׉?4ׁB!בCטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://6WnvFzcvRz96sDS2UVKY2VWW_DyzF5zSy_7Le-TnZJEy`'p׉ 7cassandra://j4v7O7u9BBI-Km6WQm9dQaF7Jug8tns9zR4xfHnwb5Yʹ`׉ 7cassandra://NpmYyTJ6ALLW9-PE-e5T7ZwJ8KjXwx58im5TcnawaFo8`hTO_FY9נhTO_FY= сb9ׁHhttp://angelosoil.comׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FY<1 9ׁHhttp://www.advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј׈EhTO_FY׉ESAUGUS All Your Local News & Sports Online! Scan Here & Subscribe! OCAT D Vol. 27, No.25 CAT -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday N SHOWERED WITH PRAISE: Longtime Town Conservation Offi cer Frank McKinnon was thrilled with the kind words selectmen bestowed upon him at last Wednesday’s (June 11) meeting where he received a citation honoring him for his years of service in Saugus town government: 42 years on the Conservation Commission and 34 years as the Conservation Offi cer. Please see inside for more photos and the story. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) TE 781-233-4446 Friday, June 20, 2025 A TOWN HALL TRIBUTE Town Election 2025 Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member Frank Federico has launched an early campaign for a Board of Selectmen seat By Mark E. Vogler omination papers for candidates aspiring to one of several municipal offi ces that will be on the Nov. 4 town election ballot won’t be available until July 21, just a month from tomorrow. The deadline for fi ling the papers is Sept. 16. Shortly after, voters will know who’s running and who’s not. But Frank Federico has already declared himself a candidate for one of the fi ve seats on the Board of Selectmen. “I’m defi nitely early,” the fi rstterm Precinct 7 Town Meeting member told The Saugus Advocate this week. “I already made up my mind that I am going to be a candidate for selectman. So, I decided to make it offi cial and hit the ground running. I’m not one to procrastinate,” he said during an interview in a local coff ee shop. “This summer, I plan to spend the majority of my time going to events and knocking on doors throughout town. My main concern is having the time to hear from any resident who wants to talk to me and having the availability to do so. I like to meet people. 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Federico launched his campaign last Friday (June 13) night with a three-hour fundraiser at the Saugus VFW Post 2346 that drew 80 to 90 people and raised about $4,000. He said it was a low-key dinner affair in which those who attended could donate by cash or check. Based on the turnout, he said, he will have no problem obtaining the 50 certified signatures of registered voters to sign his nomination papers. Federico, a 35-year-old Malden native, is a 2008 graduate of Pope John XXIII High School in Everett. After High School, he decided to join the workforce. He got his real estate license and then got his contract supervisor’s license. He decided to move to town about a decade ago. “Saugus has been home for the past 10 years — and it’s where I’ve built everything that matters to me. I live here with my family, run my business here and care deeply about the future of this town,” Federico said this week. “In 2015, I founded FVF Renovations, a general contracting company based in Saugus. From small beginnings, the company has grown steadily through word-of-mouth and a strong commitment to doing quality work with integrity. Before that, I worked in real estate, where I saw firsthand how housing costs and Lawrence 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 Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net taxes impact working families. That experience led me to get more involved in town government and local policy,” he said. “I currently serve as a Town Meeting member representing Precinct Seven and sit on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Both roles have given me insight into how town decisions are made — and how important it is to include the voices of everyday residents in those decisions. I’ve never run for town-wide office before, but I believe Saugus is ready for leadership that’s independent, practical and accountable to the people who live here.” A strong start in town politics Federico ran for public office the first time two years ago, and he topped the field of six candidates for the five seats in Precinct 7. He bested all five incumbents running in the race. Town Meeting Member Stefano D’Anna lost his seat. As he completes the final six months of his two-year term, Federico expresses confidence that he can compete in a field of candidates in which up to four incumbents are expected to seek reelection. Selectman Corinne Riley announced earlier this year that she will not seek a fourth term on the board. And that decision is expected to widen the SAUGUS OVER COFFEE: During an interview at a local coffee shop this week, Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member Frank Federico explained the reasons why he plans to run for the Board of Selectmen in the Nov. 4 Town Election. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) field of competition. Federico said he sees himself as an independent voice of the people who is not aligned with any particular political camp. “I don’t wish to be beholden to anybody,” Federico said. “I’m willing to work with anybody with any views, provided they keep an open mind in considering my ideas and that they treat me with respect. And I will do the same,” he said. “I think there needs to be a little more civility in government. I think we’ve gotten away from that, both locally and on the federal level. It would be nice to see us get back to that [civility],” he said. On the controversial issue of WIN Waste Innovations and its desire to expand the ash landfill near its trash-to-energy incinerator on Route 107, Federico said he’s “trying to remain neutral.” “I don’t want to be labeled ‘pro-WIN.’ But I don’t want to be labeled ‘anti-WIN’ either. I want to hear more from the residents on it. People vote you into office to be a voice for them — not yourself,” he said. “If the residents are ‘anti-WIN,’ I’ll support them. If they’re ‘pro-WIN,’ I’ll support that, too. I think WIN has made big strides in improving community relations with us. And I think there are valid points on both sides as to whether we need to close down the ash landfill,” he said. At the moment, it’s an issue that the town doesn’t have to make a decision on because existing state regulations won’t allow expansion of the ash landfill, which has about two to three years of life left. It would take a change in state regulations to allow farther expansion of the ash landfill. “It’s really out of our hands and more in the state’s hands,” Federico said. “It’s not just one issue” When pressed for a reason as to why he wants to be elected to the Board of Selectmen, Federico said there’s no primary issue that motivated him. “It’s not just one issue, it’s the TOWN ELECTION | SEE PAGE 8 ׉ 7cassandra://-Yqn8h8VSpEE72-AFjbrYCW6VQTycoau3zWmg2CztuU4`hTO_FY!׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 Page 3 Saugus selectmen celebrate the career of Frank McKinnon – a town government icon GOVERNMENT ICON | SEE PAGE 16 four years back in the early 90s and it was always a pleasure to see Frank. I’d always stop by the office, just to chat with him in the morning. And I was at his ‘semi-retirement party’ at Town Hall two weeks ago. He reminded me five times that he’s not going anywhere and Retiring Conservation Officer Frank McKinnon was surrounded by family members and his friends on the Conservation Commission after he received a special citation from the selectmen. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) By Mark E. Vogler T he Board of Selectmen, fellow Conservation Commission members and family members gathered in the second floor auditorium at Town Hall last Wednesday night (June 11) for a special tribute to retiring Conservation Officer Frank McKinnon. The selectmen’s presentation of a “Citation in Recognition of Frank McKinnon’s Service to the Town of Saugus” was the top item on the board’s agenda and drew the most attention of all the business that was transacted at the meeting. The commendation selectmen presented to McKinnon cited “34 years of exceptional service to the Town of Saugus as conservation officer and 42 years as a dedicated member of the Conservation Commission.” “He goes over and above each and every day to help our community to do the right thing. And conservation is of the utmost importance,” Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta said. “He is here tonight and the board has a citation that it would like to present to him upon his retirement.” Panetta then invited McKinnon up to the speaker’s lectern as each of her four board colleagues and the town manager offered personal tributes to a Saugonian who did so much as a town employee and a volunteer: Selectman Corinne Riley: “I just want to congratulate you 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! A SENTIMENTAL MOMENT: Saugus Selectmen posed for a photo last Wednesday night with Conservation Officer Frank McKinnon, who held a citation that honored him for his service to the town. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) and thank you for everything you’ve done for this town and just take it easy and do every minute of your retirement and enjoy it. So, thank you again for Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 everything, and you’ve done a lot.” Selectman Michael Serino: “Frank and I served on the Conservation Commission about PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $11.00 Price includes Roller Skates 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required Private Parties Private Parties 4-8 p.m. $10.00 8:30-11 p.m. $11. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required 12-9 p.m. $10.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com that he’s not retiring. But Frank, it was always great working with you. We had a lot of fun together. I’ll be seeing you around, anyhow. Thank you.” Selectman Anthony Cogliano: “Frank, I’ve known you a ׉ 7cassandra://ER7FTwWL315LTdmWgkqthWTHWIM00eKH2sTgSMDJ43U7`hTO_FY"hTO_FY! rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://FKfL-a6LBsRQo5bVIqgC-8KTtvK_IZHmuCPiEt6inUQ`'p׉ 7cassandra://OXAzSvlPL0_7fiOsgIuDMMfL5RwxX2MGxC-Y1-HK-wY`׉ 7cassandra://vXgq2UI-YyaxB30ghpVHFOD-59ceqnz7Xhbtb0kSvLg:`hTO_FYCטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://b4cO--Jm62aLNTh74olJvi25n6v2FYA2RdcecG_eWNA)`'p׉ 7cassandra://FeMorzXx3t09Lf03iQrCkai7_sNKBHbckbpF7shAtxMʹ`׉ 7cassandra://8SNrxXs8pjFOfbVWbyR5Tfw3cfH_0UKe6CV-0qXBlOA9`hTO_FYDנhTO_FYIY9ׁHhttp://WWW.SABATINO-INS.COMׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 A pot shop on hold it’s been 18 months since the Board of Selectmen issued a special permit to Sanctuary Medicinals to locate the first retail marijuana business in Saugus, but company officials don’t know when they will be able to open their store By Mark E. Vogler I t’s been more than a year since a state Land Court judge dismissed part of a lawsuit against the town which challenged the legality of the special permit (S-2) obtained by Sanctuary Medicinals to locate a retail marijuana dispensary in Saugus. “Sanctuary is free and clear from litigation now, so we’re happy with this ruling,” Saugus Attorney Peter Flynn told The Saugus Advocate last June. 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! AN ARTIST’S RENDERING: This is Sanctuary Medicinals’ conception of how its future retail marijuana dispensary at 181 Broadway (the southbound lane of Route One) will look during the nighttime once its construction has been completed. (Courtesy art to The Saugus Advocate) “Our clients are just looking forward to setting up a host community agreement with the town manager and moving forward on this soon and hope to take this to the town manager within days,” said Flynn, who had been working as a legal consultant for Sanctuary. But representatives of Sanctuary said during a Community Outreach meeting at the Saugus Public Library on Monday (June 16) that the meeting that Sanctuary officials hope to have with Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree still hasn’t taken place and they don’t know when it will. www.810bargrille.com Everett Supplies Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 66 Years in Business! •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roof ng • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! “The process to get a license from the Cannabis Control Commission takes months,” SanctuIN THE COMMUNITY ROOM: Representatives of Sanctuary Medicinals held a Community Outreach Meeting at the Saugus Public Library on Monday. From left to right: Sierra Wear, director of operations; Kera Dorian, director of sales and marketing; and Mike Allen, director of security. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) ary’s Director of Security, Mike Allen, said. “But we can’t do anything until we get the Host Community Agreement. It is holding us up,” Allen said. It usually can take up to eight months from the time a company obtains its S-2 permit from the municipal licensing authority, according to Allen. But it’s taking much longer in the case of Sanctuary’s plans to locate a retail marijuana business at 181 Broadway (the southbound lane of Route One) in Saugus. Sanctuary obtained its special permit (S-2) in December of 2023 from the Board of Selectmen. That was about 18 months ago. “We’re hoping that the end of the line is coming very soon,” Allen said. “I had a brief conversation with him. I was encouraged by the conversation I had with him,” he said. But Allen and other Sanctuary representatives attending Monday’s Community Outreach meeting said they don’t yet have a date with the town manager to sign the Host Community Agreement and they don’t know the specific reasons for the holdup. The Saugus Advocate reached out to the Town Manager’s Office for comment and was awaiting a response at press time. POT SHOP | SEE PAGE 11 Spring is Here! ׉ 7cassandra://vXgq2UI-YyaxB30ghpVHFOD-59ceqnz7Xhbtb0kSvLg:`hTO_FY#׉E THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 Page 5 Level Up at the Library with Reading Dragons register for the Kids 2025 Summer reading Program Wednesday, June 18. Twenty minutes is all it takes! The Saugus Public Schools (Editor’s Note: The following info is from a press release issued by the Saugus Public Library.) A s the school year winds down, the Saugus Public Library is winding up. If you’re looking for fun, educational activities and summer programming to support your kids’ learning, stop by the Saugus Public Library. This summer, the Library presents “Level Up at the Library with READING DRAGONS,” the 2025 Summer Reading program. Activities include literacy support, story times, discounted museum passes, Massachusetts park passes, take & make crafts and all your favorite books! How to register Families are encouraged to register their kids for the dragon-themed program using the Beanstack app. It’s easy — just download the Beanstack app, register under the Saugus Public Library and you’re on your way. If you’ve participated before, simply open the Beanstack app and register for the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge. recommend that students read at least 20 minutes a day this summer. The program is open to young people, preschool through 6th grade. We’ll have their favorite tiLibrarian Kathryn Walton and “Smorg the Book Hoarder” prepare to visit the Belmonte STEAM Academy to encourage summer reading. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate) For more information, or to register in person, stop by the Children’s Room at the library or visit the kids’ Summer Reading page on our website. Registration opens 50 tles plus free ebooks, audio books, comics, magazines & music you can download using the hoopla and Libby apps. Did we mention prizes? We’ve once again partnered with outstanding local businesses to reward summer reading. Sincere thanks to the businesses who generously donated! We’ll have READING | SEE PAGE 15 SABATINO/MASTROCOLA INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available Sabatino Insurance is proud to welcome the loyal customers of ALWAYS READY TO SERVE YOU: Our Staff are, Emma Davidson, Jeimy Sanchez, Josephine Leone, Marie D’Amore, Rocco Longo, Z’andre Lopez, Anthony DiPierro, Darius Goudreau, Laurette Murphy, Danielle Goudreau and Tina Davidson. 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Those Saugus High students honored last Saturday (June 14) during a special ceremony at Offi cer Vitale Memorial Park on Ballard Street were: • Olivia Rianne Chaisson, the daughter of Dover Police Officer David Chaisson. Olivia plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business at Bryant University in the fall. • Dominic Paul Cicolini, the son of Saugus Police DetecIf We Happen To Meet By Accident ... You’ll Be Glad You Found Us! There is a difference between the rest and the BEST! Celebrating 46 Years In Business! TONY’S AUTO BODY Call or Visit 781-321-0032 34 Sharon Street Malden, MA 02148 TONYSAUTOBODYLLC.COM COME VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART BODY SHOP • Computerized Paint Matching (State of the Art Spray Booth) • Computerized Frame Machines • P.P.G. Refinishing System • R134 + 1234yf A/C Machines Fully Insured -RS2415 Insurance Company Approval ALL OUR WORK IS GUARANTEED! TONY BARTOLO Owner 46 Years Let Us Handle Your Next Insurance Claim. Go With the BEST It Doesn’t Get BETTER! RENTAL CARS Available Olivia Chaisson, a 2025 Saugus High School graduate, is pictured separately during an earlier presentation with her father, Dover Police Offi cer David Chaisson. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) tive Carmine Cicolini. Dominic plans to attend North Shore Community College in the fall to study Computer Science in a College Associate’s Degree Program. • Daniel James Zeitz, the nephew of Saugus Police Offi cer David Zeitz. David plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Finance at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. in the fall. Also receiving Vitale Scholarships this year were Conlan Nestor Buckley, of Revere, a St. Mary’s High School graduate, and Kiara Elizabeth Martinez, of Woburn, a graduate of Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School in Wakefi eld. “We are excited to host our 33rd annual scholarship awards ceremony days before the 40th anniversary of his ultimate sacrifice on June 18, 1985,” said Les Vitale, brother of the late offi cer and president of Offi cer Harold L. Vitale Memorial Fund, Inc. “This event provides us a great opportunity to provide fi nancial assistance to the students and their families. For over 30 years we’ve hosted VITALE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS: Left to right: Saugus High School graduates Dominic P. Cicolini and Daniel J. Zeitz and Northeast Metro Tech graduate Kiara E. Martinez received Vitale Scholarships last Saturday. Missing is Conlan Nestor Buckley, of Revere, a St. Mary’s High School graduate. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) this ceremony at Park named after Harold where we pause to honor his life of service to the community and his sacrifi ce,” he said. Another brother, Bob Vitale, a retired Transit police offi cer, noted that “hosting this event in June is special because it ties together Father’s Day as well as Flag Day June, 14th that happens to be Harold’s 82nd birthday and marks the 40th anniversary of his death making all of this and ideal time to celebrate milestones with these families like High School graduations and college acceptance decisions.” “These 40 years have fl own by, we are fortunate to still be hosting this event,” he said. Eileen Vitale, wife of the late officer, called June 18 “the toughest day of the year for me.” “As tough as it is, I love that we still do this to remember Harold. I love visiting The Memorial Park, the Reception is uplifting. I’m just so proud to give out scholarships. The LEGACY OF OFFICER | SEE PAGE 7 ׉ 7cassandra://u4zffpvVOf3QGtzL6e7q3tfn8xBVeSXV0kc1N5X4F1s4q`hTO_FY%׉E.THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 Page 7 The son of Holocaust Survivors speaks at Ahavas Sholom Sisterhood Meeting LEGACY OF OFFICER | FROM PAGE 6 charity work we continue to do allows us to support victim’s advocacy programs like the ones that helped me to cope with my loss,” she said. “These organizations do great work and we’d be nowhere without them so shout out to New England Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), National C.O.P.S., the National Law Enforcement Offi cers Memorial Fund (N.L.E.O.M.F.) and Citizens Behind the Badge. All are amazing organizations helping us to cope since 1985.” Offi cer Vitale’s niece, Victoria Vitale-Bingham, and nephew, Nicholas Vitale, issued a joint statement: “Uncle Harold would have turned 82 this year, it’s pretty cool for us to be here handing out scholarships for what’s now been a part of us for our entire adult lives for nearly 40 years now. “It was sad growing up without him, but having this Reception and our August charity golf event provides us an awesome way to remember him.” Nicholas added, “every year we get to meet some of his retired co-workers and some of the current members of the deLEGACY OF OFFICER | SEE PAGE 11 Arlene and Bill Rosenberg showed family memorabilia from World War II during last week’s talk at the Sisterhood meeting of Ahavas Sholom of Saugus. (Courtesy photo by Laura Eisener) By Laura Eisener L ast Thursday, Bill Rosenberg was the guest speaker at the Sisterhood meeting of Ahavas Sholom of Saugus. Ahavas Sholom celebrates 100 years in Saugus this year. Bill Rosenberg shared the story of his parents’ experiences before, during and after World War II. His father, Sigmund Rosenberg, lived in Austria during the 1930s and owned a home and haberdashery business there in the late 1930s. He loved to ski and also taught skiing, and very much enjoyed music and art. When the German army took over Austria on March 12, 1938, life became very diffi cult for the Jewish Community, which included Sigmund and his brother Siegfried. He was imprisoned by the Nazis in a concentration camp but was released, at which point he immigrated to Great Britain, leaving his home and many possessions behind. When attending a dance there in 1939, he met a young woman who worked as a domestic named Edith Biber, and it was love at fi rst sight. They married in 1940. As World War II went on, many Jewish individuals and families sought to escape the increasing number of occupied countries, and there were fewer places throughout the world that were willing or able to accept them. The president of the Dominican Republic from 19301938 and then again from 19421952, was Rafael Trujillo, and he announced that he was prepared to accept settlement and give land to up to 100,000 Jewish refugees. Many settled in Sosúa, and a few have descendants still living in the area, but a large proportion of the people later moved to the U.S. At one point the Dominican Republic was one of the few countries willing to accept Jewish refugees. The town of Sosúa, on land that had been an abandoned banana plantation, was founded by Jewish refugees from Germany and other occupied countries. Sigmund and his bride Edith settled there. When Edith found herself expecting their fi rst child, she was determined to bear her child in the U.S. and went there alone after managing to secure a visa and bore her fi rst child there. This child was Bill, the speaker at the meeting. Eventually her husband was able to join her, and more babies joined the family and they remained here the rest of their lives. Bill and his wife currently live a few towns away from Saugus, and he has spoken about his family’s history at several events as we observe the 80th anniversary of World War II. Refreshments at the meeting were the fruits of the season — strawberries of course! A variety of treats featuring strawberries, including strawberry shortcake, strawberry cream cake, strawberry ice cream and strawberry lemonade, were enjoyed by all. 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S! ׉ 7cassandra://k93Y86BuSCT050wY5QaC42v47CGFEB2bl6RY2K8pSw83`hTO_FY&hTO_FY% rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://1ucTLUCjp9BU7J85gIVeE3bw_lZDFbt9n2aDfD2YHnI~`'p׉ 7cassandra://5ZNtAWE1tO9FLSPenRg0O2ZrVhBQOA1QIe3bMvPOtdM#`׉ 7cassandra://pOHqDjANOl0riz7EkUh1gCsMhGGLzst-peYf1_ftUiU4b`hTO_FYNטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://YQY4iPHnpHfKPUWeFZjWLHkdcHFeg0UxBpOEEutwEDo@F`'p׉ 7cassandra://m4SbReVib85VxJXaPy0VPFmugxbld5Jq-aOlKSMKQ4Eʹ`׉ 7cassandra://ikk2rmjWFBvQvZ70QY4ymxZfnDEGjtc0AeAgftMnM8g2`hTO_FYOנhTO_FYUP9ׁHhttp://gmail.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EoPage 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 “A testament” to the town’s fiscal stability Ten financial companies submitted bids to loan the town more than $11 million in general obligation bonds By Mark E. Vogler W hen it comes to loaning money to the Town of Saugus, town officials like to boast that there’s stiff competition among financial institutions. Finance Director & Treasurer/Collector Wendy A. Hatch made a point of emphasizing at last week’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting (June 11) that 10 financial institutions submitted bids on a General Obligation Municipal Purpose Loan of 2025 Bonds in the amount $11.85 million. “Let that hang there for a moment,” Hatch told selectmen. “That’s something to be proud of,” she said. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree sounded thrilled with the news. “A big cry from zero,” Crabtree said. “We couldn’t borrow money when we took over,” he said, recalling the fiscal challenges his administration faced during his early years as town manager. Raymond James & Associates submitted the winning T he following Saugus students were named to the dean’s list for the Spring 2025 semester at Quinnipiac University: Madison Casaletto, Juliana Powers. To qualify for the dean’s list, students must earn a grade point average of at least 3.5 with no grade lower than C. Full-time overall effectiveness of Saugus town government,” Federico said. “I hear it’s very difficult for businesses to get things done, working with the town. That’s a concern. We need to do something to bring better business into Saugus. We need to create an economic revival on Route One,” he said. Improving the business clibid, which included a premium of $770,900.70 that the town will receive as proceeds. The net reduction of the loan is $590,000, resulting in a loan of $11.3 million, according to documents Hatch provided selectmen. Her correspondence to the board included some additional good fiscal news. “Prior to the sale, S & P Global Ratings affirmed the Town’s ‘AA+’ longterm bond rating citing our cautious budgetary practices, positive operations and aggressive pension funding as positive credit factors,” Hatch wrote. Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the General Obligation Municipal Purpose Loan of 2025 Bonds. The loan covers the purchase of several items, including town building improvements, an aerial platform ladder truck that costs $2.1 million, bridge improvements, drainage capital improvements, parks and playgrounds, Department equipment-General Fud, sewer lift station improvements, sewer I & I Abatement, Department students must complete at least 14 credits in a semester, with at least 12 credits that have been graded on a letter grade basis to be eligible. Part-time students must complete at least six credits during a semester. Quinnipiac is a private, coeducational, university locatTOWN ELECTION | FROM PAGE 2 mate in town goes hand in hand with improving the town’s educational system, according to Federico. “I think the schools need more funding. Teachers and parents have told me they are concerned about the classroom sizes growing,” said Federico, who volunteers as an assistant Little League coach in the T-Ball division, where he gets equipment-Sewer Enterprise Fund, lead and copper asset inventory, and Department equipment-Water Enterprise Fund. “I commend the administration for your fiscal responsibility and your fiscal policies,” Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeffrey Cicolini said. “It truly is a testament to what we have done,” he said. “This saves our residents millions of dollars in the course of a year, when you look at our rating and the rates that we are able to lock in and save money. And that really comes down to the pockets of our taxpayers,” he said. “Sometimes, it’s easy to overlook it. But I just want to commend, you, Mr. Manager [Crabtree], and Wendy and the entire fiscal administration team for the hard work you’ve put in. It is thankless, but it doesn’t go unnoticed,” he said. Selectman Michael Serino agreed with Cicolini’s assessment. “It’s a testament to your work and the manager’s work,” Serino told Hatch. Local residents named to dean’s list at Quinnipiac University ed in Hamden, Connecticut. It enrolls 9,400 students in 110 degree programs through its Schools of Business, Communications, Education, Computing and Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Medicine, Nursing and the College of Arts and Sciences. For more information, please visit qu.edu. to meet many parents. “If we bring more business to town to generate more money, we’ll be able to afford to spend more money on education. I’d like to focus on doing something with businesses for the town to ease the tax burden. And there’s no reason why Saugus schools can’t be a desirable location,” he said. Another top issue for Federico is making local governSaugus welcomes Strawberry Festival tomorrow A SWEET SIGN OF SUMMER: This sign will mark the Strawberry Festival event this Saturday — with old-fashioned strawberry shortcakes in the American Legion Hall. In addition, there will be a Garden Club plant sale, crafters and other vendors on the Roby School lawn beside Main Street. (Courtesy photo of Laura Eisener) By Laura Eisener T he Saugus Historical Society will be dishing out old-fashioned shortcakes along with soda and hot dogs in the American Legion Hall at 44 Taylor St. tomorrow (Saturday, June 21) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. while the Saugus Garden Club holds its annual plant sale on the Main Street lawn of the diagonally adjacent Roby School at 23 Main St., along with vendors selling a variety of crafts. So far, the weather is expected to be good, and we will have a break from the past 13 Saturment more people-friendly and accessible to the average town resident. “I want to see more transparency in government,” Federico said. “A lot of residents have told me they would attend an event or be part of something if they only knew about it. I want to be the selectman that makes their voices heard or represents them,” he said. days, which included rain for at least part of the day. This annual festival has been held since the mid-1980s on the third Saturday of June. This is the first time in many years that it has landed just after the summer solstice, which falls in 2025 on June 20. As the first popular fruit to ripen as spring becomes summer, strawberries were the first taste of fresh fruit for early settlers after a winter of dried foods or preserved produce in New England. Now, it is a popular occasion for family and old-friend get-togethers or just for indulging in a traditional seasonal treat! Federico’s response to a questionnaire Here are some highlights of a questionnaire that The Saugus Advocate had emailed Federico in addition to this week’s interview. Q: How did your campaign kick-off go last Friday? How many attended and how much did you raise in funds? TOWN ELECTION | SEE PAGE 9 ׉ 7cassandra://pOHqDjANOl0riz7EkUh1gCsMhGGLzst-peYf1_ftUiU4b`hTO_FY'׉EQTHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 Page 9 It’s time to register for Saugus Sachems Summer Track Camp 2025 By Mark E. Vogler A group of 44 participants in the Saugus Sachems Track Camp – boys and girls ranging in age from four to 18 – put an exclamation point on the summer last year by finishing runner-up among 15 teams that competed in the Fourth Annual CLCF Summer Showdown in Cranston, R.I. Besides taking home 19 first-place awards, the young athletes got to learn about teamwork, sportsmanship and the hard work and training that goes into track and field events. “I think it’s an amazing program,” said Tye Hobbs, the father of two of the participants in last year’s camp – Tye, 4, and his brother Leo, 7. “Coach T. does a great job with understanding what each kid needs and establishing individual goals for them. He seems like a really good man. You can honestly tell that he cares about the kids. This camp provides a good space Who is your campaign manager? Are there any prominent town or community leaders supporting your candidacy? A: Friday night at the VFW, I held my campaign kickoff dinner — and I couldn’t be more thankful for how it went. It was an incredible night surrounded by family, friends, and fellow Saugus residents. The turnout exceeded expectations, and we raised around $4,000 to help get the campaign off the ground. I’m grateful to everyone who came out and showed their support — it meant a lot to me and my family. This was my first fundraiser, and it was intentionally focused on people who know me personally. We’re planning a larger event later this summer that will bring together more folks from across town. I’m fortunate to have Nikki Gregorio managing the campaign. She brings strong exfor these kids to have some healthy fun and get the energy out,” he said. “Coach T.” is the affectionate nickname for Coach Christopher Tarantino – the 1990 Saugus High School graduate who distinguished himself as a star when he was on the Sachem track team. His love of the sport prompted him to launch a track camp two decades ago. “This vibrant program, now in its 20th year, is where student athletes from a wide range of ages come together to listen well, work hard, and have fun!,” Coach T said. “Participants work on social and team building skills, as well as setting individual and team goals, all while learning the fundamentals and or the advanced techniques of this dynamic sport, track and field,” Coach T. said. Registration is already underway for this summer’s track camp, which begins the week of June 30. Track Camp runners will be guided by Coach Tarantino, his coaches, counselors TOWN ELECTION | FROM PAGE 8 perience and keeps things organized so I can stay focused on the people and the issues. Several town and community leaders have offered their encouragement, and I appreciate their support. That said, I’m running as an independent candidate — one who answers only to the residents of Saugus. I believe that kind of independence matters now more than ever. Q: What background do you have that best qualifies you as a candidate for this elective office? A: As a Saugus-based business owner with over ten years of experience in residential and light commercial construction, I deal every day with budgets, timelines, regulations, and problem-solving. I know how to work efficiently, manage competing priorities, and deliver results that people can rely on. These are the same skills and alumni, as well as current middle and high school track team members. Here’s a summary of what interested kids and their parents need to know. Who: five to 18 years old. Where: Belmonte Track. When: 6-8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. June 23-27 – final registration week/returning athlete training week June 30-July 4 – first formal July 19 – Summer Showdown in Cranston, R.I. July 23 – Wrap up Cost: $300 first year (was $250 if registered by June 1), $200 returning with uniform, $150 if three years or more in summer program; includes pasta dinner, t-shirt, uniform and entry into Summer Showdown. For any questions, further information or to register, please contact Coach Christopher Tarantino at 781-854-6778 or christophertarantino24@ gmail.com BROTHERS ON THE RUN: Leo Hobbs, 7 and his brother Tye, 4, were among 44 Saugus kids who participated last summer in the Saugus Sachems Track Camp. They also got to hold the second-place trophy that their team won while competing against 14 other teams in the Fourth Annual Cranston League for Cranston’s Future (CLCF) Summer Showdown in Cranston, R.I. They took home 19 first-place awards. (Saugus Advocate File Photo by Mark E. Vogler) as a — I derstanding of ho cisions impac c ful in the w sues if elec hope t r gus w ple who liv AN EARLY START: Frank Federico said he decided to declare himself a candidate for the Saugus Board of Selectmen more than a month before nomination papers become available to allow more time to talk to voters before the election. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) I bring to public service. Through my work — and through my service on the Zoning Board of Appeals and Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member Frank Federico launched his campaign for the Board of Selectmen last Friday (June 13) night with a three-hour fundraiser at the Saugus VFW Post 2346. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate) starts with practical, community-focused leadership. If elected, I’ll focus on keeping Saugus affordable for families and seniors, promoting smart development that respects the character of our neighborhoods, supporting strong schools and public safety, and making local government more accessible and til Sept. 16. Why are you announcing now? When did you first consider running for a seat on the Board of Selectmen? Once I made the decision to run, I didn’t see any reason to wait. I approach this campaign the same way I approach my TOWN ELECTION | SEE PAGE 15 ׉ 7cassandra://ikk2rmjWFBvQvZ70QY4ymxZfnDEGjtc0AeAgftMnM8g2`hTO_FY(hTO_FY' rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://L4rniYsPvOQIT0SROz9tSlx13HF-wnd6Zv_W94IE5Y8L=`'p׉ 7cassandra://KaDU3xjqdA_wisqaluvDy32hCSzYc52IKkFxNldlnfoͨH`׉ 7cassandra://9e0RHyvCBwAyOqYqWEri3pOJwt-eI2hcNPt1RTPVG9M:`hTO_FYQטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://qBKZigsO76vuuQNp8Ff5b5MqImcZROCWKnG7iowc-04U`'p׉ 7cassandra://HBKmqz6IwlxJg2h84sJFvK_5uK_1HMRaVvMKjjZw5cQͳ`׉ 7cassandra://GN3KzJN3pEcit_fNrtiO5yF1I0xktPiWaA0jROr5pv84`hTO_FYSנhTO_FYV9ׁH!http://www.vitalememorialfund.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 Saugus High School travels to Gloucester for Senior Prom Saugus High School traveled up to Gloucester for their senior prom at the Cruiseport last Thursday night. Jennifer Nichols and Max Muse at last Thursday’s senior prom at the Cruiseport in Gloucester. Bianca Almeida with Jared Palladino. Fernanda Mia with William Diggs. Shown from left to right, are: Maria Silva, Aly Mabee, and Giana Sacco. Rhianna Rodriguez with Miguel Gomes. Shown from left to right, are: Yoela Similien, Iman Osman, Sneha Kunwar, Vianna Nguyen and Daisy Amorim. Shown from left to right, are: Bryan Simon, Brandon Leveille, Ackings Fritz Raymond and Angroly Lyvert. Class of 2025 — Kaua Cerqueira with Jennifer Reis. Wilderson LaFortune with Isabelly Dos Santos. Shown from left to right, are: Frank Lewis, Emir Hamidovic, Nicholas Thompson, Dominic Cicolini, Victor Phan and Anowar Mahabeb inside the photograph booth. ׉ 7cassandra://9e0RHyvCBwAyOqYqWEri3pOJwt-eI2hcNPt1RTPVG9M:`hTO_FY)׉E\THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 Page 11 LEGACY OF OFFICER| FROM PAGE 7 partment and hear them tell some cool stories about him and how that he was such a great guy. These guys have a tough job to do but we can tell how proud they are to come and show their support and respect for him as they all walk the Thin Blue Line every day.” The Officer Vitale Memorial Fund, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organiGabriella Lima with Leonardo Ladilau. Gianni Baez Dellelo receives a kiss from Anisha Lingeswaran. Shown from left to right, are: James McNary, Ben Keller and Acking’s Raymond. zation and was created in 1992 some seven years after Officer Vitale’s death. Officer Vitale was killed in the line of duty in the early morning hours of June 18, 1985, while attempting to make an arrest when he was dragged over 1,000 feet to his death. Officer Vitale was 42 at the time and married his wife Eileen where he lived in Ipswich with three children: Paul, Michelle and JacLyn. Officer Vitale’s badge #17 was retired upon his death. The Officer Vitale Memorial Park was constructed by the Town of Saugus in 1992 in his honor. Registration for the 31st Memorial Fund Golf Tournament to be held Monday, August 4, 2025, at Ipswich Country Club. Information submitted by Les Vitale, President, Officer Harold L. Vitale Memorial Fund, Inc. c/o Conifer Hill Advisors, LLC, 99 Conifer Hill Dr., Suite 202, Danvers, MA 01923 or visit on the web at www.vitalememorialfund.org POT SHOP | FROM PAGE 4 In his interview last year, AtPatrick Maynard and Gabriella Duda relaxed by the fire. Shown from left to right, are: Leticia Nunes, Julia Pineta, Carolina Izizdio, and Stephanny Silva. Shown from left to right, are: Beatriz Almeida, Shalyn Sewell, Bianca Almeida, and Isabelly Dos Santos. torney Flynn explained that Sanctuary being named as a defendant in a lawsuit against the town “sort of froze things up,” creating an environment that wasn’t conducive to negotiations with the town – and about a six-month delay. “Judge Vhay was very clear in his ruling that this was a baseless lawsuit. And it set us back a quarter of a million dollars, when you consider the time lost, legal costs and having to pay rent at the location where we want to start our business,” Flynn said. Four people, in addition to Nicholas Muise and Brenda Perez. Shawn Cole and Olivia Husbands. Layla Silva and Livya Martins. The Saugus Advocate, showed up Monday for what was the third Community Outreach meeting hosted by Sanctuary since first expressing an interest in operating a retail marijuana business in town at the location where Ninety-Nine Restaurant & Pub closed in the spring of 2022. A 20-minute PowerPoint demonstration briefed the public about Sanctuary and its team, location details, security plans, steps to be taken to prevent diversion to minors, how the location will not constitute a nuisance, the company’s “positive impact plan,” its hiring commitment and local benefits. Here are the highlights of how the Sanctuary business, once opened, will impact Saugus: • In addition to property taxShown from left to right, are: Sofia Palacios, Bella-Donna Federico, Katrina Assortato and Sara Loeser. Ana Souza with Abraham Costa. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) es, Saugus can receive additional tax revenue through the adoption of a local sales tax of up to 3 percent on each retail sale to consumers. A company official estimated that Saugus stood to receive $300,000 to $400,000 a year based on annual sales of $10 million to $15 million at the Route One location. • Sanctuary anticipates hiring 35 to 40 local residents “for well paying careers with access to a living wage, benefits and comprehensive workforce training initiatives.” • Sanctuary will provide eligible consumers 21 years of age and older with access to consistent, high-quality marijuana and marijuana products that are regulated and tested for cannabinoid content and contaminants. • Sanctuary has a proven track record of being a partner in local public health initiatives, whether it be through funding vape sensors in local public schools or contributing to COVID-19 relief efforts. • Annual charitable giving budget, commitment to local volunteer hours and rotating charity fundraisers in store to provide regular support to organizations of importance to local Saugus residents. Sanctuary calls its future 8,816-square-foot building at 181 Broadway “state of the art,” accompanied by more than 117 parking spaces and a secured loading area. The facility is not located within 1,000 feet of the property boundary line of any lot in use as a public or private preschool, primaPOT SHOP | SEE PAGE 16 ׉ 7cassandra://GN3KzJN3pEcit_fNrtiO5yF1I0xktPiWaA0jROr5pv84`hTO_FY*hTO_FY) rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://fiHflP7chsWI7yf0jAMTz1pfnRwQeDFX1mkbcbkFxe4g`'p׉ 7cassandra://zZ9XuGZHmLuO-PJ3pGcPTAzR_sKUjKoGtUnpQKdTgwMͳv`׉ 7cassandra://NwAB4JsttJMBUftLnAtu52E9UAoyvOPSxUyP5I7bJ7Q4`hTO_FYWטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://SZuIvRNi6OXYs8-iqWXu7EufAtI-di0YFFX5u4NWQZA p`'p׉ 7cassandra://k5XLjqidJtMD-XR1ggiP1-c9j9LPz_mGwH5kTchFjGc͹`׉ 7cassandra://g0_XkWNxhln78hxGc3w4Ar9MbPBD6Jjuhv6mTNfnIxY/X`hTO_FYXנhTO_FYb m9ׁHhttp://www.saׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FYaӁ9ׁHmailto:turalcouncil@gmail.comׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FY`h̐9ׁHhttps://forms.glׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FY_;̰9ׁHmailto:adevlin@aisle10.netׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FY^9ׁHhttp://forms.glׁ ׁ Ј׉E5Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus A week from today should be a fun and exciting day for Saugus folks who happen to be hanging around Saugus Center, particularly near the entrance to the historic Town Hall. How does three hours of live telecasting of Saugus people sound? From the young at heart to the senior citizens; from ordinary folks to prominent town officials and community leaders; from some of the most interesting folks of Saugus you would ever want to meet. Does that sound good? Well, it’s all part of a “Zip Trip” that Boston 25 has been planning for weeks to do – live from 7 to 10 a.m. next Friday, June 27. Jessica Howard DeThomas, the Senior Morning Producer for the television station, tells me they will spend a few hours that day interviewing Saugus folks about what makes the town special. With the event taking place at Town Hall, about the best ambassador you can have from Saugus would be Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. And Jessica tells me she’s expecting him to be there to opine about the attractions of his hometown. There will be a special guest from the Giggles Comedy Club. Janice Jarosz from the Parson Roby Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and Saugus Veterans Council President Steve Castinetti are among some of the prominent community leaders who will be there. Dance Junction dancers from Saugus will perform and there will be representatives from Saugus Karate, Saugus Little League and other groups on hand. Some will perform. Others will share with Boston 25 their views on what makes Saugus a special town on the North Shore. Jessica tells me there will be a few tents set up by local businesses who will participate in the event. If you happen to be free a frequent contributor to The Saugus Advocate. Janice’s first “Shout Out” went to “Derek Hickman and the Saugus Fire Department. Firefighter Derek Hickman and the Engine 1 crew assisted an injured deer in labor that was stuck in mud off of Hammersmith Drive. FF Hickman, who also happens to be a Nurse (LPN) helped deliver the baby deer that was stuck in the birth canal and freed the mother from the mud. A first for the Saugus Fire Department. Despite all their efforts, the doe was stillborn.” Here’s the second “Shout Out” offered by Janice: “To KPS Esthetics & Threading opens in Cliftondale! On May 19, Shova Gajmer, Select Chair Debra Panetta, and many family members, cut the ribbon opening KPS Esthetics & Threading. This new business is in the newly renovated salon located at 27 Essex Street, Saugus, MA. KPS offers professional spa services that will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Their dedicated team also offers a lash bar, skin care techniques, relaxing massage treatments, waxing and threading services. KPS is open from 10 AM to 6 PM Tuesday – through Saturday – Closed Sundays and Mondays. Call Sova at 781307-7507 to make an appointment.” WELCOME SUMMER! It starts today. (Courtesy photo and Sketch by Joanie Allbee) Want to “Shout Out” a felon Friday, catch up with the crowd camped outside of Town Hall. Be a passive observer or be passionate in talking about the town if the camera lights shine on you! How often do Saugonians get three hours of facetime on live TV for a non-sporting event? The last time Saugus was the subject of a Boston 25 “Zip Trip” was 2011. Stay tuned for more information as the day approaches. One-day trash delay The Town of Saugus is running on a one-day trash delay this week because of the Juneteenth holiday, which was observed yesterday (Thursday, June 19), when there was no trash of recycling collection. Collection is scheduled to resume on a one-day delay today (Friday, June 20). Residents are kindly asked to leave trash and recycling curbside by 7 a.m. the day after their normally scheduled collection day. The Town of Saugus would like to thank everyone for their cooperation. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Scott A. Brazis at 781231-4036 with any questions. A Farewell from Sharon this weekend Sharon Genovese from Sharon’s Sneaker Crew is gearing up for her 11th and final Jimmy Fund Walk this year. She and her crew will also be doing their last Jimmy Fund Yard Sales tomorrow (Saturday, July 21) and Sunday (June 22) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 23 Lilypond Ave. All proceeds will go to The Jimmy Fund. Sharon says there are lots of good items – clothes, furniture and toys – to check out. For details, contact Sharon Genovese by email (sunkin1@aol.com) or phone (617-966-3475). This week’s “SHOUT OUTs” We received two nominations from Janice Jarosz, low 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. Saugus United Parish Food Pantry The Saugus United Parish THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 13 ׉ 7cassandra://NwAB4JsttJMBUftLnAtu52E9UAoyvOPSxUyP5I7bJ7Q4`hTO_FY+׉EYTHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 Page 13 SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 12 Food Pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Fridays from 9:3011 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. Strawberry Festival tomorrow The Saugus Historical Society Strawberry Festival and the Saugus Garden Club annual plant sale will be held tomorrow (Saturday, June 21). Strawberry shortcakes will be served at the American Legion Hall from 102, and the plant sale will be taking place on the lawn of the Roby School facing Main Street, along with several craft vendors. SAVE Annual Meeting & Dinner June 25 The Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) will hold its 52nd Annual Meeting & Dinner on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the Grill House Restaurant at 817 Broadway / Route 1 South, Saugus (social hour begins at 6:30 p.m., dinner buffet to begin at approximately 7:00 p.m.). The Public is cordially invited and we hope you can join us for the Dinner Buffet consisting of Fresh Garden Salad, Grilled Mixed Tips, Baked Haddock, and Cheese Ravioli, Vegetable, Rolls and Butter, Dessert, and Coffee, Tea, or Soda. Joining us this year as guest speaker will be Andrea Lacroix. Andrea is affiliated with Beyond Plastics, raising awareness of plastic pollution and sharing plastic reduction initiatives. Tickets are $35 per person. Payment can be made by check or Venmo. Please make payment as soon as possible, but no later than June 13th either via mail to SAVE Treasurer, Mary Kinsell, 11 Sunnyside Avenue, Saugus, MA 01906, with a check payable to SAVE, Saugus, or, make your payment by Venmo to @SAVE.-org and complete your forms here: https:// forms.gle/KEYAU8CUnAWhoxQEA You may also contact Ann at adevlin@aisle10.net or Mary at Mkinsell@verizon. net Please let us know if you are able to join us for a fun and informative evening, as well as a wonderful buffet dinner, as soon as possible. Free parking is available on site, and the facility is ADA accessible. A special call for art Here’s a special request from Tori Darnell, co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council: I wanted to share with you that the Saugus Cultural Council has partnered with Bike to the Sea to host an outdoor art show along the Northern Strand Trail on Saturday, July 19th. This special 1-day event is to celebrate local creativity and community spirit by showcasing artwork from residents of all ages who live along this community-connecting trail. I am reaching out to community groups and leaders along the trail; Everett, Malden, Revere, Saugus, and Lynn, for their support in promoting the call for artists for this community-connecting event. Artists are to submit artwork through this online form: https://forms.gle/ sM9KLBzskdJHKaUc6/. Artwork deadline entry is July 1st, 2025. Tori can be reached at 339440-1017 for more details. Help plan the Second Annual Saugus Cultural Festival Join the Saugus Cultural Festival Subcommittee to help organize the 2nd Annual Saugus Cultural Festival! The Saugus Cultural Council is looking for Saugus resident volunteers to serve on a Subcommittee to help plan and organize the 2026 Saugus Cultural Festival, which is happening on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Saugus Middle High School! Help out with: · Coordinate diverse entertainers, food vendors and miscellaneous activities · Work with Saugus 411 Committee on community/ information tables for community groups & local businesses/nonprofits · Support in social media, print and other digital marketing REMEMBERING A MEDAL OF HONOR HERO: Vietnam War veteran William Boomhower, a 2024 “Person of the Year” Award winner at last year’s Saugus Founders Day, played his bugle last Saturday at Saugus VFW Post 2346’s Annual Arthur F. DeFranzo remembrance memorial ceremony. Staff Sgt. DeFranzo’s courageous act that saved fellow soldiers at the expense of his own life happened on June 10, 1944, following the invasion of Normandy. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Charlie Zapolski) · Support in crowdsourcing for grants and festival sponsors · And more! Other commitments: · Monthly evening meetings starting August 2025; Subcommittee may meet twice a month starting October 2025 until March 2026. · Share progress at Saugus Cultural Council public meetings every first Tuesday starting September 2025 until March 2026 Interested in volunteering? Email us at saugusculturalcouncil@gmail.com by July 31. Narcan presentation July 14 at Senior Center The Saugus Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee will hold a Narcan Presentation at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St. in Saugus) on Monday, July 14, at 10 a.m. This is a free hour-long presentation. Become educated on how to save lives from an accidental overdose. Light refreshments will be served. Call the Senior Center at 781-2314178 to reserve your seat. Walk-ins are welcome. Visitor Services available at Saugus Iron Works The Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site has begun its “visitors’ services,” marking the opening of restrooms and the museum. This is the expected schedule of tours for the summer: Wednesday–Sunday at 11 a.m., house tours, 1/2 hour; Wednesday–Sunday at 2 p.m., industrial site tours, which will include waterwheel demonstrations when staffing permits. On Fridays and Saturdays only, there will also be a 10 a.m. waterwheel demonstration. Visitors’ services will end on Oct. 31. Library events · Conversation Circle at the Saugus Public Library: Would you like to practice speaking English in a comfortable and supportive environment? Intended for intermediate and advanced-level speakers of English to practice speaking in an informal setting, the Conversation Circle promotes speaking and listening in English. It improves fluency and confidence. This group will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Brooks Room on Tuesday, June 24. If there is enough interest, additional dates will be scheduled. There is no cost for this program. Walkins are welcome. · “Sideshow Tony” Gangi returns June 30: Join us for an evening of Barrel Organ Music & Italian History on Monday, June 30, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library. Come hear some good music like you used to hear in Boston’s North End, learn some Italian American history and maybe sing along to some favorite songs. Performer Anthony “Sideshow Tony” Gangi is back at the library by popular demand! No reservations required. · Henna For Teens: Get a free Henna Design tattoo from a professional Henna artist; July 21 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the Brooks Room. Registration required. Fifth grade and up. · Level Up at your library: Now through Aug. 20, submit what you read this summer and you may win an Amazon gift card. Enter to win by going to our website and filling out the book review form. Grades 7-12. ·Adult Summer Reading Contest at the library: June 18-August 20; adults ages 18 and up can participate in our Adult Summer Reading Contest for the chance to win a gift card to a local restaurant! Fill out an online (www.sauguspubliclibrary. org) book review form for every book you read over the summer, and you will be entered to win! The more books you read, the greater your chances of winning! Graphic novels, manga, cookbooks, e-books and audio books count, too. Good luck! Buy-A-Brick for a veteran The Saugus War Monument Committee, once again, is sponsoring the BuyA-Brick Program to honor all those who have served their THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 15 ׉ 7cassandra://g0_XkWNxhln78hxGc3w4Ar9MbPBD6Jjuhv6mTNfnIxY/X`hTO_FY,hTO_FY+ rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://4PJqbzdW4V6Nw2zk5tpmZkLvh_0bAQdmtlZK31gtt3Mb3`'p׉ 7cassandra://VclL8N4671bZN2Tav69S52S3Uw6ZQjGCf7L6Zl_VMqsͻ=`׉ 7cassandra://THDmfMwzj9shAOjqXr9cWAzvbaeoxWFb9R0em4thnLg6`hTO_FY]טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://8FYAE7dwoxSbdDs4sO5GV0BpE-L9Ddj0nykXRKJc1xQ !J`'p׉ 7cassandra://X0FZIihtMFilhnYnSNl72_LD5EWpo3R7jgC5tIO542g;P`׉ 7cassandra://vTelXmqzIxUK1tCQUVRWO7s2qGQ0kk4L5TInZkP038s0T`hTO_FYcנhTO_FYh mB9ׁHhttp://cast.netׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FYg mӁ9ׁHmailto:PSNicolo2533@comcast.netׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FYf(9ׁHhttp://www.saugus-ma.gov/solׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 Saugus Gardens in the Summer Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener T oday is the longest day of the year, also known as the summer solstice, which is traditionally considered the first day of summer. We may have summer days ahead with warmer temperatures, but gradually the days will grow shorter as we approach fall. Sandy Mears is enjoying the blossoms of her China rose (Rosa chinensis), a deep pink classic rose blossom with a deep fragrance. This species has a long and important history. When Shakespeare wrote “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” he thought of roses as a June blooming flower, but today we are spoiled by having roses for many months. Many modern roses bloom all summer long, even into the fall and early winter. In the centuries since Shakespeare’s time, European roses have been hybridized with the China rose (Rosa chinensis) not only to give us a wide range of flower colors, shapes, scents and other features but also the ability to continue blooming for months on end, not just for the month of June. The repeat blooming China rose was not introduced to Europe until late in the 18th century. Since then, many new rose hybrids have been introduced that have this reblooming characteristic. More new buds can be encouraged by removing spent flowers. If the old flowers are not removed, the plant will put its energy into production of fruit called hips, which can be decorative in themselves. Rose hips are also known for being China rose blooming in Sandy Mears’ garden (Photo courtesy of Sandy Mears) edible when cooked with sugar, and are high in vitamin C. Sandy’s garden also has several peony varieties in bloom this month. Another very rewarding plant that can be expected to be flowering now and then rebloom later in summer is ‘Blue Marvel’ woodland sage (Salvia nemorosa ‘Blue Marvel’). This is a compact variety with attractive bluish-purple flowers in June and usually blooms again in July and late August or September. It is closely related to the pinkish-purple variety ‘Rose Marvel.’ Both of these woodland sage varieties grow well in sun or partial shade and are not appetizing to deer or rabbits. A closely related perennial A blue and white bouquet at Arthur Vitale Park beside the Saugus River (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) The bouquet includes white allium, gerbera daisies, roses, blue hydrangeas and sea holly. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) to the woodland sage is ‘Snow Hill’ sage (Salvia sylvestris ‘Snow Hill), which is flowering now in Dee LeMay’s garden. This is a close relative of ‘May Night,’ which has deep purple blossoms. The flower stalks are a little taller and narrower than those of Salvia nemorosa ‘Blue Marvel’ and ‘Rose Marvel.’ Many people are noticing Catalpa trees are blooming in several places around town. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) clusters of white blossoms on trees with large oval to heartshaped leaves. There are a few noticeable ones near the trombone intersection where Lynn Fells Parkway crosses Route 1, and others here and there in gardens and along the roadside. The two species of catalpa, northern catalpa and southern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa and Catalpa bignonioides, respectively) are very similar in ap‘Snow Hill’ sage in Dee LeMay’s garden (Photo courtesy of Dee LeMay) ‘Blue Marvel’ sage in Sandy Mears’ garden (Photo courtesy of Sandy Mears) pearance, with white flowers and long bean-shaped fruits, although they are not in the bean family (Fabaceae). They have been grown in gardens for their fragrant and showy flowers, and they grow very quickly from seed. A seed from another tree grew up spontaneously in my garden just a few years ago and is now nearly 10’ tall and produced flowers for the first time this week. Vitale Park on Ballard Street has a blue and white bouquet on the Artorius sculpture, remaining from the scholarship ceremony held every year around graduation time. The park is named for Saugus Police Officer Harold Vitale, who was born June 14, 1943, and died in the line of duty June 18, 1985. This year’s flower arrangement includes white allium (Allium spp.), gerbera daisies (Gerbera hybrida), roses (Rosa spp.), blue hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) and sea holly (Eryngium planum). Editor’s Note: Laura Eisener is a landscape design consultant who helps homeowners with landscape design, plant selection and placement of trees and shrubs, as well as perennials. She is a member of the Saugus Garden Club and offered to write a series of articles about “what’s blooming in town” shortly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was inspired after seeing so many people taking up walking. ׉ 7cassandra://THDmfMwzj9shAOjqXr9cWAzvbaeoxWFb9R0em4thnLg6`hTO_FY-׉EJTHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 Page 15 SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 13 country. If you would like to purchase one in the name of someone who is presently serving or has served, in the memory of a loved one, or just someone from your family, school, etc., the general pricing is $100 for a 4” x 8” brick (three lines) or $200 for a 8” x 8” brick (five lines). Each line has a maximum of 15 characters. The improvement and upkeep of the monument on the corner of Winter and Central Streets rely on the generosity of donors through fundraising. The brick application must be in by September 10 to ensure the bricks will be ready for Veterans Day. Please contact Corinne Riley at 781231-7995 for more information and applications. C.H.a.R.M. Center is open The Town of Saugus Solid Waste/Recycling Department announced that the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (C.H.a.R.M.) has opened for the season, with normal operational hours of Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The C.H.a.R.M. Center is located at 515 Main St., Saugus, behind the Saugus Department of Public Works. Residents are welcome to use the C.H.a.R.M. Center for their recycling needs. Saugus was the first municipality in Massachusetts to open a C.H.a.R.M. Center. The C.H.a.R.M. Center accepts the following items at no cost to residents: · Bottles and cans · Paper and cardboard · Scrap metal · Shoes, clothes and other textiles · Fluorescent light bulbs and batteries (button and rechargeable) How special it was for so many people to see each other after over 40 years. Reach out to your friends who are not on Facebook to give them some early notice in case they may want to attend and need to make travel plans. Some of our Classmates have kept in touch with some of our High School teachers, and they attended our last two Saugus High Reunion events – we hope they’ll join us again. Feel free to reach out to any of your favorite teachers that you may want there – I’m sure they would love to hear from you. More information is forthVETERANS COMMEMORATIVE BASEBALL CAPS: These two caps were set on the bar counter inside Saugus VFW Post 2346 last Saturday. A small group of local veterans and town residents gathered to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary with a cake-cutting inside following the post’s Annual Arthur F. DeFranzo remembrance memorial ceremony outside near the monument that honors the fallen War Hero from Saugus who received the Medal of Honor. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Charlie Zapolski) Residents are also permitted the free disposal of three TVs or computers/CRT monitors per household each year at the C.H.a.R.M. Center. Residents can obtain new stickers for this year free of charge when visiting the C.H.a.R.M. Center. By purchasing a $25 sticker that is valid for the entirety of the season, residents will be permitted to dispose of yard waste and brush at the C.H.a.R.M. Center. The $25 sticker also covers the cost to dispose of hard/rigid plastics at the facility. The C.H.a.R.M. Center accepts CHECKS ONLY, no cash or cards. Please note that the C.H.a.R.M. Center does not accept any household trash or construction materials and debris. The Town of TOWN ELECTION | FROM PAGE 9 work — show up early, stay engaged, and follow through. Announcing early also gives me time to connect with more people in town. I want to have as many conversations as I can this summer — at events, door to door, and in everyday places — so I can better understand what matters most to the community. That feedback will guide how I campaign and, if elected, how I serve. Q: Anything else that you would like to share? A: This campaign is about listening. I want to hear directly from the people of Saugus — about what’s working, what’s not, and where we can do better. Saugus reserves the right to refuse any material if quantity or quality is questionable. Go to https:// www.saugus-ma.gov/solid-waste-recycling-department and click on “Recycling Guide” for a comprehensive list of items that are accepted or not accepted at the C.H.a.R.M. Center, in addition to guidelines for how to prepare different items for disposal at the facility. The C.H.a.R.M. Center will remain open on Wednesdays and Saturdays through the season until the winter. Please contact Solid Waste/ Recycling Coordinator Scott A. Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions. Saugus High Class of 1980 Attention, Saugus High Class of 1980. Mark your calI’ve already started meeting with residents and getting great input. If there’s something on your mind, I encourage you to reach out. I’m available by phone at 617797-6414 or by email at frankfedericoforselectman@gmail. com. I look forward to the conversations ahead — and to earning your trust, one conversation at a time. endars for Nov. 29 (Saturday after Thanksgiving) and reach out to your friends that you’d like to see at the 45th Class Reunion for 1980 graduates and friends. The reunion will be held that day from 1 to 6 p.m. inside the Saugus Elks. Invite Saugus High friends from other classes that you may want to be at our 1980 Class Reunion. Our last Saugus Class BBQ event a couple of years ago had three sisters from three different classes attend and they had a blast – so many loved seeing them and appreciated them being there. So many old friends reconnecting after decades; friends from overseas and across the country came; Saugus Classmates that left in Jr. High and that went to other High Schools came. READING| FROM PAGE 5 a full prize cart plus free books to give away. In addition, we’ll run drawings for ice cream, donuts, cookies, pizza, roller skating, bowling, mini golf and sports merch, and grand prize drawings for tickets to Canobie Lake Park and North Shore Music Theatre’s production of “Finding Nemo” — and more! coming. Any questions, please feel free to reach out to Andrea or Pete: Andrea Saunders (1980 Class President) can be reached at paulgreens@aol. com or 978-482-5787. Pete Nicolo can be reached PSNicolo2533@comcast.net or 978-815-8234. About The Saugus Advocate We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is 6 p.m. on Tuesday. If you have a story idea, an article or a photo to submit, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a message at 978-683-7773. Or send your press release to me in the mail at PO Box 485, North Andover, MA 01845. Let us become your hometown newspaper. The Saugus Advocate is available in the Saugus Public Library, the Saugus Senior Center, Saugus Town Hall, local convenience stores and restaurants throughout town. Be a Reading Dragon! As kids log their minutes of reading, they will earn reading dragon cards: collectible cards similar to Pokémon cards. Everyone who registers receives a starter set so they are ready to play the game, start trading and start collecting! Each set of themed dragon READING | SEE PAGE 16 ׉ 7cassandra://vTelXmqzIxUK1tCQUVRWO7s2qGQ0kk4L5TInZkP038s0T`hTO_FY.hTO_FY- rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://F9xmcmCJAKWPcxTfBaQ69Sli-rZGWI2462k3axjXQoQ W`'p׉ 7cassandra://we_arB0H5pWGwAUGCwHVSyIOiY5UBTzUfWJQeQ3fg-I+`׉ 7cassandra://mHcZC7s4kY9xgxwIt7RkWIxcV6zFG2k1yU1sZjgrdZU6Q`hTO_FYiטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://U8ajYQ1_OdSmZs4iwGp4znMUJ9EdDyR31nCrvxax6gU ~`'p׉ 7cassandra://mT6_7rZqwnNtxhs88uNNeLfEnf_XqkPJ6d4PZIbBWFo͹`׉ 7cassandra://EWUzyBUb0PBnD9AUOa-NYzOE7oHUXDbid-MCTA2TLbc-<`hTO_FYjנhTO_FYl̹9ׁH%http://www.JandSlandscape-masonry.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E@Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 GOVERNMENT ICON | FROM PAGE 15 long time, and what an outstanding gentleman you are. It’s been a pleasure to work with you. I think every single time I’ve ever called you, you answered that phone immediately. And you’re just a great guy and a huge asset to the town, and I’m sure you won’t be going anywhere. So, thank you for all you have done.” Board of Selectman Vice Chair Jeffrey Cicolini: “I think I’ve known you my entire life. I know you served many years with my dad on Conservation. I grew up going out to site visits and seeing you going through the motions. Let me tell you, you have definitely set the bar quite high, my friend, and you’re going to leave some big shoes to fill for whomever tries to take on that task after you. To get somebody to give over 40 years as a service to a community, you don’t see that anymore. And your generation was definitely special and you’re one of the ones that comes to mind when anyone thinks about the people that have given so much to our community. I appreciate you and all you have done, and I look forward to you sticking around because your knowledge and knowhow is going to be a valuable resource to whomever steps in, going forward. Thank you.” Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree: “Frank, I just want to say that the town, myself are so grateful for all the years of service that you’ve put in and volunteered and dedicated to your, really, second career and plus that to the Town of Saugus. We’re really honored to have you serve the Town of Saugus in the way you have. You’re always there. You’re always accessible and always there to help and give guidance to everybody. We’re glad you’re sticking around in some capacity. So, thank you very much. And we’re so grateful that we’ve had you here for this long.” After the town manager and every selectman finished heaping high praise on McKinnon, he offered a few words of appreciation. “I really enjoyed all my years here in Saugus,” McKPOT SHOP | FROM PAGE 11 A HUG FROM THE CHAIR: Debra Panetta congratulated retiring Conservation Officer Frank McKinnon for his contributions to the betterment of Saugus. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) innon said. “And when I had to go out if someone was doing something wrong, I’d say, ‘Hey, if I was involved in the town, I’d probably be doing what you’re doing.. But you gotta stop and now you got to do an order of conditions,’” he said. “I always treated people with respect because you don’t get anywhere by yelling and screaming at people. You know? But I’ve enjoyed all my years here in Saugus. And I’ve been involved in every subdivision they ever had. It’s been a pleasure, really.” J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping ry or secondary school, licensed day-care center, church, library, park, playground or other marijuana establishment or medical marijuana facility. Sanctuary Security Chief Allen said he’s ready to develop and expand a comprehensive security plan in partnership with the Saugus Police Department. The security plan bars on-site consumption or loitering within or outside the dispensary. “The system is set up to keep fake IDs from getting through,” Chief Allen said. “We don’t want product diversion to minors. Video surveillance is a big part of it. We’re required to maintain 90 days of video storage,” he said. The security plan includes exterior and interior continuous IP video monitoring systems. Extensive measures are being taken to make sure that none of READING| FROM PAGE 15 cards contains an egg, a child, a teenager and an adult dragon. There are even special holographic cards to collect. Did we mention free programs? In addition, there will be special visits by Wildlife Encounters, Vinny the Bubble Guy, the Saugus Fire & Police Departments, Pikachu + Sonic characters and Toe Jam Puppet Band, plus a famthe product gets diverted to minors or anyone under the age of 21. Employees who divert the product intentionally or negligently will be terminated immediately and reported to law enforcement, according to Chief Allen. Any consumers that divert the product will be banned from the facility and reported to law enforcement, he said. “Everything is on video,” Chief Allen said. “Nobody wants to be recorded doing illegal activities,” he said. Sanctuary Medicinals describes itself as “a licensed, vertically integrated company” with a state-of-the-art multi-level cultivation and processing facility located in Littleton, Mass. It has three medical dispensaries and three adult-use dispensaries operating in Massachusetts. It also has operations in Florida, New Hampshire and New Jersey. ily dance party, a concert for kids and bubble, magic and puppet shows. Check out the Library’s online event calendar for up-to-date information. Create a reading routine The library is here to help families create a summer reading routine that is fun for kids and their families. Turn off the media before READING | SEE PAGE 22 ~ School Bus Drivers Wanted ~ 7D Licensed School Bus Drivers Malden Trans is looking for reliable drivers for the new school year. We provide ongoing training and support for licensing requirements. Applicant preferably lives local (Malden, Everett, Revere). Part-time positions available and based on AM & PM school hours....15-30 hours per week. Good driver history from Registry a MUST! If interested, please call David @ 781-322-9401. CDL SCHOOL BUS DRIVER WANTED Compensation: $28/hour School bus transportation company seeking active CDL drivers who live LOCALLY (Malden, Everett, Chelsea and immediate surrounding communities). - Applicant MUST have BOTH S and P endorsements as well as Massachusetts school bus certificate. Good driver history from Registry a MUST! - Part-time hours, BUT GUARANTEED 20-35 HOURS PER WEEK depending on experience. Contact David @ 781-322-9401. ׉ 7cassandra://mHcZC7s4kY9xgxwIt7RkWIxcV6zFG2k1yU1sZjgrdZU6Q`hTO_FY/׉E$THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 Yes Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 50 - Report No. 24 June 9-13, 2025 Copyright © 2025 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved. By Bob Katzen T HE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from recent sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. HOUSING PRODUCTION (S 3) Senate 40-0 approved an amendment that would commission a series of studies by the Executive Offi ce of Housing and Livable Communities to explore new tools to jumpstart stalled housing projects. The studies would include a potential construction tax exemption for multifamily housing developments delayed by federal tariff s or economic volatility; the use of third-party inspectors to fast-track permitting for manufactured, off - site and multifamily housing; and whether aff ordable housing projects should be exempt from Proposition 2½ tax levy limits -- a factor that often discourages local approvals. “Together, these provisions are aimed at cutting red tape, lowering costs and accelerating the production of housing—particularly in high-need, geographically isolated regions like the Cape and Islands,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “Massachusetts was averaging 30,000 new homes annually as recently as the 1980s, when our population was much smaller. That number currently sits at about half, despite the increased need. The amendment passed unanimously … in a great show of bipartisan support.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.) Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (S 3) Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would establish a Scientifi c Research Fund to provide research grants in the fi elds of science, medicine, public health, mental health and other biological or behavioral areas. Amendment supporters said the amendment would provide at the state level the investments in scientific advancement that previously had been provided at the federal level by the National Institute of Health. “Some of the best educational and research institutions in the world are located right here in Massachusetts, and their globally signifi cant innovations drive our state and regional economies,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “This Scientific Research Fund off ers a critical opportunity for state government to support science and step up for research funding infrastructure as the federal government steps away. I am proud and grateful that this amendment passed the Senate by unanimous vote, showing that scientifi c inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge are, and always should be, nonpartisan.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.) Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes $800,000 FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS (S 3) Senate 39-0, approved an amendment increasing funding for Boys and Girls Clubs by $800,000 (from $2.2 million to $3 million.) “This funding will support the Boys and Girls Club’s mission of assuring that success is within reach of every young person by providing a safe environment and social, academic and health services that club members may not otherwise receive,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Lowell). (A “Yes” vote is for the $800,000.) Sen. Brendan Crighton ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL SALES TAX HOLIDAY (S 2530 and H 4220) – The House and Senate approved measures designating Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10 as a sales tax holiday weekend for the Bay State, allowing consumers to buy most products that cost under $2,500 without paying the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax. State law currently calls for a 2-day sales tax holiday every year. This bill simply sets the specifi c dates. “The sales tax holiday is a wonderful opportunity for our residents to get out into their communities, support local businesses, get their kids ready for school in fall or make a purchase that they’ve been putting off ,” said co-sponsor Sen. Adam Gómez (D-Springfi eld), Senate Chair of the Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses. “I am glad that our leaders here in the Legislature have been able to work and get this done again for our residents this year, and I look forward to hearing how residents are able to make the most of the tax reprieve.” “I was proud to sponsor the legislation establishing this year’s sales tax holiday that helps boost our economy and provides support and relief for our residents and small businesses,” said co-sponsor Rep. Carole Fiola (D-Fall River), House Chair of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “This is an important weekend that helps bolster our economy and I applaud my colleagues in passing this legislation to provide individuals, families and businesses across the commonwealth with some relief.” “Lowering costs for Massachusetts residents and supporting local businesses is critical for our communities in this time of economic uncertainty,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “This year’s temporary suspension of the sales tax will bring consumers needed economic relief while boosting revenue for small businesses and retailers,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). AGE OF CONSENT (S 1104) – The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on legislation that Page 17 would change the current law under which someone who just turned 16-years-old can be prosecuted for statutory rape for having a sexual relationship with someone just under 16. The bill establishes a closein-age exception (often called a “Romeo and Juliet” clause) for certain sexual off enses involving minors, ensuring that consensual relationships between teenagers close in age are not subject to severe criminal penalties. The bill amends laws on indecent assault and battery and statutory rape to prevent prosecution when the defendant is no more than two years older than a minor who is at least 13 years old. It also mandates that juvenile defendants be processed through the juvenile court system rather than adult court when applicable. “In Massachusetts, someone who just turned 16-yearsold can be prosecuted for statutory rape for having a sexual relationship with someone just under 16 years old,” said sponsor Sen. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). “While the intent of protecting young people is a good one, the way the law currently exists can cause unintended consequences for young people who are in love. Rather than arbitrarily lowering the age of consent, my bill creates a framework that looks at the nature of the age gap between young people and establishes a two-year age difference between the consenting young adults as the determinant of whether criminal charges can be brought.” Fernandes continued, “Thus, if someone is one month shy of age 16 and has a sexual relationship with someone older, that older person cannot be charged criminally as long as they are no more than two years older than the younger partner – in this case, one month shy of age 18. My bill takes into account the current realities for young adults in Massachusetts and removes the extreme jeopardy of the law as currently written, which provides penalties of up to life imprisonment even for a 16-yearold, who has a sexual relationship with someone just under 16.” JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND THEIR VICTIMS (H 1792) – Another measure before the Judiciary Committee would direct the state’s courts to make all reasonable eff orts to ensure that victims of crimes perpetrated by juvenile off enders receive restitution, and that juvenile off enders be required to repair, replace or otherwise make restitution for any damage or loss caused by their crime. This bill also requires that the juvenile court make restitution a condition of release, placement or parole for the juvenile off ender. “Crime victims face many hardships, not only as they deal with the emotional toll of the crime itself, but also with the related fi nancial repercussions,” said sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “We should not compound their suff ering by adding to their fi nancial burden but should instead make it easier for them to receive restitution, which is what [my bill] seeks to do.” MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE HEARING – The Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hearing on several bills including: EXEMPT LOCAL BILLS FROM REQUIRING THE LEGISLATURE’S APPROVAL (S 1471) – Would remove the current requirement that the Legislature review and approve of routine home rule petitions, fi led in the Legislature by local cities and towns, that have minimal or no statewide impact, such as liquor license increases, charter changes and individual personnel exemptions from the state civil service law. “State legislative review of home rule petitions with limited to no statewide impact unnecessarily adds more red tape to established local processes,” said sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “It hinders our partners in municipal government from doing the jobs they were elected to do and restricts and confuses community members. Simply put, we just don’t need more confusion or longer wait times to implement what voters want in their own communities. My bill … would streamline the routine home rule process by eliminating state legislative review, thereby BEACON | SEE PAGE 18 ׉ 7cassandra://EWUzyBUb0PBnD9AUOa-NYzOE7oHUXDbid-MCTA2TLbc-<`hTO_FY0hTO_FY/ rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://FV7IJr8XtfGopGvnpOfD7_6UFg476RXQM_O8Twpd-AYX`'p׉ 7cassandra://_dg6bECzqHerj7DXBRcNcVEqBOI_sofAClMj3w75HWg͸}`׉ 7cassandra://gTX_jh2rU8pIsr66KbBAKLfR-qLhc-hRCuWtKg4ijK00f`hTO_FYmטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://tZBqd6kCj9diE08g-6Ac--Zg5S10vMRyJkDXefUjz3Y k`'p׉ 7cassandra://ZexQZf3tpqk8Db6Hjr9QKgi6oOvMjsdApDjScoiK8V0͵`׉ 7cassandra://mZ87umx2yOev74sBnYML9QkZGRI6--E8tOKSgO5N1mc1,`hTO_FYnנhTO_FYr _9ׁHhttp://Funerals.org/fiׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FYq ̌9ׁHhttp://SavvySenior.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 18 BEACON | FROM PAGE 17 uplifting local decision-making so the right solutions for each of our 351 municipalities can be timely implemented.” REQUIRE TRAINING OF MEMBERS OF LOCAL CITY AND TOWNS BOARDS (S 1432) – Would require mandatory, standardized annual training for new members of key local board in cities and towns including boards of health, conservation commissions, planning boards and zoning boards of appeals. The training programs would be developed in consultation with the Massachusetts Municipal Association and would require all new board and commission members to complete these trainings prior to beginning their service. - LEGAL NOTICE - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Essex Probate and Family Court 36 Federal Street Salem, MA 01970 (978) 744-1020 Docket No. ES25P1726EA Estate of: ELAINE S. K. CHOI Also known as: ELAINE S. CHOI, ELAINE SHIU KUEN CHOI, ELAINE CHOI, ELAINE SIU KUEN CHO Date of Death: 04/25/2025 CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Probate of Will with Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Lawrence H. Tsoi of Saugus, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that: Lawrence H. Tsoi of Saugus, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 07/18/2025. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affidavit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, Hon. Frances M. Giordano, First Justice of this Court. Date: June 13, 2025 PAMELA A. CASEY O’BRIEN REGISTER OF PROBATE June 20, 2025 RAISE FINES FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY (H 2247) – Would amend current law that imposes up to a 7-year prison sentence and/or $5,000 fine for a first offense of animal cruelty and a 10-year prison sentence and/or $10,000 fine for a second offense. The bill leaves the prison sentences as they are but raises the fines to $5,500 for a first offense and $11,000 for subsequent offenses. It also creates a special account where up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for subsequent offenses would go to fund improvements to animal shelters in the city or town in which the violations occurred. The proposal received initial House approval in 2021 but then died in committee because of lack of further action by the House. Sponsor Rep. Bruce Ayers (D-Quincy) said that Massachusetts in 2024 took a big step forward in animal rights and protection with the passage of Ollie’s law that established rules and regulations for dog kennels in the Bay State, to ensure animal welfare, protect consumers and keep kennel staff safe. “This bill seeks to build on that momentum by increasing penalties for animal cruelty to further deter abuse and neglect, while directing any additional revenue generated from these increased fines toTHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 “I filed [the bill] because we rely on volunteers to make consequential decisions on local boards that shape everything from housing to public health, yet we don’t give them the training they need,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “This bill creates a simple, no-cost, standardized training so new board members understand the laws they’re upholding and can serve their communities effectively from day one.” wards financial support for local animal shelters where the violation occurred,” said Ayers. LOCAL TREE WARDENS (H 2195) – Would require that every city and town’s tree warden have sufficient training and certification; change the penalty paid to communities for someone who illegally removes shade trees from $500 to the often higher value of actually replacing the tree; and update antiquated laws including the one that fines anyone who damages a tree or plant by driving an animal into it, but does not mention a car or truck because the current law was passed before the popular use of the automobile. Supporters said that a well-maintained tree canopy can act as a buffer against climate change and protect public health. They noted that the U.S. Forest Service estimates that neighborhoods with well-shaded streets can be up to 10 degrees cooler and that tree canopies not only reduce energy costs but also mitigate the urban heat island effect, directly preventing heat-related illnesses and deaths. “Public shade trees are a valuable resource in our fight against the impact of climate change,” said sponsor Rep. Steve Owens (D-Watertown). “The laws protecting them and empowering the tree wardens who care for them have not been materially updated in more than a hundred years. This bill makes sure that wardens have the tools they need to protect and nurture our public shade trees.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “This year’s tax incentive awardees are advancing scientific innovation, strengthening our economy and improving lives across the globe with groundbreaking work. Their successes are a shining example of why Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in life sciences.” ---Lt Gov. Kim Driscoll on the Healey Administration announcing $29.9 million in tax incentive awards, estimated to create 1,500 industry jobs, to 33 life sciences companies. “As summer temperatures get hotter, we are committed to ensuring that every Massachusetts resident has access to a beach or pool and to be able to learn the skills they need to have a safe and fun experience. Providing free swim lessons through the Learn to Swim program, as well as ensuring we have a full contingent of qualified lifeguards, is critical to promoting water safety throughout the summer season.” --- Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Brian Arrigo announcing that DCR will offer free swimming lessons to children aged four through 12 at 19 DCR pools across the state and that some lifeguard positions are still available. “Down payment assistance is a vital tool for empowering first-time homebuyers and advancing MassHousing’s commitment to expanding access to homeownership. By growing our leading down payment assistance program to reach more middle-income homebuyers statewide, we will grow consumer buying power and help ensure that homeownership remains accessible to working families across Massachusetts.” ---MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay announcing the expansion of its Down Payment Assistance mortgage program which now offers up to $25,000 in down payment assistance to all income-eligible first-time homebuyers, when purchasing a first home in any city or BEACON | SEE PAGE 21 ׉ 7cassandra://gTX_jh2rU8pIsr66KbBAKLfR-qLhc-hRCuWtKg4ijK00f`hTO_FY1׉E#THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 Page 19 Sa nr Sa a MASSHEALTH NOTICE OF INTENT TO PLACE A LIEN T he Commonwealth of Massachusetts, pursuant to regulations at 130 CMR, Section 515.012(A), will place a lien on a MassHealth recipient’s home by fi ling the lien at the registry of deeds for the applicable county where the recipient’s home is located. The situation arises where an individual is in a nursing home and MassHealth is paying for the nursing home care. The lien is designed to protect MassHealth in the event the home was sold. If the house were to be sold, MassHealth would have to be reimbursed first for MassHealth benefits paid to the individual residing in the nursing home. MassHealth will also have to be notifi ed if the nursing home resident dies and has a probate estate. If the home is part of the probate estate, then MassHealth also has the right to recover against that asset. For those individuals that had previously transferred their home to their children with a reserved life estate or for those individuals that had previously transferred their home to an irrevocable trust, MassHealth will not be able to recover from that asset as the asset itself is simply not part of the probate estate any longer. Prior to nursing home placement, by reserving a life estate, the homeowner/life tenant will still be able to claim an abatement on the real estate tax bill so long as he or she is still residing in the home as his or her principal residence. In the irrevocable trust context, so long as one of the Trustees resides in the home and the trust instrument provides for the right of the Trustee/Settlor to occupy, enjoy and possess the real estate that is held in the trust, the real estate tax exemption will also be allowed. The entire trust instrument need not be recorded. Only a Trust Certifi - cate gets recorded, which sets forth the name of the Trust, the date of the Trust, the Successor Trustees and certain administrative provisions. Therefore, if you transfer your principal residence into an irrevocable trust, you need not also reserve a life estate in the deed going into the trust. You’ll still be entitled to the abatement. MassHealth regulations authorize the placement of a lien against a nursing resident’s home if it has determined that he or she cannot reasonably be expected to be discharged from the nursing home or other medical institution and return home; and none of the following relatives lives in the home: 1. A spouse; 2. A child under the age of 21, or a blind or permanently and totally disabled child; or 3. A sibling who has an equity interest in the property and has been living in the home for at least one year before the nursing home resident’s admission to the nursing home or other medical facility. If the nursing home resident is subsequently discharged from the nursing home and returns home after the lien is placed, MassHealth will then release the lien. If the home is sold during the nursing home resident’s lifetime and the home is not in an irrevocable trust (i.e. only a life estate was reserved), there would be a repayment to MassHealth from the nursing home resident’s share of the net sales proceeds for the cost of all medical services provided on or after April 1, 1995. If a life estate is involved, the portion of the net sales proceeds attributable to the life tenant (based upon life expectancy tables) would have to be repaid to MassHealth. In this situation, we are assuming that the life tenant is also the nursing home resident. One must give some serious thought as to whether or not it is a good idea to sell the home in such a situation. It might be best if at all possible to hold onto the property until the nursing home resident dies. Repayment of the cost of medical services may be deferred while any of the following individuals are still lawfully living in the property: 1. A sibling who has been residing in the property for at least one year immediately prior to the nursing home resident’s admission into the nursing home or other medical institution; 2. A son or daughter who: a. Has been living on the property for at least 2 years immediately before the nursing home resident’s admission into the nursing home or other medical institution; b. Establishes to the satisfaction of MassHealth that he or she provided care that permitted the nursing home resident to live at home during the two– year period before institutionalization; and c. Has lived lawfully in the property on a continual basis while the nursing home resident has been in the nursing home or other medical institution. The principal residence is often a great asset to place into a Medicaid-qualifying trust in order to avoid future MassHealth liens down the road. They off er great fl exibility, asset protection features, spendthrift features, successor Trustee provisions in order to protect against mental incapacity issues, protection of minor grandchildren in the event of a premature death of a child, etc. Meanwhile, the right to occupy, enjoy and possess the residence still exists so that no one can ever take that right away from you until the day you die. You must first satisfy the 5-year look back period meaning 5 years must go by from the date the trust was created and funded with the principal residence before the residence will not be considered a countable asset. In that situation, there would be no so-called “disqualifying transfer”. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney,Certifi ed Public Accountant, Certifi ed Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a masters degree in taxation. y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Gravesite Care When You Can’t Get There Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend any services that off er gravesite cleaning and care? I recently visited my parent’s cemetery gravesite over Memorial Day weekend and found that their headstones were overtaken by weeds and moss and need to be cleaned. I live in a diff erent state and can’t get back very often. Who can I call on to help me with this? Long-Distance Linda Dear Linda, Depending on where your parents are buried, there are a hodgepodge of places you can turn to for gravesite grooming, decorating and special care when you can’t get there. Here’s what you should know. Gravesite Care It’s important to know that as a general rule, most cemeteries, like the one your parents are buried in, only provide basic grounds maintenance like mowing the grass and trash pickup. Special gravesite care and headstone cleaning is almost always up to the family. But for families who live a distance from their loved one’s burial place and can’t get back very often, what options are available? A good place to start is to contact the cemetery staff where your parents are buried to see if they off er any special gravesite cleaning services or know of anyone who does. If not, try reaching out to some local funeral homes in the area to see if they can help or refer you. If you don’t have any luck there, another option is to hire a gravesite care provider on your own. These are small or individually run businesses that provide services like plot maintenance including grass trimming and weeding, headstone cleaning and restoration, fl ower and wreath deliveries and more. And so you know the work was comFloral Services If you’re interested in decorating your parent’s gravesite next Memorial Day with fresh cut fl owers or live plants, another option is to call a local fl orist to see if they can make a delivery directly to their grave site. Many florists will accommodate this request if you provide them the cemetery location and plot number, but you may not get a photo verifying the delivery. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. pleted or the fl owers were delivered, many companies will take pictures of the gravesite and e-mail or text them to you. There are literally hundreds of small businesses that provide gravesite care services in local communities or regions across the country. To fi nd them, do a simple Google or Bing internet search, and type in something like “grave care services” or “cemetery headstone cleaning” plus your city or state. Or use an AI tool like Chat GPT or Gemini to do a search. You can also seek help by contacting the local memorial society or funeral consumer alliance program near your parent’s gravesite – see Funerals.org/fi nd-an-affi liate for contact information. These are volunteer groups that off er a wide range of information on local funeral and cremation providers, cemeteries and more. The cost for most gravesite care services can range anywhere from $50 to over $250 for headstone cleaning and memorial restoration (depending on the job size), $50 to $200 for fl ower and wreath deliveries, and $30 to $80 for plot grooming. Special discounts for multiple gravesite services and visits may also exist. nior nior ׉ 7cassandra://mZ87umx2yOev74sBnYML9QkZGRI6--E8tOKSgO5N1mc1,`hTO_FY2hTO_FY1 rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://Q4ez-nfYGTrEVbl-lyPNcDUJ4wIKVbxN5CDpJ76sFMs`'p׉ 7cassandra://cpgykLj1_gLqZ2QmH9bEmsButQK38dfzNTPsDGRlO98;`׉ 7cassandra://_YSpW1Jm4chJCvJetZyM5htLt51S-JtlqwEshC2aOb07`hTO_FYsטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://XZioRJyIqHHFqn7NkrEv8i_lgx88bK6ioFON9i3cNPUe`'p׉ 7cassandra://7eyGVaJRgPkRG-WrvQTxZNw_YiuV24hF5eRmrD7wixAˣ`׉ 7cassandra://YOyZpgbkrE0mH11oZeiby8lyjyf4BzPSpBgiViqSoa8:`hTO_FYuנhTO_FY|79ׁHhttp://CANDBLANDSCAPINGINC.COMׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FY{z9ׁH!http://www.americanexteriorma.comׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FYz4x9ׁH!http://Carrijohomeimprovement.comׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FYyxV9ׁHhttp://ing.comׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FYx̫9ׁHhttps://www.maׁ ׁ Ј׉E1. Mr. Peabody (from the TV cartoon series “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends”) 2. Western Massachusetts 3. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon 4. Louisiana 5. Scribe 6. Waldorf Astoria (Waldorf salad) 7. Niagara Falls 8. “The Da Vinci Code” 9. President Dwight Eisenhower’s 10. Four (Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia) 11. It was originally Scholastic Aptitude Test but became Scholastic Assessment Test 12. French (based on French National Assembly seats) 13. 1978 14. Thailand 15. Cambridge 16. 0 of 21 (His overall time was the best.) 17. Bugs Bunny 18. They are names of colors as well as flowers. 19. Muhammad Ali 20. China Page 20 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 OBITUARIES Alfonso J. (“Al”) Russo O f Saugus. Age 96, died Friday, June 13th at Salem Hospital. He was the devoted husband of the late Rena (Hollett) Russo, with whom he shared sixty years of marriage. Born in Boston and raised in Revere, Al (also known as “Fungi”) was a resident of Saugus for over sixty-five years and spent nearly thirty winters in Hallandale Beach, Florida. He was the faithful son of the late Joseph S. and Vita (Graffeo) Russo. A Korean War era veteran of the US Army, Al owned and operated Russo’s Automatic Transmissions in Lynn for fifty-five years. A lifelong fisherman and boatsman, Al was a founding member of the Fox Hill Yacht Club in Saugus where he tended bar and worked many an event through his sixty years with “The Club”. In recent years, Al was known for tearing up the dance floors of the North Shore and South Florida. He was the definition of a gregarious man. Al leaves his loving son Joseph and daughter-in-law Mary, both of Lynn, his four cherished grandchildren, Andrew (“Drew”) Russo and his wife Patricia Ridge of Lynn, Sarah and her husband Nicholas Frazier of Lynn, Christopher Masiello, RN/MSN of Gardner, and Matthew Masiello and his partner Sarain To of Saugus; the new light of his life, great-grandson Bensen Masiello; his beloved brothers Larry and Joseph, both of Georgetown; Charles of Revere; and James of South Carolina; his son-in-law Robert Glass of Revere; his sisters-inlaw Rita of Georgetown and Donna of South Carolina; his treasured companion Sara Ombrello of Florida and Ohio; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. In addition to his wife and parents, Al was preceded in death by his loving daughter Cheryl; beloved sister Mary (Mastrorio) and brother Anthony; mother and father-inlaw Mary and Jabez Hollett; sisters-in-law Eleanore Ferguson, Anna Russo, and Katie Russo; and brothers-inlaw Joe Mastrorio and James Hollett. Relatives and friends are invited to attend an hour of visitation in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, 549 Lincoln Ave., SAUGUS on Friday, June 20, from 10 – 11 a.m. followed by a funeral service in the funeral home at 11 a.m. Interment in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park in Peabody. In lieu of flowers, donations in Al’s memory may be made to a charity of your choice. REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS 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 Hernandez, Sara Q Ketsoian, Armenak Le, Trung T Ortiz, Jimmy Pannullo, Giuseppina Pina, Lillette M Reid, Annette Roosa, Patrick F Strangie, Rachel R BUYER2 Puerta, Sebastian C Ketsoian, Nazik Banh, Minh N Pavey, Aron Pina, Manuel R Reid, Robert Strangie, Stephen P SELLER1 Lamb, Jessica A Banh, Minh Reyes, Rebeca M Pontante, Catherine Sarkis, Patrick Oliveri Jr, Carl Gardikas, Adrienne Strangie, Rachel Manley, Christine Wrigley, Brenda Oliveri, Jessica L Strangie, Stephen P 1. June 20 is National Take Your Dog to Work Day; what is the name of the cartoon genius who often went with the dog Sherman into the Wayback Machine? 2. Where would you find the Mohawk Trail? 3. Legend has it that what garden was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? 4. June is National Accordion Awareness Month; zydeco music features the accordion and originated in what state? 5. Which is not a Scout rank: Life, Scribe or Tenderfoot? 6. On June 21, 1948, news of the first vinyl LP record was announced at a news conference at what NYC hotel with a name that includes the name of a side dish? 7. Where in the USA would you find the Maid of the Mist boat tour? 8. On June 22, 1964, Dan Brown was born; he wrote what book involving Leonardo da Vinci? 9. Whose 1953 inaugural parade had 22,000 military members? 10. How many U.S. states are called a Commonwealth: two, four or six? 11. On June 23, 1926, the College Board’s SAT test was first given; what does SAT stand for? 12. The political terms right and left began in what revolution: Chinese, French or Russian? 13. The first American casino outside Nevada opened in Atlantic City when: 1955, 1964 or 1978? SELLER2 Lamb 2nd, James A Le, Trung T ADDRESS 355 Central St 1909 Lewis O Gray Dr #1909 194 Lynn Fells Pkwy 215 Central St 75 Fairmount Ave 1003 Lewis O Gray Dr #1003 911 Sherwood Forest Ln #911 65 Denver St 12 Oak Point Rd CITY Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus 14. On June 24, 1939, Siam was renamed what? 15. America’s first printing press was in 1638 in what locale: Boston, Cambridge or Salem? 16. How many stages of the 2025 Giro d’Italia bicycle race did the winner win: 0, 10 or 20? 17. On June 25, 1949, the cartoon “Long-Haired Hare” with what character was released? 18. In what two ways are pink, rose and violet similar? 19. Who was nicknamed “The Greatest”? 20. On June 26, 1498, the bristle toothbrush was invented by an emperor in what country: China, Japan or Russia? DATE 05.30.25 05.29.25 05.30.25 05.28.25 05.30.25 05.29.25 05.30.25 05.29.25 05.29.25 PRICE 830000 565000 780000 745000 685000 639900 635000 715000 850000 ANSWERS Maria F. Gilroy O f Saugus, formerly of Lynn and Peabody. Passed away after a lengthy illness on June 11th, 2025, at the age of 67. Born in OBITS | SEE PAGE 22 ׉ 7cassandra://_YSpW1Jm4chJCvJetZyM5htLt51S-JtlqwEshC2aOb07`hTO_FY3׉E THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 BEACON | FROM PAGE 18 town in the Bay State. More information at: https://www.masshousWe follow Social Distancing Guidelines! Licensed & Insured Page 21 ing.com./en/home-ownership/homebuyers/down-payment-assistance “Students and school districts deserve a less polluted enviFree Estimates Carpentry * Kitchen & Bath * Roofs * Painting Decks * Siding * Carrijohomeimprovement.com Call 781-710-8918 * Saugus, MA General Contractor * Interior & Exterior C B& American Exterior and Window Corporation Contact us for all of your home improvement projects and necessities. Call Jeff or Bob Toll Free: 1-888-744-1756 617-699-1782 / www.americanexteriorma.com Windows, Siding, Roofing, Carpentry & More! 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Call Eric: (857) 322-2854 Frank Berardino MA License 31811 Steps Stoops Rebuilt or Repaired Chimney Rebuilt or Repaired House Foundation Leaks Repaired All Basement Repairs Chimney Inspection Roofing & Siding Masonry Repairs Window Installation & Repairs Drywall & Carpentry Waterproofing • 24 - Hour Service • Emergency Repairs BERARDINO Plumbing & Heating Residential & Commercial Service Gas Fitting • Drain Service 617.699.9383 Senior Citizen Discount ronment than is currently the case with diesel bus fleets. The growing shift to electric buses represents a transformative opportunity to modernize transportation while cutting costs as well as creating a learning opportunity for students and communities.” ---Massachusetts Clean Energy Center CEO Dr. Emily Reichert, announcing $9.5 million in funding to help communities replace diesel-powered school buses with electric alternatives. 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 BEACON | SEE PAGE 22 Clean-Outs! We take and dispose from cellars, attics, garages, yards, etc. Call Robert at: 781-844-0472 ׉ 7cassandra://YOyZpgbkrE0mH11oZeiby8lyjyf4BzPSpBgiViqSoa8:`hTO_FY4hTO_FY3 rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://hUeWUHGis0_Xirg4p7vrR8N39dxddzyCFpcspQWHhSQk`'p׉ 7cassandra://KNLPdVIIq018eUpdDYA0HHb1Wke4r6bbXNWPB4dwLyc͡V`׉ 7cassandra://itwEx3HwpDocjj8XpDnfh-uZGbTvYcM2jtOBhKVx6XM.`hTO_FY}טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://is1pHLaocpBSlkLnO8miEMUEynxTM_sj_3dgUTJFW_A`'p׉ 7cassandra://DTe51ACZFf_7V-h58igPb1ppUttWrBce6lG_LbqVbmUͥ`׉ 7cassandra://j5_ojyBCnP5Yd_PruK3GR73-mzhNG5DJ_4iWdUnQ9uE3`hTO_FYנhTO_FY6U= 9ׁHhttp://call.comׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FY9ׁHhttp://TrinityHomesRE.comׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FYd9ׁHhttp://Rockets.orgׁ ׁ ЈנhTO_FYn49ׁHhttp://fh.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉E[Page 22 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 OBITS | FROM PAGE 20 Lynn on September 19th,1957 she was the daughter of the late Frank Barresi and her beloved mother Palmira Barresi (Fortucci). Maria was raised and educated in Lynn and graduated from Lynn Classical High School with the class of 1975. Following a brief stint in law enforcement, Maria eventually found her true calling and was a proud registered nurse for over 25 years. Whether it was in a hospital setting, a nursing home, or private duty care, through her compassion and love for others Maria loved every moment she spent as a nurse and was proud of the positive impact she had on people’s lives. For the last 45 years Maria was a doting and proud mother to her 2 children, Patrick Gilroy, and Marianna Gilroy. In her later years Maria found comfort and tremendous joy when spending time with her grandchildren, Caitlin Gilroy, Connor Gilroy, Roger Ordway, Audrey Smith, Tyler Smith, and Dylan Smith. In addition to her children and grandchildren Maria leaves behind her daughter-in-law, Katrina Piteri-Gilroy, of Windham NH, and her lifelong best friend Mary Lembidakis-Ward of Houston Texas. Maria will be missed by many people and friends from her apartment community in Saugus MA, and her family is grateful for the years of friendship and love her apartment community provided. Maria was predeceased in death by her parents, Frank and Palmira Barresi, by her brothers George and Alfred Barresi and in 2019 by her long-time husband and partner, John J. Gilroy. Maria’s family will hold a private celebration of life. In lieu of fl owers please consider donating to CAB Health and recovery services in Salem, MA. Anthony L. Melchionna O f Saugus formerly of Revere. Age 85, died on Sunday, June 15th at Beverly Hospital. He was the husband of the late Linda (Hinckley) Lewis Melchionna. Born in Quincy and raised in East Boston, Mr. Melchionna was the son of the late Louis Melchionna and Nancy (Bonacorso) Iengo. Anthony was a former letter carrier for the United States Postal Service for over 20 years. Mr. Melchionna is survived by one son, Nicholas Melchionna of Lynn; two daughters, Laura M. Schugarts of FL and Patricia Lewis Pepi of Saugus; and six grandchildren, Lina, Tori, Samantha, Rion, Nancy and Anthony. He was predeceased by his son, Anthony L. Melchionna, Jr. and two brothers, Louis and Nicholas Melchionna. Relatives and friends were invited to attend visitation in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, Saugus on Wednesday, June 18 followed by a funeral service in the funeral home. Interment in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park in Peabody. In lieu of flowers, donations in Anthony’s memory may be made to Food for the Hungry at fh.org. BEACON | FROM PAGE 21 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 June 9-13, the House met for a total of ten minutes while the Senate met for a total of two hours and one minute. Mon. June 9House11:01 a.m. to 11:04 a.m. Senate 11:10 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. Tues.June 10 No House session. READING| FROM PAGE 16 bedtime, sit with a child, share a book or read alongside them. Ask them questions, but above all, make it fun! Research shows that children who read during the summer months maintain literacy skills that they’ve worked hard to build during the school year. According to Reading Rockets.org, research with 116 first-, secTRINITY REAL ESTATE 321 MAIN STREET | SAUGUS, MA | VILLAGE PARK TrinityHomesRE.com Curious what your property is worth? Reach out to Trinity Real Estate today for a FREE home market analysis! Put your dreams in our hands! 471 Broadway, Lynn List Price: $839,000 2 Family in convenient location..1st Unit has 4 Rms/2 Brs/1 Bath that features an eat-in cabinet kitchen w/gas stove, disposal, refrigerator and tiled floor, a large living room. The freshly painted 2nd Unit features an eat-in cabinet kitchen, a large open dining rm/living rm and a private master suite w/master bath and hardwood floors along with a small bonus area, 3 good size bedrooms and another full bath. 2 new gas furnaces and hot water heaters, upgraded electrical, 2 washer/dryer hook-ups,10 yr old roof, outdoor patio, yard space, 2 Car Garage. Listing Agent: Pat Torcivia 781.820.0974 781.231.9800 28 Columbus Ave, Saugus List Price: $629,900 Adorable 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom home on the first floor, offering comfort, style, and convenience. Step into a warm and inviting living room with a cozy fireplace, perfect for relaxing evenings. The adjacent dining room flows seamlessly into a wellappointed kitchen featuring stainless steel appliances and stunning Corian countertops. Enjoy morning coffee in the bright sunporch with direct access to an oversized deck, ideal for entertaining or simply unwinding. Listing Agent: Lucia Ponte 781.883.8130 7 No Senate session. Wed. June 11 No House session. No Senate session. .Thurs. June 12 House11:04 a.m. to 11:11 a.m. Senate 11:14 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. Fri. June 13 No House session. No Senate session. Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019. ond- and third-graders in a school in a middle-class neighborhood found the decoding skills of nearly 45% of the participants and the fl uency of 25% declined between May and September. Stay smart! Have fun! Stop by the library to register for summer reading or to fi nd a just-right book for your child. It’s all free, all summer at the Saugus Public Library! 131 Franklin Street, 104, Stoneham List Price: $334,900 Brookmeadows one-bedroom checks every box. Plank floors run wall-to-wall, designer sconces, fresh paint, and a brand-new LG full-size washer & dryer tucked neatly in-unit. The 2023 stainless LG kitchen suite—smooth-top 5-burner range, bottom-freezer fridge, and whisper-quiet dishwasher—means zero appliance headaches for years. ivate patio, storage locker just across the hall. A 2020 hot-water heater, professionally managed grounds, and deeded parking only two spots from the front entrance translate to effortless living. With pet approval (1 dog or 2 cats) Listing Agent: Dale Brousseau p u 617.957.2728 Providing Real Estate Services for Nearly Two Decades Servicing Saugus, Melrose, Wakefield, Malden, all North Shore communities, Boston and Beyond. Follow Us ׉ 7cassandra://itwEx3HwpDocjj8XpDnfh-uZGbTvYcM2jtOBhKVx6XM.`hTO_FY5׉E6THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 Page 23 ׉ 7cassandra://j5_ojyBCnP5Yd_PruK3GR73-mzhNG5DJ_4iWdUnQ9uE3`hTO_FY6hTO_FY5 rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://rX794GPVpZ59vJ0Cs-zLsJRd8uccl1TPzmNDWdRxThw`'p׉ 7cassandra://0x3jyeONAkMPTuIj7FAgpNQozyC6kSaHmI-WuAeA45Iͥ`׉ 7cassandra://RVrP4CpUb_s_Ufrz5GOizra64HaTsdRWrMGJ7obraTw4%`hTO_FY׉E6Page 24 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 ׉ 7cassandra://RVrP4CpUb_s_Ufrz5GOizra64HaTsdRWrMGJ7obraTw4%`hTO_FY7׈EhTO_FY8hTO_FY7 r,Saugus Advocate 06/20/2025Saugus Advocate 06/20/2025hTOt8Q,$Dj