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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JAnUAry 10, 2025 Page 17 SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 15 Christmas tree disposal dates As a reminder, the Town of Saugus announces that Christmas trees will be collected curbside during the weeks of Jan. 6-10 and Jan.13-17. Residents may dispose of their Christmas trees on their regularly scheduled trash collection days. Trees should be left curbside near trash and recycling barrels. The Town of Saugus would like to thank everyone for their cooperation. Please contact Town of Saugus Recycling Director Scott Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions. Saugus Cultural Festival Feb. 23 Planning continues for the Saugus Cultural Festival, which is set for Sunday, Feb. 23 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, according to Tori Darnell, Co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council – the event’s organizers. BEACON HILL ROLL | FROM PAGE 16 auto and home insurance discount rates. The measure permits groups with less than the 35 percent participation to take advantage of group rates, which supporters said will save members between 5 percent and 8 percent. The law has been waived since 1997. The 35 percent requirement was first included in a 1973 law. Supporters said if the bill is not approved, insurance discounts for 322,000 vehicles and 142,000 homes in the Bay State would disappear on January 1, 2025 and consumers will pay millions of dollars more for insurance. “This bill will preserve access to more affordable home and auto insurance for Massachusetts residents,” said Gov. Healey. Reps. Dan Cahill (D-Lynn) and Tom Walsh (D-Peabody) sponsors of the measure did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them to comment on their bill. 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 the Cultural Council 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: Jan. 19. Please reach out if you have any questions. 1 Saugus 4-1-1 set for March The Saugus 4-1-1 Committee would like everyone to know COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSES (S 3002) – Gov. Healey signed into law a proposal which would prevent commercial drivers from losing their licenses due to passenger vehicle offenses they committed prior to September 30, 2005. The Registry of Motor Vehicles recently notified hundreds of bus and truck drivers that they were ineligible for commercial licenses due to at least two past major offenses, blindsiding many motorists who for years thought their infractions were behind them. “Over time, the relevance and predictive value of these older offenses has diminished, particularly for those drivers who have remained offense-free since,” said Healey. “In most circumstances, a commercial driver who meets the safety requirements of federal law should not be disqualified from driving due solely to passenger vehicle offenses that occurred 19 or more years ago.” She noted her bill would remove consideration of pre-September 30, 2005 passenger vehicle offenses from the disqualification law, 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. “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 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). 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 except for multiple instances of operating under the influence. “Our administration is committed to ensuring safety on our roads while also supporting the many hardworking Massachusetts residents who rely on commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for their livelihoods,” continued Healey. “The RMV will take immediate action to inform eligible drivers that their CDLs will not be disqualified and will continue updating its regulations to ensure that drivers who have served disqualifications for significant periods of time will have a pathway to reinstatement.” VENMO, PAYPAL AND CASHAPP (H 4840) – Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that supporters say would put consumer protections in place for consumers who use payment apps like Venmo, PayPal and CashApp, while also leveling the regulatory playing field for businesses in the banking and finance industry. Provisions include mandating updated regulations for domestic money transmission NEW YEAR’S BABY: Michael and Jessica Lombardi of Saugus with baby Leah, the first child born in a Boston hospital this year. (Photo courtesy of Mass General labor and delivery nurse Emily Martin) 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 services, including licensing and compliance requirements; prohibiting an individual from engaging in domestic money transmission without a license; requiring licensees engaged in this business to submit regular reports on their financial condition, including quarterly and annual reports; requiring all licensees to refund to a sender all money received for transmission within ten days of receipt of the sender’s written request for a refund unless certain circumstances apply; and allowing the commissioner of Banks to suspend or revoke licenses for non-compliance, fraud or unsafe practices, and to impose civil penalties for violations. “With this new law, consumers in Massachusetts will now have protection when transferring money to friends and businesses through payment apps,” said Gov. Healey. “The use of apps like Venmo and PayPal has skyrocketed over the years, with billions of dollars exchanging hands, so the importance of this legislation cannot be understated.” “We are so excited to see the domestic money transmission bill become law because it will pillars are: • Implementing a variety of state benefits to aid veterans and their families THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 21 positively impact both consumers and businesses,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “In addition to offering protection for those using payment apps here in Massachusetts, the bill also establishes regulatory consistencies for any business offering the same services as banking institutions.” “With the increasing use of mobile payment applications like Venmo now established as part of the financial landscape, it’s time for regulatory oversight to ensure consumers will have the same protections that apply to traditional sectors of the financial industry,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. ROSA PARKS DAY (H 3075) – The House and Senate approved and sent to the governor a bill establishing February 4 as Rosa Parks in recognition of the historic civil rights leader. “Rosa Parks’ bravery on that Montgomery bus was not just a pivotal moment in the CivBEACON | SEE PAGE 18

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