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Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS By Mark E. Vogler Ready to vote on The Voke Tuesday? Any Saugonian who reads a weekly or daily newspaper surely knows by now that Tuesday (Jan. 25) is a Special Election for registered voters in Saugus. And there will be one question on the ballot requiring a “Yes” or “No” answer – “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 ….” The setting and format for the election is a bit unusual, in that people who might like to vote between the hours of 7 and 8 a.m. before they go to work or between the hours of 7 and 8 p.m. after they get home and have supper will not have that option. The voting will take place between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. And they won’t be voting at their normal polling locations either. Tuesday’s vote will take place in the Saugus Senior Center at 466 Central St. Another unusual aspect to this election is that the outcome will be decided within the context of the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District. Theoretically, a negative vote by Saugus wouldn’t kill the project. By the same token, a positive vote wouldn’t assure that the project proceeds. All it takes is a simple majority from the registered voters of Saugus and the other 11 communities that make up The Voke school district. And if the project passes, based on a simple majority vote of the 12 communities, Saugus officials will have to figure out how to finance the project, most likely by a debt exclusion vote. Remember – Town Meeting members voted 37-6 in favor of a Finance Committee recommendation against approving an article which many town officials worry could lead to massive cuts in the town’s operating budCONTEST SKETCH OF THE WEEK get over the next 30 years. The estimated financial impact for Saugus over a 30-year period is as high as $40.6 million. A project with that kind of price tag should be funded through a debt exclusion instead of the town’s operating budget – and by a vote of the people, a majority of the Town Meeting members agreed. And there were some town officials who frankly were annoyed that the town didn’t receive specific dollar amounts to vote on and with an explanation as to how the project would be funded. All things considered, my guess is that those who show up and vote in Saugus on Tuesday will overwhelmingly support The Voke School project, which will probably win by a landslide after all the votes are counted in the 12 communities that make up the district. Current conditions at The Voke are deplorable for students, especially if they have physical disabilities. The students deserve better, particularly the students from Saugus who attend classes there. If the new school wins the election, the real challenge for Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and other town officials will come later when they have to figure out how to sell another debt exclusion to the town. And if that effort fails, Saugus could be making some tough decisions to fund its share of the new school project. Program cuts and layoffs. The Police and Fire Departments would take major financial hits if Crabtree and other officials had to worry about how to come up with the $1.3 million every year. Stay tuned. We have a winner! Congratulations to Anthony Arone for making the right identification in last week’s “Guess Who got Sketched!” Contest. He was the only reader answering correctly, so he won without having to have his name selected from 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 one of our Saugus Firefighter Heroes, Sean Bohannon! “Sean was one of three of the group of Saugus Firefighters to receive a Group Award for Meritorious Conduct last year! Sean joined our Saugus Fire Dept. in 2017. “Upon being given the Meritorious Conduct Award, Sean was recognized with honor by Governor Baker, Lieutenant [Governor Karyn] Polito and Secretary Reidy for above and beyond services and bravery on a dangerous job; working with excellence. This award is given out for Remarkable bravery and dedication as part of a team of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Firefighters. “The Fire Marshal Ostroskey was quoted in The Saugus Advocate (Nov.24th page 2) for stating, ‘That the Firefighter of the Year Awards recognize their individual and collective acts of bravery and service that truly go above and beyond the call of duty.’ “Sean served six years with the U. S. National Guards and spent time serving our Country overseas in Kuwait. Still, even while serving in Kuwait, Sean thought about ways to give and be of service to others! He often thought about being a firefighter. Sean is quoted from The Saugus Advocate (Nov. 24th issue page two) ‘it seemed like an honorable profession – something that would be a good career and a way to give back by helping people,’ he said. 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 being 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”) “While sketching Sean’s picture, having seen him on the job and in action, I had to try to capture his sense of enthusiasm as he goes about business. He loves his work, and that shows outward when he shows up to serve Saugus. “In different scenarios I’ve glimpsed at our Saugus Firefighters out and about and if time allows I’ve often paused and observed a little. I have witnessed the same consistent evaluation time and time again. Our Saugus Firefighters stride bravely into whatever call they are answering not knowing what or where the call will end up, yet, they enthusiastically show up prepared to assist with whatever it may be. They guide with caring compassion, calming manners, trying to put people at ease, while accessing the scene and bringing about safety and communicating with great listening skills. “Sean you shine Keep excelling at all you do Congratulations on the Award and thank you for your service! “Yours Truly, “The Sketch Artist” A “Shout-Out” to a great group of people We didn’t receive any nominations this week from our readers. So, I will pick a couple of worthy candidates. When was the last time you heard about former Saugus Selectmen Peter Manoogian and Steve Castinetti teaming up for something positive for the people of Saugus? It would be a rarity, considering they were political adversaries several years ago. Castinetti, who is longtime Saugus Veterans Council Commander, was one of four selectmen who were ousted in a recall election after they fired Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. Manoogian was a key catalyst of the recall election which paved the way for Crabtree getting his job back. But that was Saugus politics back in 2015. This week Manoogian and Castinetti were united in a common cause at the Saugus Senior Center. They led a discussion on Prostate Cancer Awareness. They even shared their own stories on how they dealt with the disease. It is doubtful you will see these guys sharing a table at a political lunch or breakfast. It speaks well for both men that they put their political differences aside and collaborated on trying to heighten the awareness of prostate cancer – a serious public health concern. Also, here’s a “shout-out” to Senior Center Director Joanne Olsen, who helped to host and set up the arrangements for this worthwhile discussion. From all accounts, the discussion was a great success. And the group plans to meet again at 10 a.m. on March 16, back at the Saugus Senior Center. Please call the Senior Center at 781-231-4182 to indicate that you will be participating. While this disease is specific to men, women are welcome and encouraged to attend. 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. Friday breakfasts at Legion Hall still on hold Concerns about COVID-19 have led to a temporary shutdown of the popular Friday morning breakfasts at the Saugus American Legion Cpl Scott J. Procopio Post 210 Legion Hall located at 44 Taylor St. Legion Hall was supposed to reopen recently for the breakfasts. But the reopening has been delayed again. Debra Dion Faust, Building Manager of American Legion Post 210, has said the American Legion membership voted to delay the reopening until Friday, Feb. 4. Live Bingo at the Kowloon The Kowloon Restaurant will continue with Bingo every Wednesday through March 30, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Hong Kong Lounge. Prizes will be given away each week with a grand prize set at the finale. A Chinese gourmet spread is available during Bingo featuring pupu platters, egg rolls, crab Rangoons, Saugus Wings, General Gau’s chicken, lobster sauce, fried scallops, lo mein, moo shu pork, salt & pepper calamari and sushi along with a full bar menu, including the signature mai tais. Call the Kowloon Restaurant at 781-233-0077 to reserve your table. Town posts Compost Site Winter Schedule The Town of Saugus announced that the community’s compost site and recycling center will be open to residents the third Saturday of the month during the winter months. The site will be open Feb. 19 and March 19 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The site is located behind the Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. Yard waste must be disposed of in brown compost bags or open containers. The Town will accept grass clippings, leaves and brush. As in years past, no branches or limbs larger than three inches in diameter are permitted. At this time residents will not need a compost site stickTHE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 14

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