, center-running bus priority corridor last month. The nearly mile-long, center-running bus priority facility between Franklin Park and Jackson Square Station includes enhanced bus stop amenities, accessible boarding islands, traffic calming measures and improved pedestrian safety treatments. In order to realMBTA | SEE PAGE 13 ׉ 7cassandra://7EVAlA_GR4sfDfJcgUBo25Ydb3pWOd0iBrzCF7EG4Ww/`̰aLA,wj3x"aLA,wj3x! PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://hf1uJSLwzY17RDbHM4OdeJHw1Hx-6i9PQs_YZ2L5o-c^`)׉ 7cassandra://xE6jkcC7ahDVVqiG_MHZfjYioQ8asF9uQMbkG1xBW5kͨs`J׉ 7cassandra://jj6UUz2I1bOyecyuaoHY-8I2F1T5DL9-cNji1h-sQfA/`̰׉ 7cassandra://gwMGltQ-28caa80rWo6oFQavN30_TDvXOaerXWgHaEA͠aLN,wj3xJט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://u_0lIhJYrUmDC7ghBDpVJAtzuw6B-1NwwLhjQtE36xA *`)׉ 7cassandra://FLBw9utWmRrMP8HKO_FxPy0-D5WJblm-8glmnZWBcA4ͭ[`J׉ 7cassandra://Pob2q47l-4FBfqpcZGx_d1seBkx2CiU1AKcxtt5wa5Y/`̰׉ 7cassandra://kffCwvTsh-Y26eKLgl3pwtA9h4it79uWG3FFYMlg2eo#+͠aLP,wj3xKנaLP,wj3xOxV9ׁHmailto:twkennedylaw@gmail.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Another Voke Vote coming up On Jan. 25, Saugus and 11 other communities in the Northeast Metro Tech Regional School District are set to vote on whether to fund the $317.4 school project By Mark E. Vogler A number of Town Meeting members who opposed an article to fund Saugus’s share of a proposed $317.4 million back in October plan to support the measure at a Special Election set for Jan. 25 – providing they keep the promise they made during the Special Town Meeting. Members voted 37-6 in favor of a Finance Committee recommendation against approving an article which many town offi - cials worry could lead to massive cuts in the town’s operating budget over the next 30 years. A number of the members also said they prefer to allow town residents to vote on a measure that could cost the taxpayers of Saugus $40.6 million over a 30-year period instead of leaving the vote in the hands of 50 Town Meeting members. A project with that kind of price tag should be funded through a debt exclusion instead of the town’s operating budget — and by a vote of the people, a majority of the members agreed. Saugus is just one of 12 communities in the Northeast Metro Tech Regional School District that will be voting in the Special Election on Jan. 25. Voting for all 10 town precincts will take place at the Saugus Senior Center from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., instead of being held at the usual polling locations. Postcards notifying voters of the upcoming election will be mailed out next week, Law Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com A trusted family name combined with exceptional craftsmanship & professionalism. Call for a consultation & quote. according to Andrew DePatto, Election Coordinator at the Saugus Town Clerk’s Offi ce. “The election was planned for a school week when we can’t use our school buildings (for voting locations),”’ DePatto said in an interview this week. “It’s being held at the Senior Center because we had to consolidate all of our precincts,” DePatto said. There will be no early voting for this election. However, residents can vote absentee. The last day to register to vote is Jan. 5 at 8 p.m., and the last day to request an absentee ballot is Jan. 19, he said. The sample ballot provided by the clerk’s office this week provides for a “yes” or “no” answer to the following question: “Do you approve of the vote of the Regional District School Committee of the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District adopted on December 9, 2021, to authorize the borrowing of $317,422,620 to pay costs of designing, constructing, originally equipping and furnishing a new Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School and related athletic facilities, located at 100 Hemlock Road in Wakefield, Massachusetts, including the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto ….” At the outset of the October Special Town Meeting, Finance Committee Chair Kenneth DePatto stated that a major problem that his committee had with the article was that it didn’t identify a source of funding. DePatto also cautioned members that approval of the article without a debt exclusion vote of the people would mean that Saugus Public Schools, the Police Department and the Fire Department “would take a signifi cant hit.” DePatto explained that it would be best to get a debt exclusion vote before the Saugus voters. “There’s no doubt in my mind that this is a project that needs to happen,” Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree told Town Meeting Members prior to the vote. But he also suggested there would be consequences to passing the article that would authorize Saugus’s debt for VOKE VOTE | SEE PAGE 17 63 Years! • Vinyl Siding • Carpentry Work • Decks • Roofing • Replacement Windows • Free Estimates • Fully Licensed • Fully Insured ׉ 7cassandra://jj6UUz2I1bOyecyuaoHY-8I2F1T5DL9-cNji1h-sQfA/`̰aLA,wj3x#׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Page 9 PANDEMIC | FROM PAGE 5 system around over the past 12 months as students finally began attending classes in the state-of-the-art Saugus Middle-High School Complex; the education system moved out of its elementary schools and consolidated into three new or remodeled buildings; and the School Committee hired a top official from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as the district’s new superintendent. School Committee Member Joseph “Dennis” Gould reflected on the enormous strides by Saugus to turn its education around, citing two School Department stories at the top of his top 10 list. “First, was the finishing of Veterans Early Learning Center, Belmonte STEAM Academy and Saugus Middle High School and transitioning all the students and teachers into a new three school system,” Gould said. “The second top story in School District and Town I believe was the hiring of Ms Erin McMahon, as School Superintendent to lead the district forward,” he said. “With the opportunity ahead of us with the new three school system, having all students and teachers from the same grade in one school and with the vision and leadership of Ms McMahon, I am very confident we will enhance all students’ educational experience and opportunities. “The future under Ms McMahon looks bright, and we are shooting for the moon!” 3) Town Election 2021 – a year when the town voted to keep most of its incumbent officials. This was an election where incumbent office holders seemed to have a decided edge – a complete reversal from two years ago. Voters reelected 10 of the 11 candidates who ran townwide campaigns. Despite facing five challengers, all five selectmen held onto their seats by comfortable margins. Anthony W. Cogliano, Sr. finished as the top vote-getter for the second straight election, claiming the honor to serve as board chair for two more years. Runner-up Debra Panetta claimed the vice-chair’s seat for the next two years. Voters also reelected Selectmen Jeffrey Cicolini, Corinne Riley and Mike Serino. Meanwhile, four of the five School Committee members who replaced the incumbent committee members two years ago won another term. Only Committee Member Arthur Grabowski failed to get reelected, finishing last in a field of seven candidates – 429 votes behind his nearest competitor. School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge topped the field again to keep his leadership position. Former School Committee Member Vincent Serino finished second to clinch the vicechair seat. Committee members Ryan Fisher, John Hatch and Joseph “Dennis” Gould were all reelected. Veteran Housing Authority Chair William B. Stewart beat his nearest opponent by 384 votes in a three-way race to win his third four-year term. Thirty-eight of the 41 incumbent Town Meeting members won reelection in their respective races in the 10 precincts. Twelve new Town Meeting members joined the 50-member body after this year’s biennial town election. Only 4,042 of the town’s 20,362 registered voters – 19.85 percent – turned out for this election. 4) The rebranding of Wheelabrator into a new company and efforts to improve communications between the town and one of its top taxpayers on financial and environmental issues related to the operation of the trash-to-energy incinerator on Route 107. In April, Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. announced it was among 10 leading waste industry businesses that were being integrated into a single company operating under the WIN Waste Innovations brand name. Even with the name change, the trash-to-energy plant on Route 107 continued to be a significant story over the past year. The Board of Health’s Wheelabrator Subcommittee conducted several meetings which resulted in improved dialogue between the town and the operators of the trash-to-energy plant. WIN Waste Innovations credited a new silencer system with keeping the noise level down in a turbine shutdown in July that would have sparked dozens of complaints from Saugus and Revere. Members of the Board of Health’s Wheelabrator subcommittee asked WIN officials to present them with a written proposal of what they are willing to include in a potential host agreement between the town and operators of the trash incinerator. At year’s end, the committee broached the issue of a host agreement for the town and the hotly contested topic of a possible closure date for the ash landfill. 5) Further progress on the crafting of Saugus 2035 – the town’s revived Master Plan. A second public visioning forum coordinated by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) produced preliminary goals in economic development, transportation and public facilities components of the town’s revised Master Plan. How to revitalize Cliftondale Square, making Route 1 safer and less congestive and establishing the vision for future economic development throughout the town were among the issues that drew much discussion. 6) The financial impact of how Saugus will pay its share of the proposed 317.4 million Northeast Metro Tech Regional District School project – for the design, engineering and construction of the new school and related athletic facilities. In a two-hour plus session held in October via Zoom videoconferencing because of health concerns over COVID-19, members voted 37-6 in favor of a Finance PANDEMIC | SEE PAGE 18 Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 ׉ 7cassandra://Pob2q47l-4FBfqpcZGx_d1seBkx2CiU1AKcxtt5wa5Y/`̰aLA,wj3x$aLA,wj3x# PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://qD3QnP1rUILn5c8o8VN-Ml1NTeuSdUR9oj_OfnnUKHU"`)׉ 7cassandra://b-4vVhi5sKXP9eWLoz2etm377D81yAoCI95t3tFIohk͞A`J׉ 7cassandra://qvVlmG3IWLg4Wn4CHQIgd98dPK3-gwRfu2TwSY_JwRE'`̰׉ 7cassandra://zNh2q2H5CADlaWFvxNaEIeCxLlHfODTcaJrJOcUTTSE͌K͠aLP,wj3xPט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://86Svu4XBJDonkKUtIwADXciDXApJ-rFlvOwpE--huaU:`)׉ 7cassandra://biMaellzfKwrb6RRgQQmxFf5FqIMj_gYF3qSSLhOMzw͟`J׉ 7cassandra://dYm_4ZEH8pv5P1bWScJ6hNrNXnrSc9jWnXGOHrfbJ70$x`̰׉ 7cassandra://BmpFRLr2eIR2T5CMzOsmrqt8wPfX_tcMsUmXfzIIzRE͆͠aLP,wj3xQ׉E'Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Year in Review A monthly breakdown of the top stories in The Saugus Advocate during 2021 January Saugus has the eighth highest rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state during a recent twoweek period – a daily incidence rate of 104.6. Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano cancels selectmen’s meeting after his COVID-19 symptoms return. The Town hires additional public health nurse Teresa Riley-Singh to bolster the town’s efforts to protect residents from COVID-19. Students in grades kindergarten through high school will receive orientation as they get ready to return to the classroom for the first time in 10 months. Precinct 9 Town Meeting Member Robert Long urges results in study of proposed West Side Fire Station, a third fire station that would be located on the west side of Route 1. Saugus experiences close to 300 new COVID-19 cases within a week. A Wheelabrator official says acoustics study and installation of a new silencer system should eliminate noise problems at its trash-to-energy plant. The Massachusetts Senate passes the Saugus Emergency Relief Fund during the final hours of the Legislative session. The Saugus Fire Department thanks the community for the successful toy drive. In his fifth and final budget message, Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David DeRuosi, Jr. issues a pandemic budget warning that “the district will not be able to sustain this growth and progress in FY22 if we are faced with a similar situation.” With 213 new COVID-19 cases, Saugus tops the 3,000 mark. A recent spike in school-age children testing positive for COVID-19 influences the School Committee decision to delay return to classroom learning. Supt. DeRuosi calls out Saugus residents for disparaging School Committee chairs faced with making tough decisions. Work finally begins on replacing Bly Drawbridge. School Committee members cite shortcomings and unmet needs in DeRuosi’s 2022 Fiscal Year spending plan. Town Meeting Members will consider renaming the Saugus Senior Center after the late “Dick” Barry in session set for Feb. 16. Despite COVID-19, the Board of Selectmen hold on to ambitious plans for making a better Saugus. Selectman Corinne Riley gets a pen from Gov. Charlie Baker’s ceremonial bill signing that sets up an emergency relief fund for Saugus residents. The Town of Saugus reports 153 new COVID-19 cases. Saugus has received close to $11.5 million in Chapter 90 money over the last 21 years – including $625,000 for the 2021 Fiscal Year that ends July 30. Staff and residents of Chestnut Woods Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center get the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a clinic. February Saugus Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano criticizes a letter by the Revere City Council to the Wheelabrator Subcommittee calling for Wheelabrator to halt any further expansion of its ash landfill “premature.” Saugus health officials wrestle with COVID-19 communications issues; the health director’s office telephone receives too many calls to answer. The School Committee plans to meet with a consultant to map out plans for a superintendent search. COVID-19 confirmed cases drop from 153 to 79 within a week. A nor’easter drops four inches of snow on Saugus. A year of COVID-19 has been driving crime trends in Saugus; identity fraud is up by 490 percent. Improving Route 1 business district and a committee to study revitalizing Cliftondale Square are the main items for the upcoming Special Town Meeting. Saugus firefighters pull Paige Canale, 21, out of knee-deep mud along the banks of the Saugus River after she got stuck while filming her walk for TikTok. Saugus residents reflect on the passing of Wendy Reed, 57, the longtime clerk of the Board of Selectmen; she is remembered as a dedicated town employee and an equally devoted food pantry volunteer who oversaw the all-volunteer staff that runs it every Friday. The Town of Saugus reports 90 new COVID-19 cases. Town Meeting Member Bill Brown gets a $1,000 water bill cut in half after complaining about a broken water meter. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree calls on Janice K. Jarosz, the former town employee who trained Board of Selectmen Clerk Wendy Reed about a quarter of a century ago, to fill the vacancy left by Reed’s unexpected death. A Special Town Meeting approves bylaw changes to steer new development in the business highway district toward more commercial and less residential. Blessed Sacrament Church holds an Ash Wednesday drive-by observance; people administering and receiving the ashes wear facial coverings to protect themselves from the spread of COVID-19. Provided there’s not another post-vacation COVID-19 spike, Saugus Public Schools are scheduled to reopen classes for the first time in nearly a year under the Hybrid model – which allows for two days of in-person learning a week, alternating with remote learning. Former postal worker Brian Thibodeau, 48, of Danvers, is charged with stealing gift cards from residents on his Saugus mail route. Members vote to rename the Saugus Senior Center after longtime town government and community leader Dick Barry during a Special Town Meeting. Concerns about COVID-19 keep two Saugus Fire Department lieutenants from seeing their sons’ Firefighting Academy graduation ceremonies. The Town reports 68 new COVID-19 cases. COVID-19 continues to impact the crafting of the town manager’s annual budget for the 2022 Fiscal Year – nearly a $4 million increase for general fund and school operating budget. Saugus elementary school principals welcome the start of in-person learning as grades 6-12 return next week. The search for a new superintendent begins. First Congregational Church hosts a winter clothing drive for needy families. The Saugus Health Department will offer limited doses of COVID-19 vaccine, targets town’s high-risk population. The Town reports 60 new COVID-19 cases. Supt. David DeRuosi, Jr. urges parents of young children to prepare them for the sight of their teachers in masks. March The Health Director cites Roller World for violating the governor’s COVID-19 executive order by reopening three days early; a Roller World employee calls police because a large crowd that gathered outside refused to leave. The Town reports 71 new COVID-19 cases. The School Committee seeks citizens who would like to serve on the superintendent’s search committee. Saugus schools switch from remote learning to hybrid learning, where they can spend part of their school week learning in-person after a year of remote learning at home. A year after COVID-19 hit, the hurt goes on for Saugus and the nation. Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Joe Vecchione talks about his expectations for the Town Meeting-created committee to study the revitalization of Cliftondale Square. Chainsaw sculptor Howard Wolff attracts drivers’ attention with the wildlife art he creates from reclaimed logs along the roadside of Walnut Street. The Town reports 45 new COVID-19 cases. Citizens help develop the profile for what the next superintendent should be. Town residents will get another chance to contribute to the crafting of the town’s revised Master Plan – Saugus United 2035. The Finance Committee begins review of the town’s FY22 budget with an eye on COVID-19. If it were not for the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic about a year ago, the Town of Saugus would be more involved with making streets safer for the driving public, Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli says. Lynnhurst rock musician Brian Maes releases a book about life on the road. The Town reports 72 new COVID-19 cases. Residential fires cost less than a third of the estimated losses than in the previous year (2019). A second public visioning forum produces preliminary goals in economic development, transportation and public facilities components of the town’s revised Master Plan. The School Committee assembles a 15-member Superintendent Search Committee. Longtime East Saugus businessman Andrew Cogliano dies at age 80 – just a week before becoming a great-grandfather for the first time. The Town reports 106 new COVID-19 cases. April Colleagues call for School Committee Member Arthur Grabowski’s resignation over alleged “racist” remarks. When The Rev. John T. Beach looks at the lawn of the St. John’s Episcopal Church rectory on Central Street, he sees the potential for a community garden with a wide variety of vegetables to help feed the town’s hungry. The Saugus High School Cheering Squad makes an Easter card delivery to Chestnut Woods Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. A proposed 40B project is planned for the Hilltop property that would include 300 units of rental property; Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree says completion of the project would probably increase the town’s affordable housing to 11.5 percent of the town’s total housing stock. (In communities where less than 10 percent of the housing qualifies as “affordable,” developers can avoid local zoning bylaws and restrictions. Saugus affordable housing constitutes 6.9 percent of the housing stock.) The Town reports 94 new COVID-19 cases. The Cliftondale Revitalization Committee launches a new effort to overcome challenges plaguing the town’s historic business district for nearly four decades. School Committee Vice-Chair Ryan Fisher says committee Member Arthur Grabowski’s “racist” comments could undermine efforts to improve race relations if left unchallenged. The rebranding of Wheelabrator: The owner of the Saugus trash-to-energy plant combines with nine other firms to form WIN Waste Innovations. Students, parents and administration embrace heading back to school for in-person learning. Volunteers at the Saugus United Food Pantry operating out of the Cliftondale Congregational Church get some help from the National Guard. The Superintendent Search Committee expects to begin interviewing candidates to replace Superintendent David DeRuosi, Jr. The preliminary draft of the town’s Master Plan offers a Cliftondale YEAR IN REVIEW | SEE PAGE 11 ׉ 7cassandra://qvVlmG3IWLg4Wn4CHQIgd98dPK3-gwRfu2TwSY_JwRE'`̰aLA,wj3x%׉E.THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Page 11 YEAR IN REVIEW | FROM PAGE 10 vision. The town reports 69 new COVID-19 cases. State Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) credits Selectman Corinne Riley for an idea which enabled Saugus to obtain a $50,000 state grant for crosswalk signs at 10 intersections. Four veteran Saugus firefighters are promoted to lieutenant in a ceremony outside Saugus Town Hall: Steve Seracuse, Robert Johnson, Paul Sullivan and Andrew McDermott. Selectmen seek to name the new school athletic complex after Saugus High School athletic and coaching great Christie Serino, Jr. Saugus looks forward to nighttime baseball as the World Series Park Lighting Fund seeks more donations as the project continues. With 63 new COVID-19 cases, Saugus surpasses the 4,000 mark since the pandemic’s outbreak in March of 2020. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree provides selectmen with a draft copy of a report on ongoing construction and COVID-19-related modification in all Town of Saugus buildings. WIN Waste Innovations leads a contingent of townspeople in trash pickup at Rumney Marsh Reservation. Ninety-two-year-old Lee Dyment, a Norwegian native, continues to bake angel food cakes 60 years after she came to town. The Town reports 59 new COVID-19 cases. The public questions a quartet of candidates left from the 25 who applied for Saugus school superintendent. For the second year in a row, concerns about COVID-19 force the Annual Town Meeting to be held in an online format rather than in person. The removal of building siding at the corner of Central and Denver Streets reveals an antique sign that gets people discussing a once-popular store – Young’s package and liquor store. The Town reports 40 new COVID-19 cases. Two dozen volunteers break ground for a community garden in the backyard of St. John’s Episcopal Church rectory – to help fight food insecurity in Saugus. May The School Committee reaches inside the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to find the next superintendent to lead Saugus Public Schools: Erin McMahon, the senior advisor to Massachusetts Education Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeffrey C. Riley; the committee votes 4-0 to make McMahon the first woman to oversee the town’s public education system. The Town reports 26 new COVID-19 cases. Town Meeting pays tribute to the late and legendary Sachem sports athlete/Coach Christie Serino, Jr., by voting to name the sports complex near the new Saugus Middle-High School in his honor. Board of Selectmen Vice-Chair Corinne Riley proposes “an open house” that would bring the community together. Saugus officials meet with the state legislative delegation to help Saugus on a wide range of issues beyond the town’s control. Saugus needs a third fire station on the town’s west side, a consultant tells the town. Town Meeting members table financial articles for a lack of information after Precinct 10 Member Peter Manoogian questions whether town funds were properly authorized. The Town reports 16 new COVID-19 cases. Popular retired Saugus Principal Anthony A. Struzziero passes away at 95. St. John’s Episcopal Church’s community garden begins to take root. Town officials rave about the improvements to the Saugus sewer system since state environmental officials cracked down on illegal sewage going to the Saugus River; the town has spent close to $25 million in improvements since the selectmen signed an administrative consent order with the state 16 years ago. For the second year in a row, town officials give the graduating seniors of Saugus High School a special tribute – their photos and names displayed on about 50 banners attached to utility poles around Saugus Center and Cliftondale Square. The School Committee nears a contract settlement with the new superintendent, Erin McMahon, to lead Saugus Public Schools. After more than a year of Saugus Town Hall being closed to the public – except by telephone or special appointment – residents will be able to walk into the historic building unannounced. The Town reports 16 new COVID-19 cases. State Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) supports a bill to provide additional unemployment insurance rate relief to Massachusetts businesses. Memorial Day in Saugus honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice – including Medal of Honor recipient Arthur Frederick DeFranzo, a 25-year-old staff sergeant who sacrificed his own life on a battlefield in France in 1944 to save the lives of fellow soldiers. A Win Waste Innovations official tells the Wheelabrator Subcommittee that the ash landfill near its trash-to-energy plant has enough capacity to last another three and a half years, but adds that the company has expansion hopes at the landfill. Selectmen approved an 8.25 percent increase in sewer rates for the 2022 fiscal year, a $29 annual increase for the average residential user. Pioneer Charter School of Science II wins a prestigious Pozen Prize for Innovative Schools from the Boston Foundation. The Town reports 12 new COVID-19 cases. Town Hall reopens to residents who prefer transacting their municipal business in person and not by appointment or over the telephone. Saugus Catholics Collaborative in-person state restrictions are lifted. The Sixth Annual Mom’s Cancer Fighting Angels/TouchA-Truck event draws hundreds while raising $1,000 to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay For Life at Fuddruckers in Saugus. June The legacy of Saugus High School Class of 2021: the first to graduate from the new Saugus Middle-High School Complex and the last to get their diplomas at Stackpole Field. Eighty-two percent of the Saugus High Class of 2021 plan to embark on four-to-two-year college educations after they receive their diplomas. The School Committee ratifies a five-year contract for Erin McMahon – Saugus’s first woman school superintendent. New economical and environmentally friendly patrol cruisers hit the streets of Saugus. Northeast Metro Tech selects a construction manager for the $317.5 million school project planned for Wakefield. Town Meeting Member Robert Camuso Sr. pleads with selectmen to address the problem of unruly kids riding into oncoming traffic “before somebody gets hurt or killed.” DAV Commander Charlie DiMare gets to watch a Memorial Day ceremony from his hospital room – via video. Young and old honor veterans’ graves with flags for Memorial Day. World War II veteran Lenny Atkinson receives the Saugus High School diploma he didn’t get 78 years ago – when he answered the call to serve his country; he receives a standing ovation as he tips his cap to the 167 Saugus High School graduates during the school’s 150th Commencement exercises – the last graduation ceremony to be held at Stackpole Field. Atkinson, 98, was supposed to be a member of the Saugus High Class of 1943, but he quit school to join the U.S. Navy and serve his country in World War II. Graduation is a joyful affair for Nicholas Austin DiVola, who almost lost his dad to the deadly Coronavirus last year, but Robert DiVola was there with his family to celebrate his son’s success. Outgoing Superintendent David DeRuosi, Jr. gets an interim superintendent’s job in New Hampshire after retiring from Saugus. Annual Town Meeting approves a new budget for the 2022 Fiscal Year that begins July 1. A Somerville man is held without bail after being charged in connection with a fatal head-on collision in Saugus that killed a 19-year-old Lynn woman; police say that William Leger, 35, robbed a convenience store and then drove a stolen vehicle at a high rate of speed the wrong way on Route 107 before the crash that killed Ashley Forward. Saugus selectmen convene in person for the first time after 15 months of hooking up via Zoom videoconferencing to conduct business. Michael Hashem steps down as Saugus High School Principal to become a math teacher again. Brendon Sullivan, the school district’s executive director of curriculum, instruction and accountability, succeeds Hashem as High School Principal. Saugus firefighters Jonathan Crombie and Nicholas Landry graduate from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. COVID-19 cases are on a dramatic decline – only four new cases over the past 10 days. Marc Tuxbury, 48, of Saugus, dies of fatal injuries he received when his car rear ends a transit van in Newburyport. Selectmen tell town resident Margaret O’Neil Lankow they plan to check out her concerns about heavy trucks crossing through Saugus neighborhoods. The School Committee passes a revised budget that makes free allday kindergarten possible. The Cliftondale Revitalization Committee schedules a public forum to get citizen comments on what the town can do to improve “The Square.” WIN Waste Innovations, along with Saugus Public Schools, present “Unsung Hero Awards” to lead school nurse Sandra Moynihan and Whitsons Food Service General Manager Jamie Osgood for their efforts to take care of students and families during the pandemic. More than 250 strawberry shortcakes are sold during the Annual Strawberry Festival. Town Meeting Member Christopher Riley asks selectmen to take action against the 7-Eleven convenience store on Lincoln Avenue for nuisance issues hurting the neighborhood. Saugus distances itself from the pandemic – only three new COVID-19 cases reported during the past week. July Retired architect/engineer Steve Rich offers a new vision for revitalizing Cliftondale Square – get rid of the rotary. Town Meeting Member Joe Vecchione, the chair of the Cliftondale Square Revitalization Committee, shares survey results on what Saugus residents think. Family and friends of the late Richard “Dick” Barry – one of the town’s most beloved public officials – join with Saugus officials and civic leaders for the renaming of the Saugus Senior Center in his honor. Nicole Benton of Saugus is one of four area residents charged by federal agents with producing and trafficking fentanyl. The “Roll to DC” Committee gets a $7,500 donation from WIN Waste Innovations and a commitment for another $7,500 to help pay to send several area veterans to Washington, D.C., in the fall of 2022. State Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) supports legislation that will provide Saugus with $638,779 in road and bridge funding for Fiscal Year 2022. Saugus and Revere will receive an additional $800,000 from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for Route 1 improvements. Saugus nears COVID-19 perfection – only one new case reported. Town officials are considering the rundown site of the former Ballard School as an ideal spot for a dog walk area and also a community garden; the five-person study committee created by a Town Meeting vote schedules a public hearing. Confirmed COVID-19 cases are down to zero – for the first time in 16 months. Saugus DAV Commander Charles R. “Charlie” DiMare, Jr. passes at 89. Saugus resident Tony Barrie – the renowned leader of the Tony Barrie Band – is still making music as he turns 100. Saugus Ironworks staff rescues a snapper from harm’s way. A house blaze that killed two Saugus residents was electrical, a fire probe determines. The deaths of Louis Gallo, 78, and his sister, Rosemarie Naples, 80, were the first fatal fire deaths in Saugus since 2011 when two people died in separate house fires. “Ballard Gardens” is unveiled; neighbors share a green vision of what the old Ballard School grounds could look like several years from now. A WIN Waste Innovations official credits a new silencer system with keeping the noise level down in a recent turbine shutdown. Saugus Catholics Collaborative’s new pastor, Father Jason “Jay” Makos, discusses being “a priest in recovery from alcoholism,” his tattoo, his Boston terrier and first impressions of Saugus. A public health nurse warns peoYEAR IN REVIEW | SEE PAGE 12 ׉ 7cassandra://dYm_4ZEH8pv5P1bWScJ6hNrNXnrSc9jWnXGOHrfbJ70$x`̰aLA,wj3x&aLA,wj3x% PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://007xhiqbF2LE5Xw-dfwHPmeg3k8XTIJEq-Rmzjc30_Q J`)׉ 7cassandra://YTrnpo-Rxcl7FYPzMME-V4CPMuhe7138tlDqVxfJ6ys͟`J׉ 7cassandra://rqz7pK1053w66LnXOR84HhfBIKxVCaXd0IxZhlmXcbo$`̰׉ 7cassandra://6Svw5W9DR3xQ0wEeYEABsnWwZg11CA17_0mF0duTf_Y͝͠aLQ,wj3xSט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://c2irjpjsuRUBOcFJI-qNbuxTsh-au_iPi3HKjYNskls4`)׉ 7cassandra://FffR0BMLKkv8mg7EM2iEqQb-_8E4xk8e6x4yP7wH994ͣc`J׉ 7cassandra://ndABy0AQhWuC3k-q5VIP0nQw2wPut5N_zkzp8UIddm8&`̰׉ 7cassandra://ENbogtHwRNy6tJFlzeIJN5TgVBglYjT6vX2DKIujpdAͤo͠aLQ,wj3xT׉E-XPage 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW | FROM PAGE 11 ple to “stay vigilant” in spite of declining COVID-19 cases in Saugus; four new cases are reported. The installation of lights begins at World Series Park. Seven stores are cited for selling tobacco products to minors during compliance checks of 25 establishments during June of 2019. Selectmen reward Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree with a three-year contract extension to keep him in charge of town government through August 2025. The town gets a $98,000 Shared Street & Spaces Grant to make Cliftondale Square traffic and sidewalk improvements. After pandemic cancellations last year, the YMCA of Metro North’s 5Ks and half marathon return to in-person run or walk for charity. An entomologist warns that an invasion of scuttle flies in a home on Pemberly Drive can pose “a significant” health risk. New Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Erin McMahon is optimistic she has the staff to raise the academic achievement level of the town’s low performing education system; the superintendent floats a survey seeking public feedback from Saugus families where students attend town schools and from families who send their children out of town for an education. The UPS project planned for Route 107 riles East Saugus residents. A spike in COVID-19 cases continues, with 19 new cases reported. A new area for the Saugus School Committee is completed at Belmonte School in the School District administrative wing. August Selectmen set a hearing date for next month to consider applications for new liquor licenses. An Arizona mountain hiker calls Saugus native’s death “needless and avoidable” – Angela Tramonte, 31, overwhelmed by 104-degree heat, turns back down the trail alone while her companion, an off-duty Phoenix police officer, continues his upward hike. Tramonte never made it back to the car where she planned to catch up with the boyfriend she had first met on Instagram two months earlier; a search party found her body off a trail on the side of the mountain where she died. Pastor Bill Ladd begins a three-year assignment at the First Congregational Church of Saugus after an acting career that spanned more than three decades. The Town shuts down Pearce Memorial Drive from Main Street to the parking lot to keep traffic away from where the pavement collapsed and sank. The Town reports 53 new COVID-19 cases during the past week as an upward trend concerns officials. The Saugus Fire Department Color Guard performs at a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park. Former U.S. Postal worker Brian Thibodeau pleads guilty in U.S. District Court to mail theft; he admits to stealing about $2,000 worth of gift cards from Saugus postal customers on his mail route last year. Wrestling great “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan is a big hit at Kowloon Restaurant. The Commonwealth Amateur Baseball League donates $5,000 to the World Series Park Lighting Fund. A Saugus woman is fatally shot during a police encounter; Stephanie Gerardi, 38, allegedly challenged officers with a knife when they entered her home during a domestic call, and one of the officers fired three shots, killing the mother of two children. Superintendent Erin McMahon announces ambitious goals for student achievement. Selectmen delay a vote on an S-2 permit for a UPS facility to get a legal opinion from town counsel on whether they can add more resident protections. State Rep. Jessica Ann Giannino (D-Revere) announces the appointment of Christopher A. DeFilippis as her new legislative aide. The New Friends of the Saugus Public Library cancels its Annual Book Sale that was scheduled for Founders Day, citing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 400 cars compete, drawing a crowd of 1,000 people, at the Third Annual Cars & Cops Show outside Square One Mall. School officials have mixed feelings about the state’s new mask mandate. The Saugus Y hosts Not A Walk in the Park 5K at Breakheart Reservation. The sinkhole problem remains unsolved at the Saugus Middle-High School. The latest COVID-19 data shows a dramatic increase in Saugus – 68 new cases in a week. A boat comes loose from a pickup truck on Walnut Street, smashing down on the hood and windshield of an SUV. September Supt. Erin McMahon launches lofty academic achievement goals for Saugus Public Schools as a new school year begins. A shortage of candidates: Only three School Committee hopefuls pull nomination papers as the deadline nears; six express interest in the Board of Selectmen. MSBA awards $140-million-plus for the Northeast Metro Tech building project. School Committee Vice-Chair Ryan Fisher says he might not seek reelection because of verbal abuse and threats of violence he’s received. The Town reports 73 new COVID-19 cases in a week. An Arizona medical examiner rules Saugus native Angela Tramonte’s death on a Phoenix mountain trail in late July accidental and that she died from environmental heat exposure. Saugus receives a state grant to develop a plan in response to climate change. Two School Committee members offer their take on Day One transportation woes and how the district and parents can improve the situation. Only 11 candidates pull nomination papers for 10 top elective offices in town government just a day before the deadline; School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge and committee Vice-Chair Ryan Fisher decide to run. The new year greets Saugus Public Schools with a new Belmonte STEAM Academy to replace three elementary schools. The Town reports 60 new COVID-19 cases. Selectmen finally agree to a permit modification that will enable a proposed UPS terminal to get extra hours. The First Congregational Church plans the 19th Annual Pumpkin Patch in Saugus Center. Saugus remembers its “9/11” victims on the 20th anniversary: Gertrude “Trudi” Alagero, who was killed at the World Trade Center terrorist attack, and David DiMeglio, who died on as a passenger on one of the highjacked planes that crashed into the World Trade Center. All incumbent selectmen and School Committee members plan to seek additional twoyear terms in the Nov. 2 Town Election. Saugus officials learn of 101 new COVID-19 cases. For the 19th consecutive year, members of the Saugus Fire Department observe the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that killed more than 3,000 people in the highjacking and crashing of four jet airliners in New York City, Arlington, Va., and Shanksville, Pa. Saugus celebrates Founders Day a year after the COVID-19 pandemic led to cancellation of what would have been the 40th annual event. Saugus native Paige Marie Giadone-Naimie wins the Mrs. New England Petite USA 2021 title. Evergreen Street homeowners seek relief from drainage woes that have flooded their homes for 44 years. Dozens of town residents and community leaders gather in a candlelight vigil on the front lawn outside Saugus Town Hall to recognize the local heroes who helped get the town through the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic and to remember the 400 Saugonians who have died since March of last year – including 74 related to COVID-19. Selectmen approve in-person early voting for the Town Election. The Saugus Veterans Council holds Prisoner of War/ Missing in Action Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park. The Town reports 73 new COVID-19 cases in a week. World Series Park’s night light project nears completion. Vinicius Teixera of Saugus pleads guilty to federal drug and firearms offenses. October Town Election: Five of Saugus’s 10 precincts will have no ballot competition to fill their five Town Meeting seats. Saugus’s longtime and beloved Youth & Recreation Director Gregory Nickolas dies of COVID-19 complications at age 58. “The Orange Glow” brightens the lawn of First Congregational Church as a shipment of 4,000 pumpkins arrive from the Navajo Reservation in Farmington, N.M., for the start of the church’s 19th Annual Pumpkin Patch. The Town reports 53 new COVID-19 cases. Colleagues blame School Committee Member Arthur Grabowski’s alleged treatment of a School Department employee for the School Committee’s decision to switch from in-person meetings to remote sessions via Zoom teleconferencing. Two Saugus School Committee Members – Maureen Whitcomb of Precinct 4 and Peter Manoogian of Precinct 10 – will be candidates along with their sons on the Nov. 2 election ballot. A Special Town Meeting will consider an article to fund construction of a new vocational school in Wakefield. A Saugus woman pleads guilty to drug trafficking charges: Nicole Benton, part of organization that produced more than 100,000 counterfeit Percocet pills. The Saugus Public Library Foundation elects new officers. “Duck Lemonade” enables young students to help Breakheart Reservation. Local state reps blast Boston’s plans to relocate “Methadone Mile” to the Quality Inn in Revere near the Saugus town line; Saugus selectmen join Revere officials and local legislators in opposing Boston’s proposal to relocate “Methadone Mile.” Harvested community garden vegetables from St. John’s Episcopal Church are donated to the community’s less fortunate. The Finance Committee recommends against an article to fund Saugus’s share of a new Northeast Metro Tech school in Wakefield. Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Chris Riley calls for civility as the Saugus political season heats up. In “An open Statement to The Citizens of Saugus,” School Committee Member Arthur Grabowski calls the allegations that he was hostile toward a Saugus Public Schools employee “the typical Saugus ‘pre-election’ smear campaign.” The Town reports 52 new COVID-19 cases. A Saugus woman is convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft: Jayne Carbone, 52, stole over $400,000 from her elderly uncle. World Series Park dedicates lights and recognizes 170 people who contributed to the lighting fund. Special Town Meeting overwhelmingly rejects an article to fund Saugus’s share of a new Northeast Metro Tech. Town Election: The Saugus Public Library will host two days of in-person voting. Another wave of pumpkins hit Saugus Center. The Town reports 65 new COVID-19 cases. Saugus is walloped by a nor’easter; the storm damages fences, creates hazardous road and sidewalk conditions and knocks down electrical wires, causing power outages to close to 100 homes and businesses. The Town reports 45 new COVID-19 cases. Town Election: Three candidates battle for a Saugus Housing Authority seat in a very competitive local political race. The Theatre Company of Saugus kicks off a two-weekend performance of “Night of the Living Dead.” World Series Park hosts a fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis (MS): 11 of the 12 members of the celebrated 2003 Saugus American Little League team which advanced to the U.S. championship game at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., attend the event. They show up to help teammate Dario Pizzano, who organized the fundraiser; his mom suffers from MS. November Saugus voters decide to keep most of their top elected leaders in the 2021 Town Election; despite facing five challengers, all five selectmen hold onto their seats by comfortable margins; four of five incumbent School Committee members win another two-year term; 38 of the 41 incumbent Town Meeting members are re-elected; a veteran housing authority member wins another term by a wide margin in a three-way race. Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano tabs agreement with Win Waste Innovations YEAR IN REVIEW| SEE PAGE 13 ׉ 7cassandra://rqz7pK1053w66LnXOR84HhfBIKxVCaXd0IxZhlmXcbo$`̰aLA,wj3x'׉E*THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Page 13 YEAR IN REVIEW | FROM PAGE 12 as his “Number One Issue” after winning a second two-year term as the board’s chair. School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge is the top vote-getter in his race, winning a second term as the chair. Veteran Selectman Debra Panetta finishes second in the election to claim the vice-chair assignment. Former School Committee Member Vincent Serino is runner-up in his race to earn the vice-chair designation. Veteran School Committee Member Arthur Grabowski is the lone candidate among 11 incumbents running town-wide to lose election. Police investigate a Halloween night vandalism incident at World Series Park; vandalism and a breakin happen on the same day that a successful fundraiser for multiple sclerosis was held at the park. The Town dedicates a new sports complex at the Saugus Middle-High School – “Christie Serino, Jr. Memorial Stadium” – in memory of the legendary coach and teacher. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree gets “great” grades for the town’s financial situation in a public evaluation by the selectmen. A Saugus man gets three years in prison after pleading guilty to drug and firearms offenses. Board of Selectmen candidates spend more than $15,000 going into the final days of the election; Selectman Debra Panetta raises $6,125 and spends $5,635.86 – the most campaign money among the 20 candidates who ran town-wide for public office. The School Committee begins a new term with one new member, Vincent Serino, who becomes the new vice-chair. Saugus honors its heroes on Veterans Day. State DEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg says WIN Waste Innovations won’t be able to expand the ash landfill near its trash-to-energy incinerator under current regulations. Members of the Board of Health’s Wheelabrator subcommittee want WIN Waste Innovations to present them with a written proposal of what they are willing to include in a potential host agreement between the town and operators of the trash incinerator. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree calls for a Special Town Meeting for next month to “clean up” the budget for the 2022 Fiscal Year that began July 1; the most important of the four articles is a measure that would restore $1.4 million in the town’s Stabilization Fund. The meeting will be held via Zoom teleconferencing instead of at the auditorium at the request of Town Moderator Steve Doherty, who wants to make sure the 50-memMBTA | FROM PAGE 7 ize service benefits for bus riders during COVID-19, the project’s construction was accelerated through the MBTA’s Rapid Response Bus Lane program, which also included more than 10 miles of bus lanes in communities hard hit by the pandemic throughout the metropolitan area. “Boston and the MBTA are increasingly seen as national leaders when it comes to putting transit first on city streets,” said TransitCenter Executive Director David Bragdon. “From the Columbus Ave. center-running corridor to the dozens of bus lane projects that have launched in the last couple of years, we applaud MBTA’s and Metro Boston’s municipalities’ commitment to equitable mobility in the wake of the ber body is protected from COVID-19. A video captures Halloween vandalism at World Series Park. Saugus police capture a bank robbery suspect who drew attention to himself by trying to hitch a ride. Northeast Metro Tech School District officials will consider an election option for the proposed new school. The Town reports 85 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases. Three Saugus firefighters who assisted three police officers who were stabbed in an August 2020 attack are among those honored at the “Firefighter of the Year Awards” ceremony: Capt. Chris Vinard and firefighters Sean Bohannon and Greg Cinelli receive the Governors Group Citation for Meritorious Conduct for their quick response in the face of danger, while Cinelli received the Medal of Valor for risking his own life to subdue and disarm the suspect – saving the lives of the wounded police officers. The School Committee honors Jacob Puglisi, 8, a student at the Belmonte STEAM Academy, for his quick response to help a classmate who was choking on a nacho at lunch. The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry distributes packaged Thanksgiving dinner baskets to more than 80 families in the community. Selectman Corinne Riley discloses appearance of conflict of interest on Wong family permit, but says she has clearance from state Ethics Commission to vote on plans for a mixed-use project featuring 130 apartment units. The Town reports 93 new COVID cases in a week. December The Finance Committee recommends passage of an article to restore $1.4 million in Saugus’s Stabilization Fund – a measure intended to protect the town’s AA+ bond rating; that is one of four financial articles receiving the committee’s support for the upcoming Special Town Meeting. The Town plans to dedicate this year’s tree lighting to the memory of the town’s late Saugus Youth & Recreation Director Greg Nickolas, who died in September from complications related to COVID-19. Theresa Whittredge, 47, wife of School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge, dies of metastatic breast cancer. Saugus veterans group leader David Nelson passes at 71. The Town reports 121 new COVID-19 cases in eight days. The owner of an average single-family home will pay an average of $345 more as the result of new tax rates set by the Board of Selectmen. A year after COVID-19 canceled the town’s Christmas Tree and Festivities, hundreds COVID-19 pandemic.” Other bus lane projects that the MBTA completed, in partnership with local municipalities, in 2021 include parts of Broadway in Revere, North Washington Street in Boston and North Common Street in Lynn. Other projects that will be completed imminently or in early 2022 include segments along Western Avenue in Lynn, Washington Street in Somerville, Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, Washington Street in Brookline and Centre Street in Malden. “We are proud to have partnered with the MBTA on Columbus Ave., North Washington Street, and Washington Street in Roslindale throughout 2021,” said Boston Transportation Department (BTD) Interim Commissioner Brad Gerratt. “We look forward to working closely with the MBTA, our regional transit provider, to deliver more improvements on local city streets. This recognition is a testimony to the collaboration we have built together.” “We are thrilled to see the MBTA and its municipal partners acknowledged for this work given how far we’ve come in a few short years,” said LivableStreets Executive Director Stacy Thompson. (LivableStreets is a transportation advocacy organization based in Boston.) “Back in 2018, there were just over two miles of bus lanes in Boston, and now, there are more than 17 miles stretching from Roslindale Square to North Common Street in Lynn. Prioritizing buses is one of the best ways for us to close the equity gap in our transit system as the regather on the lawn outside Town Hall as Saugus welcomes the annual tradition back. Kevin Andrews plays Santa Claus with Sachem Friends to help make Christmas bright for children in the MEG Toy Drive. A Saugus woman pleads guilty to bank fraud conspiracy; Emelyn Clough, 24, opened a bank account in the name of a fictitious business in a scheme that obtained more than $300,000 from customer accounts. Four financial articles – including one to restore $1.4 million in the Stabilization Fund used to balance the budget – pass unanimously during a Special Town Meeting. The MEG Foundation celebrates its 11th Annual Christmas Tree Festival. Essex County Correctional Officer Anthony Pasquarello dies of complications from COVID-19; parents of the Saugus man ask the sheriff to make it public that he wasn’t vaccinated – to protect others. The body of Michael Norton, 26, is discovered by his family inside his Essex Landing apartment, sparking a murder investigation. Retired postal worker Karen Coburn and her husband John continue their tradition of answering letters to Santa Claus that have been dropped off at the Saugus Post Office in Cliftondale. The Town reports 182 new COVID-19 cases over one week. About 200 voters in Precincts 3 and 10 could get a new legislative district under a redistricting modification plan. A draft copy of Cliftondale Revitalization Committee’s Final Report concludes it’s possible to spark new life into the town’s dying business and housing district, providing the town, property owners, businesses and other stakeholders make a collaborative commitment. Another suspicious death in Saugus: Police arrest a Lynn man in connection with the death of his Woburn girlfriend, whose body was found in a Saugus marsh along Route 107. About 360 wreaths are placed on veterans’ graves in Riverside Cemetery as members of the Parson Roby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) sponsor the National Wreaths Across America Day in a town event that draws hundreds. The five Saugus Town Meeting members call on MassDEP to require “open and transparent” closure of the ash landfill at WIN Waste Innovations’ trash-to-energy plant site. The Town reports 203 new COVID-19 cases over one week. By year’s end, Saugus passes the 6,000 mark for total confirmed COVID-19 cases since the outbreak of the pandemic in March of 2020; 87 Saugus residents have died of complications linked to the Coronavirus. gion recovers, and we look forward to working with the MBTA, Boston, and communities across the region to continue to support bus riders in 2022 and beyond.” MBTA and City of Boston officials hope to keep the momentum going in the years to come. Earlier this year, the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization awarded the MBTA $14 million to construct a northern extension of the Columbus Avenue facility, and last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the City of Boston $15 million to design and construct similar improvements on Blue Hill Avenue. The MBTA Transit Priority Group was created in 2019 with support from the Barr Foundation to further bus priority projects around the region. The group has worked closely with municipal partners and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to deliver more than 17 miles of bus lanes and activate transit signal priority at 85 locations in six cities, more than doubling the MBTA service area’s bus priority network in the last two years. The group’s actions have had a far-reaching impact: While approximately eight percent of passenger miles traveled are in bus lanes, reliability benefits extend to 42 percent of passenger miles traveled system-wide. In announcing the award, TransitCenter concluded, “To speed bus trips, transit agencies and city governments have to work together. We commend these agencies in the Boston region for modeling effective partnerships.” ׉ 7cassandra://ndABy0AQhWuC3k-q5VIP0nQw2wPut5N_zkzp8UIddm8&`̰aLA,wj3x(aLA,wj3x' PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://MfAtX4ZO3xHWJ8HY2aVI0lxxTcWUPVVI0oCo_i6VAUM_`)׉ 7cassandra://52XBzQaGCMC-LfewzGaE6Fz5t8PzIA9qBkg5rAs4wuEͥ`J׉ 7cassandra://p5CtBKxmE1M94jOr3IZoUw4YNo9v5liXj2bBe0dGCKw4`̰׉ 7cassandra://GCJOA0kqCEDDkBPn8doupp3mJNf6b3O8YEk_Fmpa4rU͠aLQ,wj3xVט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://-ZIYzHyBejRiES2aXxQh7aeyJlQ84H8l--uS-oLaIx0`)׉ 7cassandra://qS4blxKQt-A8Bi-Rfd3xPlgUFvZQgYZ3hthkpCeRFc4͗6`J׉ 7cassandra://WpJoytnyI1BJbAvhL7FOx96C-LstNh1UghTTu4pmTGI*`̰׉ 7cassandra://CirQ22F8nitR6LvPie-wz8z2lgxD2SdpAU86qSKi5Bc.͠aLR,wj3xW׉EPage 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Christmas Eve parade brought out families, despite the cold F By Tara Vocino amilies and children watched the Christmas Eve parade as it went through town last Friday night. Santa, Mrs. Claus, Buddy the elf and decorated, lit floats cruised through the streets. Myra and Michael Monto placed a Christmas tree onto their boat float. Joshua and Kaylee Webster decorated their Marshall’s Boatyard float. Santa said hello en route during the parade. William Sheridan rode in the parade on a veterans’ suicide awareness truck. Watching the parade from Innis Street, pictured from left to right: Front row: Matthew, Natalie, Benjamin and Sean Corbin; back row: Linda, Brian, Lisa, Sheila and Jason Corbin. Watching the parade from the steps of Town Hall, pictured from left to right: Front row: Cooper and Katie Webster, Hank MacKenzie, Daniel and Kenzie Freedman; back row: Charles Stoddard, Adele Kirby, Nancy Gaudet, Christopher MacKenzie and Karen and Jason Freedman. Laura, Ryan and Audrey Auclair, 15 months, watched the parade from Summer Street. Annabelle Dulong met Santa during last Friday’s Christmas Eve parade beginning at Dow Street. Buddy the elf, Mrs. Claus and Santa arrived off a sleigh. Saugus resident Patrick Follis, who works for Agganis Construction, decorated their truck with lights and minions. Gina, Aiden, 11, and Evan Lecourax, 8, were eagerly waiting for the parade to pass by. During the parade route, an inflatable duck sported a Christmas stocking hat. Children were waiting for Santa to arrive in his sleigh. Lights illuminated Laurie Straticon (dressed as an elf), who was riding in a L & S Trucking float. The parade passed by a nicely decorated house on the Fellsway. ׉ 7cassandra://p5CtBKxmE1M94jOr3IZoUw4YNo9v5liXj2bBe0dGCKw4`̰aLA,wj3x)׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Page 15 SAUGUS GARDENS IN THE WINTER Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable M By Laura Eisener any people are looking forward to tomorrow’s First Day Hike at Breakheart. It is a very nice way to celebrate the New Year and enjoy the wild beauty of Saugus at the same time. Breakheart Reservation’s Brett Power says, “It is a great opportunity for people who don’t usually get to hike. There are two routes on the wide paved walkways – a two-mile route and a three-mile route.” My family has enjoyed the First Day Hikes for several years. Breakheart’s First Day Hike starts at 10. The hike is a great way to exercise (remember those New Year’s Resolutions!), socialize safely outdoors and enjoy fresh air and nature. This year’s weather predictions are for milder temperatures on Saturday than those we have been getting, so we may not have to bundle up as much to enjoy the day, and there is likely to be less ice than in the past couple of years. There may be fewer flowers in bloom outdoors in the winter season than at other times of year, but there is still plenty of nature to enjoy. Some kinds of wildlife are more visible in the winter. We may also see some tracks in the fresh snow. Brett Power says there are definitely deer which pass through Breakheart, looking for food as they may travel between Middlesex Fells and Lynn Woods. Some other winters I’ve seen deer tracks near the Saugus River Trail. Occasionally there are deer crossing Appleton Street, and I’ve seen them a few times near Prankers Pond and in Lynn Woods. Elsewhere in Saugus, deer may be frequent visitors. Charles Zapolski has seen them fairly often, and not only in the winter. Several of his photos above were taken when he was inside his house. “When I was sitting by the front window at my computer the deer come up from the backyard and make their way across the street. I have wetlands on 2 sides of my property that many of nature’s creatures like.” Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) are a deer species that live in very cold areas of the world, particularly Europe and Asia, and their natural range actually comes pretty close to the North Pole. What are called reindeer in Europe are the same species as what we call caribou in North America. Our deer here are white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), which distinguishes them from related deer species which live in western parts of the country. The large red deer (Cervus elaphus) is common in Scotland, but also native to other parts of the UK and Europe. Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) occupy India and southeast Asia. A FAMILY OUTING: These deer were out roaming Charles Zapolski’s neighborhood when the grass was still green. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Charles Zapolski) FROM THE REAR VIEW, it is easy to see why these are known as white-tailed deer. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Charles Zapolski) YEWS (Taxus spp.) ARE AMONG THE FAVORITE winter food of white-tailed deer. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Charles Zapolski) A BROWSING DEER looks in the window at Charles Zapolski’s home. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Charles Zapolski) Since 1983, the white-tailed deer has been the state animal of New Hampshire. It is the most common deer in the eastern United States, and its range extends from Canada down into parts of South America. Male deer grow antlers in spring, but lose them in the fall, so during the winter none of the deer we see here will have antlers. Deer are herbivores and depending on food availability they may come quite close to homes in search of food. Earlier this month one managed to enter a store in Amesbury! During snowy winters, they are most likely to come into our yards and gardens to nibble on twigs of trees and shrubs. Yews (Taxus spp.) and eastern arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) are popular deer food. Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata) is much less palatable and is a good choice for landscaping where deer are plentiful. In summer there is quite a bit of available food in fields and woods, but certain plants like hosta (Hosta spp.) are especially appealing and deer may go out of their way to seek these plants. Deer and rabbit repellents can help protect the garden, but many people don’t mind a little damage to help the animals survive the winter. Editor’s Note: Laura Eisener is a landscape design consultant who helps homeowners with landscape design, plant selection and placement of trees and shrubs, as well as perennials. She is a member of the Saugus Garden Club and offered to write a series of articles about “what’s blooming in town” shortly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was inspired after seeing so many people taking up walking ׉ 7cassandra://WpJoytnyI1BJbAvhL7FOx96C-LstNh1UghTTu4pmTGI*`̰aLA,wj3x*aLA,wj3x) PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://uTYfZS8oKiTNhEvBtvTZz-Cv5NGC0yHKYuVA-x1WAjM `)׉ 7cassandra://yArVyEIsjiCGH1J6XkqcYbfeiDTf5qOqDHhnP5M_A18͢`J׉ 7cassandra://whm8LAvYpw7w1KyDoNezjMMW_Z_p16mhO5STce8d8pQ'@`̰׉ 7cassandra://tgDbGRGQ1CPXf5rqpxMYsvdVt3bAPOuAqnziju6Lc9w$͠aLS,wj3xZט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://W2Uw02KGcSRVUVsTuIgpqxa-yBMhiH8o8h3wzTnQz-cK&`)׉ 7cassandra://77PcDaNH-tdNJ4rZSAfWGJkp3TwV7f2e0akE3SonMXE͞J`J׉ 7cassandra://oOXaymBCSEo3KEaqY-FL-Hmh5xMDyWSSb--jFXQYqCE%`̰׉ 7cassandra://ibofODpF3OP0TaxwXZH62Mlqg_fj8XPb2TQUsvq6lgYͮ͠aLS,wj3x[נaLS,wj3xh 9ׁH$http://FACEBOOK.COM/ADVOCATE.NEWS.MAׁ ׁ ЈנaLS,wj3xg̝9ׁHmailto:mvoge@comcast.netׁ ׁ ЈנaLS,wj3xfC9ׁH%https://givebutter.com/HealthySaugus.ׁ ׁ ЈנaLS,wj3xe̳9ׁHmailto:HS2Saugus@gmail.comׁ ׁ ЈנaLS,wj3xd'9ׁHhttps://forms.glׁ ׁ ЈנaLS,wj3xc9ׁH"mailto:stevecastinetti@comcast.netׁ ׁ ЈנaLS,wj3xbd̰9ׁHmailto:SaugusPLF@gmail.comׁ ׁ ЈנaLS,wj3xad9ׁHhttp://liclibrary.org/virtualׁ ׁ ЈנaLS,wj3x`gm̀9ׁHhttp://www.saׁ ׁ Ј׉E*Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS By Mark E. Vogler All the best for 2022 Happy New Year, Saugus! For all of the folks who I had hoped to run into or talk to over the holiday season – but didn’t – best wishes to you and your family for 2022, for a happy, healthy and better New Year than the one we just finished. Be well, be safe and be smart as you approach the New Year. If you want to make the most of your New Year, make a list of goals and objectives that you would like to accomplish. Get organized: Planners and calendars should be available in the book stores and stationary supply shops at a discount, and they can be useful tools as you look ahead and plan projects and various events for the New Year. Take steps to revisit healthy habits, whether it’s walking or exercising daily or cleaning up the clutter in your house, garage and car. It’s time to start over and renew pursuit of a healthier, happier and more productive life. Reflections of the old year So, what happened in Saugus in 2021? As part of my work, I spent more than 15 hours thumbing through each of our weekly editions over the past year, gleaning some highlights from each month to sum up the most significant and interesting stories that we published in The Saugus Advocate and typing it down in a file for our story “Year in Review, A monthly breakdown of the top stories in The Saugus Advocate during 2021.” Of course, I don’t expect many people to read the entire story. But it does offer the reader who is curious about some major happenings in a particular month, to jog their memory. Keep in mind, it is all subjective, based on my view as an outsider whose job is to cover the news and write stories and take photos that focus on the Saugus news or community events of any given week. Fifteen hours of perusing newspapers and writing a summary might seem like a tedious, time-consuming and unproductive task. But it does provide a useful foundation if I am going to look back on the past year and summarize it for the loyal readers of The Saugus Advocate. While I was doing the marathon newspaper read, I also used a legal pad to make a monthly inventory of the front-page articles in each of the newspapers we published this year. Again, it’s all subjective. Something that strikes me as interesting enough to write about may bore somebody else to tears. At the same time, any reader can make a compelling case about a significant news story that I didn’t have on my list. And I’m sure if you asked the Board of Selectmen and School Committee to offer their views on the top 10 stories of the year, you would get an entirely different response from each official. But I decided just to ask selectmen and School Committee members to tell me what they thought was their top story, and also a runner-up story if they preferred. It was nearly unanimous on COVID-19 as their top choice. And that shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody, or at least any of our readers. We had 24 page one stories related to COVID-19 throughout the year. And we probably ran more photos of people wearing cloth masks or facial coverings over the past year than at any time in the history of the paper. And if the upward trend on COVID cases continues well through the New Year, we can expect to see more photos of masked people in next year’s newspapers. One last item: If you think a story should have been included in our list, feel free to email me, and I will include it in next week’s paper. Or, if you disagree with any story on my list, please send me an email or text. The primary intent of this week’s paper is to get folks to reflect on the past year while spurring some interesting conversation with their family, friends and acquaintances over the year that just ended. It’s a lot of work to put together a Year-In-Review edition. But I have always done a Year-In-Review at every paper I’ve been at during more than a decade as a weekly newspaper editor. Also, I have been assigned and contributed countless Year-In-Review articles at daily newspapers during my other 30-plus years as a newspaper journalist. It’s always fun to sit down and read the various Year-In-Review editions. And, for the first few months of the New Year, we will be writing other stories as we crunch data from various local and state agencies. For next week’s edition, I plan to go back and select the top cover photos for each month, narrowing the top choices from each of the front-page photos we have published over the past year. That will be a fun project that I think our readers will enjoy. clips. That gave me the confidence and experience for a smooth transition from college to the real world. Breakheart’s “First Day Hike” tomorrow! So, have you resolved to lose some weight for the New Year and engage in a healthier life? If so, start off the New Year with an invigorating “First Day Hike” and make a resolution to burn off those extra holiday calories. Tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022) is the day you can begin a walking exercise program. The hike starts at 10 a.m. Meet outside the Visitors Center of Breakheart Reservation, which is located at 177 Forest St. in Saugus. The state Department of Conservation & Recreation and the Friends of Breakheart Reservation are cosponsoring “Breakheart Reservation First Day Hike” again. A flier issued recently by both groups notes “We will have two guided hikes through the paved loops of Breakheart. “Be prepared for cold weather – dress in layers and wear winter boots. Bring your friends and family and afterwards warm up with a cup of hot chocolate by the fire pit outside.” The center will remain open until noon. For more information, call 781-233-0834. It’s a New Year. Get that walking program going. Don’t make any excuses. A “Shout-Out” for all of the good deed doers This is the time of year when the collective generGUESS WHO GOT SKETCHED! In this week’s edition, we continue our weekly feature where a local artist sketches people, places and things in Saugus. Got an idea who was sketched this week? If you do, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a phone message at 978-683-7773. Anyone who between now and Tuesday at noon correctly identifies the Saugonian being sketched qualifies to have their name put in a green Boston Red Sox hat with a chance to be selected as the winner of a $10 gift certificate, compliments of Dunkin’ at the 1204 Broadway Saugus location on Route 1 North. But you have to enter to win! Look for the winner and identification in next week’s “The Sounds of Saugus.” Please leave your mailing address in case you are a winner. (Courtesy illustration to The Saugus Advocate by a Saugonian who goes by the name of “The Sketch Artist”) New Year’s Resolutions I have two sets of resolutions: the personal ones and the ones related to improving the paper and making it more interesting for our readers. The personal resolutions usually get broken, at the expense of keeping the professional resolutions. Sometimes my exercise routines and sleep time suffer at the expense of my newspaper-related activities. This coming year, I resolve to get more sleep and strive to eliminate or drastically reduce all-night work routines in putting out the newspaper. I plan to take a close look at my diet and enhance my exercise routines so I can actually do a better job without my health and personal life taking a hit. But, as we know, that’s a tough task for any newspaper journalist who keeps striving to perfect his craft. At some point during 2022, I will have reached 50 years as a newspaper journalist. That’s not counting the years I spent as a stringer writing local sports stories and filing them with the Boston and Providence newspapers. It was during the fall of my junior year at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst that I started working weekends and part-time for the Northampton news bureau of The Springfield Union and Sunday Republican newspapers. I got paid $2 an hour for hustling tips and writing stories and covering the Northampton bureau during Saturdays and Sundays. I made the most of that opportunity, getting quite a few front-page bylines in one of the largest metropolitan newspapers in Massachusetts. So, when I graduated from UMass-Amherst and it came time to prepare for job interviews at newspapers where I applied, I was in a position to accompany my resume with some impressive newspaper osity of a community shows its true colors. People like to help their fellow man or woman, particularly the forgotten elderly people who live alone and/ or in nursing homes. It could be a small act of kindness, like shoveling somebody’s driveway or dropping off a hot chocolate or something to eat. There are a million ways to put a smile on somebody’s face. And ’tis the season to do that, whether it’s for your grandmother or a stranger who nobody visits in a nursing home. Whatever the case may be, Saugus has its share of good deed doers. So, here are some super “shoutouts” for doing simple acts of kindness. If you know somebody like this, give them a hug. Kindness can be contagious and should be encouraged if we want to help make Saugus a better place. Want to “Shout-Out” a fellow Saugonian? This is an opportunity for our paper’s readers to single out – in a brief mention – remarkable acts or achievements by Saugus residents or an act of kindness or a nice gesture. Just send an email (mvoge@ comcast.net) with a mention in the subject line of “An Extra Shout-Out.” No more than a paragraph; anything longer might lend itself to a story and/or a photo. We have a winner! Congratulations to Debbie Cox for making the right identification in last week’s “Guess Who got Sketched?” contest and then being the one selected from among several readers whose names were entered into the green Boston Red Sox cap. Here’s the correct answer, offered by the person who goes by the name of The Sketch Artist: “The answer to last week’s sketch is Santa’s VIP Mail Elves Saugonians John and Karen Coburn. “Karen & John’s “Letters to Santa Outreach is featured on the cover & pg. 3 of Saugus Advocate 12/17 21. Karen has retired from Postal Work in 2019 (30 years service) and assisted Santa for over 20 years and John is a retired Police Officer (with Saugus 30 yrs.). Every year These two take on the volunteer duty of Santa’s Marvelous main mail Elves. “Santa entrusted these two with his very important mail duty of receiving, opening and answering Children’s “Letters to Santa.” They receive his mail from a specially designed red mail box at the Saugus Post Office. “Karen and John respond to all letters (with return address) sometimes Santa has them include an achievement or accomplishment of the child’s by a THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 17 ׉ 7cassandra://whm8LAvYpw7w1KyDoNezjMMW_Z_p16mhO5STce8d8pQ'@`̰aLA,wj3x+׉E)2THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Page 17 VOKE VOTE | FROM PAGE 8 the project. “Town Meeting has to understand there’s going to be hurt – there’s going to be significant impact if we pay through the operating budget.” Crabtree identified other potential sources of funding for the project, noting that the debt exclusion would be a preferred option and one that would go before a vote of the Saugus people. COVID-19 | FROM PAGE 1 than sitting in a regional testing site line that is now hours and hours long to wait,” he said. As Saugus residents prepared But some Town Meeting Members cautioned that the vocational school district had to get more invested in selling the project in order to secure support from Saugus voters. Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Christopher P. Riley said the project would lose support if it were presented as a negative vote – warning that voters had to approve it or there would be consequences. for the holiday weekend celebration, town and state health officials had braced themselves for the anticipated surge in newly confirmed COVID-19 cases. “Our hearts and prayers go out THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | FROM PAGE 16 confirmation between Santa and parent.) “This time of year Santa’s very busy loading up the sleigh and last minute December duties! Santa oversees fattening and strengthening up the reindeer to ensure they will make that yearly world trip and making sure the Elves are having lots of fun while making toys. “Santa made these two his Chief Special North Pole Mail Elfs for all Saugus letters! Santa keeps in close contact with these two! “Only the best stationery specially designed for Santa is used to answer letters! Some of the times, John & Karen have been known to do random acts of kindness reaching out with a special delivery or two to the homes of the letter writers. “Thankyou John and Karen for ALL you do! Keep shining brightly! “Yours truly The Sketch Artist” Virtual Bingo Night at the library The Saugus Public Library Foundation will hold its second annual Virtual Bingo Night on Thursday, January 13, beginning at 7 p.m. This family fun event is open to bingo players of all ages and abilities. “Last year’s Virtual Bingo Night was a great success, and we look forward to beginning the new year with another night of fun and excitement,” Foundation President Kristen Tozza said. “We hope Saugus residents will join us as we raise funds for the Saugus Public Library’s programs and services.” The cost to participate is $25 for five cards, $40 for 10 cards, and $50 for 15 cards. Bingo cards will be sent via email after registration and payment are received. The registration deadline is January 12. To register, scan the QR Code or click on the Register Now button on the library website: www.sauguspubliclibrary.org/virtual-bingo-2/. About the Saugus Public Library Foundation: It was established in 2004 through significant gifts from the estates of Douglas Lockwood, Josephine Kibbey and Marie Weeks, as well as funds turned over by the now-disbanded environmental nonprofit Noblast, Inc. and smaller individual trust funds and bequests. The Foundation provides the means for the library to make long-range plans and commitments using the interest earned on the principal balance of the Foundation, and promote and carry out charitable and fundraising activities. To learn more about the Saugus Public Library Foundation, or to make a donation to the Saugus Public Library, please email SaugusPLF@gmail.com. Veterans Council Meeting date switched We received this email from CAPT Stephen L. Castinetti, USN (Ret.), Commander of the Saugus VeterPrecinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian warned Town Meeting members and project supporters that the “gun to the head” approach won’t work. He said the district didn’t brief the public well enough about the project. “This to many Saugonians is an ‘all of a sudden’ thing,” Manoogian said. “People in this town will rebel big-time,” Manoogian said, if voters are told “Here’s to those families affected by this health pandemic,” Crabtree said. Saugus continues to see a significant spike in the number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, prompting health offiwhat you are going to lose.” Manoogian suggested it would be advantageous to enlist the support of the legislators of the communities served by the school district so the state reimbursement money wouldn’t be jeopardized. Legislators can also help promote the project, he said. Manoogian said getting support for the project is going to be “a hard sell,” whether in Saugus or in the other cials to call on residents to exercise caution when they are in a crowd – either inside buildings or outside. The latest numbers released yesterday by Crabtree are more ans Council, regarding a change of dates in the upcoming Veterans Council meeting. “Good afternoon and I hope you all had a great holiday. Unfortunately, I will be out of state on January 3, 2022 so I am moving the meeting to January 10, 2022 at 1900,” Steve writes. “Hopefully that’s not a major inconvenience for anyone. “I have rapid home Covid tests available and I will have them at the meeting if anyone needs them. In the meantime, have a Happy New Year and let’s hope that 2022 is better than the first two 20’s!” CAPT Stephen L. Castinetti, USN (Ret.) Commander, Saugus Veterans Council stevecastinetti@comcast.net 781-389-3678 COVID-19 halts Friday breakfasts Concerns about COVID-19 have led to a temporary shutdown of the Friday morning breakfasts at the Saugus American Legion Cpl Scott J. Procopio Post 210 Legion Hall (located at 44 Taylor St.). We received the following email from Debra Dion Faust, Building Manager of American Legion Post 210: “Be aware that, due to a loss of one of our members to Covid (He caught it at a family wedding, not at the Legion itself.) we shut down the breakfast the Friday before Thanksgiving, intending to re-open tomorrow, December 3. “However, concerns about the new Omicron variant, the fact that the rather unseasonably warm weather actually works against us, and the fact that the success of the breakfast means that the numbers who come make it difficult to ‘socially distance,’ we took a poll of those breakfast-goers who have given us their email addresses to make notifications possible, and have made the decision to shut down the breakfast for the month of December…We plan to re-open on Friday, January 7. (We hope by that time to have had a truly hard freeze to help short-circuit transmission fears.) Thanks for your support. Have a good holiday season and a Happy New Year.” We will keep you posted on any developments affecting the Friday breakfasts at Legion Hall. Compost/Recycling Drop-Off Site temporarily closed The Town of Saugus Compost/Recycling Drop-Off site closed for the winter season on Dec. 11. However, the site will reopen from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month in January, February, and March, weather permitting. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Lorna Cerbone at 781-231-4036 with any questions. Want to be a Knight? The Knights of Columbus is looking for new members to join. If interested in becoming a member of communities. Regardless of whether Saugus voters oppose the project, a majority vote of the 12 communities will enable the project to continue. At that point, Saugus officials would have to consider how the town will pay its share. It would be better for the town to initiate a debt exclusion to avoid having to pay its share of the project by making budget cuts, town officials said. than double the 203 new cases reported a week ago (on Dec. 23). The town has reported 1,163 new COVID-19 cases since Nov. 22. this local organization, please call 781-233-9858. Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus Program (Editor’s Note: The following info is from an announcement submitted by Julie Cicolini, a member of the Board of Directors for Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus, providing information about the program.) Who we are: Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus (HS2) is a nonprofit group of volunteers that are helping to offset food insecurity in households. HS2 provides students/families that enroll in the program a supply of nutritious food for when school lunches and breakfasts are unavailable to them on weekends. How HS2 can help you: HS2 bags are distributed at school on Fridays to take home. Bags include such items as peanut butter, jelly, a loaf of bread, canned meals/soups/tuna/vegetables, pasta/sauce, fruit cups, cereal, oatmeal, goldfish, pretzels and granola bars. To sign up go here to complete online form: https://forms.gle/gmMGguycSHBdziuE9. Want to partner with us: HS2 relies on donations to create take-home bags for a weekend full of meals. All food is provided to children free of charge. It is our hope these resources will support the health, behavior and achievement of every student who participates. We would love to partner with organizations, youth groups, PTO’s, businesses and individuals to assist in feeding students of Saugus. To learn more about how you can partner with us, visit the Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus Facebook page or email us at HS2Saugus@gmail.com. Checks can also be sent directly to: Salem Five C/O Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus, 855-5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906. Online donations can also be made at https://givebutter.com/HealthySaugus. Let’s hear it! Got an idea, passing thought or gripe you would like to share with The Saugus Advocate? I’m always interested in your feedback. It’s been close to six years since I began work at The Saugus Advocate. I’m always interested in hearing readers’ suggestions for possible stories or good candidates for “The Advocate Asks” interview of the week. Feel free to email me at mvoge@comcast.net. Do you have some interesting views on an issue that you want to express to the community? Submit your idea. If I like it, we can meet for a 15- to 20-minute interview over a hot drink at a local coffee shop. And I’ll buy the coffee or tea. Or, if you prefer to continue practicing social distancing and be interviewed from the safety of your home on the phone or via email, I will provide that option to you as the nation recovers from the Coronavirus crisis. If it’s a nice day, my preferred site for a coffee and interview would be the picnic area of the Saugus Iron Works. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK ADVOCATE NEWSPAPER FACEBOOK.COM/ADVOCATE.NEWS.MA ׉ 7cassandra://oOXaymBCSEo3KEaqY-FL-Hmh5xMDyWSSb--jFXQYqCE%`̰aLA,wj3x,aLA,wj3x+ PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://mnmM6jXaGkbBUcgNNq17SCxy7HbKJNidE7eCTisD4qM 20`)׉ 7cassandra://52oXBus3Lra5QCHc99Nk8POgqUOT1do1r1GSUkEWA9kͥ`J׉ 7cassandra://sYa4plk4Ucep2Gt7ikDR6zym1fRLHfhx0vRU4DboWjA*;`̰׉ 7cassandra://73zVwGjXbcsZdYu3Rz1oBlZIlz6WwGtOpgvykW5yuUwN.t͠aLT,wj3xiט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://oUl-sg2sXFC502_A4YUDS6h8kIVlk5PgOpLsJ_054HE ;`)׉ 7cassandra://RcRA_rnnzJGKoUymZR_38c5RMf5VOLs7Pyl23EoBkgkͨ``J׉ 7cassandra://eZLIbYazaDRykv7vAWJ_caXy_N7NtOOTiAQ0RwItEe4.,`̰׉ 7cassandra://soOTCyxmcr1khtLXE_iFVeWrEeEipivK7nCzCofs9wo