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Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2021 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS By Mark E. Vogler H ere are a few tidbits that you might want to know about this week in Saugus. Good Riddance to COVID-19! It would be a mistake to say we have seen the last of COVID-19. But it sure looks like we’re trending in the right direction. With just a handful of confirmed Coronavirus cases reported in Saugus in recent months, it sure looks like it’s nearly over. But as long as some folks are reluctant to get their vaccine shots and go right back into the crowds instead of just easing back in, there’s always the possibility of COVID-19 rearing its ugly head again. Hopefully, I’m wrong. If the pandemic is almost over, I’m glad we’re headed down the right path. Being a reporter and trying to cover the news these past 15 months has been very frustrating and very grueling. I can’t think of a more challenging year in my nearly five decades as a newspaper journalist. Besides being out there in harm’s way as an essential worker, there have been limitations. These Zoom videoconferencing sessions of public meetings have been a very frustrating and limiting way to cover local government meetings. As I told selectmen, I would rather drive all the way down from Methuen to Saugus and back to cover one of their meetings instead of watching the sanitized version à la “Hollywood Squares” over my office computer. I’m glad that I can finally get to mill around the municipal buildings to catch a conversation in person with town officials or go to the local coffee shop to enjoy a coffee and mingle with average folks. But I still plan on meeting people for interviews in the picnic area of the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. That was a safe place to do interviews during COVID-19. But it’s still a great place to meet people over coffee, even in normal times. We have a winner! Congratulations to Diane McConnell for getting her name drawn from the green Boston Red Sox hat as the winner in last week’s “Guess Who Got Sketched” contest. Here’s last week’s answer, offered by the person who goes by the name of The Sketch Artist: “The answer to last week’s Sketch is Our Saugus Town encourager and Often known as the ‘Mother of Shout Outs’ for The Saugus Advocate ! We would think there would be a year after her Name (as in Woman of the Year). The woman with the flag in her hand covering a soldier’s grave at the Memorial Day Ceremony in her beautiful pink coat is Jeanie Bartolo! “Jeanie is often seen supporting many of our town’s Events and festivals. “She is a Saugus Town Meeting member, representing residents of Precinct 6. Jeanie is very positive and often found talking about the good in others seeing things in a positive manner. “Jeanie is a Charter member of the Saugus Public Library Foundation, has been active as a Veteran’s Council Member and Saugus Public Library Board Member. She has many supportive roles in several other organizations. To mention a few: Saugus Emergency Management Agency – Shelter Manager; Sidewalk Committee – ADA Handicap Compliance work; former chair, vice chair and secretary for the Saugus Public Library; former chair, long-range Planning Committee, Saugus Public Library; two-term secretary, Saugus Cultural Arts Council; former volunteer, Saugus Public Schools. “Jeanie takes unique photos and shares them with everyone. She had the unique Privilege of a visit from a Mother duck and her ducklings visiting her backyard And was able to capture this in a photo and share it! “Thankyou Jeanie and keep shining your light “Yours truly ‘The Sketch Artist’” A “Shout-Out” for Mike Hashem Since nobody submitted any nominations for a Saugonian who is deserving of much praise for all he or she does for the community, I will use my editorial discretion to nominate an outstanding person who has been one of A community garden update If you are young or old and feel like doing some real earthy community service, why not join the growing team that’s been assisting in the creation of the Community Garden that’s going to help feed the hungry and needy people of Saugus? Contact The Rev. John Beach of St. John’s Episcopal Church to get the latest update on how the garden is doing and what you can do to help. Anyone who wants to help out Rev. John on this noble project can call him at 774-961-9881 or send him an email at revjbeach@ gmail.com. We will keep you posted as the garden continues to grow. Remember folks, this is your garden. Be a part of it. Here’s this week’s message from Rev. John: Dear kind people, We invite all interested and available people to help out in the Garden on Friday or Saturday morning between 9 and 11. We will be planting some tomato plants, spreading mulch, and removing some weeds. We really appreciate your help. Peace, John+ A Clarification for Steve’s sake I always welcome feedback from the citizens of Saugus – particularly the elected and appointed officials who volunteer their time to the running of Saugus Town Government. From the mountain of this week’s emails, I received one from Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Steven DiVirgilio, a veteran Finance Committee member who often shares some interesting observations and worthwhile views on the town’s fiscal affairs during Town Meeting and other meetings. It’s clear he didn’t like the article we published in last week’s edition – titled “Annual Town Meeting 2021 … the true pillars of the Saugus Community for many years, primarily as one of the most influential educators. I nominate Saugus High School Principal Michael Hashem, who has impacted many young Saugus lives in a positive way. In the five-plus years that I’ve known him, it’s my observation that Mike Hashem really is for the kids. The past 15 months – since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic – have been grueling for everyone, especially for a High School principal who faced so many challenges as he tried to navigate Saugus Public Schools through the transition of the old Saugus High to the new Saugus Middle-High School. And while announcing this week his decision to step down as High School principal, Mike’s decision that he plans to return to the classroom as a math teacher in the fall really confirms his commitment to the town’s public education system. He could have very easily retired after the grueling year he’s been through. But Mike’s coming back as a classroom teacher. And hats off to that! Want to “Shout-Out” a fellow Saugonian? This is an opportunity for our paper’s readers to single out – in a brief mention – remarkable acts or achievements by Saugus residents or an act of kindness or a nice gesture. Just send an email (mvoge@comcast.net) with a mention in the subject line of “An Extra Shout-Out.” No more than a paragraph; anything longer might lend itself to a story and/or a photo. Let’s hear it for strawberries! The Saugus Historical Society will hold its annual strawberry festival at the American Legion Hall tomorrow (Saturday, June 19) in conjunction with the Saugus Garden Club plant sale. Old-Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake will be served in Legion Hall (44 Taylor St.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with hot dogs, chips and drinks. Shortcakes are $5.00 each and can be eaten on premises or taken out. Hot dogs are $2.00; water or soda, $1.00 each. The Garden Club plant sale will be held on the Roby School lawn from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and there will be several craft vendors, including jewelry, hair products and many other items of interest. Sounds like a great time for town residents of all ages who don’t have any plans for tomorrow, so be sure to check it out. Members approve new fiscal year budget over some contentious questions.” “In the June 11 advocated your quoted me incorrectly,” DiVirgilio writes in his email. “***My response to bill cross was “... I am not saying employees don't deserve them, but the tax base doesn't support it” “My comment was on overall town benefits health & pension, I did not specify health insurance only. Bill cross also called me a ‘clown’ “*** Can you issue a correction on this? Thanks Steve.” I went back and reviewed the tape of the dialogue, and there aren’t any misquotes. Sure, I could have used a few more quotes, but it’s like that with any story. Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Christopher P. Riley initiated an interesting discussion on employee benefits – with the lion’s share being health benefits for town employees and retirees. Riley specifically mentioned that the town can no longer afford $15.5 million for health insurance. But I won’t deny the gentleman (DiVirgilio) from Precinct 10 his right to opine on what he sees as the tough issue of employee benefits – which includes the lion’s share of health benefits. And if he wants it known that Precinct 8 Town Meeting Member William E. Cross III called him “a clown,” we can certainly accommodate him on that. Yeah, Billy Cross did call him “a clown” who keeps bringing up the issue every year. But instead of just talking about it, does Town Meeting member DiVirgilio have the intestinal fortitude to introduce a measure to elevate some discussion of the issue of employee benefits at a future Town Meeting? It looks like Town Meeting Member Riley plans to introduce such a measure. Stay tuned. Cliftondale forum coming up Joe Vecchione, chair of the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee, recently released final details of the committee’s upcoming community forum for folks who are interested in learning about or contributing to the discussion of bringing the Cliftondale Square area back to life. The forum has been set for Monday, June 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the MEG Building (56-58 Essex St.) in Saugus. Janice Jarosz, the President of the MEG Foundation, offered the MEG Building for the forum. There will also be a Zoom meeting set up for anyone from the public who wants to attend or participate virtually. The foundation also offered to provide refreshments. “The program for the evening will include the presentation of the community survey results (approaching 350 participants) and analysis drawn from that process (trends, demographics, etc.) including a brief Q&A,” Vecchione wrote in a recent email. He continued, “This will also include the sharing of information we have gained since the inception of this committee including the procurement of flashing crossing beacons, application for the Shared Street grant, denial of the church parking, and North Shore Bank not currently for sale. “After the presentation, we would then begin a workshopping session that will be a bit more interactive. I’m not sure who attended the MVP Workshop in January 2020, but one particular exercise I felt was effective and interactive was a series of physical blown up maps where participants could jot down an idea, shortfall or potential remedy of a particular issue on a sticky note and place it on the map. Each map focuses on a particular issue (in this case: parking, safety, developmental opportunities, underutilization, etc.). This is a simple, straightforward and not overly restricting exercise that could be beneficial in creating a wealth of ideas especially after results of the survey are shared with those present.” For more details, Vecchione invites folks to contact him at 781-520-9859 or via email (joevprecinct2@gmail.com). Summer Reading Program at the library This came in from Amy Melton, Head of Children’s Services at the Saugus Public Library: THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 11

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