Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 17, 2023 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good Morning, Saugus! The town elections aren’t until November. But we already have a couple hot potato issues to surface less than two months into the new year. Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano – the most popular vote-getter in the last two town elections (2019 and 2021) – already sparked some controversial debate late last year in an “Advocate Asks” interview when he mentioned he would devote time this year to laying the foundation for a Charter change that he hoped would see the Town of Saugus become a city with a mayor. Last week, Cogliano became the focus of more political controversy when federal court papers revealed that last summer he assisted WIN Waste Innovations by securing the names of people who lived near the trash-to-energy plant on Route 107 who didn’t experience any quality of life problems with the plant. Cogliano also admitted in a deposition that was released with the court papers that he signed documents – instead of the residents named in declarations – that would be used as evidence to help WIN defend itself in a pending class-action lawsuit. WIN later directed Cogliano to drive into the East Saugus neighborhood to get actual signatures of the people he signed for. East Saugus residents and two of Cogliano’s colleagues on the board have already raised questions about the ethics and optics of the situation – how can the chair of the Saugus Board of Selectmen who is also co-chair of a subcommittee assembled to —Cont est— CONTEST SKETCH OF THE WEEK work on issues related to WIN Waste Innovations be acting as an agent of the company while representing the town? For his part, Cogliano insists that he did nothing ethically wrong or improper and takes great umbrage with anyone suggesting that he did. He plans to run for reelection this fall. And he’s already linked to two hot-button issues in a town election campaign that traditionally doesn’t heat up until the summer. It should be an interesting election year. Saugus over coffee In case you were curious about how the latest edition of “Saugus Over Coffee” turned out, check out https://vimeo. com/saugustelevision or tune in to Channel 8. The Saugus Advocate and the Saugus Public Library are cosponsoring this special series of forums which will spotlight one precinct a month through October. Precinct 2 was the focus of last Monday night’s forum. As the moderator of the forums, here’s my take on how things went: The best part: All five Town Meeting members appeared and offered their views of what they see as top issues affecting the neighborhoods they represent. Also a very positive aspect of Monday night’s forum is that folks who can’t attend can still view Vimeo Saugus TV on Channel 8 via a computer at any time during the day or week. And, clearly, from the feedback I’ve been getting, there are more folks at home who will tune in to the program instead of going down to the library to watch the event live. So, making arrangements with SaugusTV to televise all 10 of the forums was a great idea. The most disappointing 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’s being sketched this week? If you do, please email me at mvoge@ comcast.net or leave a phone message at 978-683-7773. Anyone who identifies the Saugonian sketched in this week’s paper between now and Tuesday at Noon 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, compliments of Hammersmith Family Restaurant at 330 Central St. in 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”) part: that less than a handful of Precinct 2 residents showed up. And only one Precinct 2 resident – Selectman Corinne Riley – got up and spoke during the public feedback period. Here’s an opportunity for residents of Precinct 2 to meet their Town Meeting members and share a conversation over coffee. Yet, more people from other precincts showed up than Precinct 2 residents. Public feedback: We received this email from Sue Fleming: “I watched the Precinct 2 presentation today and found it very informative. I had planned on attending but life got in the way and I couldn’t make it. My husband and I have been residents of Precinct 2 for over 35 years. It was good to hear the Town Meeting members speak about the concerns, specifically Cliftondale Square. It would be great to see some small businesses in the square. Thank you for coordinating these presentations for each section of Saugus.” We still have eight more forums to go over the next eight months before the town elections. But it’s pretty clear that a disappointing turnout out in the Community Room at the library doesn’t detract from the overall success of the forums. Civic-minded Saugonians who are interested in what their Town Meeting members have to say on the issues always have the option to checkout SaugusTV and watch a video of the forum. Here is the remaining schedule: Precinct 3 – March 13 Precinct 4 – April 17 Precinct 5 – May 8 Precinct 6 – June 12 Precinct 7 – July 10 Precinct 8 – Aug. 14 Precinct 9 – Sept. 11 Precinct 10 – Oct. 23 Please check with The Saugus Advocate or library for any changes in dates. Residents can check the programming guide on the station’s website (www.saugustv.org) for dates and times. A video of the forum will also be available for viewing on the station’s vimeo page within a day or two after the event (www.vimeo. com/saugustelevision). Stay tuned for more information as “Saugus Over Coffee” continues. One-day trash pickup delay The Town of Saugus announces that trash and recycling collection will run on a one-day delay next week for the Presidents’ Day Holiday. Trash and recycling will not be collected on Monday (Feb. 20) due to the holiday. Collection will resume on a one-day delay on Tuesday (Feb. 21). Residents are kindly asked to leave trash and recycling curbside by 7 a.m. the day after their normally scheduled collection day. The Town of Saugus would like to thank everyone for their cooperation. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Scott A. Brazis at 781231-4036 with any questions. Town Hall closed Monday Saugus Town Hall, other municipal buildings – including the Saugus Public Library – and Saugus Public Schools will be closed on Monday (Feb. 20) in observance of Presidents’ Day. The holiday kicks off February vacation week for local students. Seeking Hall of Fame nominations Do you know of a former Saugus High School athlete who deserves to be inducted into the Saugus High School Sports Hall of Fame? If you do, nominations are open for the Hall of Fame from now until March 28. Previously, there have been 263 athletes inducted since the Hall of Fame’s inception (1987). The hall’s first class included Arthur Spinney, a Saugus High football great who played for two NFL championship teams with the Baltimore Colts in 1958 and 1959. A Saugus High athlete has to be out of school for at least 10 years before he or she can be nominated. Anyone looking to nominate a former Saugus High athlete can mail their letter of nomination to Barbara Wall at 28 Pleasant St., Saugus, MA 01906. Comedy at the Kowloon The Kowloon Restaurant has set its latest comedy lineup featuring Paul Gilligan on Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. Here’s the rest of the February lineup: Feb. 24: MIKE DONOVAN – 8 p.m. – $20. Here’s the comedy lineup for March: March 3: PAUL D’ANGELO – 8 p.m. – $20. March 10: COREY RODRIGUES – 8 p.m. – $20. March 24: JIMMY DUNN – 8 p.m. – $20. Tickets are $20 and show time is 8 p.m. at the Kowloon Restaurant (Route 1 North in Saugus). For tickets, call the Kowloon Restaurant at 781233-0077. Bingo is back! The Kowloon Restaurant announces Bingo every Wednesday 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 in March. A full Chinese gourmet spread is available during Bingo – featuring pupu platters, egg rolls, crab Rangoons, Saugus Wings, General Gau’s THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 13
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