SAUGUS Your Local News, Sports and Information Online. Scan & Subscribe! Vol. 28, No.14 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 781-233-4446 Friday, April 10, 2026 TACKLING TOWN EYESORES A Board of Health Ban Members voted to prohibit the manufacturing, sale and distribution of Kratom and Kratom-containing products By Mark E. Vogler A t the outset of Monday’s public hearing, Board of Health Chair Maria Tamagna admitted that Kratom was “something I knew very little about three weeks ago.” But over those past three weeks, Tamagna said, she and her fellow board members “got a little education…” “Myself and the board has been inundated with emails from people who have very strong opinions on whether or not we should ban or not ban sales and manufacturing of Kratom-containing products,” she said. What they learned about The rundown red building at 1181 Broadway (Route 1 South), which once housed Karla’s Shoes, is considered the most notorious vacant and dilapidated property in town – one that Saugus town officials want to see torn down, but have been powerless to do so for decades. A neighborhood petition drive calling on officials to enforce a seldom-used bylaw to clean up a vacant and dilapidated house in Precinct 7 is being considered as a possible option to remove Karla’s and other eyesores. Please see inside for the story and more photos. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Home of the Week SAUGUS - 1st OPEN HOUSES - Sat 4/11 & Sun 4/12 - 11:30 – 12:30 / Wonderful Hillview West Condominium offers 5 rooms, 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, great open floor plan, spacious living room with decorative fireplace, dining area, door leading to private balcony, NEW engineered flooring, eat-in kitchen, convenient in-unit laundry hook-up, bedroom with newer carpeting and NEW Anderson sliding glass to balcony, primary bedroom with newer carpeting and private bath. NEW heat pump (2026), replacement windows, newer hot water heater (2020), TWO parking spaces, corner unit offers great sunlight, extra storage, inground pool. Conveniently located off Lynn Fells Parkway - close to everything! Care-free living at it's best! Dir: Lynn Fells Parkway to Forest St. to 9 Thomas Street, Unit C7 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate Formerly Carpenito Real Estate Welcome Home to Hillview West Offered at $425,000 (781) 233-7300 335 Central St. Saugus commonmoves.com ©2024 BHH Affiliates, LLC, An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity. Kratom – a tree-like plant indigenous to Southeast Asia, which produces stimulant and sedative effects when orally ingested in tablet, capsule or extract form – influenced their decision to vote 4-1 in favor a ban on the sale, distribution and manufacturing of all products containing Kratom, whether natural or synthetic. Dr. Anthony Bakopolus was the lone member opposing the ban. “It seems Big Brotherish to me,” Bakopolus told his colleagues. “I don’t want to take shots at people from hearsay. I want to see documents. I don’t see how you can ban a natural substance because it can be used to make more powerful substances,” he said. But Board Member Joseph Dorant had misgivings with Bakopolus’ explanation. “Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous and harmful,” Dorant said, adding “there’s a lack of guard rails” to protect the public from Kratom. The regulation approved by the Board of Health in its statement of purpose noted “Use of Kratom can lead to psychotic symptoms and psychological and physiological dependence because it contains mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, two major psychoactive ingredients.” The document also noted that Kratom is not regulated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the federal government and that “several instances of abuse and overdose have been documented across the United States.” HEALTH BAN | SEE PAGE 2 Established 1978 Mid-grade Regular 3.73 4.24 5.55 $4.47 Full Service ULS $4.98 9 Order online at angelosoil.com Kerosene Now Available! FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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