SAUGUS The Advocate–A household word in Saugus! OCDVOCATE AD Vol. 24, No. 14 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net C liftondale Square – the once vibrant business district that encompasses Lincoln Avenue, Essex Street and Jackson Street – has been the subject of numerous revitalization studies over the last 40 years. The fi ndings of each report have cited repeatedly four key issues which have never been dealt with: traffi c congestion, the lack of parking, a rundown appearance and the need for rezoning. Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Joe Vecchione said he hopes things will be diff erent this time as the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee he chairs embarked this week on the latest eff ort by town government to make Cliftondale Square a vibrant business community. “Over the last 40 years, we’ve had fi ve or six studies done,” Vecchione told members at the outset of the panel’s fi rst meeting on Wednesday night (April 7). But there has CT Published Every Friday Reshaping the Square Cliftondale Revitalization Comm. launches new effort to overcome challenges plaguing town’s historic business district for nearly four decades By Mark E. Vogler been very little improvement resulting from studies dating back to 1982 despite “a lot of recommendations.” “I don’t want it to be a rehashing of the known issues,” Vecchione told committee members. “I want to open the doors where they can be opened,” he said. Vecchione, 30, a lifelong Cliftondale resident, authored the Town Meeting article which esRESHAPING | SEE PAGE 8 Back to Near Normal Times For years, local and state offi cials have considered this rotary too large for the traffi c volume. While wide enough for two vehicles to travel side-by-side, the feeder roads only have one lane in each direction — a situation that can cause confusion over who has the right-a-way. Pedestrians also have diffi culty crossing from one side to the other on the wide rotary. Parking within the rotary can cause traffi c delays and safety issues for vehicles in the rotary. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Fisher says Grabowski’s “racist” comments could undermine eff orts of school district to improve race relations if left unchallenged By Mark E. Vogler chool Committee Vice-Chair Ryan Fisher was the lone member who didn’t call for colleague Arthur Grabowski’s resignation at last week’s commitS Oaklandvale Elementary School Principal Maureen Lueke welcomed mother Lina Desmond in sending off her fi fth grader Isabella Desmond, 11, back to school on Monday (April 5) morning as elementary schools in Saugus and throughout Massachusetts returned to fi ve days a week of in-person learning. For more photos and related story, please see inside. (Saugus Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) GRABOWSKI | SEE PAGE 4 tee meeting. But he insists it was absolutely his intention for Grabowski to step down. “I didn’t realize until after the meeting ended that I hadn’t said 781-233-4446 Friday, April 9, 2021 The Rotary of Cliftondale Square ANGELO’S FULL SERVICE Regular Unleaded $2.639 Mid Unleaded $2.739 Super $2.839 Diesel Fuel $2.819 "42 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2020 KERO $4.65 DEF $3.49 9 Diesel $2.349 9 HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS • OPEN 7 DAYS Prices subject to change Spring is around the Corner! FLEET
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