׉?4ׁB!בCט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://zHcOmNVljLA-ge6lVegCLYg8s_GkgK_ovA_1SVkmXFQY`)׉ 7cassandra://1XkWB2Czr7fbvS8Cgox_zIUACBVA1YvvxHDsdS72s4Y͡3`J׉ 7cassandra://B75D5zGOSBhVvqNlTkxNEHcZQb9W7pZNw5_IzLwgg081`̰׉ 7cassandra://op6u1LBK4Av6aMvL8hqnYKd3bNn9coBfFE_V-IRH1NgB͠a>,wj4Gנa>,wj4G ʁf 9ׁHhttp://www.angelosoil.comׁ ׁ Јנa>,wj4G̱ 9ׁHhttp://www.advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј׈Ea<,wj4G׉E SAUGUS Vol. 25, No. 3 -FREETh e Advocate – A household word in Saugus! DVOD www.advocatenews.net By Mark E. Vogler W IN Waste Innovations is ready to sit down with the town offi cials and off er a proposal on what could be included in a new Host Community Agreement related to the operation of its trash-to-energy plant and the adjacent ash landfi ll on Route 107. “This has been great for us being a part of this committee,” WIN Waste Innovations Vice President of Environmental Affairs James Connolly told memCCATTEAT Published Every Friday Making the host happy WIN Waste Innovations nears a response to committee’s “to do” list for improving trash-to-energy site and landfi ll bers of the Board of Health’s WIN (Wheelabrator) Subcommittee at a meeting on Wednesday night (Jan. 19). “We have some concepts we’re working on – general WIN WASTE | SEE PAGE 13 Time to Vote on The Voke A DATE OF INTEREST: WIN Waste Innovations plans to present a proposal for a Host Community Agreement to the Board of Health’s “Landfi ll Committee” on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the second fl oor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. (Courtesy photo) A $1.5 million retirement loss State Appeals Court rules the forfeiture of former Saugus town manager Bisignani’s pension is constitutional By Mark E. Vogler T he state Appeals Court agrees with two lower THE WAY IT COULD LOOK: an artist’s rendering of the lobby in the proposed new Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School. In a special election set for Tuesday (Jan. 25), voters in 12 communities, including Saugus, will go to the polls to vote on a simple yes-no question: whether “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 Wakefi eld.” 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. Please see inside for story and letters to the editor. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) court rulings that former Saugus Town Manager Andrew Bisignani should be denied a retirement allowance of more than $1.5 million – which it believes to be the largest pension forfeiture by a Massachusetts public employee. In an 18-page opinion issued last Friday (Jan. 14), Justice Amy Lyn Blake called Bisignani’s crimes “comparable to those of” former Massachusetts House Speakers Tom Finneran and Salvatore DiMasi – “high level public employees who were convicted of obstruction of justice, and multiple counts of devising a scheme to deprive the public of its right to honest services, APPEALS | SEE PAGE 4 781-233-4446 Friday, January 21, 2022 A LOSING COURT FIGHT: Former Saugus Town Manager Andrew Bisignani recently received more bad news about his pension. The state Appeals Court has issued an opinion upholding the forfeiture of his retirement allowance, which totals more than $1.5 million. 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FLEET ׉ 7cassandra://B75D5zGOSBhVvqNlTkxNEHcZQb9W7pZNw5_IzLwgg081`̰a<,wj4Gځa<,wj4Gف PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://omXlnjHUgj0EBgl8fIpAP3FWCp-7qj7ZSiDyox3Uu3U`)׉ 7cassandra://rkpM7UVU_90pMesOm2KnVFhnh0XT0CKU9GYqLujQcJQ͝d`J׉ 7cassandra://HGOlyUq4RFyerpmbaMLa21w32zSrpfKyMMA1s3Yqg6U+^`̰׉ 7cassandra://7tbgGYp5jLSvX5PWj_jMAF_O1PhA2nVJ0O0zNx4HxLIh͠a?,wj4Gט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://pdb__k8aNT-flCr4Q5qVwu9PyCUnS2kAYtFaOUcm12w`)׉ 7cassandra://WpF2RLup8B7OpN7-vMgqcwDnz-fh2fCu5Pq49o7m8Og͙`J׉ 7cassandra://afWf454jk0to01YRppi0EyKbTVEvAJYqS8oUA_LB8D8,`̰׉ 7cassandra://1o8BrprjITzwTRSDFuaiRnPyovL0rgjmUy3aUHm8L3oi͠a@,wj4Gנa@,wj4G̷9ׁH mailto:Lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.netׁ ׁ Ј׉EQPage 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Lady Sachems basketball even record with win over Medford By Greg Phipps A fter dropping three of its first four games of the seaLawrence 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 son, the Saugus High School girls' basketball team evened its record at 3-3 with a solid 5027 win over Medford last Friday night. The Sachems were coming off a close defeat of Beverly just a few days earlier. Two Saugus players finished in double figures; Peyton DiBiasio poured in 12 points while teammate Ella Castle collected 11. Fallon Millerick chipped in with nine. Head Coach Mark Schruender credited the team's effective defensive effort for igniting the victory. "Defense is our offense when we're playing well, and that's what we had (against Medford). We were able to force some turnovers and get out in transition," he told the press after the game. "That's what helped push us out to that lead." The lead the coach referred to was a hefty 22-7 advantage after the first two periods.. Holding just a one-point lead at 5-4 early in the game, Saugus went on a 17-4 surge to build the double-digit cushion by halftime. Schruender praised the performance of Juliana Powers, Maddy Femino and Ana Silva for their strong play off the bench. "We rely a lot on our depth, so to get a lot of girls into the game will only benefit us going forward," he said. Saugus had produced an insurmountable 22-point lead by the middle of the fourth quarter. As a result, Schruender was able to empty his bench and give some of the reserves valuable court time. The Sachems have resumed their season after being interrupted when the recent COVID-19 surge forced the postponement of several games. A three-week layoff ended with the 35-32 squeaker over Beverly last Tuesday. The Sachems played at Masconomet on Thursday night (after press deadline), and travel to take on Marblehead Friday night. Saugus then hosts the Lynn Classical Rams on Monday night during a busy stretch of games. ~ LETTER TO THE EDITOR ~ A new Northeast Metro Tech School would be expensive, but also would be a bargain that offers significant benefits to Saugus students. Vote “Yes” on Jan. 25 S augus is one of twelve communities in the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District that will be voting on whether to approve the District’s borrowing for a new building project on January 25. The Northeast Building Committee, in my opinion, has made a good case as to why the project is warranted and why they have chosen the option to build new rather than renovate, as Northeast suffers from most of the same issues that the old Saugus High School did, like failing and outdated HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, limited handicapped accessibility, energy inefficiency, lack of IT infrastructure and more. The building is outdated and simply worn out. The proposed building would offer significant benefits to our Saugus students, including additional capacity and shorter waitlist for Saugus LETTER | SEE PAGE 14 The COVID-19 Update Town reports 336 newly confirmed cases over the past seven days; one new death By Mark E. Vogler A fter two consecutive weeks of more than 600 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, the town experienced a dramatic reduction over the past week, nearly cutting its cases in half. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree announced that the state Department of Public Health (DPH) has notified the town of 336 new cases over the past seven days through yesterday (Thursday, Jan. 20), bringing the overall total to 8,059 cases since the outbreak of the Coronavirus in March of 2020. Crabtree also noted that the DPH confirmed one additional COVID-19-related death, bringing the overall total to 94. “Our hearts and prayers go out to those families affected by this health pandemic,” Crabtree said. Last week, the town reported 623 COVID-19 cases, which followed its record weekly high of 668 cases from the previous week. The town has reported 2,790 new COVID-19 cases since Nov. 22. The ongoing surge prompted the Board of Health to adopt an indoor mask mandate two weeks ago. Meanwhile, Saugus Public Schools also experienced a reduction of cases in its four buildings, going from 189 cases (Jan. 6-12) to 101 cases (Jan. 13-19). This week, there were 39 cases reported in Saugus High, 20 in Saugus Middle-School, 25 in the Belmonte STEAM Academy and 17 in the Veterans Early Learning Center. A week ago, there were 42 cases in the High School, 64 in the Middle School, 62 in the Belmonte STEAM Academy and 21 in the Veterans Early Learning Center. ׉ 7cassandra://HGOlyUq4RFyerpmbaMLa21w32zSrpfKyMMA1s3Yqg6U+^`̰a<,wj4G׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Page 3 A school budget message Superintendent McMahon outlines key features and challenges of her education spending plan for FY 2023 By Mark E. Vogler T he introduction of a Dean program in Saugus Public Schools is a key component of the proposed budget unveiled last week by Superintendent Erin McMahon for the 2023 fiscal year that begins July 1. “We are creating three Dean positions, one at each building, as one way to support and promote positive behavior,” Supt. McMahon said of the program that will cost $225,000. “According to the CDC, nationally, the proportion of emergency visits for mental health issues for youth 12-17 increased by 31 percent during the pandemic,” she said. “We have seen a similar trend in Saugus Public Schools; the hybrid educational model resulted in social regression that requires additional support for students’ social-emotional learning and mental health.” The superintendent cited the Dean program in a twopage message that accompanied her proposed educational spending plan – the first one she has crafted since beginning a five-year contract as the town’s new superintendent last July. Her $31.3 million budget, which the School Committee was expected to vote on last night after a public hearing (after press deadline), is an ambitious one which includes an increase of close to $1.5 million, or 4.87 percent, over the current budget. “Our goal is to ensure that we have appropriate staffing to meet the educational and emotional needs of Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Erin K. McMahon. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) our students, while pursuing the School Committee’s ambitious goal – to catapult Saugus Public Schools from the bottom 10 percent of Massachusetts’ districts to the top 10 in five years,” McMahon said. “Similar to our surrounding communities, the pandemic has resulted in a loss of local revenue and created uncertainty in the level of state aid for FY2023. With all of this in mind, Saugus Public Schools must deliver on its promise to provide a high-quality education for all students,” she declared. In preparing next year’s budget, McMahon noted that she created a Report of Entry Findings, ran focus groups with parents and caregivers, held more than 70 one-on-one conversations and “engaged school leaders and staff in the process of examining spending trends and resource allocation.” “This work, together with your thoughtful feedback on the Report, allowed me to gain an understanding of where the district is right now; compare this understanding of our current reality with the long-term vision for the district; and, then align our strategy and budget to deliver on our collective vision for Saugus Public Schools,” she said. The Dean program is one of three key requests and a cost containment factor that McMahon highlighted in her budget message. She also cited: • A significant increase in out of district placements for Special Education. “The return to in person learning after a period of remote learning has resulted in behavioral dysregulation in our most vulnerable special education population,” the superintendent said. “Out-of-district placements for special needs students rose to just over $4 million this year. While this is also true across the Commonwealth, the impact for Saugus is an increase of $805,874 associated with providing out of district placements.” • Costs associated with contractual agreements related to salaries are rising by $548,065. In addition, the Saugus School Committee enters into negotiations with all three unions – Saugus Educators’ Association, Saugus Educational Assistants Association, and Saugus School Clerical Association – along with three vendor Requests for Proposals. “In order to enter into these negotiations in good faith, we are planning for an additional $575,000 increase,” the superintendent said. • Cost Containments: School district enrollment has declined by almost 200 students over the past four years, with more families choosing private, charter or home school options. The enrollment decline requires school officials to reduce the number of teachers, in kindergarten through the 12th grade, by up to 12 teachers, resulting in planned savings of $672,000, according to McMahon. Despite the reduction in teachers, class sizes will continue to be in the very low 20s, she said. Only one teacher retired. The superintendent stressed BUDGET | SEE PAGE 6 ׉ 7cassandra://afWf454jk0to01YRppi0EyKbTVEvAJYqS8oUA_LB8D8,`̰a<,wj4G܁a<,wj4Gہ PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://GeNusLErB9OugRZTyNcaZGYSse2WDNK0N2nP9TtNNi0u`)׉ 7cassandra://eIWAP_rD-A6MkgbHpal9sV5TXx47EGKLD_WaQQodynU͘`J׉ 7cassandra://xtDNg7J05weupA5gdPaS0sUgjyfDdjzADv1cp1UfWa8.%`̰׉ 7cassandra://iy8rz8g4Om_4Z0U06OkopK2ZPhrYpbMYJxP5BHlEZU8N͠aA,wj4Gט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://AoJitP9BFn92SQPFvMK-ZHDizHqO_mqb4tk1rY9FmFE`)׉ 7cassandra://FZGm0BPDRUCAUlKGchfVagKBjJ1sKH7sZYNTc7yrssMn``J׉ 7cassandra://SgJuPZYi8NnjYtA3l55ZiZoKCpe3SJkEdQ00JJ9PRd4%p`̰׉ 7cassandra://Q8RWtDBrWgecThbD7Ml2qSQkJ6Jx-UtHqgtZ-wwg-BU;͠aA,wj4GנaA,wj4G}̧9ׁHhttp://WIN-WASTE.COMׁ ׁ Ј׉E Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Honoring the memory and celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. APPEALS | FROM PAGE 1 respectively.” Bisignani, who served nine years as Saugus town manager before leaving in December of 2011, pleaded guilty in December of 2017 to 12 counts of procurement fraud, destroying public records, municipal bid-rigging and other crimes related to his position as Town Manager of Saugus and Nahant from Jan. 1, 2009, to June 30, 2014. In November of 2017, the Saugus Retirement Board voted 3-2 in favor of a motion for Bisignani to forfeit his entire pension. Lawyers representing Bisignani argued that the potential loss of $1.5-million was an excessive fi ne for his crimes and violated the Eighth 100 Salem Turnpike, Saugus, MA 01906 WIN-WASTE.COM Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. They appealed to Lynn District Court and later Essex County Superior Court. But both courts upheld the ruling of the Saugus Retirement Board. “The question presented in this appeal is whether the forfeiture of Bisignani’s substantial retirement allowance – the largest amount to our knowledge forfeited by a public employee to date – constitutes an excessive fi ne in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” Justice Blake wrote in the Appeals Court opinion. “In the circumstances of this case, we conclude that the forfeiture of the entire amount of his retirement allowance required by the statue, as applied to Bisignani, was within constitutional limits. Accordingly, we affi rm the judgment of the Superior Court.” Thirty-four years a public employee Bisignani received all of the money that he paid into the retirement system, but forfeited his expectation of the public funds he would receive upon retirement – determined to be $1,533,68, according to the court opinion. Bisignani was employed as either a Commonwealth of Massachusetts or municipal employee for an aggregate of 34 years and seven months. Bisignani worked for the Commonwealth from 1965 to 1967. He was the purchasing agent and city auditor for the City of Revere from 1978 to 2003, and then served as the Saugus town manager from January 2003 to February 1, 2012, before retiring. In early 2012, just as he began receiving a monthly allowance of $6,425.46 from the Saugus Retirement System, Bisignani took part-time employment as the temporary town administrator of Nahant, a position from which he resigned in June 2014. An Essex County Grand Jury indicted Bisignani on Dec. 30, 2014, after a two-year investigation by the District Attorney’s Offi ce. Bisignani pleaded guilty to 12 crimes, eight of which carried the penalty of forfeiture. Bisignani faced an aggregate maximum sentence of 54 years in prison and $102,500 in fi nes on the 12 counts of which he was convicted. He was sentenced to two years of probation, with certain conditions, and a $60,000 fi ne. No restitution order was imposed. “This was ‘no solitary lapse in judgment’ by Bisignani,” Justice Blake wrote in her opinion. “The criminal acts that led to his convictions spanned fi ve and one-half years and occurred in separate municipalities,” she continued. “While on this record there is no evidence that the eight convictions linked to Bisignani’s offi ce were ‘related to’ any other contemporaneous illegal activities, they led to the commission of additional crimes,” Justice Blake noted. “Facing a criminal investigation and grand jury proceedings, Bisignani committed four more crimes in an eff ort to cover up his felonious behavior, and to obstruct the interests of justice. These crimes included altering municipal documents and illegally recording a conversation with a Nahant selectperson. In addition, as refl ected on the docket of his criminal case, Bisignani’s home confi nement was to begin when his Federal probation was scheduled to end. Although the record is silent as to the details, this is evidence that Bisignani was involved in other illegal activities.” Those “other illegal activities” involved federal income tax evasion. Bisignani admitted that he failed to report more than $375,0000 of his income on federal tax returns he fi led over several years, between 2010 and 2013 – part of the time that he served as Saugus town manager. APPEALS | SEE PAGE 17 ׉ 7cassandra://xtDNg7J05weupA5gdPaS0sUgjyfDdjzADv1cp1UfWa8.%`̰a<,wj4G׉E8THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Page 5 ׉ 7cassandra://SgJuPZYi8NnjYtA3l55ZiZoKCpe3SJkEdQ00JJ9PRd4%p`̰a<,wj4Gށa<,wj4G݁ PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://geFcFoPohUQyEbYiLXliilCLa0qpq6lrY0BBFm5RwNo`)׉ 7cassandra://i_-sfTLwJsQiwQppMgMuE_xHLYnwKhu5nrW1aep5tKMͩx`J׉ 7cassandra://yPCF2_FFJHIfl6UEpTNkxs7-jZbPFTDc9bBPFqCKHUw.[`̰׉ 7cassandra://RVexA_797ktA-x45SsC8cTW0eTEPhLOzdSGgb5plblMr'2͠aC,wj4Gט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://4ZjmsG4v9Nb1gW6vjNIRIS6Q4bzAamNwnL9UWJWtjOY`)׉ 7cassandra://JqvfRIqVDEUHnxHP3A4lQjAF4ON71vzkkP_xGX9_wTk͜`J׉ 7cassandra://Kcw2GAFzCcR4xrEy0nvAH64pFcK7FNJT2OFuo95NczI.`̰׉ 7cassandra://8fa1AWx9nJIDumNtbeIUKRfFnEZ_V4VC6NAhW8h3U7o+͆d͠aD,wj4GנaD,wj4H(O9ׁHhttp://gustv.orgׁ ׁ ЈנaD,wj4H؁O9ׁHhttp://www.saׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 ~ LETTER TO THE EDITOR ~ Vote “Yes” on new Northeast Metro Tech School to invest in the youth of Saugus for generations to come B ack in October when an article was presented to Town Meeting, I voted against supporting Northeast Metro Tech’s bid to fund a new school building project. I felt that it was a decision that needed to be left to the taxpayers because the cost of the project could not be substantiated through the town’s operating budget. Alternative measures would need to be looked at, the most prevalent being a temporary tax increase which will need to be voted on by the town (This was done a few years back to fund our new Middle/High School Project). A separate election will need to be held for a tax increase if the vote passes on January 25th. I graduated from Northeast in 2019 with a degree in Business Technology and I can say without a doubt that attending the Voke is the best decision I have ever made. It prepared me for the college journey I am on right now, which otherwise wouldn’t have been possible. The current building is falling apart. I saw firsthand the rain buckets in the hallways after a storm, the broken light fixtures and antiquated piping in the ceilings. There are only so many times that students can “bandage” the school back together. Most important of all, the current school is not fully handicapped accessible. I remember helping students with broken legs up the stairs because there is no elevator and they needed to get to class. Since graduation, classmates of mine have gone on to start their own small contracting businesses, join trade unions, apprenBUDGET | FROM PAGE 3 the district will stick with a strategy that has proven successful in communities that are driven to achieve academic success. “In FY 22, we restructured the use of our federal grants to reflect the realignment of our district and our focus on using student data to inform instruction,” McMahon said. “This focus will continue through professional development and coaching next school year. My experience in other towns and cities, as well as working directly for the Commissioner last year, taught me that districts that succeed are those who are able to focus relentlessly on what it will take to achieve our five-year goal of joining the top 10 percent in MA, and achieving our longterm vision,” she said. “To create a school district that breeds a culture of academic excellence, understanding and inclusion, by establishing consistency in instructional expectations and ensuring that every child has access to the qualiticeships and gone on to colleges like myself. The price tag of 317 Million may seem daunting, but the MSBA has issued Northeast 141 Million in grants. Leaving about 176 Million to be divided amongst the 12 Northeast feeder communities. Of this, Saugus will be responsible for 13.5% or about 23.8 Million, the exact figure will vary depending on student enrollment over the course of the 30 year bond. For most families, this will be an increase of $10-$15 per month. Times are tough right now, but ty educational materials they need to succeed.” The superintendent said the pandemic has demonstrated the importance of a community working together for the common good. She said she is grateful for the commitment of the School Committee, the town manager, selectmen, police, fire, the Department of in my opinion, it is a small price to pay for what will be a state-of-the-art facility which will house 400 more students than the current school and invest in the youth of Saugus for generations to come. On January 25th, I am asking that you vote YES in support of a new Northeast Metro Tech because it is what’s best for the students of today and especially the students of tomorrow. Andrew Whitcomb Former Town Meeting Member, Precinct 4 Northeast Class of 2019 Public Works, the Saugus business community, the Saugus Faith Community and social organizations – including the Lions Club. “Together, we share a common belief, that a strongly supported school district is the bedrock of our children’s future, and the foundation for a strong Saugus community,” McMahon said. THIS WEEK ON SAUGUS TV Sunday, Jan. 23 from 9–11 p.m. on Channel 8 – “Sunday Night Stooges” (The Three Stooges). Monday, Jan. 24 all day on Channel 8 – “Movie Monday” (classic movies). Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. on Channel 9 – Board of Selectmen Meeting ***live***. Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 9 – School Committee Meeting from Jan. 20. Thursday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. on Channel 9 – School Committee Meeting ***live***. Friday, Jan. 28 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 9 – Planning Board Meeting from Jan. 20. Saturday, Jan. 29 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 22 – SHS Hockey vs. Beverly from Jan. 22. 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://yPCF2_FFJHIfl6UEpTNkxs7-jZbPFTDc9bBPFqCKHUw.[`̰a<,wj4G׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Page 7 To Vote on a New Voke S Town residents will get to vote Tuesday on whether to support a proposed new Northeast Metro Tech By Mark E. Vogler augus registered voters in all 10 town precincts will go to one polling location Tuesday in a special election that will determine whether plans for a proposed new $317-million Northeast Metro Tech School proceed. Artist renderings of the main entrance and other sides of the proposed Northeast Metro Tech School. (Courtesy photos by Northeast Metro Tech to The Saugus Advocate) The voting will take place at the Saugus Senior Center at 466 Central St. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., instead of being held at the usual polling locations. Saugus, along with the 11 other communities that make up the Northeast Metro Regional Vocational School District, will vote simultaneously on a “Yes” of “No” question to authorize the borrowing of $317,422,620 to pay costs of designing, constructing, originally equipping a new Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School and related athletic facilities, located at 100 Hemlock Road in Wakefi eld–site of the current school. A simple majority vote will decide if the project continues. In that case, the town would have to hold another special election to decide on how to fi nance the project, which has been estimated to cost up to $40-million over a 30-year period. Various estimates have been made on what the impact would be for the average Saugus homeowner. “According to fi gures provided by the Saugus HSMS Building Committee and the Northeast Building Committee, the potential tax impact, should a debt exclusion pass, would be less than $150 annually (at peak) for the average assessed single family home value in Saugus, vs $720 annually (at peak) for the new HSMS,” Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Chris Riley said this week (Please see Letter-to-the-Editor in this week’s edition). The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) awarded the District a grant of up to $140.8 million in August 2021, the most in its history. The remaining cost will be assessed on a per pupil basis to district member communities through the issuance of a 30year construction bond, with the largest impact beginning in Fiscal Year 2026 – three years from now during the height of construction. The new school will feature 21st-century learning environments, improved Individualized Education Program (IEP) accommodations, state-of-the-art shop and technical lab space, expanded program off erings, a new primary access roadway from Farm Street to reduce traffi c congestion, a full-size gym, a 750-seat auditorium, outdoor learning space, and a new cafeteria. “Northeast Metropolitan Technical School’s goal is to ensure every student reaches their full potential and to fi nd employment in well-paying, high-demand jobs upon graduation,” Superintendent David DiBarri said. “All of the work that has gone into developing this proposed project and presenting it to our communities for approval has been done with those core goals in mind.” Northeast currently serves about 1,300 students in its career technical education programs, but only has the capacity to accept 41 percent of applicants each year. Another 1,300 post-graduates and adults benefi t from Northeast’s night or weekend training programs to advance their careers. Northeast was built 53 years ago in 1968 and the facility has outlived its intended lifespan. Classrooms and shops are overcrowded, infrastructure systems are outdated, and the building does not comply with existing Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, according to school offi cials. Northeast Metro Tech has not had any signifi cant renovations, additions, or improvements since then. Students are facing several issues that are reducing the quality of the educational experience the school is able to provide. The school is at capacity and more than 300 students are waitlisted every year. The existing NEMT School's media center is used as conference space due to a lack of otherwise available space. The proposed new NEMT school design includes adequate conference spaces, allowing students to use the media center for its intended purpose. The current building needs a complete replacement of its mechanical and electrical systems, along with a full code and regulations update. School officials say enrollment will increase by approximately 320 students versus the current enrollment. This is a major benefi t of the project, as the District currently rejects more freshman applications than they accept due to space limitations. The construction of a new NEMT would allow for additional programs for Marketing, Medical Assisting, and Biotechnology, school offi cials say. ׉ 7cassandra://Kcw2GAFzCcR4xrEy0nvAH64pFcK7FNJT2OFuo95NczI.`̰a<,wj4Ga<,wj4G߁ PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://-mUxaxl4L1wh9wWF38PyaagjbKOjazs0YhpeHUvfkWg`)׉ 7cassandra://7agqaP2-RhTmoeKXONx4RyLO7KeycHJoVj2-RCaYbA8ͨ`J׉ 7cassandra://NazEqtGfUFt-jB3kZRKvIoxYm3qlbOUl99Xo1bttWJU3`̰׉ 7cassandra://Po7aAOiwArOWQ7_-R96d_xEFJs18OHIG9TJ4mLvznBcd͠aE,wj4Hט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://9wY9sIsn7orD9-ZIYqXCss7vpbjMGIkzzR1uU7feq4Ug`)׉ 7cassandra://K8pR2-FtCYF-ZGHY8hRBVK8YEjoTb41YTxR8Dp8mZCMͪ`J׉ 7cassandra://rkc_Xl1_a8u7ZkSgLLsV_wOvkjd9o0MB8RRsQInXGPQ3`̰׉ 7cassandra://tnw7NHbgOhW2ox3OEcBihsLHbP7XytIc1e1BZyu4iKQG=j͠aG,wj4HנaG,wj4HxV9ׁHmailto:twkennedylaw@gmail.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E9Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Sachems boys’ basketball team falls at home to Greater Lawrence Tech, 61-57 L ast Tuesday night the Saugus High School Sachems hosted Greater Lawrence Tech and in a close match were defeated by four points. The Sachems came out a little fl at and were behind at one point by 15 points. In the second half, the Sachems had a revitalized outlook and closed the gap, but in the end could not overcome a strong Greater Lawrence defense. Ben Tapia-Gately drives to the basket under heavy coverage. Captain Tyrone Manderson grabs a rebound under heavy coverage by Greater Lawrence. Mark MacEachern brings the ball into play. Jeury Barbosa goes in for two for the Sachems. 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 Throughout the game, Captain Tyrone Manderson and the rest of the Sachems had a hard time overcoming a tough Greater Lawrence defense. Max Anajjar was not denied a basket. Captain Tyrone Manderson went up and over the defense for this basket. Captain Ryan Mabee had a great night for the Sachems. Isaiah Garcia tried to make a steal for the Sachems late in the game. Ben Tapia-Gately looks for a teammate to make a play. A trusted family name combined with exceptional craftsmanship & professionalism. Call for a consultation & quote. 63 Years! • Vinyl Siding • Carpentry Work • Decks • Roofing • Replacement Windows • Free Estimates • Fully Licensed • Fully Insured ׉ 7cassandra://NazEqtGfUFt-jB3kZRKvIoxYm3qlbOUl99Xo1bttWJU3`̰a<,wj4G׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Page 9 Gerry Sachems edge Revere/Everett to nab fourth win By Greg Phipps T he Saugus High School Sachems hockey team snapped a four-game losing skid with a win over Swampscott in its home opener last week. That momentum didn't carry over to the next two contests at Kasabuski Arena. 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 Saugus center Ryan Jones battles Revere/Everett’s David Saia for puck possession in Wednesday’s home victory. Senior Chris Regnetta scored one of Saugus’s four tallies against Revere/Everett on Wednesday. Saugus dropped a 9-2 decision to Gloucester on Saturday and fell short by a 7-4 count against Lexington on Monday. The Sachems were able to reverse that trend on Wednesday evening when they tallied the first two goals and were able to hold off visiting Revere/Everett, 4-3, at Kasabuski. The Sachems pulled out to a 2-1 lead after one period and went up 3-1 after Dante Mauro netted a power-play goal in the second period. From there, the visitors scored two of the next three goals but it wasn't enough to overtake the Sachems, who earned their fourth win of the season. Eighth-grader Matt Smith got the win in goal. Along with Mauro's goal, Chris Regnetta and Jason Monahan also dented the net for Saugus, which improved to 4-6 overall. The Sachems have won three tight games (by two goals or less) since an 8-2 season-opening victory at Lynn. The Sachems have given up a lot of goals in their recent losses–nine against Marblehead and Gloucester, and seven to Lexington. So it's apparent better defensive play will be a key to any success Saugus experiences moving forward. In the loss to Gloucester, Massey Ventre netted both goals and Monahan and Regnetta dished out assists. Against Lexington, Ventre scored twice and Jason Caron added a goal. The Sachems host Beverly in a key Northeastern Conference South matchup Saturday (scheduled 7:50 p.m. faceoff) at Kasabuski. They then host Matignon in the final game of the current six-game home stand next Wednesday. Sachem forward Dante Mauro races a Revere/Everett player for the puck. ׉ 7cassandra://rkc_Xl1_a8u7ZkSgLLsV_wOvkjd9o0MB8RRsQInXGPQ3`̰a<,wj4Ga<,wj4G PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://R7gIWcpdYrs3nvcoePHxVvB2WjbhOQmfvVbsOAEPVDw `)׉ 7cassandra://GEfPluB8Z96H3rzJTf2J5DON98V-W19QsED7A6BCOS4ͣ`J׉ 7cassandra://HAy8QJLWvIQvWcKC5wac4_yjP0z5cNDxU7UQftYoMMw'`̰׉ 7cassandra://gQWk8JDlh7auMQ5Gw9o5xVbHkZ5EYHyrHoKFBRyAVV4(͠aH,wj4Hט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://ad4hrzZGomK3M2xIk8iFbG6ro64cy-kmTj3kng4nQqkmd`)׉ 7cassandra://8mvYkjGZCbS0-S6KYmL9_AOrb5PemFTQrq408jS4rjsf`J׉ 7cassandra://gZHMWJXvqyWwIiUdkCSmaqfO_Fp7gd3AsXUzM4eKQaU!^`̰׉ 7cassandra://0rsEVCK02BdX2UxV6A9IbCsfQm5sEPeQ7lP-q9T9yHM <͠aH,wj4H נaH,wj4H]V9ׁH+http://www.TheNeighborhoodDevelopers.org/stׁ ׁ ЈנaH,wj4H 9ׁH+http://www.TheNeighborhoodDevelopers.org/stׁ ׁ Ј׉E+Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS By Mark E. Vogler Ready to vote on The Voke Tuesday? Any Saugonian who reads a weekly or daily newspaper surely knows by now that Tuesday (Jan. 25) is a Special Election for registered voters in Saugus. And there will be one question on the ballot requiring a “Yes” or “No” answer – “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 ….” The setting and format for the election is a bit unusual, in that people who might like to vote between the hours of 7 and 8 a.m. before they go to work or between the hours of 7 and 8 p.m. after they get home and have supper will not have that option. The voting will take place between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. And they won’t be voting at their normal polling locations either. Tuesday’s vote will take place in the Saugus Senior Center at 466 Central St. Another unusual aspect to this election is that the outcome will be decided within the context of the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District. Theoretically, a negative vote by Saugus wouldn’t kill the project. By the same token, a positive vote wouldn’t assure that the project proceeds. All it takes is a simple majority from the registered voters of Saugus and the other 11 communities that make up The Voke school district. And if the project passes, based on a simple majority vote of the 12 communities, Saugus officials will have to figure out how to finance the project, most likely by a debt exclusion vote. Remember – Town Meeting members voted 37-6 in favor of a Finance Committee recommendation against approving an article which many town officials worry could lead to massive cuts in the town’s operating budCONTEST SKETCH OF THE WEEK get over the next 30 years. The estimated financial impact for Saugus over a 30-year period is as high as $40.6 million. 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 Town Meeting members agreed. And there were some town officials who frankly were annoyed that the town didn’t receive specific dollar amounts to vote on and with an explanation as to how the project would be funded. All things considered, my guess is that those who show up and vote in Saugus on Tuesday will overwhelmingly support The Voke School project, which will probably win by a landslide after all the votes are counted in the 12 communities that make up the district. Current conditions at The Voke are deplorable for students, especially if they have physical disabilities. The students deserve better, particularly the students from Saugus who attend classes there. If the new school wins the election, the real challenge for Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and other town officials will come later when they have to figure out how to sell another debt exclusion to the town. And if that effort fails, Saugus could be making some tough decisions to fund its share of the new school project. Program cuts and layoffs. The Police and Fire Departments would take major financial hits if Crabtree and other officials had to worry about how to come up with the $1.3 million every year. Stay tuned. We have a winner! Congratulations to Anthony Arone for making the right identification in last week’s “Guess Who got Sketched!” Contest. He was the only reader answering correctly, so he won without having to have his name selected from 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 one of our Saugus Firefighter Heroes, Sean Bohannon! “Sean was one of three of the group of Saugus Firefighters to receive a Group Award for Meritorious Conduct last year! Sean joined our Saugus Fire Dept. in 2017. “Upon being given the Meritorious Conduct Award, Sean was recognized with honor by Governor Baker, Lieutenant [Governor Karyn] Polito and Secretary Reidy for above and beyond services and bravery on a dangerous job; working with excellence. This award is given out for Remarkable bravery and dedication as part of a team of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Firefighters. “The Fire Marshal Ostroskey was quoted in The Saugus Advocate (Nov.24th page 2) for stating, ‘That the Firefighter of the Year Awards recognize their individual and collective acts of bravery and service that truly go above and beyond the call of duty.’ “Sean served six years with the U. S. National Guards and spent time serving our Country overseas in Kuwait. Still, even while serving in Kuwait, Sean thought about ways to give and be of service to others! He often thought about being a firefighter. Sean is quoted from The Saugus Advocate (Nov. 24th issue page two) ‘it seemed like an honorable profession – something that would be a good career and a way to give back by helping people,’ he said. GUESS WHO GOT SKETCHED! If you know the right answer, you might win the contest. 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 to J&M Italian American Cuisine (340 Central St., Saugus). 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”) “While sketching Sean’s picture, having seen him on the job and in action, I had to try to capture his sense of enthusiasm as he goes about business. He loves his work, and that shows outward when he shows up to serve Saugus. “In different scenarios I’ve glimpsed at our Saugus Firefighters out and about and if time allows I’ve often paused and observed a little. I have witnessed the same consistent evaluation time and time again. Our Saugus Firefighters stride bravely into whatever call they are answering not knowing what or where the call will end up, yet, they enthusiastically show up prepared to assist with whatever it may be. They guide with caring compassion, calming manners, trying to put people at ease, while accessing the scene and bringing about safety and communicating with great listening skills. “Sean you shine Keep excelling at all you do Congratulations on the Award and thank you for your service! “Yours Truly, “The Sketch Artist” A “Shout-Out” to a great group of people We didn’t receive any nominations this week from our readers. So, I will pick a couple of worthy candidates. When was the last time you heard about former Saugus Selectmen Peter Manoogian and Steve Castinetti teaming up for something positive for the people of Saugus? It would be a rarity, considering they were political adversaries several years ago. Castinetti, who is longtime Saugus Veterans Council Commander, was one of four selectmen who were ousted in a recall election after they fired Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. Manoogian was a key catalyst of the recall election which paved the way for Crabtree getting his job back. But that was Saugus politics back in 2015. This week Manoogian and Castinetti were united in a common cause at the Saugus Senior Center. They led a discussion on Prostate Cancer Awareness. They even shared their own stories on how they dealt with the disease. It is doubtful you will see these guys sharing a table at a political lunch or breakfast. It speaks well for both men that they put their political differences aside and collaborated on trying to heighten the awareness of prostate cancer – a serious public health concern. Also, here’s a “shout-out” to Senior Center Director Joanne Olsen, who helped to host and set up the arrangements for this worthwhile discussion. From all accounts, the discussion was a great success. And the group plans to meet again at 10 a.m. on March 16, back at the Saugus Senior Center. Please call the Senior Center at 781-231-4182 to indicate that you will be participating. While this disease is specific to men, women are welcome and encouraged to attend. 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. Friday breakfasts at Legion Hall still on hold Concerns about COVID-19 have led to a temporary shutdown of the popular Friday morning breakfasts at the Saugus American Legion Cpl Scott J. Procopio Post 210 Legion Hall located at 44 Taylor St. Legion Hall was supposed to reopen recently for the breakfasts. But the reopening has been delayed again. Debra Dion Faust, Building Manager of American Legion Post 210, has said the American Legion membership voted to delay the reopening until Friday, Feb. 4. Live Bingo at the Kowloon The Kowloon Restaurant will continue with Bingo every Wednesday through March 30, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Hong Kong Lounge. Prizes will be given away each week with a grand prize set at the finale. A Chinese gourmet spread is available during Bingo featuring pupu platters, egg rolls, crab Rangoons, Saugus Wings, General Gau’s chicken, lobster sauce, fried scallops, lo mein, moo shu pork, salt & pepper calamari and sushi along with a full bar menu, including the signature mai tais. Call the Kowloon Restaurant at 781-233-0077 to reserve your table. Town posts Compost Site Winter Schedule The Town of Saugus announced that the community’s compost site and recycling center will be open to residents the third Saturday of the month during the winter months. The site will be open Feb. 19 and March 19 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The site is located behind the Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. Yard waste must be disposed of in brown compost bags or open containers. The Town will accept grass clippings, leaves and brush. As in years past, no branches or limbs larger than three inches in diameter are permitted. At this time residents will not need a compost site stickTHE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 14 ׉ 7cassandra://HAy8QJLWvIQvWcKC5wac4_yjP0z5cNDxU7UQftYoMMw'`̰a<,wj4G׉ECTHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Page 11 NEW RENTAL APARTMENTS AT ST. THERESE EVERETT, MA COMING SUMMER 2022! 77 new affordable apartments for seniors, with a health center on the first floor (Program of AllInclusive Care for the Elderly) providing services to residents and community members. Head of Household must be 62 years or older to qualify for housing at St. Therese. APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE NOW THROUGH APRIL 19 Applications can be found online at: www.TheNeighborhoodDevelopers.org/st-therese Or picked up in person at: Winn Residential 4 Gerrish Ave. Rear, Chelsea MA 02150 Office is wheelchair accessible and open: Mon, Wed, Thurs., Fri. 9am-5pm Tuesdays until 7 pm Applications can also be mailed to you upon request. Mailed applications must be postmarked by April 19, 2022. Deadline for completed applications at the above address: In person only by 4pm, April 19, 2022 Information Sessions Thursday, February 10, 2022, 2PM Tuesday, February 15, 2022, 7PM Information Sessions will be held via Zoom. Register in advance at www.TheNeighborhoodDevelopers.org/sttherese. Sessions will be posted to YouTube after the event. Translation will be provided. Attendance is not required to be selected for a housing unit. Selection by lottery. Attendance is not required to be selected for a housing unit. Use and Occupancy Restrictions apply. For more info or reasonable accommodations, call Winn Management: 617-884-0692 TTY: 800-439-2370 St. Therese and Winn Management do not discriminate because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, handicap, disability, national origin, genetic information, ancestry, children, familial status, marital status or public assistance recipiency in the leasing, rental, sale or transfer of apartment units, buildings, and related facilities, including land that they own or control. ׉ 7cassandra://gZHMWJXvqyWwIiUdkCSmaqfO_Fp7gd3AsXUzM4eKQaU!^`̰a<,wj4Ga<,wj4G PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://PHKcC8ifcDVwH6_VnEAUEZzsA0YAZpaFMy8a4SnUE4A`)׉ 7cassandra://pE4FWhT8eMDu9lHGASS0DJ5wolpSV4UsM8nKamap_xg͚+`J׉ 7cassandra://Nh2WmhshwzdUfA0ZrU-QFgSOCXbNvrz8id3OCTYjsKE+:`̰׉ 7cassandra://kuKVH8U9I6H8mMuI0EebSlZeD6YQL1clCQMkzSvonfo[ F͠aH,wj4Hט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://27uW31Qi4ebVkniggIdjzX6uK5DLCwu9jHA2PdNonqc ~`)׉ 7cassandra://UQynybnAYwuS5lYCYdW2tBo-wBlUiQmEBPY9Lie7VwI͡`J׉ 7cassandra://Upd0z_CfaVdCFSNGbSDrqL7CIM9kf0G7A8jHAaBqn5c(`̰׉ 7cassandra://omi9d7ij0aq_1__azjhnwEDhcbcXdlsg9wUbOzHYok08͠aI,wj4H׉E(Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Saugus falls short in OT thriller W By Greg Phipps ith the season having been interrupted due to the recent COVID-19 spike, the Saugus High School boys' basketball team resumed play after an unexpected threeweek hiatus with a tough loss at unbeaten Beverly last week. The Sachems regained their competitive juices on Tuesday at home but fell short in an overtime thriller against Greater Lawrence Tech. A clutch three-pointer by Ryan Mabee with less than a second showing on the clock forced overtime. The tying shot came about off a steal with the Sachems trailing by three in the final seconds. However, it was the visitors who pulled out a 61-57 win by outscoring the Sachems in the overtime session. Saugus found itself looking up at a 21-10 deficit after one period. The Sachems only managed to dent that lead by one heading into the intermission, as they trailed 34-24 at the break. A slow comeback took place in the second half with Saugus decreasing the disadvantage to five after three quarters. Ben Tapia-Gately also netted a clutch shot from beyond the arc to help Saugus force the game to OT. Center Tyrone Manderson led the hosts with a strong 17-point, 10-rebound effort. He was aided by 12 points and seven boards from Tapia-Gately and eight points from Mabee. Also contributing for the Sachems were Mark MacEachern with seven points and five boards and Jeury Barbosa with five points and four rebounds. For the second game in a row, the Sachems were hurt by the opponent's transition game. That element especially reared its head in overtime, as Saugus committed some costly turnovers that led to transition baskets for Greater Lawrence. Tuesday's contest was the second time the two squads had faced each other this season. The Sachems came away Sachem Center Tyrone Manderson netted 17 points to lead the Saugus offensive attack in Tuesday’s home overtime loss to Greater Lawrence Tech. Ryan Mabee contributed eight points, including a clutch, late-game three-pointer, in Tuesday’s loss to Greater Lawrence. OBITUARIES Michael J. Bishop al Guard and was activated and mobilized to Iraq in 2007 and 2008. He retired as a Lieutenant from the Massachusetts Department of Corrections. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle and going on family vacations at Camp Wulamat in NH. He loved to spend his free time with his wife and children as family meant everything to him. Edward 55, passed away on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at Heywood Hospital after a sudden illness. Michael leaves his wife, Shannon B. (Daly) Bishop; eight children, Megan Marie Bishop of NH, Robert John Bishop of NH, Shannon Pearce of NH, John Michael Bishop of NH, Sean Patrick Bishop of Gardner, Dejia A. Rodriguez of MA, Jonnny Rivera of MA and Kailey Rachel Bishop of MA; seven grandchildren; one sister, Ginette Giblin and her husband, Michael of Billerica; one brother, Fr. Marc J. Bishop of Arlington, and a large and loving extended family. Michael was born in Saugus on July 12, 1966 a son of the late John A. and Rachel Y (Robillard) Bishop. He graduated from Shawsheen Technical High School in Billerica in 1984. He served in the Army NationCaffarella Age 75, passed over at his home in Ithaca, NY on January 8, 2022 following a long fight with Parkinson’s Disease. Known to friends as Ed and to family as Bud, he was born December 16, 1946 in Lynn, Massachusetts to the late Ethel Ada (Richardson) Caffarella and Edward Philip Caffarella Sr. of Saugus. Bud attended the Saugus Public Schools, graduating in 1964 from Saugus High School where he played in the band and acted in several plays. Ed recalled how both activities served him throughout his life. The band showed the importance of teamwork and coordination; acting provided opportunities to speak and interact with a large audience. Ed graduated from Springfield College, earned his M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and his Ph.D in Instructional Development and Technology from Michigan State University. He was a leader in the field of teacher education and educational technology. He retired from SUNY Cortland as professor emeritus of educational leadership in the School of Education and held faculty appointments at the University of Maine, Virginia Commonwealth University and University of Northern Colorado. He held offices in various professional organizations and authored many articles, programs and books. In 2000, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Association for Educational Communication and Technology for service to the profession over a lifetime. As a young boy, he loved trains and continued that passion with N-Scale trains into his retirement. He was an active volunteer for the Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties and loved mowing the lawn with his John Deere tractor. When their daughter was young, they traveled across the country camping, overseas to Europe and spent part of every summer in Bar Harbor, ME with the families of college friends. As part of their teaching, consulting and personal lives, they also traveled to Australia, Malaysia, Nepal, Eastern Europe and other destinations around the world. He was a loving husband, devoted father and fun-loving grandfather. He was a leader, hardworking, strong, confident, loving and supportive. He leaves his wife of 53 years, Rosemary Shelly Caffarella; daughter, Christina Zaidi and her boyfriend Whitney Lang; grandsons, Christian Keeling and Levi Keeling; sister, Barbara Cann Calista and her husband Joseph Calista of Maine; niece, Bethany Cann and her husband Hugo Castillo Zanata and grandnephews Luke and Noel Castillo Cann of Philadelphia; nephew, David Cann of California; and brother-in-law, Richard Shelly of Waldwick, NJ. A graveside service will be held in the spring at the Riverside Cemetery in Saugus. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the “Rosemary E. Shelly and Edward P. Caffarella Scholarship” at Springfield College, 263 Alden St., Springfield, MA 01109; or your favorite charity. Eileen A. (Fonzo) Dwyer with an 18-point win in the season opener at Greater Lawrence back on Dec. 15. To make up for the COVID postponements, a busy schedule of games now awaits. Saugus took on Essex Tech in a home contest on Thursday (after press deadline), and host Marblehead Friday night. The Sachems then play at Danvers next Tuesday. 79, of Saugus, formerly of Chelsea, died Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at the Beverly Hospital with her family by her side. Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Samuel and Carmela (DiNunzio) Fonzo. She was raised in Chelsea and graduated from Chelsea High School. She continued her education earning a bachelor’s degree from the former Boston State College. Ms. Dwyer had been employed for thirty-seven years as a school teacher and reading specialist for grades kindergarten through twelfth grade, OBITUARIES | SEE PAGE 13 ׉ 7cassandra://Nh2WmhshwzdUfA0ZrU-QFgSOCXbNvrz8id3OCTYjsKE+:`̰a<,wj4G׉E(THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Page 13 “YOUR FINANCIAL FOCUS” JOSEPH D. CATALDO MEDICAID ANNUITIES Assume a married couple has a home with a fair market value of $750,000 and a joint bank account of $600,000. Also assume the husband’s monthly social security benefit is $2,000 and the wife’s monthly social security benefit is $1,000. Also assume it is the husband that enters into a nursing home. Pursuant to Massachusetts regulation 130CMR520.019(D)(1), the husband can transfer his interest in the home to his wife without the imposition of the five-year look back period. The wife who is still at home can keep $137,400 of the bank account monies. The husband can only keep $2,000 in order to qualify for MassHealth nursing home benefits. For eleventh hour Medicaid planning in this example, OBITUARIES | FROM PAGE 12 until the time of her retirement in 2001. After retiring, Eileen dedicated her life to her grandchildren. She was a constant presence at all of their school functions, sporting events and activities. Her love for them was boundless. An animal lover, Eileen rescued countless racing greyhounds providing them with the life of luxury in their post racing careers. She was an avid Red Sox fan who watched all of the games, knew every player and their stats. A resident of Chelsea for most of her life prior to moving to Saugus, she was a loving mother, grandmother, aunt and friend who will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer B. Curcio and her husband, Christopher of Peabody, two grandchildren, Elizabeth and Anthony Curcio of Peabody, two sisters-in-law, Patricia Fonzo of Rowley and Jane Fonzo of Lynnfield and many nieces, nephews and extended family. She was also the sister of the late Mary Petrosky, Jennie Fonzo, Florah Foley, Mike Fonzo and Sal Fonzo. In lieu of flowers, contributions the wife can purchase a Medicaid annuity in the amount of $460,600, in order to convert what would otherwise be countable resources required to be spent down on nursing home level care, to an income stream that she would receive on a monthly basis. The monthly annuity payment to the wife would be hers to keep in order to continue to be able to pay her monthly living expenses. The husband’s social security benefit would be required to be paid to the nursing home. He would be able to keep $72.80 as a personal needs allowance and would be given credit for any health insurance premiums that would continue to be paid in order to keep any existing health insurance policies in place. The $460,600 is arrived at by taking the $600,000 bank account monies less the $2,000 the husband can keep less the $137,400 the wife can keep. The $460,600 in excess assets is what will be used to purchase the Medicaid annuity. The goal would be to purchase the shortest-term annuity for the wife. The term of the annuity cannot may be made in Eileen’s memory to the Cape Ann Animal Aid, 4 Paws Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930. Verna Belle (Gould) O’Neill be greater than the wife’s life expectancy. If the wife was 75 years old with a life expectancy of 12 years, you would still look to purchase an annuity with a term of no longer than five years. The sooner the wife collects on the annuity, the greater ability she would have to plan in order to protect those annuity payments if she so desires. MassHealth is now requiring to be named as the remainder beneficiary of the Medicaid annuity to recover nursing home benefits paid on behalf of the nursing home spouse. Therefore, if the wife were to collect all or a majority of the annuity payments over that five- year term, and if the wife were to die having never gone into a nursing home, those monies accumulated would have been protected for the children. Once the home is in the wife’s name, she has the option of then transferring to an irrevocable trust in order to avoid probate, start the five-year look back period running, and to leave the home to her children in order to preserve the asset for the next generation. Age 100, of Saugus, passed away peacefully at home on January 7, 2022, surrounded by her children. She was the wife of the late John J. O’Neill and the late George O. Hilton. Verna was born in Princeton, ME on November 7, 1921 to Mona and Chester Gould, parents of 10 children. Verna graduated Salutatorian from Princeton High School in 1939. She then moved to Lynn, and eventually became a Heliarc Welder at the General Electric Company with over 30 years of service. Verna, affectionately known as “Ma,” retired in 1978 and began her second career as a volunteer Family Advocate for Domestic Violence in the Lynn Court System, for over 12 years. She was a volunteer Aerobics Instructor at the Saugus Senior Center for over 20 Years, stepping down at the age of 85. She was also a Certified Lay Minister at Trinity Methodist Church in Lynn, until its closing in 2011. Ma’s hobbies included knitting, crocheting, ceramics, and cooking (famous for her Italian spaghetti sauce and her scrumptious chocolate cream pies.) She just loved Keno. Ma was also a member of Mina Perry’s Bellydancing Troupe for over 20 years. Ma will be forever loved and missed by her children: Barbara Brewer of Middleton, George Hilton and wife Janet of Georgetown, Lee Hathaway of Saugus and Son-In-Law Barry Hathaway and wife Linda of Topsfield. She was predeceased by her son-in-law, Donald Brewer. We would have no other for our mother. Ma will be lovingly remembered by her grandchildren: Michael Marren of Lynn, David Marren and wife Rona of York, SC, Barry Hathaway of Saugus, David Hathaway and wife AnOBITUARIES | SEE PAGE 17 WIN WASTE | FROM PAGE 1 concepts on what we can do – and we will present them at the next meeting,” he said. Connolly told the subcommittee that he and the company will make a PowerPoint presentation at the subcommittee’s next meeting, which is set for Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano, who co-chairs the panel with Board of Health Chair William Heffernan, said he thinks it might take several meetings to review WIN’s proposal. The subcommittee, which in recent weeks has been referred to as the Landfill Committee, was created by the Board of Health in late 2020 to promote a better working relationship with WIN (formerly Wheelabrator) on issues related to the incinerator and ash landfill. A main focus of the committee members over the past year has been the development of a new Host Community Agreement that addresses a wide range of health, safety, environmental and community issues. These are key issues that members want to see as part of the agreement: • All members agree health is most important, and company officials should verify they are doing all they can to make sure everyone is safe in Saugus and surrounding communities. • The subcommittee would like to look into a program like Massport with Winthrop with the noise issue there. • Continue testing for public safety, continue to work with the subcommittee, striving as much as possible to clean, quality air coming out of the stacks while lowering noise levels and testing what is in the ash; water testing, especially around all three landfills. • Co-Chair Cogliano wants to know about air quality monitors. • Lower NOx (nitrous oxide) levels without purchasing credits. • Keep upgrading facility to invest in it to make it more modern. • Plan Comprehensive Health Study, funding for air quality testing and small particle testing; funding for noise monitoring. • Construction of a third Fire Station to cover the west side of town. • Free tipping fees. • Striving for air quality for a better quality of life. • Create a subcommittee for closing of the ash landfill. In an interview after the meeting, Connolly said he is optimistic that the company will offer a response for all of the important issues raised by the subcommittee. “Having a frank discussion and sharing ideas has been very helpful to us,” Connolly said. “This process has really helped improve relations between the company and the town. Relationship-wise, this is the most positive place we’ve been in quite some time,” he said. As part of Wednesday night’s meeting, committee members, at the request of Cogliano, signed a letter addressed to Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Martin Suuberg. The letter was meant “as a follow-up” to a letter that Suuberg sent to state Rep. Jeffrey Turco (D-Winthrop) last fall. Commissioner Suuberg noted that his agency’s opposition to future expansion of the landfill was based on its location within an area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). Jackie Mercurio, one of the toughest plant critics on the subcommittee, had presented copies of the letter at the subcommittee’s last meeting. She was one of several people who had met with Suuberg prior to his writing the letter. Several committee members had taken issue with Mercurio meeting on her own with the commissioner. “The primary reason for this correspondence is to acknowledge and concur that, as you pointed out, any change to the monofill would require additional permitting. That has never been in doubt or dispute,” the committee’s joint letter to Suuberg stated. “We also seek to illuminate other important facts regarding WIN Waste and the Town of Saugus. First, and significantly, there has been a marked improvement in communication between the company, the Town and the community over the last few years due to a lot of hard work by all parties. This progress was accelerated in November 2020 when the Board of Health formed a committee designed specifically to enhance communication,” the letter continued. The letter also mentioned the committee’s efforts to facilitate the development of a Host Community Agreement. “We have confidence in Saugus officials who would be charged with objectively evaluating any proposal from the company to see if it is worthy of pursuing. The work of the landfill committee represents a first step in that process,” the letter said. “We believe it is important for you to know that the response to the work of the landfill committee has been largely positive. People are pleased that this landfill committee is working with WIN to improve the reWIN WASTE | SEE PAGE 16 ׉ 7cassandra://Upd0z_CfaVdCFSNGbSDrqL7CIM9kf0G7A8jHAaBqn5c(`̰a<,wj4Ga<,wj4G PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://75jSwfliYa7rFjEDj36hEKCAnpcXtonaqamgCv6chOIP`)׉ 7cassandra://i_WSkb3vkjhG4hiqeu-lop7K52CHNb6Lm41AMpv5xT4͠p`J׉ 7cassandra://irRh32_Wgoj2TSuxgJDxQkbLKte2GLcFDlKkw8TN2FA&`̰׉ 7cassandra://nPgZp9yiM1l3eE2FSIiNuVp0Tj4HzY2u_2AjSV5GLjsͿ͠aI,wj4Hט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://nPNgjXZMCmg9SQTkW3Lj3Y0VsxuBf7b6Ut7xv2rbshM 5`)׉ 7cassandra://pQgsvCS8bzVHhcw254LYhFN26-SZGtvak07nI_DQ8a0ͧW`J׉ 7cassandra://IRnfsmSOt8M_LHhhRY5-jOdaIkRmZtq27yIMW8A2j2s,`̰׉ 7cassandra://uR9VTDww6ThYYIqgNeFMP38g5jt-sS6VnU7PeQ82Y6Mp͠aI,wj4HנaJ,wj4H9ׁH!mailto:bob@beaconhillrollcall.comׁ ׁ ЈנaJ,wj4Hdہ̊9ׁHhttp://ist.com/subscribe.ׁ ׁ ЈנaJ,wj4HvŁr9ׁHhttp://www.maׁ ׁ Ј׉E+,Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 DESE issues new guidance on contact tracing as part of COVID-19 response in public schools State Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) reports on safety, success of in-person learning he Mass. Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) issued the following guidance information to all public schools this week: Thank you for your ongoing T efforts to keep schools open and safe for our students. You have been diligent about imLETTER | FROM PAGE 2 students, improved IEP accommodations, additional technical programs like Biotechnology, Marketing, and Medical Assisting, handicapped accessibility, and a comparable education/environment equality to the new HSMS in Saugus. It cannot be denied that the project is expensive, and the process by which it is proposed, considered, and funded is imperfect. While the project is expensive, it is in line with other current High School projects in the MSBA plementing key COVID-19 mitigation strategies, such as vaccinations, mask wearing, and testing, and we commend you for your hard work. We have now had the opportunity to review available data about our testing program. We are writing to share timely inforpipeline and enjoys an impressive 76.84% reimbursement rate for eligible costs totaling $140.8M, and as Saugus residents were cautioned in 2017 prior to the HSMS vote, the cost of school building projects continues to rise sharply year over year. According to figures provided by the Saugus HSMS Building Committee and the Northeast Building Committee, the potential tax impact, should a debt exclusion pass, would be less than $150 annually (at peak) for the average assessed single family home value in Saugus, THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | FROM PAGE 10 er to access the site. The Town asks all residents to please wear a mask and maintain and respect social distancing from others while visiting the site. Residents may call Lorna Cerbone at the Solid Waste and Recycling Department at 781-231-4036 with questions or for more information. Trash/Recycling one-day Holiday Delay The Town of Saugus announced that the trash and recycling collection will run on a one-day delay through tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 22) due to the observance of Martin Luther King Day. The Town of Saugus would like to thank everyone for their cooperation. 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 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 who are helping to offset food insecurity in households. HS2 provides students/families who 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 mation from those data and as a result offer an updated set of COVID testing options, including a weekly at-home test for participating staff and students, to optimize in-school learning. Review of Statewide Testing Program Data in Schools With over 2,000 schools in the state participating in some form of our current testing program this school year (i.e., symptomatic testing, routine pooled testing, and Test and Stay), we have vs $720 annually (at peak) for the new HSMS. While an additional $150 annually is not insignificant and may be out of reach for some, in my opinion it is a relative bargain. The process of voting the approval prior to the funding, one could argue, puts the cart before the horse, and while the process that Saugus used back in 2017 is better for many reasons, it is simply not an option for a Regional school district per MGL I.XII.71.16. So we must vote the approval on Jan 25 before town-by-town funding can be determined. robust data on the prevalence of COVID-19 in schools. Those data are overwhelmingly strong: Schools are safe environments for teaching and learning. For example, the individual positivity rate in K-12 schools in the state’s pooled testing data reveal case rates significantly lower than the statewide positivity rate. Last week, despite elevated K-12 positivity, the estimated individual positivity rate was still only less than 1/5 Per the MSBA, “a failed local vote likely will result in the school district being required to submit a new Statement of Interest to the MSBA and await a second invitation from the MSBA to enter the feasibility study phase of the MSBA’s process”. This effectively means that the MSBA would pull their $140.8M from the project and use it elsewhere, the project would start again from scratch, delaying it several years, and costs would rise significantly during that time. A YES vote on January 25 is the best approach for partner with organizations, youth groups, PTOs, 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. Food Pantry still open The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry continues to remain open between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Fridays despite concerns over the Coronavirus. They have made adjustments to protect their core of volunteers and the needy people who receive the food. For the protection of volunteers & clients, and to limit personal contact and crowding/gathering, the food pantry has been distributing pre-bagged groceries. Even though clients may receive items they don’t want or need, food pantry organizers feel this is the best course of action to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19. Those in need, even for shortterm or one-time assistance, are encouraged to come. The food pantry is in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church at 50 Essex St. in Saugus. Clarifying some veterans’ issues Jay Pinette, the Veterans Service Officer for the Town of Saugus, wanted to pass along a few words to promote a better understanding of how his office works. “Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) are not VA employees and do not have direct access to VA systems or information,” Jay wrote in an email to us. “Local VSOs are employees of their respective cities and towns. VSOs are generally able to assist veterans and eligible dependents with VA-related claims and benefits activities. “One of the primary duties of the VSOs is to administer a program for veterans and eligible dependents that is referred to as ‘Chapter 115’. Under Chapter 115 of Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L. CH. 115), the Commonwealth provides a uniform program of financial assistance for low income veterans and their dependents. Qualified veterans and their dependents who meet the income and asset eligibility criteria may receive monthly financial benefits that are intended to assist the veteran with housing and living expenses. of the statewide positivity rate (126.7%). On top of these much lower-than-average positivity rates, schools are one of the few types of settings in the state where individuals are tested on a regular basis. Data from our Test and Stay program are equally strong about school safety. Students and staff individually identified COVID-19 | SEE PAGE 16 Saugus, both economically and educationally. In addition to providing a competitive educational environment for our Saugus students, the project would provide 300+ man-years of work for local tradesmen and would have a significant positive impact on our local economy. Please join me in supporting our Vocational students by voting YES on Tuesday, January 25. Chris Riley 7 Oceanview Ave. Town Meeting Member, Precinct 2 “If local Veterans wish to enroll in VA healthcare and/or obtain a VA ID card, representatives from the VA Bedford will be on-site at the Lynn VA Clinic twice a month. The on-site enrollment will be held on the 1 st and 3 rd Tuesday of each month from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Appointments are advised and the dates and times are subject to change. The Lynn VA Clinic is located at 225 Boston Street, Suite 107. For more information or to schedule an appointment for enrollment, call 781-687-3348 or e-mail vabedoutreach@va.gov. “The Veterans Services Offices of Saugus and other surrounding communities have partnered with the Greater Boston Food Bank to hold monthly mobile food markets for veterans. With the closure of the Saugus Senior Center during the pandemic, the food market was moved to Melrose. We have now moved the food market back to the Saugus Senior Center. The veterans mobile food market is held on the third Wednesday of each month. Veterans and eligible dependents must sign up with the Saugus Veterans Service Office to determine eligibility. VSO Jay Pinette can be reached at 781-231-4010 or at jpinette@saugus-ma.gov. Or on the first floor of Saugus Town Hall at 298 Central Street, Saugus MA 01906.” 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 and the temperature is 50 degrees or better, my preferred site for a coffee and interview would be the picnic area of the Saugus Iron Works. ׉ 7cassandra://irRh32_Wgoj2TSuxgJDxQkbLKte2GLcFDlKkw8TN2FA&`̰a<,wj4G׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Page 15 GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by widely acclaimed and highly experienced writers Chris Van Buskirk and Keith Regan who introduce each article in their own clever and inimitable way. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription go to: www.massterlist.com/subscribe. THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of January 10-14. There were no roll calls in the House last week. MAKE ADOPTION BY FAMILY MEMBERS EASIER (S 2616) Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that would repeal a current law which prohibits adoption of children by family members including older siblings, aunts and uncles. The proposal would allow these family members, with the permission of the county probate courts, to legally adopt their family members. Current law only allows these family members to apply to become a guardian. Sponsor Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) said that this archaic law was put in place at the beginning of the last century to prevent the potential for inheritance abuse, but the commonwealth has since adopted legal protections, such as conservatorships, to prevent this from occurring. “Our families are often our largest sources of support and what a family looks like can mean different things to different people,” said Lovely. “I filed Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen [the bill] to better reflect the realities of the lives of Massachusetts residents who love and care for one another … our most vulnerable youth deserve to be cared for by the people who know and love them, and who can best assess their needs.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill). Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes MAKE OBTAINING ID CARDS EASIER FOR HOMELESS PERSONS (S 2612) Senate 39-0 approved and sent to the House legislation that would make it easier for homeless youth and adults to secure free state ID cards. The measure would allow homeless service providers or other state agencies to provide the individual with documentation to prove residency. Supporters said that currently, a person experiencing homelessness faces prohibitive fees and documentation requirements when trying to obtain an ID card. They noted that ID cards are necessary for applying for jobs, enrolling in school, interacting with law enforcement, accessing government buildings, opening financial accounts and many other basic services that many take for granted. “As the state begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn, the Legislature must ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness have the same fundamental opportunities to live happily,” said the measure’s sponsor Sen. Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester). “One fundamental key to accessing basic services are state-is7. January 23 is Nation1. On Jan. 21, 1789, the novel “The Power of Sympathy: or, The Triumph of Nature” by William Hill Brown – thought to be the first American novel – was first published in what city? 2. Can yodeling trigger an avalanche? 3. To make sugar on snow, to what stage is maple syrup boiled: thread, soft ball or hard crack? 4. On Jan. 22, 2021, what pro baseball player died who had ended his career with 755 home runs? 5. Years ago, where in Massachusetts would you have found the wooden roller coaster called the Cyclone, which was once the tallest roller coaster ever built? 6. What mythical winged horse was Mobil’s trademark? al Pie Day; what two flavors predominate in grasshopper pie? 8. Why was the Baltimore NFL team named the Ravens? 9. Historically, what ingredient separated Boston baked beans from other baked beans? 10. On Jan. 24, 1848, gold was discovered in El Dorado County in what state? 11. What novel set in Salem, Mass., has a first chapter titled “The Old Pyncheon Family”? 12. Why are the Olympics held every four years? 13. What is the largest National Park in the continental United States? 14. On Jan. 25, 1961, what dog-centric film was released sued IDs. Currently, people experiencing homelessness face significant financial and bureaucratic barriers when they attempt to obtain an ID. Now is the time to break down bureaucratic barriers that fuel the cycle of poverty and to ensure equality for all the commonwealth’s residents as we look towards a post-pandemic world.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill). Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of January 10-14, the House met for a total of 39 minutes and the Senate met for a total of three hours and nine minutes. Mon. Jan. 10 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:13 a.m. Senate 11:16 a.m. to 11:26 a.m. Tues. Jan. 11 No House session No Senate session Wed. Jan. 12 No House session No Senate session Thurs. Jan. 13 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:28 a.m. Senate 11:21 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. Fri. Jan. 14 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com in the USA? 15. When did the first commercial rice cooker for home use debut: 1933, 1945 or 1962? 16. On Jan. 26, 1802, what group created one room for all government books and established the oldest U.S. Joint Committee, the Joint Committee on the Library? 17. How do frogs hibernate in winter? 18. How are Auric Goldfinger, Baby Jane Hudson and Cruella De Vil similar? 19. How many children did Paul Revere have: four, eight or 16? 20. On Jan. 27, 1813, what book by Jane Austen with the characters Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy was published? ANSWERS 1. Boston 2. No 3. Soft ball 4. Hank Aaron 5. Revere Beach 6. Pegasus 7. Mint and chocolate 8. “The Raven” is the name of a poem by Boston native Edgar Allan Poe, who died in Baltimore. 9. Molasses 10. California (the first California gold claim to be endorsed by the President, James Polk) 11. “The House of the Seven Gables” by Nathaniel Hawthorne 12. Because the ancient games at Olympia, Greece, were held every four years. 13. Death Valley 14. “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” 15. 1945 16. The U.S. Congress 17. Many go below water in ponds and obtain oxygen through the skin 18. They are film villains. 19. 16 20. “Pride and Prejudice” ׉ 7cassandra://IRnfsmSOt8M_LHhhRY5-jOdaIkRmZtq27yIMW8A2j2s,`̰a<,wj4Ga<,wj4G PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://nUMhD5xB-zZixFvcAZkalbNIUZlYya2YkmSEcJpB7nkX`)׉ 7cassandra://zOAPuttej9wctSCXZkgwph6YwSErGJ2JX6Qv5lzJaAgͭ`J׉ 7cassandra://5zQNWycpaWj0bwHJ1jqqwhS0q0_ttB9udb9fajJiQiI1`̰׉ 7cassandra://TPI7VwWk0bYv05GlVoWy_-DKvaTdIF4tBmpqCtbte4Y +͠aK,wj4H ט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://rbFg60fVqFOV9Mr8RIuEQz5sDTpeS7IQS__fuTD4o1Q*`)׉ 7cassandra://9FYe4nbk0ORXJt_u_UznjoreuHCkzfJBnudI06BEhEc͝`J׉ 7cassandra://4rI7qLk6tHBFw31S1o5rzUPAl13gDHow_zAbTFmn9HU,`̰׉ 7cassandra://47h3zPO4oL6dxhR8HX5Hdz-rNabupB7QfNL3mjtVsHAj͠aM,wj4H!נaM,wj4H# 49ׁHhttp://www.thewarrengroup.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 COVID-19 | FROM PAGE 14 as asymptomatic close contacts and repeatedly tested in school K-12 positivity source: CIC K-12 data from processing laboratories, published on a weekly basis on Thursdays through the Test and Stay program test negative over 90% of the time. As of January 9, 503,312 Test and Stay tests had been conducted; 496,440 of them were negative (98.6%). It’s also helpful to look at nationwide data related to Test and Stay to examine the extent to which secondary transmission (i.e., transmission to close contacts) is occurring in schools. The evidence from California and Illinois cited by the CDC in their Test to Stay guidance noted secondary transmission rates of only 0.71.5%. A pre-publication study of the fi rst 13 weeks of the Test and Stay program across all participating Massachusetts schools found that the secondary transmission rate was 2.9% and that tertiary transmission was very low. As demonstrated above, test positivity rates in Test and Stay indicate that individuals identifi ed as close contacts in school are very unlikely to contract or spread COVID-19. These data show that transmission from close contacts is a rare occurrence in schools and that, therefore, extensive contact tracing and associated Test and Stay procedures are not adding significant value as a mitigation strategy despite the demand they place on the time of school health staff and school staff at large. As a result, we are recommending that school health personnel increase their focus on identifying symptomatic individuals, rather than monitoring in-school close contacts who are unlikely to contract or spread the virus. The new set of testing options described below, which includes a weekly at-home test for participating staff and students, will uniquely support this shift in focus. Other New England states, such as Connecticut and Vermont, have recently transitioned from individualized contact tracing to the use of at-home tests and focusing school health efforts on symptomatic testing. New COVID Testing Options to Optimize In-Person Learning To enable districts and schools to make the shift towards greater focus of school health personnel on identifying symptomatic individuals and other aspects of COVID-19 management, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Executive Offi ce of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), and the Department of Public Health (DPH) will now provide a new option within the statewide testing program to optimize in-person learning. Specifically, districts and schools participating in symptomatic and/or pooled testing may choose to continue those testing strategies and discontinue contact tracing and Test and Stay. As an additional resource, districts and schools that elect to make this change will be provided with rapid antigen at-home tests for all participating staff and students that can be used on a weekly basis. WIN WASTE | FROM PAGE 13 lationship so that the Town may better benefi t from the company’s presence. We understand, expect and would of course insist that any formal proposal would have to be reviewed and approved by both the Town and the state,” the letter said. “If and when a formal proposal is forthcoming, we would encourage all members of our community to review and comment because inclusiveness will yield better results, as it always does.” In closing, the committee members said they “continue the valuable work that has been ongoing for the last 14 months to ensure the Town receives and maximizes the opportunities that exist due to what we hope will be a new day in the relationship between the Town and company with signifi cant economic, environmental and community value to Saugus.” Cash Pay Guaranteed! "If it snows, you'll be working!" FRANK’S Housepainting (781) 289-0698 • Exterior • Ceiling Dr. • Power Wash • Paper Removal • Carpentry FREE ESTIMATES — Fully Insured Frank Berardino MA License 31811 • 24 - Hour Service • Emergency Repairs BERARDINO Plumbing & Heating Residential & Commercial Service Gas Fitting • Drain Service 617.699.9383 Senior Citizen Discount “Proper prep makes all the difference” – F. Ferrera • Interior We follow Social Distancing Guidelines! ׉ 7cassandra://5zQNWycpaWj0bwHJ1jqqwhS0q0_ttB9udb9fajJiQiI1`̰a<,wj4G׉E *THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Page 17 REAL ESTATE TRANSAC TIONS Copyrighted material previously published in Banker & Tradesman/The Commercial Record, a weekly trade newspaper. It is reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Warren Group. For a searchable database of real estate transactions and property information visit: www.thewarrengroup.com. BUYER1 BUYER2 Rivera, Jesus C Salamone, Michael C Tauto, David APPEALS | FROM PAGE 4 Bisignani never revealed his personal fi nances When Bisignani sought review of the retirement board’s decision in the District Court, he admitted that his crimes were “applicable” to the positions he held in Saugus and Nahant, but claimed that the forfeiture, as applied to him, violated the excessive fines clause of the Eighth Amendment, the court OBITUARIES | FROM PAGE 13 drea of Nahant, Rachel Dulong Umana, Ana M Tauro, Maria SELLER1 Capillo, Cathy A Lanzillo, Flaminio Pottle Patricia A Est opinion noted. Neither Bisignani nor his wife testifi ed in court; nor did Bisignani present evidence of his personal fi nances to the District Court judge. The District Court judge found that Bisignani failed to meet his burden to demonstrate that the forfeiture was grossly disproportionate to the gravity of his crimes. The Superior Court judge found that the District Court judge’s decision was supported by substantial evidence, and refl ected and husband Daniel of Lynn and Joshua Hilton and wife Beth of Danvers. SELLER2 ADDRESS 58 Stone St Hallstrom, Kathleen a correct application of the law. Justice Blake noted that the Appeals Court could not evaluate Bisignani’s claims about the impact of the forfeiture on his family and livelihood because he never presented evidence of his personal fi nances to the retirement board or to the District Court judge. “Bisignani’s crimes involved a signifi cant breach of the public trust, striking at the core of the ethical responsibilities of his positions,” Justice Blake conMa loved her great-grandchildren: Ryan, Kylie, Violet Verna, Wyatt, Anabelle, Gwendolyn, Abigail and Harrison. She is survived by her brothers Rev. Gorham Gould and wife Majorie of Nashua, NH, Fred Gould and wife Joyce of Beverly, MA, and Sister-In-Law June Messier of Wells, ME. A family gathering will held at a later date, due to COVID-19. Memorial donations may be given to the Saugus Senior Center in Saugus, 466 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906. 70-72 Ballard St 69 Water Wheel Ln CITY Saugus Saugus Saugus cluded. “Bisignani’s decision to interfere with the criminal investigation and the grand jury proceedings caused harm to the towns by creating additional investigative costs,” she wrote. “For all of these reasons, we conclude that the forfeiture of DATE PRICE 30.12.2021 $550 000,00 28.12.2021 $600 000,00 28.12.2021 $1 200 000,00 Bisignani’s pension was not so grossly disproportionate to the gravity of his off enses as to violate the excessive fi nes clause of the Eighth Amendment as applied to him.” The Appeals Court denied Bisignani’s request for attorney’s fees and costs. g ׉ 7cassandra://4rI7qLk6tHBFw31S1o5rzUPAl13gDHow_zAbTFmn9HU,`̰a<,wj4Ga<,wj4G PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://UK5pQEPMDdGnNF5U19u4SfADYOBBSp5ffL2m_lB-Rqg`)׉ 7cassandra://2ooCBesm-b7vyV_-QZ3pT2UFHMX58RcJ_9n84UseOMw͕`J׉ 7cassandra://FR0ICdU4Sd91ZELCy9C7vw_QoNeGSGqFLMNNpR6847o-{`̰׉ 7cassandra://5yNYcQMOqyj5bqPxc7vYohUrmn455Fh-Uc-kOxjgy6g͠aP,wj4H%ט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://zuVcJzA9YVlZabVWncksKL3Qa6nJE4A3uC6X83Xkb6c'V`)׉ 7cassandra://LZx8WYlPa1DdJG65vKnwRbIB5EmRH6NGhiVUnUNpbDE͓}`J׉ 7cassandra://XYniw_Jo_WDLvIYHZniBW4mjqv70NfIY34HWhPVvwvk.c`̰׉ 7cassandra://T5j1x3BT9K7iM97N6aX8L7PYB0E39ZXKe5ZrJqj5Lgk ͠aP,wj4H&נaP,wj4H)(9ׁHhttp://www.jrs-properties.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E9Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 ׉ 7cassandra://FR0ICdU4Sd91ZELCy9C7vw_QoNeGSGqFLMNNpR6847o-{`̰a<,wj4G׉EFTHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Page 19 Follow Us On: COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SALES & RENTALS Sandy Juliano Broker/President Welcome to New England in winter. Due to the extremely cold temperatures, our office may not be open every day. Please call the number below for an immediate response. WE KNOW EVERETT!! Call TODAY to sell or buy with the best! LISTED BY NORMA & ROSEMARIE SOLD! CONDO - NEW PRICE - $449,900 30 CHELSEA ST. #812 EVERETT CALL NORMA FOR DETAILS! 617-590-9143 SOLD! SINGLE FAMILY 39 ARLINGTON ST., EVERETT $529,900 NEW LISTING UNDER AGREEMENT BY NORMA AS BUYER’S AGENT SOLD BY NORMA TAUNTON SOLD BY SANDY! HUGE 3 FAMILY 21-23 CLEVELAND AVE., EVERETT $980,000 32 RIDGE RD., READING $675,000 NEW LISTING BY NORMA CONDO 120 WYLLIS AVE., UNIT #310 SOLD BY JOE! 6 FAMILY CHARLES STREET, MALDEN $1,250,000 CALL JOE FOR DETAILS 617-680-7610 UNDER AGREEMENT SINGLE FAMILY 20 BAKER RD., EVERETT $509,900 SOLD BY MICHAEL AS BUYER’S AGENT 58 BRADFORD ST. EVERETT Open Daily From 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. 433 Broadway, Suite B, Everett, MA 02149 Open Daily From 10:0 Joe DiNuzzo - Broker Associate :0 00 AM 5:00 PM www.jrs-properties.com Follow Us On: 617.448.0854 Norma Capuano Parziale - Agent Denise Matarazz - Agent Maria Scrima - Agent Rosemarie Ciampi - Agent Michael Matarazzo -Agent Mark Sachetta - Agent ׉ 7cassandra://XYniw_Jo_WDLvIYHZniBW4mjqv70NfIY34HWhPVvwvk.c`̰a<,wj4Ga<,wj4G PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://T9X4r368XSeUZgNfca1S5nx_npEd_y0XAooeKVGgAmEW'`)׉ 7cassandra://SupEXN2Y02lRN8iKYndLA_rYb1mL7myihk-HDmF_TF8͚a`J׉ 7cassandra://kh5yu4nh0J-IsBIryJ7BIejRiSWszZhL8399jetPwss/T`̰׉ 7cassandra://Cg86miJQIHU6jNI_yabojImVuDgkKMFMzcH6Uk3GqKM͠aT,wj4H+׉E9Page 20 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 ׉ 7cassandra://kh5yu4nh0J-IsBIryJ7BIejRiSWszZhL8399jetPwss/T`̰a<,wj4G׈Ea<,wj4Ga<,wj4G P,Saugus Advocate 01/21/22Saugus Advocate 01/21/22a8frJ¸: