׉?4ׁB!בCטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://D3Q5xs3vKaK9RTmR0WviyX-glHjsPFVQbgmAhSgeWvI{`'p׉ 7cassandra://DV8YmbRGFBZHVlr38urBCpP004DClqRd8LyUqDAJ-MEͼ`׉ 7cassandra://OszVij7STDATF4QyNw6iZ2jUH4I4mTwZltlvdOMkkRM;`gdd)T2qנgdd)T2q19ׁHhttp://www.advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј׈Egdd)T2q׉ESAUGUS D Have a Safe & Happy Holidays! ADOCATE DV CAT AT A MAGICAL CHRISTMAS JOURNEY A WELCOME TO SNOWVILLE: Longtime Saugus Housing Authority staff er Guy Moley has been treating residents of the Authority properties with various Christmas scenes – including this miniature village – for three decades. Please see inside for more photos and the story. (Courtesy photo of Joanie Allbee to The Saugus Advocate) A LIVING NATIVITY: New Hope Assembly off ered a special Christmas celebration last Saturday, featuring live animals and costumed characters reenacting the birth of Jesus. Please see inside for more photos. (Saugus Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) A E Vol. 26, No.51 -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 781-233-4446 Friday, December 20, 2024 Another shot to run a pot shop Land Court judge rules selectmen must reconsider company’s application for a special permit to operate a retail marijuana dispensary By Mark E. Vogler year ago, Uma Flowers LLC fell one vote short of obtaining a special permit (S-2) from the Board of Selectmen to operate a retail marijuana dispensary on Route 1. The company later alleged in a complaint fi led against the town and the Board of Selectmen in state Land Court that then-Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano – the lone member to oppose Uma Flowers in a 3-1 vote – “appeared to act with bias against Uma and in favor of Bostica,” another company competing for an S-2 permit. 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Publisher Jim Mitchell has decided to reward his dedicated staff with a week off. Our next edition POT SHOP | FROM PAGE 1 no admitted that he enjoyed a personal friendship for 30 years with Raymond Falite, Bostica’s manager. “Mr. Cogliano issued his negative vote to Uma for reasons not related to the purposes of the Zoning Act, and for alleged shortcomings in the Application that did not exist and were fabricated by Mr. Cogliano, a clear indication of his failure to consider Uma’s proposal on its merwill be published on Jan. 3, 2025 – to ring in the New Year! The Advocate Online will still post news, photos and legal notices during that week as we our office will be open Monday (9a-5p) and Tuesday (9a3p, Christmas Eve), and returning by appt. Thursits,” the four-count complaint alleged. After two days of trial last week, Judge Michael D. Vhay issued a judgement in favor of Uma Flowers against selectmen on one of the four counts and ordered that the Board of Selectmen’s 3-1 vote be annulled and the case be returned to selectmen for further proceedings. “The Board is ordered to begin the rehearing ‘no later than 45 days after entry of this Judgment,’” Board of Selectmen Chair Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net Debra Panetta told The Saugus Advocate this week. “So we will need to schedule this hearing by January 24th. As with any Special (S2) permit, the applicant needs four votes for it to pass,” Panetta said. Unless Cogliano decides to switch his vote, the upcoming hearing could end with the same result of Uma Flowers failing to get the necessary fourfifths vote for the issuance of the S-2 permit. It’s also possible that Uma Flowers could still prevail without Cogliano’s vote. During last year’s hearings, Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeffrey Cicolini had recused himself after disclosing a potential conflict of interest because of his company’s relationship with one of the applicants. “I do plan to check with the Ethics Commission to get an opinion as I feel the conflict should be removed given my firm’s client is no longer involved in the process,” Cicolini told The Saugus Advocate this week. “I will go by whatever they tell me to do,” he said. Cogliano did not respond to The Saugus Advocate’s requests for comment. The attorneys representing Uma Flowers did not return telephone calls or emails left at their Andover law offices. Judge Vhay found in favor of the Board of Selectmen in three of the four counts. In Count II, Uma Flowers sought various declarations that Selectman Cogliano “was impermissibly biased against Uma Flowers’ special permit application.” In Count III, Uma Flowers sought a declaration that it was entitled to its requested special permit. In Count IV, Uma Flowers sought a declaration that Cogliano’s failure to recuse himself from the Board’s consideration of Uma Flowers’ application violated the company’s right to due process. In March, the court dismissed Uma Flowers’ claims against the Town of Saugus in Count I. Later that month, the parties agreed to the dismissal of Uma Flowers’ remaining claims against the town. Uma Flowers is based in Pepperell, Mass. Two women – Pryanka Patel and Tejal Patel – own the company. The owners have day and Friday. The Advocate Newspapers publisher and staff wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and Happy Kwanzaa to all our readers. Please contact us at: 617-387-2200 or email: info@ advocatenews.net years of pharmaceutical and cannabis experience, handling of controlled substances and analyzing and improving community health, according to the complaint. Uma Flowers operates marijuana retail business in Pepperell and Lunenburg, Mass. Former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis is listed as Uma’s Director of Security. Former Saugus Police Chief Domenic DiMella was listed as the company’s community liaison for Saugus, according to the court record. Other than Cogliano, who voted in support of the other six applicants that were seeking one of three S-2 permits to open a retail marijuana business in Saugus, no other town officials have opposed Uma Flowers’ application. Uma Flowers was just one of two applicants that were recommended by the town’s Marijuana Establishment Review Committee (MERC). With its proposed location at 24 Broadway (Route 1 North) – the site of a former house that was torn down – Uma was the unanimous selection of the seven-member committee, achieving a perfect score of 140 total points, based on an “exceptional” rating by each member in each of the five categories that were considered. The MERC ranked Bostica sixth out of seven in its report. The committee determined that Bostica “did not meet the criteria necessary to earn a recommendation.” Cogliano criticized the findings of the MERC and disparaged the committee’s choice of Uma Flowers. “The Denial does not accurately portray the comments and conclusions of the Board, fails to set forth a legal, substantive basis for the special permit denial and is not based on the discussion that took place at the hearing,” the Uma complaint said. “As noted above, the Committee expressly found Uma’s proposed location, parking, and egress to be exemplary,” it concluded. ׉ 7cassandra://GAHg6MtpFsx-1vgYad2-o-tSrkUDV3dZBJKrlS_cXo45`gdd)T2q׉E THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 Page 3 ~The Advocate Asks~ Selectmen and School Committee members talk about their Christmas gifts to Saugus and top 2025 priorities Editor’s Note: For this week’s column, we reached out to each of the members of the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee and asked them if they would like to send a holiday message to our readers. Four of the five selectmen responded. Four of the five School Committee members participated. Their individual holiday wishes to the residents of Saugus, comments about their ideal Christmas Gift for the town and their top priorities for 2025 follow. Q: I would also like to give every member a chance to share their thoughts on an ideal Christmas gift for the town this year and a quick overview for their top priorities for 2025. Feel free to send a holiday message to town residents, too. Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta Ideal Christmas Gift for Town (and top priority) I am excited that Saugus has had a significant upgrade to Anna Parker Park. We heard from many residents requesting pickleball courts, a street hockey rink, and a picnic area, and I was happy that we could accommodate these requests in 2024. Next year, the Town Manager, Board of Selectmen, Town Meeting, and the Finance Committee will be working on making significant upgrades to other parks and playgrounds in Town for all residents to enjoy. Spending time with family is so important, and having these new facilities will benefit residents for generations to come. Top Priorities · Our residents on the west side of Town have been requesting a fire station for decades. When there is a crisis, every second counts. I believe the feasibility study has been completed, and I am looking forward to hearing the results. · It is vital that we maintain our S&P Global Bond Rating ASKS | SEE PAGE 9 Saugus Board of Selectmen at Veterans Park, pictured from left to right – Corinne Riley, Mike Serino, Anthony Cogliano, Vice Chair Jeff Cicolini, Chair Debra Panetta – and Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. 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A. R.) sponsored Wreaths Across America. Saturday’s sunny, blustery day (December 14) at Saugus Cemetery Ceremonies revealed the following: The Pledge of Allegiance by Tony Carr C.A.R., America’s Creed and a moment of silence followed by presenting of Salem High School Color Guard with Commander Lt. Col Grace. The National Anthem was beautiful8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! ly off ered up by Caylee Cassarino C.A.R. Opening remarks were by Regent Gail Cassarino. Wreath laying ceremonies honored each branch of the United States Service. Rick Braugh placed a wreath to honor the United States Army. John Macauda placed a wreath to honor the United States Marines. Senior Chief Jack Klecker placed a wreath and honored the United States Navy. Master Chief Sgt. Robert O’Toole honored the United States Air Force. Jane Conrad placed a wreath and honored the United States Coast Guard. Carl Mucci placed a wreath to honor the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action. Regent Gail gave closing remarks. Our invited Guests each took the podium to give a brief and meaningful speech. State Representative Donald Wong presented a proclamation. Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta spoke and standing to her side were Vice Chair Jeff Cicolini and Selectmen Anthony Cogliano, Corinne Riley and Mike Serino. Saugus Veteran’s Council Commander Steve Castinetti gave a speech. Taps was played by Sylvia www.810bargrille.com Renda of Judge Holten Society NSCAR. The Ceremony ended with a Benediction presented by Chaplain Paula Walsh, Parson Roby Chapter, NSDAR. Our Parson Roby Chapter gave appreciation to the following: Veterans Service Offi cer Paul Cancelliere, Salem High School A GENERATION OF HONOR: DAR Parson Roby Chapter Vice Regent Wendy Renda stands behind her veteran father’s grave with her two C.A.R. grandchildren, Sydney and TAPS trumpet player Sylvia Renda. The three honored their family soldier’s grave with a wreath. The two girls are part of Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.). (Courtesy photo of Joanie Allbee) Jr. ROTC, Sgt. Major Sumner & Lt. Col. Grace, Vietnam Veteran Gordon Shepard, John Falasca and staff of Saugus Riverside Cemetery, and appreciation to all the sponsors and volunteers who assisted in honoring our Veterans. A thoughtful quote of how to place a wreath on a Veteran’s grave was captured on the Parson Roby Chapter DAR Ceremony brochure: “We encourage every volunteer here WREATHS | SEE PAGE 18 — Vinyl Siding — Carpentry Work — Decks — Roofing — Free Estimates — Replacement Windows — Fully Licensed — Fully Insured ׉ 7cassandra://JpQm4CjIl-Z_ofNGY271h_liVMz8R5RAQOP79EEjeqU;`gdd)T2q׉E THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 Page 5 Christmas Eve Parade is set for Tuesday Town of Saugus announces the route and times for the three-hour event S anta Claus will visit Saugus once again for the town’s annual Christmas Eve Parade – a popular local tradition that dates back more than four decades. The parade will step off on Tuesday, Dec. 24, at 6 p.m. at the Saugus Public Safety Building with Santa Claus getting an escort from the Saugus Police Department and Saugus Fire Department. Special vehicles will join Santa for the parade procession. “Check his route, come out and wave hello. He cannot wait to see everyone,” Youth & Recreation Department Director Crystal Cakounes said in a post this week on the Saugus Christmas Parade Facebook page. “If you would like to join in on this wonderful tradition, and drive in the Parade, please reach out to Buddy the Elf by Monday, December 23rd. 781-521-9444 or briancrossjr52@gmail.com,” Cakounes said. Once again, Brian Cross is heading up an army of volunteers to make the parade run smoothly. He’s been involved with the parade since 2014. He’ll be working as DJ for the night. There will be a lot of town departments involved, particularly the Youth & Recreation Department. Saugus fire, police and other emergency crews will be involved in the event, which has been a major crowd pleaser for several generations of Saugonians and residents of neighboring communities. “Santa would like to see as many children as possible, so be sure to listen for the sirens and come outside to greet Santa as he passes by,” wrote Buddy, “Santa’s Third Best Elf,” in a note on the parade route announcement that was recently released. The Christmas Eve Parade route is as follows (below are estimated times of arrival): ● 6 p.m. to 6:10 p.m.: Hamilton St., Saville St., Elm St. ● 6:10 p.m. to 6:20 p.m.: North Saugus School, Indian Rock Dr., Arrowhead Dr. ● 6:25 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.: Walnut St., Central St., Appleton St., Summer St., Taylor St. ● 6:40 p.m. to 6:55 p.m.: Saugus Center, Main St. to Forest St. ● 6:55 p.m. to 7:10 p.m.: Lynn Fells Pkwy., Main St., Hickory Ln., Juniper Dr. ● 7:10 p.m. to 7:25 p.m.: Howard St., Main St., Vine St. ● 7:25 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.: Essex St., Mount Vernon St., Laurel St. ● 7:40 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.: Lincoln Ave. and Cliftondale Sq. A scene from last year’s Santa Parade (Saugus Advocate fi le photo by Tara Vocino) ● 7:45 p.m. to 7:55 p.m.: Lincoln Ave. to Seagirt Ave. ● 7:55 p.m. to 8:10 p.m.: Venice Ave., Wickford St., Pevwell Dr., Gates Rd., Richard St. ● 8:10 p.m. to 8:25 p.m.: Dudley St., Ballard St., Johnson St., Vincent St., Chestnut St. ● 8:25 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Winter St. to Central St. ● 8:30 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.: Denver St., Laurel Gardens, Elmwood Ave. to Adams Ave. ● 8:40 p.m. to 8:50 p.m.: Central St., Hurd Ave., Westland Ave., Springdale Ave., Stone St. ● 8:50 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Central St. to Saugus Center SABATINO/MASTROCOLA INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available Sabatino Insurance is proud to welcome the loyal customers of ALWAYS READY TO SERVE YOU: Our Staff are, Emma Davidson, Jeimy Sanchez, Josephine Leone, Marie D’Amore, Rocco Longo, Z’andre Lopez, Anthony DiPierro, Darius Goudreau, Laurette Murphy, Danielle Goudreau and Tina Davidson. 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CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE (781) 289-4959 P Shown from left: Saugus William Sutton Lodge Secretary John Cole, Lodge Assistant Treasurer Eric Lampedecchio, Lodge Offi cer Nader Aldasouqi, Project Delta Vice President Mark AuBuchon, Revere Police Chief David Callahan, Revere Police Captain Amy O’Hara, Lodge member Anouar Mejdoudi, Lodge member Alan Welch, Revere Police Offi - cer Daniel Redding and Revere Police Offi cer Tori Matos. By Tara Vocino roject Delta teamed up with the Revere Police Department and the Saugus William-Sutton Lodge to provide stuff ed animals to children as a way to take a breather last Thursday afternoon at the Revere Police Station. According to Project Delta Vice President Mark AuBuchon, Project Delta is a program designed to help First Responders provide comfort to kids in crisis. The idea of the program is to provide any First Responder wishing to partake in the program, a “kit” that contains 3 to Saugus William-Sutton Lodge member Alan Welch said they are happy to bring comfort to children. 5 stuff ed animals and a drawPOLICE CARE | SEE PAGE 7 Donate Your Vehicle Call (866) 618-0011 to donate your car, truck, boat, RV, and more today! ■ Support Veteran Nonprofi ts. ■ Free Pickup & Towing. ■ Top Tax Deduction. Donate Your Vehicle Today 866-618-0011 While we appreciate every donation, in some cases, we fi nd that we are unable to accept certain vehicles, watercraft, and/or recreational vehicles due to the prohibitive costs of acquisition. If you have any questions, please give us a call at (866) 618-0011. ׉ 7cassandra://U_VE-hgeD23RQtHVQiPgov52W2SbEQKsItkvy5dFF7c=`gdd)T2q׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 Page 7 Malden Catholic announces First Quarter Honor Roll M Revere Police Captain Amy O’Hara and Project Delta Vice President Mark AuBuchon displayed teddy bears at the Revere Police Station last Thursday afternoon. POLICE CARE | FROM PAGE 6 string bag that can be used to not only house these items but also, in case of emergency removal, provide the child with a carry-all for any personal property. The content of these “kits” can be given out at the First Responders’ discretion. There is no cost to the responders, and kits can be replenished with a simple email to projectdelta@deltalodgeafam. org. Project Delta Vice President Mark AuBuchon, who is a former medic, said the teddy bears will be especially useful in the behavioral health unit. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) This is not just a Delta Lodge program but a program designed and supported by Freemasons. Saugus and Malden Police Departments partake in the program, and it will be coming to the Everett Police Department next year. alden Catholic students have successfully completed the fi rst marking period of the 2024-2025 school year. A total of 624 students from 40 cities and towns have earned recognition on the honor roll for their outstanding academic achievements. Malden Catholic honors academic excellence with three distinct categories: President’s List: Grades of 90–100 in all classes;First Honors: Grades of 85–89 in all classes; Second Honors: Grades of 80–84 in all classes. Saugus President’s List Mya Arwine ’28 Olivia Gerard ’28 Autumn Ingemi ’25 Emmerson Keefe ’28 Joseph Laudanno ’25 Yangning Liu ’26 Leyna Nguyen ’25 Alexandria Rappa ’28 Karly Ribourg ’27 Liliana Rizzo ’28 Sophia Rizzo ’28 First Honors Elias Abourjaili ’26 Katherine Abourjaili ’27 Isla Anderson ’26 Ryan Buonopane ’25 Ryan Coppola ’25 Ava Curran ’28 Isabelle Da Silva ’26 Benjamin Hurley ’25 Lucia Ingemi ’27 Lucas La Verde ’25 Bao Gia Luu ’27 Teagan MacPherson ’27 HONOR ROLL | SEE PAGE 21 ׉ 7cassandra://bx-MGOpRkX1YYQGfr_Toz-x0fwlijxAyo0P2TynU3Dk-;`gdd)T2qgdd)T2q rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://i00oT2a_YKA1kdyZKTNflyRBcWorausANDVzurSQUn8E`'p׉ 7cassandra://3nkCGRArbWhaE64sU0AJQBOMjrFkXaqoxqlIrjyG6H0ͫ}`׉ 7cassandra://wztjZWhJ6kedPTUygJo3-uEf6bb6Nfxk0BbVZbTBClI2`gdd)T2qטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://EQYSDMYlvPR4TofrVzYL-qK8xuh_hzfynwtR9I4Misc-z`'p׉ 7cassandra://8RnDJ_11aL1Wc9-8ixKJPktVUx2ZFheK_eHsBYqC02cͩ`׉ 7cassandra://iZMbDDoWw4ydPNNAMS7nzEMeX9_e13Lj9KSn87TqD6o1`gdd)T2qɒנgdd)T2qЁ a9ׁHhttp://WINWASTESAUGUS.COMׁ ׁ Јנgdd)T2q́'n9ׁHmailto:cil@gmail.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 ~ The Old Sachem ~ The Million Dollar Quartet was worth it By Bill Stewart B efore I get to this week’s column, I want to commend the Saugus High School athletes who were selected as Northeast Conference ALL-STARS for the Fall Season. In football Cody Munafo was the rushing leader for this season. Madison Botta was selected for Girls Soccer, amassing over 100 points during her years and scoring 38 goals and 16 assists this season. Congratulations to the stars. If We Happen To Meet By Accident ... You’ll Be Glad You Found Us! There is a difference between the rest and the BEST! Celebrating 46 Years In Business! TONY’S AUTO BODY Call or Visit 781-321-0032 34 Sharon Street Malden, MA 02148 TONYSAUTOBODYLLC.COM COME VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART BODY SHOP • Computerized Paint Matching (State of the Art Spray Booth) • Computerized Frame Machines • P.P.G. Refinishing System • R134 + 1234yf A/C Machines Fully Insured -RS2415 Insurance Company Approval ALL OUR WORK IS GUARANTEED! TONY BARTOLO Owner 46 Years Let Us Handle Your Next Insurance Claim. Go With the BEST It Doesn’t Get BETTER! RENTAL CARS Available Last month Polly and I went to North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly to see “Million Dollar Quartet.” This was exceptional with musical artists. The group demonstrated the original gathering of Elvis Presley (Noah Barns), Jerry Lee Lewis (Brandon Fillette), Johnny Cash (Hailie Lucille) and Carl Perkins (Sam Sherwood). Among the hit songs played: “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Walk the Line,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Who Do You Love?” and “Hound Dog.” They played the original meeting of the artists on December 4, 1956, at the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The scheduled performance was to be Carl Perkins, who brought his brothers Clayton and Jay. Perkins had already achieved success with “Blue Suede Shoes.” He also brought a drummer, W.S. Holland. Sam Phillips was the owner of Sun Records, and he brought in a youngster, Jerry Lee Lewis, to handle the piano. Sun Records would release Lee’s fi rst record a few days later. A 21-year-old, Elvis Presley, arrived along with his girlfriend, Marilyn Evans, casually dropping by to see what was happening. Johnny Cash said that he arrived earlier to listen in on Perkins, but didn’t appear to the gang until later. Perkins fi nished his recordings, which Presley said were very good. Then a jam session started up and Cash joined the group. They sang a series of gospel songs that each of the group had released earlier. Elvis was the most well known internationally and proceeded to lead the group. While the artists were in session, Phillips called a local newspaper, the Memphis Press-Scimitar, and the editor, Bob Johnson, came by to witness the event. Johnson wrote an article about the session and published it in his paper. His headline was Million Dollar Quartet. In 1969, Phillips sold Sun to Shelby Singleton, who searched through the tapes, browsing at over 10,000 tapes, and he licensed much of the recordings to the British Charly label to release in “The Old Sachem,” Bill Stewart. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Joanie Allbee) Europe. Charly recognized the group of Presley, Cash, Perkins and Lee and their made-up session and issued it in Europe as “Charly Sun” LP #1006 as the Million Dollar Quartet that focused on gospel/spiritual music. Later in 1987 they released “Charly/Sun” a two LP set #CDX 20 and named it The Complete Million Dollar Quartet Session, in Europe. In 1990, RCA acquired the American issue for release as a CD, Cassette and LP set and labeled it Elvis Presley; The Million Dollar Quartet, RCA CD #2023-2-R. In 2006, RCA used a copy of the original session to create the 50th anniversary of the issue, which contained about 12 minutes of previously unavailable material that included 46 musical tracks, most of which were incomplete and included comments from the artists. The friends had gathered to pleasure in singing music. Bob Johnson described it as “an old-fashioned barrel-house session with barber shop harmonies resulting.” And so, the session settled into history. Polly and I loved the show. We enjoyed hearing a resemblance to the originators singing the songs they recorded many years ago. (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.) ׉ 7cassandra://wztjZWhJ6kedPTUygJo3-uEf6bb6Nfxk0BbVZbTBClI2`gdd)T2q׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 Page 9 Best wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season. A s the year winds down, Anna Parker Playground has suddenly become the main attraction in the town’s recreation centers as it draws exercise-conscious people of all ages. The pickleball courts and street hockey rink have been very popular recreational spots in town since opening several weeks ago – with many residents checking out the new additions to the upgraded Anna Parker Playground. Town Manager Crabtree noted that the town consulted Saugus youths to get input on what to include in the street hockey rink design – and also reached out to the pickleball community for suggestions on the pickleball courts and design. “This project is an investment that benefi ts residents of all ages,” Town Manager Crabtree said in a statement this week. AN AERIAL VIEW OF ANNA PARKER: Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree said Saugus’ recently improved playground will be an asset for years to come. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) “It’s great that our community will be able to utilize and enjoy these fantastic pickleball courts and street hockey rink for decades to come. I want to thank the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, and Town Meeting for continually supporting vital and meaningful upgrades to the town’s parks and playgrounds and quality of life improvements,” Crabtree said. Town Manager Crabtree and the Board of Selectmen recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the upgrades to Anna Parker Playground. A good-sized crowd showed up at the ceremony to see and try out the enhanced recreational facilities, which include: · A street hockey rink that A Letter to the Community ASKS | FROM PAGE 3 We’re making a call for performers, food vendors and volunteers for the 2025 Saugus Cultural Festival Dear Saugus residents: We are excited to announce the upcoming Saugus Cultural Festival that will be taking place on Sunday, February 23rd at Saugus Middle High School! This inclusive and family-friendly event will celebrate Saugus’ cultural diversity through the showcase of food, performances, and other activities. The Cultural Council is looking for: · Performers: Musicians, dancers, poets, actors, and artists of all kinds are invited to showcase their talents on our stage. • Food Vendors: Share your culinary creations with festival-goers. Local food trucks, caterers, and restaurant owners are encouraged to apply. • Volunteers: Help us make the event a success by joining our team. Volunteers will assist with setup, guest services, event coordination, and more. This is a great opportunity to share new experiences with the community. To apply or to learn more information, please contact us at: • Email: saugusculturalcouncil@gmail.com • Phone: 339-440-1017 Don’t miss out on being part of this exciting celebration in our Town! We can’t wait to see you there! Deadline for applications: January 19, 2025. Please reach out if you have any questions. Tori Darnell, Co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council of AA+/Stable. This strong rating helps Saugus achieve better borrowing rates which eases the tax burden on residents. The better our bond rating, the more funding that can be used for important projects that benefi t our community, as opposed to going toward interest obligations. · We need to continue our work getting back [to our Town] liquor licenses that are not being used. That way, other restaurants will have the opportunity to use these licenses which will bring more meals tax revenue into Saugus. It would also be an 100 Salem Turnpike, Saugus, MA 01906 WINWASTESAUGUS.COM An early Christmas present Extensive improvements to Anna Parker Playground help to spread good cheer for Saugonians of all ages measures 120 feet by 60 feet with a dasher board system, player benches, and bleachers · Six regulation-sized pickleball courts that feature separator fences to limit ball interference between courts · LED lighting to illuminate the pickleball courts and street hockey rink that is designed to mitigate impact to the surrounding community · Addition of a large picnic area with tables and benches · Planting of new shade trees · Updated drainage · Security cameras People who have been using the facilities recently when they open on weekends are granted access on a fi rst come, fi rst served basis. But next year during the warmer months, town offi cials say, guidelines will be developed to guarantee that town residents will be the top priority. incentive for new restaurants to open. · The Town will continue making eff orts to revitalize Cliftondale Square. · There has been much speculation on the schools that have gone offl ine. More discussions are needed where no decisions have been made. The more we work together, the more we can get done for the residents of our community. I hope everyone comes out this Tuesday to enjoy the parade on Christmas Eve! Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy HaASKS | SEE PAGE 19 ׉ 7cassandra://iZMbDDoWw4ydPNNAMS7nzEMeX9_e13Lj9KSn87TqD6o1`gdd)T2qgdd)T2q rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://2s8KF7SCRw5r8a6eDAaBWra8PaoiKxVd_XniYqHXNFwD`'p׉ 7cassandra://g04Nbc1RLIgFKtLd8MeYYaD75pdbcopR4ToyPcuJCMc͸f`׉ 7cassandra://c222hs09AjBSf-DqnaIjh8AwswFTOivzmcdIrT3BkNM`gdd)T2qטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://iKbwcg4pGT_3zMKuXg1AY7FDFGVMe_bG0h4Dmv7mb-Q`'p׉ 7cassandra://BOmJ3vECrAUAmXv7r7M85AJkhZnpc47fYerZHRHvQOQͬ`׉ 7cassandra://JN8HCWBhX6Yo6h1yc1qOtSegqTkJONg_pBIOp6sUcA0:$`gdd)T2q׉E6Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 Saugus High School Sachems Co-Ed Volleyball Team praises top athletes on Freshmen, JV and Varsity Teams S augus High School Sachems Co-Ed Volleyball Team gave out awards to freshmen, junior varsity and varsity teams during their banquet last Wednesday at Mixx 360. Junior Varsity Defensive Player of the Year Pedro Spalenza with Head Coach Madison Niles. Varsity Offensive Player of the Year winner Peyton DiBiasio with Head Coach Mikayla Niles. Shown from left: freshmen played Nyah DeJesus, Soraya Mathieu, Ava Newbury, Kaelyn Mann, Mia Bond, Tessa Vicente, Ava Foley, and Head Coach Tory Beauchamp. Junior Varsity Offensive Player of the Year winner Casey Hanifan with Head Coach Madison Niles. Varsity Unsung Hero winner Brianna Feldman with Head Coach Mikayla Niles. Varsity Most Improved player Mara Faiella with Head Coach Mikayla Niles. Varsity Coaches’ Award winner Aly Mabee with Head Coach Mikayla Niles. Junior Varsity Coaches’ Award winner Agatha Gomes with Head Coach Madison Niles. Varsity Most Valuable Player winner Gia Saunders with Head Coach Mikayla Niles. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) Varsity players, shown front row, from left: Ava Freethy, Aiyana Cruz, Aly Mabee, Katie Barletta, Maria Silva and Abby Wooldridge. Back row, shown from left: Kayla Thery Villefranhe, Gia Saunders, Mara Faiella, Gabriel DeSouza, Meghan Xavier, Peyton DiBiasio, Brianna Feldman, Olivia Chaisson, and Head Coach Mikayla Niles. Junior Varsity Most Improved of the Year winner Danielle Braga with Head Coach Madison Niles. ׉ 7cassandra://HiiPsaKlGKsCaPS85yJQOD5zy6SgE5HMrfnnaTyAO5Y>`gdd)T2q׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 Page 13 Freshmen Most Improved Player Tessa Vicente with Head Coach Tory Beauchamp. Freshmen Coaches’ Award winner Soraya Mathieu with Head Coach Tory Beauchamp. Freshmen Most Valuable Player Ava Foley with Head Coach Tory Beauchamp. Freshmen Unsung Hero Ava Newbury with Head Coach Tory Beauchamp. Freshmen Offensive Player Of the Year Kaelynn Mann with Head Coach Tory Beauchamp. Varsity Coaches’ Award winner Abby Wooldrige with Head Coach Mikayla Niles. Junior Varsity Most Valuable Player winner Sophia Desmond with Head Coach Madison Niles. Junior Varsity Most Positive Attitude winner Leila Barrozo with Head Coach Madison Niles. Varsity Defensive Player of the Year winner Gabriel DeSouza with Head Coach Mikayla Niles. All Stars Aly Mabee, at left, with Gia Saunders during last Wednesday’s Saugus High School Co-Ed Volleyball Sachems banquet at Mixx 360. Freshmen Leadership Award winner Katie Camilo Grullon with Head Coach Tory Beauchamp. Shown from left: Returning Captain Aly Mabee, incoming Captain Mara Faiella, and returning Captain Maria Silva. Junior Varsity players, shown front row, from left: Summer Enos, Casey Hanifan, Arianna Chianca, Lohaine Rodrigues Martins, and Janins Haro. Shown back row, from left: Leila Barrozo, Makeisha Jean, Sophia Desmond, Danielle Braga, Pedro Spalenza, Audrina Giglio, Agatha Gomes and Head Coach Madison Niles. ׉ 7cassandra://JN8HCWBhX6Yo6h1yc1qOtSegqTkJONg_pBIOp6sUcA0:$`gdd)T2qgdd)T2q rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://XZYuwv_fUvVKwyg9dQJFtuY4ZZrUIW34Pv2YeFSMi20 `'p׉ 7cassandra://JxEUVDGklp9dqUr31yuuBN7etyFD929YPhZr-QL6ScsͿ`׉ 7cassandra://itwVSJUsWrsuqGSkeDEkMkH7xSAC8JqCPQ531JH5BPY4`gdd)T2qטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://ZtXXaqjVkJGpk10lVDT1BnBuFTtM38J4UsHiLoL1fv4-`'p׉ 7cassandra://1AtbGWjDS8Dgo8Wa1MO_PzUOc4NThMPbT_p8NV_Ti6Iʹ`׉ 7cassandra://00W0tLiJwZqdGsMeXLv_ywQe3uyRPJTvz_CX-F8SAiw1 `gdd)T2q֑נgdd)T2qفA9ׁHhttp://cast.netׁ ׁ Ј׉EuPage 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 Peyton DiBiasio joins 1,000-point club as Saugus girls start strong By Dom Nicastro I f Peyton DiBiasio called it a career right now – a little more than three seasons through – she’d still be in the GOAT talk for the Saugus High School girls basketball program. But she’s not done. Not even close. And the accolades keep adding up. In a 52-40 win over Gloucester on the road Tuesday night, the junior became the fourth girls basketball player at Saugus to reach the 1,000-point scoring milestone. She dropped a 28-point effort against the Fishermen on this night, sailing into the quadruple-digit club in style. She joins current assistant coach Norma Waggett and Pam Thornton and Jen Salas in the elite club. “It was exciting to watch another player reach this milestone,” Waggett said. “She’s only the fourth member in Saugus girls basketball history to accomplish this. I love how strong she is on and off the court. She takes it hard to the hoop and is incredibly coachable. She’s always in the gym extra working on her game. She can definitely play in college, and that’s her goal.” In her first three years for the Sachems, DiBiasio has an allstar and two All-Conference selections under her belt. Yes – all-star as an eighth-grader and All-Conference as a freshman and sophomore. The point guard and Ms. Everything on the court helped the Sachems to back-to-back Northeastern Conference championships and the program’s first postseason victory in recent memory this past season. She averaged 17.8 points per game, five rebounds and four assists this season. DiBiasio recalled the 1,000-point moment in Gloucester. “I scored my 1,000th point after a free throw,” she said. “I had attacked the hoop hard looking to draw a foul, and the refs made the call. I honestly didn’t know that free throw would be my 1,000th. I knew I was close, but I didn’t know I was that close. After I knocked the first one down and heard everyone cheering and storming the court, I knew I had done it. It was an exciting moment, and I was just very relieved to have had that weight finally lifted off my shoulders.” And here she is now with practically her whole junior and fourth season ahead of her, with around 40 games to go in her career. And this is one heckuva side benefit – she gets to work daily with a fellow member of the 1,000-point scoring club in Coach Waggett, who’s about 10 years removed from her Saugus playing days. How often does that happen? “Joining the 1,000-point club is something I’ve always dreamed about when I was a kid so to finally hit that milestone, especially with Coach Waggett (1,110 points in three seasons) by my side, is something special,” DiBiasio said. “Ever since she got here, she’s had an immediate impact on me and has been someone I know I can rely on. She’s been guiding me through it all as she has been in my shoes before and wants to see me succeed. Having her around has truly been a pleasure. I’m so grateful for her continuous support, and I can’t wait to continue working with her as the season progresses.” DiBiasio is only getting better on the court – more well-rounded, her head coach said. “I’ve noticed Peyton has worked harder on the defensive side of the ball and a willingness to try to rebound,” Saugus coach Joe Lowe said. “Peyton has the talent and the ability to be a college basketball player and ultimately one of the best basketball players in Saugus High School girls history and also in the North Shore area. What she puts into it is Peyton DiBiasio scored 28 points and entered the 1,000-point career scoring club in a win over Gloucester on the road on Tuesday, Dec. 17. She and her family are shown from left to right: father Ron DiBiasio, sister Justine DiBiasio, Peyton, mother Jen DiBiasio and brother Ronnie DiBiasio. what she continually gets out of it, so the sky is the limit.” DiBiasio has had plenty of help in the Sachems’ strong 2-1 start this winter season. Shawn Sewell had nine points and Katie Hashem added eight in the win against Gloucester. DiBiasio led the way with 20 points in a 63-19 win over Salem and was followed by Shay Sewell with 10 and Hashem with eight. “Everyone on the team is just working hard to play full court, man-to-man defense, and just giving maximum effort whenever they can on that side of the ball,” Lowe said. “Everyone is contributing in their own way the first three games, but I’ll give a big nod to freshman Katie Hashem, taking on tough defensive assignments against bigger, stronger, girls. She’s hitting shots.” Saugus-Peabody wrestling hungry for more success S By Dom Nicastro augus-Peabody wrestling has a lot to live up to — if you’re living up to last year’s success. The team in its 2023-2024 campaign had Sam LoRusso of Saugus compete in the 157-pound weight class at New Englands, going 4-2. LoRusso finished his career as top eight in New England and will go down as one of the top wrestlers in Saugus and Peabody history, according to Coach Wayne Moda. Saugus-Peabody’s 17 dual-meet wins make the 23-24 season the highest amount of wins for the team’s co-op and in either town’s history in the sport, according to Moda. Since the revitalization of the young Saugus/Peabody co-op in 2021 and despite low enrollment numbers, the team has a combined record of 43-291. In all, the program has advanced six wrestlers to the finals of its league tournament (two champs), four place winners at the D1 North Sectional and a state, all-state and New England placer.” This year, Moda enters the winter campaign for the fourth time. His team finished 17-71, placed fourth in the Northeastern Conference in the dual meet and third in the league meet. “Numbers are up,” Moda said. “We ended the year with 24 wrestlers in 23-24. This year, we had 50 signups, and we expect it to weed out to about 35. So 20 or so JVs. Some of which will find their way in the lineup at some point.” At 144, senior Max LoRusso of Saugus is a second-year captain. He was a 33-win wrestler last year and will break 100 wins by mid-season, his coach said. He is a great leader and motivator, according to Moda, and is ranked by the Schwartz report as 19th in New England. At 150, junior captain Michael Maraio of Peabody is a talented athlete who is mature beyond his years, his coach said. “He already had gained the respect of the entire team,” Moda said, “and we expect him to have a phenomenal year.” What can be a strength of the team this year? The middle of the lineup is tough, Moda said, adding, “We have returning wrestlers at 106, 120 through 157 and at heavyweight. We are always a well-conditioned team, and that sometimes hides where we can be weak in the lineup.” On a team with many new additions, getting them to adapt and understand what is expected of them will be challenging, Moda said. “Wrestling is like no other sport, and kids who come over from what they consider tough sports get a reality check very quickly about the physical and mental demands of wrestling,” Moda said. How is the league shaping up? “It’s early and anything can happen but Beverly seems to WRESTLING | SEE PAGE 19 ׉ 7cassandra://itwVSJUsWrsuqGSkeDEkMkH7xSAC8JqCPQ531JH5BPY4`gdd)T2q׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 Page 15 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus For the first time in nearly nine years as The Saugus Advocate editor, I get to wish our readers best wishes for a happy holiday season and all the best for a Happy New Year. That’s because today will be the final paper for this year. The Advocate Newspapers staff – which includes The Saugus Advocate and our three sister papers in Everett, Malden and Revere – will get to enjoy the Christmas week off next week. The Advocate Newspapers will return to work the following week – with the year’s first edition on Jan. 3, 2025. Best wishes to all of our readers and Saugus residents for a happy, healthy and safe holiday. If you are out partying on New Year’s Eve, play it safe and leave the driving to a designated driver. Begin 2025 with a Breakheart hike For those folks who want to get the new year off to a healthy start, consider participating in the First Day Hike at Breakheart Reservation on Jan. 1. The state Department of Conservation & Recreation and the Friends of Breakheart Reservation will once again be cosponsoring this event. Take some sage advice from the Friends: Start off the New Year with an invigorating First Day Hike in a beautiful state park and make a resolution to burn off those extra holiday calories! We will have two guided hikes – a two-mile hike and a three-mile hike – through the paved loops of Breakheart. We’ll be viewing animal tracks, CCC projects and the Lower and Upper Ponds. Be prepared for cold weather; dress in layers and wear winter boots. Warm up with hot chocolate and clam chowder from Kelly’s Roast Beef by the fire at the Visitor Center after the hike! Bring your friends and family! Plan on meeting at the Visitor Center at 10 a.m. on Jan. 1. Breakheart is located at 177 Forest St. in Saugus. For more information call 781-233-0834. option but a big thank you to Town Manager Scott Crabtree for offering the front of Town Hall to locate the Santa mailbox. Thank you! “And an RIP for Benny Coviello, who worked at Stop and Shop for so many years. Always had a smile and a friendly Hello for the shoppers. He will be missed!” Eden Bloss offered this “Shout Out” for Saugus Middle School students: “Saugus Middle School MEDAL WINNERS: Left to right: AJ Diciero, a third-grader at Belmonte STEAM Academy, and Santino Diciero, a first-grader at Veterans Early Learning Center, display the awards they won on Dec. 7 at the 10th Annual Massachusetts Elementary School XC Championships at the Gannon Golf Course in Lynn. AJ finished first in the category of boys grades 1–3. Santino finished 9th. Michael Wheeler, Jr., a third-grader at Belmonte STEAM Academy, finished 10th in the cross country race involving 29 runners. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) Year in Review issue on Jan. 3 As in past years, The Saugus Advocate plans to publish a Year-In-Review edition on Jan. 3, recapping the major stories of the year with a listing of the main headlines for each month. We usually let the elected town officials reflect on the year’s most important stories. This year, we will also solicit comments from our readers on what they thought were the top stories. Feel free to share your thoughts with an email to me at mvoge@comcast.net. If you wish to tell us what you think the top stories for 2024 were, please slug your email to me “Top Saugus stories 2024.” Thank you and best wishes to you for a great new year. Still time to write Santa Karen Coburn, the retired postal worker who enjoys writing letters back to Saugus kids in response to letters they mail to Santa Claus, said there is still time for kids to write Santa. “Probably until the twenty-third so the mailman can get them to the kids by the 24th,” she told me earlier this week. Karen, as we reported last week, wasn’t allowed to put her special “Letters to Santa” mailbox in the lobby of the Post Office this year. Fortunately, Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree agreed to let her set up her mailbox at Town Hall. And she already got 60 letters over the past week. The kids will be happy. Saugus United Parish Food Pantry The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Fridays from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. If you are able to donate to the food pantry, you can also stop by during those hours, drop off donations at the Saugus Public Library during library hours or contact office@cliftondalecc. org to make an appointment. Please note that the food pantry will be closed on Friday, December 27, in observance of Christmas. No new Legion Hall bookings till 2025 The American Legion Post 210 announced recently that it will honor any contract it has signed for a party from now through the end of December, but will not book any new ones until after the first of the year. This week’s “Shout Outs” Avid Saugus Advocate reader Sue Fleming offered multiple “shout outs” for this week’s paper: “A big Shout Out to everyone involved in the lighting and decorating around town which looks awesome! Very festive and everyone should be thankful. “Another Shout Out to Karen and John Coburn for all the hard work they do with the Santa letters for the kids in town. Disappointing that the Post Office is no longer an reached a historic milestone – achieving a #1 rank in the state of Massachusetts for 8th grade math performance improvement using the Carnegie Learning Middle School Math Solution. The average student growth percentage (SGP) is up +10.9 points from 2023 and up +31.2 vs. the state average in Massachusetts. “Saugus administrators faced a formidable challenge at the beginning of the 2021 school year: improve math proficiency among their 8th grade students – at the time ranked 169/300 in the state – in the midst of a pandemic. The school leadership doubled down on high quality instructional materials – MATHia and MATHbook – to align with the deep critical thinking and conceptual mathematics learning students should be doing in class.” Carnegie Learning CEO Barry Malkin added to the praise: “Reaching number one in the state for 8th grade math improvement is a remarkable achievement. It’s a testament to the commitment of Saugus leadership to continuous improvement, to maintaining a high level of student engagement and accountability, and off-the-charts teacher collaboration and support. We know that math proficiency opens doors to infinite opportunities – more than half of the jobs of the future will require math as a core skill – and Saugus students are well on their way to taking advantage of all the opportunities available to live life to the fullest while setting the standard for others THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 17 ׉ 7cassandra://00W0tLiJwZqdGsMeXLv_ywQe3uyRPJTvz_CX-F8SAiw1 `gdd)T2qgdd)T2q rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://QwYts_ueuS8DNiPHEUaLHHRER726VU3ZG8JdFzFLdiUpS`'p׉ 7cassandra://4fIFKuDcetZLR4siXqswJydEoM-cXDg1gslxeqbV0tgͮ#`׉ 7cassandra://YXyDExLJRlEc0VHxuHQ_e0oGXmJgXywpUtQOTl3BlOw3`gdd)T2qטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://ua3vpZPWiee2c75S64IlLGq7Vha_wsZz4AsSYsFMiXE;#`'p׉ 7cassandra://x1r6niDHxlX_GceM8itV2ZaJd3CmKDnS9qjZ-74iiBs͵`׉ 7cassandra://l50C5Sb55lnw8lkdCgHxJBMsCtKoKzX_VWzoQHu72cI2`gdd)T2qڒנgdd)T2qށ~ 9ׁHhttp://ChestnutWoodsRehab.comׁ ׁ Јנgdd)T2q݁j̭9ׁHmailto:mvoge@comcast.netׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 Saugus Gardens in the Winter Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener W inter has arrived, and for the most part it is a quiet time outdoors in the garden and landscape, with most plants dormant as long as the ground is frozen. There are still many birds and animals active and hungry; however, and you never know what you will see until you get out there. In the last days of the year, there are a number of major and minor holidays celebrated by different people, and plants are often part of the celebration. Many of the trees, shrubs, flowering perennials and annuals, and even parasitic vines (this last would include mistletoe (Viscum alba) had pagan associations in northern Europe before Christianity adopted some of the traditions. Others have more recent connections, like the poinsettia mentioned last week and amaryllis, which is one of the most popular indoor tender bulbs – often blooming indoors in winter. The earliest Christmas decorations were apples hung on the trees, and these are often considered the inspiration behind the red balls that are probably the most popular simple decoration. In northern climates, apples would be considered a treat in December although it would still be possible to find some that late A festive gathering of seasonal decorations takes place on a lawn in the neighborhood near Appleton’s Pulpit. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) Debbie Elliott’s “Apple Blossom” amaryllis has five buds about to bloom at just the right time of year! (Photo courtesy of Joanie Allbee) in the season because they keep pretty well in a cool location protected from frost, like a root cellar. The main reason they were hung on the tree, though, was because Christmas Eve was also known as the feast day of Adam and Eve. In some traditions, the Christmas tree is not supposed to be put up or decorated until Christmas Eve – for much of my husband’s childhood, his parents adhered to this tradition. My family tended to put it up earlier, and the date varied depending on when we had time to go tree shopping, although it tended to be sometime in mid-December. John Gaines, presently a resident of Virginia but the grandson of the late Saugus residents Katharina and Manley Gaines, recently wrote a blog post for the library in Fredericksburg, Va., about the history of Christmas trees, which I found very interesting: https://www.librarypoint. org/blogs/post/christmastrees-past There’s rosemary, that’s for A squirrel perches on the head of Eleanor Barry’s donkey garden ornament in East Saugus. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) The last full moon of 2024 peers through clouds last Sunday, Dec. 15 over Birch Pond in Lynnhurst. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) remembrance,” said Shakespeare’s character Ophelia in “Hamlet,” and because it is evergreen it is sometimes pruned and used as an ornamental tree around Christmas or used as a flavoring for festive foods. Unfortunately, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is not reliably hardy north of zone 7, although sometimes it can be kept indoors through the winter. Perhaps we should think of it as a New Year’s plant, or at least one appropriate for New Year’s Eve, as we remember the events of the year past This squirrel nicknamed “Whitey” for the white spot on its ear steals a sunflower seed from the birdfeeder near Eleanor Barry’ s deck. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) and share hopes for the new one. Tea (Camellia sinensis) may not be particularly associated with Christmas but certainly is remembered with a date in American history that took place on December 16, 1773 – the Boston Tea Party; 251 years ago this month, boxes of tea were thrown into the harbor in protest of the tax. So perhaps I should say coffee is associated with wintertime, too, since the colonists sought out alternative warm drinks, so this occurrence made tropical coffee trees – specifically Arabian coffee (Coffea arabica) and robusta coffee (Coffea canefora) – very significant plants for their use as a substitute for tea. Herbal teas were also important alternatives to indicate resistance to English rule and could include many plants. Chocolate (Theobroma cacao), too, has become a flavor people often associate with winter, both as a steamGARDENS | SEE PAGE 18 This squirrel is clearly grateful for the availability of fresh water beside Eleanor Barry’s deck in this season of frozen ponds. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) ׉ 7cassandra://YXyDExLJRlEc0VHxuHQ_e0oGXmJgXywpUtQOTl3BlOw3`gdd)T2q׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 Page 17 SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 15 to follow.” 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. Area Republicans meet Jan. 15 Saugus Town Republican Committee Chair Chris Luongo announced this week that area Republicans are confirmed for Jan.15 at 6:30 p.m. at Old Tyme Italian Cuisine in Lynn. “I am looking forward to meeting you all. Some of you have responded, but if you can once again confirm whether you or how many from your committee will be attending, this will be helpful to make sure we have enough room. Your presence is important and will greatly contribute to the success of our meeting. As this is our first meeting, I would like to have each town do a small introduction and what the types of activities you do as a committee. Please pass the word around to anyone you think might be interested. The following towns have responded. Saugus, Lynn, Nahant, Middleton and Malden “If you have any contacts with other towns, please get in touch with them and let them know. Let us grow our republican numbers and take our State back.” Saugus 4-1-1 set for March 1, 2025 The Saugus 4-1-1 Committee would like everyone to know that the Saugus 4-1-1 event will be taking place on March 1, 2025. Invitations to all new residents as well as nonprofits will be mailed out in January. “We are looking forward to having this wonderful event for new residents as well as those who have been here for years to learn what Saugus has to offer!” Selectman Corinne Riley wrote in an email recently. “Also, if you have a local business or service to promote, send your request or further inquiries to Saugus411@gmail. com. There are ‘Welcome Bags’ that are given out to the new residents with all kinds of information which could include your business or services offered to our Saugus residents. Stay tuned for further updates!” Selectman Riley is the driving force behind the nifty program, which had well-attended events at the Saugus Middle-High School last year and in 2022. Here’s what’s going on at the Saugus Public Library Five bucks for a bag of books! The New Friends of the Saugus Public Library are offering quite a bargain: $5 for a bag of books. Purchase a New Friends of the Saugus Public Library mesh book bag at the Main Desk for $5 and fill it with as many books as you’d like. Proceeds benefit the New Friends so they can support public library services in Saugus. Now available! Foreign Language Books! Foreign Language titles for Adults and Teens are now available for checkout. We have books in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Haitian Creole and Vietnamese. Check out our brandnew collection located on the second floor past the Young Adult Fiction books. Chestnut Woods Rehab begins “Operation Santa Paws” Chestnut Woods Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Saugus, where residents often benefit from animal-assisted therapy visits, has launched “Operation Santa Paws” to collect pet supplies and donate them to the Protection of Animals in Wakefield Society (PAWS). Through Dec. 22, the skilled nursing facility at 73 Chestnut St. welcomes donated items, such as blankets and towels, dog and cat beds, unopened pet food/treats, pet toys, grooming products, collars and leashes and food/water bowls. Therapy animals play a vital role in long-term care residents’ lives, particularly those living with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Benefits of animal therapy for seniors include emotional uplift, increased COACH T’s CROSS COUNTRY TEAM: Pictured from left to right: Back row: Coach Steve Boudreau, Michael Wheeler, Imrane Rahou, Luiz Sena and Coach T (Chris Tarantino); front row: Luke Porrazzo, Santino Diciero, Xavier Mazariegos-Darnell, AJ Diciero and Liam Marcu. Luke, a fourth-grader at Belmonte STEAM Academy, finished fourth in his race. Imrane, a fifth-grader at Belmonte STEAM Academy, finished 12th. The boys competed in the 10th Annual Massachusetts Elementary School XC Championships at the Gannon Golf Course in Lynn. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) self-esteem, improved social skills and reduced risk of depression and anxiety. For more information, visit ChestnutWoodsRehab.com. A Video for Vets Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and Veterans’ Service Officer Paul Cancelliere have collaborated on a video that highlights the work the Town of Saugus’ Veterans’ Services Office does to help local veterans and their families. In the video, Cancelliere explains how the Veterans’ Services Office follows three main pillars in advocating for veterans. These pillars are: · Implementing a variety of state benefits to aid veterans and their families · Processing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims for veterans and offering assistance for things such as homebuying, education, life insurance and burials · Community outreach by working with the Saugus Veterans Council to help put together events, such as the Memorial Day Parade, POW/MIA Recognition Day and the Veterans Day ceremony THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 22 READY TO RUN: Saugus was well represented in the 10th Annual Massachusetts Elementary School XC Championships. Pictured from left to right: Top row: Liam Marcu, Imrane Rahou, Luke Porrazzo and Michael Wheeler; middle row: Xavier Mazariegos, AJ Diciero and Santino Diciero; front and center is Luiz Sena. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) ׉ 7cassandra://l50C5Sb55lnw8lkdCgHxJBMsCtKoKzX_VWzoQHu72cI2`gdd)T2qgdd)T2q rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://PQoMJhmOCZG0voXkjZxDjJ-aJiVE1J0KBMUQw2z6NYUS`'p׉ 7cassandra://gEExI2sNrXbPolx1hMMl_wtyjdNFv-jEWBFIVU0FlwQʹ`׉ 7cassandra://yIilLkrS0SO6uK0QvtYJCHRzNk5SxQnrqIICkwGUTa04D`gdd)T2qטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://TsVBeoVNmPYBM07RUO2EiRvfDX0h2WTkkIVchfYggsQ m`'p׉ 7cassandra://0wFgTiy2FBhTYxcUg4-uEfdg6fobqhc-s0abTrbK61o͵`׉ 7cassandra://VMn-orSvpR1gPPdazNRYoT9td5_zO9RaaSPujPLZzNA.`gdd)T2qנgdd)T2q@̉9ׁHhttp://can.org/MA0136Pׁ ׁ Јנgdd)T2qvc9ׁHhttp://doubled.Thׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 GARDENS | FROM PAGE 16 ing cup to add to a cozy feeling and as chocolate flavorings in candy and desserts, perhaps consumed more in winter since warm temperatures can cause chocolate candy to melt. Spices like nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) for eggnog, ginger (Zingiber officinale) for gingerbread, hardy herbs like peppermint (Mentha piperita) for candy, for example, are also flavors and fragrances from plants all around the world that help to make the season flavorful. The winter solstice is tomorrow, December 21, after which we can look forward to lengthening daylight. The shortest day of the year marks a turning point, and while it may still be a few weeks before the longer days are really noticeable, they do mark some measurable progress toward spring. I always think of the stanza by British born poet Oliver Herford at this time of Announcement The Saugus Board of Selectmen is accepting applications for appointments to the Saugus Board of Appeals for the Town of Saugus. This is a volunteer/unpaid position for Saugus residents. Those interested may submit letter of interest/ resume, no later than January 13, 2025. Saugus Board of Selectmen Saugus Town Hall 298 Central Street, Suite 4 Saugus, MA 01906 December 20, 2024 ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ SAUGUS BOARD OF SELECTMEN PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the Saugus Board of Selectmen will conduct a Public Hearing on the request of Victor Ortega, 16 Sage Drive, Cranston, RI 02921 for a Common Victualer’s License to operate Cilantro’s Mexican Grill, to be located at 323 Main Street, Saugus, MA 01906. This Public Hearing will be held in the Saugus Town Hall Auditorium, second floor, 298 Central Street, Saugus, MA on January 8, 2025 at 7:05PM. Debra Panetta, Chairman Meredith K. Casagrande, Clerk December 20, 2024 year: “I heard the birds sing in the dark of December, a beautiful thing and sweet to remember, we are nearer to spring than we were in September.” Many people remember the birds and other wildlife in this cold season and provide them with additional food, as well as water, which can be in short supply when ponds are frozen. Eleanor Barry’s garden always has a full feeder for her animal neighbors, and her daughter Maureen Barry also makes sure there is some warm water in the birdbath every day. Eleanor and Maureen have observed some very thirsty birds taking numerous sips in recent days, and when I was there this week the squirrel was eager for a good long drink as well. Both Christmas and the first night of Hannukah fall on December 25, and New Year’s Day is a week later. It may be hard to talk yourself into going out for a walk when the weather is cold, but the decorations around town provide some additional incentive to enjoy the sights, and it won’t be long before you are warmed up by a walk. A new tradition that has become very popular is the First Day Hike held on New Year’s Day in many state parks and other charming locations. The list of participating state parks in Massachusetts includes one at Breakheart Reservation starting at 10 a.m. New Year’s Day this year. There are two options, a two-mile and a three-mile hike, both starting at the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center, cosponsored by the Friends of Breakheart and the Department of Conservation & Recreation. By the time you read the next “Saugus Gardens” column GARDENS | SEE PAGE 19 Taps was played by Sylvia Renda of Judge Holten Society NSCAR. (Courtesy photo of Joanie Allbee) Jane Conrad placed a wreath and honored the United States Coast Guard. (Courtesy photo of Joanie Allbee) WREATHS | FROM PAGE 4 today, who places a wreath on a veteran’s grave, to say that veteran’s name aloud and take a moment to thank them for their service to our country. It’s a small act that goes a long way toward keeping the memory of our veterans alive.” DAR served hot cocoa & Christmas donuts and many left warmer than when they arrived. Thank you to this year’s Wreaths Across Ameri - ca sponsorships. For 2025 Wreaths we have the following special: BOGO 2 for 1 – if you would like to get a head start on next year’s Wreaths Across America sponsorship, now until Jan 15, your order will be doubled.This year we had 760 sponsored wreaths but hope to reach our goal of 1,200 to cover all veterans’ graves in Riverside Cemetery. Please use the following link www.wreathsacrossamerican.org/MA0136P Local Army veterans at Wreaths Across America ceremony at Riverside Cemetery last Saturday (Courtesy photo of Joanie Allbee) ׉ 7cassandra://yIilLkrS0SO6uK0QvtYJCHRzNk5SxQnrqIICkwGUTa04D`gdd)T2q׉E!|THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 Page 19 ASKS | FROM PAGE 9 nukkah, Happy Holidays for whatever you may celebrate, and a happy and healthy New Year! Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeffrey Cicolini I would like to wish everybody a happy holiday season surrounded by family and friends, I also wish everyone peace, health and happiness as we turn the page on 2024 and head into 2025. We have so much to be thankful for and 2025 will be an amazing year for sure! Selectman Corinne Riley I believe the most ideal Christmas gift for our Town would be to remember we are all Saugonians and that we should work much harder at being kind to one another. Also, I look forward to quality-of-life improvements that I hope will benefit every resident. As one Selectman, my top priorities still are to move a 3rd fire station getting closer to fruition, that Cliftondale will continue to be addressed to be an active business area, replacement of the Golden Hills Playground, and a subscription-based email/SMS-compatible notification service for residents. This is the season to be at peace, to live, love and forgive. I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and may 2025 be happy and healthy. Merry Christmas to you and your family. May 2025 bring you happiness and health. Corinne and Chris Selectman Mike Serino My Christmas gift and top priority for the Town would be to continue to be a hardworking Selectman that does his homework, makes common sense decisions, respects everybody’s opinion and fights to protect our neighborhoods in order to preserve the quality of life in Saugus. In 2025, I will continue my GARDENS | FROM PAGE 18 on January 3, 2025, it will be a new year, the Grinch will have a new outlook on life and the longer days will be a reminder that spring is just a bit closer. work in keeping Saugus Town government stable and financially sound. Moreover, I will continue to advocate for improvements to our parks, playgrounds, roadways, sidewalks, water and sewer systems along with Cliftondale Square. We recently held our annual tree lighting event at Town Hall. It was an amazing event with many young families attending. I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped make this event so successful. Volunteerism is what makes Saugus so great. In closing, I would like to wish all our residents a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season. My sincere wishes for a happy and healthy New Year. School Committee Chair Vincent Serino I want to thank The Advocate for this opportunity. First, I wish the people of Saugus a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. My ideal Christmas gift for the town would be peace and prosperity for our community. I believe in Saugus and the direction in which it’s heading. I want to thank the Manager, the town meeting, the selectmen, Fincom, the parents, and all the boards that have helped the schools this year. We appreciate everyone and everything they do. As far as schools and our priorities are concerned, we continue to put student achievement at the top of our list. It is so important for us to start making progress in the education of our students. We have made strides in other aspects of the district; we need to focus on learning and student engagement, as well as the overall well-being of the students. School Committee Member Ryan Fisher 2025 will, like every year, be a challenging. We’re ready for it. I’m on the negotiation and finance subcommittees, and we have three contracts up and the FY26 budget season already underway. My gift for Saugus will be the same as the last five years. I’ll work very hard, behind 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 Garthe scenes, for schools that are robust and safe for every family. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!! School Committee Member John Hatch Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all, I am so blessed with an amazing family, and so thankful for all the dedication of all of our municipal and public safety employees. My wish is to continue to support our dedicated educators in our school district, and to keep moving our district forward and improving all of our students’ and teachers’ critical needs. School Committee Member Stephanie Mastrocola My ideal Christmas gift for the town of Saugus would be that nobody feels alone on the holiday. People would know that life can have moments of loneliness but there is someone who cares and can help. There are many people in Saugus who are hurting, away in the military, in the hospital sick or who have lost loved ones around this holiday. We need to make the holiday about opening our hearts and being there for one another. I have a special family who is going through a lot right now. They are in my prayers daily. She is an inspiration to me every day. For anyone else out there who feels alone, you’re not. Let’s work together on this special holiday and always to help people never feel alone. When thinking about priorities for the town in 2025, let’s start with respect, understanding and conversation. Then comes the budget for the schools and giving the staff the support they need to succeed in 2025. From ice packs to a strong curriculum, we all know the needs are very different from years ago. Making sure our staff feel supported by not only their leaders in the school but by their School Committee. We can do better, get better and most of all stay better. Have a wonderful holiday and be kind. den 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. WRESTLING | FROM PAGE 14 be the contender after winning the league last year,” Moda said. “We look to challenge them and put pressure on the NEC for a league dual meet title as well as the NEC/ CAL tournament later in the season.” Saugus boys basketball drops a pair Saugus fell to Salem, 7848, in its season opener and dropped a 68-53 decision to Gloucester. Against Salem, Huey Josama had 12 points, followed by Jordan Rodriguez (11), Ryan Dupuy (eight) and Ryan Shea (seven). Against Gloucester, coach Joe Bertrand said his team had a slow start but a positive finish. Shea and Rodriguez led the way with 12 points each. Dupuy had 10 points, and Nathan Soroko dropped six. - LEGAL NOTICE - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Essex Probate and Family Court 36 Federal Street Salem, MA 01970 (978) 744-1020 Docket No. ES24P3738EA Estate of: EVELYN Z. LISTON Also known as: EVELYN ZANI LISTON Date of Death: 11/02/2024 CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Probate of Will with Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by MaryEllen Zani-Nicolopoulos of Melrose, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that: MaryEllen Zani-Nicolopoulos of Melrose, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 01/21/2025. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affidavit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, Hon. Frances M. Giordano, First Justice of this Court. Date: December 17, 2024 PAMELA A. CASEY O’BRIEN REGISTER OF PROBATE December 20, 2024 ׉ 7cassandra://VMn-orSvpR1gPPdazNRYoT9td5_zO9RaaSPujPLZzNA.`gdd)T2qgdd)T2q rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://DYbZKyRgYzxa7BRqLzIcHsUYamH9_4QnfX4IHOASbB8g`'p׉ 7cassandra://_C7tTJPcLLvHp0SDDMRLs2DfTp2dvHPizWWVkCn1Br0ͻ}`׉ 7cassandra://f4xUH214xFM-DfNIdPggOB_I1JtU-kKX32-k3SJAHdY5`gdd)T2qטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://T9H7xdy4ycJyM9vexIYIOo3MUioCpclRseL60XOANBgC`'p׉ 7cassandra://iQ_Hxpl58WE85koHk9SluJ3UjZTLrpmAbXnUSpb3L6Eͽ8`׉ 7cassandra://nQaTTK39TR7UeNMCAzss1aehmDtNVEVK8lTbr4stvMw74`gdd)T2qנgdd)T2q59ׁH#mailto:remixproductions14@gmail.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 20 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 OBITUARIES Benny Coviello - LEGAL NOTICE - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Essex Division Docket No. ES24P3677EA Estate of: WALTER R. CORDEAU Also Known As: WALTER CORDEAU Date of Death: September 26, 2023 INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Yvonne A. Cordeau of Merrimack, NH a Will has been admitted to informal probate. Yvonne A. Cordeau of Merrimack, NH has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond. The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under formal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any, can be obtained from the Petitioner. December 20, 2024 O f Saugus. Age 85, passed away peacefully at home after a brief illness. A lifelong resident of Saugus, Benny was the son of the late Joseph and Jennie (Pyszko) Coviello. He was proud of his 30 years working at Stop and Shop where he greeted all his customers with a smile and “Hi Honey” or “How’re you doing Sir”. Everywhere he went, someone would know Benny from seeing him at the store. He retired this year and received a citation from the Town of Saugus for his service. Benny was a devoted member of St. Margaret’s church in Saugus and rarely missed a service. Benny was proud of his Italian heritage and enjoyed going to the feasts in the North End and reminiscing about all his Italian aunts and uncles. In his younger years, he enjoyed his daily walks to Cliftondale Square. Benny enjoyed music, especially Connie Francis, and he played the organ. Despite his challenges, Benny lived a life filled with love, joy and simplicity. His pale blue eyes and infectious smile touched everyone he met. Benny leaves his devoted sister Toni (Coviello) Gillis of Saugus; nieces, Leah Gillis of Peabody and Jonna Gillis and her partner Donald Tapley of Peabody; niece-in-law Andrea (Nardone) Gillis of Wilmington; and six great nieces and nephews - Carlyn, Jon, Delaney, Daniel, Jackson and Bonnie. He was predeceased by brother-in-law, Jon Gillis of Saugus and nephew, Joseph Gillis of Saugus and Wilmington. He also leaves his coffee pals, Mary, Oscar and Beth. Relatives and friends were invited to attend visitation in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, Saugus on Saturday, REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS Copyrighted material previously published in Banker & Tradesman/The Commercial Record, a weekly trade newspaper. It is reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Warren Group. For a searchable database of real estate transactions and property information visit: www. thewarrengroup.com. BUYER1 Callejas, Boris G BUYER2 SELLER1 Johnson Lillian M Est SELLER2 Metropolis, Marilyn J 1. On Dec. 20, 1790, the first American cotton mill went into operation on what river in Massachusetts and Rhode Island? 2. Wha holiday’s name (created by an American activist) is in Swahili? 3. How are Ask Jeeves, Lycos and WebCrawler similar? 4. On Dec. 21, 1913, the New York World newspaper published the world’s first of what puzzle? 5. What writer who once lived in Vermont wrote in poems “East is East, and West is West” and “The Law of the Jungle”? 6. How are USS and HMS similar? 7. On Dec. 22, 1989, what gate between East and West Germany was opened? 8. Can you ski in Hawaii? 9. What is the French word for Christmas? 10. What kind of candy is gelt? 11. On Dec. 23, 1947, what winner of four Boston Marathons (now a Mass. resident) was born? 12. Where did fondue originate: Belgium, France or Switzerland? 13. What is Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s World of the Year (meaning being divided)? 14. On Dec. 24, 1912, one of the first USA public Christmas trees was lit on Boston Common; for decades what province has gifted Boston a Christmas tree? ADDRESS 12 Summer St CITY Saugus 15. What holiday plant is a parasite on other plants? 16. In what film would you find the Kingdom of Arendelle? 17. On Dec. 25, 1758, what comet was visible from earth – the first comet sighting predicted beforehand? 18. Why was Mariah Carey – nicknamed Songbird Supreme – also given the nickname “Queen of Christmas”? 19. How are cheque, draught and tyre similar”? 20. December 26 is Boxing Day in Great Britain and some other countries; traditionally, what was it? DATE 11.25.24 PRICE 477500 ANSWERS December 14 followed by a funeral service. Interment in Riverside Cemetery in Saugus. In lieu of flowers, donations in Benny’s memory may be made to St. Margaret’s Parish, 431 Lincoln Ave., Marilyn “Mal” P. (Dorney) Mooney O f Saugus. Age 73, died on Wednesday, December 11 th at home with her loving family by her side. She was the beloved wife of Paul Mooney with whom she shared 49 years of marriage. Born in Everett and raised in Malden, and 46-year resident of Saugus, Marilyn was the daughter of John and Rose OBITS | SEE PAGE 21 1. Blackstone 2. Kwanzaa (Dec. 26–Jan. 1) 3. They are internet search engines created in the 1990s. 4. Crossword 5. Rudyard Kipling 6. They are abbreviations for ship titles (United States Ship and His (Her) Majesty’s Ship, respectively) 7. Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate 8. Yes (on Mauna Kea, an extinct volcano on the Big Island) 9. Noel 10. Chocolate coins often given at Hanukkah 11. Bill Rodgers 12. Switzerland 13. Polarization 14. Nova Scotia 15. Mistletoe 16. “Frozen” 17. Halley’s 18. Due to the popularity of her hit “All I Want for Christmas is You” 19. They are British spellings of English words (check, draft [the beverage] and tire). 20. A day when the poor, servants and tradespeople received gifts ׉ 7cassandra://f4xUH214xFM-DfNIdPggOB_I1JtU-kKX32-k3SJAHdY5`gdd)T2q׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 Page 21 OBITS | FROM PAGE 20 (Burke) Dorney. She enjoyed a gratifying career working in the insurance and security industries where she started out as an executive secretary before transitioning to administration handling accounting and administrative projects. Marilyn greatly enjoyed spending time with her family and time on Cape Cod as well as all her hobbies including reading, travelling, walking, the Boston Bruins, visiting resort casinos, and her annual girls’ weekends with the Tyler Street gang. Marilyn was a cofounder of Melrose Mothers of the Mound a women’s softball league. She supported many charitable organizations. Marilyn is survived by her son Jonathan Mooney from New York City; her two sisters Maureen Dorney Mackenzie of Hanover and Kathleen Dorney Ayube of Saugus; her nephew Shawn Ayube of Hopkinton; her niece Kelly Mackenzie Littlefield of Hanover; and her six grand nephews and nieces Finnegan Ayube, Amalia Ayube, Connor Ayube, Evan Littlefield, Cyril Littlfi eld, and Judith Littlefi eld. Relatives and friends were invited to attend visiting hours in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, 549 Lincoln HONOR ROLL | FROM PAGE 7 Sabrina Magliozzi ’25 Roomy Mondestin ’25 Riley Moses ’28 Marygrace O’Donnell ’27 Alessandra Palomba ’27 Nicolas Sapienza ’27 Alina Truong ’26 Peter Walsh ’25 Second Honors Olivia Arsenault ’26 Kayla Christine Calizaya ’28 Aaron Connor ’28 Hailey Fern ’26 Massimo Ferullo ’27 Jacob Grasso ’27 Arijana Jonuz ’28 Philip Mirisola ’28 Jovani Pierre-Louis ’28 Walter Pietrzak III ’28 Rania Saroufi m ’27 Yasmin Saroufi m ’26 Steven Streeter ’25 Sabrina Tamburello ’28 Ave., Saugus on Sunday December 15. A funeral was held from the funeral home on Monday followed by a funeral mass in St. Joseph’s Church, Malden. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. Flowers and/or donations to Make-A-Wish® Arizona, 2901 North 78th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251. ~ Help Wanted ~ Event Coordinator. Plan & execute events incl. logistics, sponsorships, budgets, & marketing. Secure partnerships & deliver creative, high-quality experiences. Req. 4 yrs of exp. in event planning or rel. field. Req. fluent Brazilian Portuguese, written & spoken. $62,800.00/yr. Send resume to: REMIX PRODUÇÕES INC, 173 Water St, Saugus, MA 01906 or email: remixproductions14@gmail.com Lawn and Yard Care SNOW PLOWING *REASONABLE RATES * PROMPT SERVICE * PARKING LOTS USA 781-521-9927 KNIVES & SCISSORS SHARPENED Sharp Services Inc. 222 Central St., Saugus (617) 590-3500 Aging in Place? AmeriGlide offers affordable stair lifts to keep you safe on the stairs. Benefits of an AmeriGlide stair lift: Regain your independence Eliminate the risk of falls on the stairs Access all levels of your home CALL NOW TO SAVE $200 1-844-237-6716 r ON ANY STAIR LIFT! Call today and r FREE SHOWER P PLUS $1600 OFF GE 0 OFF 1-844-609-10661 walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous y Name_________________________________________ Address_______________________________________ City_______________ State_______ Zip ____________ CC# _______________________________ Exp. _____ Sec. code____ Advocate (City):___________________ Clip & Mail Coupon with Credit Card, Check or Money Order to: Advocate Newspapers Inc. PO Box 490407, Everett, MA 02149 Advertise in The Advocate! Call 781-233-4446 for great rates! Your Hometown News Delivered! EVERETT ADVOCATE MALDEN ADVOCATE REVERE ADVOCATE SAUGUS ADVOCATE One year subscription to The Advocate of your choice: $175 per paper in-town per year or $225 per paper out-of-town per year. SPECIAL OFFER Call Driveways from $35 ׉ 7cassandra://nQaTTK39TR7UeNMCAzss1aehmDtNVEVK8lTbr4stvMw74`gdd)T2qgdd)T2q rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://dxL1znbArUOh5DfQroFnq352iQVNCbiqIfTWsHkD6NU)`'p׉ 7cassandra://CN1_fk_VbjmgRqGR1F9srratrrCoT4s9iHMOgxDABHYv`׉ 7cassandra://mcw5OqSd9E0JNjlRf6ABfyl5Q_6fxk3mon_52L3dchQ?`gdd)T2qטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://8d6N62h51Lf50LukVtWkMo_gtqBeiRdLPc5AAyQNNkkh`'p׉ 7cassandra://eCqSyv_CriBIvAtjlx6cXe69jL9dP9kKbOucT_CLf6M͠=`׉ 7cassandra://7YYsUR4P6Vb06nXbTcVq6P5GHKLfS2JiLe-SXKC_3Gk1`gdd)T2qנgdd)T2q,9ׁHhttp://TrinityHomesRE.comׁ ׁ Јנgdd)T2qj 9ׁHhttp://mangorealtyteam.comׁ ׁ Јנgdd)T2q̉ 9ׁHmailto:infowithmango@gmail.comׁ ׁ Јנgdd)T2qj 9ׁHhttp://mangorealtyteam.comׁ ׁ Јנgdd)T2q̉ 9ׁHmailto:infowithmango@gmail.comׁ ׁ Јנgdd)T2q̗ 9ׁHhttp://www.mangorealtyteam.comׁ ׁ Јנgdd)T2q@̕ 9ׁHmailto:infowithmango@gmail.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 22 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 We follow Social Distancing Guidelines! The Kid Does Clean Outs From 1 item to 1,000 * Basements * Homes * Backyards * Commercial Buildings The cheapest prices around! Call Eric: (857) 322-2854 SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 17 The Saugus Veterans’ Services Offi ce is located on the main floor of Saugus Town Hall at 298 Central St. Paul Cancelliere serves as the veterans’ services officer, and Nancy Stead is the administrative assistant for the department. For more information call 781-231-4010 or email pcancelliere@saugus-ma.gov, veteransservices@saugus-ma. gov or nstead@saugus-ma. gov About The Saugus Advocate We welcome press releases, American Exterior and Window Corporation Contact us for all of your home improvement projects and necessities. Call Jeff or Bob Toll Free: 1-888-744-1756 617-699-1782 / www.americanexteriorma.com Windows, Siding, Roofing, Carpentry & More! All estimates, consultations or inspections completed by MA licensed supervisors. *Over 50 years experience. *Better Business Bureau Membership. Insured and Registered Complete Financing Available. No Money Down. Licensed & Insured Free Estimates Carpentry * Kitchen & Bath * Roofs * Painting Decks * Siding * Carrijohomeimprovement.com Call 781-710-8918 * Saugus, MA General Contractor * Interior & Exterior Frank Berardino MA License 31811 • 24 - Hour Service • Emergency Repairs BERARDINO Plumbing & Heating Residential & Commercial Service Gas Fitting • Drain Service 617.699.9383 Senior Citizen Discount Clean-Outs! We take and dispose from cellars, attics, garages, yards, etc. Call Robert at: 781-844-0472 855-GO-4-GLAS 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 photo to submit, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a message at 978-6837773. Or send your press release to me in the mail at PO Box 485, North Andover, MA 01845. Let us become your hometown newspaper. The Saugus Advocate is available in the Saugus Public Library, the Saugus Senior Center, Saugus Town Hall, local convenience stores and restaurants throughout town. ׉ 7cassandra://mcw5OqSd9E0JNjlRf6ABfyl5Q_6fxk3mon_52L3dchQ?`gdd)T2q׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 Page 23 TURN-KEY HOME in WEST PEABODY - $839,000 For Sale: Welcome to this fully renovated "turn-key" brick front split in desirable West Peabody, just moments from major highways and shopping. Your budget will enjoy the low residential tax-rate and the attractive municipal electric rates. Owners went above and beyond renovating this well situated spacious 5-bedroom/2 full bath home featuring all new: roof, full bathrooms, appliances, 200-amp service, hi efficiency heat, central A/C, deck rails, exterior paint, composite fencing, many windows, flooring. Contact: Peter at 781-820-5690. Open House this Sunday, 12/22/2024 from 1pm-3pm. SPACIOUS ROCKPORT TOWNHOME - $699,000 For Sale: Experience the charm of Rockport with this stunning 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom townhome offering 2,656 sq. ft. of spacious living. Priced at $699,000, this home features a thoughtful layout perfect for comfortable living and entertaining, with a low monthly HOA of $135 and a competitive $263 per square foot. Located close to Rockport’s scenic attractions, this property combines comfort with coastal elegance. Don’t miss the opportunity to make this coastal gem your own! For more details, contact Rosa at 781-8200096 and Jeanine at 617-312-2491. Managing Multiple Offers on Your Property: When handling multiple offers on you property, it’s crucial to stay organized and evaluate each offer carefully. Look beyond just the price - consider contingencies, buyer qualifications, and flexibility with closing dates. A higher offer may not always be the best if it comes with risky terms or financing uncertainties. Trust your real estate agent to guide you through the process and help you make a well-informed decisions for a smooth transaction. MANGO REALTY INC 781-558-1091 / infowithmango@gmail.com / www.mangorealtyteam.com 3-FAMILY HOME in LYNN, MA - $899,000 For Sale: 3-family property on a dead-end street features spacious 6-room, 3-bedroom units with stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, separate utilities, and in-unit coin-op washers and dryers. Includes 2-car parking, a 2-year-old gas heating system on the first floor, oil heating on the second and third, and full deleading compliance for all units. Conveniently close to Market Basket and local amenities! Would you like to take a tour of this property? Contact: Sue at 617-877-4553 for more details and to schedule a tour! Curious About Your Property’s Value? – Free Market Analysis! Are you thinking about selling your property or simply curious about its current market value? Mango Realty, Inc. is here to help! We offer a complimentary market analysis to provide you with a clear and accurate understanding of your property’s worth in today’s real estate market. With our expertise and local knowledge, you’ll gain valuable insights to make informed decisions—whether you’re planning to sell or just exploring your options. No cost, no obligation, just professional guidance from a team you can trust. Contact us today to get started! infowithmango@gmail.com. Visit our website at mangorealtyteam.com for exclusive listings, market reports, and a free home valuation tool. Let us help with all you real estate needs! Looking to buy or sell your property? Call us at 781-558-1091 or email Looking to buy or sell your property? Call us at 781-558-1091 or email infowithmango@gmail.com. Visit our website at mangorealtyteam.com for exclusive listings, Wishing you love, joy and peace this holiday season, From All of Us at Trinity Real Estate Servicing Saugus, Melrose, Wakefield, Malden, all North Shore communities, Boston and Beyond. TRINITY REAL ESTATE 321 MAIN STREET | SAUGUS, MA | VILLAGE PARK Providing Real Estate Services For Over 17 Years 781.231.9800 TrinityHomesRE.com ׉ 7cassandra://7YYsUR4P6Vb06nXbTcVq6P5GHKLfS2JiLe-SXKC_3Gk1`gdd)T2qgdd)T2q rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://NSE_ZrhT463-4ikI6f3klHrpvjCFvL7zLgV5xI38pTcuQ`'p׉ 7cassandra://0JhC2HkYn-ZFrQ0zdbWMmJTiKupGbj6TfNoDvfg4jv8͋(`׉ 7cassandra://1heWd5tCLryhn7Rk4MRelKwG9bL7Afkfna_oyDvC4TE.`gdd)T2q׉E:Page 24 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 20, 2024 ׉ 7cassandra://1heWd5tCLryhn7Rk4MRelKwG9bL7Afkfna_oyDvC4TE.`gdd)T2q׈Egdd)T2qgdd)T2q r,Saugus Advocate 12/20/2024Saugus Advocate 12/20/2024gddˁDVu