Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, February 21, 2020 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler H ere are a few tidbits that you might want to know about this week in Saugus. It’s officially budget season For those folks who want to know what Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree will be recommending in his town budget for the 2021 Fiscal Year that begins July 1, next week may provide some answers. Selectmen have a meeting set for 6:30 p.m. Monday (Feb. 24) in the first floor conference room at Saugus Town Hall. At this session, the town manager will brief selectmen on the highlights of the spending plan he’s proposing. Selectmen will get a chance to ask questions, make a recommendation and give notice to the Finance Committee that members can begin their comprehensive review of the budget. The Finance Committee has the first of its budget review sessions scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the first floor conference room at Town Hall. That will be the first of multiple meetings where committee members subject the budget to rigorous scrutiny. By the time the committee has completed its review, members will have received a presentation from every town department. Conscientious Town Meeting members will crowd into the conference room during these sessions to learn about the spending package they will ultimately approve at the annual Town Meeting, which is set for May 4. A chance to author Articles Citizens of Saugus who are interested in submitting Articles to be included on the Warrant for this year’s May 4 Annual Town Meeting still have plenty of time. The Saugus Board of Selectmen have announced they will close the Annual Town Meeting Warrant at their April 7 regular meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the second floor auditorium at Town Hall. Anyone that may have an Article to be inserted into the Annual Town Meeting Warrant may submit the Article with appropriate number of signatures to the Selectmen’s Office or may bring it to the April 7 meeting. For more information you may contact the Selectmen’s Office at (781) 231-4124 or wreed@saugus-ma.gov. A “shout-out” for Tom Swanson Jeannie Meredith of the Saugus Catholics Collaborative sent along this email to offer a special “shout-out” for Tom Swanson: “This week’s nomination comes from the Helping Hands Committee of the Saugus Collaborative, for all the work and time he has volunteered in helping to engineer the installation of the Handicapped Accessible Lift at St Margarets Church. Tom’s tireless work has allowed the physically challenged members to return to daily and weekend masses as well as participating in social events. You are a gift to each of us.” 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 the 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 photo. A murder clarification In last week’s story about the murder/suicide involving two 63-year-old Everett men who happened to be brothers-in-law, we mentioned that the last murder investigation in Saugus was back in May 2012 when the bodies of two adult women were found outside the Lynnhurst Elementary School. Joseph Wright III, 55, was later convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for the slayings of his mother – 54-year-old Donna Breau – and his grandmother, 83-year-old Melba Trahant, in the family’s Lynn home. Wright dumped their bodies behind the school, where a custodian found them. He tried to flee to Canada but was captured trying to cross into New Brunswick from Maine, driving his grandmother’s car. As it turns out, it did indeed begin as a double homicide investigation in Saugus. But we would be technically wrong to identify this as the last Saugus murder, as the murders happened in Lynn and the bodies were later dumped in Saugus. But murder is indeed a rare crime in Saugus, at least in recent memory. We received an email this week from Interim Police Chief Ronald Giorgetti, which essentially notes about a three-year gap in murders. But it’s been about 13 years since the last Saugus murder, according to the information we received this week from the Police Department. “The last reported Homicide was in 2007,” Chief Giorgetti told us. “Prior Homicides in 1994,1997, 2001, and 2004.” A time for citizen input Saugus residents who believe they have the answers for straightening out Town Hall have a chance to sound off to an audience of Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and the Board of Selectmen at a workshop session set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 25) in the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. Early primary voting There will be Early Voting for five days only for the upcoming March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election. The dates for Early Voting are Monday, February 24, through Friday, February 28. Early Voting will take place in the Town Clerk’s Office during regular Town Hall hours: Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Absentee Voting will remain the same as in all past elections. Dog Days are here The new 2020 Dog Licenses are now available in the Town Clerk’s Office – must have a copy of the Rabies Certificate to license your dog or use the new web portal. A chance to serve your town The Saugus Board of Selectmen is accepting applications for appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Library Board of Trustees in Saugus. These are volunteer/nonpaid positions for Saugus residents. Those interested may submit a letter of interest/resume no later than March 17, 2020, to: Saugus Board of Selectmen Saugus Town Hall 298 Central Street #4 Special Town Meeting to keep police mechanic working Veteran Saugus Police Officer Kevin Nichols doesn’t want to be forced into retirement when he turns 65 this spring. That’s why he requested a Special Town Meeting that would authorize selectmen to file special legislation that would allow him to work beyond the mandatory retirement age for law enforcement. Selectmen voted unanimously to schedule the meeting for Monday, March 9. It’s the only Article on the agenda for that night. Books in Bloom 2020 gearing up It’s not too early to begin thinking about this awesome, creative event that allows the Saugus Public Library to host a grand celebration of flowers and books at the same time. The Saugus Garden Club, along with the New Friends of the Saugus Public Library, will be holding the 6th Annual “Books in Bloom” event on Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4. This exhibit will consist of flower arrangements which interpret a book’s title, cover or theme. Categories include Fiction, Nonfiction, Children’s Books, Young Adults, and Miscellaneous. Entry to submit a design is open to the public, including children accompanied by an adult. To learn more, there will be an exhibitors’ meeting on March 24 at noon in the community room at the Saugus Public Library. Set up will be Thursday, April 2, from noon to 3 p.m., and the show will be held Friday, April 3, from 9:00 a.m.to closing, and Saturday, April 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served. Entry forms are available at the Library front desk or from the Co-Presidents listed below, and must be submitted by March 31 to Lorraine DiMilla, 8 High St., Saugus (781-233-7541), lmdimilla@ comcast.net; Donna Manoogian, 23 Hillside Ave., Saugus (781-233-5640), donna23@ comcast.net. Call for more information or to get an entry form by mail or email. Saugus Lions Club Comedy night If you love to laugh and want to help a good cause, mark this one down on your calendar. The Saugus Lions Club will hold a Comedy Night on Thursday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Prince Pizzeria on Route 1 South in Saugus. The stars of the show are Tony V, Brad Mastrangelo and Chris Pennie. Tickets, which cover the show and pizza, are $25. There will also be a raffle and silent auction. Call George Meimaris (617-771-3293), Frank Rossetti (781-718-4662) or Nelson Chang (781-233-8200) for tickets. Proceeds will benefit the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research and other Saugus Lions Club Charities. Breakfast at Legion Hall Cpl. Scott J. Procopio Saugus American Legion Post 210 is in its seventh year of Friday morning breakfasts. The doors open at 7:30 a.m. at 44 Taylor St. in Saugus. Breakfast will be served from 8 to 9 a.m. The breakfasts will run through the end of May, with the exception of school vacations or Fridays when there is no school. A $6 donation is requested, with all proceeds going to help the Legion operate. Everyone is welcome, according to John Cannon, the cook on duty. There is no charge for all World War II veterans. Corned Beef & Cabbage Supper at First Congregational The First Congregational Church in Saugus Center will host its popular Annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Supper on Saturday, March 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m. The menu consists of corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, Irish soda bread, drinks and dessert. The cost is a $12-perperson donation. Tickets can be reserved by calling 781233-3028 and will be available at the door. Come celebrate an early St. Patrick’s Day with some good food and good fellowship! Main attractions at the Saugus Public Library There’s always something interesting or entertaining going on at the Saugus Public Library – for people of all ages – from young children to senior citizens. Here are a few events to check out: • Homework Help for elementary school students provided by the Junior National Honor Society from the Belmonte Middle School in the Community Room, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3 to 5 p.m. • Cool Science for Kids, Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 3:30 p.m. This is recommended for children in grades 1 and up and is led by Forest, a National Honor Society student at Saugus High School • More Winter Songs with Sarah Gardner, Thursday, Feb. 27, 10:30 a.m., ages newborn to five. • Annual Food for Fines. Now through Feb. 29, the library will help you so that you may help others. If you have overdue fines, the library will reduce your fines in return for donations of nonperishable food. Donations will be given to local food pantries. Your fines will be reduced $1 for each item donated. Please don’t drop off expired food. • A Hands On Workshop. Tuesday, March 10, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Watch a pottery wheel demonstration and then make your own dragon out of SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 16
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