Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, June 28, 2019 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS By Mark Vogler H ere are a few tidbits that you might want to know about this week in Saugus. Required reading; required viewing Anyone who has any interest in running for public office for the first time should tune into last Thursday night’s (June 20) meeting of the Saugus School Committee on SaugusTV, or get the written highlights from Town Meeting Member Ryan Fisher’s excellent Letter to the Editor in today’s Saugus Advocate. The lack of civility, respect for fellow members and professionalism that was displayed on local cable TV by a majority of the School Committee members didn’t do much to enhance the town’s public image. The overall broadcast might just provide some good pointers to Saugus residents on how they shouldn’t be conducting themselves. I tuned into SaugusTV a couple of times to watch the proceedings, and I was half expecting the late Morton Downey, Jr., the king of “trash TV,” to walk into the School Committee Room and provide some entertainment. With all of the children who show up for these meetings, it’s not setting a good example. Secrecy never works The School Committee and the School Department could have done a better job in decisions that led to the replacement of 21 custodians. For starters, if this was such a great idea and truly in the best interests of Saugus children and the education system, why weren’t there public forums about it? Why did it need to be done? Perhaps a feasibility study on how it might impact the school system, the pros and cons and the experience in communities comparable to Saugus? Instead, it turned out very badly for the community and the 21 custodians who lost their jobs. I have no doubts that the state Attorney General’s Division of Open Government will at some point be looking again at alleged violations of the state Open Meeting Law. Stay tuned. “A shout out” for Olivia Town Meeting Member Jeanie Bartolo has suggested that this week’s “Shout Out” go to Olivia “Olive” Tamagna, a 16-yearold Saugus High School student who doesn’t want Saugus residents to take the school custodians for granted. Jeanie praised Olivia “for starting the online petition to support our Custodians.” “She did a great job speaking on Town Meeting floor last night [Monday] and because of her efforts 2,700 and counting have signed the petition! This young lady has a bright future ahead of her. Way to go Olive!!!” Jeanie says. Anyone got any ideas for people they’d like to see get a “Shoutout?” This is an opportunity for our paper’s readers to single out – in a brief mention – remarkable acts or achievements by Saugus residents. Just send an email (mvoge@comcast.net) with the mention in the subject line: “An Extra Shout Out.” No more than a paragraph. Anything longer might lend itself to a story and/or photo. Greater transparency? Peter Manoogian wants to suggest a couple of ideas on making the government process more accessible and open in Saugus: Affording all petitioners the courtesy of a phone call when their article will be before the finance committee. This was common practice for finance committees for over half a century in this town until just recently Televising the special meetings between the town manager and groups of town meeting members in the fin com room so that the public can hear his explanations for his articles and programs Requiring dollar amounts be included in all financial articles at the time of warrant publication rather than a few days before. Shouldn’t the public have the benefit of knowing how much will be spent and for what purpose? Saugus over coffee, anyone? Back during several stints covering local politics in the city of Lawrence, I would organize neighborhood groups into several coffee klatches where the residents would talk about major issues in their respective parts of the city. These were very popular sessions, as they would empower city voters to discuss issues on their mind and their wish lists of projects they liked to see discussed on the campaign trail. These were so successful the citizens essentially set voter agendas for City Council, School Committee and sometimes mayoral races. Do you as a Saugus resident have issues that you would like to see public officials tackle in your neighborhood in town? Would you feel comfortable sitting down with a reporter over coffee focusing on what you would like to see done town-wide or in a specific neighborhood? Get some of your friends together, and let’s have some coffee as you articulate what you think should be an issue tackled by town or school officials. A call for Rumney art If you want to learn a little more about Rumney Marsh and be creative, check this one out. Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) is pleased to announce a call for art for its second annual Rumney Marsh art exhibition, to be held at the Marleah Elizabeth Graves (MEG) Center at 54-58 Essex St. in Saugus, Mass., on September 20 and September 21. Titled Rumney Marsh Through the Seasons, the exhibit will feature art in any medium inspired by the beauty and fragility of the Rumney Marsh Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). DATES: ACEC: Rumney Marsh will run from September 20-21 with gallery hours from 6:30–8:30 each evening. The opening reception on Sept. 20 will include a presentation on the plants of Rumney Marsh by Laura D. Eisener and voting for award winners by attendees. The closing reception on September 21 will include the announcement of winners and presentation of prizes and, at 8:30, the pickup of all artwork. Prizes will include gift cards awarded by SAVE to first- and second-place winners in both the adult and high school divisions, as well as art materials awards provided by our local Artist & Craftsman Supply awarded to third-place winners in both divisions. SPECIFICATIONS FOR SUBMISSIONS: Rumney Marsh must be the focus of the art. Each artist must be at least of high school age and may show only one piece of art. Any three-dimensional works must be self-supporting and no larger than 1.5” x 1.5” x 1.5ʹ. Works on stretched canvas will be accepted with eye hooks and wire and need not be framed but must be no larger than 30” x 30”. All other works must be framed and ready to hang (with eye hooks and wire) and no larger than 30” x 30” framed. There are no entry fees and you do not need to be a resident of Saugus. Art drop off will be on Thursday, September 19 from 5:30-8:30. Pickup will be on Saturday, September 21 at 8:30 p.m., at the end of the reception. At the time of drop off, each participating artist must fill out an information form (with artist name, price, title of the piece, medium and contact information). In addition artists must sign a release form acknowledging that while every effort will be made to protect artworks there will be no insurance coverage in event of damage or theft and that neither SAVE nor MEG will be held liable for any damages or theft. Saugus SAVE board members and their family members may exhibit but will be ineligible for any prizes. Finally, any sales must be handled by individual artists after the close of the exhibit. Please join us in celebrating our precious estuarine and salt marsh ecosystem Rumney Marsh! We look forward to seeing your art and to meeting all nature and art lovers at the exhibit and reception. For questions, please contact Kelly Slater at 781-231-6864. Thank you to our community partners, the Marleah Elizabeth Graves (MEG) Center and our local Artist & Craftsman Supply. Upcoming selectmen’s meetings Here are some dates passed on by Wendy Reed, Clerk of the Saugus Board of Selectmen, for meetings through the fall. The Selectmen have extended their meeting schedule through September: July 1, August 14, September 4 and September 18. For those who have business before the board or who are interested in attending any of these sessions, the board meets at 7 p.m. in the second floor auditorium at Town Hall, 298 Central St. Main attractions at the Saugus Public Library There’s always something interesting or entertaining going on at the Saugus Public Library – for people of all ages – from young children to senior citizens. Here are a few events to check out: Participate in the Saugus Public Library’s Adult Summer Reading Program and win a prize! Everyone who submits a book form will have their name entered into a drawing for a Kindle Paperwhite! For each book you read this summer, fill out a book form and drop it in the box at Reference, New Books or Large Print. The form is also available on our website. Summer Reading at the library already began and ends on Monday, August 19. Contact: Saugus Public Library, 295 Central St., Saugus, MA 01906; 781-231-4168 or sauguspubliclibrary.org. Friendship Storytime on Fridays continues. This special program for children, which begins at 9:30 a.m., is sponsored by the Coordinated Family Community Engagement Grant. It can help parents nurture their child’s social and early literacy skills with structured storytime. Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten Playgroup! This program is sponsored by the Coordinated Community Engagement Grant, and the summer hours are Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. It’s recommended for children ages three through five. The Yoga Experience: Here’s a free, basic yoga class that is ideal for beginners. This 60-minute slow flow class opens with a brief meditation, followed by a gentle warm up, some core strengthening, standing postures, and flexibility poses. Each session winds down with deep relaxation. Lisa Poto is a registered yoga teacher and a member of the Yoga Alliance. She graduated from Barre & Soul’s 200-hour yoga teacher training program. “Yoga is my passion, and has been transforming in my life. I believe that yoga is for everybody. It is your own personal exploration and journey,” Poto said. The Children’s Library Director, Amy Melton, said that she has some fresh titles that kids are enjoying. Let’s hear it! Got an idea, passing thought or gripe you would like to share with The Saugus Advocate? I’m always interested in your feedback. It’s been more than three years since I began work at The Saugus Advocate. I’m always interested in hearing readers’ suggestions for possible stories or good candidates for The Advocate Asks interview of the week. Feel free to email me at mvoge@comcast.net. Do you have some interesting views on an issue that you want to express to the community? Submit your idea. If I like it, we can meet for a 15to 20-minute interview at a local coffee shop. And I’ll buy the coffee.
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