Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2022 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS By Mark E. Vogler Six years and counting With the writing and editing of stories, the crafting of headlines and the work on photos for today’s (Friday, Feb. 25) edition, I have now completed six years as Editor of The Saugus Advocate. As I look back, it seems like a long time – more than half a decade. That is the second-longest period of time that I’ve worked for any newspaper, yet only a third of the time (18 years) I spent at The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover). But when you total the fi ve and a half years I spent covering Saugus for North Shore Sunday in the late 1980s and early 1990s, that is a collective decade-plus of reporting and writing stories about Saugus people and places. At age 69, I don’t have any immediate retirement plans, so long as my health holds out. With the addition of advocating for my brother’s health issues over the last three years and dealing with two-plus years of COVID-19, the task of putting out a weekly newspaper has naturally become more challenging. And I would be the fi rst one to acknowledge that I’m probably 75 percent of the reporter I was 10 years ago. At the same time, I’m confi dent that even with the declined skills in my craft, I’m still probably better than three quarters of the reporters out there today. I still ascribe to a work ethic and take professional pride in whatever I do to present an interesting, informative and entertaining weekly news magazine for our readers. While it’s important to cover major issues and events related to the Saugus town government, it’s also important to incorporate human interest in the paper. I see our main role as being a publication that provides useful information for the public, giving readers a forum to speak out on important local issues and putting a public focus on local government. I would like to think that even during the weeks when there are fewer pages in the paper than usual and no major blockbuster stories, that we are at least relevant to Saugus residents. After six years, the paper has reached the saturation point when I have reported on more stories and written stories than what time and space allows to publish within the confi nes of a 20- to 24page paper. But in the end, I would prefer to have one of my own stories rather than one from a contributor getting bumped from the paper. There are a variety of reasons why a story doesn’t get in the paper in a given week. But I am disappointed when somebody who invests the time and eff ort doesn’t get to see their article or essay in the paper on a particular week. But once the paper hits the street, there’s no time to cry over spilled milk. It’s on to next week’s news. No trash pickup today because of storm JRM Hauling & Recycling Services of Peabody has informed the Town of Saugus that there will be no collection today (Friday, Feb. 25) because of the impending snowstorm. Trash and recycling collection will run on a delayed schedule, according to a press release issued by Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree’s Offi ce. JRM will be collecting trash and recycling for Thursday’s route on Saturday, Feb. 26. Today’s (Friday’s) route will be collected on Monday, Feb. 28. Meanwhile, trash and recycling will run on a oneday delayed collection next week. Residents whose collection day falls on Monday will be collected from on Tuesday (March 1), and Friday’s (March 4) route will be collected on Saturday (March 5). Residents should make sure trash and recycling is accessible and make sure a path is shoveled through the snow if necessary. The compost/recycling site will be closed until Saturday, March 19, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Town of Saugus would like to thank everyone for their cooperation. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Lorna Cerbone at 781-231-4036 with any questions. Stumped by The Sketch Artist! There were no winners for last week’s “Guess Who got Sketched!” Contest, so there was no need to CONTEST SKETCH OF THE WEEK use the green Boston Red Sox cap to select a winner from those readers who answered correctly. Here’s the correct answer for last week’s sketch, off ered by the person who goes by the name of The Sketch Artist: “The answer to last week’s sketch stands out because of his admiration for his father. The sketch is of John Fralick lll. He is our Saugus Public Health Director. “John Fralick lll is quoted from an answer he gave to Editor Mark E. Vogler in an Interview for The Saugus Advocate, July /31 2020 “The Advocate Asks.” “This is a thin slice that pretty much speaks volumes as to John’s heart, attitude and approach for life’s solutions: Q: So, your dad became your mentor? A: Yes. Essentially. And I look at the things that I’ve learned from him, not just with my career direction and everything … But, I look at some of the things that I’ve learned. Not so much that he’s taught me directly. It’s more the things that I emulate and the things that I have assimilated from him. He’s been such a big influence in my life. He is somebody that I’ve looked up to my whole life. “John’s dad is John Fralick, Jr., the Woburn Public Health Director for 35 plus years. John graduated with the Woburn High Class of 2003. “He played three sports, lacrosse, wrestling and football, and is somewhat a legend. (In 2018, John was inducted in the Woburn School Sports Hall of fame!) “John graduated from Bridgewater State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health. He was the Wrestling team Captain from 2005-2007. He served as Public Health Director in Stoneham for ten years before coming to us in the height of the pandemic of 2020. John being a wrestler loves a good challenge, so he stepped in the Saugus ring to fi ll a much needed empty seat! “As we clearly see; through his life’s experiences, John is bringing a multi-faceted, wisdom-seeking, tackling approach to his Public Health Director’s job. “John, we wish you much success and a 15 point lead wrestling the ongoing battle of pinning covid pandemic and health challenges to the fl oor for a major win! “May we see the light at the end of the tunnel as you lead us Saugonians to healthier ways. Thank You! “Yours truly, “The Sketch Artist” “Shout-Outs” to those who serve We didn’t receive any nominations this week from readers who wanted to publicly recognize fellow Saugonians for doing something special for the betterment of Saugus, or a remarkable achievement, a good deed or an act of kindness. In recent weeks, we have run stories about town 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 identifi es the Saugonian sketched in this week’s paper qualifi es 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 certifi - cate, compliments of Dunkin’ in the Food Court at the Saugus Square One Mall. But you have to enter to win! Look for the winner and identifi cation 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”) offi cials being frustrated over the prevalent vacancies on volunteer boards and commissions and the diffi culty to fi ll those positions. That’s an issue that refl ects badly on the town, whether it’s the matter of disparaging social media comments discouraging people from serving or people not wanting to serve because they don’t consider public service to be a noble pursuit. But I believe the many who do serve on the volunteer boards – work that entails researching for public meetings, attending those meetings and making diffi cult decisions – deserve some robust “Shout-Outs.” 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.
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