׉?4ׁB!בCטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://HNBh-UTqHxjBroZfQhRpNVHrV6-RPiP03HKRqatsSbY`'p׉ 7cassandra://CcVpGkoU6BPMhhgeyAdso_WZ-RIUUi7txucYff3VRAAͯD`׉ 7cassandra://zYuh4JSR0rXbcIl6yj4wsb_uRWcximgF-5yVlZameGs6`g%S05Mנg%S05P19ׁHhttp://www.advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј׈Eg%R053׉E TSAUGUS Vol. 27, No.7 Your Local News & Sports Online! Scan & Subscribe Here! C TE D O AT CAT -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 781-233-4446 Friday, February 14, 2025 SHOWCASING SAUGUS CULTURES Legal opinion backs supporters of proposed dog park at Stocker Playground Town Counsel advises Saugus Dog Park Committee that using a portion of the playground for dog park is permitted By Mark E. Vogler ust two days before a Conservation Commission public hearing related to a proposed dog park at Stocker Playground, Town Counsel John Vasapolli issued a legal opinion that the dog park is a permitted recreational use. Opponents of the dog park Tori Darnell, co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council, enjoys a cup of coff ee as she talks about the Saugus Cultural Festival, which is set for Feb. 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Saugus Middle-High School. Please see inside for more photos and this week’s “The Advocate Asks.” (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) have maintained that the proposal would violate the deed restriction that was fi led when the town acquired the Frederick Stocker Playground parcel in 1930. It required that the property be used solely as a playground in perpetuity. But a Feb. 10 opinion by Vasapolli determined that the proposed use of a portion of the playground as a recreational area for families and their dogs falls within the scope of uses allowed under the deed restriction, according to a press release by Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree’s offi ce. The Conservation Commission was scheduled to hold a public hearing on Wednesday J (Feb. 12) regarding the town’s fi ling of a Notice of Intent (NOI) for a dog park on a portion of Stocker Playground. The hearing occurred after this week’s press deadline. The NOI fi led last month stated the town planned to use 64 acres of the 6.35-acre Stocker Playground, which is 10% of the property, as a dog park. “This project aims to transform existing dilapidated and underused basketball and tennis courts into a modernized and vibrant recreational area for families and dogs, and refl ects the town’s commitment to enhancing community open spaces and improving playgrounds to benefit residents and fully comply with all applicable local, state, and federal environmental regulations,” the town noted last month in announcing its plans for a dog park at Stocker Playground. 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Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net in his opinion. “The acquisition of Stocker Playground was done in accordance with this statute. As such, the proposed use of Stocker Playground for a dog park or dog playground is clearly a form of recreation and play, which is authorized by this statute for property gifted to the town for playground purposes.” Vasapolli also concluded in his opinion requested by the Dog Park Committee that the proposal to replace existing, seldom used sports courts with a dog park doesn’t trigger Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution, an amendment that protects public open spaces. “The current proposal would make improvements to Stocker Playground, but it would remain a public recreational space, and the public’s access to it will not be altered or changed,” Vasapolli wrote. “After the work to upgrade the park is completed, Stocker Playground will be open to all members of the public, just as it is today.” Town Meeting member cites legal problems Precinct 3 Town Meeting Member Mark V. Sacco Jr., who has advocated on behalf of abutters and residents who live near Stocker Playground who opposed the dog park, wrote a letter to the Conservation Commission urging members to delay their vote. “Stocker Playground is protected under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution, which requires a two-thirds vote of Town Meeting and state legislative approval before any change in use can occur,” Sacco wrote in his letter to the Conservation Commission. “No such Town Meeting vote has taken place, meaning that this proposal is being pushed forward without fulfi lling a critical legal requirement,” Sacco wrote. “Furthermore, the deed for Stocker Playground, dating back to April 1, 1930, explicitly designates the land for use as a playground in perpetuity. A playground is defi ned as an open space intended for children’s recreational activities,” he wrote. “The introduction of a dog park—a fenced-in facility with specialized infrastructure—fundamentally alters this intended use. A dog park is not an open space for general recreation; it is a structured facility designed for a specifi c purpose, distinct from the broad, public recreational use intended when the land was dedicated as a playground,” Sacco continued in his letter to the Conservation Commission. “By proceeding without the required two-thirds Town Meeting vote, the administration is not only sidestepping legal obligations under Article 97 but also ignoring the original intent of the deed that has protected Stocker Playground for nearly a century. This sets a dangerous precedent for repurposing protected public lands without proper due process,” he wrote. “Given these serious legal and ethical concerns, I urge the Conservation Commission to take no further action on this proposal until the required Town Meeting vote has occurred. Allowing this process to move forward under the current circumstances would be an endorsement of an unlawful overreach by the administration. … The residents of Saugus deserve to know that their protected open spaces are being redefined without legal authority.” How the committee settled on Stocker Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini, who is also a member of the Dog Park Committee, said the legal opinion the committee sought from Town Counsel Vasapolli “was the fi nal step before we passed the results along to the Town Manager.” “As we concluded our work, we unanimously agreed that Stocker Park (Stocker) was the most suitable location that met the grant criteria. The main follow up item the committee found with Stocker was the registered deed restriction from 1930,” Cicolini said. “The committee reached out to Town Counsel for an offi cial opinion on whether or not a dog park could be located within Stocker’s boundaries. Town Counsel’s opinion was clear that 1) a dog park could be included and would not violate the deed restriction and 2) Article 97, that would require a Town Meeting vote, would not be a factor as it was not a change in use of Stocker as a whole,” he said. The committee found that Stocker Park is the one location in town that currently meets every one of the criteria of the Stanton Foundation grant, according to Cicolini. “The Dog Park Committee reviewed and researched many open space/ playground locations that could be suitable for a dog park to be located. Each location that was considered resulted in items for further review and investigation,” Cicolini said. “Several locations were eliminated as they didn’t meet the minimum size requirement for a dog park or because they DOG PARK | SEE PAGE 6 Call Driveways from $35 ׉ 7cassandra://KFiUmG8azma89-HpIa0pYdblj5pkxXQKns0oyXhDP1w6`g%R055׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Page 3 ~The Advocate Asks~ Saugus Cultural Council Co-Chair Tori Darnell talks about the upcoming First Annual Saugus Cultural Festival Editor’s Note: For this week’s column, we sat down with Tori Darnell and talked to her about the first-ever Saugus Cultural Festival, which is set for Sunday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Saugus Middle High School. Darnell was born in Boston and grew up between Revere and Medford. She bought a home in Saugus in 2021. She graduated from Winthrop Senior High School in 2008 and went to Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to study Fine Arts. She graduated in 2012. She currently works at Scalora Consulting Group, an owner’s representative firm in the design and construction industry. Darnell is married to Edgar Mazariegos Medina and shares one child, Xavier Mazariegos Darnell, 8, who attends a Somerville charter school and participates in the Saugus Cross Country and Track team. Darnell joined the Cultural Council in December 2021 and renewed her term in December 2024 for another three years. She started out as Treasurer and is currently Co-Chair of the council. She has been accepted in the Essex County Community Foundation’s Creative County Initiative’s 2025 Changemakers Cohort, which begins in March 2025. She was nominated for Rising Star for the 2024 Professional Women in Construction. Highlights of this week’s interview follow. Q: How did the idea for the Saugus Cultural Festival evolve? When? Whose idea? Who were the people involved? A: The Council issued a community engagement survey in 2023 to see the program and events residents want to experience in Saugus. We saw an overwhelming interest for more free, community events in Saugus that bring residents together. We take the community’s feedback seriousRON’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 Great Classified Ad Rates! Call 781-233-4446 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! PASSIONATE ABOUT HER PROJECT: Tori Darnell, co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council, exuded excitement during an interview at a local coffee shop last week as she shared the council’s plans for the first-ever Saugus Cultural Festival. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) ly and have been using it as the foundation on how we serve Saugus. In one of his first meetings on the Council, Dennis Gould asked if we could hold our own festival and events. That got the discussion going. In spring 2024, the Council approved to organize our first event – that would be free, inclusive and family-friendly – that celebrates the cultural fabric of Saugus. The festival is primarily organized by the Cultural Council members with some support from Stephanie M. Shalkoski, Carol Wallace and Alan Thibeault [the Saugus Public Library Director]. Q: What was the original concept? And the venue? What was the ultimate dream of this event? A: The vision for the Cultural Festival is to inspire others in town to create more thoughtful, engaging and educational programs in Saugus. We wanted to organize an event that brought neighbors together to celebrate each other. Our focus was to represent the community and showcase local artists and vendors and other community groups. This is why the Cultural Council selected the Saugus Middle High School for the venue. It is already a well-known community gathering place that is also an ADA-compliant building. And we didn’t have to pay for the venue. It’s a public building that hosts a lot of community activities. 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They performed 36 shows in the United States and played in Boston from January 23-26, 1969. They were a huge success, as they overwhelmed their audiences with monstrous and otherworldly sound. A poster proclaimed the dates as a tribute to the Boston Tea Party. They reportedly played for over four hours with only one album of mu8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! sic of their own. They played Elvis songs, Beatles favorites and many other songs that the group knew. It became known as headbanging. October 25, 1969, was the date of their fi rst performance in Boston. They entered to a standing ovation and the crowd remained standing and shaking throughout the performance. Led Zeppelin also played Boston in 1970 and 1971. As part of their 1973 tour, they played in Boston on July 20. The tour broke records in many of the locations the band played. The concert was sold out. Some fans caused signifi cant damage to the Garden, including burned seats, a fl ooded rink and trashing the concession For Advertising with RESULTS, call The Advocate at www.810bargrille.com Newspapers 781-233-4446 or info@advocatenews.net stands. Damage was estimated at $50,000. Kevin White was mayor at the time, and he cancelled the next scheduled concert in 1975, but the concert did perform in 1975 in the Garden. The date was January 6, 1975. It was a freezing cold day in Boston, and a very large crowd of people lined up outside Boston Garden in freezing temperatures that night to purchase tickets to a performance by the rock star band. The performance was scheduled for February 4, and people showed up when the date for tickets was established. The doors were opened because of the cold. Tickets were sold out by 6 a.m. the following morning. Over 2,000 people became very angry when the show was sold out before they could get a ticket. When the doors opened fans crowded into Boston Garden, and many waiting in a very long line were allowed in and proceeded into the Garden. Inside they were passing around bottles of Boone’s Farm apple wine and Ripple, another kind of wine popular at the time, and smoking joints, getting very rowdy. The arena’s locked doors were pried open by the culprits, then they trashed the beer concessions, fl ooded the hockey rink and threw debris on it and set fi re to the wooden seats. When Mayor Kevin H. White heard about the commotion, he sent the riot cops in with dogs. Steven Rosenblatt was the ticket manager and said, “For “The Old Sachem,” Bill Stewart. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Joanie Allbee) years and years, we had let people line up overnight to wait for tickets. On this night however, campers were allowed into the lobby and they broke into the seating area, leaving Garden offi cials with a crucial decision to make. You couldn’t have this kind of crowd running around untethered inside the building so we decided to open the ticket windows.” So ended Led Zeppelin in Boston, but it was not the case of the group not starting the riot. It was those who were let inside overnight with nothing to do but carry on while they waited for the ticket windows to open. (Editor’s Note: Bill Stewart, better known to Saugus Advocate readers as “The Old Sachem,” writes a weekly column – sometimes about sports. He also opines on current or historical events or famous people) — Vinyl Siding — Carpentry Work — Decks — Roofing — Free Estimates — Replacement Windows — Fully Licensed — Fully Insured ׉ 7cassandra://bNWLVEEBmIwosr0NY6mXTV-9NdudjI5JTYthFU-bo54:#`g%R057׉E uTHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Page 5 A signature moment for the Saugus Cultural Council Members have spent months planning the town’s fi rstever Saugus Cultural Festival – a celebration of the community’s diversity By Mark E. Vogler E ver since its existence, the Saugus Cultural Council has been known as the volunteer agency that awards grants annually to local organizations and individuals in the arts and humanities to enhance the quality of life for town residents. Several members are hoping that the upcoming and first-ever Saugus Cultural Festival will become an annual signature event for the council – one that will bring the community together by spotlighting the diversity of Saugus residents. “I am passionate about using various art forms to bring the community closer and celebrate diversity,” Nive Amarnath told The Saugus Advocate this week, following the council’s planning meeting for the Saugus Cultural Festival, which is set for Sunday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Saugus Middle High School. “This was the driving force to join the council and this is what I hope we achieve through this festival. We are truly looking forward to this cultural celebration to become an annual event for our community,” she said. Amarnath has been a Saugus resident since 2010 and a member of the Saugus Cultural Council since 2023. A town of 25 different languages It was former School Committee member Joseph “Dennis” Gould who first suggested the idea of a Saugus Cultural Festival early last year. “I have been impressed with the diversity of Saugus residents being able to speak 25 different languages and have been a strong supporter of the arts in Saugus in general, but CULTURAL COUNCIL | SEE PAGE 11 EVENT ORGANIZERS: Members of the Saugus Cultural Council and several other volunteers met Monday in the Saugus Public Library to continue planning for the fi rst Saugus Cultural Festival – set for Feb. 23. Pictured from left to right: Front row: Vanessa LeFevre, council secretary; Nive Amarnath, council treasurer; Victoria “Tori” Darnell, council co-chair; and Vanessa Dellheim, council member; second row: Yoela Similien, youth member; Shelbi Edwards, volunteer; Kayla Villefranche, youth member; and Joseph “Dennis” Gould, council co-chair. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. 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If you have shared democratic values and want to resist the coup currently taking place, please join us at our February monthly meeting: Wednesday evening, Feb. DOG PARK | FROM PAGE 2 were parks that are attached to a shuttered school building,” he said. “As stated by the Town Manager many times, the closed schools and related land parcels will be part of a town wide process to determine the future use for each location based on our 26, at 7 p.m. at the Saugus Public Safety Building, 2nd Floor (handicapped accessible), 27 Hamilton St. Saugus It is not too late to save our Constitution and freedoms! Submitted by Lin Bell, Secretary Saugus Democratic Town Committee master plan community survey (which resulted in a strong desire for a dog park by residents who responded) and overall town needs. Because of the dormant nature of each parcel and the planned future repurposing, these closed school locations were removed from consideration.” Donate Your Vehicle Call (866) 618-0011 to donate your car, truck, boat, RV, and more today! ■ Support Veteran Nonprofi ts. ■ Free Pickup & Towing. ■ Top Tax Deduction. Donate Your Vehicle Today 866-618-0011 www.veterancardonations.org/dnt122 While we appreciate every donation, in some cases, we fi nd that we are unable to accept certain vehicles, watercraft, and/or recreational vehicles due to the prohibitive costs of acquisition. If you have any questions, please give us a call at (866) 618-0011. ׉ 7cassandra://5ogso1XUNVrv1lsJ9DOw92XgjD8DqhIIj-xuXolKkZU:`g%R059׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Page 7 DAR presents Jasmine Grace, a path to freedom Former Saugus resident shares personal story about human traffi cking – March 8 at Saugus High auditorium (Editor’s Note: The following info is from a press release issued by the Parson Roby Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution this week.) O n Saturday, March 8, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), will host the Women’s Issue Project with Ms. Jasmine Grace, guest speaker and founder of Jasmine Grace Ministries - Bags of Hope which is a non-profi t organization dedicated to the cause of rescuing young people who are aff ected by traffi cking, prostitution, addiction and homelessness. Jasmine Grace grew up in our town, Saugus, MA and appeared to be living a normal life. She attended school and lived at home, but something very sinister was happening. She met a man at a local club at a very young age and slowly, over time, he groomed her into a life of human traffi cking, lasting for years. When she was fi nally able to break away from his hold, she started a non-profi t organization to help and assist both young men and women by off ering a path to freedom from human traffi cking. Her presentation is both sad and powerful and fi lled with stories of innocent victims who found themselves brainwashed and victimized. She explains how she was able to survive and finally break through – escaping the grips of her captors. This informative forum will Selectmen extend Crabtree’s contract through January 2030 By Mark E. Vogler T he Board of Selectmen has rewarded Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree with a contract extension that will keep him as the top administrator in Saugus government for another five years. Selectmen at last week’s meeting (Feb. 6) voted unanimously to extend Crabtree’s contract through Jan. 31, 2030. They also voted to give Crabtree a 1.5 percent pay increase effective Feb. 1, 2025, and 4 percent increases for 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029. Crabtree, who was hired as town manager in April of 2012, had a budgeted salary of $197,600 for the 2025 fiscal year that began last July. Selectmen will meet annually with the town manager for an evaluation that would include consideration of additional salary adjustments based on performance. “We appreciate the good work that you’ve done for our town,” Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta said. “We appreciate our AA-plus standing and all the wonderful things that we are doing,” she said. Crabtree thanked the board for the votes. Fairfi eld University congratulates fall 2024 Dean’s List recipient T he following Fairfi eld University student received Dean’s List Honors for the fall 2024 semester: Delaney Roscoe of Saugus. In order to be placed on the Dean’s List, students must have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours in a semester, have no outstanding or incomplete grades for that semester and have attained a semester grade point average of 3.50 or better. Fairfi eld University is located in Fairfi eld, Connecticut. be held at Saugus High School auditorium, Pearce Drive, Saugus, MA beginning at 11 AM, Saturday, March 8th. All are welcome. This is a free event; however, we kindly ask that you donate an item needed for the Bags of Hope. Our goal is to fill 30 Bags of Hope to donate to her cause. Items still needed are: Shower Gel, Shampoo 12 oz, Conditioner 12 oz, Hats, Deodorant, Visine, Body Lotion, Hair Brush, Nail Polish, Socks, Toothbrush, ChapStick, Hair Ties, Water Bottle, Shower Puff, Floss, Mittens/Gloves, Trail Mix. For any questions or concerns, please contact Gail Cassarino, Regent – Parson Roby Chapter NSDAR (National Society Daughters of the American Revolution) at parsonroby. saugusdar@gmail.com or Janice Jarosz at 339-222- 2178. If We Happen To Meet By Accident ... You’ll Be Glad You Found Us! There is a difference between the rest and the BEST! Celebrating 46 Years In Business! TONY’S AUTO BODY Call or Visit 781-321-0032 34 Sharon Street Malden, MA 02148 TONYSAUTOBODYLLC.COM COME VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART BODY SHOP • Computerized Paint Matching (State of the Art Spray Booth) • Computerized Frame Machines • P.P.G. Refinishing System • R134 + 1234yf A/C Machines Fully Insured -RS2415 Insurance Company Approval ALL OUR WORK IS GUARANTEED! TONY BARTOLO Owner 46 Years Let Us Handle Your Next Insurance Claim. Go With the BEST It Doesn’t Get BETTER! RENTAL CARS Available ׉ 7cassandra://AcgnBfzUxWn9KKUqhStF_Tj67EVCEhyVc0-95i9XbR02`g%R05:g%R059 rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://OeTgRzqfBXjvxcO5fjQPmANFomSvB1OKeDHkMi4s3IE F`'p׉ 7cassandra://lH_d9P5y9ei9vx-Dsfz3QZ_liMsFQBSDzPfY6HdcFlk`׉ 7cassandra://M6zkmoWixP3mw2Evy9Bx0ck-RNRCRhjLAqSlBC4TOBk5`g%U05dטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://N3L3K-1bL9FOPC8nr4K0FuQsctzEgA204HY5mfnBfTIyB`'p׉ 7cassandra://m9SbJlhIodOxg_k0soYNmdmISn27qb-JkE3ogR8YONwͶ`׉ 7cassandra://1--reE3vJ-KdIDZY5lSzCrUMHIzThmJBbxH1NXcpKuY6`g%U05eנg%V05l mׁK 9ׁHhttp://nspo.orgׁ ׁ Јנg%V05k mK9ׁHhttp://nspo.orgׁ ׁ Јנg%U05j)r9ׁHhttp://www.nspo.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 “Article 97 has been cited by the opposition and is a Massachusetts law preserving open space and this project precisely does that.” (Editor’s Note: Joe Vecchione submitted the following letter to the Saugus Conservation CommisA letter in support of the dog park I sion, explaining why he believes a dog park would be a good addition to Stocker Playground.) ask that this letter in support of the proposed Dog Park at Stocker Park be read into the record. I regret that I cannot attend this hearing in-person due to a pre-scheduled work confl ict. The primary mission of the Dr. Rosemonde Paulo DNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC Mindset Psychiatric & Wellness LLC 26 Ferry St., Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (781) 242-5401 Fax: (781) 205-1973 Email: Info@mindsetpsychiatricwellness.com He’s Back...and Better Than Ever! John A. Fitzpatrick (Fitzy) Sales & Lease Consultant Direct: 617.410.1030 Main: 617.381.9000 Cell: 617.279.9962 jfitzpatrick@mcgovernauto.com jfitzpatrick McGovern Automotive Group 100 Broadway, Rte. 99, Everett 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 Conservation Commission is to protect and conserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that are dependent upon the wetlands resources of the Town of Saugus. While there will be arguments and testimony that is well outside of the scope of what Conservation Commission covers, working in conjunction with Conservation Commission before as a former member of the Planning Board, I am confi dent that this commission will act based on the facts of this project and what it replaces rather than be drawn into hyperbolic claims that will be made about dogs, dog parks, and the dog owning community tonight. I am a registered Architect in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and have reviewed both the plans and NOI fi led by the Town. The fact is this project includes the removal of over ½ acre of crumbling impervious asphalt, a new buff er of native plantings further separating the recreational area from the river and wetlands, and much needed drainage improvements to better protect against fl ooding which has historically troubled the area in the past, primarily at king tide. These inherent improvements will signifi cantly mitigate the stormwater runoff that is currently present with the existing courts and aging infrastructure. With a plan for pervious ground materials and new dedicated trash cans for dog waste situated in well-designed separate spaces for large dogs, small dogs, and single dog play, and with a committed maintenance plan in place, infi ltration or runoff of dog waste into the river will be rare. As a result, the impact of the dog park will create a substantial net-positive condition compared to the existing condition where oils, runoff, trash, and, currently, road salts run directly into the river. It also is encouraging knowing the Town’s commitment to working with the Commission to meet all local, state and federal environmental regulations as is required here along with broad community support of the project with over 400 residents signing a petition supporting a Dog Park at Stocker Park in just over a week. It’s important to note that this proposed dog park is not a novel use. Neither the use itself, its adjacency to wildlife or water, or shared use with youth playgrounds and fields is uncommon. There are 18 dog parks in northeastern Massachusetts alone and precedent is critical to understanding the true atmosphere a dog park creates – and no, it’s not a lawless, unsafe, incessantly loud, free-forall like some critical to this proposal may present it as. It is clear that several opponents of this proposal have not visited a dog park before. If your concern is a dog park close to a playground, you can see this condition manifests in Gloucester or in the North End, for example. If your concern is the adjacency to youth fi elds, there are too many to count but a few nearby examples are at Pine Banks, Peabody and Woburn. If the concern is an adjacency to water and the aquatic habitat, Melrose, Salem and Haverhill are situated directly adjacent to bodies of water, fresh and saltwater. And as far as concerns for wildlife and harmonious integration of dog parks in wildlife rich areas, this is the most common setting for them whether it’s Breakheart Reservation, Andover, Endicott Park, or Sheepfold. The fallacy that this dog park will significantly impact the eagle, osprey, or aquatic population is unsubstantiated and simply not true, especially given the recreational use and volume that has resonated from Stocker Park for decades between tee ball, basketball, and wiffl e ball, when they all were at high use. This is a recreational open space replacing a recreational open space and there is ample local precedent of dog parks situated in a multitude of settings that can be compared against this proposal. Article 97 has been cited by the opposition and is a Massachusetts law preserving open space and this project precisely does that. By maintaining the playground, ball fi elds, and kayak launch and adding a dog park, a recreational area, in the same footprint as a former recreational area, this proposal maintains the multi-use recreational function for all Saugonians. This is not a residential or commercial development, school, or infrastructure project which Article 97 was designed to protect against. A dog park falls into no other use group in our zoning other than Open Space. At the core of the argument against a dog park, it comes down to abutters not wanting it in their vicinity which is common for almost any new project in Saugus and beyond, large or small. What I’ve seen is what I would describe as a “throw mud at the wall” approach to obstructionism which is unfortunate. As a resident who spent their fi rst 21 years abutting Anna Parker playground, I understand more than most that public open spaces belong to more than the neighbors who abut them, myself included. They belong to all Saugonians and as our needs change, these spaces change with them. This is why the Town has made a sizable eff ort and investment in upgrading parks and playgrounds across Saugus in the past decade with changes along the way to modernize our recreational offerings from ADA compliant tot areas at Bucchiere Playground to pickleball courts at Anna Parker to regulation sized basketball courts just down the road from Stocker Park. A safe and accessible dog park with space dedicated for large, small, and timid dogs to serve the thousands of dog owners in Saugus nestled within a preserved multi-use park is the next step in this eff ort to expand and modernize our public spaces and better serve the needs of all Saugonians. I look forward to the Town working with this Commission to ensure this proposal meets all environmental regulations to progress towards the creation of a long awaited accessible dog park and what will be a fantastic addition to our community. Sincerely, Joe Vecchione ׉ 7cassandra://M6zkmoWixP3mw2Evy9Bx0ck-RNRCRhjLAqSlBC4TOBk5`g%R05;׉EITHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Page 9 North Shore Philharmonic Winter Concert Features Music of Ravel, Barber, Rachmaninoff R ussian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff ’s demanding Symphony No. 3 and Maurice Ravel’s delightful “Mother Goose Suite” highlight the program when Music Director Robert Lehmann conducts the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra in its Winter Concert Sunday, February 23 at Swampscott High School auditorium. Concert time is 3:00 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door or can be purchased in advance at www.nspo.org for $30, $25 for seniors and students. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Also on the concert program is the First Essay for Orchestra by American composer Samuel Barber. Rachmaninoff, renowned for his works for piano, wrote three symphonies, with some 40 years separating the fi rst and third. Critics claimed that the Third was too much a “modern” piece and it was not well-received by audiences. Over the years, however, Rachmaninoff ’s Third Symphony has earned its place in the symphonic Repertoire for its orchestral color. ASKS | FROM PAGE 3 val event committee? Who are the chairs? All Cultural Council members or Saugus residents from outside the council? A: Victoria “Tori” Darnell, Co-Chair; Joseph “Dennis” Gould, Co-Chair; Niveditha Amarnath, Treasurer; Vanessa LeFevre, Secretary; Mary Kinsell, Voting Member; Vanessa Dellheim, Voting Member; Kayla Villefranche, Youth Member; Yoela Similien, Youth Member. Stephanie M. Shalkoski, Carol Wallace and Alan Thibeault provided advice throughout the planning and executing phases. Q: How many hours have you invested in planning the Cultural Festival? A: Oh, I have no idea but Music Director Robert Lehmann conducts the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra “Winter” concert Sunday, February 23 at Swampscott High School. Ravel, well-known his affection for children and animals, originally wrote a piano suite for four hands based on the famous Mother Goose stories in 1908 and four years later wrote the Orchestration. The imaginative, medodic music evokes the wonderment of the characters “Pavane for Sleeping Beauty”, Tom Thumb, the Laideronette—Empress of the Pagodas, “Beauty and the Beast”, ly to plan the Festival since April 2024. Q: Let’s talk about the logistics. How much does an event like this cost? Do you have some benevolent sponsors to help put it together? A: We started with a $2,500 festival grant award from the Mass Cultural Council. Our major sponsor is WIN Waste Innovations, who donated $5,000. Tax of Life is our corporate sponsor. They gave us $500. We have received multicultural fl ag donations from New Hope Assembly of God in Saugus and General Electric in Lynn to help with festival decorations. There are about 30 fl ags that will be loaned to us. Q: What were the biggest challenges in putting this event together? A: Town logistics! This is we met together month- most of the Cultural Counand, fi nally, a celebration of nature in The Enchanted Garden. Barber wrote the Essay for Orchestra in 1937— (it was later retitled “First Essay for Orchestra)—apparently at the invitation to the celebrated Italian conductor Arturo Toscannini, who conducted the first performance with the NBC Symphony Orchestra in a program that included Barber’s now-famous “Adagio for cil’s fi rst time organizing a large event. We are an entity of the Town so we worked with [Finance Director and Treasurer/Collector] Wendy Hatch and [Town Accountant] Donna Matarazzo to know what we needed to do this right. Q: Why in the wintertime and not in the summer or spring or fall? A: The Cultural Council did not want to compete with already Town-established events so we are trying out the winter season. We will see how it goes! We chose Feb. 23, because it’s the last day before kids go back to school from their February vacation. We felt this was a good day to do something nice for them as they ended their vacation. Sunday ASKS | SEE PAGE 10 The North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra performs its “Winter” Concert Sunday, February 23 at Swampscott High School. Strings.” The Essay form of musical composition develops a complex and thoughtful work from a single thesis. The North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra is playing its 76th season. Staffed largely by volunteer players, the NSPO is committed to providing affordable access to quality classical music. The Orchestra strives to develop, train, and provide opportunities for young musicians, while providing a large range of programs covering the full range of symphonic and pops repertoire for a diverse public. For full concert information, visit www. nspo.org or contact info@ nspo.org. THE FESTIVAL LOGO: This artist’s rendering of fl ags of numerous countries quilted together as one is being used to promote Saugus’ First Annual Cultural Festival. (Courtesy art to The Saugus Advocate) ׉ 7cassandra://1--reE3vJ-KdIDZY5lSzCrUMHIzThmJBbxH1NXcpKuY6`g%R05<g%R05; rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://gPVfxrBXCUpl62GYXhl-ygfoWxgYfUXkpbDmbbwII24w`'p׉ 7cassandra://iIpzpDvGJwZcKIkaqND-jju6PEZ55FAvcsbL9NbwYis͵:`׉ 7cassandra://VdhHkPE-u2uD43XiO9cnbm1S6FJlkEkuEBiJBneIULM7`g%U05iטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://JAl0fS_UzuiYIsyzf8oSJxJ6JxPHCREhlhk7GCaL5kY `'p׉ 7cassandra://dwkOM3jzQqTy9dvIREMW0jZU9tCpV3Rs3ft4P9s9vbUͻ`׉ 7cassandra://qOdJoAv2oiDeSeBYjbO5rTsugXL38muYZuhqin83eaA0`g%V05mנg%V05r o{ 9ׁHhttp://sec.state.ma.usׁ ׁ Јנg%V05pwj\ 9ׁHhttp://Deeds.comׁ ׁ Јנg%V05oӁ\9ׁHhttp://obles.com/ׁ ׁ Ј׉E Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Endicott College Dean’s List Fall 2024 O ver 425 Endicott College club and varsity student-athletes have been named to the 2024 Fall Dean’s List. Among the student-athletes recognized was Saugonian and freshman Sara Rovcanin – major is Nursing and event is ASKS | FROM PAGE 9 seemed like a good fit. Q: How many people do you hope to attract? A: We have the occupancy space to have more than 1,000 attendees so we hope residents and neighbors are able to come out in the winter for some fun. Q: Right now, the event is Throwing. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must obtain a minimum grade point average of 3.5, receive no grade below a “C,” have no withdrawal grades and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits for the semester. “This remarkable group of planned for Feb. 23 at Saugus Middle High School from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Is there a snow date in case the weather doesn’t cooperate? A: There is no snow date because activities are all indoors. I think it would take a real blizzard to cancel this event. Q: How many food vendors or other vendors will be set up in the Middle High students continues to raise the bar for academic excellence at Endicott,” said Endicott College Provost Dr. Sara Quay. “Their drive, resilience, and ability to balance coursework with hands-on learning experiences prepare them for meaningful School that day selling food? How many performers or activities will you have? How many countries will be represented? Are all of these people from Saugus? A: Food Vendors: Black & White Food Service, Mona Curryations, TJ’s Taste Truck & Catering, Athidi Foods, Istanbul Diner and Saugus House of Pizza’s Salvadorian menu. Entertainment: Saucareers and lifelong success. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments.” President Steven R. DiSalvo, Ph.D., also commended the honorees, emphasizing the College’s mission to foster both intellectual growth and real-world readiness. “At Endicott, we believe in an education that blends academics with practical experience. Earning a place on the Dean’s List is a significant achievement that reflects our students’ hard work, dedication, and future potential.” FINE-TUNING THEIR PLANS: Tori Darnell, co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council (center, at the end of the table) facilitated discussion at Monday’s meeting in the Saugus Public Library as the council prepared for the first Saugus Cultural Festival, which is set for Sunday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Saugus Middle High School. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) gus Schools Acapella Group, Iskwelahang Pilipino Dance Group, Mayur Indian Cultural Academy (MICA), Lucia Ingemi, Keane O’Brien Academy, Theatre Company of Saugus and Veronica Robles Mariachi Group. We also have the Boys & Girls Club who will have a gaming, music and art activities and Circus Up! who will do a small performance and have their set up for all ages to tumble. MGH Care Van will also be there to provide flu shots, diabetes tests, etc. Q: Everybody who is a vendor or who performs or organizes an activity brings ASKS | SEE PAGE 11 THE LINEUP (Courtesy art to The Saugus Advocate) ׉ 7cassandra://VdhHkPE-u2uD43XiO9cnbm1S6FJlkEkuEBiJBneIULM7`g%R05=׉EFTHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Page 11 Southern Essex Register of Deeds Announces January 2025 Revenue Up 79.72% S outhern Essex Register of Deeds, Eileen Duff, announced today that for the month of January 2025, the Registry brought in $3,333,948.08 in revenue. This represents a 79.72% increase above the revenue from January 2024, which brought in a total of $1,855,000.48. ASKS | FROM PAGE 10 something to the table that will attract visitors. But of all the people who will be displaying their talents and performing, who and what are the highlights? Accomplished artisans or musicians or singers or performers? Who are the Saugus people who will be stars in this event? A: We are very excited to have all our food vendors based in Saugus to highlight local business. Lucia Ingemi is 15 from Saugus and has trained extensively in ballet and jazz. Veronica Robles is also from Saugus and a cultural icon for Latinos in New England. https://veronicarobles.com/ Q: Any special guests or visitors that you expect? A: We have invited the Select Board, Town Members and Donald Wong, state representative, to attend. Q: What is the goal of this Festival? What do you hope to accomplish and build on, I assume for what you hope will be an annual event? A: We hope that this event becomes one of many new annual events that bring this Town together. We want to inspire other organizations and individuals to take on a dream that serves the community. Q: Do you feel that the lineup of participants reflects the best cultural aspects of the town? A: Saugus is a growing community with many different cultural backgrounds. We know that every group is not represented but hope that in future years we can expand on that and work with more “I am thrilled to see the revenue numbers after my first month in office. It is a reminder that the Registries are an important revenue source for the Commonwealth, and a testament to the hard work of the incredible team at the Southern Essex Registry of Deeds,” said Register Duff. The Registry processed 7,408 documents in the month of January, generating revenue through various taxes, fees and surcharges. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a in the community to improve on representation. Q: How do you think this event will benefit the town? A: This event is a first for us and we hope people have fun, reconnect with a neighbor and leave making a new friend and learn something new about our community. Q: Do you have a logo? A: It’s a quilt of flags put together, connected to each other from the same cloth. Q: What’s the main thing you want to get across to the community about this upcoming festival? A: Our vision here is to spark or ignite inspiration for other people in the community to organize their own community-type events because we’d love for there to be more educational and engaging type programs happening in Saugus – that brings family, friends and residents together. Our goal is also to try to do this annually, and we hope this is something that will bring people of diversity in the community together. Q: What are your plans for future festivals? What will you do differently next year in the planning? What would be the ultimate cultural festival for Saugus? A: Next year I would like to host early community workshops to hear from residents their ideas for activities, performers and food vendors. I also want to work with more local businesses to have more diverse sponsors for the festival. Q: Anything else that you would like to share? A: The Boys & Girls Club of Saugus is going to have a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry’s website SalemDeeds.com. The Southern Essex County Registry of Deeds recently moved to 100 Cummings Center, Suite 206-C in Beverly; loroom at the High School for special activities. They’re going to provide art-take-away projects for people. There’s going to be a gaming tournament set up as well. This room is going to be set up for people of all ages, not just kids. One of the activities they will be doing is stamps and button-making. We [the Cultural Council] did button-making at Founders Day. It’s a very opento-all-ages activity. There will also be a music mixing station, with sound equipment and instruments available. Q: This is a totally free event? A: Yes. Coming in is free. Watching the performances is free. The only thing that has a charge is the food vendors, but we’re trying to make it as low cost as possible, so all the food menu options will be under $15. We’ve also requested that the vendors provide a sample of things for people to try. Q: What are you most excited about, as you look at the festival? A: I’m excited to see the conclusion of all of the Cultural Council’s members’ efforts and everything that we’ve been working on. None of us have a background in organizing community events, so we’ve taken a lot of time planning and considering things that we thought would be meaningful for the festival for this first year. And we’re excited that we’ll get to do it again the following year with different perspectives. One of the goals for our next round is to try to get more community involvement from the start. cated on the 2nd floor in the 100 building next to the East parking garage. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Desk via telephone at (978) 542-1704 or email us at SouthernEssexCustomerService@ sec.state.ma.us. CULTURAL COUNCIL | FROM PAGE 5 more specifically Saugus Middle and High School students,” Gould told The Saugus Advocate. “I mentioned in one of my first Saugus Cultural Council meetings how I would love to organize a Cultural Festival to showcase Saugus’s diversity and arts, and the members of the council immediately supported this idea and the entire council embraced the idea of planning a festival,” he said. Gould, who has served the community for more than 20 years on various boards and commissions, including Town Meeting, is currently a co-chair of the Cultural Council. “Feb. 23 came about by wanting enough time to organize the festival, but also to have it at the new Saugus Middle/ High School complex on a non-interference basis with students or student athletes. Feb. 23 is the last day of February school vacation,” Gould said. “This being our first of hopefully many annual events, I believe the council has done a good job of getting an excellent cross section of the arts to perform, activities for children and a good variety of food vendors for our Saugus families to enjoy,” he said. “The entertainment and activities are great for all age groups, and I truly hope many families, students and senior citizens come for a free afternoon of entertainment.” Vanessa Dellheim, who has been on the Saugus Cultural Council for exactly a year, grew up in Saugus and is currently raising a family here. Dellheim called Saugus “an amazingly diverse community where our families support one another each and every day.” “It is exactly this, our town’s diversity and inclusion, that should be highlighted and celebrated,” Dellheim said. “My family has attended (and enjoyed!) countless programs that were funded by the Cultural Council, and it was these events where I learned about the council and the team helping create these programs for our community,” she said. “I became interested about the grant cycle, and most importantly, the opportunities to give back to the community, which were just a few of the many reasons why I applied to join the council,” she said. “I am excited for all the positive work that the council supports throughout the community, the reception from Saugonians around our events, and am especially looking forward to the Cultural Fair this month – it’s going to be a great day for all ages!” ׉ 7cassandra://qOdJoAv2oiDeSeBYjbO5rTsugXL38muYZuhqin83eaA0`g%R05>g%R05= rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://eRzciT5AmGOKns4mjql8Kq8iFLx0_edTRpSzVJl2GlwX`'p׉ 7cassandra://VXrkPKBJpP1ATgrBHQNsPcs96PGGN5u83GDeXK0H-OUͱp`׉ 7cassandra://xBi_5NUSHIOQ8Y0pdaXiZFBm1DebsBMJweAMR8svMh06`g%V05qטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://lNioFoBO69BcPbD0KaCepEFyyWsGu1iXC6Cm2bjsxNE`'p׉ 7cassandra://-cZ9H0DyWbGTOnpEvKcVD5M0TmpBUhxvatOrDM0w6Akʹ`׉ 7cassandra://aTIqojT65SBfLnKDuIxVl8HGdzIN7kOQHvR6pjoFIRY/`g%V05sנg%W05w n|9ׁHhttps://www.nfpa.org/eduׁ ׁ Јנg%W05v n'9ׁHhttps://www.nfpa.org/eduׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Lady Sachems basketball team looks to finish strong in final stretch By Dom Nicastro T he Saugus High School girls basketball team finds itself in a crucial stretch of the season, sitting at 11-6 with three games left before the playoffs. While they have already secured their third straight Northeastern Conference Lynch Division title, the team is focused on fine-tuning their game in preparation for the postseason. Saugus suffered a defensive battle of a loss to Swampscott, falling 33-28 in a game that marked its lowest offensive output of the season. Saugus coach Joe Lowe acknowledged that Swampscott’s 3-2 zone defense posed significant challenges, disrupting the Sachems’ offense. “They played a 3-2 zone, and we missed every shot we took in the paint,” Lowe said. “We shot under 10% for the game, which was never going to win. We only gave up 33 points—that’s enough—but the 28 was a season-low.” Saugus struggled to find its rhythm, missing 15 layups and failing to connect on perimeter shots. Peyton DiBiasio led the team with nine points, while Katie Hashem contributed seven. Despite the offensive struggles, the defense remained a bright spot. “The defense was fine,” Lowe said. “We took our gambles, did our thing, and were aggressive. I don’t have a problem with that. It’s just—can we execute in tight games down the stretch?” With games against Peabody, Dracut and Chelmsford remaining, Lowe is more concerned with execution than results. “I honestly don’t care about wins and losses,” he said. “We need to tighten up a few things in our press and just execute. I Saugus girls basketball Head Coach Joe Lowe goes over pregame strategy with his team before the Sachems’ game with Marblehead at the TD Garden for the annual Andrew James Lawson Invitational Tournament. (Advocate file photos) don’t care where we end up in the playoffs. I just want to see them play a full game, stick together and compete.” The upcoming matchups will provide a strong test for Saugus, as Dracut and Chelmsford are both formidable opponents. Chelmsford, in particular, has been dominant this season but recently suffered a loss to Masconomet, its first of the season. Lowe is eager to see how his team responds to these challenges, noting that their performance in these final three games will serve as a benchmark for how much they have improved from last season. “I just want to see what our compete level is,” he said. “If it drops off, I know that we haven’t improved from last year. But if they step up in these games, it shows me we’re trending in the right direction.” While offense was a struggle against Swampscott, the defensive intensity was evident. Lowe singled out Ella Castle, Madison Botta and Taylor Deleidi for their efforts, with Deleidi making a particularly strong impact on the boards. “Taylor rebounded the ball exceptionally well out of the guard spot for us,” Lowe said. “She’s been great.” Castle, a defensive anchor throughout the season, continued her strong play, making it difficult for Swampscott to get quality looks. Despite the loss to the Big Blue, the Sachems have already locked up the Northeastern Conference Lynch Division crown. Swampscott finished second despite the win over Saugus. This marks the third consecutive NEC title for Saugus, a testament to the program’s consistency and growth under Lowe’s leadership. While the team is proud of this accomplishment, their sights remain set on making a strong postseason run. The Sachems’ Kaitlyn Hashem is shown at the free-throw line during their game against Marblehead at the TD Garden recently. ׉ 7cassandra://xBi_5NUSHIOQ8Y0pdaXiZFBm1DebsBMJweAMR8svMh06`g%R05?׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Page 13 ~ Saugus High School Sports roundup ~ SAUGUS BOYS, GIRLS COMPETE AT NEC INDOOR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS By Dom Nicastro The Saugus High School boys indoor track team put on a strong showing at the Northeastern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, with personal-best performances across multiple events. From sprinting to field events, the Sachems made their presence felt against some of the top competition in the conference. Junior Kaeleb Mathieu was the top Saugus sprinter in the 55-meter dash, clocking in at 6.94 seconds in the preliminary round. His time placed him 10th overall, just missing a finals qualification in a field stacked with experienced upperclassmen. In the 600-meter race, junior Dominic Rinaldi finished with a time of 1:50.82, finishing 22nd in the finals and setting a personal record (PR) while showing resilience in the mid-distance event. Junior Kason Imbrogna represented Saugus in the 1,000-meter run, finishing 16th overall in 3:08.38, also recording a personal record as he continues to improve in the longer races. Sophomore Pharaoh Brandenburg competed in the 55-meter hurdles, clocking 10.24 seconds, securing 17th place overall. The 4x200 relay team, featuring Brandenburg (sophomore), Gabriel De Souza (sophomore), Mathieu (junior) and Connor Bloom (senior), finished in 10th place with a time of 1:47.08. While not a podium finish, the race provided valuable experience for the young relay squad. Junior Koby Jette made his mark in the shotput competition, launching a 37-03.50 throw and placing 12th overall. Jette competed against a deep field, with the top throw reaching over 61 feet (Alex Jackson, Peabody). In the high jump, Saugus had its best performance. Bloom had a personal best with a 5-8 and finished sixth. Brandenburg, at 5-6, took seventh. And in the long jump, Mathieu finished 13th with a leap of 17-4.5. The Saugus High School girls indoor track team also delivered standout performances at the championship meet, with several athletes finishing among the top competitors in sprints, relays and field events. Freshman Soraya Mathieu proved she is one of the fastest sprinters in the NEC, finishing third overall in the 55-meter dash finals with a personal-best time of 7.56 seconds. Mathieu had earlier clocked 7.65 seconds in the prelims, securing her spot in the championship heat. Sophomore Destiny Okoye also had a strong showing, placing seventh in the prelims with a season-best 7.76 seconds, just missing a spot in the finals. Mathieu showcased her all-around athleticism, placing seventh in the long jump with a leap of 15 feet, 9 inches. Okoye was a top-five finisher in the high jump, clearing 4 feet, 10 inches for fifth place. Senior Layla Manderson competed in the shotput, registering a throw of 24 feet, 11 inches for 16th place. She also raced to a personal-best time of 46.17 seconds in the 300 meters, finishing 10th overall in a competitive field. The Saugus 4x200 relay team finished third overall, posting a time of 1:53.13. The team featured senior Angie Lopez, senior Manderson, sophomore Okoye and freshman Mathieu. Freshman Julia Strout represented Saugus in the 600 meters, clocking a time of 2:11.35 for 17th place as she continues to gain valuable racing experience. SACHEM BOYS FALL TO SWAMPSCOTT The Saugus High School boys basketball team fell to Swampscott, 69-51. Coach Joe Bertrand called it a “solid team effort to build off of.” Ryan Shea led the way with 17 points. Danny Zeitz added 11 points, while Cam Victor (nine) and Ryan Dupuy (seven) contributed to the Sachems’ offense. SAUGUS/PEABODY WRESTLING HOLDS OWN AGAINST N.H. COMPETITION The Saugus/Peabody wrestling team, fresh off its Northeastern Conference dual-meet and Northeastern Conference/Cape Ann League championship meet titles, competed against Salem, N.H., and pulled off five wins: · 144: Max Lorusso, Saugus, DEC, Carter Lemire, Salem, 12-9. · 150: Michael Maraio, Peabody, F, Reilly O’Brien, Salem, 1:13. · 157: Justin Bremberg, Saugus, F, John Vargas, Salem, 3:25. · 165: Evan Johnson, Peabody, DEC, Adrian Loria Alicea, Salem, 17-14. · 285: Antonio Anzalone, Peabody, F, Jack McElroy, Salem, 1:44. Candles, Cooking and Caution: Fire safety tips to keep your Valentine’s Day safe T his Valentine’s Day, make sure your romantic gestures stay memorable for the right reasons. When lighting candles and cooking a special meal, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) says to closely monitor food cooking on the stove or in the oven, and to use candles with caution. “If you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day at home this year, your plans likely include a special meal and candles,” said NFPA VP of Outreach and Advocacy Lorraine Carli. “Our goal is to help ensure that everyone enjoys the holiday with fire safety in mind.” According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries year-round. Unattended cooking is a factor in over one-quarter (29 percent) of reported home cooking fires and half of the associated deaths. Simple cooking safety tips include the following: • Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. • Have a “kid and pet-free zone” of at least three feet (one meter) around the stove. • Keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. • Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking. Candles are also a leading cause of home fires and must be used with caution and supervision. NFPA data shows that half of all candle fires started when a flammable object – such as furniture, bedding, curtains, home décor or clothing – was too close to a lit candle. In 21 percent of home candle fires, the candle was either left unattended, discarded or otherwise misused. More than one-third of candle fires (36 percent) started in the bedroom. Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which have a similar look and feel to real candles but eliminate the risk of fire. If you do plan to use real candles, NFPA recommends the following: • Don’t use lit candles in bedrooms, bathrooms and sleeping areas. • Use stable candleholders and place candles where they can’t be easily knocked over. • Keep candles at least one foot away from anything that can burn. • Keep hair and loose clothing away from the flame. • Don’t burn a candle all the way down – put it out before it gets too close to the candleholder or container. • Store matches and lighters up high out of children’s reach, preferably in a locked cabinet. • Never leave a burning candle unattended. • Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to bed. For more information about cooking safety visit https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/homefire-safety/cooking – and for using candles safely, visit https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/homefire-safety/candles. In addition, NFPA encourages the public to make sure they have working smoke alarms and develop and practice a home escape plan. SAFE | SEE PAGE 20 ׉ 7cassandra://aTIqojT65SBfLnKDuIxVl8HGdzIN7kOQHvR6pjoFIRY/`g%R05@g%R05? rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://siId1BEwAn6Km65SW1tXMS4gBwH-K89msdup-K-0N0c`'p׉ 7cassandra://BpztN4-LtbM2INyT3TV0CAzYaeBiEoD4R2TgEVNeqCQͥ`׉ 7cassandra://9SOPxlnTKHeFQlZiUlU8BcH9_yfJuX1eEslTlbG1E-s4s`g%W05uטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://8VglLYaWpvdFxA5wJ9xXtWTZGmEd062zt-uEl_fhzUk`'p׉ 7cassandra://Iv8wMIW142l-6bdA9R-fpGIK9SGRdpnZ2QQCCnlMB0g`׉ 7cassandra://ZJOFSIkUDJiTfqgFXsIcJUYFojQoJtVLLLuxHuUbqWI7`g%W05xנg%W05z;n9ׁHmailto:cil@gmail.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Saugus Gardens in the Winter Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener W hen it’s Valentine’s Day, suddenly you see hearts all over town! Some of them were there all along, and others are decorations for the holiday, and flowery sentiments abound. While admiring the snow in Saugus Center this weekend, the window display of Blown Away Hair Boutique was just one of the places adorned with hearts in the window for the holiday. Year round, there are plenty of hearts near the “Entering Saugus” sign on our border with Lynn. Some of these signs say “Saugus – A Purple Heart Community” and others say “Please Drive Slowly – We ♥ Our Children.” Pine Tops Road in Breakheart Reservation is a 2-mile loop that has been designated a “Heart Healthy” trail and is labeled that way on the trail map. If you look at many of the fences and porch railings, you will find full or partial heart shapes made of wrought iron – popular patterns with a long and interesting history. It makes for a great “scavenger hunt,” although the only prize is fun and exercise to see how many you can find. Some of the most popular wrought iron patterns take the shape of a curvy S, which when arranged in mirror image side by side creates a sort of heart shape with extra flourishes. This heart-shaped pattern may have originated as a popular fabric symbol first used on fabThese heart-shaped decorations placed on large window panes can help deter birds from being injured from crashing into the window. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) ric for King Adinkra of Ghana. While the shape does resemble a heart, it is known as asoka – usually translated as “Go Back and Get It” or “Learn from the Past” – and another version of it is a bird looking back over its shoulder. Another shape, which is more clearly an open heart without the flourishes, does mean love, tolerance and understanding. Originally these symbols were patterns printed on fabric for royalty in west Africa, but some, esGARDENS | SEE PAGE 21 The garden at St. John’s Church became a winter wonderland after the snow on Saturday night. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) An iron plant stand on a Lynnhurst porch has heart shapes that stand out against this week’s snow. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) Blown Away Hair Boutique in Saugus Center has a window display that won’t let you forget what day it is! (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) The patterns in the metalwork on the Stanley W. Day Pumping Station in East Saugus can be imagined as the first letter of Saugus. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) The snow moon shines through snow dusted tree branches. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) ׉ 7cassandra://9SOPxlnTKHeFQlZiUlU8BcH9_yfJuX1eEslTlbG1E-s4s`g%R05A׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Page 15 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus It’s going to be a long red, white and blue weekend, beginning with the celebration of Valentine’s Day today and the observance of the Presidents’ Day holiday on Monday. And we will be seeing a lot of white with snow forecast for Saturday and Sunday. Happy Heart Day to all of our readers, young and old. One-day trash delay for holiday The Town of Saugus announces that trash and recycling collection will run on a one-day delay for the Presidents’ Day holiday. Trash and recycling will not be collected on Monday, Feb. 17, due to the holiday. Collection will resume on a one-day delay on Tuesday, Feb. 18. 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 781-231-4036 with any questions. Saugus Cultural Festival Feb. 23 We’re just nine days away from the first Saugus Cultural Festival, which is set for Sunday, Feb. 23 at Saugus Middle High School from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This inclusive and family-friendly event will celebrate Saugus’ cultural diversity through the showcase of food, performances and other activities, according to Tori Darnell, Co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council – the event’s organizers. The Cultural Council has invited musicians, dancers, poets, actors and artists of all kinds to showcase their talents on the local stage. There will also be food vendors on hand to share their culinary creations with festival-goers. This is a great opportunity to share new experiences with the community. To learn more information, please contact the Cultural Council by email – saugusculturalcouncil@gmail.com – or by phone: HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY: To Saugus, with lots of love. Courtesy art of Joanie Allbee, the Valentine’s Day birthday girl, who is also known as “The Sketch Artist.” 339-440-1017. Council members will put the finishing touches to the festival when they meet this Tuesday (Feb. 18) at 6 p.m. in the Brooks Room of the Saugus Public Library. 15 Saugus 4-1-1 set for March Planning for The Saugus 4-11 forum that is scheduled for March 15 at the Saugus Middle High School continues. This is the special event aimed at briefing new residents, as well as those folks who have lived in Saugus for years, on what the town has to offer. “The letters were mailed to all the nonprofits last week, and we already have 15 tables secured for the event,” Selectman Corinne Riley said this week in an email to The Saugus Advocate. “Letters to the recently moved-in residents will be mailed beginning of next week. We have a new participant this year from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts after a Troop Leader of Saugus referred me to them. They will be giving out information to try to get volunteers to become much needed Troop Leaders,” she said. “We have already heard from the Garden Club, Saugus Fire Department, Saugus Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA, Saugus Youth Football and Cheer, SCTV....Just to name a few.” Selectman Riley was the driving force behind the nifty program, which had two previous well-attended Saturdays at the Saugus Middle High School in recent years (2022 and 2023). Stay tuned for more details. Saugus United Parish Food Pantry The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Fridays from 9:3011 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. Please note that the pantry is pausing food drive donations through the end of February because of the generosity of the community during the holiday season. Food drives will resume in March. Legion Breakfasts today There’s a good 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 2024-25 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. This week’s “SHOUT OUTs” We received several “shout outs” this week from our readers. From Jeannie Meredith and the Meredith family: “To All our DPW Workers and Private Contractors, “I want to take a moment to sincerely thank each of you for your hard work and dedication in keeping our roads safe and clear, especially during challenging weather conditions. Your long hours, early mornings, and late nights do not go unnoticed!!! “Your efforts ensure that our communities can continue to travel safely, whether it’s plowing snow, repairing roads, or maintaining infrastructure. We truly appreciate your commitment and the sacrifices you make to keep everything running smoothly. “Stay safe, and thank you for all that you do!” From Selectman Corinne Riley: “I would like to submit a shout out for Tony Speziale. He was honored at the Lions District 33N Mid-Winter Banquet. As King Lion of the Saugus Lions Club, he was recognized for all he has done in our club for the community and the district, especially raising funds for eye research and several other causes the Lions help throughout the year. Tony has definitely been a wonderful president and has worked very hard during his tenure as King Lion!” Editor’s Choice: Happy ValTHE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 18 ׉ 7cassandra://ZJOFSIkUDJiTfqgFXsIcJUYFojQoJtVLLLuxHuUbqWI7`g%R05Bg%R05A rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://OF6kx_8U6GxGe7YrLfVrZb7E3UHCoM3Ep2eQvJZtXsE J`'p׉ 7cassandra://JmNryyG-x2APeIAQ0jNd-LIEJ_-BEbd89DtdV25G5Y4ͺ'`׉ 7cassandra://htuGd0zzLXGQnPQuV6OO-M8Ur17SiO0SnDP4B2Wvxs4.`g%W05{טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://39VMTephkuC0SQrLhSvI-M6vlaJhk_xA72QU5V-kFMs`'p׉ 7cassandra://1ers1trTKcYY_zE4VVZV6Lc2jA0sM_QHqyefDx1ZASAͱ`׉ 7cassandra://czCFYdPBOk6pyBivICr_0UQgUYgrhnGQfy9N3XtbIhs.T`g%X05|נg%X05:9ׁHmailto:portaltohope@aol.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E&Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 we serve.” “Though there were some 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 50 - Report No. 6 February 3-7, 2025 Copyright © 2025 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved. By Bob Katzen G ET 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 infl uence. 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://MASSterList/subscribe/ THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of Feb. 3-7, 2025. There were no roll Calls in the Senate last week. $425 MILLION FOR SHELTER SYSTEM (H 57) House 126-26, approved and sent to the Senate a fi scal 2025 supplemental budget that includes $425 million to fund the state’s family shelter system and make some changes to tighten eligibility. The vote was almost strictly along party lines with all Repubicans voting against it and all but two Democrats voting for it. The Democrats say the measure makes major reforms while the GOP says the bill does not go far enough. “From the beginning of the shelter system crisis, the House has worked to reform the emergency assistance program to ensure that it remains fi nancially viable,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “That’s why the House led the eff ort to cap the maximum length of stay, and to require job training programs for folks in the shelter system, reforms that this supplemental budget builds on. By creating stricter eligibility requirements, along with increased security measures, this supplemental budget is the latest iteration of the House’s continued commitment to protecting vulnerable children and families in Massachusetts in a fi scally sustainable manner.” “Over the past several years, as the population of the emergency shelter system has grown, the House has attempted to uphold the commonwealth’s right to shelter law while also being mindful of the long-term fi scal sustainability of the program,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “The reforms contained in this bill will ensure that right to shelter is maintained by further capping the length of stay and verifying eligibility, while also enacting stricter background checks on those who enter the shelter system to better protect the families who need these services the most.” “I voted against [the bill] because Massachusetts cannot continue pouring taxpayer money into the emergency shelter system without implementing real, lasting reforms,” said Rep. Steven Xiarhos (R-Barnstable). “As a former police offi cer with 40 years of experience, I know fi rsthand how proper criminal background checks should be conducted, and the simple CORI check outlined in this bill doesn’t even come close. Without comprehensive background screenings at the state, federal and international levels, we risk compromising public safety and failing to protect the communities small reforms to the shelter system, they were only temporary and fell far short of what was necessary to address the problems associated with the program,” said Rep. Joseph McKenna (R-Sutton). “Without substantial and permanent reforms, many of which were proposed by Republican amendments that were unfortunately rejected out of hand without even cursory consideration, this was not a bill that will adequately address the longterm fi nancial stability of the EA shelter program, so was not a bill I could support.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)r Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Donald Wong No BROADER BACKGROUND CHECKS (H 57) House 26-125, rejected an amendment that would expand the background checks that the state must conduct on emergency assistance shelter applicants by mandating universal criminal background checks that include criminal records at the state, federal and international levels; immigration or residency status; and presence on international or domestic criminal watch lists. “While the underlying bill requires individuals applying for emergency assistance housing benefi ts to disclose prior criminal convictions and calls for CORI checks to be conducted prior to placement, these checks are limited to crimes committed in Massachusetts,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “If we are serious about keeping dangerous criminals out of the shelter system, then we need to strengthen the background check requirement and mandate more comprehensive universal background checks that will disclose criminal records not only at the state level, but also at the federal and international levels.” Rep. Michael Day (D-Stoneham) said that the amendment was an attempted Republican “backdoor” to “strangle our emergency shelter law altogether and kill it from within.” He said the background checks the amendment would require would also check the education backgrounds of applicants, credit scores and fi nancial information. “Now we want to fi nd out the credit-worthiness of a young family applying for emergency shelter,” said Day. He sarcastically asked if this credit check was going to make the shelters and residents safer -- fi nding out what Kohl’s thinks about their ability to get a credit card.” (A “Yes” vote is for the broader background checks. A “No” vote is against them.)r Rep. Jessica Giannino No Rep. Donald Wong Yes REDUCE FUNDING FROM $425 MILLION TO $200 MILLION House 26-126 rejected an amendment that would reduce funding for the emergency assistance shelter program from $425 million to $200 million. “The emergency assistance shelter program continues to cost the state’s taxpayers approximately $1 billion annually, which is not sustainable without implementing substantive reforms to help reduce costs and promote greater transparency,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “The State Auditor is currently conducting a comprehensive audit of the Executive Offi ce of Housing and Livable Communities, including the emergency shelter system, which should help to identify ways to improve effi ciency, while recent changes in immigration laws at the federal level should help to lower costs by reducing the number of people coming to Massachusetts seeking shelter. By reducing the shelter program’s funding allocation to $200 million, the state can continue to provide core services to Massachusetts residents in need while allowing additional time to see how the recent changes will impact enrollment.” Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston) said he is under no illusion that if the House approves this reduction, the Republicans will actually vote for the bill itself. He noted that reforms we’re implementing in the bill are major and the House needs to give the Healey administration time to see these through. He argued that the bill allows the state to get through the remainder of the fi scal year, and during the upcoming fi scal 2026 budget debate in April we can see how the reforms are going and if we have to make changes. (A “Yes” vote is for the reduction to $200 million. A “No” vote is against the reduction.)r Rep. Jessica Giannino No Rep. Donald Wong Yes 12-MONTH RESIDENCY REQUIRED (H 57) House 26-126, rejected an amendment that would require that in order to be eligible for benefi ts under the emergency assistance shelter program, an applicant must have resided in Massachusetts for twelve consecutive months immediately prior to the date of application. The applicant must also provide an acceptable form of verifi cation such as tax returns; a MA REAL-ID; a utility bill, lease or mortgage; or pay stubs showing Massachusetts employment. The residency requirement would not apply to victims of domestic violence or to any person whose living situation has been aff ected by a fi re or other natural disaster that occurred in the Bay State. “The original Right to Shelter law was implemented more than 40 years ago to help provide housing assistance for Massachusetts residents in need, particularly pregnant women and children,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “Over the last two years, the scope of the program has expanded to the point that people are coming to Massachusetts from other states seeking assistance, which is not in keeping with the original intent of the law. This amendment will restore the focus of the law to prioritize Massachusetts residents in need of housing services.” Rep. Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley) said that we are talking about families with children and to place further restrictions on this program during the cold winter months is cruel. She noted that the bill already places more signifi cant verifi cation requirements regarding residency.” (A “Yes” vote is for the 12-month residency requirement. A “No” vote is against it.)r Rep. Jessica Giannino No Rep. Donald Wong Yes REQUIRE REPORTS (H 57) House 152-0, approved an amendment that would require the Healey administration to report the number of families exiting the emergency assistance housing program each week because of a durational limit. “This data will reveal whether families are leaving because they’ve secured stable housing BEACON | SEE PAGE 17 ׉ 7cassandra://htuGd0zzLXGQnPQuV6OO-M8Ur17SiO0SnDP4B2Wvxs4.`g%R05C׉EfTHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Page 17 BEACON | FROM PAGE 16 or due to the system’s time constraints,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Michael Finn (D-West Springfield) It will determine if current resources are effectively helping families regain stability in a quick and efficient manner, or if future adjustments to the system are needed.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.)r Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Donald Wong Yes RULING OF THE CHAIR ON ICE DETAINER AMENDMENT(H 57) House 128-24, supported the ruling of the chair that a proposed amendment that would have required the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to collaborate with ICE regarding detainers issued for dangerous criminal aliens, was beyond the scope of the shelter bill and should not be allowed on the House floor for debate. Rep. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica), the sponsor of the amendment said that the amendment would make it clear that we want these monsters off the streets and will take proactive actions to protect Massachusetts residents. He urged members to oppose the ruling of the chair so that his amendment can be debated and voted upon. “It is simply outrageous that this amendment was ruled out of scope as it pertained to the operations of the shelter system which was the exact scope of the underlying bill,” said Lombardo. “The reality is that the majority party realized it would be a terrible amendment for them to vote against so instead, they ruled it out of scope to prevent political embarrassment.” Rep. Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough) supported the ruling of the chair that this amendment is beyond the scope of this narrowly tailored funding bill. She added that there are several pieces of legislation that have been filed this session that will deal with this issue and the House can debate the issue at that time. (A “Yes” vote supports the ruling of the chair that prohibits the amendment from being debated and voted upon on by the House. A “No” vote is against the ruling and favord the amendment being debated and voted upon.)r Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Donald Wong NorALSO UP ON BEACON HILL GOV. MAURA HEALEY ANNOUNCES SHE WILL RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2026 – In a radio interview on WGBH Radio (89.7 FM) with talk show hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan, Gov. Healey said she plans to run for reelection in 2026. “There’s a heck of a lot more to do, she said. “And so I plan to run for re-election. I’m really proud of the record so far.” The Massachusetts Republican Party released a statement saying they were “confident that voters will reject another four years of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and elect a common-sense Republican.” “We are actively engaging with several Republicans who would all make strong candidates,and we are confident we will have a formidable challenger ready to take on Healey and restore prosperity to the commonwealth,” Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale said. $850,000 TO HELP YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES – Gov. Healey announced more than $850,000 in grants to fund several organizations that provide job training, employment placement and post placement services for 119 young adults with disabilities. “We are building a strong workforce in Massachusetts, and this includes providing opportunities and training for individuals who face barriers to employment,” said Gov. Healey. “These grants will help develop and fulfill the immense potential of this segment of our workforce as we create an economy for today and tomorrow.” “The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to working with partners to increase access, break down barriers and create pathways to meaningful employment including for individuals with disabilities,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. BEACON | SEE PAGE 19 2024 MASSACHUSETTS CHILD AND FAMILY TAX CREDIT Y ou are now entitled to claim a tax credit on your 2024 Massachusetts individual income tax return if you are taking care of a dependent child, other dependent or spouse with a disability or another dependent who is age 65 or older. You can claim this tax credit if you are filing single, head of household or married filing joint on your tax return. Your dependent child must be under age 13 as of December 31, 2024. With respect to a dependent age 65 or older as of December 31, 2024, that would not include you or your spouse. The tax credit to claim on your Massachusetts return is $440 for each qualifying individual. There is no limit to the number of qualified individuals that you can claim the tax credit for. This represents an increase over the calendar year 2023 tax credit which was $310 per individual. If you are a Massachusetts non-resident filing a non-resident Massachusetts income tax return, you canability such as dementia or a physical disability and requires a significant amount of time in home health care from his or her spouse. This is also a refundable tax credit so even if you your total tax is zero and you had no withholdings from wages or pension income, for example, you would still be able to receive a refund based upon the tax credit as calculated on your Massachusetts income tax return. This is the second year that not claim this tax credit. Part year residents can claim the credit and must calculate the tax credit he or she is qualified for based upon the number of days living in Massachusetts. A dependent or spouse with a disability is an individual who is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself or herself and who principally lives with the taxpayer for more than half of the taxable year. Taxpayers need to keep this tax credit in mind as many spouses are caring for a spouse who might be stricken with a disMassachusetts has provided for such a tax credit. It is a big help to taxpayers caring for children, parents or disabled individuals or spouses. This is in addition to the increase in the circuit breaker tax credit available to taxpayers age 65 or older, which is now up to $2,730. It was $2,400 in 2023 and only $1,200 in 2022. Jo s e ph D. Ca ta ldo i s an esta te planning/elder law a ttorney,Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a masters degree in taxation. Portal To Hope (“PTH”) serves people whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence and related assault crimes. Job Opportunities Available: PTH is seeking a Victim Advocate and a Licensed Social Worker to join our team! If you would like to join PTH’s award-winning team and share your leadership in the cause to end domestic violence, please call (781) 338-7678 for more information; or, email portaltohope@aol.com. ׉ 7cassandra://czCFYdPBOk6pyBivICr_0UQgUYgrhnGQfy9N3XtbIhs.T`g%R05Dg%R05C rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://3Qg2PzTR9LIX-xGSqByu9hRRklPPC_1tTLs-OPA4aZU`'p׉ 7cassandra://aPnMO3_TZ6d7hVnBLIUTpECgvlOyRxp-ERLmxFh0YC0ͱ`׉ 7cassandra://c_Mclog-7dm4hflfIBk7-0wu2y-rJcqPwNtF61WLJ2Q4`g%X05~טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://2R8tcAsLNdE1jYupL-sBeTfLmLrZM9OLEiJsTypiO14 `'p׉ 7cassandra://NTiVUyhinMfm-JBaejEu96LQtnlMw4mhsmHDROsN96Eʹh`׉ 7cassandra://uBSWqv7WKjYtVzzlhNzqo1kLWApjdAkzlYOH2nRCL2s,`g%X05נg%Y05 mҁ> 9ׁHhttp://call.comׁ ׁ Јנg%Y05&T9ׁHhttp://e.com/e/ׁ ׁ Јנg%Y05i9ׁHhttp://SavvySenior.orgׁ ׁ Јנg%Y05̤ 9ׁHhttp://TheHartford.com/Publicaׁ ׁ Јנg%X05Y9ׁHhttp://toSafety.comׁ ׁ Јנg%X05lZ9ׁHhttp://Bouncie.comׁ ׁ Јנg%X0599ׁHhttp://Aded.netׁ ׁ Јנg%X05 Ёk9ׁHhttp://Myaota.aota.org/ׁ ׁ Ј׉ESOUNDS| FROM PAGE 15 Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 entine’s Day to Eugene and Arlene Decareau, who are enjoying 72 years of love and marriage. 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. February Fireside Chats at Breakheart For a period of consecutive Wednesday mornings, through Feb. 26, Breakheart Reservation will host a Fireside Chat at its Christopher P. Dunne Memorial Visitor Center (177 Forest St., Saugus) from 10 to 11 a.m. Each week come warm up by a fire and join a staff member from the state Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) who will be sharing their expertise and experiences at our parks. DCR staff goes well beyond the people you normally meet in the parks. There are many “behind the scenes” experts who are excited to share their role in keeping the park properties safe and healthy for the public. The lineup for the remaining two Fireside Chats is as follows: Feb. 19, Sean Riley, Stewardship Research Biologist, and Liz Kernan, Shorebird ReWhat’s going on at the library · A workshop for aspiring writers: Pen to Paper: A Writing Workshop, by Laura Eisener, local journalist, historian and horticulturist. For those folks who missed the past Tuesday class, there are still five more workshops scheduled – Feb.18 and 25 and March 11, 18 and, 25, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Brooks Room on the second floor of the Saugus Public Library at 295 Central St. in Saugus. Do you want to write? Perhaps you have thought about starting a blog, creating a memoir, writing your sixth murder mystery in a series, developing a series of articles, explaining how to knit or recreate a special family recipe or writing a textbook or the great American novel? Whatever your level of experience, goals or preferred literary MEAL TIME: An Eastern bluebird gets ready to hit the feeder for some suet. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) covery Program Coordinator; Feb. 26, Eric Seaborn, Director of Natural Resources. genre, this free workshop can help you enjoy writing more and encourage you to keep at it. We will use a combination of discussions, prompts and writing exercises to give you new incentives and confidence. There is some optional “homework,” but no preregistration is required, and you can attend as often as your schedule allows. · Hello to fans of Needle Crafting: Are you into knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch embroidery, etc.? The SPL Needle Crafting Group will start on Thursday, Feb. 20 from 10-11 a.m. in the Brooks Room. No registration needed – dropins welcome. Bring your Work in Progress and enjoy the conversation. Cocoa and tea will be provided. Any questions, call Reference at 781-2314168. · Styling with vintage & thrifted fashion: Saturday, February 22 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. in the Community Room; Karen (Ren) Antonowicz from Spirits of Fashion will be preA LIONS CLUB LEADER: Tony Speziale (right) with his wife Karen, was honored recently at the Lions District 33N Mid-Winter Banquet. He was recognized for all he has done in the Saugus Lions Club and the community as King Lion. (Courtesy Photo of Corinne Riley) senting the program. Did you know that you can create a unique wardrobe that suits your “style personality” without breaking the bank? Join us for this fun styling workshop where we explore ways to treasure hunt for vintage and secondhand clothing and accessories that speak to you and will inspire a new way of dressing. Fill your own closet with a personalized wardrobe that will bring you joy for years to come. Registration began Saturday, Feb. 8, on our online Events Calendar – sauguspubliclibrary.org · Watercolor Heart Mosaic: Please join us for creating a watercolor heart mosaic – with a professional! This event will be in the Brooks Room from 5:307:00 on Monday, February 24. Registration required – 5th grade and up. · Cookie decorating: Come join us for our cookie decorating program! We will be having a professional come over on Monday, March 3, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Brooks Room on the second floor. Fifth grade and up – registration required. About The Saugus Advocate We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is 6 p.m. on Tuesday. If you have a story idea, an article or a photo to submit, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a message at 978-683-7773. Or send your press release to me in the mail at PO Box 485, North Andover, MA 01845. Let us become your hometown newspaper. The Saugus Advocate is available in the Saugus Public Library, the Saugus Senior Center, Saugus Town Hall, local convenience stores and restaurants throughout town. ׉ 7cassandra://c_Mclog-7dm4hflfIBk7-0wu2y-rJcqPwNtF61WLJ2Q4`g%R05E׉E(Sa nior Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Driving with Dementia and Knowing When to Stop Dear Savvy Senior, When should someone with dementia stop driving? My 83-yearold father has some dementia issues but still drives himself around town pretty well. Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Most doctors agree that people with moderate to severe dementia should never get behind the wheel, but in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia, driving performance should be the determining factor of when to stop driving, not the disease itself. With that said, it’s also important to realize that as your dad’s driving skills deteriorate over time from the disease, he might not recognize he has a problem. So, it’s very important that you work closely with his doctor to monitor his driving and help him stop when it is no longer safe for him to drive. Here are some additional tips that can help you. Watch for Warning Signs The best way to keep tabs on your dad’s driving abilities is to take frequent rides with him and watch out for warning signs. For example: Does he have trouble remembering routes to familiar places? Does he drive at inappropriate speeds, tailgate, drift between lanes or fail to observe traffi c signs? Does he react slowly or make poor driving decisions? Also, has your dad had any fender benders or tickets lately, or have you noticed any dents or scrapes on his vehicle? All of these are red fl ags. If you need some assessment help, hire a driver rehabilitation specialist who’s trained to evaluate older drivers. See Myaota.aota.org/ driver_search or Aded.net to locate one in your area. Transition Tips Through your assessments, if you believe it’s still safe for your dad to drive, you should start recommending some simple adjustments to ensure his safety, like driving only in daylight and on familiar routes, and avoiding busy roads and bad weather. Also, get him to sign a dementia “driving contract” that designates someone to tell him when it’s no longer safe to drive. Go to Alz. org/driving and click on the “Download” button to print one. You may also want to consider getting a GPS car tracking device (like Bouncie.com or MotoSafety.com) to help you monitor him. These devices will let you track where he’s driving and allow you to set up zones and speed limits that will send you alerts to your smartphone when he exits an area, or if he’s driving too fast or braking harshly. Time to Quit When your dad’s driving gets to the point that he can no longer drive safely, you’ll need to talk to him. It’s best to start having these conversations in the early stages of the disease, before he needs to quit driving so he can prepare himself. You also need to have a plan for alternative transportation (including a list of family, friends and local transportation options) that will help him get around after he stops driving. For tips on how to talk to your dad, the Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence offers a helpful guide called “At the Crossroads: Family Conversations About Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia and Driving” that you can download at TheHartford.com/Publications-on-Aging. Refuses to Quit If your dad refuses to quit, you have several options. First, suggest a visit to his doctor who can give him a medical evaluation, and prescribe that he stops driving. Older people will often listen to their doctor before they will listen to their own family. If he still refuses, contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to see if they can help. Some states will automatically revoke a license when a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, while many others require retaking a driving test. If these fail, consider hiding his keys or you may need to take them away. You could also disable his vehicle by disconnecting the battery, park it in another location so he can’t see it or have access to it, or sell it. 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. nior ior THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 BEACON | FROM PAGE 17 “We appreciate the partnership with awarded organizations as we work together to strengthen employment outcomes, foster inclusivity and advance economic opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Massachusetts’ workforce.” ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMPBELL ON PROTECTING ACCESS TO GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE - Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell and a coalition of twelve other attorneys general issued a statement reaffi rming their commitment to protecting access to gender-affi rming care following a recent executive order by the Trump Administration. “As state attorneys general, we stand fi rmly in support of healthcare policies that respect the dignity and rights of all people,” read the statement. “Health care decisions should be made by patients, families and doctors, not by a politician trying to use his power to restrict your freedoms. Gender-affi rming care is essential, life-saving medical treatment that supports individuals in living as their authentic selves.” The statement continued, “The Trump Administration’s recent executive order is wrong on the science and the law. Despite what the Trump Administration has suggested, there is no connection between “female genital mutilation” and gender-affi rming care, and no federal law makes gender-affi rming care unlawful. President Trump cannot change that by executive order.” r DON’T MISS THIS EVENT - Join Massachusetts energy leaders in government, industry and advocacy at the MCLE in Boston on March 26 for an important discussion about the state’s energy policy and its goals for a net-zero future, hosted by the State House News Service. With the return of a new Trump administration and policies hindering wind power development, the state’s plan to expand its off shore wind portfolio faces uncertainty. While solar power off ers potential, its scalability is limited by grid capacity issues and requires substantial investment. Other promising technologies like fusion and low-carbon hydrogen have yet to be implemented in the commonwealth. Tickets/more info: https:// www.eventbr it e.com/e/ power-interruption-tickPage 19 ets-1219762716119?aff=oddtdtcreator QUOTABLE QUOTES “The loss of these three workers is not just a statistic. It is a devastating reminder of the human cost of inadequate safety practices.” --- Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) Executive Director Tatiana Sofi a Begault on recent reports that three Massachusetts workers died in less than two weeks. “The history of Black Americans is deeply woven into the patchwork fabric and rich legacy of our country. A people who survived the torment of enslavement and consistently seek to lead this nation forward. A people who are the conscience of America and stand as a beacon of the great possibility of our democracy. To know the history of Black people in America is to understand our history is a testament to the enduring pursuit of America’s ideals.” --- Tanisha Sullivan, Chair of the Governor’s Black Empowerment Advisory Council at a celebration of Black History Month at the Statehouse. “This bill is vital because it addresses the pressing issue of allowing male athletes to compete in girls’ school sports when there is no equivalent boys’ team or when a boy identifi es as a girl. [The bill] would give athletes and coaches the legal right to opt out of competitions against the opposite sex without fear of discipline.” --- Statement by the Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI). “It sickens me to see that any legislator in Massachusetts would partner with this organization to incite fearmongering and disinformation at the expense of children.” --- Tanya Neslusan, Executive Director of Mass Equality on what it calls MFI’s activities to promote discriminatory bills impacting transgender youth and anti-LGBTQ policies at the state and local level by engaging in disinformation campaigns and encouraging hateful propaganda against the LGBTQ communities across the state. “I think after witnessing last year’s coin toss, and to my knowledge -- and please correct me if I’m wrong -- there was no problem with betting integrity that took place. I looked in all the jurisdictions and I Googled as many news articles as I could to see if any betting integrity [issues] took place. There are other prop bets, like the Gatorade color over the coach, the national anthem length, and we, of course, decided we didn’t want to go that far. But I think the coin toss is something we should be revisiting.” --- Massachusetts Gaming Commissioner Brad Hill on the commission’s 3-2 vote to allow sports betting companies in the Bay State to off er wagers on the Super Bowl opening coin toss. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of Feb. 3-7, the House met for a total of six hours and 13 minutes while the Senate met for a total of 11 minutes. MonFeb. 3House11:02 a.m. to11:10a.m. Senate 11:20 a.m. to11:26a.m. Tues.Feb. 4No House session No Senate session Wed. Feb. 5No House session No Senate session Thurs. Feb. 6House11:01 a.m. to5:06p.m. Senate 11:28 a.m. to 11:33a.m. Fri. Feb. 7No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019. ׉ 7cassandra://uBSWqv7WKjYtVzzlhNzqo1kLWApjdAkzlYOH2nRCL2s,`g%R05Fg%R05E rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://8728n-pg20Krd2-raQUxyr6DpwLff3EbWZWHhmjOQZ8`'p׉ 7cassandra://fKBAdpTqwpeyECF9jfi95JWit6wYavkG9KrOe5TBQLwͷw`׉ 7cassandra://HEtV-t8MpK-NaBu2oFX463a-Tv3K-Xe-ZERekXr14ck5`g%X05טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://mWzbEpdwMZzLOlRL4cNEB7Q2-OL6HHABhYqk3sA7evc '`'p׉ 7cassandra://E99MZHLCJiGps-TRZGjXrFmAlZ80T7YG-n7y4YB6-FA$`׉ 7cassandra://UvoFCgKLxBANFP2JS1s6Afp2t0tLJKkmbt8uN8QuDDk2`g%Y05נg%Y05Y̹9ׁHmailto:info@advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Јנg%Y05[i̝9ׁHhttp://nfpa.org/freeaccess.ׁ ׁ Јנg%Y05)E9ׁHhttp://nfpa.orgׁ ׁ Јנg%Y05O*? 9ׁHhttp://ter.comׁ ׁ Јנg%Y05|ԁ̡9ׁHhttp://WeatherItBetter.comׁ ׁ Јנg%Y05~Y*9ׁHhttp://WeatherItBetter.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 20 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Weather It Better: Outdoor Power Equipment Helps Clean Up After Storms WeatherItBetter.com off ers checklist, safety tips for home & business owners A LEXANDRIA, Va. -Chainsaws, generators, snow throwers, utility type vehicles (UTVs), water pumps, and other types of outdoor power equipment help home and business owners maintain properties and clean up after storms or weather-related emergencies. Home and business owners are urged to visit WeatherItBetter.com, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) hub for storm preparation, safe equipment usage tips and checklists to help them prepare for today’s unpredictable weather. “Bad weather can hit anytime, anywhere, so plan for it,” says Kris Kiser, President and CEO of OPEI. “With any weather event, like hurricanes, snow and ice, we usually know they’re coming. Get fresh fuel, charge batteries, and test outdoor power equipment in advance so you’re powered up and ready to use it. If the power goes out, you can’t get those things easily.” In particular, says OPEI, when using a portable generator, homeowners should make sure they have weather-approved extension cords that keep it a safe distance from the house and users follow all manufacturer’s guidelines. Kiser says storm preparation boils down to thinking strategically about what equipment is needed. “Our industry is constantly evolving and innovating, and there’s a lot of equipment on the market today that can make big jobs easier, to help you ‘weather it better’ when storms hit,” says Kiser. “But you need to have the right equipment on hand before damaging weather hits.” When the power goes out, a generator can keep the lights on and phones charged. A utility type vehicle can move people and supplies quickly, and a water pump can get out fl ood waters from basements and other spaces. String trimmers, leaf blowers, and mowers can remove combustible material away from a structure. Chainsaws and pole pruners can take down dead limbs and trim trees and bushes. “Safety gear and following manufacturer’s directions is key to using outdoor power equipment,” adds Kiser. “It’s important to ensure everyone who uses equipment knows and follows all safety procedures.” Find safety tips, checklists and more at WeatherItBetter.com. was “The Whale”? 1. February 14 is Valentine’s Day; a Greek sculptor named what created a statue that he fell in love with? 2. What 2018 romantic comedy is based on a bestseller by Kevin Kwan? 3. In the early 1900s, why was Adolph Spreckels – the first sugar daddy – nicknamed that by his wife? 4. On Feb. 15, 1925, a second batch of diphtheria antitoxin for an epidemic arrived in Nome, Alaska, by what method? 5. Esther Howland founded the 1880s New England Valentine Company where in Mass.? 6. Which fruit has the most fat? 7. On Feb. 16, 1923, what burial chamber in Egypt was unsealed? 8. What does XOXO mean? 9. What 1851 book’s fi rst title 10. What New England company created candy Sweethearts (conversation hearts)? 11. February 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day; what creator of Peter Pan said, “Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight: always to try to be a kinder than is necessary?” 12. What animal can be a jack or a jenny? 13. In 1972 who had a hit with “Burning Love”? 14. In the Old English poem “Beowulf,” Danish warriors drank what having honey? 15. On Feb. 18, 1930, at the International Aircraft Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri, Elm Farm Ollie became the fi rst of what animal to fl y in a plane? 16. What U.S. state whose state fl ower is the bluebonnet has the motto “Friendship”? 17. On Feb. 19, 2008, who resigned his presidency – to be succeeded by his brother? 18. In what area of Boston was the country’s first chocolate factory (1700s)? 19. Who is the world’s longest heir apparent? 20. On Feb. 20, 1962, John Glenn became the fi rst American astronaut to orbit earth; what government position did he later hold? SAFE| FROM PAGE 13 About the National Fire Protection Association® Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global self-funded nonprofi t organization devoted to eliminating death, injury and property and economic loss due to fi re, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach, and advocacy and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information, visit nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at nfpa.org/freeaccess. For Advertising with RESULTS, call The Advocate at Newspapers 781-233-4446 or info@advocatenews.net ANSWERS 1. Pygmalion 2. “Crazy Rich Asians” 3. He was a millionaire son of a San Francisco sugar tycoon and was 20 years older than her. 4. Dogsled 5. Worcester 6. Avocado 7. King Tutankhamun 8. Hugs and kisses 9. “Moby Dick” 10. New England Confectionery Company (NECCO) 11. J.M. Barrie 12. Donkey 13. Elvis Presley 14. Mead 15. Cow 16. Texas 17. Fidel Castro (brother Raúl) 18. Dorchester (Baker Chocolate Company) 19. King Charles III (waited 70 years, 214 days) 20. U.S. Senator ׉ 7cassandra://HEtV-t8MpK-NaBu2oFX463a-Tv3K-Xe-ZERekXr14ck5`g%R05G׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Page 21 OBITUARIES Carmella A. “Bella” DiMare Westford, Charles “Chip” DiMare III and his two daughters of Peabody, and Christina DiMare of Topsfield. Relatives and friends were respectfully invited to visit with Bella’s family at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, on Saturday, February 8th, followed by a Mass of Christian burial celebrated in the Immaculate Conception Church, 489 Broadway, Everett. Service concluded with entombment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of flowers, donations O f Westford. Passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Monday, February 3rd. She was 92. Born in Somerville and raised in Medford, she was the cherished daughter of the late Frank and Antoinette (Iapicca) Albano. Bella had a kind disposition and a heart of gold. She truly was an angel. The old saying states that “God broke the mold after she was born” and that is an understatement. Bella was known to make friends everywhere she went and touched everyone’s heart in their own distinct way. Bella loved to sing. She would sing for everyone and everywhere. She enjoyed going to concerts and was invited on stage two times to sing personally with David Foster. Bella enjoyed playing bingo at the Westford Senior Center, watching her beloved Red Sox on TV and traveling with her Charlie to Aruba, Las Vegas, the Caribbean and all throughout Europe. Bella will be greatly missed by those who had the privilege to know her. Bella was the beloved wife of 66 years to Charles R. DiMare, Jr. She was the devoted mother of Charlene Costa and her husband Stephen of GARDENS | FROM PAGE 14 pecially the asoka, found their way into ironwork around the world. They were especially popular on railings and balconies in Cajun neighborhoods around New Orleans. In the 1960s they were incorporated into many machine-made railings, fences and other architectural features. This patmay be made in Bella’s name to the Cameron Senior Center, 20 Pleasant St., Westford, MA 01886. Robert (Bob) Folino tate agent at Hollett Real Estate. In 1999 he was awarded the “Thomas R. Linskey Award of Merit” at Firefighter Sunday for his life saving efforts off the job at Cedardale in Haverhill where he was watching a racquetball tournament, a sport he enjoyed playing in his younger years. His passion for racquetball not only earned him honorable recognition but led him to Route One Racquet and Fitness in 1983 where he met his wife, Donna. They married in 1984 and had two daughters, Megan and Lauren. As his children grew up, Bob enjoyed cheering them on at many different sporting events, taking trips as a family to North Conway, and going to Prince Pizza for Friday night dinners. In 2021, his family grew as he became a grandfather to Cameron, and again in 2024 with the additions of Connor and Addison. Bob thrived in his role as Grampy and loved nothing more than spending time with his grandchildren and seeing them smile. After he retired, he worked L ongtime resident of Saugus, passed away at the age of 77 surrounded by his wife and daughters on Friday, February 7, 2025 at the Kaplan House in Danvers. Bob was born in Chelsea on November 20, 1947, to Mabel (Mullen) Folino and Nicholas Folino. Bob moved to Saugus when he was 13 years old and attended Saugus Junior High and graduated from Saugus High School class of 1965. He continued his education at North Shore Community College. Bob served 25 years as firefighter on the Saugus Fire Department and was a real estern, and others derived from it, can be seen worldwide now. Bird feeding month continues to be in full swing this week, and our feathered friends can use a bit of assistance with the snow covering the ground. Big windows are wonderful for letting in light and for birdwatching, but they can be dangerous for birds. Especially with bird feeders at Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS) driving for The Ride. He called himself a professional driver and was always available to give anyone who needed it a ride to the airport (as long as it was before his bedtime.) In his free time, he enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He loved to golf and was a member of Old Newbury Golf Club. Bob enjoyed morning breakfasts and lunch “with the guys” at the Hammersmith Restaurant, where, like Cheers, “everybody knows your name.” Bob had such a connection to Saugus and will be missed by so many people. Bob is survived by his wife of 40 years, Donna (Cosman) Folino, and his daughters Meclose to the house, the birds may not distinguish between a large paned window and an open space, and may try to fly through it. This can happen at any time of year, Window decals or other obstructions may discourage them from trying to fly through. Removable and reusable window decorations GARDENS | SEE PAGE 22 gan (Folino) Kirkham and her husband Matthew and Lauren Folino and her husband Luke Blaeser. He was also the grandfather to Cameron and Connor Kirkham, Addison Blaeser and grand-dogs Albus and Leia. He was the brother to Denise Korzeniowski and her husband Michael and brother-in-law to Robert Cosman Jr. and his wife Margaret. Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, 549 Lincoln Ave., Saugus on Thursday, February 13 from 4-8 p.m. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Friday at 11 a.m. followed by interment in Riverside Cemetery in Saugus. Donations can be made in Bob’s name to: Saugus Firefighters Relief Association, 27 Hamilton St., Saugus, MA 01906. Muriel (Perkins) Prentice O f Saugus. Age 91, died on Monday, February 10th at the Alliance at Rosewood in Peabody. She was the wife of the late John D. Prentice. Born in and a lifelong resident of Saugus, Mrs. Prentice was the daughter of the late Fred H. and Mildred (Hanright) Pekins, Sr. Muriel was a former secretary to the Director of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She was an avid Red Sox fan and loved gardening. Mrs. Prentice is survived by her four sons, Larry Prentice and his wife Nancy of Chelmsford, Scott Prentice and his wife Maria of Epping, NH, David Prentice and his wife Barbara of Raymond, NH and John R. Prentice of Saugus; nine grandsons, Jonathan, Ryan, Tyler, Jesse, Joshua, Joseph, Scott, Shane and John; and three great-grandsons, Maverick, Chase, and Bodhi. She was predeceased by her brother, Fred H. Perkins Jr. and stepsister, Gertrude. Relatives and friends are invited to attend an hour of visitation in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, 549 Lincoln Ave., Saugus on Saturday, February 15 from 1 – 2 p.m. followed by a service in the funeral home at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice in Muriel’s memory. Your Hometown News Delivered! EVERETT ADVOCATE MALDEN ADVOCATE REVERE ADVOCATE SAUGUS ADVOCATE One year subscription to The Advocate of your choice: $200 per paper in-town per year or $225 per paper out-of-town per year. 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 ׉ 7cassandra://UvoFCgKLxBANFP2JS1s6Afp2t0tLJKkmbt8uN8QuDDk2`g%R05Hg%R05G rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://K7dedp53S-H91cdXT0c8bs4hF8tS2CEcgyBS45HUIxk`'p׉ 7cassandra://00Cgv_5hOnMCjUURwKgLPvBa3Y3-ztIH2vtNFqXd7GE8`׉ 7cassandra://nBsxeSHCMGdaQmjene41f4b5-AaZeuM-UrxUEa-2HIY;r`g%Z05טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://1vkSlntLv83hXStmT19BxQ7bnZ-P5WzyrnWybXtvNlE,`'p׉ 7cassandra://OdpYM69GS4wJkP8bZVff7c81NmzgyE5g3ckXH_ZyOKE͡`׉ 7cassandra://cPZadkqDyG0K8LjnyVZjfLUa0hbc1lQBaijCmvjVvXg4q`g%[05נg%[05Ձ9ׁHmailto:annemariet2008@gmail.comׁ ׁ Јנg%[05+9ׁHhttp://TrinityHomesRE.comׁ ׁ Јנg%[05+9ׁHhttp://TrinityHomesRE.comׁ ׁ Јנg%[05̡ 9ׁHhttp://www.mangorealtyteam.comׁ ׁ Јנg%[05̟ 9ׁHmailto:infowithmango@gmail.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E MPage 22 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 GARDENS | FROM PAGE 21 We follow Social Distancing Guidelines! like the hearts on the glass above can be a solution. Lovers of snow were certainly not disappointed this week. The snowstorm Saturday night meant many people were out shoveling on Sunday, and plows and sanders could be seen around town throughout the weekend. Wednesday, February 12 was the full snow moon. It certainly shone down on an appropriately wintry landscape and caused the icicles on the eaves to sparkle. Ṭu bi-Shevaṭ, sometimes called Jewish Arbor Day or the New Year for Trees, started on the evening of the 12th and ended at sundown on the 13th. In Israel, this day marks the start of the agricultural season for calculating the quantity of harvest for each year and is also American Exterior and Window Corporation Contact us for all of your home improvement projects and necessities. Call Jeff or Bob Toll Free: 1-888-744-1756 617-699-1782 / www.americanexteriorma.com Windows, Siding, Roofing, Carpentry & More! All estimates, consultations or inspections completed by MA licensed supervisors. *Over 50 years experience. *Better Business Bureau Membership. Insured and Registered Complete Financing Available. No Money Down. 855-GO-4-GLAS Frank Berardino MA License 31811 Steps Stoops Rebuilt or Repaired Chimney Rebuilt or Repaired House Foundation Leaks Repaired All Basement Repairs Chimney Inspection Drainage Masonry Repairs Window Installation & Repairs Drywall & Carpentry Waterproofing • 24 - Hour Service • Emergency Repairs BERARDINO Plumbing & Heating Residential & Commercial Service Gas Fitting • Drain Service 617.699.9383 Senior Citizen Discount The Kid Does Clean Outs From 1 item to 1,000 * Basements * Homes * Backyards * Commercial Buildings The cheapest prices around! Call Eric: (857) 322-2854 traditionally a day for planting trees and appreciating nature. This holiday fl oats around between January and February because the calendar is based on a combination of solar and lunar cues. Of course, in New England, the ground is frozen so February is still a few months away from tree planting time. This Monday, Feb. 17 is the 210th anniversary of Saugus becoming a town separate from Lynn and is also the federal holiday Presidents’ Day, which is celebrated on the third Monday in February. For the 200th anniversary in 2015, a commemorative American elm (Ulmus americana) was planted at Saugus Iron Works on Arbor Day, near to the blacksmith shop on the nature trail side of the river. It is amazing to see how much that tree has grown in a decade! 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 off ered 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. Clean-Outs! 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