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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2021 Page 17 Saugus man killed in Newburyport crash A 48-year-old Saugus man died of injuries he received on Tuesday (June 15) from a three-car accident in Newburyport, according to state police. Marc Tuxbury was driving a 2014 Hyundai Elantra northbound on Route 95 about a mile from Exit 86 in Newburyport at about 3 p.m. when he rear-ended a 2020 Ford Transit van. TuxCLASSROOM | FROM PAGE 6 sponsible, and congratulations on his next great adventure! “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mike smile as much as he has since announcing this move. It’s a responsibility lifted off his shoulders, and being back in the classroom will benefi t him as much as every student that walks into his class. “Brendon’s going to do a phenomenal job at the complex. He’s a strong leader, will hit the ground running, and he’s so excited to be back with the kids. This is a great move for everyone.” Joseph “Dennis” Gould: “Mike brought SHS through the pandemic, the building of a new high School while classes were still in session at old school and moving into new SHS during the pandemic. “I truly respect his past eff orts and his decision to go back into teaching, which will aff ord him much less stress and a lot more time with his family. I am totally supportive of Mike’s decision and again thank him for all he has done for SHS. “Brendon is a perfect replacement because he has been working on curriculum and addressing the areas identified by DESE Report for both Middle and High School, so now he can execute, oversee and put in place enhancements. I wish both the best on their new roles.” Arthur Grabowski: “I wish Mike great success going back to the classroom...it just goes to show that health, family and happiness are all that should matter in life. Hopefully, Mr. Sullivan can be instrumental in changing the culture at the middle/high school and start on the road to changing the schools from being in the bottom 10 percent to being in the top percent.” Hashem career at a glance Hashem, 53, is a Saugus native and a product of the town’s education system – a 1985 Saugus High School graduate. He has spent three decades of his professional career as a teacher and administrator in Saugus Public Schools. He started out as a high bury was transported to Anna Jacques Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, state police said. A preliminary investigation showed Tuxbury was traveling northbound when his car struck the rear of a van driven by a 28-year-old man from Beverly. Police said they believe the speed of the Hyundai contributed to the crash. school math teacher in 1991. He was in his third year as principal of Saugus High School in 2016 when he off ered to accept the role of interim superintendent – and later acting superintendent back in March. He later returned to Saugus High School as principal in July of 2016, when the new fi scal year began. He and his wife, Gail, live in Saugus and have three children. Sullivan career at a glance Sullivan, 42, grew up in Saugus and graduated from Malden Catholic High School in 1997. He received his bachelor’s degree in English from Merrimack College in 2001. He received a double master’s degree from Salem State with a master of arts in English and a master of Arts in Teaching. He also has a certificate of advanced graduate study in Administration from American International College. Sullivan began his education career for Saugus Public Schools in the fall of 2001, spending his fi rst 12 years as an English teacher at Saugus High. In July of 2013, he was appointed humanities director for grades 6 to 12 for the Saugus Public Schools. For the 2013-14 school year, he served as full-time humanities director, working between the Middle School and the High School. In July of 2014, he wound up with the position of assistant principal and humanities director. After February vacation that year, he was appointed acting principal at the High School through June 30. He returned to his split position as assistant principal and humanities director on July 1. In July 2017, he was appointed to his current position as the district’s executive director of curriculum, instruction and accountability. Sullivan and his wife Bethany, a Revere native, live in Amesbury with three young sons. Mike Hashem’s letter This is the letter that Saugus High School Principal Michael Hashem emailed to staff, students and family this week: The 2020-2021 school year is coming to a close and our Saugus Middle High School Complex has enjoyed its fi rst year as the fl agCRASH | SEE PAGE 21 ship school in Saugus. While the pandemic delayed our opening; we were able to end the year on a positive note and return most of our students to an in-person learning model and begin to see the resources available in our new complex. As a school and community we worked to get our students back to a traditional education model for teaching and learning and overcoming the impact of this pandemic. It is our hope that next year will be the beginning of a “new normal” of academic excellence at the Saugus Middle High School Complex. Personally, I have invested countless hours and given my total focus and dedication for the past decade to partner with the MSBA, design an educational plan, work with the architects, secure funding from the community, and work with the construction team and project management to get this Complex from a hope and an idea to our current reality. As a lifelong Saugonian, I was proud to have been part of this team and the collective eff ort to get this done. The completion of this project, combined with a transition to a new building, merging of two staff s, navigating through a global pandemic, serving fi ve months as an interim superintendent, and serving eight years as a principal has taken its toll. I have no regrets about the sacrifi ces I have made and I am proud of these accomplishments, but it is time for my next chapter. This message will be one of my last as the principal of the Saugus Middle High School. My health and family need to be a priority and I hope you all realize how grateful I have been to have this opportunity to be your principal. While this is the end of a chapter, it is not the end of my career in education nor working in Saugus. I am returning to the classroom in my former role as a high school mathematics teacher. I look forward to serving in this critical role, as I get a chance to make an impact albeit in this diff erent, perhaps more important role. Thank you to everyone that has been there to support me as an administrator and I truly look forward to returning to the classroom. As always stay positive and healthy. Take care. The initial collision caused the Ford Transit to roll over and the Hyundai to cross the median then enter the southbound lanes of Route 95. The Hyundai then struck a 2019 Ford F-150 that was driven by a 61-year-old man from Old Orchard Beach, Maine, before leaving the roadway into the S y Senior Golf Gadgets That Can Sa e a BY JIM MILLER Help Older Golfers lf Gdt Th Dear Savvy Senior, Do you know of any golfi ng equipment that can help older golfers? My dad, who’s 76, loves to play golf, but arthritis in his hands has made griping the club challenging, and his fragile lower back makes stooping over to tee-up or retrieve the ball a problem too. Is there anything out there that can help? Golfi ng Buddy Dear Buddy, There are actually a wide variety of adaptive golf equipment that can help older golfers who struggle with injuries, arthritis or loss of mobility. Here are several golfi ng products that may help with diff erent needs. Gripping Solutions Gripping a golf club is a very common problem for seniors with hand arthritis or those who have hand or elbow injuries. To help alleviate this problem there are specially designed golf gloves and grips that can make a big diff erence. Two of my favorite gloves are the Bionic Golf Gloves (BionicGloves.com) that have extra padding in the palm and fi nger joints to improve grip. And the Power Glove (PowerGlove.com) that has a small strap attached to the glove that loops around the club grip to secure it in your hand. These run between $20 and $30. Another option is to get oversized grips installed on your dad’s clubs. These can make gripping the club easier and more comfortable and are also very good at absorbing shock. Oversized grips are usually either one-sixteenth-inch or one-eighth-inch larger in diameter than a standard grip, and cost around $10 per grip. You can fi nd these grips and have them installed at your local golf store or pro shop. Or, for a grip-and-glove combination fix, check out Quantum Grip (QuantumGrip. com), which incorporates Velcro material recessed in the golf club grip and a companion golf glove that has mating Velcro material in the palm. Cost: $25 per grip, and $40 a glove. Upright Tools For golfers with back, hip or knee problems, there are a number of different tools that can eliminate the repetitive bending and stooping that comes with playing golf. For example, for teeing up the ball without bending over, consider the Tee-Up Foldaway by Zero Bend Golf. This is a 34inch long-handled tool that has a trigger-style handgrip and a jaw that holds the ball and tee for easy placement. It costs $70 at ZeroBendGolf.com. For other stoop-proof teeup solutions, see the Tee Pal Pro ($70, TeePalLLC.com) and Joe’s Original Backtee ($25, UprightGolf.com). ZeroBendGolf.com and UprightGolf.com also offer ball pickup tools and magnetic ball marker products that cost under $15. Or, if you just want a great all-around golf picker-upper, consider the Graball GrabAll Jaw – sold through Amazon. com for $10 for a package of two. It attaches to the handle end of your putter and chipper and is designed to pick up golf balls, flagsticks, putters and green side chippers. Refl ective Golf Balls If diminished vision makes locating the ball challenging, Chromax golf balls (ChromaxGolf.com) can help. These are reflective colored golf balls that make them appear larger and brighter. Cost: $10 for a three-pack. Easy Carts There are also ergonomically designed golf carts that can help older golfers tote their clubs around the course. If you like to walk, CaddyTek (CaddyTek.com) and Clicgear (Clicgearusa.com) has a variety of three and four-wheeled push/ pull carts that are highly rated for function and foldability. Costs typically range between $150 and $300. Or, for severe mobility loss, the SoloRider specialized electric golf cart (SoloRider. com) provides the ability to play from a seated or standing-but-supported position. Retailing for $10,500, plus a $600 shipping fee, this cart is lightweight and precisely balanced so it can be driven on tee boxes and greens without causing any damage. Federal ADA laws require that all public golf courses allow them. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Seni nior ni r ior

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