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Vol. 27, No.9
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 28, 2025
SHOW TIME FOR SAUGUS HIGH
The budget season is
offi cially underway
Town Manager Crabtree briefs selectmen on his
preliminary spending plan for the 2026 Fiscal year
By Mark E. Vogler
T
own Manager Scott C.
Crabtree has recommended
$34.3 million
for the School Department for
the 2026 Fiscal Year that begins
July 1 – an increase of $500,000
over the Fiscal Year 2025 budget
approved last spring by
the Annual Town Meeting.
But that’s still about $2 million
less than the proposed Saugus
Public Schools budget recommended
by Superintendent
Michael Hashem and approved
by the School Committee earlier
this year.
Saugus High School’s Theatre Teacher and Drama Club Director, Nick Raponi, relaxed in
the Lemoine-Mitchell Auditorium last Friday as the Saugus High School Drama Club rehearsed
for tomorrow’s Massachusetts High School Drama Festival. Please see inside for
more photos and this week’s “The Advocate Asks.” (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler)
“The increase does not include
the indirect costs paid
by the Town on behalf of the
School Department and included
as part of the total Net
School Spending (NSS) calculation
required by the Massachusetts
Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education
(DESE),” Crabtree told
selectmen Tuesday (Feb. 25)
night as he read from a fourpage
budget message he delivered
to the board on Feb. 15.
“The indirect costs paid by
the Town on behalf of the
School Department” totals
about $29 million in so-called
School Department Schedule
19 charges that were itemized
in a document reviewed by the
Finance Committee last year.
The preliminary spending
plan unveiled by the town
manager includes municipal
general fund operating budgets
totaling $84.9 million
to go with proposed school
spending, which adds up to
an estimated $119.2 million
in total general fund operating
budgets. The $15.3 million
for the Water and Sewer Enterprise
Funds added to the total
estimated Expenditure Budget
adds up to a total Fiscal Year
2026 expenditure amount of
nearly $134.5 million.
Selectmen voted unanimously
to recommend the
town manager’s operating
budget, forwarding it to the Finance
Committee, which will
begin hearings on each department
budget before making
its recommendations to the
BUDGET SEASON | SEE PAGE 2
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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
Representative Wong pushes for rules reforms to make the House
and Senate more transparent and accountable
B
OSTON – State Representative
Donald Wong
(R-Saugus) continues
to push for reforms to the internal
rules governing the
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resentatives and Senate, saying
legislators need to be more
transparent in how they conduct
business and accountable
to their constituents.
On February 25, Representative
Wong supported multiple
Republican-sponsored reform
measures fi led as amendments
to a comprehensive House
rules package as well as a sepBUDGET
SEASON |
FROM PAGE 1
Annual Town Meeting, which is
set to convene on May 5.
Crabtree identified several
challenges in preparing the estimates
of expenditures in his
recommended FY 2026 budget:
•
Health insurance in the
School Department had increased
by $1.2 million; overall
health insurance increased
by $2 million.
• Trash hauling and incineration
rates continue to increase.
He said town budget staff expect
a signifi cant increase in
the hauling cost for the next
fi scal year as the existing contract
will be ending. Total DPW
waste collection and disposal
expenses increased by $1.6
million. The incineration conarate
rules package that will
govern the operations of the
joint legislative committees of
the two branches for the 20252026
session.
Representative Wong noted
that the initial rules proposals
released prior to fl oor debate
contained several positive reREFORMS
| SEE PAGE 4
tract’s tipping fee is increasing
in the upcoming fi scal year as
well. In addition, the cost of
disposal of recyclable materials
continues to increase and
have been impacted with contamination
charges.
• Pension contribution – the
pension appropriation for Fiscal
Year 2026 is in the amount
of about $5.8 million.
• Regional School Assessments
– Vocational Education,
including Northeast Metropolitan
Regional Vocational
High School and Essex North
Shore Tech, is budgeted for
$2.9 million based on estimated
numbers provided by
DESE. The Fiscal Year 2026 estimated
assessments refl ect a
5 percent increase on the actual
Fiscal Year 2025 assessments.
Based on the most recent
debt information proDonald
Wong
State Representative
vided by Northeast Regional,
the town’s share of the existing
debt service for the Fiscal
Year 2026 is $779,118 – an increase
of $290,917 from Fiscal
Year 2025 assessments.
• Other insurance – the various
property, liability and
workers’ compensation insurance
premium estimates have
been budgeted based on an
increase of about 8 percent
over actual fiscal year 2025
premiums recommended by
the provider.
• Capital improvements –
there are significant capital
needs that the town will need
to plan and identify funding
sources for. Those include, but
are not limited to, such things
as capital facility needs; infrastructure,
such as roadways;
public safety equipment, such
as fire apparatus; and other
equipment that is nearing
end of life and requiring expensive
repairs, as well as funding
the Northeast Metro Tech capital
assessment for the MSBA
School Construction Project.
“Steps continue to be taken
to minimize the impact on the
budget, stabilize services to the
residents and maintain current
staffi ng levels,” Crabtree said in
his budget message.
“In partnership with yourselves,
the Finance Committee
and Town Meeting, we have
been able to present a balanced
budget at each Annual
Town Meeting and preserve
our current AA+ bond rating,”
he said.
“Overall, we’re doing pretty
good compared to other communities,”
Crabtree told selectmen.
“We
budgeted conservatively
and we’re staying within
our means,” the town manager
said.
Call
Driveways
from $35
׉	 7cassandra://6Fe2chsSeKlOoyoTF_uf1xKft3TRMl0P5XpTYyWHoLo8` g-F$,Z׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
Page 3
~The Advocate Asks~
Saugus High Theatre Teacher Nick Raponi talks about hosting
Saturday’s state High School Drama Festival test
Editor’s Note: For this week’s
column, we sat down with Nicholas
“Nick” Raponi, Saugus
High School’s Theatre Teacher
and Drama Club Director,
and talked about the Massachusetts
Educational Theater
Guild’s High School Drama Festival,
which Saugus High will be
hosting for the first time tomorrow
(Saturday, March 1) in the
Lemoine-Mitchell Auditorium.
Raponi, 42, was born in Peabody
and grew up in that city,
graduating from Peabody High
School in 2001. After graduation,
he pursued a career in the
restaurant business, but decided
to change careers and return
to school to become a theatre
teacher. He earned a Bachelor
of Arts in Theatre Performance
with a minor in Secondary Education
from Salem State University
in 2015. In 2020, he received
a Master’s in Theatre from
Regent University. He’s been
teaching for about 10 years. He
worked for several years at Winthrop
High School and worked
closely with the High School
Drama Society and was part
of the team that won the state
championship for two years in
a row. He also worked in Haverhill
and Revere before landing
his “dream job” at Saugus High
School. Raponi and his wife
Amanda have been married for
seven years and they bought
their Saugus home in 2017. They
have two young boys: Nicky, 4,
and Remy, 1. Highlights of this
week’s interview follow.
Q: Feel free to share your
background in theatre, whether
this was something that you
did as a kid, going through
high school and college.
A: I have always been interested
in the theatre. At 11, I auditioned
for my first show at
the Higgins Middle School in
Peabody and got cast, which
genuinely changed my life. I
gained my love for singing,
performing and entertaining
in middle school under the direction
of my very first theatre
mentor, the late Ellen (Carlin)
Endslow. At Peabody High
School, I was a member of the
Stage One Drama Club, the
Salem State University
· American College Theatre
Festival Scenic Design Finalist:
“Machinal” Salem State University
I
am an avid theatre performer
with more than 70 performance
credits. I am also a freelance
theatre artist as a stage
director, scenic designer, technical
director and lighting
designer, having worked for
ASKS | SEE PAGE 18
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
IT’S A BIG DEAL: Saugus High School’s Theatre Teacher and
Drama Club Director Nicholas “Nick” Raponi said hosting a
preliminary round of the Massachusetts High School Drama
Festival on Saturday in the Lemoine-Mitchell Auditorium
will be “a highlight of my career as a theatre teacher.”
(Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler)
Chorus, the Chorale and the
Show Choir and a three-season
athlete. After high school,
I found community theatre,
and my life improved. Not only
did I develop a more profound
love for theatre arts, but I also
met some of the most talented
people in this industry, who
taught me many of the skills I
use daily as a theatre teacher.
I met my best friends and my
wife doing community theatre.
I have worked with The Winthrop
Playmakers (Board of Directors,
president & artistic director)
and the Theatre Company
of Saugus as a performer,
scenic designer and lighting
designer and many other
surrounding theatres: Marblehead
Little Theatre, Wakefield
Repertory Theatre, Burlington
Players and many more. In addition
to performing in Massachusetts,
I have been an adjudicator
for the EMACT (Eastern
Massachusetts Association
of Community Theatre)
Dash Program, having also received
Awards and nominations
through EMACT.
· Best Actor in a Musical: “Seussical
The Musical” – Neverland
Theatre
· Best Set Design of a play:
“The Shadow Box” – Winthrop
Playmakers
· Best Director of a Play (Winner):
“The Shadow Box” – Winthrop
Playmakers
· Best Supporting Actor in a
Musical & Best Set Design of a
Musical: “25th Annual Putnam
County Spelling Bee” – Theatre
Company of Saugus
· Best Set Design of a Musical:
“Nevermore” – Theatre Company
of Saugus
· Best Lead Performer in a
Musical: “Something Rotten” –
Marblehead Little Theatre
· Irene Ryan Scholarship
Nominee: “The Shadow Box” –
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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
~ The Old Sachem ~
From Worcester with love –
Valentine cards in the 1800s
By Bill Stewart
H
andmade valentines
were popular in England
during the 15th
Century. Through the years
printed valentines were produced
in England for the people
to send to their sweethearts.
Esther
Howland was born in
Worcester, Massachusetts, in
1828 in a respected and wellto-do
family. Her father was
Southworth Howland, who
owned a very successful sta8
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tionery business in Worcester.
The company produced,
among other products, textbooks
and engraved cards.
The family could afford to
send Esther to college, so
she enrolled in Mount Holyoke
College, which was then
known as Mount Holyoke Female
Seminary. After graduation
she saw cards from
England that were expensive,
and Esther thought she
could make cards economically.
She found a few cards
that inspired her to begin
making her own versions.
To create her early cards,
she imported fine lace, specialty
paper, and decorations
from England. Esther
had a visionary idea to craft
each ornate card in an assembly
line, which would
accommodate a large interest
in her products. She built
an assembly line of all women
in her company, New England
Valentine Company,
at a time when fewer than
15% of women worked outREFORMS
| FROM PAGE 2
www.810bargrille.com
forms, including many provisions
the House Republican
Caucus has long been advocating
for, such as a requirement
that individual legislators’
committee votes be postside
of their home. She developed
design elements, such
as enclosed messages within
the cards, the use of painted
silk and elaborate folding
of her cards. Her business became
an immediate commercial
success, using the beauty
of her designs and her desire
to meet the demands of her
customers.
Howland’s business was very
successful during her 30-year
career. By 1880 her company
was earning over $100,000 in
yearly profi ts, which would be
about $2.5 million today.
The founder of Mount Holyoke
College, Mary Lyon, which
I introduced in a January column,
urged students to “Go
where no one else will go.
Do what no one else will do.”
This resonated to Howland to
achieve her goals of one-upmanship
in business. Many
of her cards are displayed
at Mount Holyoke College
around Valentine’s Day.
Many current students of
Mount Holyoke now experiment
with laser-cutting, 3D
printing and innovative designs
at the Fimbel Maker & Innovation
Lab. They can launch
their designs through a $3,000
internship funding program
through the system named
ed online for easy public access.
However, he said the reforms
do not go far enough,
after the House rejected nearly
all the caucus’ amendments,
with the exception of a proposal
to require the House
journal to specify if a mem“The
Old Sachem,” Bill Stewart.
(Courtesy photo to The Saugus
Advocate by Joanie Allbee)
the Lynk. Many students declare
a minor in Internship, Organizations
and Society.
Next time you get and send
a valentine, you can thank Esther
Howland of Worcester
and Mount Holyoke College
for developing the cards that
are relished each year.
(Editor’s Note: Bill Stewart,
who is 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.)
ber participated in a vote remotely.
The House and joint
rules proposals were ultimately
both approved on votes of
128-23, with Representative
Wong opposed.
REFORMS | SEE PAGE 10
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Page 5
Holocaust survivor will tell her story on Monday
A
rea residents will have
a rare and powerful
opportunity to hear
fi rsthand from Holocaust survivor
Helga Melmed, who will
share her story of survival, resilience
and hope on Monday.
Hosted by Chabad of Wakefield,
this special event will
take place at the William E.
Endslow Performing Arts Center
at Reading Memorial High
School at 62 Oakland Rd. in
Reading.
At 97 years old, Helga
Melmed is among the last living
witnesses to the atrocities
of the Holocaust. Born in Berlin,
her childhood was shattered
by Nazi persecution.
At just fi ve years old, she was
beaten by her schoolteacher
for being Jewish. By age
13, she was deported to the
Lodz Ghetto, where her father
was murdered. She was later
sent to Auschwitz, endured
forced labor camps and survived
a brutal death march
to Bergen-Belsen. When the
British liberated the camp in
April 1945, she weighed only
46 pounds and was gravely ill.
Now, she is flying in from
Florida for this special evening,
determined to share her
story so history is never forgotten.
“With
antisemitism and hate
on the rise, it is more important
than ever to listen to survivors
while we still can,” said
Rabbi Sruly Brook of Chabad
of Wakefi eld, the event’s organizer.
“Helga’s story is a reminder
of where unchecked
hate leads, and why we must
stand together as a community
against intolerance.”
Adding to the evening’s
emotional depth, a violinist
will perform the haunting
theme from “Schindler’s List,”
setting the tone for refl ection
and remembrance.
“Hate and violence bring
only destruction,” Melmed
says. “I share my story so people
understand where hatred
leads and why we must choose
kindness instead.”
This event is open to the entire
community and is made
possible by Chabad of Wakefield
and generous corporate
sponsors. Tickets are $18
for adults and $10 for students
(ages 14-18). Corporate
sponsorship opportunities are
available for $1,000, with sponsors
receiving recognition on
all promotional materials.
Reserve your seat today at
www.JewishWakefield.com/
tickets or call 781-205-9593.
Join us for this unforgettable
evening of history, remembrance
and unity. The doors
open at 6:30 p.m. on Monday,
March 3, and the program gets
underway at 7 p.m.
Helga Melmed, a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor, will be
the guest speaker at 7 p.m. Monday during a special program
hosted by Chabad of Wakefi eld at the William E. Endslow
Performing Arts Center at Reading Memorial High
School. (Courtesy photo to the Saugus Advocate)
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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
DAR plans to honor local Vietnam veterans
on March 29 in a pinning ceremony at VFW
(Editor’s Note: The Parson
Roby Chapter of the Daughters
of the American Revolution issued
the following press release
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this week.)
W
e are looking for
Saugus Vietnam
veterans.
The Parson Roby Chapter of
the Daughters of the American
Revolution (DAR) together with
the Judge Samuel Holten Society
of the Children of the American
Revolution are marking a
signifi cant milestone in American
history with a special celebration
honoring the 50th anniversary
of the Vietnam War.
In a tribute to those who
served during the Vietnam
War, a special pinning ceremony
will be held to honor
Vietnam veterans and their
Celebrating 52 Years!
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families as part of the United
States of America Vietnam
War Commemoration, a program
led by the U.S. Department
of Defense. This event
marks the 50th anniversary of
the war, recognizing the sacrifi
ces and service of those who
fought and those who supported
them from home.
Held in partnership with the
Parson Roby Chapter, the ceremony
will honor local veterans
and pay tribute to the men and
women who served between
November 1, 1955, and May
15, 1975. Each veteran in attendance
will receive the offi -
cial Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin,
a lasting symbol of the nation’s
gratitude.
The pin itself features an eaChris
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representing courage, a
blue circle for vigilance and
perseverance, and six stars that
symbolize the United States
and its allies. For the veterans
who we recognize at this ceremony
is a long-overdue expression
of appreciation.
“Many Vietnam veterans returned
home to a divided nation
and never received the recognition
they deserved,” said
Gail Cassarino, Regent. “We will
stand together as a community
to say, ‘Welcome home, and
thank you for your service.’”
In addition to honoring veterans,
the ceremony will acknowledge
the sacrifices of
families and surviving spouses,
ensuring that no one’s contributions
are forgotten.
As part of the Vietnam War
Commemoration program,
ceremonies like this continue
across the country, ensuring
VIETNAM WAR 50TH ANNIVERSARY
LAPEL PIN: Vietnam
veterans or surviving spouses
will receive this pin in a special
ceremony on Saturday, March
29 at 11 a.m. at the Saugus
VFW Post, 190C Main St., Saugus.
(Courtesy photo to The Saugus
Advocate)
that veterans receive the honor
they have long deserved. The
message is clear: America will
never forget.
If you are a Vietnam veteran
or a surviving spouse, please
join us on Saturday, March 29
at 11 am at the Saugus VFW
Post, 190C Main St. Please
RSVP to parsonroby.saugusdar@gmail.com
or text 781710-1829.
Coff ee and refreshments
will be served.
The DAR is a non-profit,
non-political volunteer women’s
service organization dedicated
to promoting historic
preservation, education, and
patriotism whose members are
direct descendants of patriots
who fought or gave aid in civil
service to the American Revolution.
For more information
on what we do or in joining the
Parson Roby Chapter NSDAR,
please email parsonroby.saugusdar@gmail.com.
Donate
Your Vehicle
Call (866) 618-0011 to donate
your car, truck, boat, RV,
and more today!
׉	 7cassandra://DwcUJv_v6epJsWeOnU6LWz8kFapOJ28NojWC1wLB1F8=!` g-F$,Z׉EkTHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
~ Letter to the Editor ~
Page 7
The people of Saugus deserve a say in what
happens to our playgrounds
Dear Editor,
Saugus playgrounds are vital
community assets that
provide recreational opportunities,
promote mental
and physical well-being, and
strengthen neighborhood
ties. However, recent events
have underscored the urgent
need for stronger governance
to protect these spaces.
As part of the Protect and
Preserve Saugus Playgrounds
movement, we introduced
a proposed by-law aimed at
ensuring transparency, accountability,
and community
involvement in decisions affecting
our playgrounds. This
measure would require public
hearings, mandate transparency
in decision-making,
and establish an oversight
committee to safeguard playgrounds
from improper repurposing.
Unfortunately,
despite following
proper procedures,
the Board of Selectmen refused
to allow my constituents
to speak to their article
on the night it was warranted
for Town Meeting—an article
backed by over 130 petitioners
who opposed the
Stocker Dog Park proposal.
This deliberate obstruction
not only silenced the voices
of concerned residents but
also highlighted the very issue
we seek to address—ensuring
that decisions about our
public spaces are made openly
and with community input.
Moreover, I have heard from
residents in other precincts
who share similar concerns,
particularly regarding the
search for a future cemetery
plot at Lynnhurst Playground.
If the administration is successful
in pushing a dog park
at Stocker Playground despite
community opposition,
it could set a dangerous precedent
for repurposing other
playgrounds—such as using
Lynnhurst for a cemetery. This
is why transparency and public
input are critical in these
decisions.
The people of Saugus deserve
a say in what happens to
our playgrounds. As we move
forward, I urge all residents
to stay informed and get inUMass
Amherst
announces Fall
2024 Dean’s List
T
he following students
from Saugus were
named to the Fall 2024
Dean’s List at the University of
Massachusetts Amherst. Students
are appointed to the
Dean’s List at the end of a semester
in which they have
completed a minimum of
12 graded credits and have
earned a grade point average
of 3.500 or better.
Matthew Banwait
Serena Cacciola
Rayan Chahid
Jonathan Charlier
Matthew Cunningham
Christopher Denovellis
Lucca Garcia
Mikayla Hashem
Isabella Henriques
Josh Jain
Sophia Jiang
Bryant Lam
Kiara LoNigro
Anthony Macone
Karen Maradiaga Mendoza
Meghan McCarthy
Madelyne Net
Hannah O’Brien
Lauren Pozark
Safwan Rahman
Siddhi Sharma
Kyle Surette
Nadine Taboubi
Marianna Tamayo Palacio
Dominic Trabucco
volved. If you value our limited
recreational spaces, I encourage
you to reach out to
your respective Town Meeting
members and voice your
support for greater transparency
in decisions aff ecting our
playgrounds.
Together, we can protect
and preserve these cherished
spaces for future generations.
Sincerely,
Mark V. Sacco Jr.
Precinct 3 Town Meeting
member
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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
Three Saugus High School Drama Club students talk about the thrill of theatre in their lives
By Mark E. Vogler
P
laying the part of main
charac ter Woyzeck
makes Madelynne Leonard
one of the stars in the play
“Woyzeck (Re-Imagined),” which
the Saugus High School Drama
Club will perform at 2 p.m. tomorrow
(Saturday, March 1) in
the Lemoine-Mitchell Auditorium
at Saugus High School. For
Madelynne and the other 12
cast members and the 24 students
involved in production
staff , this will be a chance for all
of them to really shine in their
young theatre careers, as Saugus
High competes against seven
other schools in a preliminary
round of the Massachusetts
High School Drama Festival.
But for the 16-year-old Saugus
High junior, the chance to be a
part of local theatre is more than
just a hobby. “I’ve had my heart
set on theatre as a career since I
was a freshman in High School
and I’ve been involved in plays
since I was four years old,” Madelynne
said in an interview last
Friday.
“I’m happy to pursue both acting
and biochemistry at whatever
school that I go to after I graduate,”
Madelynne said.
“Right now, my top choice is
New York University. They have
the Number One performing
arts school in the country,” she
said.
Madelynne’s character is
Woyzeck, an army barber who
endures psychological humiliation
by his captain and painful
physical experimentation by
his doctor to make extra money
for Marie, his common-law wife,
and their child.
She’s participated in many
plays since early childhood. “My
fi rst show was at North Shore
Community College,” said Madelynne.
“It
was for little kids. I was the
Wicked Witch of the West. I was
the only one who wanted to be
the witch. I was just four and I
started dancing at that time,”
she said.
“My mom drives me all over
the state so I can pursue my
passion. I’m the first actor in
my family. But I got to love theHe’s
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atre from my mom and grandmother.
They introduced me to
‘The Sound of Music,’ ‘West Side
Story’ and ‘A Chorus Line.’ I used
to watch movies of these musicals,”
she said.
“I danced and did fi gure skating,
but my main focus has always
been theatre,” she said.
Madelynne calls herself “a very
busy bee.” She’s president of the
school’s acapella group and vice
president of the Paranormal
Club. A National Honor Society
member, she’s also involved in
community theatre – the Concord
Youth Theatre and the TTS
Players of Byfi eld.
“I love expressing myself
through art, taking on these
characters and expressing myself
through them. It’s really important
to me because I’ve always
loved storytelling. I’m involved
in a little bit of everything
when it comes to performing
and visual arts,” she said.
“There are defi nitely things I
want to pursue beyond the college
level – music, art, dance
and creative writing,” Madelynne
said.
“I love fi lm. I would love to be
a fi lmmaker if I ever solidifi ed a
career on Broadway,” she said.
An outlet for a creative student
Involvement
in community
theater has also been a big part
of Kate Petipas’ life as a Saugus
High School student. Kate plays
the part of Marie, Woyzeck’s
common-law wife. She’s also
president of the Saugus High
School Drama Club. Kate and
Madelynne shared the costume
design duty for the play.
Like Madelynne, Kate’s theatre
experience has been extensive
since childhood. She has
worked with the Theatre Company
of Saugus since the second
grade. “I’ve been doing theatre
since the fi rst grade,” Kate said.
“Since starting out in the
fi rst grade, acting is something
I’m really connected with. It’s
an amazing environment. I’m
someone who is really creative
and this has given me an outlet
to work in,” she said.
“What got me into theatre?
My sister was always big in theatre.
It came super easy for me. I
was involved in sports and playing
the piano as a kid. But I didn’t
connect to it like I did in theatre,”
she said.
Theatre, though, takes a back
seat to Kate’s career objectives.
“I’m drawn to acting through
this community that the Saugus
High School Drama Club builds,”
she said. “But I’m super focused
on my career goals as a psychologist.
I’m going to the University
of Vermont to pursue a career in
clinical psychology,” said the National
Honor Society member.
A passion for lighting design
James
McNary, a 17-year-old
senior at Saugus High School,
is the student technical director
of the Drama Club and was
in charge of scene design and
lighting design and student
technical director. He’s the main
man behind the scenes, working
on technical aspects that
are crucial to the play’s presentation.
He works with a couple of
theatres professionally, with the
lighting design and the theatrical
electrician work, like hanging
the lights. He’s worked with
the Greater Boston Stage Company.
“My
real passion is lighting design.
A lot of that involves specialized
lighting fi xtures that fi t
the set,” James said.
“I really like building things
and that relates to my career
path in engineering. I’ve been
doing theatre since the fourth
grade,” he said.
James was born in Vermont
and moved to Saugus from
Newton during his freshman
year of High School. He’s an
Honors AP student who was invited
to join the National Honor
Society, but declined to join.
“I’m pursuing engineering at
Western New England University.
I’m going to major in aerospace
engineering,” James said.
“As a youngster in elementary
school, I really enjoyed reading
and thought about how I
could design the world from
the books I read. And I realized
when I got older, that I could
take these plays and scripts that
the director chose and build the
world that fi ts the script. That involves
the lighting and the scenic
design.”
Who’s who in the play
Here’s a list of the students of
the Saugus High School Drama
Club and the roles they will be
playing in “Woyzeck (Re-Imagined)”:
Carnival Barker: Hannah
Evers-Jenkins; Woyzeck: Madelynne
Leonard; Captain: PeSTARS
OF THE SHOW: Left
to right: Madelynne Leonard,
Kate Petipas and James
McNary are three key student
participants involved
in tomorrow’s presentation
by the Saugus High
School Drama Club of the
play “Woyzeck (Re-Imagined).”
James is the student
technical director. Madelynne
and Kate are co-costume
designers and they act
out lead parts in the play.
(Saugus Advocate Photo by
Mark E. Vogler)
dro Spalenza; Sergeant: Mason
Ranno; Andres: Diego Silva
Garcia; Marie: Kate Petipas; Margret:
Keisha Sauld; Drum Major:
Brayden Verone; Doctor: Zahra
Ghaouta; Ensemble: Maddie
Sachs; Ensemble: Kane Bruno;
Ensemble: Ari Conte; Ensemble:
Audrina Giglio.
Crew/Production Team: Director/Technical
Director: Mr. Nicholas
Raponi; Assistant Director/
Adaptation: Mr. Kyle Gregory;
Master Carpenter: Mr. John Sullivan;
Costume Supervisor: Mrs.
Elvira Schoenthal.
Student Team: Stage Manager:
Larissa Ambrosio; Asst. Stage
Manager: Cadence Coburn & Alexandra
Brackett; Lighting Design
& Scenic Design: James
McNary; Costume Design: Kate
Petipas & Madelynne Leonard;
Sound Design: Josephine Pepper;
Asst. Sound Design: Charlie
Bruno; Live Original Compositions:
Gabriel Menendez-Rosa;
Live Musicians: Gabriel Menendez-Rosa,
Cornyn Meas;
Hair & Makeup Design: Cadence
Coburn, Nari Lam, Sara
Loeser; Props Design: Nari Lam;
Tech Crew: Alex Marquez, Elizabeth
Colwell, Justin Frongillo,
Jenny Nichols, Josh Mikalixen,
Keneyshla Ramirez, Seamus
Burke, Shelbi Edwards, Red Cassarino,
Kayla Villefranche, Azra
Ozgur, Marielle Zepeda, Sara Loeser,
Tarah Dascoli, Sean Lynch.
׉	 7cassandra://olcR3mQ9L6D6B6PDbcebbgjMkfPJqVrnAUaO9ZVK_NM4` g-F$,Z׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
Page 9
Countdown Till Saugus Town Meeting
official Saugus social media account
providing up to date information
about school closings,
parking bans, WIN issues,
town emergencies, Route 1 accidents,
etc.
Stacey Herman-Dorant:
Continuing to maintain our fiscal
stability while focusing on
positive growth in approving
the Town budget is a priority.
Positive growth includes: safe
and prosperous educational
environments; continuing the
beautification of Saugus by improving
sidewalks and green
space; smart growth and improving
our recreational facilities.
Additionally, after attending
nearly every meeting of the
Ash Landfill Closure Committee,
it is even more apparent
that we need to push forward
the efforts of this committee
and protect the health of our
community.
Sue Palomba: As we prepare
for the 2025 Town Meeting, I
believe the top priority for Saugus
should be fiscal responsibility
and sustainable development.
Ensuring that we allocate
resources effectively while
maintaining the town’s character
and infrastructure is essential.
Additionally, addressing
public safety, education,
and town services remains a
key focus.
Question Two: What do
you consider the top priority
for residents in your precinct
as you prepare for the opening
of the 2025 Town Meeting
session?
Mark J. Bell: As far as Precinct
1 residents, I hear nothing
more from residents than
Stackpole Playground. Myself,
as well as my current Precinct 1
colleagues, have and will continue
to fight for a new playground
at Stackpole. It really
is a safety hazard. Another major
concern for residents is the
preservation of Prankers Pond.
Due to the new Saugus Ridge
housing development right
behind Prankers, it’s important
that no one is cutting through
residents’ private property and
making a footpath to Prankers.
It is also important that what
is left of Prankers Pond is kept
clean, safe, and untouched
from any new development.
TOWN MEETING | SEE PAGE 17
THE SEAT OF SAUGUS TOWN GOVERNMENT: The 50-member
Town Meeting is the legislative branch of Saugus Town
Government and convenes on the first Monday in May
each year for a series of meetings to approve zoning articles
and resolutions and to pass the town’s municipal
budget. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler)
Editor’s Note: The 2025 Annual
Town Meeting convenes
on Monday, May 5. As a special
service to our readers and
the registered voters of Saugus,
we are reaching out to all
50 Town Meeting members, focusing
on one precinct each
week, in the weeks leading up
to the start of Town Meeting,
asking members about their
expectations for the upcoming
Town Meeting. This week,
we received responses from
three of the five Town Meeting
Members in Precinct 1. For
next week’s newspaper, we
will reach out to the five Town
Meeting Members from Precinct
2. The 2025 Annual Town
Meeting convenes nine weeks
from Monday.
Question One: What do you
consider the top priority for
the town as you prepare for
the opening of the 2025 Town
Meeting session?
Mark J. Bell: First, I still believe
the main priority for Saugus
is having a third fire station
on the west side of Saugus.
The feasibility study was approved
by Town Meeting. Myself,
as well as the residents of
that area, look forward to the
results of the study and hope
a new fire station gets done.
Second priority would be having
a meeting or update from
the Town regarding the future
of the offline schools. As a parent,
and a youth coach that
sees how crowded gym time
can be, it can be frustrating
watching the old schools just
sit there empty. I understand
it will cost money to get the
schools back online but starting
a discussion about ideas
and time frames would be a
great idea for the town. Third,
and this might just be a pet
peeve of mine, I’d love to see
the town adopt a text notification
system and/or official
social media account for residents.
So many people now
receive their information from
their phone and social media.
It would be great to have
a text notification system and
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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
Housing Authority brings back former Executive Director
Laura Glynn to work on an interim basis for several months
By Mark E. Vogler
T
his time last year, veteran
Saugus Housing
Authority Executive
Director Laura Glynn was preparing
to leave her post after
more than a decade of
overseeing the town’s public
housing program. Glynn
was so concerned about
leaving the Housing Authority
in good shape that she
stayed on for a couple of
months to assist the transition
and training of her replacement
– Katelynn M. Lemieux
– who took over in
early April. But things didn’t
work out as planned. Lemieux
resigned last week after
just 10 months on the job.
Meanwhile, the Housing
Authority members voted to
bring Glynn back to work on
an interim basis until they
can find a qualified candidate
to take over on a permanent
basis. “Laura started immediately
this morning,” Housing
Authority Chair John Cannon
told The Saugus Advocate on
Tuesday (Feb. 25) after members
met to approve Glynn’s
appointment and discuss the
process of hiring a permanent
director.
“She’s going to be with us
for a few months,” Cannon
said of Glynn.
“I don’t know how long.
Besides filling the director’s
office on a temporary basis,
her primary function will be
to help us find a new executive
director,” he said.
Lemieux, who could not be
reached for comment, officially
stepped down from her
position last Thursday (Feb.
20), according to Cannon.
“The Saugus Housing Authority
announces that Katelynn
Lemieux has resigned
from the position of Executive
Director to pursue other
employment opportunities,
and we wish her well in her
future endeavors,” the Housing
Authority said in a brief
statement this week. “The
Board of Commissioners will
be discussing its plans for
filling the position at board
meetings (s) in the near future,
including the appointment
of an interim Executive
Director as may be necessary.”
A
BRIEF STAY: Katelynn M.
Lemieux resigned last week
as executive director of the
Saugus Housing Authority
after just 10 months on the
job. (Saugus Advocate file photo
by Mark E. Vogler)
WELCOMED BACK: Laura
Glynn, who served for more
than a decade as executive
director of the Saugus
Housing Authority, is back
in that position until Housing
Authority members find
a new director. (Saugus Advocate
file photo by Mark E. Vogler)
Saugonian named to Dean’s
List for Fall 2024 Semester
S
aint Anselm College in
Manchester, N.H., has
released the Dean’s List
of high academic achievers
for the first semester of the
2024-2025 school year. To be
eligible for this honor, a student
must have achieved a
grade point average of 3.4 or
better in the semester with at
least 12 credits of study which
award a letter grade. A total
of 622 students representing
REFORMS | FROM PAGE 4
The rules packages includes
a requirement that House
committees post bill summaries
online prior to being taken
up for a vote, and provide
a minimum notice of 72 hours
for committee hearings. Legislators
will also now be required
to be physically present to participate
in a committee hearing,
although members of the
public can continue to participate
remotely.
While supporting these
changes, Representative Wong
also joined with his House Republican
colleagues to advocate
for a series of additional
reforms designed to shine
more light on the legislative
23 states and four countries
received this honor. Mark W.
Cronin, Dean of the College,
announced that the following
student from Saugus has
been named to the Dean’s List
for the fall 2024 semester: Isabella
Moreschi. Founded in
1889, Saint Anselm College is
a four-year liberal arts college
providing a 21st century education
in the Catholic, Benedictine
tradition.
process and give constituents
a better understanding of how
it works. Among the House
rules amendments supported
by Representative Wong were
proposals to:
• mandate that the annual
internal audit of the House be
conducted by the state auditor,
pursuant to the new law
that was overwhelmingly approved
by the state’s voters
last fall;
• require that the House
comply with all such audits undertaken
pursuant to the voter-approved
law;
• prohibit House committee
polls from being open for less
REFORMS | SEE PAGE 17
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Page 11
Joe Lowe takes personal leave Saugus girls basketball coach
S
By Dom Nicastro
AUGUS — Joe Lowe is no
longer coaching the Saugus
High School girls varsity
basketball team.
The Saugus Advocate obtained
details of a memorandum
sent by a school offi cial to
team parents that said, “You’re
receiving this email because
our girls basketball coach Joe
Lowe is taking a personal leave
as of February 11, 2025.”
The note went on to say the
school did not know how long
Lowe would be out but asked
parents to respect Lowe’s privacy
at this time.
Saugus played Peabody on
Feb. 11, Dracut on Feb. 13 and
then finished its regular season
Feb. 17 against Chelmsford,
meaning Lowe missed the
fi nal three games of the regular
season.
Saugus fell to Peabody and
beat Dracut and Chelmsford,
the latter win against a Division
1 team. The Sachems fi nished
13-7 and are headed
to the Division 3 postseason.
They earned the No. 25 seed in
the 42-team tourney and host
No. 40 Auburn (12-8) Tuesday
night, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m.
Assistant coaches Norma
Waggett and Taylor Bogdanski
have taken over co-coaching
duties in Lowe’s absence. Like
Lowe, each played basketball
for Saugus High School, with
Waggett and Bogdanski also
having college playing careers.
Waggett confirmed the
co-coaching role when she
shared a report from the Chelmsford
game, adding, “Chelmsford
was huge. The girls have been
playing unbelievable.”
Asked about Lowe, Waggett
referred questions to Saugus
Athletics Director Matthew Serino,
who was not immediately
available when the Advocate
reached out Feb. 21. Lowe was
not available for commentary.
Lowe, in his second year as
varsity coach, led the team to
a second straight Northeastern
Conference championship.
Since playing for Saugus from
2007 to 2010, Lowe never left
basketball.
Last winter, he took over in
Saugus for 10-year coach Mark
Schruender, whose team won
an NEC title for the fi rst time in
decades and averaged around
13-14 wins in the last six seasons.
Saugus went 14-7 and
were co-champions in the NEC
Lynch Division the year before
Lowe took over.
In his first season as varsity
head coach, Lowe led Saugus
to a postseason victory after
years of near-misses: a comSHS
Head Coach Joe Lowe gives instructions to his team from courtside during the annual
Andrew James Lawson Invitational Tournament at the TD Garden against Marblehead
in January. (Advocate fi le photo)
manding 58-12 victory over
North High of Worcester in the
Division 3 state tournament.
Though their playoff run ended
in the next round against a
strong Dover-Sherborn team,
the Sachems capped the year
with a 14-8 record and an NEC
Lynch championship.
This year, Saugus fi nished 137,
won another NEC title and
qualifi ed for another postseason
run to begin next week.
Lowe this winter was in his
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fi fth season overall as a head
coach, having served in that
role previously with the Winthrop
girls. Between Winthrop
and Saugus, Lowe picked up
more than 70 wins. Lowe’s
coached 14 years in total.
Lowe played for Saugus from
2007 to 2010, serving as team
captain in 2010. He played for
coaches Titus Manderson, Mike
Broderick and Paul Moran.
After graduating, he coached
middle school, freshman and JV
for the Saugus boys’ program for
eight years before becoming a
head coach at Winthrop. He then
joined Saugus girls for one year
two winters ago as an assistant.
“I was on the staff last year
as an assistant and developed
a great relationship with the
players and coaches in the program,”
Lowe said early in his fi rst
season as Saugus head coach.
“Being an alumnus and comfortable
in the school made it
an obvious fi t for me.”
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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
Saugus racks up another postseason season win, handling Auburn
were able to in the second
half,” said Waggett, Saugus’
second all-time leading scorer
behind DiBiasio, her junior
point guard.
Senior captain Madison
Saugus girls basketball captains, pictured
from left to right: Peyton DiBiasio, Ella Castle,
Taylor Deleidi and Madison Botta.
By Dom Nicastro
T
he Saugus High
School girls basketball
team opened its
Division 3 MIAA state tourney
with a 59-25 win over
Auburn on Tuesday night,
Feb. 15, at Saugus High
School. Saugus junior captain
Peyton DiBiasio led all
scorers with 29 points, and
the Sachems forced 32 turnovers.
The Sachems, 14-7 and
ranked No. 25 in the 42-team
single-elimination tourney,
will now move on and face
No. 9 East Bridgewater (16-4)
on the road Thursday, Feb. 27
at 6 p.m. Saugus won a postseason
game for the second
Saugus girls basketball coach Norma Waggett
talks to her team during a break in
the action.
year in a row, a feat certainly
not done in recent memory
if not ever.
The team was playing two
weeks to the day its Head
Coach, Joe Lowe, took a personal
leave with three games
left in the regular season.
Program alums and assistants
Norma Waggett and
Taylor Bogdanski took over
the team as co-coaches.
“I think our big thing going
in facing all this adversity
was we needed to stick together,
and no matter what
happened, we just need to
keep playing for each other
and just overall play as hard
as we can,” DiBiasio said. “We
only have a few more games
left. We’re trying to make it
as far as we can in the tournament.”
Saugus
senior captain Taylor
Deleidi added 15 points
and hit a trio of three-pointers.
The first two came in
the second quarter as part
of a 27-3 Sachems run that
spanned the first two quarters
and gave the hosts a
33-9 lead at halftime.
“Obviously, Peyton is double-teamed
sometimes, so
it’s great to have other people
on the floor who can
score and she happens to be
one of them,” Coach Bogdanski
said of Deleidi. “And she
always knocks down threes
for us at great times.”
Botta, one of the architects
of Saugus’ stifling defense,
said the Sachems’ hustle on
defense and efforts on the
offensive glass that created
second chances were the
keys to the game. Deleidi
agreed, saying Saugus knew
it had to play hard, hustle
and pressure the visitors the
Saugus co-coaches Norma
Waggett (left) and Taylor
Bogdanski
Saugus’ full-court pressure
and halfcourt defense kept
Auburn out of rhythm for
the first half and forced the
visitors into 23 turnovers after
two quarters. The visiting
Rockets (No. 40, 12-9)
made only two field goals in
the opening half, none in the
second quarter. Taylor Goodrich’s
three-pointer three
minutes into the game gave
Auburn a 6-4 lead – its last
edge of the night. Goodrich
led Auburn with 11 points.
“Our best way to score is
transition offense, not even
running a set, getting them
tired early and then being
able to push the ball like we
whole game.
“We just had to play for
each other because we get in
our heads a lot,” senior captain
Ella Castle said. “We hustled
the whole game and we
didn’t give up.”
DiBiasio led all scorers with
18 first-half points on seven-for-15
shooting. She shot
11-for-26 in the game. Deleidi
added eight first-half
points for Saugus.
Auburn only had three second-quarter
points on three
free throws from Goodrich.
The Rockets missed all eight
of their shots and shot twofor-16
in the first half. Saugus
shot 13-for-37 in the
opening 16 minutes (threefor-13
from downtown). The
Sachems were 6-for-27 from
three-point land.
Saugus Minions capture VMSHL hockey title
By David Silipigni
O
n Sunday, February 23,
the Saugus 5th Grade
Middle School Hockey
Team triumphed in the Valley
Middle School Hockey League
(VMSHL) Championship. The
team, comprising 20 Saugus
students from 3rd, 4th and 5th
grades who typically play for
12 different hockey organizations
during the regular season,
showcased exceptional
teamwork and skill.
Despite being named the
“Saugus Minions” after the
Universal Entertainment characters,
the team was led by
two coaches with deep roots
in Saugus hockey. Coaches
Diozzi and O’Donnell, both
alumni of Saugus High School
hockey from 1995 and 2000,
donned their senior hockey
jackets for the significant
event. In a motivational
speech before the championship
game, Coach Diozzi told
the team, “This is a team and
game you’ll remember for all
your lives.”
This victory marks the first
time a Saugus 5th grade team
has secured the VMSHL championship.
The team defeated
the Renegades with a final
score of 6-3.
CELEBRATING A CHAMPIONSHIP: The Saugus Minions beat the Renegades 6-3 last Sunday
to win the Valley Middle School Hockey League championship – the first time by a
Saugus 5th grade team (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate)
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Page 13
Saugus’ Felicio wrestles her way into record
books with state title win
By Dom Nicastro
S
augus-Peabody wrestling
has its first
state-champion in the
program: Saugus’ Anna Felicio.
The Saugus High School
senior and one-time cheerleader
won at 107 pounds; she
won her event at the Division
1 state championship. She advanced
to this coming weekend’s
All-State championship,
featuring all divisions in Massachusetts,
and she will likely
be the No. 2 ranked wrestler at
107 pounds. Her current season
record is 40-14.
“Anna was awesome all day,”
Saugus-Peabody wrestling
coach Wayne Moda said. “She
had two quick pins in her quarterfinal
and semifinal rounds.
She then dominated in the finals
match against last year’s
state finalist from North Andover
(Alexia Henriques) with a
tech fall early in the second period.
I am incredibly proud of
Anna for the amount of effort
she has put in this wrestling
season. Although this is her
third year in wrestling, it is truly
her first year where she has
fully committed to the sport.
Throughout the year, she wrestled
in our starting lineup at
the 106-pound weight class
and amassed an impressive 29
wins against boys.”
Felicio wrestled her state
finals opponent in December
and the outcome was the
same: a tech fall.
“But I went into the match
humble knowing anything
could happen,” Felicio said.
“The match was nerve-racking,
but once I stepped foot on
the line all my thoughts went
silent, and I was ready to wrestle.
The other matches were
easy for me – all under a minute
– but I went to work and
did what needed to be done.
The girl in the semis I have also
wrestled before, and I pinned
her both times. My first match
of the day was also a girl I wrestled
on my senior night.”
Felicio, a third-year wrestler,
had a simple game plan: focus,
prove to herself that she has
worked so hard for this and to
believe she could get it done.
“I executed by being calm and
listening to my coach,” she said.
“The toughest moment of the
tournament was trying not to
get in my own head. I knew
I could get this far in my season
because I’ve prepared myself
both physically and mentally.
I’ve wrestled tough boys
this whole season, and I put in
the work at practice so I could
be the best version of myself.”
The journey to this moment
wasn’t always easy. Felicio had
to develop resilience, learning
how to push through challenges
both mentally and physically.
“My biggest improvement
since I started is definitely not
giving up on myself,” she said.
“I used to be so quick on giving
up, but I learned from my
mistakes and it has only made
me a better wrestler.”
Her achievement holds even
greater weight given that
wrestling is still a male-dominated
sport. “Being a state
champ in a male-dominant
sport means everything to
me because I worked hard
for this,” Felicio said. “As a girl,
it is hard to get recognized
for hard work when the guys
will always be above us, but
when achieving big things
like a state title, people start to
know. I’m hoping my win can
inspire other girl wrestlers to
just stay focused and dedicated
because if you put the work
in, you will always see results.”
Though she’s the only girl
on her team, she’s never felt
like an outsider. “I’m the only
girl on my team and they treat
me like a little sister,” she said.
“I’m honestly grateful to have
such awesome and supportive
teammates.”
Her advice to younger wrestlers
is simple: embrace the
grind and take every opportunity
to improve. “Never give
up, wrestle all year around,” Felicio
said. “Meeting new people
at clubs can help improve
your wrestling style. Always
take the opportunity to wrestle
guys because that will make
you stronger.”
Would you believe Felicio’s
own wrestling journey started
after a chance encounter?
“I got into wrestling because
I saw the wrestling team one
day after my cheer practice,
and I thought it was so cool,”
she said. “So I talked to Wayne,
and I started doing club so that
I could be ready for the next
season.”
That conversation changed
everything. She quit cheer
to wrestle full-time, dedicating
herself to the sport both
in-season and in the gym. She
even has a boyfriend in the
same sport: She celebrated the
state title with her boyfriend,
Shawsheen’s Dante Giusti, who
also won a state title at 120.
Now, her ambitions don’t
stop at a state title. “I’m planning
to get a title at All-States
and New Englands,” Felicio
said.
Her wrestling career will
continue beyond high school,
as she recently committed to
Western New England University
in West Springfield.
As she reflects on her success,
she credits one person
above all. “My biggest influence
has been my coach,” Felicio
said. “He practices with
me some days, gives me constructive
criticism, and pushes
me to my limits. He is the best
coach I could ever ask for.”
Felicio’s victory wasn’t just
about winning a state title – it
was about proving something
to herself.
“When I heard my name get
announced so many emotions
rushed through my mind,”
she said, “but I ran over to my
coach with tears because he’s
always been my number one
supporter and has helped me
throughout everything.”
Saugus-Peabody also advanced
three boys at the DiSaugus’
Anna Felicio on top of an opponent on the wrestling
mat.
vision 1 state tournament this
past weekend. Senior Landon
Rodriguez (132) of Peabody
wrestled tough. Junior captain
Michael Maraio of Peabody
also wrestled greatly but
ran into tough competition,
eventually coming up 1-2 on
the day. Senior Saugus captain
Max LoRusso wrestled in
the deepest weight class in the
state at 144 and went 3-3 on
the day, earning him seventh
place and an alternate spot
at the All-State tournament in
Methuen this weekend.
“I was super proud of the effort
all three of these guys put
in all season,” Moda said. “Max
has been battling all year long
at the toughest weight in the
state. There are just so many
good guys at 144 pounds. In
D1 North alone, there were
two or three guys that didn’t
make it out of the section, and
at the D1 states there were
nine legit wrestlers that are
probably better than (with the
exception of two) all the others
in Division 2 and Division
3 combined. Only two points
separated him from finishing
fifth or sixth. It’s tough because
he’s been such a great leader
and a hard worker all season
long that I really feel like he deserves
a shot in all states. We’re
hoping that he makes it in as
an alternate.”
LoRusso is 50-10 on the
season and, with 134 career
wins, is the program’s all-time
leader.
Saugus’ Anna Felicio about
to take down an opponent
on the wrestling mat.
Saugus’ Anna Felicio stands
on the tallest podium after
winning the Division 1
wrestling state title at 107
pounds.
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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
The Sounds of Saugus
By Mark E. Vogler
I
f my good health and a favorable
economy for the
newspaper business prevail,
my goal is to continue for
at least another year as editor
of The Saugus Advocate – the
town’s only exclusively Saugus
community newspaper.
It’s a decision I’ve been making
for the last nine years. And
now, at age 72 – an age when
my professional peers have either
retired or passed away – I
am still motivated to report,
write, edit and photograph
people, places and events for
a tenth consecutive year. I’ve
been covering Saugus for 14
½ years now, if one counts the
5 ½ years I worked for North
Shore Sunday many years ago
(1987-92).
About this time every year,
I make a judgement call as to
whether I have enough energy
and motivation to put out
a newspaper that informs, enlightens
and entertains the
people of Saugus. It’s always
my goal to be a force of good
in the community, producing
journalism in a weekly magazine-ish
format that, hopefully,
leads to the betterment of
the community. Some weeks
it seems like a daunting task.
There might not be enough
time or space to meet the
growing demands or requests
for news stories.
Fortunately, I am blessed to
have a steady volunteer team
of contributors who provide
some interesting articles and
photos and sometimes sketches.
And that’s really the ultimate
goal: to provide the readers
with interesting local news
that shines a spotlight on important
community issues and
facilitates discussion among
residents, the policy setters in
local government and the citizen
decision makers.
Frankly, I could continue
with what I’m doing for another
five to 10 years – as long as I
have my health and the backing
of my publisher. So, at this
point in my career, I’m at least
looking at one more Annual
Town Meeting and one more
town election. Stay tuned.
15
Saugus 4-1-1 set for March
Planning for the Saugus 4-1Veronica
Robles’ Mariachi Band and some audience members on the stage at the Saugus Cultural Festival on Sunday afternoon
(Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener)
1 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.
Selectman Corinne Riley –
one of the organizers of the
event – noted in an email to
The Saugus Advocate this
week that the event attracted
some positive feedback
this week:
“More good news from the
Saugus 4-1-1 Committee! Letters
were mailed to our new
residents last week and we’ve
already received more and
more RSVPs from families
that are looking forward to
the event! Non-profit clubs,
committees, youth groups
and places of worship, totaling
24, have secured their tables
to pass out information
on their organization, and to
meet our new as well as established
residents. There is
still time for businesses and
services to contact us to add
their business cards, menus,
informational pamphlets, etc
for 50 ‘welcome bags’ for our
guests! A great way to let them
know about our local businesses
and services! Please email
Saugus411@gmail.com for any
questions you may have, and
also to let us know if you would
like an item added to our welcome
bags! Looking forward to
seeing many Saugonians, new
and old, on the 15th!”
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” from readers this week:
From Precinct 1 Town Meeting
Member Stacey Herman-Dorant:
“A big shout out
to the Saugus Cultural Council
for putting on an amazing
event last weekend, the Saugus
Cultural Festival! It was
so nice to see the community
come together and celebrate
all of the cultures that make up
our wonderful Town of Saugus.
The performances, the food,
the vendors and everything
in between was so well organized
and FUN. I look forward
to this event next year!”
From frequent Saugus Advocate
contributor Janice Jarosz:
“SHOUT OUT! Reminder! Ms.
Jasmine Grace will be appearing
at the Saugus Middle/High
School on Saturday, March 8,
2025, at 11:00 AM.
“Town officials have been
invited along with many local
residents, to hear Jasmine’s
story of sex trafficking and
drug addiction, how she recovered
and went on to dedicate
her life trying to save so many
other young girls that suffered
from the same additions. Ms.
Grace will take questions from
the audience at the end of her
presentation.
“Admission is free, but should
you like to donate to the Bags
of Hope the following is a list
of items: 12 oz Shampoo, 12oz
Conditioner, Bars of Soap,
Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Deodorant,
Tampons, Women’s
Socks, Trail Mix, Chapstick, Nail
Polish, Hairbrushes, Hair Elastics/Clips,
Notes of Encouragement,
Seasonal Winter Items,
$5 Dunks Cards.
“This event is sponsored by
the Daughters of the American
Revolution, (DAR) Ms. Gail Cassarino,
Regent, and the MEG
Foundation Board of Directors.”
From Lin Bell: “I would like
to give a Shout Out to whoever
chopped down the ice wall
at my entrance! With no drain
pipes, the icicles form, drip,
and an ice wall builds up. Today
I found it chipped away
with the ice chunks shoveled
aside. I am most appreciative
of my mystery person.”
From Tori Darnell, Saugus
Cultural Council Co-Chair,
thanking The Saugus Advocate
for its advance coverage of the
Cultural Council’s First Cultural
Festival: “Thank you for your
efforts in reporting about the
Cultural Council’s 1st Cultural
Festival for the Saugus community.
We had a great turn
out for our first year, roughly a
bit more than 400 people. This
is based on the free-to-participate
door raffles. We are sure
that we may have had a bit
more than what we counted
in tickets, but all in all, a successful
event.
“I also wanted to add that
many people praised the event
stating it was exactly what was
needed for Saugus to celebrate
diversity. Some even shared
that they heard about the
event through the Advocate!
You did an amazing push in reporting
in the weeks leading
up to the festival. Again, thank
you again for reporting on local
news and events to keep
the community engaged.”
THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 15
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Page 15
SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 14
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.
A polar plunge on March 9
Saugus Police Detective Stacey
Forni wants to spread the
word about a special fund-raising
event that the Saugus Police
and Fire Departments will
be collaborating on a week
from Sunday (March 9). They
will be hosting their first Special
Olympics Polar Plunge at
the Knights of Columbus located
at 57 Appleton St. in Saugus.
Check-in for the plunge
is at noon. The actual plunge
starts at 1 p.m.
“I hope everyone’s new year
has started out well and everyone
is attempting to make
healthy choices/ resolutions
for the new year… with that in
mind I wanted to reach out to
everyone and see if we could
ALL get together and start the
new year off with a healthy polar
plunge together!!!,” Detective
Stacey wrote in an email
message to police and firefighters
who are planning to
plunge.
“Research has shown that
polar plunges help boost your
immune system, improve your
mood and focus, help with
stress management, boost
metabolism and improve circulation.
Not only would you
be doing something to benefit
your health, but by registering
you’d also be donating to
the Special Olympics,” she said.
“If you do not want to plunge
you can register as a towel
holder. This event is open to
friends and family, so encourage
as many people as you can.
“For those wondering about
attire and other information
about the plunge:
“Attire - You can wear whatever
you want from a speedo/bikini
to a snowsuit and/
or uniform.
“What are we plunging into?
- It’s a portable pool that the
Special Olympics brings in.
“Can I change and get warm
before and after the plunge?
– Yes, the K of C will be open
and we plan on having refreshments
and goodies inside for
you while you stay warm.
“Medical – There will be an
ambulance stationed on scene
and Saugus Fire’s Divers will
be posted in the pool to assist
anyone with exiting the pool
after they plunge.
“Any other questions please
feel free to ask.”
“It is open to the public and
we welcome anyone interested
in signing up or even donating
coffee or snacks for the day
of the plunge. If anyone has
any questions in regards to the
plunge they can contact me at
781-941-1190,” Detective Forni
wrote. For more information,
go to POLARPLNGEMA.ORG
A March 12 forum on Route 1
The annual meeting of the
Saugus Historical Society will
be held 7 p.m., Wednesday,
March 12 at 30 Main St. This is
the first meeting of 2025.The
speaker will be Laura Eisener,
society president, talking
about Route 1 and how it has
changed over the years.
Do you have a favorite memory
of a place on Route 1?
Many businesses have weathered
decades on this popular
stretch of road, but recent
years have seen closures
of some very popular restaurants,
stores and other businesses.
We invite you to listen
to some history and to share
your stories.
Members and the public are
welcome free of charge. Light
refreshments will be served.
Fireside Chats were very
popular
Laura Eisener notes that the
Fireside Chats at the Christopher
P. Dunne Visitor’s Center
at Breakheart Reservation
were very popular this winter,
with programs presented
by several regional specialists
at the Massachusetts Department
of Conservation &
Recreation who work at state
parks in Eastern Massachusetts.
The warm fire, hot coffee,
tea, cocoa and donuts
were a welcome respite from
the cold weather and snowy
trails in January and February.
Programs included discussions
of native American histoTown
Democrats meet
The snowy owl figure was a feature of the Fireside Chat at
Breakheart Reservation on February 19. (Photo courtesy of
Laura Eisener)
ry in the area, silviculture and
forest maintenance, fire suppression,
bird populations and
natural resource management
at Breakheart and other area
state parks.
While the Fireside Chats
and Friday morning Kaleidoscope
programs are finished
for the season, there are “Nice
and Easy Hikes” from 9:3011:30
a.m. on Saturdays starting
from the Visitor’s Center
(177 Forest St.), which continue
through March, weather
permitting. These moderately
paced hikes, led by a forest
ranger, are ideal for ages eight
and up, including adults.
Maple Sugarin’ Days at
Breakheart March 8
The very popular Maple Sugarin’
Days event will be on Saturday,
March 8 with educational
and flavorful experiences for
all ages: tapping the maple
trees, sampling several grades
March 4
The Saugus Democratic
Town Committee will meet on
March 4 at 7 p.m. on the second
floor of the Saugus Public
Safety Building at 27 Hamilton
St.
Special DAR Program
March 8
Here’s a special invitation
from the local Daughters of the
American Revolution (DAR),
who will host a special program
on Saturday, March 8,
at 11 a.m. in the Saugus High
THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 17
Visitor Services Supervisor Jessica Narog-Hutton, Stewardship
Research Biologist Sean Riley and Shorebird Recovery Program
Coordinator Lis Kernan at a recent Fireside Chat at Breakheart
Reservation (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener)
of real maple syrup and a history
of maple sugaring from the
Native Americans to modern
practices. The event includes
outside activities, viewing the
evaporator, which turns sap to
syrup, wood splitting to fuel
the boiling process and tips on
tree identification. Events take
place 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Countdown Till Saugus
Town Meeting
Beginning this week in The
Saugus Advocate, we are for
the second consecutive year
publishing a series of articles
titled “Countdown Till Saugus
Town Meeting.” The 2025 Annual
Town Meeting convenes
on Monday, May 5. As a special
service to our readers and
the registered voters of Saugus,
we are reaching out to the
50 Town Meeting members, focusing
on one precinct each
week, in the weeks leading up
to the start of Town Meeting,
asking members about their
expectations for the upcoming
Town Meeting.
This week, we heard from
three of the five Town Meeting
members – all who cited the
renovation of Stackpole Field
into a top-notch playground as
a top priority for the residents
of their precinct. Next week,
we will reach out for comment
from the five Town Meeting
Members in Precinct 2.
The purpose of the series is
to inform the public about key
issues and ideas that are in the
works as the Town Meeting
season approaches. This is also
intended as a forum to connect
residents in each of the precincts
with the five people who
represent them in the Legislative
branch of Saugus Town
government.
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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
Saugus Gardens in the Winter
Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable
By Laura Eisener
T
omorrow – March 1 – is
the first day of meteorological
spring, and right
on cue we seem to be enjoying
warmer temperatures this
week. I have seen people out
walking more often now that
the snowbanks have receded
and the ice has melted. A little
earlier I saw the first robin
in my yard, and although
there are often a few that winter
over in town, this year I had
not seen any since late fall.
Flowers are blooming indoors
in response to the
lengthening days. Sandy
Mears is getting some blossoms
on her Christmas cactus
(Schlumbergera bridgesii)
a couple of months later than
the holiday it was named for.
One of the most popular indoor
plants for winter bloom,
Christmas cactus is a hybrid
between Thanksgiving cactus
(Schlumbergera truncata) and
Easter cactus (Schlumbergera
russelliana). All of these holiday-named
cacti are sometimes
known as Zygocactus,
which was the former genus
name.
Freesias (Freesia refracta
and hybrids) are popular cut
flowers throughout the year,
available in a rainbow of colors.
They have a light fragrance
and are often said
to stand for friendship and
thoughtfulness, so they are
popular choices for gift bouquets.
Natives of Africa, they
Weeping French pussy willow
blooms in an indoor
container in Lynnhurst. (Photo
courtesy of Laura Eisener)
grow from corms similar to
crocus (Crocus spp.). They are
not hardy in zones colder than
zone 9. We are in zone 6. They
can be attractive houseplants
as long as they are given sufficient
sunlight and water. Monique
Todd’s pale lilac colored
freesia is currently blooming
in a bright hallway in Lynnhurst.
The light fragrance reminds
me of another flower
in the same family (Iridaceae),
especially the scent of bearded
iris (Iris germanica and hybrids).
African
violet (Streptocarpus
ionanthus, formerly Saintpaulia
ionanthus) is another popular
houseplant from South Africa,
Kenya and nearby countries.
The scientific name was
Sandy Mears’ Christmas cactus
is blooming on her windowsill
now! (Photo courtesy
of Sandy Mears)
changed about five years ago,
but it often takes a while for
the nursery trade to catch up,
since it requires new plant labels,
and sometimes plant
names are changed back as
new arguments are made.
While African violets do have
purplish, pink or white flowers
somewhat similar in appearance
to what we call violets
(Viola spp.), they are not related.
African violets are members
of the
Gesneriad family (GesnaSnow
on the roof highlighted the gables (10 in all) on the
rooftops at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for
much of the month, but the 17th-century house looks a lot
more springlike now. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener)
riaceae) not the violet family
(Violaceae), and their flower
shape is distinctively different.
African violet foliage is often
very velvety, a charming attribute
even when they are not
blooming. All of these purple
flowers blooming now seem
perfect to fit in with the Mardi
Gras colors of purple, green
and gold traditional for this
Tuesday’s festivities.
Among the earliest flowering
shrubs to bloom outdoors
in our area are our native pussy
willows (Salix discolor) and
the introduced European species
French pussy willow, also
called goat willow (Salix caprea).
Both sometimes bloom
in February, but we may have
to wait until March
this year. Indoors, however,
is another story and my potted
weeping goat willow (Salix caprea
pendula) is at peak bloom.
Once the ground warms up,
this shrub is hardy enough
Monique Todd’s freesia has fragrant blossoms opening in
a sunny hallway. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener)
to be planted outdoors. This
is a weeping-branched variety
grafted onto rootstock of
regular goat willow. It is often
sold under the name “Weeping
Sally” or “Kilmarnock Willow”.
Like most other willows,
male and female flowers are on
separate plants, and those sold
in nurseries are almost invariably
male since the male catkins
are a bit showier. Once the
buds begin to open, they have
the gray and fuzzy appearance
we usually picture when we
think of pussy willows. If you
have a live plant, the gray catkins
will open farther and show
bright yellow pollen on each
stamen, and once the flowers
fall off new green leaves begin
emerging. Once the leaves
develop, the plant needs
to be kept in the sun until
fall when they drop off like
those of other deciduous
shrubs. They can be kept in a
cool place for the winter then
brought into warmth to stimulate
flower bud opening a little
earlier than our shrubs outside.
Editor’s Note: Laura Eisener is
a landscape design consultant
who helps homeowners with
landscape design, plant selection
and placement of trees and
shrubs, as well as perennials. She
is a member of the Saugus Garden
Club and offered to write a
series of articles about “what’s
blooming in town” shortly after
the outbreak of the COVID-19
pandemic. She was inspired after
seeing so many people taking
up walking.
Joanne Crowe’s African violet has come into bloom at her
home in Lynnhurst. (Photo courtesy of Joanne Crowe)
׉	 7cassandra://vSGRkenMaoHXqdiZC2ohAuDlxxoDYxsarMljkKBhAv83` g-F$,Z׉E#THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
Page 17
SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 15
School Auditorium at Pearce
Drive in Saugus:
“An event worth attending
– the Women’s Issue Project
with Ms. Jasmine Grace, guest
speaker and founder of Jasmine
Grace Ministries - Bags
of Hope which is a non-profit
organization dedicated to the
cause of rescuing young people
who are affected by trafficking,
prostitution, addiction
and homelessness.
“Jasmine Grace grew up
in our town, Saugus 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
… he groomed her into a life
of human trafficking, lasting
for years. When she was finally
able to break away from his
hold, she started a non-profit
organization to help and assist
both young men and women
by offering a path to freedom
from human trafficking
“Her presentation is both
sad and powerful and filled
with stories of innocent victims
who found themselves
brainwashed and victimized.
REFORMS | FROM PAGE 10
than two hours;
• require a 12-hour notice for
members prior to a House poll
being released;
• give members more time
to review bills and file amendments
before bills come to the
floor for debate;
• provide members one hour
to review consolidated amendments,
which are often lengthy
and detailed;
• require a two-thirds vote
TOWN MEETING |
FROM PAGE 9
Precinct residents also are concerned
about the many areas
of sidewalk in Precinct 1 that
need to be repaired.
Stacey Herman-Dorant:
The upgrade of the Stackpole
Field playground is a top
priority as the current playground
is unsafe and therefore
under-utilized. Precinct
1 deserves an upgraded playground
that our family and
friends can gather with their
She explains how she was able
to survive and finally breakthrough
escaping the grips of
her [capturers].
“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.”
What’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 previous
classes, there are still three
more workshops scheduled –
March 11, 18 and 25 from 6:30to
extend sessions beyond 9
p.m.; and
• give House Ways and
Means 60 days to approve or
disapprove all bills referred to
the committee (with the exception
of the General Appropriations
Act) and allow the
bill’s original sponsor to petition
for the bill’s release if the
committee fails to act within
the specified time frame.
Representative Wong also
supported several Republichildren.
Sue
Palomba: A key priority
for Precinct 1 is improving
Stackpole Field, a rundown
park that is set to be redone.
I recently visited Piers Park in
East Boston, which has new
playgrounds designed for specific
age groups (2-5 years, 5-9
years, and 9-15 years), outdoor
exercise equipment, and a gazebo
with seating for people
to gather. Something similar
would be a great improvement
for our community. Other important
concerns include road
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
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.
· Needlecrafting: Hello to
fans of Needlecrafting: knitting,
crocheting, cross-stitch,
embroidery, etc. The SPL
Needlecrafting Group will be
on Thursday, March 20, from
10–11 a.m. in the Brooks Room.
No registration needed, drop
ins welcome. Bring your Work
can-sponsored amendments
to the joint rules, including
proposals to:
• require roll call votes on
conference committee reports,
supplemental appropriations
bills, and other substantive
matters taken up in formal
sessions conducted after July
31 in the second year of a legislative
session;
• require a two-week notice
of all matters to be taken up at
a formal session conducted after
July 31 in the second year
conditions, pedestrian safety,
and making sure town services
meet residents’ needs.
Question Three: Are you
working independently or
in collaboration with other
members on articles to be introduced
for this year’s Town
Meeting? Could you please
elaborate? Summarize your article
and what you hope to accomplish.
Mark
J. Bell: I am not working
on anything for Town Meeting,
at least at the moment, in
in Progress and enjoy the conversation.
Cocoa and tea will
be provided. Any questions,
call Reference at 781-231-4168
· 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.
· Classical Music at the Library:
If you love to listen
to free music, show up at
the Community Room next
Saturday (March 8) at 2 p.m.
when the Island Trio will perform,
thanks to a generous
grant from the Saugus Cultural
Council – a local arm of the
Mass Cultural Council.
Saugus Sachems Spring
Track Program 2025
Coach Christopher Tarantino
– also known affectionately
as “Coach T” – announced
plans for his Spring Track Program.
“This program is geared
toward new track and field
athletes. It will prepare them
for the larger-scale summer
camp,” Coach T said in an email.
Here’s a summary of what interested
kids and their parents
of a legislative session;
• create a new joint rule requiring
copies of audits of the
General Court conducted by
the state auditor to be published
on the General Court
website within 72 hours of receipt;
•
require either branch of the
General Court to request an
opinion of the Supreme Judicial
Court whenever they have
a conflicting opinion with a
constitutional officer relative
to the constitutionality of legregard
to articles. It’s still travel
and town basketball season!
Stacey Herman-Dorant:
While I continue to outreach
to fellow Town Meeting members,
I do not have a particular
article that I will be introducing.
I look forward to seeing
the articles submitted and
carefully weighing how they
will impact our Town.
Over the next year, I’d like to
work with Town administrators,
and other Town Meeting
Members, to look at the feasibility
of requiring trash conneed
to know:
Who: Grades K-5th.
Where: Belmonte Track.
When: 4:00-5:15 p.m., Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, Thursdays;
May 6-June 12.
Cost: $100 first year, $50 if returning.
For
any questions, further information
or to register, please
contact Coach Christopher
Tarantino (Coach T) at 781854-6778
or christophertarantino24@gmail.com
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.
islation;
• prohibit joint committee
polls from being open for less
than two hours; and
• require a 12-hour notice for
members prior to a joint committee
poll being released.
Representative Wong noted
the new House rules are now
finalized and in place, but the
joint rules must still be agreed
to by the Senate, and any differences
will likely have to
be worked out in conference
committee.
tainers to have secured lids.
On trash day, especially after
strong winds and extreme
weather, the streets are littered
with debris. Additionally, open
bins invite wildlife and rodents
that cause health concerns in
our community.
Sue Palomba: At this time,
I am engaged in discussions
with fellow Town Meeting
members and community
leaders regarding potential articles
for consideration. While I
TOWN MEETING | SEE PAGE 22
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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
ASKS | FROM PAGE 3
many theatre companies, high
schools and colleges/universities
in and around Massachusetts,
having racked up more
than 100 production credits
in all facets of theatrical production.
I am also an adjunct
professor of Technical Theatre
at Endicott College and main
stage scenic designer for all
department shows!
Q: Please tell me a little
about the Massachusetts Educational
Theatre Guild’s High
School Drama Festival and why
it’s a big deal to the Saugus
High School drama students.
A: The METG HS DramaFEST
is a statewide, multi-round
competition. Ten schools, in
addition to Saugus, are hosting
round one at their respective
schools. If you ask any
student who has participated
in DramaFEST, they will most
likely tell you that it is the best
and most memorable part of
their high school career. It is an
opportunity to make theatre
and perform for seven other
schools’ drama clubs and their
fans. It allows you to create a
show for other theatre lovers!
It is also a fantastic opportunity
to meet students from different
districts who share your
passion and watch eight shows
daily! It is an unforgettable
experience! Show can be no
longer than 40 minutes long.
Schools have only five minutes
to set up the stage with
their scenery and five minutes
to remove it all.
Four schools from each preliminary
round will move on
to Semifinals [on] Saturday,
March 15. From Semifinals,
two winners from each site will
move on to Finals to take place
over the course of three days
at the John Hancock Building
in Boston, where three schools
will be named champions. This
year 88 schools are participating
in Festival statewide.
GIVING INSTRUCTION: Saugus High School Theatre Teacher
Nicholas “Nick” Raponi offers some advice to members
of the Saugus High School Drama Club as they prepare for
the first round of the Massachusetts Educational Theatre
Guild’s High School Drama Festival. This will be the first
time that Saugus High has hosted the festival. (Saugus Advocate
photo by Mark E. Vogler)
Q: Please tell me why this is a
big deal for you as the Theatre
Teacher and Drama Club Director
at Saugus High. How many
of these Drama Festivals have
you participated in during your
teaching career?
A: I have participated in almost
15 METG Festivals, working
with Essex Technical High
School, Winthrop High School
(two-time State Champions
during my tenure as Technical
Director) and Saugus High
School. As the Theatre Teacher
here at Saugus High School
and only in my second year
here, it is a big deal to have
been chosen as a host site! The
Lemoine-Mitchell Auditorium,
here at Saugus Middle High
School, is beautiful and has
everything METG needs in a
host school. While hosting the
event comes with its fair share
of additional work, spreadsheets
and much planning,
we have a great group of very
talented students to support
other schools and their productions.
Hosting here at Saugus
also helps alleviate some
costs for the SHSDC. Hosting
here saves us money on school
buses and U-Haul trucks for set
transport for round one!
Q: How long has this festival
been going on, and when was
the last time that Saugus High
competed in it? What’s the best
the school has ever done?
A: METG DramaFEST has
been around for almost 100
years, having originated in
1928. Since its inception, Saugus
has won the State Championship
once with their production
of “The Stinky Cheese Man
and Other Fairly Stupid Tales”
in 1996. Saugus participates
annually in this event and has
moved on to the final round,
only having won the big one
once. We hope to change that
in the coming years!
Q: When was the last time
that Saugus High hosted the
competition?
A: Saugus High School has
never hosted this event. With
the beautiful new school complex,
Saugus is now equipped
with the appropriate theatre
and more than adequate techTAKING
A BREAK: Saugus High School Drama Club students
involved in the show “Woyzeck (Re-Imagined)” relaxed on
the stage in the Lemoine-Mitchell Auditorium during last
Friday’s rehearsal. The student company, which consists of
13 cast members and 24 members of the production staff
and run/tech crew, will perform at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday)
and will be one of eight schools competing in a preliminary
round of the Massachusetts Educational Theatre
Guild’s High School Drama Festival. Show time for Saugus
High is 2 p.m. The drama festival will begin at 9 a.m.
and the last show will be at 5:15 p.m. Each school will perform
for 40 minutes. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler)
nology to host this massive
event! We hope to host this
event annually, whether for
the Preliminary or Semifinal
round.
Q: Please tell me a little bit
about your team. How many
students are on the team that
will compete on Saturday?
How many in the cast and
how many in various backup
roles? Are most kids theatre
students? How many of these
kids have aspirations of theatre
beyond high school or
even college?
A: While the SHSDC has a
membership of over 60 students,
our company for this
particular show, “Woyzeck
(Re-Imagined),” consists of 37
students: 13 cast members
and the other 24 students are
members of the production
staff and run/tech crew. For
this production, we have students
in the following roles:
stage manager, assistant stage
managers, student lighting &
scenic designer, student costume
designers, student hair
& makeup designers, student
props designers, scenic painters,
live musicians and music
composers, sound designers.
I have had the wonderful opportunity
to teach most of the
Drama Club students during
their school day, but not all students
involved have been able
to fit one of my theatre classes
into their daily schedule. While
I am sure several students from
Drama Club will continue to
make theatre after high school,
there are only a small selection
of students who are interested
in majoring in theatre or trying
to become a working theatre
professional.
I would be remiss to not
mention the adult staff I have
helping the SHSDC make some
theatre magic. Kyle Gregory, a
good friend, theatre professional
and professor of theatre,
was the assistant director
for the show, the fight choreographer
and put his Master’s
in Playwriting to the test and
adapted the play to the new
concept and cut it down to 39
minutes!
John Sullivan is a volunteer
set builder who has been helping
the SHSDC build scenery
for more than a decade and
still continues to do so even
though his daughter has long
graduated. John’s help and
loyalty to the SHSDC over previous
years, and since I have
come here, is greatly appreciated.
Jimmy
Wlodyka, a Saugus
native, has helped us with all
audio and sound items, and his
advice since I have arrived here
in Saugus has been more helpful
than he would ever know.
Q: About how many students
are involved in theatre
ASKS | SEE PAGE 19
׉	 7cassandra://DMs-3Zgajfhs-1nijIYiB0l4_w56l3qFzAt8eNwHXJ04x` g-F$,Z׉E"THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
Page 19
ASKS | FROM PAGE 18
and fine arts at Saugus High
School?
A: I can only speak to the
numbers that are within the
world of Theatre. Drama Club
has 60 active members. Saugus
High School also has a
Concert band, Jazz band, Chorus,
Acapela Group (Tonal
Chaos) and an Improv Troupe
(Needs Improv’ment).
Q: Briefly, please tell me
about “Woyzeck (Re-Imagined),”
how it was selected and
why it was selected as the Saugus
High entry.
A: I first studied the play
“Woyzeck” by Georg Büchner
in my first class at Salem
State University, Theatre History
II, with a fantastic professor.
I remember being in awe
of the play and its fractal nature.
Upon revisiting the play
in grad school, I knew that I
wanted to produce the play.
The nature of the play really
lends itself well to be chosen
as a festival entry because it
is edgy, daring, different, and
it is noted as the one of the
first plays of German expressionism.
As the play is in the
public domain, Assistant Director
and good friend Kyle
Gregory adapted the original
text to fit within the confines
of the METG guidelines. When
conceptualizing our version, I
met with Kyle and we chatted
through every scene of the
original text and re-imagined
the world of the play to take
place in a circus/freak show
during World War I.
“Woyzeck” is widely studied
by theatre scholars globally,
and this piece spoke to me
upon revisiting the fragmented
text. DramaFEST is an outlet
to perform edgy, daring pieces
that otherwise may not be a
great fit due to their nature or
lack of name recognition. This
play is by far the most popular
of Büchner’s German Expressionist
plays, but a lot of that
is due to its fragmented nature
and the fact that Büchner
died before it was finished and
the text was published posthumously.
When
conceptualizing this
piece, Kyle Gregory and I read
through the text scene by
scene and realized how this
story still rings true today.
Perhaps not to the extent to
which this production has
been adapted, but certainly,
PTSD in soldiers and manipulation
of the poor is very real
in 2025. As we began to conceptualize
our production, one
scene stood out. In the original
text, Scene 3 occurred in a
circus with beasts and freaks.
Then the idea came to have
all of the happenings in the
text, all manipulation of our
leading player Woyzeck, all on
display in freak show fashion,
and the entire plot was dictated
by a sinister carnival barker.
Re-imagining the text allowed
us to create a unified
vision and a through-line for
a play that may appear quite
fragmented and disoriented
otherwise.
The hardest part of being
a theatre teacher is choosing
the titles of shows that we will
produce. So many items need
to be considered, cast size
and technical needs being the
most important to consider.
Ultimately I chose this show
because I knew I would be very
invested in creating this piece.
It allows us the opportunity to
create some wonderful characters
for the talented performers
we have, and certainly
lends itself well to many possibilities
of design for scenery,
lighting, props, sound, etc….
Q: How many Saugus High
students auditioned for this
play and how long ago did it
start?
A: Auditions for the play
took place back in December
shortly after we closed our
November musical, but we
did not begin rehearsing until
we returned back in 2025
from Holiday break. We have
been rehearsing for about seven
weeks. The week before the
event is known as Tech week.
We will be welcoming all visiting
schools throughout the
week to prepare their scenic
items and lighting in our theatre
to be ready for Saturday’s
festival.
Q: Please tell me briefly what
it entails for each of these students
to participate in a production
like this. About how
many hours goes into preparing
for a festival like this, from
rehearsal to building the set
and getting the costumes?
A: All students who participate
in DramaFEST are required
to be at rehearsals/
meetings three to four times
per week. Rehearsals are typically
nine to 10 per week. The
farther into a production we
get the more hours we spend
making sure it all happens! We
are typically rehearsing simultaneously
while sets are being
built and painted. In order
to be involved, students must
commit to all rehearsals, calls
and rounds of the competition.
Q: How long has the team
been rehearsing this play?
How many rehearsals? Are
you optimistic that the Saugus
High students will be prepared
on Saturday afternoon?
A: I am always feeling optimistic
and I am always proud
of the work we are doing. I
have learned alot from theatre
over the last 30 years. A
~ Legal Notice ~
NOTICE OF ACTIVITY AND USE LIMITATION
Disposal Site Name: Former Brenner Paper Box and Chemical Company
Disposal Site Address: 31 Osprey Road, Saugus, MA
RTN 3-31465
A release of oil and/or hazardous materials has occurred at this location, which is a
disposal site as defined by M.G.L. c. 21E, § 2 and the Massachusetts Contingency Plan,
310 CMR 40.0000. On February 7, 2025, J. Cooper LLC recorded with the Essex Southern
District Registry of Deeds a NOTICE OF ACTIVITY AND USE LIMITATION on a parcel
of impacted land with an address 16-20 Osprey Road, Saugus, MA associated with the
above disposal site, pursuant to 310 CMR 40.1070 through 40.1080. The NOTICE OF
ACTIVITY AND USE LIMITATION will limit the following site activities and uses on the
above property:
Activities and Uses Inconsistent with Maintaining No Significant Risk Conditions. The
following Activities and Uses are inconsistent with maintaining a Permanent Solution and
a condition of No Significant Risk pursuant to· 310 CMR 40.0000, and, as such, may not
occur on the Portion of the Property:
(i)
Except for any emergency, short term (less than one week) utility work, any
subsurface activity including, but not limited to, soil excavation, utility work,
construction and/or demolition which is likely to result in contact with, disturbance
of, and/or handling of soil and/or groundwater at depths greater than 2.5 feet below
existing grade without the prior preparation of a Groundwater Management Plan
and/or Soil Management Plan, as applicable, prepared by an LSP and the
preparation of a Health and Safety Plan. The Health and Safety Plan should be
prepared by a Certified Industrial Hygienist or other qualified individual
appropriately trained in worker protection procedures and requirements. Such
plans shall be prepared in a manner consistent with the relevant obligations set
forth in Paragraphs 3(ii), (iii), and (iv);
(ii) Except for any emergency, short term (less than one week) utility work,
relocation of soil from depths greater than 2.5 feet below ground surface and/or
relocation of groundwater from the disposal site to outside the disposal site
boundaries shown on Exhibit B without the prior development and implementation
of a Groundwater Management Plan and/or Soil Management Plan, as applicable,
prepared by an LSP. Such plans shall be prepared consistent with the relevant
obligations set forth in Paragraphs 3(ii), (iii), and (iv);
(iii) Use of the Portion of the Property as a school (with the exception of adult
education), daycare, nursery, recreational area, and/or any other use at which a
child’s presence is likely without prior evaluation by an LSP who renders an Opinion
that such uses of the Portion of the Property are consistent with maintaining a
condition of No Significant Risk;
(iv) Use of the Portion of the Property for residential purposes without the prior
evaluation by an LSP who renders an Opinion that such use of the Portion of the
Property is consistent with maintaining a condition of No Significant Risk;
(v) Use of the Portion of the Property for agricultural purposes without the prior
evaluation by an LSP who renders an Opinion that such use of the Portion of the
Property is consistent with maintaining a condition of No Significant Risk.
Any person interested in obtaining additional information about the NOTICE OF ACTIVITY
AND USE LIMITATION may contact Raymond Ball, L.S.P. EnChem Engineering, Inc. 119
Oakdale Road, Newton, MA 02461 phone 617-694-0451. The NOTICE OF ACTIVITY AND
USE LIMITATION and the disposal site file can be can be viewed at MassDEP website
using Release Tracking Number (RTN) 3-31465 at:
http://public.dep.state.ma.us/SearchableSites2/Search.aspx or at MassDEP, Northeast
Regional Office, 150 Presidential Way, Woburn, MA 01801; phone 1-978-694-3200.
February 28, 2025
few things I have learned are
that theatre is subjective and
there is no such thing as a perfect
live theatrical production. I
know the students will be prepared
and will give it 110% in
whatever they are doing for
ASKS | SEE PAGE 20
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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
OBITUARIES
Mary E. (Sheehan) Gaudet
sisters and friends. Her favorite
dining spot was the Century
House.
In addition to her husband,
O
f Saugus. Age 93, died
on Sunday, February
23rd at the Hunt Nursing
and Rehabilitation Center
in Danvers. She was the beloved
wife of Daniel C. Gaudet
with whom she shared 73 years
of marriage. A lifelong resident
of Saugus, Mrs. Gaudet was the
daughter of the late James F.
and Helen (Igoe) Sheehan.
Mary previously served as
the Assistant Tax Collector for
the Town of Saugus. She had
a passion for singing and was
an avid fan of hockey and the
Patriots. Mary enjoyed taking
trips to Foxwoods with her
ASKS | FROM PAGE 19
the show. All I can ask of all
members of the SHSDC is to
give their absolute best. If we
leave the stage with no regrets,
and we have done everyMary
is survived by her five
children, Michael Gaudet and
his wife Marcia of South Dakota,
Kathy Curtin of Peabody,
Robert Gaudet and his wife
Lynne of Freedom, NH, Clifford
Gaudet of South Dakota, and
Jeanne Snowdon and her husband
Andrew of Wolfeboro,
NH; nine grandchildren, Gavin,
Joe, Jim, Jay, Brooke, Jen, Carly,
Kelly and Jack; four great
grandchildren, Willa, Auggie,
Emmie and Millie; one brother,
Thomas Sheehan of Saugus;
and two sisters, Barbara Lovett
of RI and Helen Parent of Melrose.
Mary was predeceased
by her brother, James Wilson
and sisters, Patricia Stickney
and Virginia ‘Sis’ Marino.
Relatives and friends are invited
to attend visiting hours
in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral
Home, 549 Lincoln Ave., Saugus
on Friday, February 28
from 4 – 7 p.m. A funeral service
will be held in the funeral
home on Saturday at 10 a.m.
followed by interment in Riverside
Cemetery in Saugus. In
lieu of flowers, donations in
Mary’s memory may be made
to the Alzheimer’s Associathing
we are capable of, then
I feel confident with the show
we have worked so incredibly
hard to create.
I have been to the festival
15 times. I have won some, I
have lost some. But what is
tion of Massachusetts at alz.
org/manh.
Patricia (Mullane)
Suslowicz
tricia’s number one passion
was caring for her family.
In addition to her husband,
Mrs. Suslowicz is survived by
her four children, Katrina Earle
and her husband Kevin of
Reading, Ellen Bolognese of
Saugus, Stephen Suslowicz
and his wife Jessica of Woburn
and Stanley Suslowicz
and his wife Toni of NH; ten
grandchildren, Sabrina, Johnny,
Nick, Jenna, Dom, Skylar,
Hunter, Cayden, Anthony and
Mariah; as well as many nieces
and nephews. She was predeceased
by brother, Thomas
Mullane and son-in-law, David
Bolognese.
Relatives and friends were
O
f Saugus, formerly of
Wakefield. Died on
Saturday, February
22nd at the age of 79. She was
the wife of Stanley Suslowicz
with whom she shared 41
years of marriage. Born and
raised in East Boston, Mrs.
Suslowicz was the daughter
of the late Thomas and Ellen
(Nelson) Mullane. Patricia
loved visiting local casinos
and playing the slot machines
and she also enjoyed scratch
tickets. She loved animals and
she also enjoyed cooking. Paimportant
to me for myself
and my students is the ability
to reflect on the work we
have done. What did we learn?
How are you a better performer
now than when you began?
The intention of the Massachu1.
On Feb. 28, 1983, was the final
episode of what TV series
with a title with asterisks?
2. The youngest Olympic athlete,
Greek Dimitrios Loundras,
10, competed in gymnastics in
what year: 1896, 1943 or 1998?
3. What American author/
newspaperman wrote about
learning to ride a high-wheel
bicycle in “Taming the Bicycle”?
4. February 29 is Leap Day;
what leaping animal is celebrated
with a holiday on this
day?
5. What two countries share a
20-foot wide treeless border
known as The Slash?
6. What is AR, which is being
used in some fashion shows?
7. On March 1, 1936, what dam
on the Colorado River was completed?
8.
How are blue, harvest and super
similar?
9. In what country is the Svalbard
Global Seed Vault: Finland,
Norway or Russia?
10. On March 2, 1965, “The
Sound of Music” film premiered,
based on what pair’s musical?
11. Since 1608 what European
river has had many events
called “Frost Fairs”?
12. How are Boz, Mark Twain
and Dr. Seuss similar?
13. March 3 is an unofficial national
holiday celebrating what
foreign pork product?
14. According to Guinness
World Records, the largest underwater
dance class involved
74 students in Sydney, Australia,
in 2006 dancing what twoword
Cuban dance?
invited to attend visiting
hours in the Bisbee-Porcella
Funeral Home, Saugus on
Thursday February 27. A funeral
will be held from the funeral
home on Friday, February
28 at 9:30 a.m. followed
by a funeral mass in Blessed
Sacrament Church, 14 Summer
St., Saugus at 10:30 a.m.
Interment in Riverside Cemetery
in Saugus.
Thomas F. Corcoran
O
f Saugus, formerly of
Everett and Somerville.
Died on Monday,
February 24th at the
setts Educational Theatre Guild
is to create an environment
where these young theatre artists
have learned and appreciated
the art form. The awards
and winners are such a small
part of the festival day and
15. On March 4, 1678, what
composer of “The Four Seasons”
was born?
16. After 1792, Muster Day was
held – with parties and enlistment
in local militias and, traditionally,
what spicy cookie?
17. The International Museum
and Library of Music is in what
Italian city with a name like a
sausage?
18. On March 5, 1963, what
bamboo exercise tool/toy was
patented?
19. Which U.S. president was
the first with nonconsecutive
terms in office?
20. On March 6, 1924, whose
(known by a nickname) tomb
was opened?
age of 90. He was the beloved
husband of Michele
A. (Girolamo) Corcoran with
whom he shared 27 years of
marriage. Born and raised in
Somerville, Mr. Corcoran was
the son of the late Joseph and
Mary (O’Toole) Corcoran. He
was a retired Iron Worker for
Union Local 7. Thomas enjoyed
camping and fly fishing.
He even tied his own flies
for both salt and fresh water
fishing.
In addition to his wife,
Mr. Corcoran is survived by
his two children, Kiley Belliveau
and Michael Corcoran;
four grandchildren; his
sister, Mary Chemelli of Belmont;
as well as many nieces
and nephews. He was predeceased
by his three brothers,
Joseph, John and Vincent
Corcoran.
Relatives and friends are invited
to attend visiting hours
in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral
Home, 549 Lincoln Ave., SAUGUS
on Sunday from 2-6 p.m.
A funeral will be held from
the funeral home on Monday
at 8:45 a.m. followed by
a funeral mass in St. Joseph’s
Church, 173 Albion St., Wakefield
at 10 a.m. Interment in
Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden.
the
success of your Fest show
should not be measured only
by wins and losses. It should
be measured with pride and
how much we have learned,
ASKS | SEE PAGE 21
ANSWERS
1. M*A*S*H
2. 1896 (in Athens)
3. Mark Twain
4. National Frog Legs Day
5. Canada and USA
6. Augmented reality
7. Hoover
8. They are names for types of moon.
9. Norway (in Svalbard, an archipelago in the
Arctic Ocean)
10. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s
11. Thames
12. They are pen names (for Charles Dickens, Samuel
Langhorne Clemens and Theodor Seuss Geisel,
respectively)
13. National Canadian Bacon Day
14. Cha-Cha
15. Antonio Vivaldi
16. Gingersnaps
17. Bologna
18. Hula Hoop
19. Grover Cleveland
20. King Tut (Tutankhamun)
׉	 7cassandra://_uvvA1si2q2Q-jnwHdewI6VbuksGy7_2DSY4bBmfQww3` g-F$,Z׉E?THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
Page 21
ASKS | FROM PAGE 20
throughout the process.
Q: My understanding is that
four of the eight schools will
advance to the semifinals on
March 15. How many schools
will make it to the finals and
when?
A: 14 schools make it to
the final at the John Hancock
Building in Boston. Finals take
place over three days: Thursday,
March 27th through Saturday,
March 29th.
Q: How will the competition
be judged?
A: Each site has three ad~
Legal Notice ~
NOTICE OF ACTIVITY AND USE LIMITATION
Disposal Site Name: Former Brenner Paper Box and Chemical Company
Disposal Site Address: 31 Osprey Road, Saugus, MA
RTN 3-31465
A release of oil and/or hazardous materials has occurred at this location, which is a
disposal site as defined by M.G.L. c. 21E, § 2 and the Massachusetts Contingency Plan,
310 CMR 40.0000. On February 7, 2025, Joshua W. Cooper and Lynee A. Cooper,
Trustees of The Nikilee Trust recorded with the Essex Southern District Registry of
Deeds a NOTICE OF ACTIVITY AND USE LIMITATION on a parcel of impacted land
with an address 19 Swan Road, Saugus, MA associated with the above disposal site,
pursuant to 310 CMR 40.1070 through 40.1080. The NOTICE OF ACTIVITY AND USE
LIMITATION will limit the following site activities and uses on the above property:
Activities and Uses Inconsistent with Maintaining No Significant Risk Conditions. The
following Activities and Uses are inconsistent with maintaining a Permanent Solution and
a condition of No Significant Risk pursuant to· 310 CMR 40.0000, and, as such, may not
occur on the Portion of the Property:
(i)
Except for any emergency, short term (less than one week) utility work, any
subsurface activity including, but not limited to, soil excavation, utility work,
construction and/or demolition which is likely to result in contact with, disturbance
of, and/or handling of soil and/or groundwater at depths greater than 2.5 feet below
existing grade without the prior preparation of a Groundwater Management Plan
and/or Soil Management Plan, as applicable, prepared by an LSP and the
preparation of a Health and Safety Plan. The Health and Safety Plan should be
prepared by a Certified Industrial Hygienist or other qualified individual
appropriately trained in worker protection procedures and requirements. Such
plans shall be prepared in a manner consistent with the relevant obligations set
forth in Paragraphs 3(ii), (iii), and (iv);
(ii) Except for any emergency, short term (less than one week) utility work,
relocation of soil from depths greater than 2.5 feet below ground surface and /or
relocation of groundwater from the disposal site to outside the disposal site
boundaries shown on Exhibit B without the prior development and implementation
of a Groundwater Management Plan and/or Soil Management Plan, as applicable,
prepared by an LSP. Such plans shall be prepared consistent with the relevant
obligations set forth in Paragraphs 3(ii), (iii), and (iv);
(iii) Use of the Portion of the Property as a school (with the exception of adult
education), daycare, nursery, recreational area, and/or any other use at which a
child’s presence is likely without prior evaluation by an LSP who renders an Opinion
that such uses of the Portion of the Property are consistent with maintaining a
condition of No Significant Risk;
(iv) Use of the Portion of the Property for residential purposes without the prior
evaluation by an LSP who renders an Opinion that such use of the Portion of the
Property is consistent with maintaining a condition of No Significant Risk;
(v) Use of the Portion of the Property for agricultural purposes without the prior
evaluation by an LSP who renders an Opinion that such use of the Portion of the
Property is consistent with maintaining a condition of No Significant Risk.
Any person interested in obtaining additional information about the NOTICE OF ACTIVITY
AND USE LIMITATION may contact Raymond Ball, L.S.P. EnChem Engineering, Inc. 119
Oakdale Road, Newton, MA 02461 phone 617-694-0451. The NOTICE OF ACTIVITY AND
USE LIMITATION and the disposal site file can be can be viewed at MassDEP website
using Release Tracking Number (RTN) 3-31465 at:
http://public.dep.state.ma.us/SearchableSites2/Search.aspx or at MassDEP, Northeast
Regional Office, 150 Presidential Way, Woburn, MA 01801; phone 1-978-694-3200.
February 28, 2025
judicators. That follows strict
guidelines when choosing a
winner. Here are some of the
judging guidelines sent out by
METG: The METG encourages
theatrical exploration, experimentation
and creativity, embracing
a wide diversity of periods,
styles and genres. Judges
are instructed not to evaluate
the material itself but to
assess the overall execution
and cohesion of the piece. The
METG encourages festival participants
to present works that
reflect a philosophy of inclusion
and a marriage of all facets
of theater.
Q: Aside from the satisfaction
of having done well in the
competition if Saugus High
students do well, what are
some of the rewards for these
students, the benefit from having
participated in an event
like this?
A: The rewards are endless –
meeting new friends, networking,
learning from others, exposure
to plays you may never
have known existed.
Q: Does hosting an event like
this help showcase the Lemoine-Mitchell
Auditorium at
Saugus Middle High School?
How so? And how does it
help the Saugus Middle High
School?
A: The Lemoine-Mitchell Auditorium
is a beautiful space
from both an architectural and
technical standpoint. Students
of the SHSDC and my classes
at Saugus High designed
and rigged a brand-new lighting
plot that is conducive to
hosting this event and lighting
all shows in an easy way,
but yet allows for some wonderful
artistic choices to be
made. When you have a school
as beautiful as the Saugus
Middle High School Complex,
and a theatre like the Lemoine-Mitchell,
it would be a
travesty to not share it with
other schools and the Saugus
community!
Q: Anything else that you
would like to share about Saturday’s
Drama Festival and the
Saugus High students who will
be competing?
A: Hosting this event is a
highlight of my career as a
theatre teacher. The importance
of the event and the
passion in theatre students
across the state to be their
best is genuinely uplifting!
The event means the world
to all that participate, and the
community supporting them
would make it all the more
worthwhile! Tickets for Saugus
High School can be purchased
in advance, or paid
with cash at the door; $10
gains you entry to all eight
shows and the awards ceremony!
The SHSDC will be
hosting a concession stand
throughout the entire day!
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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
TOWN MEETING |
FROM PAGE 17
We follow Social Distancing Guidelines!
am reviewing key issues that
impact both Precinct 1 and
the town as a whole, I am always
open to collaborating
on initiatives that benefi t residents.
If I propose or support
any articles, my goal is to advocate
for policies that enhance
quality of life and ensure
responsible governance.
Question Four: Please feel
free to share any other views
about the upcoming Town
Meeting.
Mark J. Bell: I am always
looking forward to Town
Meeting and encourage
those in Precinct 1, and any
other resident of Saugus, to
please contact myself and
your Town Meeting members
about how you would like us
to vote on upcoming articles.
The Kid Does
Clean Outs
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Contact us for all of your
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Call Jeff or Bob
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Call Eric: (857) 322-2854
Remember, we represent you,
not ourselves. I also hope,
with local elections coming
up, that Saugus parents, especially
those with young
kids, consider throwing their
hat in the ring come election
time. So many decisions we
vote on during Town Meeting
impact Saugus and younger
generations for years to
come. Residents with young
children should consider running
for Town Meeting or another
board this fall.
Stacey Herman-Dorant:
I look forward to our upcoming
meetings starting
in May. We will be voting on
important issues that aff ect
our Town’s future, and I take
those seriously and welcome
your input. I can be reached
at staceyhermandorant@
gmail.com
Sue Palomba: The Town
Meeting is a critical platform
for representing residents’
voices and shaping the future
of Saugus. Transparency,
open dialogue, and informed
decision-making will be key
as we navigate this year’s
agenda. I encourage residents
to stay engaged, share their
concerns, and participate in
the legislative process.
Thank you again for including
me in this series. I look
forward to a productive 2025
Town Meeting.
Clean-Outs!
We take and dispose
from cellars, attics,
garages, yards, etc.
Call Robert at:
781-844-0472
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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
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Page 23
For Rent: Spacious 3-bed home with open layout,
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In much sought after Fellsway location, this
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Listing Agent: Annemarie Torcivia
781.983.5266
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Listing Agent, Broker/Owner: Joe Duggan
617.230.3957
781.231.9800
FOR RENT...................333 Central St., 1F,
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Listing Agent: Lucia Ponte
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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025
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