Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022 ~ Letter-To-The-Editor ~ By defeating public art article, Town Meeting missed a chance to creatively express our town’s pride, history and future T o the Editor and Readers of The Saugus Advocate, I was in attendance to Saugus’s Town Hall on May 23rd, to hear Joe Vecchione, Planning member of Saugus, Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 We Sell Sell Cigars Cigars & AccessoriesAccessories R.YR.Y.O..O. TOBACCOBACCO -------------------TUBESTUBES CIGARCIGAR SMOKERSSMOKERS DELIGHT!DELIGHT! 15 Handmade15 Handmade Churchill Size Churchill Size FIFTY YEARS 2022 Happy Father’s Day 1972 Cigars including Cigars including a Cohiba - Long a Cohiba - Long wrappedwrapped $43.95 $43.95 HUMIDOR SPECIAL!HUMIDOR SPECIAL! $99.95 Complete!$99.95 Complete! Reg. Priced $149.95Reg. 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I closed my comments on the fl oor with a personal narrative explaining that I joined the Saugus Cultural Council because my six-year-old noticed that there was no public art in Saugus after our move to this community last year. I was very excited for Vecchione to bring forward this revision so that not only my son but residents of all ages can appreciate and see the value of including public art in our community. As a preface, this was my first time in any Town Hall hearing, and expected this proposition to revise the bylaw to be easily accepted because of Vecchione’s due diligence to collaborate with members to hear their concerns and knowledge of the bylaw’s origins to reduce speculation. What I heard after sharing FATHER’STHER’S DA DAY IS COMING! IS COMING! Check ourCheck our in-house in-house SPECIALS! SPECIALS! BuyBuy Cigars by theCigars by the Box & SA Box & SAVE!VE! CompetitiveCompetitive prices on all prices on all Brands, Great Brands, Great Selection Selection my support was something I did not anticipate witnessing that Monday night. Fear was evoked from one member to another against revising Article 31. The elected Saugus members’ hypothetical concerns, from my view, showed that these members feared change, expression, and the future of a growing Saugus. There were some who understood the benefi ts of public art in Saugus and showed their confi dence that the ZBA is trustworthy to review and vet all public art applicants. But devastatingly, the majority of present members voted against altering the signage bylaw, and voted against a vibrant and profi table future for the town of Saugus. The opportunity to creatively express our town’s pride, history and future was averted tonight because of the fear of change. Many neighboring towns and cities have embraced public art as an instrument to bridge connections within a diverse community, and tonight Saugus has decided not to engage and build up an inclusive community. Progressive change is the key to having a sustainable community, and tonight the majority of elected members wanted to keep things as is to avoid advancing Saugus. Though their vote was an extremely frustrating result, I have full confi dence that Saugus and its residents will one day have the support and reap the benefits from public art, and learn to both challenge and accept new ideals as these are keys to developing a sustainable community. May 23, 2022 Still with full support, Tori Darnell Treasurer Saugus Cultural Council The COVID-19 Update Town reports 58 newly confi rmed cases over the past week; no new deaths By Mark E. Vogler T here were 58 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past seven days through Wednesday (June 1), according to Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. That’s 34 fewer confi rmed COVID-19 cases than last week. This week’s positive COVID-19 cases reported to the town by the state Department of Public Health (DPH) increased the overall total to 9,236 confi rmed cases, according to Crabtree. There have been more than 450 confi rmed cases over the past six weeks as the virus continues to hang around, causing some people to continue wearing masks at Town Hall even though they are optional. The number of newly confi rmed COVID-19 cases in Saugus Public Schools dropped over the past week, from 34 (over the period of May 19-25) to 14 this week (from the period of May 26 through June 1). Meanwhile, the number of confirmed COVID-19-related deaths reported since the outbreak of the Coronavirus in March of 2020 remained at 92, with no new deaths reported over the past seven days. Twelve weeks ago, total Saugus deaths related to COVID-19 were listed at 106. But that number was reduced to 88 because of a change in the guidelines used by health offi cials. “Our hearts and prayers go out to those families aff ected by this health pandemic,” Crabtree said. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-233-4446 or info@advocatenews.net
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