Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 20, 2026 WIN Waste, Roca combine on workforce training for green jobs (Editor’s Note: WIN Waste Innovations issued the following press release this week.) W IN Waste Innovations and Roca Inc. collaborated on a workforce development pilot program designed to prepare participants for green jobs. The eight graduates of the program were recognized during a ceremony at Roca in Chelsea on March 4. Participants in the 30-day intensive program sponsored by WIN Waste spent 40 hours in the classroom and 40 hours in the field at WIN Waste’s Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary and the Rumney Marsh Reservation in Saugus, as well as Old Town Hill Reservation in Newbury. Classroom work took place at Roca headquarters. WIN Waste’s Bear Creek manager, Geoff Wilson, led the course. The curriculum covered topics including migratory wildlife management in an urban setting, salt marsh ecology and restoration, urban forestry, green infrastructure, invasive species management, low impact stormwater management, and green career paths. “Employment is dignity and employment is opportunity, allowing someone to move forward in life,” Joseph Furnari, Roca vice president of operations, said at the graduation ceremony. “We’re not just creating jobs; we’re creating pathways.” “We couldn’t do this without partners like WIN Waste,” said Lauren Sanchez Gilbert, Roca board chair. “We are proud of this program and the eight people who completed it.” “WIN Waste is an example of what businesses are doing to uplift residents and communities,” said Jay Ash, Roca board member. Graduates of the workforce training program will be prepared for jobs in a variety of fields, including saltmarsh restoration, landscape construction, arbor culture, stormwater management, and parks and recreation. WIN Waste is the largest private-sector supporter of salt marsh restoration in the area. “Private companies aren’t just employers; we can and should be active partners in solving workforce challenges and advancing environmental goals at the same time,” said Mary Urban, WIN Waste Sr. Director of Communications and Community. “We see this partnership with Roca as a model for what’s possible. We are incredibly proud of the eight graduates who completed this pilot program and inspired by what they’ve achieved. The hands-on training at Bear Creek built real skills, genuine confidence, and true workforce readiness, giving them exactly what employers are looking for. This program proves that business, community, and government can align around shared opportunity, and we hope it serves as the foundation for deeper investment in these graduates, in green jobs, and in the Commonwealth’s environmental justice future.” The students ranged in age from late teens to mid-20s and came from Boston, Chelsea, Everett and Lynn. Pedestrian killed on Route 1 A car traveling in the left lane of Route 1 South last Friday (March 13) night struck a pedestrian who suddenly appeared in the driver’s path. Brian McDonald, 53, of Saugus, was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where he died a short time later, according to Massachusetts State Police. The crash occurred at about 9:15 p.m. just before Route 99 split near Collins Avenue, according to police. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, which was ongoing, police said. Southbound traffic was backed up for about two miles. State Police continued their investigation with the assistance of their Accident Reconstruction Unit and Saugus Police and Fire Departments. This car struck a pedestrian in the passing lane of Route 1 South on Friday night. Brian McDonald, of Saugus, suffered critical injuries and later died at the hospital. (Photo by Michael Layhe to The Saugus Advocate) Saugus Middle High School will host Accreditation team A (Editor’s Note: Saugus Middle High School Principal Carla Scuzzarella submitted the following press release this week.) fter three years of planning and preparation, Saugus Middle High School (SMHS) will welcome a visiting team from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) from March 29 through April 1. The team will consist of seven educators from public school districts in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Law Offices of JOSEPH D. CATALDO, P.C. “ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW” • ESTATE/MEDICAID PLANNING • WILLS/TRUSTS/ESTATES • INCOME TAX PREPARATION • WEALTH MANAGEMENT • RETIREMENT PLANNING • ELDER LAW 369 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 (617)381-9600 JOSEPH D. CATALDO, CPA, CFP, MST, ESQUIRE. AICPA Personal Financial Specialist Designee The purpose of the visit is to evaluate how well Saugus Middle High School aligns with the NEASC Standards for Accreditation, a research-based set of practices that guide schools in providing high-quality academic, civic, and social learning experiences for students. SMHS fully expects to remain an accredited institution following the review. The NEASC accreditation process typically occurs on a tenyear cycle, with the last accreditation review for Saugus High School taking place in 2011. The cycle for SMHS was extended in order to accommodate the construction of the new school facility, the combining of the high school and middle school, as well as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This visit represents the final step in the accreditation cycle, known as the Decennial Accreditation Visit. During the visit, the NEASC team will review school programs, practices, and systems and determine the extent to which the school aligns with the Standards for Accreditation. The team will also assess the school’s progress on priority areas for growth and improvement identified during the 2023 NEASC Collaborative Conference Visit. The visiting team will convene on Sunday evening to prepare and will spend three full days at SMHS from Monday, March 30 through Wednesday, April 1. At the conclusion of the visit, the team will meet with the faculty after school on Wednesday to share initial observations. Saugus Middle High School will not receive its official accreditation determination until Fall 2026, when the visiting team’s final report is completed and submitted to NEASC. For more information about the NEASC accreditation process, please visit the NEASC website.
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