SAUGUS Vol. 25, No. 21 Have a Safe & Happy Memorial Day! -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 781-233-4446 Friday, May 27, 2022 REMEMBERING THE FALLEN Reversing the Vote Town Meeting supports the sale of recreational marijuana in Saugus, overturning a 2018 vote that rejected pot money By Mark E. Vogler T he Annual Town Meeting voted unanimously in 2018 for an article that banned the operation of any marijuana retail establishments in town. But much has changed over the last four years — particularly a decline in town revenue in the midst of two-plus years of coping with the COVID-19 pandemic — which contributed to this week’s overwhelming approval of an article that allows for the recreational sale of marijuana. “We should reap the benefi ts just like any other community,” Selectman Jeff rey Cicolini said, imploring Town Meeting members to enable Saugus to join the growing list of communities in Massachusetts that are tapping into recreational marijuana sales as a lucrative revenue stream. Cicolini noted that the Saugus Public Schools is in need of more funds as it attempts to achieve a fi ve-year goal of rising from the bottom 10 percent A GOLD STAR WIFE: Donna Whittemore-Farris, of Saugus, is a frequent visitor to Riverside Cemetery for Memorial Day observances. Here, she turns out for a Memorial Day ceremony in 2019 to remember her late husband, U.S. Army veteran Everett Farris, who served in the Vietnam War. Whittemore-Farris blames his death (2010) on exposure to chemicals which left him paralyzed years after his Vietnam service. He was a decorated veteran who served in the Anti-Tank Company of the 169th Infantry Regiment. Please see inside for more photos and Memorial Day coverage, including “The Sounds of Saugus.” (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) ~ Home of the Week ~ SAUGUS....Welcome Home! Custom built Cape Cod style home with contemporaray View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. ASNGELO’ FULL SERVICE Regular Unleaded $4.639 Mid Unleaded $4.779 Super $4.959 Diesel Fuel $5.699 44 Years of Excellence!! 1978-2022 KERO $8.99 DEF $4.75 9 Diesel $5.799 9 HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! DEF Available by Pump! Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN A A Hours: Mon. - Tues. 6AM - 6PM / Thurs. & Fri. 6AM - 7PM / Sat. 7AM - 5PM / Sun. 9AM-1PM in the state in academic performance to the top 10 percent. The town will also need to fi gure out a way to fund its share — estimated to be as high as $41 million over the next 30 years — of the proposed new $317 million Northeast Metro Tech School. “We have a lot of needs in this community. We have a lot of big-ticket items coming up,” Cicolini said. “We have a revenue problem. We have to get creative and fi nd new alternatives,” he said. During Monday’s fourth and fi nal session of this year’s Annual Town Meeting, members voted 31-13 (with five members absent) for Article 36 — an amendment to the town’s Zoning Bylaws to allow for marijuana establishments in town. Cogliano cites “deplorable” parks and playgrounds Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano, who authored the article, lobbied for support VOTE | SEE PAGE 2 Prices subject to change Ask about our Heating Oil Conditioner! FLEET
2 Publizr Home