SAUGUS Your Local News, Sports and Information Online. Scan & Subscribe! Vol. 28, No.6 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! LOVE SPOKEN HERE: Linda and Ed Helein basked in each other’s warmth as they prepared for their 57th Valentine’s Day tomor row as a married couple. Please see inside for their special Saugus love story. (Photo courtesy of Joanie Allbee) 781-233-4446 Friday, February 13, 2026 Preventative Measures for Safety’s Sake Saugus hosts E-Bike Forum at Town Hall as officials explore what the town and state can do to protect the public By Mark E. Vogler T he second floor auditorium at Saugus Hall was the right place to be a week ago last night (Feb. 5) for parents of school-age children or any citizens who are worried about the dangers of e-bikes and motorized scooters on town streets and sidewalks. Top town and school officials were there along with the state legislative delegation as Saugus hosted an E-Bike Forum. Many of the officials considered the event as a starting point for addressing a major public safety issue that has intensified locally since the tragic death last fall of a 13-yearold Stoneham boy who drove his electric dirt bike into a car. “From my point of view, in good weather, arrival in the morning and dismissal in the afternoon are scary,” said Saugus Middle-High School Principal Carla Scuzzarella, one of the six members of the panel that spoke at the forum. “The walkways around the front and sides of the building are full of students, making crashes more likely. This fall we had more than one instance of a student on an e-scooter hitting students whose backs were turned to the oncoming vehicle,” said Scuzzarella, who is also a Precinct 10 Town Meeting member. “Riding in our parking lots can also be dangerous with cars coming and going, especially given that we have some of the newest, least experienced drivers in town trying to navigate around our building. Some students on the electric vehicles race off, cross Pearce Memorial Drive to Highland, all without stopping or looking.” Joining Scuzzarella on the panel were State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), who highlighted what is being done at the State House to help with the e-bike issues; Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli, who discussed what the Police Department has been doing about the e-bike situation and its future plans of action; Judy Crocker, the Statewide Coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program, who talked about safety issues and the need to wear helmets; SAFETY | SEE PAGE 2 Established 1978 Mid-grade Regular 2.67 3.37 3.73 $3.47 Full Service ULS $3.579 Order online at angelosoil.com Kerosene Now Available! FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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