׉?4ׁB!בCט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://K-YkVgIza1_xPD1_fOF9EtO1E_je40fPTReAFJrGSrI`)׉ 7cassandra://LKHJWp-ev8EGzs7RgQIgQQyXyrPpNg_4Scvn6t3CZtA͚`J׉ 7cassandra://gVVp_ThGOSoE5nELCCxAC9K8YM18cBVQAmY1x85ZTts/*`̰e]h@*נe]h@- 9ׁHhttp://www.advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј׈Ee\h@׉E SAUGUS Have a Safe and Happy New Year 2024! DCAT AD CAT C YEAR IN REVIEW: 2023 A TE E E Vol. 25, No.52 -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 781-233-4446 Friday, December 29, 2023 Top Ten Saugus Stories for 2023 A campaign to change the Town Charter and the fi ring of School Supt. mcmahon dominated the news By Mark E. Vogler s we approach the New Year, The Saugus Advocate took time this week to refl ect and look back on what we consider the most signifi cant stories of 2023. It is a very subjective exercise that most newspapers like to do as the centerpiece of a “Year In Review” edition. In compiling our list of “Top Ten Saugus Stories for 2023,” we perused the cover pages of this year’s editions, making note of the stories that dominated the headlines. We also reached out to town and school officials to get their opinion on what they thought the top stories were. “There were several stories that made the headlines in 2023, but I believe the ‘City vs. Town’ discussion along with the dismissing of the School Superintendent were two of the more notable ones,” Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta said. A majority of the Board of Selectmen mentioned efforts by then-Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano to change the charter as their top story. In last year’s “Year In Review” edition published by The Saugus Advocate, Cogliano called it his top priority for 2023. “I would like to see Saugus work, and I will lead the TOP STORIES | SEE PAGE 2 SANTA’S THREE-HOUR TOUR HONORED BY THE TOWN: Jack Klecker and Gail Cassarino displayed their 2023 “Person of the Year” Awards at the 42nd Annual Saugus Founder’s Day Celebration in front of Saugus Town Hall on Sept. 9. Please see inside for more photos and stories highlighting interesting people and events over the past year. (Saugus Advocate fi le photo by Mark E. Vogler) A fl oat carrying Santa Claus excited the crowd during the town’s beloved Christmas Eve Parade, which turned 40 last Sunday night. Please see inside for more photos and the story. (Saugus Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) MARCHETTI CORP. 5 Regular Unleaded $2.999 MidUnleaded $3.739 Super $4.059 Diesel Fuel $3.899 Diesel Truck Stop ULS at the Pump $4.759 $3.59 9 DEF HEATING OIL Happy 2024! 3 Call for Current Price! 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If all goes well, we could have a question on the November ballot to change the charter and form a charter commission,” he said. “Should everything go to plan, we could have our first election for Mayor in 2025, which also goes along with the expiration of the current Managers Contract. I believe the top official in Saugus should be elected by the people and not simply reappointed by 3 members of the Board of Selectmen. I would imagine a Mayoral race in Saugus would be quite interesting.... something I would definitely be interested in.” Based on the headline count on the front pages of our newspaper and the significance the story played in the lives of Saugus residents, we ranked the campaign to change Saugus governance and the School Committee’s decision to fire its first woman superintendent as the top stories in Saugus during 2023. Here’s is the list of what we consider the town’s most significant news stories over the past year 1) A campaign to change Saugus governance The town engaged in a yearlong debate initiated by Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano on whether to change the Saugus Town Charter. Cogliano initially suggested that Saugus should consider switching to a city with a mayoral form of government. He also said he could support having an elected town manager if Saugus didn’t want to turn into a city. Cogliano spearheaded a petition drive that obtained 3,305 certified voter signatures – more than enough to guarantee a ballot question would be put before voters. At the same time, voters would be asked to elect a nine-member Charter Commission. The race for a seat on the Charter Commission drew interest from 27 candidates, whose names were listed on the ballot, along with the question: “Shall a commission be elected to revise the Charter of the Town of Saugus?” In the November town election, Saugus rejected that ballot question by 193 votes. 2 A) Firing Saugus’ first woman education leader The dismissal of Saugus Superintendent of Schools Erin McMahon over alleged misconduct involving ethical and conflict of interest-related issues drew significant attention for Saugus Public Schools – from January, when the School Committee placed her on paid administrative leave – until early November, when the members voted to fire her. McMahon, the first woman superintendent in the history of Saugus Public Schools, said she believes that the allegations that eventually led to her firing were motivated by gender discrimination. But the lengthy report that details the specific reasons for McMahon’s termination identifies the source of the initial complaints as a high-level woman administrator – Deputy Superintendent Margaret Ferrick Our 51st Anniversary Dan - 1972 We Sell Cigars & Accessories! ALL MAJOR BRANDS Singles * Tins * Bundles * Boxes * Travel Humidors * Desk Top Humidors * Many Types of Lighters * Ash Trays * Juuls * Vapes * Glass Pipes * Rewards Program * CBD Infused Products * GIFTS UNDER $30 - GIFT CERTIFICATES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR STOREWIDE PRICE REDUCTIONS! Closed Christmas Day * Reg. Hours New Year’s Eve * Open New Year’s Day 10AM-3 PM STORE HOURS: Sun. - Wed.: 9AM - 6PM / Thurs. - Sat. 9AM - 7PM R.Y.O. TOBACCO & TUBES ON SALE! WE MAKE HOUSE KEYS! -------------------WE HAVE GIFT CARDS! Green Label Cigar Sale! Buy 2 Cigars, Get One FREE! A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE (781) 289-4959 Chris - 2023 – whom McMahon had hired to be her number two person. The allegations of wrongdoing against McMahon focused on potential conflicts of interest involving the superintendent’s working relationship with a consultant, fraudulent activity in the payment of invoices to a certain professional development provider for the School District, inappropriately used grant funds and questions about the significant amount of time she was spending out of the School District. McMahon was halfway through a five-year, million-dollar contract at the time she was placed on administrative leave in January. This marked the first time in the history of Saugus Public Schools that the School Committee approved a five-year contract to the leader of the town’s public education system. School Committee members were optimistic that McMahon could make good on her five-year mission to move the school district from the bottom 10 percent in the state to the top 10 percent. But the investment failed. Happy Holidays! 2 B) Hiring a Saugonian to replace McMahon Committee members immediately found a silver lining in a year of turmoil when they offered the superintendent’s job to longtime Saugus educator and former High School Principal Michael Hashem, who had been serving as acting superintendent during the nine and a half months that McMahon had been on administrative leave. Hashem agreed to sign a three-year contract that will keep him as superintendent through June 30, 2027. In a year of turmoil, school officials looked upon the Saugus native as a stabilizing force who could oversee plans to turn around one of the state’s lowest performing school districts. Hashem, 56, is a Saugus native and a product of the town’s education system – a 1985 Saugus High School graduate. He has spent three decades of his professional career as a teacher and administrator in Saugus Public Schools. He started out as a high school math teacher in 1991. He was in his third year as principal of Saugus High School in 2016 when he offered to accept the role of interim superintendent and later acting superintendent back in March. He later returned to Saugus High School as principal in July of 2016. After eight years as principal of Saugus High School, Hashem gave up his administrative job for the classroom as a mathematics teacher in June of 2021. School Committee members lauded Hashem’s leadership, particularly for overseeing the school district’s move from the old Saugus High School to the new Saugus Middle-High School Complex in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 3) The 2023 Town Election The defeat of a ballot question to create a nine-member Charter Commission drew most of the attention, as voters had to simultaneously consider who to select from 27 candidates in the event that the question passed. It was a good year for newcomers to run for Town Meeting seats. Thirteen of 19 candidates who challenged incumbents running for reelection in the Town Meeting races were elected. Ten of the 47 Town Meeting members seeking reelection lost their seats. Voters decided to stick with the five selectmen for a third consecutive two-year term (Debra Panetta, Jeffrey Cicolini, Michael Serino, Anthony Cogliano and Corinne Riley). But two of the incumbent School Committee members – Leigh M. Gerow and Joseph Dennis Gould – lost their seats. Former School Committee Member Thomas Richard Whittredge and newcomer Stephanie Lauren Mastrocola replaced them. School Committee Chair Vincent Serino beat out Whittredge, a former School Committee chair, by 20 votes in the race for committee leadership. School Committee Members Ryan Fisher and John Hatch were each elected to their third consecutive two-year-term. 4) The pot business comes to Saugus The Board of Selectmen voted to issue a special permit to only one of seven applicants seeking to locate a retail marijuana dispensary on Route 1 in Saugus. Selectmen could have issued up to three S-2 permits. But with Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini abstaining from the proceedings because of a potential conflict of interest, it was difficult to achieve a consensus vote on any of the permits. The process became a contentious and polarizing one when Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano criticized the findings of the Marijuana Establishment Review Committee and disparaged the committee’s choice of Uma Flowers – the unanimous selection of the seven-member committee, achieving a perfect score of 140 total points based on an “exceptional” rating by each TOP STORIES | SEE PAGE 4 ׉ 7cassandra://uIOfTd5nak385BpeVeeastRya24Ou5PhNqMOxtQFXTs+L`̰e\h@׉E ^THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 ~ The Advocate Asks ~ Page 3 Selectmen and School Committee members pick their top stories for 2023 and discuss their priorities for the new year. HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM SAUGUS: The Saugus Board of Selectmen and Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree gathered around the Christmas tree on the fi rst fl oor of Saugus Town Hall earlier this month. Sharing their holiday hopes and best wishes to town residents for a happy new year, were – pictured from left to right – Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree, Selectman Anthony Cogliano, Selectman Mike Serino, Selectman Corinne Riley, Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeff rey Cicolini and Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Editor’s Note: For this week’s column, we reached out to each of the members of the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee and asked them if they would like to name their top story in Saugus during 2023 and talk about their top priorities for the new year. All five selectmen responded. Two of the five School Committee members participated. Here are their individual responses. Q: What do you consider the top story in Saugus during 2023? Feel free to elaborate. Also, what are your top priorities for the new year? Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta There were several stories that made the headlines in 2023, but I believe the ‘City vs. Town’ discussion along with the dismissing of the School Superintendent were two of the more notable ones. Q: What are your top priorities for the new year? –Saugus has two major opportunities that will require investments. First is the new Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School. Although we have established a special stabilization fund for this project, and Town MeetASKS | SEE PAGE 8 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! 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Hashem’s 30-year career took an unexpected turn – from High School math teacher to superintendent (Editor’s Note: When Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Erin McMahon went on paid administrative leave in January in the midst of an investigation into her alleged misconduct, the School Committee turned to former Saugus High Principal Michael C. Hashem to get the school district through some challenging times. Hashem, who was teaching High School math, agreed to serve as acting superintendent – something he had done back in 2016 when the school district was looking to hire a new superintendent. Hashem served as Saugus’ temporary education leader for about nine and a half months. After School Committee members voted to fire McMahon on Nov. 2, they made an offer to Hashem to serve as superintendent in his hometown on a fulltime basis. Hashem, a 1985 Saugus High School graduate who 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 worked eight years as the Saugus High principal before returning to the classroom in June of 2021, accepted the position. Hashem agreed to sign a threeyear contract that will keep him as superintendent through June 30, 2027. He agreed to write the following article as a message to the community about how he is embracing one of the biggest challenges of his career as a Saugus educator.) By Michael C. Hashem Superintendent, Saugus Public Schools The Saugus Public Schools have been a huge part of my life for over 50 years. First as a student, then a student-teacher, teacher, advisor, coach, curriculum specialist, curriculum director, principal, and now superintendent. For me serving the Town of Saugus has been a privilege. As your superintendent, I am honored, proud, and humbled to serve our district and community. I am thankful for the School Committee’s confidence in me, but it will require a true team effort to keep us moving forward. As a district we are focused on supporting students, staff, and families and providing a safe and welcoming learning environment. Another focus is communication. We want to ensure that we provide open and detailed communication to all stakeholders. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, we will promote student learning through aligned curriculum and targeted instruction. As an educator for over thirty years these have always been priorities and as a parent and a member of the Saugus community this is especially important for me now. We will continue to work as a district to collaborate with the town and the members of the community to support our One Town - One Team approach. Our key goals and focus for the district are: (1) supporting teachers through coaching and professional development to create the learning environments needed to effectively support all students, (2) strengthening communicaTOP STORIES | FROM PAGE 2 member in each of the five cattheir safety and success as our priorities. As we close out one calenMichael C. Hashem (Courtesy photo to Saugus Advocate) tion and engagement efforts so that students, staff, parents and caregivers are seen, heard, and feel connected to the Saugus Public Schools, and (3) providing all students with standards-aligned, consistently outstanding instruction in supportive learning environments. As we move forward, we hope to offer our students the opportunity to learn and flourish in our schools. We as a community need to always keep in mind that the students are our priority. We want our schools safe, welcoming, and productive learning environments. Please realize that I, along with the leadership team, will make decisions with our students and egories that were considered. 5) WIN Waste Innovadar year and move on to the next, there is often reflection as it relates to each past year, and anticipation for the upcoming year. As I reflect on the year 2023, I can honestly say that it did not go as I forecasted on December 31st, 2022. At this time last year, I was teaching two Geometry classes, two Precalculus classes, and one Calculus class. My oldest was home from her first semester in college, and was looking ahead as the coach of Girls 7th Grade Travel Basketball. How quickly things change. While my fate and plans have shifted, I am excited about the challenges that I have faced and will continue to embrace. Along with members of the district and school leadership, we will continue to be visiting classrooms in 2024 to ensure that the curriculum is integrated with integrity, and that both staff and students have what they need to be successful. Not every problem will be solved nor will every issue be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, but your concerns will be heard, evaluated, and solutions will be attempted to make certain that our students have what they need to be safe and successful. tion-related issues The aging trash-to-energy plant on Route 107 continued to keep its owner in the public spotlight. A bad valve at the WIN Waste Innovations plant caused a deafening noise that frightened hundreds of Saugus and Revere residents. WIN Waste issued an apology to Saugus and Revere residents and promised to take steps to avoid a future occurrence. After some bitterly divisive debate, selectmen voted 3-2 in April in support of a Host Community Agreement (HCA) with WIN Waste Innovations that won’t take effect unless the state allows the company to expand its ash landfill. Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini said he doesn’t support expansion of the ash landfill, but cast what many Town Hall observers consider the tie-breaking vote just in case state environmental officials later retreat from a decision to not allow farther expansion of the ash landfill TOP STORIES | SEE PAGE 9 ׉ 7cassandra://LzgP0sZETzW224Hayp-zq6xukMbFVD2FU5pVub9UP1w+`̰e\h@׉E THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Page 5 One More Tribute to Two Great Dads By Joe McConnell A nother year will be ending in two days, and traditionally newspaper reporters would have already wreaked havoc through their archives to chronicle the most important stories for that final week’s publication. It’s never an easy task, but some years are tougher than others. In 2023, The Advocate family had to sadly cope with losses. On June 30, the newspaper’s cofounder, James Donald Mitchell, Jr., passed away, and just 12 days later on July 11, my dad, Joseph F. McConnell, Sr., left us for the world of eternal life, as well. At that point, the emotions and memories started to fl ow. It had nothing to do with their careers, but what they meant to the world around them as a whole. As his sportswriter for the better part of three decades. I saw Jim’s newspaper empire grow exponentially. It all started in his native Chelsea, but in 1993, his son, James David Mitchell, bought out his dad’s company, Suff olk County Publications, and, through his own company, Advocate Newspapers, Inc., expanded to Revere and Everett, where it became a must-read every Friday, and it still is to this day. Jim and his son have never been afraid to expose the inner workings of city government, while still promoting Everett Pride in their thorough coverage of its exemplary sports teams coupled with the tremendous overall accomplishments of the city’s residents. The Mitchells eventually went into Malden and Saugus, and just like in Everett and Revere, those publications have also become the papers of record over time in their communities. They have also signifi cantly grown their online presence to give those readers who have moved away from the area an opportunity to catch up on their hometowns on a weekly basis. But beyond all this was a man who championed the underdog. Jimmy’s dad treated everybody with the respect they deserved. It didn’t matter to him if they were able-bodied or they had special needs, they were all the same to him. He befriended them all, and Longtime Advocate sportswriter Joe McConnell, Jr. is shown with his dad, Joe, Sr., in 2014 after he celebrated his 89th birthday at the Texas Roadhouse in Everett with his son and many other family members. Joe, Sr. passed away on July 11. (Courtesy photo) if they had a need, he’d voluntarily reach into his pocket or make a phone call to help them out. He also approached charities and civic-minded organizations the same way. His philanthropy was immeasurable – to go along with the thousands of people he personally met throughout the decades, many of whom still have their own positive memories of him. My dad, who served in the Navy during World War II and in the National Guard during the Korean War, retired from the telephone company in 1987 after almost fi ve decades on the job. 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All of these people are interesting. Many of them contribute to the betterment of the community. Here is a look back at most of the Saugonians who made the cover over the past 12 months. JANUARY The Saugus Middle/High School Courtyard is dedicated to former Principal Kenneth Fabrizio, who served Saugus Public Schools for 39 years. Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member Mark Bell talks about top issues affecting the people he represents in the fi rst in a series of public forums, “Saugus Over Coff ee.” FEBRUARY Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Christine Moreschi talks about top issues affecting the people she represents in the second in a series of public forums, “Saugus Over Coff ee.” Saugus native and accomplished chef Paul Delios has gone back to his culinary roots by opening “a neighborhood restaurant” for East Saugus that specializes in Italian food. MARCH Jake D’Eon of Saugus Boy Scout Troop 62 has an ambitious public service project to RON’S OIL Call For PRICE MELROSE, MA 02176 NEW CUSTOMER’S WELCOME ACCEPTING VISA, MASTERCARD & DISCOVER (781) 397-1930 OR (781) 662-8884 100 GALLON MINIMUM Need a hall for your special event? The Schiavo Club, located at 71 Tileston Street, Everett is available for your Birthdays, Anniversaries, Sweet 16 parties and more? For more info, call (857) 249-7882 JOHN MACKEY & ASSOCIATES ~ Attorneys at Law ~ * PERSONAL INJURY * REAL ESTATE * FAMILY LAW * PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY * LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES 14 Norwood Street Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 WWW.JMACKEYLAW.COM earn his Eagle Scout Badge: He plans to oversee the construction of eight new handicap accessible picnic tables for the Pinetops picnic area at Breakheart Reservation. Precinct 3 Town Meeting Member Annemarie Tesora talks about top issues affecting the people she represents in the third in a series of public forums, “Saugus Over Coffee.” Patrolmen Brett DiPanfi lo and Alison Cooper, two of fi ve Saugus police offi cers running in the Boston Marathon, talk about their goals. APRIL Police Detective Stacey Forni, Sgt. Stephen Rappa and Lt. Anthony LoPresti, three of fi ve Saugus police offi cers running in the Boston Marathon, talk about their goals. Town Moderator Stephen N. Doherty of Precinct 4 talks about top issues affecting people he represents in the fourth in a series of public forums, “Saugus Over Coffee.” Precinct 5 Town Meeting Member Ronald M. Wallace talks about top issues affecting people he represents in the fi fth in a series of public forums, “Saugus Over Coff ee.” MAY Norma Bacon turns 100 and is still quite active for her age: She still drives, shops for her own groceries, cooks her own meals and continues to vote in Saugus elections. Attorney John J. Vasapolli has represented the Town of Saugus as town counsel on legal matters for 42 years, serving under nine town managers. Midge Dawicki likes to call April 26, 2005, her “celebration of life day” because she’s still alive after breaking her neck in an accident and becoming a quadriplegic. JUNE Annette Slocomb turns 100 and is still quite active for a person of her age: She still drives and credits the Saugus Senior Center for helping her to maintain a happy, healthy and independent life. Saugus native Michael R. Maruzzi is making the most of his life after suff ering a devastating spinal cord injury in 1987 during a high school hockey game. He went to college, got a teaching degree, taught math at Saugus High School for 23 years, got married, has become an advocate for spinal cord injured peoA noble New Year’s resolution (Courtesy sketch of Joanie Allbee) ple and wrote a book, “Walking is Overrated.” Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member William S. Brown talks about top issues affecting people he represents in the sixth in a series of public forums, “Saugus Over Coffee.” Florence Chandler and Wallace McKenzie are among the seven past presidents of Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment who highlight SAVE’s accomplishments during the group’s 50th Annual Meeting & Dinner held at the Continental. JULY Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member Robert A. Palleschi talks about top issues aff ecting people he represents in the seventh in a series of public forums, “Saugus Over Coffee.” Frank Puccia of Saugus, president of North Shore Corvettes of Mass., Inc. – a group that numbers more than 180 members – talks about Corvettes and local history as the club celebrates its 60th birthday. Naomi Tarantino, 11, one of 43 participants in the Saugus Sachems Track Camp, and other participants talk about how the summer experience benefi ted them. Madeline Grace Gould Armstrong, who is 101, is the only one alive from 11 kids who lived at the Gould Family Farm at 196 Walnut St. back in the 1920s and 1930s. Saugus resident Deborah Barrett-Cutulle wins the People’s Choice Award for her sand sculpture, “Embracing Our Diff erences,” at the 19th Annual International Sand Sculpting Festival at Revere Beach. AUGUST Precinct 8 Town Meeting Member Thomas E. Traverse talks about top issues aff ecting people he represents in the eighth in a series of public forums, “Saugus Over Coff ee.” SEPTEMBER Precinct 9 Town Meeting Member Robert J. Long talks about top issues affecting people he represents in the ninth in a series of public forums, “Saugus Over Coffee.” With changes in voting boundaries, Long’s neighborhood became a part of Precinct 4. He ran and got elected in November as a Town Meeting member in Precinct 4. Jack Klecker and Gail Cassarino are honored with “Person of the Year” Awards at the 42nd Annual Saugus Founder’s Day Celebration. OCTOBER Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian talks about top issues aff ecting people he represents in YEAR IN REVIEW | SEE PAGE 20 ׉ 7cassandra://x6zXxA3IUYjhi5q-lIg3LMgfpt33bBI9yePyCZwiA24*`̰e\h@׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Page 7 Cover Stories of 2023 By Mark E. Vogler T he story of the town’s efforts to make Saugus accessible to its first retail marijuana business made the front page eight times during the year. Then-Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano’s campaign for a Charter Commission and the firing of School Superintendent Erin McMahon each had five front-page stories. Stories about Cliftondale Revitalization and stories about issues related to WIN Waste Innovation’s trash-to-energy plant made front-page headlines four times. Here is a month-to-month review of the front-page stories that appeared in The Saugus Advocate over the past year JANUARY Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano cites his campaign to change Saugus to a mayoral form of government as his top priority for 2023. Town Meeting Member Joe Vecchione says he will file an article for a zoning overlay district for annual Town Meeting to aid in the revitalization of Cliftondale. Town Manager Scott Crabtree hails the town’s receipt of a $2.3-million federal grant to revitalize Cliftondale Square as “really great news.” Superintendent Erin McMahon is on paid administrative leave pending results of a probe into allegations of misconduct. Selectmen reward Town Manager Scott Crabtree with a two-year contract extension that will keep him in charge of town government through August 2027. FEBRUARY A Georgia history buff ships the military footlocker once owned by World War II hero Walter Daniels to Saugus. The School Committee appoints former Saugus High Principal Michael Hashem to lead the school district while the probe of Superintendent McMahon continues. Paul Delios is back in the restaurant business with this month’s opening of Paolo’s. Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano declares he did nothing improper by collecting signatures of Saugus residents to help WIN Waste Innovations challenge a federal lawsuit that alleged the company’s trash-to-energy plant caused odor and noise problems. MARCH Town Manager Scott Crabtree briefs selectmen on his preliminary spending plan for the 2024 Fiscal Year. Selectman Debra Panetta suggests that the Board of Health explore alternatives to rat poison, like electronic rodent traps. Selectmen express concerns after receiving an email accusing their chairman, Anthony Cogliano, of making alleged “homophobic comments on social media.” Residents cram into the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall to show their support for Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano. Saugus citizens rally behind a tattoo artist, swaying selectmen to support a special permit. APRIL Selectmen approve a Host Community Agreement with WIN Waste Innovations on a contentious 3-2 vote. Saugus Advocate Editor Mark E. Vogler is among five journalists who will be inducted into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll plans to participate in a tree-planting ceremony as Saugus officials, environmentalists and volunteers conduct an Earth Day spruce-up at Breakheart Reservation. Members will consider the feasibility of a third fire station on the west side of Saugus when Town Meeting convenes. MAY Town Meeting members overwhelmingly approve an article to borrow $400,000 for a feasibility study for a third fire station to be located on the west side of town; members also make playground improvements and protecting bond ratings top priorities. Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano says the town manager is taking too long to make recommendations on seven applicants seeking the three special permits to open marijuana dispensaries on Route 1 in Saugus, but a majority of board members disagree. The Cliftondale Square Overlay Zoning District falls five votes short of the two-thirds majority needed as members complete annual warrant in marathon session ending at around midnight. A week after the defeat of the Cliftondale Square Overlay Zoning District article, Town Meeting Member Joe Vecchione calls on selectmen to address public safety issues and to keep Cliftondale a top priority. JUNE School Superintendent McMahon cites contract violation while seeking to return to work after more than four months of being on paid administrative leave; School Committee members still haven’t disclosed publicly what the unspecified allegations of misconduct against her involve. Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano initiates a petition drive to get a Charter Commission on the November Town Election ballot. School Superintendent McMahon remains on paid leave as her attorney accuses the School Committee of violating the state Open Meeting Law during an executive session. East Saugus United Methodist Church holds a “Pride Rally” to celebrate diversity of the community. With Riverside Cemetery running out of room, Town Meeting members approve funds to determine suitability of land for future expansion. JULY Cliff Road residents express dismay that they didn’t learn about the planned shutdown of their road for a water main project until just five days before the scheduled closing. U.S. Army veteran Paul J. Cancelliere begins work as the town’s new veterans services officer. The Saugus political season begins officially, with nomination papers becoming available to residents interested in running for public office in the Nov. 7 Town Elections. With Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini recusing himself from an upcoming vote on permits for marijuana establishments, applicants will need the backing of the other four selectmen. The town’s Marijuana Establishment Review Committee recommends two Route 1 locations for marijuana sales. AUGUST Saugus resident Deborah Barrett-Cutulle wins the People’s Choice Award at the 2023 Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival. Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano’s Charter Commission petition drive gains enough support to qualify for the November town election ballot. Police Chief Ricciardelli credits two Saugus police officers with saving a distraught man from drowning in the Saugus River. New Teacher orientation is held for Saugus educators as the Saugus Middle-High School prepares for the opening of school. SEPTEMBER Selectmen set Sept. 12 hearing for seven recreational marijuana establishments vying for three spots in Saugus. One year later: a look back at Breakheart Reservation’s recovery from the August 2022 fires that burned 80 acres. Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano says he doesn’t trust the findings of the town’s Marijuana Establishment Review Committee and vows to press for his own investigation to determine which of the seven companies are best suited to operate a retail pot business in Saugus. Potential candidates file nomination papers, stating their interest in being on the ballot for the Nov. 7 town election. A bad valve at the WIN Waste Innovations plant causes a deafening noise that frightens hundreds of Saugus and Revere residents. OCTOBER An attorney representing a company that wants to locate a marijuana establishment in Saugus says Board of Selectmen Chair Cogliano’s criticisms about the company’s permit aren’t true. The attorney representing Uma Flowers, which received a perfect score in the ranking by the town’s Marijuana EstabCOVER STORIES| SEE PAGE 21 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Daily 4:00 PM Closed Sunday Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Monday & Tuesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s HOLIDAY SHOP LOCAL & DROP BY FOR DINNER! www.eight10barandgrille.com ׉ 7cassandra://F5WRDnVpABvtUBeF6Vw7ZzEQsi5s18l_MRqFuli3WK8(`̰e\h@e\h@ PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://abdUvJGmMRYrSCWcXs3nldlFuksc0TyG91UdGdroZ8gHR`)׉ 7cassandra://21Nz8Lk0xWOYjvK738aa2sRxu7J_5AS7LyAUct_7BxQ͓``J׉ 7cassandra://3t7sehc7A57ECXsHLh2eZOLGdVjyKkf8pfd9XEwSh7A*R`̰e`h@>ט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://62npIGO97Q31D-sOxD2hltbFTGwFXlF5T1z2ujTd-co $+`)׉ 7cassandra://Yyv3yQGNIGvHWLj0Tqc_9nUEs-LwIu1iA-ZU3YNvheM͈`J׉ 7cassandra://nKhDT_xyBJLlDxrAA3_n9qDjT35NfsBNvvJlShccrrY%t`̰e`h@?נeah@G|9ׁHhttp://winwastesaugus.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E@Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 ASKS| FROM PAGE 3 ing has appropriated funds to such, we are now beginning to see dramatic increases in our share of this investment. Second is the investment in a third fi re station on the west side of town. The cost of construction as well as any additional operating costs cannot be absorbed in our current or future operational budget. It will be important for both elected and appointed officials to communicate to the public and obtain town wide support for these important projects. –We are moving forward with the Town-Wide public safety communication infrastructure project. Our public safety communication infrastructure needs critical upgrades and replacement of the town’s older communication and infrastructure. Replacement of this infrastructure will ensure reliability and town-wide coverage for the portable and mobile radios and a needed investment in the Town-owned network to expand fi ber optics communication. –The Town is in the process of a water meter replacement project. This will cost approximately $6M. This system will be automated and let the Town residents know if there is an abnormality with their water usage. –Parks and playgrounds are always a priority with the Board. Town Meeting voted $2M during their last session for upgrading the parks and playgrounds. –The re-purposing of the offl ine schools is also an important goal, but we need to deal with the fi nancing of the Vocational School fi rst, as well as moving forward with a new fi re station on the west side of town. –Improved communication of important town-wide information to residents is also a priority of the Board, which includes timely updates on our Town’s website. –We need to schedule Show Cause hearings for the closed establishments that have all-alcoholic liquor licenses. We even have one restaurant (Longhorn) who has an all-alcoholic liquor license that never even opened in Saugus. Some of these establishments have had years to sell their license. I am sure we have restaurants in Town that would appreciate having one of these licenses which would help them with their business and Saugus would get the meal-tax revenue. Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeff rey Cicolini I would say the top story in 2023 was centered around the establishment of a charter committee and potentially changing certain aspects of our current form of government. Q: What are your top priorities for the new year? The priorities for the new year, that I consider top priorities considering the current board hasn’t met to establish the 2024 goals as of yet, would be: –3rd fi re station on the west side of town – gather results of the feasibility study and move the project forward by establishing a comprehensive communication plan to make sure our residents are informed on the fi nancial impact the borrowings will have on our residents so we can gather the support necessary to ensure it passes. –Assess the most current financial impact of the new vocational school project on Saugus and inform residents how it will impact their taxes. The cost of the project continues to increase dramatically so the impact needs to refl ect the most accurate cost to complete. --continued investment in fully inclusive parks and playgrounds ($2 million appropriated) with emphasis on Golden Hills which is in dire need of a full renovation. –continue with community input on repurposing of school buildings that are offl ine. This will help us assess the fi nancial impact of the various projects and how each will impact –Dog park – there is a constant demand from our residents for a conveniently located Dog Park in town. I would like us to continue to off er support to the town manager as he advances the dialogue with the Stanton foundation who will assess their support for a dog park in town to minimize the cost to our residents. –Maintain our AA+ bond rating to maximize the savings on borrowings which essentially translates to savings to our residents. I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2024! Selectman Anthony Cogliano For me, the biggest story of 2023 was the failure to form the Charter Commission. It took everything I had to gather the signatures to get it on the ballot. But, we did it. After that, I have to tip my cap to the opposition, the scare tactics that they used prevailed. So you have to take your losses, pick up the pieces and move forward. I think trying to run 12 Campaigns, and getting the question to pass, cost me the Chairmanship of the BOS.... so again, tip my cap to Debra, she worked hard to regain her seat and I will support her every way I can in that capacity. I love this town, its people and I will go after it again in 2025. Q: What are your top priorities for the new year? My goals for 2024 would be the building of the west side fi re station, plans put in place ASKS | SEE PAGE 9 ׉ 7cassandra://3t7sehc7A57ECXsHLh2eZOLGdVjyKkf8pfd9XEwSh7A*R`̰e\h@׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Page 9 Wishing you a happy and healthy 2024. ASKS| FROM PAGE 8 for our schools and I will also be pushing the rezoning of Cliftondale Square again this year. I will always do the best I can to keep Saugus Moving Forward. Happy New Year to all. Selectman Corinne Riley The top story of 2023, in my opinion, was the eff ort to rezone and revitalize Cliftondale Square. While this eff ort failed to achieve the 2/3 supermajority required, it was passed by a 28-13 majority of Town Meeting voters, indicating a clear appetite for revitalization in Cliftondale. Q: What are your top priorities for the new year? Regarding priorities, my priorities on the BOS have been public safety, communication, ensuring all voices are heard, and making Saugus a better place to live. Accordingly, my top priority for the next two years is the long overdue TOP STORIES | FROM PAGE 4 in an environmentally sensitive area. Local environmentalists also expressed public concerns about improving air monitoring around town, particularly in areas near the plant. 6) Cliftondale Revitalization Trying to revive Cliftondale Square as one of Saugus centers of commerce continues as a top town issue. The town received a $2.3-million federal grant to revitalize Cliftondale Square. A proposal to create an Overlay Zoning District for Cliftondale fell fi ve votes short of the two-thirds majority needed during the Annual Town Meeting. 7) Eff orts to get a third fi re station There is some progress in the decades-long quest for a third Saugus fire station, which would be locatWest-Side Fire Station. Another priority is the completion and rollout of a SMS-compatible communication service for residents, so that timely updates on emergency situations and other updates like road closures can get pushed to residents’ smartphones in real-time. Next is Economic Development and Safety Improvements in Cliftondale Square. Traffic and pedestrian issues are well-known, and while some preliminary work has been done, it’s time to see some progress on the ground and in the vacant storefronts. Another important issue facing us is the recent infl ux of hundreds of migrants to hotels along Routes 1 and 99, causing real stress on schools, police, fire, and health departments. We need to cooperate locally and with our state delegation to help the migrants and reduce (or pay for) the burden on town resources. Finally, the Golden Hills Playground is a safety ed on the west end of town. Town Meeting members overwhelmingly approve an article to borrow $400,000 for a feasibility study for the station. Selectmen have already dedicated this project as one of their top priorities in the new year. 8) Continuity in government at Town Hall The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in January to give Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree a two-year contract extension that will keep him in charge of town government through August 2027. In November, Saugus voters decided to keep the current Board of Selectmen together for a third consecutive two-year term despite a contentious political campaign and several controversies that polarized the board during the year. Voters also expressed an interest in keeping Saugus’ form of government the way it was when they rejected a ballot queshazard and needs a complete replacement. Town Meeting authorized $2M funding for playground investment this Spring, and I’d like to see the Golden Hills Playground project fast-tracked. I look forward to working with the Board and the Town Manager over the next year to work toward these and other goals. I’d like to wish all the residents a Healthy, Happy and Peaceful 2024! Selectman Mike Serino I believe the 2023 top story in Saugus was the defeat of the proposed Charter Commission. The proposal to change Saugus’s form of government from a town to a city was fi rst introduced in January 2023. This past November, the residents of Saugus did vote No by some 200 votes. However, seven of the nine candidates elected, actively campaigned not to support changing our town to a city and opposed tion that would have created a nine-member Charter Commission to study and consider possible changes. Had the Charter Commission been approved, seven of the nine members who were elected to serve on it would not have been in favor of making any sweeping changes in Saugus government. They had been looked upon as being “anti-Charter Commission.” 9) A power shift in the Board of Selectmen The town’s two most prolific vote-getters over the past decade squared off in this year’s Board of Selectmen’s election. Anthony Cogliano had won the most votes by large margins in the 2019 and 2021 elections. Debra Panetta was the top vote-getter in the 2015 and 2017 races, enabling her to win the chair’s seat that she later lost to Cogliano four years ago. But in this year’s election, Panetta was the favorite – receiv100 Salem Turnpike, Saugus, MA 01906 winwastesaugus.com forming a Charter Commission. Consequently, the defeat of the proposed Charter Commission was signifi cantly larger than the no/yes vote margin. Q: What are your top priorities for the new year? I believe the top priorities for 2024 will be the mandated funding of a new North East Regional Vocational school. The school is projected to increase its student enrollment capacity from 1,200 to 1,600 students a year. Saugus’s fi nancial portion which includes construction costs and student increased enrollment is estimated at around 4 million dollars a year. A proposed new 3rd fi re station on the west side of route one is another priority. To date a feasibility study is being done for this project. Also a municipal parking lot for our business community in Cliftondale Square is a priority. The town has recently purchased two properties for this project. ing the most votes of any of her opponents in all 10 precincts while finishing 474 voters better than her closest opponent. Cogliano fell to fourth place in this year’s race – 759 votes behind Panetta. Cogliano’s voting popularity dipped in the midst of several controversies, which erupted into several verbal confrontations between him and other selectmen. 10) A renewed citizen interest in Town Meeting The 50-member Town Meeting is the legislative branch and bedrock of Saugus’ local government. In early January, The Saugus Advocate, working with the Saugus Public Library, launched a series of hour-long programs titled “Saugus Over Coff ee,” which were held monthly in the library’s Community Room. One of the town’s 10 precincts were featured each month, with residents of the precinct invited to come down School Committee Member Ryan Fisher School Committee Member Ryan Fisher The top story of 2023 was probably the lead up to and the results from the local elections. Most residents were galvanized, one way or another, and I’m proud that once the election is over, we unify and get back to work. Those who are fi red up by one issue or another fi nd they like being ASKS | SEE PAGE 22 to the library to have coff ee and meet their Town Meeting members. The Town Meeting members also shared their views on issues they considered to be the most signifi - cant in their respective precincts. After hearing the presentations from Town Meeting members, the residents were allowed to ask questions. Residents who weren’t able to attend the program could view it later on Saugus TV. “Saugus Over Coff ee” was designed to heighten citizen interest in the Town Meeting, which has had trouble fi elding candidates in recent years. In the 2021 town election, half of the 10 precincts saw their fi ve members elected without opposition. But in the 2023 town election, there was competition in all 10 precincts. There will be 13 new Town Meeting members this year – some who said they were inspired to run after attending a “Saugus Over Coffee” session. ׉ 7cassandra://nKhDT_xyBJLlDxrAA3_n9qDjT35NfsBNvvJlShccrrY%t`̰e\h@e\h@ PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://_R2cpg8TBoLvlTXU21SB2_pV2C04IhWAatuKVG-f_f4}`)׉ 7cassandra://RYucLHtToMvJ1_RHhUjMN3MYRww3PvEHY0EuKyo8-7s͊P`J׉ 7cassandra://tPPykLP63zLL63AS0DjOYAHVCghIEtNnGYsN91lDZQg,k`̰e`h@Aט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://RMhshItZkLVgaDThFNxu8yZ9q1AGIFZg7JHL5h2D1a0@`)׉ 7cassandra://akpMmw1PkG1yb9Ry9oY65awyc_p4FL8Y3jsUBVHxpy4͈`J׉ 7cassandra://LKh99nSdXGkpfpZuQUNry7P7MYAfFvu-fKZ57ULrAhA-`̰e`h@B׉E {Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Saugus Christmas Eve parade celebrates 40th Anniversary paying tribute to original founders By Tara Vocino T he original parade founders, the late Billy Diotte and Jack Fahey, were remembered with a plaque on the candy house trailer for Sunday’s 40th anniversary of the three-hour town-wide Christmas Eve parade. “The parade has now become generational – kids that used to enjoy it as children are now enjoying it with their kids and families, truly making Saugus someplace special,” event organizer Brian Cross said. “It is an honor for me to keep this tradition alive for the children and families of Saugus.” Cross said he looks forward to the next 40 years, and he counted approximately 45 vehicles in the parade. Guests commented on the parade’s meaning to them, with their umbrellas in hand. Pearl Street resident Tory Bradlee, 25, says she’s been watching the parade since she was little. She said having her Indian Valley neighborhood come together is good. Her brother, Cruz, 5, added that he’s excited to see Santa come by. Their neighbor, Avery Abellard, 5, asked if Santa was coming from the North Pole. Melanie Reining, who frequents other parades, said it’s her favorite parade of the year and that people are genuinely grateful to see it. Fellsway resident Maureen Murphy said they’ve been coming to this corner for 50 years, adding that it’s bigger each year. Belmonte fifth grader Sophie Beaulieu liked the disc jockey with the speaker yelling out “Merry Christmas” at the parade’s conclusion. The anticipated float: Santa himself made his way down the street. Colleen and her husband, Troop Scoutmaster 61 Kevin Wildman, with Scouts David and Colin Woodworth remembered Scout Alan Silipigni, who died suddenly in 2019. Event organizer Brian Cross by the main attraction Shown from left to right: Tory, 25, Cruz, 5, their mother Lori, Darius, 13, Shawn, 7, and Kai Bradlee, 9, said they’re excited to watch the parade on Pearl Street. Shown from left to right: Farah, Alexis, 16 months, Cliff and Avery Abellard, 5, asked if Santa was on his way from the North Pole. Shown from left to right: Katie, Brackett and Youth & Recreation Director Crystal Cakounes en route. Shown from left to right: Krystal, Greyson, 4, Lucas, 9, and Aristides Romeiro wore matching pajamas during Sunday’s 40th Annual Christmas Eve parade – pictured outside of Belmonte STEAM Academy. Melissa and her son, Belmonte fifth-grader Dexter Millien, 11, said it’s a family tradition, and they hope the parade is not too short. Ella Woodbury, 2, who was held by her grandmother Colleen, met Santa. ׉ 7cassandra://tPPykLP63zLL63AS0DjOYAHVCghIEtNnGYsN91lDZQg,k`̰e\h@׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Page 11 Buddy the elf (in center), Santa, Mrs. Claus and an elf Merry Christmas, Saugus: Shown from left to right: event organizer Brian Cross, Kevin Wildman, Northeast Metro Tech 2021 alum David Woodworth, Saugus High 2021 alum Colin Wildman, Ella Woodbury, 2, Saugus High 2019 graduate Megan Wildman and Colleen Wildman remembered the parade founders – the late Billy Diotte and Jack Fahey – on their 40th year anniversary; they are pictured in the original candy house trailer. Kevin Wildman, of Saugus, is shown beside a plaque of the parade founders. Anthony with his daughters – Belmonte third-grader Charlotte and fi fth-grader Sophie Beaulieu – said they did a fantastic job after watching it from the The Grinch himself attempted to steal the Christmas joy. A canopy protected from the elements. (e photos by Tara Vocino) Santa, Mrs. Claus and an elf waved from their fl oat. Shown from left to right: Jim Walsh, Sabina Murphy and Maureen Murphy said it’s bigger each year. The police department had several cars involved. Next Evolution, shown from left to right: Elizabeth Nak, Leo Nak, Travis Bryan, Kristen Bryan, Eileen Reining and Melanie Reining. ׉ 7cassandra://LKh99nSdXGkpfpZuQUNry7P7MYAfFvu-fKZ57ULrAhA-`̰e\h@e\h@ PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://lIyupOe_mPsBb8JBw6mt8DFF-0ob55nfEILepqhF4WI{x`)׉ 7cassandra://8smzlpRv4DwMmZu7LmsE-H_gLH5JSBZLdZYwIUQdZ8gͅm`J׉ 7cassandra://tzahnjDsF7bafjaz1mKB_wkGjT9nKl7MJU-rUoRviak-{`̰e`h@Dט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://iuYxWw3q2PD9G_W0LUHd0XeuBowoFxA9RMmpRUvuPM8`)׉ 7cassandra://WC40PG-u49z1Qhi8GcB0JkL2OHLDVJhK5TgItgFjd0g͐`J׉ 7cassandra://h3yCaMTueNCUpESQE61qbZfpO216QPhbZYqkE-PmRdU0`̰eah@E׉EPage 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Sachems Wrestling Team battles Gloucester at Saugus Middle/High School on Wed., Dec. 20 Score: Saugus, 38; Gloucester, 41 (Advocate photos by Emily Harney) Cam Lunney of Saugus battled a Gloucester opponent last week. Landon Rodriguez of Saugus faced a very game opponent from Gloucester on Wednesday night. Mike Maraio of Saugus works to take down his opponent during their match. Elias Diaz had an exciting win over his opponent from Gloucester. Elias Diaz looks to the sideline for instruction from his coach. Saugonian Max LoRusso tried to wrap up his opponent during his wrestling match on Wednesday night. The Sachems’ Max LoRusso Antonio Anzalone of the Sachems ties up his opponent. ׉ 7cassandra://tzahnjDsF7bafjaz1mKB_wkGjT9nKl7MJU-rUoRviak-{`̰e\h@׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Page 13 Max LoRusso looks back to his coach following a match win. Justin Bremberg starts to take his opponent to the mat during their match. Lucas Calder looked to his team on the sidelines after pinning his opponent in less than a minute. Freddy Espinal of Saugus gets ready for his match with a fellow wrestler from Gloucester. Lucas Calder of Saugus takes his opponent to the mat. Justin Bremberg works to gain the match win for Saugus. Tristan Cole took a moment with his wrestling coach before reentering his match after a timeout was called. Tristan Cole of Saugus faced off with his opponent during Wednesday night’s match with Gloucester. Freddy Espinal of Saugus. Saugus’s Tristan Cole looks for an opening move against his opponent. Antonio Anzalone got ready to face Gloucester’s Jayden Toppan in the final match of the night. ׉ 7cassandra://h3yCaMTueNCUpESQE61qbZfpO216QPhbZYqkE-PmRdU0`̰e\h@e\h@ PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://VfDRr027oV0FQYO_Coh1ynE77GUreH1AP3enYePTpe4`)׉ 7cassandra://0wAgXQaTQUfmZhTRYcS-H2Y9x7fmZAg99CwUdeJZcx8͊t`J׉ 7cassandra://Rq_7a8R3RMVmd_x4sAOOX6aPonNi-uHJIVnREpL_JUc&o`̰eah@Hט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://hcGxGdIuU14KCDh7aNIyHqtsjMIjSPziOYuGzdiVnHw '`)׉ 7cassandra://1X-Fal-2HaAN71ty2WQep4bMxj8Yid1K4_folx1Cfx8͎W`J׉ 7cassandra://rDy_A4pchzo2VrCK6l1F4UKvg81VzLtzcS0AOltjb4M#E`̰eah@Iנeah@Qg9ׁHhttp://volunteer.Thׁ ׁ Јנeah@Nen̰9ׁHhttp://pages.com/su/aPTLucKׁ ׁ Јנeah@MeX9ׁHhttps://lp.coׁ ׁ Јנeah@Le[V9ׁHhttp://rollcall.comׁ ׁ Ј׉ETPage 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 ~ SHS Sachems Sports roundup ~ SAUGUS GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TEAM HANDLES IPSWICH Saugus broke out in a 51-20 victory over Ipswich. As a team the Sachems shot 10-for-30 from 3-point land and 47% as a team. That was a big improvement from their last two games in terms of shot selection with the type of 3’s they were taking, according to Saugus coach Joe Lowe. “After the Winthrop loss the girls had their best three days of practice and took mistakes we were making and made them positives and we saw that in the game,” Lowe said. “We also had 12 assists and generated 24 turnovers.” Peyton Dibiasio led the way with 15 points and nine rebounds. Taylor Deleidi had a season-high 11 points. “She has been giving us great minutes as one of the first guards off the bench,” Lowe said of Deleidi. “She is making good decisions on offense and playing very good defense.” Julianna Powers sank a 3-pointer for her first points of the season. Ana Silva had three clutch shots from downtown. “I’m proud of the defense by holding their best player to zero points,” Lowe said. “She had multiple 30-plus points a game last year.” Saugus took on Wakefield on Wednesday, Dec. 27 and next hosts Marblehead on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 6 p.m. SAUGUS BOYS’ BASKETBALL TEAM NIPS AMESBURY Saugus came back from 13 points down in the third quarter to beat Amesbury, 52-51. Saugus got some clutch free throws by Ryan Shea at the end to seal it. “The team showed a lot of heart, and I couldn’t be proud of our guys,” Saugus coach Joe Bertrand said. Danny Shea led Saugus with 16 points, and Isaiah Rodriguez added 11. Ryan Shea (nine), Cam Victor (eight) and Huey Josama (eight) contributed as well. Saugus had lost to Triton, 40-26, the game before. “We struggled to make shots but still played well and hard as a team,” Bertrand said. Shea led the team with seven points. Saugus next travels to Winthrop for the Dec. 27-28 David Greene Memorial Tournament before traveling to Marblehead on Wednesday, Jan. 3 (7 p.m.). TWO DADS | FROM PAGE 5 ing in the spirit of volunteerism. He volunteered often at the Little Sisters of the Poor elderly complex on Highland Avenue in Somerville. He started out cutting vegetables in the kitchen to help get the meals ready every day for the residents. He eventually added to his responsibilities by driving the bus on local day trips or even overnight stays to other homes owned by the Little Sisters in nearby states – Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania – in order to help those residents who wanted to get away for GLOUCESTER NIPS SAUGUSPEABODY IN WRESTLING Saugus-Peabody fell to Gloucester, 41-38, at home. “We need to fight off our backs,” Saugus coach Wayne Moda said. “A lack of toughness and discipline is what kept us from getting the W.” Saugus’ Justin Bremberg at 150, Saugus’ Max LoRusso at 138, Saugus’ Sam LoRusso at 157, and Peabody’s Mike Maraio at 144 remained undefeated after the match. BREMBERG COMMITS TO SAINT ANSELM’S Saugus’ Jessica Bremberg, who is currently playing basketball for the Sachems, recently committed to run Division 2 track and field at the collegiate level next year at Saint Anselm’s College in Goffstown, N.H. Bremberg is a three-year captain who has always been a natural leader on and off the track, according to Saugus girls outdoor track coach Joe Alba. She has a wide range of ability to do any event, but her main focuses are on the triple jump, long jump, 4x100 and the 400-meter. She is a three-time Northeastern Conference all-star and punched a ticket to the state championships last season in the 400-meter and triple jump. “Her drive, leadership and dedication are what got her to achieve this goal she has had set for herself for a while,” Alba said. “Jess is also on the field hockey and basketball team at Saugus High School where she is a captain which makes her a threesport athlete and captain in each of those sports.” She’s also a part of the National Honor Society. “As a coach, there is no one more I would like to have led a team,” Alba said. “Jess is very reliable, and when something needs to be done, I know I can count on her to take care of it. She always wants to be the best version of herself whether it’s in the classroom or on the track, and as a coach that’s something you are looking for in an athlete: to be one of the leaders for your team. I’m so proud of her, and I can’t wait for her to take care of business at the collegiate level. Jess is the first girl I have coached since I took over to commit to run at the collegiate level, and that’s a goal I’ve had set for myself.” a few hours to a few days. Dad also helped out at the daily Masses in the Home’s chapel. He was a lector, eucharistic minister and even arguably the world’s oldest altar boy. He did all that work for the Home while still finding time to visit my sister and her family in California. He’d go out there twice a year, once with my mother and once by himself. After my mom died in 2001, he eventually moved into his own independent apartment on the Little Sisters campus, where he stayed for the next 22 years. He continued helping out, because that was his nature, while still being welcoming to everybody he met along the way. Just like Jim Mitchell, my dad also gave to many charities. While Jim would help anyone who would walk through The Advocate office door on a regular basis, my dad would also do the same for anyone who needed a helping hand. They never had to be embarrassed, because the two dads never wanted to see anybody go without. They would give them as much as they could afford. It’s now up to us to carry on their selfless legacies to get our portion of the world back on track. Jessica Bremberg, who is shown competing in the long jump and currently plays basketball for the Sachems, recently committed to run Division 2 track and field next year at Saint Anselm’s College in Goffstown, N.H. Jessica Bremberg and SHS Track coach Joe Alba Advocate Newspapers co-owners James David Mitchell (left) with his dad, the late James Donald Mitchell, in 2023 ׉ 7cassandra://Rq_7a8R3RMVmd_x4sAOOX6aPonNi-uHJIVnREpL_JUc&o`̰e\h@׉E( THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Page 15 on how many times she voted differently than Democratic House Speaker Ron Mariano. If you have any questions about this week’s report, e-mail us at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com or call us at (617) 720-1562. Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 48 - Report No. 51 December 18-22, 2023 Copyright © 2023 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved. By Bob Katzen GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/aPTLucK THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on the percentage of times local representatives voted with their party’s leadership in the 2023 session through December 22. The votes of the 2023 membership of 133 Democrats were compared to House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). The votes of the 2023 membership of 24 Republicans were compared with those of GOP House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading). Beacon Hill Roll Call uses 67 votes from the 2023 House session as the basis for this report. This includes all roll calls that were not quorum calls or votes on local issues. Rep. Susannah Whipps (U-Athol) is unenrolled and not affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic party. We based her voting record Some representatives voted on all 67 roll call votes. Others missed one or more roll calls. The percentage for each representative is calculated based on the number of roll calls on which he or she voted. percent (0) Rep. Jessica Giannino 1 0 0 Rep. Donald Wong 100 percent (0) THE DEMOCRATS: A total of 117 (87.9 percent) of the 133 Democrats voted the same as Mariano 100 percent of the time. There were only 16 Democratic representatives who voted differently than Mariano on any roll calls. The Democratic representative who voted the most times differently than Mariano was Rep. Colleen Garry (D-Dracut) who voted differently six times. “While I may be the Democrat with the most votes not in line with the speaker’s positions, I respect and like Speaker Mariano,” Garry told Beacon Hill Roll Call. “It is certainly nothing against him or his leadership. I represent a very conservative district and I proudly vote the wayI believe the majority of my constituents would want me to vote on issues.” THE REPUBLICANS: Fifteen (62.5 percent) of the 24 GOP members voted the same as Jones 100 percent of the time. There were only nine GOP representatives who voted differently than Jones on any roll calls. The Republican representative who voted the most times differently than Jones was Rep. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) who voted differently nine times. Lombardo did not respond to repeated attempts by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on his voting. REPRESENTATIVES’ SUPPORT OF THEIR PARTY’S LEADERSHIP IN 2023 THROUGH DECEMBER 22 The percentage next to the representatve’s name represents the percentage of times the representative supported his or her party’s leadership so far in 2023 through December 22. The number in parentheses represents the number of times the senator opposed his or her party’s leadership. “Massachusetts General Law requires all organizations serving children under age 18 to obtain criminal offender record information before accepting any person as a volunteer,” said sponsor Rep. David Linsky (D-Natick). “However, many youth athletic leagues operate on limited budgets and struggle to meet the expenses associated with individually CORI checking every prospective volunteer.This legislation would allow local police departments to help ease the financial burden many organizations face when conducting these costly background checks.[This] is a common-sense bill that upholds the public interest of protecting children from dangerous criminals at no additional expense to taxpayers.” SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TOP 10 PERCENT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE GRADUATES – UMass announced that the top 10 percent of the state’s future ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL IMPOUND VEHICLE OF DRUNK DRIVERS (H 1583) – The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a bill that would require that a driver’s car be impounded for not less than 12 hours following their arrest for operating under the influence, regardless of whether the arrestee has consented to a blood alcohol test. It would also require police officers to provide the designated person picking up the arrestee from the police station with a written explanation of the potential criminal and civil penalties they could face if they permit the arrestee to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. “Drunk driving remains a serious public safety problem in Massachusetts and across the country,” said sponsor House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “[The bill] provides additional tools to help law enforcement officials make our streets safer by keeping alcohol-impaired drivers off the road.” BACKGROUND CHECKS ON VOLUNTEERS (H 1622) – Another bill before the Judiciary Committee would give local law enforcement agencies the authority to obtain criminal offender record information (CORI), including sealed records, for people who volunteer at an organization primarily engaged in providing activities or programs to children 18 years of age or younger. JUNK FEES – A public hearing was held on Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office’s recently proposed regulations cracking down on hidden junk fees. The proposed rules would require upfront total pricing of any items and services, disclosure about the nature and purpose of fees and taxes and make it easier for consumers to cancel trial offers and renewal fees. “Comparable, complete and timely price information allows consumers to make the right personal choices for their pocketbooks while also leading to a more competitive marketplace,” said MASSPIRG’s Legislative Director, Deirdre Cummings. “For too long, we have watched as businesses have gradually stopped disclosing true prices in a practical or meaningful way. We have all experienced purchasing tickets, services, hotel rooms, subscriptions advertised at one price only to find the actual or final price is significantly more by the time we have to pay. This not only hurts our wallets but also harms businesses that truly are transparent and are disclosing total costs upfront, even though their prices look higher compared to the deceptive incomplete lower prices.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “Mass Department of Transportation is excited to be taking this step toward a brighter future for our environment and for ourselves with the installation of a state-wide network of reliable fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. Fast-charging stations at convenient locations along major roads will absolutely lead to reduced air pollution, fewcommunity college graduates will receive a minimum of $5,000 per year if they enroll at one of the four college campuses in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell. “We want to send a clear message that UMass welcomes highly talented community college graduates to continue their pursuit of a college degree on our nationally ranked Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell campuses,” UMass President Marty Meehan said. “We believe this initiative will lead to more community college graduates choosing to finish their four-year degree at UMass which will accelerate their upward economic trajectory and strengthen the commonwealth’s workforce.” er gas-guzzling cars on our roads, and a willingness by people to make smarter choices which will help combat climate change.” ---Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nuttreaching out to vendors to establish a network of reliable fast charging stations for electric vehicles on state roadways. “Our administration is approaching early literacy with urgency. We’re committed to investing in programs that support our younger students and ensure they are using materials and strategies backed by evidence.” -- Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announcing that the Healey administrationis awarding $850,000 to organizations to increase access to evidence-based and culturally responsive literacy support for Massachusetts preschoolers. “The RMV and its employees have worked hard to meet the challenge of increased demand for appointments and credentials under the Work and Family Mobility Act. The amount of new learner’s permits represents an increase of 244 percent, and new driver’s licenses represents an increase of 120 percent, when compared to the same time period in 2022. In addition, 33,648 out of state conversions were processed. --- Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie reporting on the new law that was effective in July,which allows undocumented/illegal immigrants to apply for a Massachusetts standard driver’s license. “For years, Google has harmed consumers and app developers alike by restricting consumer’s choices for app stores, downloads and payment methods on Android devices. Our settlement helps impacted consumers and requires Google to reform its anticompetitive business practices. My office will continue to protect consumers and ensure that businesses can fairly compete in the digital economy.” ---Attorney General Andrea Campbell, as part of a group of 52 other attorneys general, announcing a $700 million agreement with Google in their lawsuit over Google’s anticompetitive conduct with the Google Play Store. In addition to restitution to consumers, Massachusetts will receive more than $1.4 million in penalties as part of the settlement agreement. HOW LONG WAS LAST BEACON HILL | SEE PAGE 19 ׉ 7cassandra://rDy_A4pchzo2VrCK6l1F4UKvg81VzLtzcS0AOltjb4M#E`̰e\h@e\h@ PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://yBQKYMTmIvNtjANfqjwMvsx4qvkMbhfSJnYKQ8TsO5IM`)׉ 7cassandra://lqxpPxbFceVchH2ezrytqCsl6qMjMLH8q5wWtxdnmTg͆`J׉ 7cassandra://CKbv6ZOPw_CSrJnDLJjcRIYvt3tE5gbBXkG9ayL_JAY,`̰eah@Kט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://RRtMELk1cggTTimPdWg5g7FR40GFPM1r-DmJ9l38F58`)׉ 7cassandra://7BV9jddeUL0YSTTQcJ9tkvDg_UmekO0q-1R-S8y0Uvw͏v`J׉ 7cassandra://18uj3qKSEIhF05DSfuAR6EQSAOJfknZDk7y4ziG0cIk*>`̰eah@O׉EPage 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 SHS Sachems Hockey Battles St. Bernard’s in Holiday Hockey Score: Saugus, 3 - St. bernard’s, 7 (Advocate photos by Emily Harney) Tyson Higgins with the puck for Saugus, heads towards the goal during Tuesday game with St. Bernard’s of Fitchburg. Tyson Higgins keeps control of the puck as players from St. Bernard’s move in. The Saugus hockey team celebrates after scoring during Tuesday’s game. Nathan Carne of Saugus cuts off a St. Bernard’s player vying for the puck. Brandon Berone with the puck for Saugus. Brandon Berone moves the puck up the ice towards goal territory Sachems Goalie Evan Tybinkowski poses for the camera after Saugus’s game Tuesday night. Zach Hartratt with the puck. Saugus goalie Evan Tybinkowski. Sachems Captain Trevor Pacheco with the puck for Saugus. Assistant Saugus hockey coach Dannie Shaw cheers on his team during Tuesday’s game against St. Bernard’s in Lynn. Brandon Berone takes a shot of goal. Dom Chianco carries the puck along the boards. ׉ 7cassandra://CKbv6ZOPw_CSrJnDLJjcRIYvt3tE5gbBXkG9ayL_JAY,`̰e\h@ ׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Page 17 Saugus Gardens in the Winter Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable A Carolina wren nods its approval for the seed wreath in Lynnhurst. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) By Laura Eisener N ature has been quietly dramatic with some foggy nights and mornings, unseasonable warmth and the last full moon of the year. In this final week of 2023, many people are taking the time to enjoy the season, remember 2023 and look forward to 2024. My family went out Christmas night for a drive around town to enjoy all the holiday decorations, since they look so different lit up in the evening than they do during the day. We have also been taking some extra walks in the daytime to see wildlife as well as decorations that in some cases are not so visible at night. In my own garden, our outdoor decorations always include some extra food for the birds, even though this year there are still seed heads on many plants. In every neighborhood there are some distinctive lights and decorations that brighten the evening hours. One of the more unusual garden features in town is a Humvee decorated with lights and American flags on the lawn of Junior Tercetti. He wishes a happy and safe holiday to all the military personnel, especially those serving overseas, and wishes to give a big Thank You to every single one of them. One of our frequently seen birds is the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), which is featured in many decorations and holiday cards. The male cardinal is a vivid red in the winter, much brighter than at other seasons, and stands out against the wintery background, whether it is green grass like we are still seeing this December or browns and whites of bare branches and snow. Female cardinals are much more muted in color, essentially olive green with a bright reddish orange beak. They are frequently seen picking up seeds dropped from the feeder or perched in the evergreens nearby. Certainly, one of the loveliest singers among our familiar songbirds is the Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus). It blends into the background much more than the cardinal, but it is also a frequent feeder visitor. A little smaller than a sparrow, with a narrow, slightly curved beak and a distinctive long stripe of lighter brown just over its eye, this sprightly bird can be a frequent visitor to feeders in the winter. Male This holiday decorated Humvee has a message: Thank you veterans! (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) A cardinal contemplates the world around him. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) wrens in particular have a very complex repertoire of tunes and sing especially frequently during breeding season, but may sing year-round. This species is the state bird of South Carolina, but it can be found all over the East Coast and into Canada’s eastern provinces. This bird loves our seed wreath, which has a mixture of seeds as well as some cranberries. The evergreen perennial often known as the Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) is not actually related to roses but is in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It does not have true petals, but the five colorful petaloid structures are sepals, which protect the stamen and pistils while the buds are forming, then spread out when the flower is open. This species gets its common name because in much of Europe it frequently blooms in late December, but I have never observed it to open that early in the season in my garden before. Most often it is February or March when it begins to open, and occasionally as late as April. Christmas roses have white sepals, while the closely related Lenten roses (Helleborus orientalis) have pastel pink, lilac or deep burgundy Sitting at the street corner, the Humvee can be seen from several angles. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) This “Christmas rose” is opening due to the warm weather this week. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) sepals and usually do bloom later in winter even in milder climates than ours. Frequently, hybrids between these species are available, and they are often sold as houseplants in the winter months. Most of my outdoor Hellebores (Christmas rose, Lenten rose and other hybrids) were purchased in previous winters from floral departments of food stores or from garden centers, kept watered through the winter and were planted outside in the ground as soon as the soil warmed in the spring. These plants are not eaten by rabbits or other animals, who seem to be aware that the plant is poisonous, but indoors they should be kept out of the reach of pets and toddlers. 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://18uj3qKSEIhF05DSfuAR6EQSAOJfknZDk7y4ziG0cIk*>`̰e\h@!e\h@  PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://jzPlKMxSTESgPw3vl92nARFi77-hu_nx09bIt3Wr83w `)׉ 7cassandra://OKK2wxOhu2dKo2crNpZ4Y4vX6m1Cb9HCHcDdk5JPxK8͛f`J׉ 7cassandra://_OGuWL1wa3Lmryw19uSMOKO7Z5Jd4h0Hnvk1ISqtaBc(`̰ebh@Rט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://7x6EiW2ZCARDZ07112t6NB4PQTykvqWaiUb1Lp2uuak 9`)׉ 7cassandra://tl-53qrCSwMBkaT6dmoJ9DHXxwQ38qcHHYbRu9JU-2Q͔'`J׉ 7cassandra://Q9LJL75qJtdbvjoKUWTUpzTs4c-rnaPFhtH0gavUNdY%`̰ebh@Sנech@` IX9ׁHhttp://SavvySenior.orgׁ ׁ Јנech@_ 1V9ׁHhttp://giver.va.govׁ ׁ Јנech@^ %@9ׁHhttp://ALZ.org/ׁ ׁ Јנech@] 1.9ׁHhttp://er.orgׁ ׁ Јנech@\ 1̧9ׁHhttp://LotsAHelpingHands.comׁ ׁ Јנech@[ q؁f9ׁHhttp://tsCheckup.orgׁ ׁ Јנech@Z o9ׁHhttp://SilverBills.comׁ ׁ Јנech@Y 1hX9ׁHhttp://CareLinx.comׁ ׁ Јנech@X U>9ׁHhttp://Care.comׁ ׁ Јנech@W 4q_ 9ׁHhttp://comcast.netׁ ׁ Ј׉E!Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus! Best wishes to all our readers for a Happy New Year. And hopefully, you will fulfill most of your New Year’s resolutions over the next 12 months, whether it’s dropping weight, decluttering your house, getting organized, breaking bad habits or leading a healthier life. As we approach a new year, it’s a good time to break out those 2024 planners and desk calendars and take some time to organize and lay out schedules for the new year. Don’t forget to label a few file folders now for the placement of W-2 forms and other information that will be arriving in your mail soon – important documents that you will need when you sit down with your accountant to prepare your income tax returns. Hope you had a great holiday season, with plenty of time to relax and enjoy with family, relatives and friends – particularly some important people that you don’t get to see that often. Overall, I had a wonderful holiday despite the adjustments I had to make in my schedule because of illnesses and family crises affecting loved ones and friends that I had hoped to visit. I had to cancel some Christmas Eve plans last Thursday, on account of COVID-19. My brother Wayne called just as I was finishing up last week’s paper. He told me that a friend in Fall River who was hosting a Christmas Eve party had to cancel because he was sick. I later learned that it was because the friend had caught COVID. A half hour later, my brother called again to tell me that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and that he had to stay in his room for five days so he couldn’t spread the illness. On Saturday, I got a call from my photographer buddy David in Cambridge telling me that he had caught something on a recent visit to New York City and had to cancel our get-together that day. He was supposed to take me to Summer Shack and treat me to a nice seafood meal. David had told me he had tested himself for COVID and it turned out negative. But, apparently, he had a whopper of a cold and figured it would be best for me not to visit him. I had more holiday plans that got canceled yesterday —Cont est— CONTEST SKETCH OF THE WEEK because of a health emergency in my friend’s family. Fortunately, I’ve gotten through most of the holiday season without catching a bad cold or COVID. And I was still able to get to see some of my friends. I also got to drop off a bag of presents at my brother’s assisted living home so he could enjoy the holiday while being confined to his room. “First Day Hike” a t Breakheart on Jan. 1 For those Saugus residents who need a starting point to a health and exercise program over the new year, check out the First Day Hike, which is scheduled for Breakheart Reservation on New Year’s Day. The event will begin at 10 a.m. at 177 Forest St. in Saugus. Plan on meeting at the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center. Breakheart will offer two guided hikes – a twomile and a three-mile hike – through the paved loops of Breakheart. Hikers will be able to view animal tracks, Civilian Conservation Corps projects and the Lower and Upper Ponds. Be prepared for cold weather – dress in layers and wear winter boots. Warm up with hot chocolate and clam chowder from Kelly’s Roast Beef by the fire at the Visitor Center after the hike! Bring your friends and family! The event is cosponsored by the Friends of Breakheart Reservation and the state Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR). Another week of holiday trash delays The Town of Saugus announced that trash and recycling collection will run on a one-day delay for the next week in observance of the New Year. Trash and recycling will not be collected on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, due to the holiday. Collection will resume on a one-day delay on Tuesday, Jan. 3. 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 781-2314036 with any questions. Can You Guess Who? If you know, call 978-683-7773 and your name will be entered into a drawing contest to win. The prize is a $10 gift certificate from the contest’s sponsor, the Hammersmith Family Restaurant, which is located at 330 Central St. in Saugus. Food Pantry notes The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Dec. 29) from 9:3011 a.m. Legion Breakfast today There’s a good breakfast deal for Saugus veterans and other folks who enjoy a hearty breakfast on Friday mornings. The American Legion Post 210 at 44 Taylor St. in Saugus offers Friday morning breakfasts for the 2023-24 season. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with breakfast served from 8-9:00 a.m. for an $8 donation. Veterans who cannot afford the donation may be served free. Special “Shout Outs” We didn’t receive any nominations from readers this week. Using my editorial discretion, I would like to give a giant, collective “Shout Out” to all town residents whose jobs kept them from celebrating the holidays with family this year. I would like to send a second giant, collective “Shout Out” to all of those volunteers who went out of their way to help make the holidays brighter for our less fortunate citizens. Want to “Shout Out” a fellow Saugonian? This is an opportunity for our paper’s readers to single out – in a brief mention – remarkable acts or achievements by Saugus residents or an act of kindness or a nice gesture. Just send an email (mvoge@comcast.net) with a mention in the subject line of “An Extra Shout Out.” No more than a paragraph; anything longer might lend itself to a story and/or a photo. We have a winner! Congratulations to Debra Panetta, one of several readers who answered correctly to last Friday’s sketch contest and had her name selected in a drawing. Debra will receive a $10 gift certificate from the contest’s sponsor, the Hammersmith Family Restaurant, near Saugus Center. Now, here’s the answer from the person who goes by the name of “The Sketch Artist”: “The answer to last week’s sketch is the fun loving, lavender mist hair colored Sharon Genovese. Sharon is artistic, creative and generous. She donates and decorates her own M.E.G. center Christmas tree every year at the yearly Christmas Tree raffles Event. She makes all kinds of beautiful arrangements for table Centerpieces at Events. “Sharon is a Lion’s Club My resolutions for 2024 In this week’s issue, we allowed Saugus selectmen and School Committee members to sum up the major town news stories during 2023 and to talk about their top priorities for the New Year. I’m mulling over a few projects at The Saugus Advocate that will help to make the paper more relevant to our readers. Last year, we initiated the “Saugus Over Coffee” series filmed and broadcast by Saugus TV to help people in the town’s 10 precincts get to know their precincts and their Town Meeting members better – over a cup of coffee. The program, which was cosponsored by the Saugus Public Library, featured each of the 10 precincts monthly, from January through October. We also worked with Saugus TV to produce three nights of question and answer forums to introduce the 27 candidates for the nine Charter Commission seats to residents. Twenty-four of the candidates accepted our invitation to participate. This year, we might resurrect “Saugus Over Coffee” in a different format. Stay tuned. In the coming weeks, you might notice a few changes in our weekly package. As editor of The Saugus AdTHE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 19 Member and Saugus Garden Club Member. “And now here’s Sharon in her own words to tell you a little about herself. “‘I met my husband 40 years ago on a cruise to Bermuda. It was the last Carnival Cruise to leave from Boston. We dated for a year, got engaged and got married the following year on October 5,1985. Our first son Michael was born on 7/2/89 then 7 years later my twin sons Matthew and Bobby were born. My children attended Saugus schools “‘I walk with a group called ‘Sharon’s sneaker crew’ in the Dana Farber Boston Marathon cancer walk. This is my 10th year coming up.’ “Sharon is Nonna to three grandchildren, her son & his wife and three grandchildren live in Alabama (his wife’s hometown). Sharon has a big heart and is a rescue Mom to three kitties. “Thank you Sharon for all you do! “You are a bright beacon in Saugus “Yours Truly, “The Sketch Artist” ׉ 7cassandra://_OGuWL1wa3Lmryw19uSMOKO7Z5Jd4h0Hnvk1ISqtaBc(`̰e\h@"׉E+THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Page 19 THE SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 18 vocate for six years and nine months now, I am making a renewed commitment to offer our readers an interesting and informative newspaper which always strives to be a force of good in the community – seeking to spotlight town people and events that lead to the betterment of Saugus. Our primary task is to provide useful information that keeps residents informed on important issues that aff ect the community as a whole and residents individually. We feel it’s important to shine a light on town and local government – including public schools, the town’s chief employer and the agency that affects the most lives in the community on a daily basis – when things break down and when the government needs to step up to address various challenges or problems. At the same time, we think it’s important to shine a public light on the many great things that are happening here, whether by individuals or groups. I recently turned 70 and I’m finishing my 50th year as a newspaper journalist since I began my career during my junior year at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, working weekends in the Northampton news bureau of The Springfi eld Union and fi ling stories I developed while living on campus during the week. My personal gift to the people of Saugus is that I will continue to work hard to provide Saugus a well-balanced and respected hometown newspaper as long as my publisher wants to keep me as the editor. I have no immediate plans to retire. I’ve told close friends and colleagues that I will continue reporting, writing stories and headlines, taking photos and editing stories relevant to Saugus as long as I am blessed with good health. Whether it’s fi ve to 10 more years – or longer – I plan to continue doing what I’m doing, as long as there’s a place for a real newspaper (not onBEACON HILL | FROM PAGE 15 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. line paper) in Saugus. We are Saugus’ hometown newspaper. We are the only newspaper that covers Saugus people and events exclusively. Right now, I am blessed to have people like Laura Eisener (“Saugus Gardens”), Bill Stewart (the “Old Sachem” columnist who writes about sports), Joanie Allbee (sketches/photos/essays/articles), Jay DeMarco (“Small Saves” cartoon), Janice Jarosz (articles and photos), Tom Sheehan (articles) as a core of nonpaid, frequent contributors who help make The Saugus Advocate the paper that it is. And, of course, we have part-time staff ers Tara Vocino (who takes photos and writes human interest stories) and Dom Nicastro (who covers Saugus sports). And publisher Jim Mitchell oversees the paper as it’s put to bed in Everett on Thursdays. So, a lot of hard work goes into putting out the paper every week. So, I feel honored to coordinate our coverage and collaborate with our paid staff ers and unpaid contributors to put out the paper every week. My personal challenge is how can I make The Saugus Advocate more user friendly and relevant to its readers? Stay tuned. Compost/Recycling DropOff Site winter hours The Town of Saugus Compost/Recycling Drop-Off Site is closed for the winter. But it will reopen for recycling on the third Saturday of January, February and March 2024 weather permitting. Please note the following dates that the site will be open during the period from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Saturday, January 20, 2024 Saturday, February 17, 2024 Saturday, March 16, 2024 Please contact Scott Brazis, Director of Solid Waste/Recycling, with any questions at 781-231-4036. What’s new at the Saugus Public Library? There’s always something interesting going on. Below 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 fi led. They note that the infrequency and briefl ength of sessions are misguided and lead are a few activities worth checking out. The library will be closed next Monday (Jan. 1) In observance of the New Year’s holiday. $5 for a bag of books: If you love reading, here’s a great deal. Buy a New Friends of the Saugus Public Library mesh book bag for $5 and fi ll it with as many books as you’d like. Proceeds benefi t the New Friends so they can support public library service in Saugus. Town Meeting Sessions: Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian is off ering quite a Christmas present for Saugus citizens who want to learn the basics about Town Meeting – the legislative body of Saugus town government. Manoogian is a veteran of about four decades in local town government at various levels – including many years as a Town Meeting member. The three sessions Manoogian will be leading next year are tailored for newly elected Town Meeting members or veterans who want to refresh themselves about Robert’s Rules of Order or how to put forward an article for consideration. But the sessions that Manoogian is planning are free and open to the public – for all interested citizens. The sessions will take place on four nights in 2024 – Jan. 29, Feb. 16 & 29 and March 25 – from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library at 295 Central St. Adult Coloring Group: Here’s an invitation to grown-ups to attend the adult coloring group. It’s a great opportunity to take time to unwind, be creative and have fun. No experience is necessary. Pencils, gel pens and coloring pages are ready and waiting. Spaces are limited, so please call to register at 781-231-4168. The next session is set for Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Brooks Room on the second floor of the library. 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 December 18-22, the House met for a total of 22 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 27 minutes. Mon. Dec. 18 House11:01 a.m. to 11:14 a.m. Senate 11:12 a.m. to 11:33 About The Saugus Advocate We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is noon Wednesday. If you have a story idea, an article or photo to submit, please email me at mvoge@ Sa comcast.net or leave a message at 978-683-7773. 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. Sa ior Sa nior y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Tips on Caring for an Aging Parent Dear Savvy Senior, Where can I turn to for caregiving help? I help take care of my 80-year-old father and work too, and it’s wearing me out. Worn Out Wendy Dear Wendy, Taking care of an aging parent over a period of time – especially when juggling work and other family obligations – can be exhausting. But help and resources are available. Here’s what you should know. Identify Your Needs To help you determine and prioritize the kinds of help you need, a good fi rst step is to make a detailed list of everything you do as your dad’s caregiver and the amount of time each task takes. Identify the times when you need help the most and which tasks others might be able to do for you. Then list the types of care needed, such as simple companionship or doing active chores, like shopping or running errands. Once you determine this, here are some tips and places you can reach out to for help. Care Helpers If you have siblings or other loved ones close by, start by asking them if they could come and help with specifi c tasks. And see if friends, neighbors or faith group members could help too. You also need to check into local resources that may be available. Many communities off er a range of free or subsidized services that help seniors and caregivers with basic needs such as home delivered meals, transportation, senior companion services and respite services, which off ers short-term care so you can take an occasional break. Call your nearby Area Aging Agency (800677-1116) for referrals to services. There are also a bevy of online services you can use to help you save time on certain chores. For example, online grocery shopping and home deliveries, and online pharmacy medication refi lls and deliveries. You can also order meal-kits or pre-made meals online through numerous meal service delivery companies and arrange needed transportation with ride sharing services like Lyft or Uber. Or, if you can aff ord it, you may want to consider hiring someone a few hours a week to help with things like cooking, housekeeping or even personal care. Costs can run anywhere from $12 up to $25 per hour. Care.com or CareLinx.com are two good websites to help you fi nd someone, or you can work with a local home care agency. Financial Aids If you’re handling your dad’s fi nancial chores, make things easier by arranging for direct deposit for his income sources, and set up automatic payments for his utilities and other routine bills. You may also want to set up your dad’s online banking service, so you can pay bills and monitor his account anytime. Or, if you need help, consider hiring a bill paying service like Silver Bills (SilverBills.com), which charges a fl at fee of $150 per month. Benefi tsCheckup.org is another excellent tool to look for fi nancial assistance programs that may help your dad, particularly if he’s lower income. Technology Solutions To help you keep tabs on your dad when you are away at work or if he lives alone, there are affordable technology devices that can help. For example, there are medical alert systems and smart speakers that help with communication and allow him to call for help if needed. Home video cameras with two-way speakers that allow you to monitor and talk to him when you’re away. Electronic pill boxes that can notify you if he has taken his medications. And to help you coordinate his care with other members of his care team there are websites like LotsAHelpingHands.com. Other Resources There are also a number of other organizations you can draw on for additional information like the Family Care Alliance (Caregiver.org), which provides a stateby-state listing of caregiving programs and services; the Alzheimer’s Association (ALZ.org/ help-support/caregiving) that provides information unique to the challenges of dementia caregivers; and the U.S. Department of Veterans Aff airs (Caregiver.va.gov), which off ers caregiver support services to veterans and spouses. 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. nr ׉ 7cassandra://Q9LJL75qJtdbvjoKUWTUpzTs4c-rnaPFhtH0gavUNdY%`̰e\h@#e\h@" PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://_15145RXxokWtzTPwzIs3QNM44pDm0BVpfQcJM_imi8`)׉ 7cassandra://GGN1QdkSmLiJCXQ8LJVIBU-m6DdOcBbtzYzeeMBE8FU͕`J׉ 7cassandra://SYUs0yNsnN0a1ShE5GacJk8hnM8_sdV9gkIDXs32xkI(1`̰ech@Vט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://2D9KZZffE9fk3T0KZgkkQgN9JxzTWU__cR60J77lZ3Q 4y`)׉ 7cassandra://r5gKbDJxsp_1n8FrKnixz2_SPUkxjo3LTu6-r94be3A͒[`J׉ 7cassandra://fhgDzv0WqAwxtbf38XxgxRmwYmIE6pZpRlEg18tAVQE&`̰ech@aנech@h@9ׁHhttp://giving.org/app/giving/ׁ ׁ Јנech@g@Dk9ׁHhttp://streetinn.orgׁ ׁ Јנech@fpX9ׁHhttp://stjude.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 20 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 New season, renewed hopes: Peabody-Saugus targets high stakes in hockey By Dom Nicastro T he Peabody-Saugus cooperative boy s hockey team has had a slow start to the season with three straight losses, but it’s looking for improvement as the calendar turns another year. Jason Marshall, a former lacrosse and hockey player for Peabody High School, leads the Tanners for the second straight year as head coach. Marshall is in his sixth year coaching high school sports between hockey and lacrosse. The team is in its second season as a cooperative program between Peabody and Saugus High Schools. What’s Marshall’s motivation this season? “Having the ability to stay involved with a sport that I grew up with and love and trying to impart that love on the next generation,” he said. “Especially rewarding to be able to give back to a program I was a part of.” Earlier this month, tryouts surpassed expectations. They went great, according to Marshall, who added that the team has demonstrated “high intensity so far and is getting better by the day.” Peabody-Saugus brought in 24 players to the team, which finished 3-17-0 last season. This year, they dropped contests to Everett’s coop team (9-6), North Reading (7-0) and St. Bernard’s (6-3). In the latter loss, Peabody-Saugus held a 3-2 edge in the middle period but let the lead slip away. Peabody junior Tyson Higgins had two goals, each assisted by Trevor Pacheco of Peabody. Peabody sophomore Brandon - 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. ES23C0510CA In the matter of: Mckenna Sam Gagliardi CITATION ON PETITION TO CHANGE NAME A Petition to Change Name of Adult has been filed by Mckenna Sam Gagliardi of Saugus, MA requesting that the court enter a Decree changing their name to: Mckenna Jacqueline Zell. IMPORTANT NOTICE Any person may appear for the purposes of objecting to the petition by filing an appearance at: Essex Probate and Family Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 01/22/2024. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance if you object to this proceeding. WITNESS, Hon. Frances M. Giordano, First Justice of this Court. Date: December 19, 2023 PAMELA CASEY O’BRIEN REGISTER OF PROBATE December 29, 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW | FROM PAGE 6 the tenth and final in a series of public forums, “Saugus Over Coffee.” NOVEMBER Saugus resident David T. Savoie has been a familiar visitor at Veterans Park, walking around in a replica World War II Army uniform on patriotic holidays. He says the countless hours he spends as a World War II reenactor enables him to honor the veterans of that era. Sachems senior Cam Preston receives the Saugus Lions Club “Heisman Award” during the 51st Annual Saugus and Peabody Lions Club’s Football Meeting and Dinner at Prince Pizzeria. Saugus High Head Coach Steve Cummings says he decided to honor Preston with YEAR IN REVIEW | SEE PAGE 21 MBTA to Provide Free Service After 8 PM on New Year’s Eve Holiday schedules are available. B OSTON – The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) today announced that free service on all modes will be available after 8 PM on December 31 through the end of the service day to help support safe celebrations on New Year’s Eve. Full holiday service schedule information is available at mbta.com/holidays. December 31: Increased New Year’s Eve Service: Subway: All subway lines will operate on a Sunday schedule with increased service after 3 PM. Buses and The RIDE: Buses and The RIDE will operate on a Sunday schedule. Ferry: Charlestown ferry services will end at 6 PM. Commuter Rail: The Commuter Rail will operate on a weekend schedule and provide late-night service with last trains held at North and South Stations until after midnight. CharlieCard Store: The CharlieCard Store will be closed on the observed December 31, New Year’s Eve Day (and also observed on December 29, 2023). January 1: New Year’s Day Schedule · Sunday Schedule: All subway lines, buses, and The RIDE will operate on a Sunday schedule. · Weekend Schedule: The Commuter Rail will operate on a weekend schedule. · Closed: All ferry services will not operate and the CharlieCard Store will be closed. For more information, visit mbta.com/holidays or connect with the T on X (the site formerly known as Twitter) @ MBTAand @MBTA_CR, Facebook /TheMBTA, Instagram @theMBTA, Threads @thembta, or TikTok @thembta. Barone had the other goal. As for the strengths of this year’s team, Marshall said that “high hockey IQ” and underclassmen, when mixed with upperclassmen leadership, have the potential to do something special. What the Tanners will need, however, is to improve in the skating department and creativity in the offensive end, according to Marshall. The captains this year include: · Ryan Jones of Saugus. “He’s contagious, has positivity and a love of the game,” Marshall said. · Michael Ryan of Peabody. “He has a high motor and leads by example,” Marshall said. · Pacheco of Peabody. “He’s a vocal leader and a defensive stalwart,” Marshall said. Saugus senior defenseman Dominic Chianca is fantastic at moving the puck, according to his coach. Jake Ferraro, a senior forward out of Saugus, is a reliable penalty killer. Peabody’s Higgins is a great skater with a high offensive potential, his coach said. Zack Hartnett, a junior forward/defenseman out of Peabody, has great two-way ability. Peabody’s Barone is a forward with high offensive skill. Peabody sophomore goaltender Evan Tybinkowski has got the call in net. Marshall’s coaching department includes: · Donnie Shaw, assistant/ defensive coach · Aaron McDonald, assistant/goalie coach · Andrew Sousa, assistant coach “All three bring great knowledge of hockey that helps fill my own personal limitations in coaching,” Marshall said. What are the big team goals this winter? Peabody-Saugus is aiming for nine wins and qualifying for the tournament as well as aiming to compete for the Northeastern Conference Lynch division. “We are competing against two very solid teams in Beverly and Swampscott for the NEC Lynch division as well as the high-level teams of Danvers, Masconomet, Marblehead, Gloucester and Winthrop,” Marshall said. The new MIAA rankings bring in challenges with nonleague schedules and making sure there are good, quality teams. How is the team’s nonleague sked shaping up? “We hope to have a competitive non-league schedule that allows us to play a lot of good and close hockey games in order for us to continue to improve as a program,” Marshall said. ׉ 7cassandra://SYUs0yNsnN0a1ShE5GacJk8hnM8_sdV9gkIDXs32xkI(1`̰e\h@$׉E"THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Page 21 OBITUARY Frank J. Forti Frank was the son of the late Anthony and Rose (Williams) Forti. A Saugus High School graduate, he served in the United States Coast Guard 1953-1955 during the Korea Conflict. Frank worked as a flooring installer. He loved sports, never missing a Red Sox broadcast, word search and puttering in his yard. He is survived by two O f Saugus . Age 93, died on Friday, December 22, at his home in Saugus. He was the husband of the late Josephine (Salamone) Forti. Born, raised and a lifelong resident of Saugus, daughters; Janice Coburn and her husband Timothy of Lynnfield, Angelyn Piazza and her husband John of NH, four grandchildren; Megan Sniffen & her husband Taylor, Frankie Coburn & his wife Bruna, Kimberly Piazza and Kelsey Piazza. He was predeceased by his daughter Linda Forti and sisters Phyllis Batey and Edith Ciampa. Mr. Forti is also survived by his beloved dog and companion Frankie. Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Essex Probate and Family Court 36 Federal Street Salem, MA 01970 Docket No. ES18P0413GD In the Interests of: Luca Marraccino of Saugus, MA RESPONDENT Incapacitated Person/Protected Person CITATION GIVING NOTICE OF PETITION TO EXPAND THE POWERS OF A GUARDIAN To the named Respondent and all other interested persons, a petition has been filed by M. Alessandra Marraccino of Saugus, MA Damiano Marraccino of Saugus, MA in the above captioned matter requesting that the court: Expand the powers of a Guardian The petition asks the court to make a determination that the powers of the Guardian and/or Conservator should be expanded, modified, or limited since the time of the appointment. The original petition is on file with the court. You have the right to object to this proceeding. If you wish to do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance at this court on or before 10:00 A.M. on the return date of 01/22/2024. This day is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline date by which you have to file the written appearance if you object to the petition. If you fail to file the written appearance by the return date, action may be taken in this matter without further notice to you. In addition to filing the written appearance, you or your attorney must file a written affidavit stating the specific facts and grounds of your objection within 30 days after the return date. IMPORTANT NOTICE The outcome of this proceeding may limit or completely take away the above-named person’s right to make decisions about personal affairs or financial affairs or both. The above-named person has the right to ask for a lawyer. Anyone may make this request on behalf of the above-named person. If the above-named person cannot afford a lawyer, one may be appointed at State expense. WITNESS, Hon. Frances M. Giordano, First Justice of this Court. Date: December 13, 2023 PAMELA A. CASEY O’BRIEN REGISTER OF PROBATE December 29, 2023 hours in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, 549 Lincoln Ave., SAUGUS, on Wednesday 4-7 p.m. A graveside service will be held in Riverside Cemetery, 164 Winter Street, Saugus on Thursday at 11 a.m. Please meet at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations in Mr. Forti’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital @ stjude.org. Edward Fee f Saugus, formerly of Lynn. On December 19th, musician and soloist for 43 O years with the Archdiocese of Boston. He was the husband of Carol (Bryant Bossio) Fee with whom he shared 23 years of marriage. Born in Salem and raised in Lynn he was the son of the late Doris (Brewer) Fee. A graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Lynn and St. John’s Seminary. Upon graduation from St. John’s Seminary in 1971, he spent a year of discernment as a Deacon at St. Joseph’s Parish in Belmont. During this time, it became clear to him that his calling was in providing the music that enhances the Catholic Liturgy. He served as Music Director at Immaculate Conception in Everett for several years, before becoming Music Director at Our Lady of the Assumption, Lynnfield where he served for thirty-five years. During that time, and until recently, he could also be heard as the organist & singer for YEAR IN REVIEW | FROM PAGE 20 the award for showing heart despite a season-ending injury when the team was 3-0. The injured quarterback continued to attend practices and do what he could to help the team. Volunteers talk about the community spirit COVER STORIES | FROM PAGE 7 lishment Review Committee, submits a detailed letter disputing “misconceptions.” Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano and Vice Chair Debra Panetta accuse each other of unethical conduct as hearings on pot establishments get delayed. “Poor attendance” has become an issue in several precincts among candidates running for Town Meeting seats. During a political forum, none of the Board of selectmen candidates say they support expansion of the ash landfill at WIN Waste Innovations’ trash-to-energy incinerCatholic TV’s Daily Mass. In addition to his music ministry, Ed worked in the cancer protocol office at Massachusetts General Hospital. Besides his wife, he is survived by his stepchildren: Shaun Bossio of Wakefield, Jodi Bossio-Smith and her husband Doug of Saco, Maine, Caitlin Bossio of Rochester, NH. and one grandson, Noah Smith. He is also survived by his brother Barry Fee and his wife Sharon of South Hampton, New Hampshire, sisters Judy Stockey of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania & nephews Thomas Fee, Nathaniel Fee and niece Sara (Fee) McGowan. He was predeceased by his sister Rebecca Fee. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, 1400 Washington St, Boston on Saturday December 30th at 10:30 a.m. Please meet at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Pine Street Inn at http://pinestreetinn.org or the Organ Restoration Fund at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross @ https://www.wesharegiving.org/app/giving/ WeShar e -20000550? tab=home. Mrs. Jessie A. (Sonier) Allison O f Saugus, formerly of Malden. Age 82, and good will that motivated them to be a part of the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry’s Annual Thanksgiving food drive. DECEMBER Nine-year-old Camila Giron Guardado receives the Saugus Police Department Life Saving Award and a comator on Route 107. NOVEMBER Signs are popping up all over Saugus, urging residents to vote “Yes” or “No” on whether to elect a commission to revise the Saugus Town Charter. Saugus rejects a ballot question to revise Town Charter by 192 votes; reelects all five selectmen to third consecutive two-year term. There is a closer look at the investigation into the alleged misconduct of Saugus Superintendent Erin McMahon that led to her firing. Saugus football captains reflect on a transformative season, aim for Thanksgiving win. died on Monday, December 18th at the Hunt Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Danvers. She was the wife of Robert F. Allison with whom she shared 63 years of marriage. Born and raised in Malden, Mrs. Allison was the daughter of the late John and Edith (Donald) Sonier. A resident of Saugus for the past 62 years, Jessie was a former bank teller for Eastern Bank and a former waitress at the Ballard. She enjoyed playing Mahjong. Jessie was a devoted member of the First Congregational Church where she enjoyed knitting including making a prayer shawl. She was also tirelessly involved with outreach programs in the Town of Saugus and also worked on the Saugus Fire Department’s annual toy drive. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Allison is survived by her daughter, Marie Gilmore of Saugus; her son, John Allison of Saugus; and three grandchildren. She was predeceased by her sister Margaret Rucker. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jessie’s memory may be made to the Pumpkin Patch Fund c/o First Congregational Church of Saugus, 300 Central St., Saugus, MA 01906. A memorial service is planned for the future. mendation from the Board of Selectmen after being credited with saving her mom from choking on a chicken bone. Navy and Marine Veteran Jack Marino stands out among all volunteers at the Wreaths Across America Ceremony in Riverside Cemetery. He helps obtain and deliver 150 wreaths to the cemetery. DECEMBER A nine-year-old girl receives the Saugus Police Department’s Life Saving Award for saving mom from choking. Locating a marijuana establishment in Saugus will take a unanimous vote when hearings resume after a twomonth delay. The Selectmen settle on Sanctuary Medicinals, one of the candidates hoping to locate a retail marijuana dispensary in Saugus. The six other applicants fail to get enough support for the other two special permits. A former MassDEP official fills the Board of Health vacancy after receiving unanimous support from selectmen. ׉ 7cassandra://fhgDzv0WqAwxtbf38XxgxRmwYmIE6pZpRlEg18tAVQE&`̰e\h@%e\h@$ PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://eJmwKvdknb_-zWSxs_rpzWZlMvkxzahjhrZsJmAavuA`)׉ 7cassandra://j-NN9JVAx9TbHD5ChPCgVm_rTJCaD82GzpGm977xDEQͫ`J׉ 7cassandra://IkhrJQ0N-LDzsxZThsNXld9X_36XW851b3A-_poaw8w4`̰eeh@iט((u׉׉ 7cassandra://j2Ehya7u8uQLBAkXKPNXJo3YkzLn2HRVXNYjShX2oagq`)׉ 7cassandra://ibjP7I7XFDYRFxwZEiOmAIHGv0N8LGJJxyCJCh8ed4E͝`J׉ 7cassandra://Rrs3Sse9XShh3rYStm1c7DNdR7UE_0cr6SYYWt58Omw.[`̰eeh@jנeeh@p̪9ׁHmailto:soldwithsue@gmail.comׁ ׁ Јנeeh@o69ׁHhttp://www.thewarrengroup.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E .Page 22 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Clean-Outs! We take and dispose from cellars, attics, garages, yards, etc. Call Robert at: 781-844-0472 ASKS| FROM PAGE 9 involved and stay involved when the real work begins, and that’s always great to see. Q: What are your top priorities for the new year? My priority in 2024 is to jump into the school budget process after the holiday as we gear up towards the annual Town Meeting in the spring. Frank Berardino MA License 31811 We have a number of priorities to protect and fund in this budget that will set the stage for next year’s progress. School Committee Member Stephanie Mastrocola As far as a top story in Saugus is concerned, I am going to take a back seat on that question this year. I don’t feel at this time it would be appropriate for me to comment on some • 24 - Hour Service • Emergency Repairs BERARDINO Plumbing & Heating Residential & Commercial Service Gas Fitting • Drain Service 617.699.9383 Senior Citizen Discount of the events that took place. Have a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year to All! Q: What are your top priorities for the new year? My top priorities for the new year are to meet with as many people as I can. Teachers, parents, school nurses, paras, and most of all the students. I promised the community when I ran for School Committee that I would work hard to hear their concerns. One of the top priorities at this time is the staffi ng needs and making School Committee Member Stephanie Mastrocola sure the staff feel supported as well as the students. Lawn and Yard Care SNOW PLOWING *REASONABLE RATES * PROMPT SERVICE * PARKING LOTS USA 781-521-9927 We follow Social Distancing Guidelines! Your Hometown News Delivered! EVERETT ADVOCATE MALDEN ADVOCATE REVERE ADVOCATE SAUGUS ADVOCATE One year subscription to The Advocate of your choice: $150 per paper in-town per year or $200 per paper out-of-town per year. 781 233 4446 Call now! Name_________________________________________ Address_______________________________________ City_______________ State_______ Zip ____________ CC# _______________________________ Exp. _____ Sec. code____ Advocate (City):___________________ Clip & Mail Coupon with Credit Card, Check or Money Order to: Advocate Newspapers Inc. PO Box 490407, Everett, MA 02149 CLASSIFIEDS Call Driveways from $35 ׉ 7cassandra://IkhrJQ0N-LDzsxZThsNXld9X_36XW851b3A-_poaw8w4`̰e\h@&׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Page 23 1. On Dec. 29, 1937, what European Free State became a country? 2. “Have a nice day!” appeared below what 1970s yellow design? 3. On Dec. 30, 1986, what country’s government announced that electronic sensors would replace canaries for detecting carbon monoxide in coal mines? 4. How are Ceylon, Persia and Siam similar? 5. The Collins Dictionary stated what is the “most notable word of 2023”: AI, IQ or NFT? 6. The fi rst public reception was held at the White House on Jan. 1 in what year: 1789, 1801 or 1855? 7. On Dec. 31, auctioned for $4.9 million? 10. On Jan. 1, 1971, what product was banned from American TV? 11. Where is Gotham City? 12. 2007, what construction project in the USA (estimated at $3 billion) was completed at approximately $22 billion (including interest)? 8. What mammal has the thickest fur: bear, Bernese Mountain dog or sea otter? 9. In September 2023, whose 1972 NBA Finals Los Angeles Lakers jersey was called a bubbler? 17. On Jan. 3, 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt founded Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s word of the year is what: deepfake, authentic or coronation? 13. In what poem would you fi nd “And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet”? 14. On Jan. 2, 1974, , during an OPEC embargo, President Richard Nixon signed a bill to lower the maximum speed limit to what: 55, 65 or 75 mph? 15. What is a PV cell? 16. What music player is the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, which was later called what? 18. How many bridges connect Manhattan Island: 10, 16 or 21? 19. According to Guinness World Records, in 2023 who had the single biggest loss of net worth in history (about $200 billion)? 20. January 4 is National Trivia Day; the fi rst book on the subject of trivia was published in what decade: 1950s, 1960s or 1980s? 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. BUYER1 Hancock, Shane For a searchable database of real estate transactions and property information visit: www.thewarrengroup.com. SELLER1 BUYER2 Lipinski, Angel M 14 Seagirt Avenue T SELLER2 Silva, Daniel ADDRESS 14 Seagirt Ave F O R S A L E - S A U G U S C O MM E R C I A L & R E S I D E N T I A L P R O P E R T Y CITY Saugus DATE 12.12.23 PRICE 450000 ANSWERS S A U G U S Inviting home with seamless flow, sunfilled interiors, and charming details. Screened porch for relaxation, kitchen opens to living and dining with hardwood floors. Three generous bedrooms, new full bath on each floor. Roof 2 years old. Driveway parks 3-4 cars tandem. Easy access to public transportation, 20 minutes from Boston, close to malls and restaurants. Saugus offers new schools, low property taxes. $545,000. Contact Sue at 617-877-4553. Move right in – this won't last! Exceptional investment opportunity! Long-standing commercial fishing pier/residential property adjacent to Saugus Waterfront Mixed Use Overlay District (WMOD). Owner petitioning Town of Saugus for inclusion in WMOD, providing diverse land use possibilities per Article 18 in Saugus Zoning Bylaws. Zoning contingency applies to sale. Property features licensed pier, boat storage, residential use with permitted accessory dwelling unit. Utilities include electricity, water to pier, and natural gas to dwelling. Deed transfer for pier rights. Offered at $1,455,000. Contact Sue at 617-877-4553 for details. REVERE BEACH SINGLE BEDROOM RENTAL APARTMENTS Fantastic deal: 1-bedroom apartment near Revere Beach with first month free (see firm remarks). Well-maintained, fully applianced, in-unit laundry, central A/C, and heat included. Only small bill for stove, lights, and bathroom fan. Assigned parking, extra storage available for $25/month. $50 pet fee upon landlord approval. Agents collect fees from tenants. Owner requires proof of income of $1,250/week gross. Good credit and rental history essential. $2,195. Contact Peter at 781-820-5690. Efficiency studio apartment, 300 sq ft, with combined kitchen/living/bedroom area (14x14), long hallway, and spacious 8x8 bathroom. Ideal for student or single occupant, Section 8 welcome. Private ground-level balcony with Revere Beach views. MBTA outside the back door, assigned off-street parking. Coin-operated laundry on lower level. Well-managed building, fully inspected by the City of Revere. $1,695. Contact Peter at 781-820-5690. Find us on Google and see what our clients have to say about us! 3 8 M A I N S T . S A U G U S ( 7 8 1 ) 5 5 8 - 1 0 9 1 2 0 R A I L R O A D A V E . R O C K P O R T ( 9 7 8 ) - 9 9 9 - 5 4 0 8 YOUR IDEAL HOME AWAITS IN SAUGUS! CHARMING 1-BR APARTMENT WITH PARKING, PROXIMITY, AND MORE - ONLY $1,495/MONTH! Discover the perfect blend of comfort and convenience in this Saugus gem! A delightful 3-room, 1-bedroom apartment is now available for rent, offering a lifestyle of ease and accessibility. MONTHLY RENT:$1,495.00 1 Bedroom: Spacious and cozy, your new home awaits with a well-designed bedroom for your comfort. 1 Car Parking: Enjoy the luxury of your own parking space, ensuring hassle-free arrivals and departures. Across from Bus Stop: Commuting made easy! The apartment is conveniently located right across from a bus stop, providing seamless access to public transportation. Close to Major Routes: Whether you're heading to the airport, Boston, or other destinations, you'll appreciate the proximity to major routes for a smooth commute. Nearby Amenities: Explore the convenience of being close to shopping, dining, and entertainment options for a vibrant lifestyle. Mango Realty has extended our business model to rentals, property management and short-term rentals and use the platform such as Airbnb, including our Rockport office. Contact Information: For inquiries and to schedule a viewing, please call Sue Palomba at +1 (617) 8774553 or email soldwithsue@gmail.com. 1 4 N O R W O O D S T . E V E R E T T ( 7 8 1 ) - 5 5 8 - 1 0 9 1 1. Ireland 2. Smiley face 3. England’s 4. They are former names of countries (Sri Lanka, Iran and Thailand, respectively) 5. AI (artificial intelligence) 6. 1801 (It became an annual tradition through 1932.) 7. The Big Dig 8. Sea otter 9. Wilt Chamberlain’s 10. CIgarettes 11. It is a comic book city; in 1807 author Washington Irving nicknamed NYC “Gotham” after a Nottinghamshire, England, village that was, according to legend, inhabited by fools. 12. Authentic 13. “Auld Lang Syne” by Robert Burns 14. 55 mph 15. Photovoltaic (produce electricity from sunlight) 16. The 1946 Model 1015 Jukebox 17. March of Dimes (Radio listeners were encouraged to donate by sending dimes to the White House.) 18. 21 19. Elon Musk 20. 1960s (1966 – “Trivia” – authored by two Columbia University students) ׉ 7cassandra://Rrs3Sse9XShh3rYStm1c7DNdR7UE_0cr6SYYWt58Omw.[`̰e\h@'e\h@& PבCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://h_-0L1OLvJAQAP_MeSeydaSU9t6S3vIbOXNrID6VvuE`)׉ 7cassandra://qWj1KbKcZPHnP4D-ATZnoeQHqvzvxAQFxrA33piQ3PQ͑I`J׉ 7cassandra://eh1rdMaMXf4J4_JjT9tL4-Bqn9BrOQX-dLZFkaj5TP4-`̰eeh@lנeeh@nHh 9ׁHhttp://COMMONMOVES.COMׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 24 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 29, 2023 Carpenito Real Estate is now LYNN $2,799,900 6 newly completed storefront facades consisting of two condos. ALL occupied – great income. SAUGUS $899,900 Custom colonial in the Woodlands with fireplace, finished lower level, central air, and 2-car garage. SAUGUS $675,000 Expanded cape with fireplace, hardwood, central air, and a garage, located in desirable Indian Valley. May 2024 bring good health, happiness, strong family values, peace on earth, and our continued commitment to you! COMMONMOVES.COM 335 CENTRAL STREET, SAUGUS, MA | (781) 233-7300 SAUGUS $629,900 Expanded ranch with 3 bedrooms, 1st-floor family room, and a great side street location. SAUGUS $329,900 New 2 bedroom condo with a granite kitchen, central air, gas heat, new windows, and off-street parking. SAUGUS $319,900 Austin Court offers a 2 bedroom condo with 4 rooms, fresh paint, and an inground pool. ©2023 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity. ׉ 7cassandra://eh1rdMaMXf4J4_JjT9tL4-Bqn9BrOQX-dLZFkaj5TP4-`̰e\h@(׈Ee\h@)e\h@( P,Saugus Advocate 12/29/2023Saugus Advocate 12/29/2023eZUΐ