Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 The Great Storm T By The Old Sachem, Bill Stewart he recent snowstorms brought back memories of the snow period in ’78. That year, after the storm subsided, we went food shopping to Cogliano’s Market on Lincoln Avenue, pulling a sled to bring the food home. The governor had declared an emergency and the streets were not clear for automoLaw Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com biles. It was a great time for the kids: no school and plenty of snow to frolic in. It was February in 1978 and the college Beanpot Hockey time. My wife’s aunt Millen was given four complimentary tickets to the Harvard game where her son played against Northeastern University (NU), and she only needed two tickets. Tickets to the Beanpot allow you to attend both games. Knowing I was a BU grad, she offered the two extras to me that I could use to see the BU contest against BC. I gratefully answered “YES!” and I thanked God for my great luck. A little background about our family and the Boston Garden. Randy Millen still held the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association High School record of over 200 goals in his four years at Easton High School on the South Shore. My son, Mike Stewart, was to achieve his MIAA record of scoring three consecutive game-winning overtime goals. I have two degrees from BU – a Bachelor’s in Engineering and a Master’s in Business – and cheered the Terriers on via TV often, but this was to be my first Beanpot in person. I have been to the Boston Garden for high school tournament games – my son Bob played in the quarterfinals – but my BU games were limited to Agganis Arena, the BU home rink, where I and my sons went to the games where alumni could buy special tickets. We had the tickets two weeks before we were going to see BU play, and the weather reports got worse daily. By the night of the game, I decided that Mike and I would take the bus to Boston because the storm would make driving and parking difficult. So, we boarded the bus in Saugus and on to Boston. We arrived at Haymarket Square and trudged through light snow down Canal Street to the Garden, received our tickets from the reservation window and proceeded to our seats. Naturally we were in the middle of the Harvard seats and were looked down in disgust by Crimson fans each time we cheered for NU, where my son, Will, graduated from. But to be fair we also cheered when Randy made a good play. About the middle of the third period, the announcer blurted out that those who had a short trip home should leave now. The thousand who remained would be able to stay the night in the Garden and return home in the morning. Mike and I stayed to see the whole BU game; we were not about to leave because of a little snow. After the BU win, we left for Haymarket Station to get a bus home to Saugus. We waded through snow and slush to the bus and were lucky enough to catch the last bus to Salem via Route 107. Things started well but at the Revere Circle the rear end of the bus skidded off the roadway. The driver, seeing more than a dozen aboard, asked if we would push the bus back to the road. The group huffed and puffed to get the bus back, and we were once again on our way home. We then got off the bus at Ballard Street and plunged through slush and snow with water almost up to our knees, homeward, up Ballard Street, the small section of Chestnut Street, on to Winter Street, turning left to Willis up to the intersection of Springdale, then up to Grandview and home, wet and tired, after 2 a.m. My family’s association with Boston Garden is among my greatest memories. The year before Randy and Harvard, my son Bob played for Saugus in the Division I Tournament losing to, I believe, Canton in the quarterfinal. Two years later Mike’s line with Scotty Brazis and Paul Nigro were the State Scoring Line champions and brought Saugus to the State semifinal only to lose the Northern Championship to St. John’s Prep with Bobby Carpenter. Mike got his MIAA record which still remains, scoring the sudden death overtime goals in three consecutive games. My next family State Tournament game in the Garden was my granddaughter Kerri McKinnon’s, who was on the St. Mary’s Girls Team that won the State Championship. My family advancement from quarter finals to semifinals to championship will always be in my memory. So, too, will our struggle of the Great Storm be with me and Mike forever. Local doctors attempt to quell fears about COVID-19 vaccines By Christopher Roberson or more than an hour, a panel of infectious disease specialists fielded a flurry of calls from residents with concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccines during a virtual Town Hall discussion on February 24. Dr. Ilona Goldfarb of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) spoke about concerns that the vaccines could negatively affect women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Although no major studies were conducted to test the vaccines in those patients, she said, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disF ease specialist, reported that the vaccines have been given to 10,000 women nationwide who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Thus far, there have been no documented complications noted by the federal Food and Drug Administration. Goldfarb also said there is no evidence that the vaccines cause miscarriages or decrease fertility. “The COVID vaccine seems like a very safe choice,” she said. In addition, Goldfarb said no part of the virus is put into the vaccines. “The COVID vaccine is not a live vaccine; no one is going to get COVID by getting the vaccine.” Saugonians named to Dean’s List at University of Maine O RONO, Maine – Saugus residents Mackenzie Hughes and Brina Panetta were named to the Dean’s List at the University of Maine for the fall 2020 semester. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, students must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Dr. Sandra Nelson of MGH encouraged residents to get vaccinated even if they already had the virus, adding that after symptoms subside patients can wait 90 days to get the shots. Yet, she acknowledged the possibility of side effects, particularly after the second inoculation. “The rate of side effects are a little bit higher after the second dose,” said Nelson. She also said the most common side effect has been soreness in the arm where the vaccine was administered. She also said residents should continue to wear masks after they receive the vaccines. “We know that some people who acquire this virus never get sick,” said Nelson. Dr. Paige Wickner of Brigham and Women’s Hospital said there is nothing in the vaccines that would trigger a reaction from someone with a food allergy. “These vaccines are safe, even for people with food allergies,” she said.
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