Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2021 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. A sunrise service for Easter On Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021, at 6:30 a.m., the Saugus Faith Community will be holding its annual Sunrise Easter Service at Vitale Park with masks and social distancing. Rev. John Beach, priest at St. John’s Episcopal Church and one of our town’s newest clergy members, will be delivering the homily. We will also have the participation of other congregations in town. We hope that you can join us for this time of united celebration through music and prayer. For updates, please visit www.facebook.com/SaugusFaith. “Ridicule and Disrepute” Part 2 It was about four and a half years ago that then-Selectman Scott Brazis made an unusual appearance at the School Committee meeting, making what amounted to a very public admonishment of School Committee Member Arthur Grabowski in the harshest of terms. The appearance by Brazis was part of the fallout of Grabowski giving what Schools Supt. David DeRuosi Jr. understood as a verbal resignation – which Grabowski later denied ever happened. Brazis also took umbrage to what he called “outrageous and disrespectful” conduct by Grabowski in dealing with others on the committee and in the community. This included the criminal charges against Grabowski for allegedly hitting a 73-yearold man with a bag of frozen fish at the Saugus Senior Center during that spring. Over and over again, Brazis referred to the words “ridicule” and “disrepute” in characterizing the public damage that Grabowski has done to the School Committee and Saugus Public Schools. Brazis went on to call for Grabowski’s resignation. At Wednesday’s (March 31) School Committee meeting, Brazis again spoke during the public comment period – this time at a meeting held by Zoom videoconferencing. The former selectman again used the words “disrepute and ridicule” in describing the damage that Grabowski caused his School Committee colleagues. “You’ve got to understand, Mr. Grabowski, the disrepute and ridicule that you’re bringing to this fine board,” said the former selectman. “You’re supposed to be there to better the school district – not hurt it. And you’re hurting the four members [Grabowski’s School Committee colleagues]. Take that into consideration of why you should resign – it’s not about you. It’s about that board,” Brazis said. Brazis was one of a number of former and current elected town officials who denounced Grabowski publicly and called for his resignation, alleging that he had recently made “racist” comments when saying that Saugus needed people who could speak English when operating snowplows. Grabowski claims he said and did nothing improper. But School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge said he plans to consider the recommendation by Committee Member Joseph “Dennis” Gould to strip Grabowski of his committee memberships at a future meeting. Stay tuned. A “Shout-Out” to Master Plan contributors We received no recommendations this week from readers who wished to recognize a fellow Saugonian for a good deed or for making a significant contribution to the betterment of Saugus. So, the editor’s choice for this week is a loud “Shout-Out” for all Saugonians – close to 700 of them – who took the time to offer recommendations for updating the town’s Master Plan so that it is relevant through the year 2035. If you care about your town, there’s still time to contribute to the project, Saugus United 2035. 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 kindGUESS WHO GOT SKETCHED! 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 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 correctly identifies the Saugonians being sketched 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 Dunkin’ at the 1204 Broadway Saugus location on Route 1 North. 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”) ness 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 photo. Saugus Public Library Foundation seeks new board members (Editor’s Note: The following is a press release issued recently by the Saugus Public Library Foundation.) Do you love libraries? Do you want to help support public library services in Saugus? The Saugus Public Library Foundation (SPLF) is seeking people who can bring new ideas and energy to our Board of Directors. The SPLF is a 501(c)(3) charity which supports the Saugus Public Library. The Foundation Board returns 100 percent of the profits of all fundraising efforts to the Library by supporting events and funding purchases that are not typically covered by the Library’s Town-funded budget. In the past several years the Foundation has purchased electronic signage, a flat screen TV for the Community Room, new computers, new furniture, paid for a redesign of the Library’s web site, and sponsors the genealogy research tools used by Library patrons. Please consider joining the SPLF and helping to guide us in these efforts to enhance the Saugus Library experience. If you are interested, please contact us at saugusplf@gmail.com . For more information, visit our website. http://www.sauguspubliclibrary.org/get-involved/saugusplf/ The Saugus Public Library Foundation was established in 2004 through significant gifts from the estates of Douglas Lockwood, Josephine Kibbey, and Marie Weeks, as well as funds turned over by the now-disbanded environmental nonprofit, Noblast, Inc., and smaller individual trust funds and bequests. The Foundation provides the means for the library to make long range plans and commitments using the interest earned on the principal balance of the Foundation, and promote and carry out charitable and fundraising activities. CHaRM Center Recycling Drop-Off site open for season The community’s Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) site will open on Saturday, April 17, 2021. This site will remain open to residents on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The site is located behind the Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. At the CHaRM center, the Town will accept the same recycling items that can be placed outside for curbside collection each week, such as paper, cardboard, bottles, cans and glass containers – no shredded paper accepted for recycling on the site. Additional acceptable items include TVs and computers (up to three per year per address); car tires up to 22” (for a fee of $3); books and textiles, such as clothing, bedding, pocketbooks, belts and shoes. Plastic bags are not permitted; residents are kindly asked to empty recyclables out of any plastic bags, and remove the bags from the site. Also, rigid plastics are not being accepted for recycling at this time. Residents may call Lorna Cerbone at the Solid Waste and Recycling Department at 781-231-4036 with questions or for more information. Compost site reopens The town compost site will be open to residents on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., beginning on Saturday, April 17. The site is located behind the Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. Stickers are required to gain seasonal access to the site. Stickers may be purchased for $25.00 at the Department of Public Works (DPW) located at the Compost Site when making your visit to the Compost Site. The Town accepts checks only for payment of the $25.00. No cash will be accepted. Kindly bring a check when visiting. Thank you! Compost site stickers must be permanently placed on the lower left corner of the residents’ automobile windshields. Vehicles registered out of state are not permitted. Yard waste must be disposed of in brown compost bags or open containers. The Town will accept grass clippings, leaves and brush. As in years past, no branches or limbs larger than 3” in diameter are permitted. THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 11
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