Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 28, 2023 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus! The main event for this upcoming week will be the Annual Town Meeting, which is set for 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 1 in the second floor auditorium of Saugus Town Hall. It’s one of those opening nights of a Town Meeting session when the main business will be the Special Town Meeting business that will come before the Annual Town Meeting. But Article 22, which would create a Cliftondale Square Zoning Overlay District, takes up 17 pages of the warrant and is considered to be by far the most controversial of the articles. Some opponents have already complained that it could change the character of the Cliftondale neighborhood by allowing the construction of tall buildings – some as high as 50 feet in Cliftondale. Forum on Manoogian articles Town Meeting members who weren’t able to make Tuesday night’s briefing at the Saugus Public Library by Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian on three articles he’s introduced will get another chance. Manoogian will host another forum tomorrow (Saturday, April 29), from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the library to learn about Articles 17, 18 and 19, which are on the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting. “Saugus Over Coffee” It was disappointing that more residents didn’t attend this past Tuesday’s (April 25) “Saugus Over Coffee” forum at the Saugus Public Library, where the focus was on Precinct 4. Only four town residents – three of them who don’t live in Precinct 4 – attended. The good news is that four of the five Precinct 4 Town Meeting members attended, which made for a productive discussion during the evening. Town Moderator Stephen Doherty and Members Maureen Whitcomb, Glen Davis and Robert Northrup attended, and all of them were eager to contribute to discussion of a wide range of issues. Town Meeting Member Bill Leuci was the only one absent. He told us earlier in the day that he wanted to attend, but was unable to because of illness. We wish him a speedy recovery. The next “Saugus Over Coffee” forum is set for Tuesday, May 2, with the five Town Meeting members from Precinct 5 invited to attend. They will be there to meet Precinct 5 residents and answer questions about issues facing Precinct 5. Please see this week’s “The Advocate Asks,” which features an interview with Town Meeting Member Ronald M. Wallace. For those unfamiliar with the “Saugus Over Coffee” forums, they are cosponsored by The Saugus Advocate and the Saugus Public Library. The primary purpose is to give citizens in each of the town’s 10 precincts an opportunity to voice their concerns about top issues in their respective precincts. It also gives them an opportunity to meet their Town Meeting representatives and chat over a cup of coffee or tea. Town Meeting members will benefit by getting to know more about concerns in their precincts. Viewers of the forums videotaped by Saugus TV will also get to learn a little about the history or interesting things about the precinct being featured each month. One of my major hopes for the forums is that it spurs an interest for citizens to become potential candidates for Town Meeting in this fall’s town election. The public should keep in mind that there was a paucity of candidates for Town Meeting seats in the town elections back in 2021. In five of the 10 precincts, only five candidates ran for the five seats. That means half of the 50-member body was elected without competition. Stay tuned for more information as “Saugus Over Coffee” continues. Here is the remaining schedule: Precinct 5 – May 2 Precinct 6 – June 12 Precinct 7 – July 10 Precinct 8 – August 14 Precinct 9 – September 11 Precinct 10 – October 23 Please check with The Saugus Advocate or library for any changes in dates. Residents can check the programming guide on the station’s website (www. saugustv.org) for dates and times. A video of the forum will also be available for viewing on the station’s vimeo page within a day or two after the event – www.vimeo.com/saugustelevision. Community Garden Plans growing The community garden at St. John’s Episcopal Church is preparing for its third year this spring. At 9 a.m. today (Friday, April 28) volunteers will be meeting for a few hours to spread topsoil and compost and fill the new raised beds at the front of St. John’s Episcopal Church on CenHappy Arbor Day! Children’s Librarian Amy Melton and Joyce Rodenhiser recently read several books about trees and had a spring tree craft in honor of Arbor Day in the Children’s Room at the Saugus Public library. Pictured left to right: Arianna Vasapolli, Delia Stanasek, Jayson Stanasek, Maya Beechwood, Lucia Beechwood and Ava Discolo. (Courtesy photo to the Saugus Advocate) tral Street. Some volunteers may also join in on Saturday morning. There will be plenty to do over the course of the growing season, and people will be needed to weed and water as well as plant and spend a little time out in the garden. Food grown is donated to the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry, which is in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church at 50 Essex St. Community Cleanup Sunday WIN Waste Innovations and Saugus Softball are sponsoring a Community Cleanup and Educational Event on Sunday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Home of Saugus Softball, 25 Dow St. Join us to clean up. Beautify the park and protect the surrounding marsh. There will be environmental learning stations, food prizes and fun. Remembering Carmine Moschella On Wednesday evening, May 10, Carla Moschella will present a program about the many contributions her father – the late Carmine Moschella – made to Saugus. He taught industrial arts for many years in the Saugus Public Schools and is remembered by many generations of Saugonians who learned new skills from him over their lifetime. From the selectmen’s desks in Town Hall to the World War I monument beside Saugus Town Hall, his work remains a recognizable part of town life. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the Cable TV studio at 30 Main St., Saugus. It is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. A June run for Mission Ready Marine veteran Brandon Montella, the U.S. Marine veteran who completed a 100-mile run last Veterans Day to honor local veterans and to raise money for his nonprofit cause, announced he has scheduled a 5K fund-raising run/walk through Breakheart Reservation this summer. The event – set for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 10 – is to benefit his 501c3 Mission Ready, which provides fitness programs and events to under-resourced youth and veterans. Here’s a link to the event with all the information and sponsors on the site: https://runsignup.com/Race/ MA/Saugus/MissionReady5K Multiple “Shout Outs” this week It’s a great week when we receive more than one “shout out.” It was one of those weeks, as we received multiple “shout outs.” This week’s nominations: Precinct 5 Town Meeting Member Ronald M. Wallace: “I would like to do a ‘shout out’ to the Saugus DPW and any other town employees involved with re-installing both Dana H Johnson signs at the Lynnhurst park. Much appreciated!” Rick Kasabuski, a behind the scenes guy who worked with the Saugus Little League on organizing this year’s Opening Day Ceremonies. He is the father of Joe Kasabuski, one of the 12 players on the 2003 Little League World Series team. He offered the following mega “shout out”: “A special thanks to the Saugus Little League for inviting the 2003 Little League World Series players and Families for the Opening Day pitch and parade! Also for the nice spread by Louie and Lucy Mellillo to start the day! Thanks to all the different help from the town, Saugus Police Department and the Saugus Fire Department, Park and Recreation Department, the Saugus Senior Center, Guy Moley, and all the Veterans! And especially the townspeople who came out to help support the league and make the day a great community event for the 2023 season at Grabowski Field at Hurd Ave! Enjoy, have fun, Summer is here! From the entire 2003 Little League World Series Players and Families! Much Appreciated Saugus! Thank You All! – that year should be the 2023 season at Grabowski! “And to Bucky Cole for a great job on the National Anthem “And finally, Saugus Little League President John Benoit and his Executive Board and helpers on making the Saugus Little League fields safe and Looking Beautiful !!! Great job! The boat ride waters were smooth!” Saugus Little League Vice President Craig Smith: “Special Shout Outs to the following companies – Agganis – getting us started into this field revamp; Water Works – prioritizing the work on our new sprinkler system and supporting our needs for field start up and shut down each season; CRN Plumbing; Old School Apparel for coming through with great uniforms; and last but not least, Vier – Eck Fence!!!” Debra Dion Faust, Building Manager of the Saugus American Legion Post 210, a “shout out” to Saugus Advocate Editor Mark E. Vogler: “I noted in last Friday’s Advocate (April 14) that you are going to be inducted into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame next month. I just wanted to congratulate you on this milestone, which I feel is richly deserved. Back in the 1980’s, when I first moved to Saugus, my husband and I subscribed to the Saugus Advertiser to keep abreast of town news. However, recently, with the selling of the THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 17
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