Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS By Mark E. Vogler Back to Zoom meetings Just when we thought we had seen the last of Zoom public meetings, we’re seeing a sharp spike in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. As a result, a few local government bodies are going back to Zoom. Wednesday night’s (Jan. 12) Saugus School Committee Finance Subcommittee meeting was conducted via Zoom teleconferencing, as was last night’s (Thursday, Jan. 13) meeting where Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Erin McMahon’s presentation of the 2023 Fiscal Year (beginning July 1) budget was expected to be the main event. “We had to move the budget presentation to Zoom to allow the meeting to happen, just given how many people are infected or very closely exposed to COVID,” School Committee Member Ryan Fisher explained in an interview Wednesday night. “For the vote on the budget next week, we just need to be able to make sure we have a quorum. The talking heads seem to think this surge is almost over. I hope they’re right.” So, there’s a possibility that next Thursday night’s (Jan. 20) School Committee meeting could be an in-person meeting. Then again, if the committee has trouble fielding a quorum because several members are battling the virus – or the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to soar – look for another Zoom meeting. Prostate Cancer Awareness The Saugus Senior Center will host a new community-based group that will focus on Prostate Cancer Awareness, beginning next Wednesday (Jan. 19) at 10 a.m. at 466 Central St. Refreshments will be provided. The goal of “Saugus Prostate Awareness” is to raise awareness of prostate cancer, to encourage men to seek screening, to share personal experiences and to provide suggestions for participants. About one in eight men will be diagnosed with CONTEST SKETCH OF THE WEEK prostate cancer during his lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Prostate cancer is more likely to develop in older men and in non-Hispanic Black men. About six cases in 10 are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older, and it is rare in men under 40. The average age of men at diagnosis is about 66. The 2020 U.S. Census has revealed that the median age of Saugus residents is 48 compared to the state average (39.4), which suggests that prostate cancer could be more commonplace in Saugus compared to the state. The first meeting will feature three longtime community members who have experienced diagnosis and treatment. They will share what they have learned with participants to inform and encourage men and their partners about the importance of accurate screening and detection. While this disease is specific to men, women are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please call the Senior Center at 781-231-4182 to indicate that you will be participating. The Voke vote is set for Jan. 25 Saugus voters will get to provide a “yes” or “no” answer to the following question in a special ballot election to be held later this month: “Do you approve of the vote of the Regional District School Committee of the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District adopted on December 9, 2021, to authorize the borrowing of $317,422,620 to pay costs of designing, constructing, originally equipping and furnishing a new Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School and related athletic facilities, located at 100 Hemlock Road in Wakefield, Massachusetts, including the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto …” Saugus is just one of 12 communities in the Northeast Metro Tech Regional School District that will be voting in the Special Election on Jan. 25. Voting for all 10 town precincts will take place at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St.) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., instead of being held at the usual polling locations. Postcards notifying voters of the upcoming election were mailed out recently. There will be no early voting for this election. However, residents can vote absentee. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Jan. 19. Don’t trust voicemail translations Our apologies go to Ruth Berg, who really did win the “Guess Who Got Sketched!” contest, despite our report that there were no winners last week. We initially reported that there were no winners. The translation of the Xfinity voice mail for Ruth listed the answer as “Cathy burke.” The real answer was Miss Ceiny DuPlessie. But after listening to my voice messages after the paper came out, I received one from Ruth that guessed the sketch subject correctly: “Miss Ceiny DuPlessie.” This is how Xfinity translated Ruth’s call: Hi it’s Ruth Berg and I’m answering these sketches on page 16 this week and it’s saying(?) me two places(?) and that’s my guess who it’s is Cathy burke(?) thank you. Sure, it was garbled. But, at first glance, her answer GUESS WHO GOT SKETCHED! If you know the right answer, you might win the contest. In this week’s edition, we continue our weekly feature where a local artist sketches people, places and things in Saugus. Got an idea who was sketched this week? If you do, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a phone message at 978-683-7773. Anyone who between now and Tuesday at noon correctly identifies the Saugonian who was sketched qualifies to have their name put in a green Boston Red Sox hat with a chance to be selected as the winner of a $10 gift certificate to J&M Italian American Cuisine (340 Central St., Saugus). But you have to enter to win! Look for the winner and identification in next week’s “The Sounds of Saugus.” Please leave your mailing address in case you are a winner. (Courtesy illustration to The Saugus Advocate by a Saugonian who goes by the name of “The Sketch Artist”) was “Cathy burke.” Had I listened to the phone message, it was clear that she was leaving a message that “Ruth Berg” had called. And I would have figured out that “it’s saying (?) me two places (?)” was really “Miss Ceiny DuPlessie.” All I can say is “Sorry for the delayed congratulations, Ruth. You were the only reader guessing the identity of the sketch correctly.” As for voice mail translations, you need to listen to them instead of relying on the translation that winds up in your email. We have a winner! Congratulations to Doug Pogson for making the right identification in last week’s “Guess Who got Sketched!” Contest and then being the one selected from among many readers whose names were entered into the green Boston Red Sox cap. Here’s the correct answer, offered by the person who goes by the name of The Sketch Artist: “The answer to last week’s sketch is a very humble man Mr. Gordon Shepard! Gordon is a lifelong Saugonian and a Saugus High Graduate of 1965. “Gordon served as a letter carrier for 35 years with the Post Office. He was voted Saugus Man of the Year in 2014. He is a U.S. Army Veteran who served in the Vietnam war. Gordon spent many decades (still present) voluntarily straightening out Soldiers’ headstones and multitude of works for their resting in respectful place. “He assisted with various projects restoring over 400 plus Veteran’s grave sites. These graves are maintained because of Gordon’s selfless care to these Soldiers. Many grave sites through the years had been overgrown with grass sinking into the earth where no names could be read. “Gordon tirelessly started one by one tidying up each plot giving these Soldiers the respect and honor they deserve. It all started when he visited a fellow Vietnam buddy Richard “Dicky” Devine’s grave site who was a fellow Vietnam Pal. Mr. Richard Devine was killed in combat in 1969. Gordon saw how his headstone was sinking and grass overgrown. He restored his friend’s burial place and then moved on to the next plot beside his friend. “This was the starting story of Gordon’s tireless efforts and work to give our Veterans a place of honor to rest after their life sacrifices to our homeland. Gordon is all hands on in these projects, working quietly behind the scenes, while deflecting all of the credit to others who may have helped in. “But, he has received national recognition for his efforts to keep the memory of Civil War soldiers and sailors alive by instigating a massive restoration project at the site of the General Edward Winslow Hincks Post No. 95 Grand Army of the Republic Burial Plot. It’s a project he began in 2015 and spent thousands of hours over several years completing. “The National Organization of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War honored Shepard with the organization’s 2019 Founder’s Award for his outstanding service in the memory of Union Civil War Soldiers. It was the group’s only award for the year. “Gordon assisted and conferred with others from getting the right size and material cannonballs to taking out and putting up new marble posts, for grave markers to honor and identify the graves of the 25 soldiers and sailors – many who couldn’t be identified because the inscriptions on their gravestones were faded and unreadable. Gordon was honored with a Citation from the House of Representatives which recognized his Founder’s Award too! (A Founder’s Award is an Annual award that is the Highest Honor that can be presented to someone who is not even a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Gordon has been honored for his work and featured in several interviews such as ‘Civil War Talk.’) “On ‘Gordie Shepard Day’ (unofficially named that for a man who gives so much of himself in various ways to honor and show respect to the Soldiers in those graves) people came out to see Gordon receive his Awards and Thank Gordon personally! A crowd of about 300 gathered in Riverside Cemetery that day to see this humble Saugonian honored. “Gordon Shepard is the reason behind ALL the restoration projects at the Site of The General Edward Winslow Hincks Post NO.95 Grand Army Republic Spot. “Thankyou and a Big Shout Out to Gordon Shepard for serving those who served us first. Your light of love shines so brightly like a beacon for our Soldiers and other and other military veterans laid to rest in the Cemetery! THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 11
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