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SAUGUS Vol. 24, No. 29 -FREETh e Advocate–A household word in Saugus! OC C www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday A vote to stay the course Selectmen reward Town Manager Crabtree with a 3-year contract extension to keep him in charge of town government through August 2025 By Mark E. Vogler A ll five of the town’s selectmen agree that Scott C. Crabtree – Saugus’s longest-serving town manager – deserves to be presiding over his hometown government a little longer. With a year remaining to the existing fi ve-year contract Crabtree received back in August of 2017, selectmen voted 4-1 to give Crabtree a three year extension that would enable him to be in charge at least through Aug. 24, 2025. Even Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano – who has had political differences with Crabtree and has spoken of aspirations of becoming town manager one day – supported Crabtree. “I’m happy that you’re here, Scott, keeping the seat warm for me, hopefully, and I wish you well and congratulations,” Cogliano said at Tuesday night’s (July 20) Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Selectmen voted during a June 25 Executive Session in the fi rst fl oor conference room to extend Crabtree’s contract. They said they convened briefly in public after that secret session to confi rm their vote, but waited nearly a month to comment publicly about it at the beginning of this week’s meeting. Crabtree, 51, under his current contract, would become the fi rst town manager to serve Saugus for a decade in the history of its current form of government (town manager/Representative Town Meeting), which dates back to 1948. “I commend, I applaud you and I congratulate you for a job well done,” Selectman Jeff rey V. Cicolini told Crabtree in explaining his vote to extend Crabtree’s contract three years during Wednesday night’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Cicolini said he would have preferred to have given Crabtree a fouryear extension, based on his sixplus years of experience working with Crabtree. Reading from a detailed statement which highlighted Crabtree’s accomplishments, veteran Selectman Debra Panetta said Crabtree was well-deserving of the extension, declaring “he’s done an exceptional job moving our town forward.” “I believe he’s been able to listen to the residents and elected and appointed offi cials, prioritize needs, put plans together, and execute eff ectively,” Panetta said. Board of Selectmen ViceChair Corinne Riley was the only board member opposed to the three-year extension. VOTE | SEE PAGE 6 SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT: Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree at a town event earlier this month. He already knew that he would be getting the threeyear extension selectmen voted to give him during a June 25 Executive Session, which became offi cial that day when selectmen reaffirmed the 4-1 vote in a brief public session. Selectmen discussed that vote for the first time publicly at the beginning of the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday night (July 20). The extension enables Crabtree – Saugus’s longest-serving town manager since the town adopted its current form of government in 1948, to remain in charge of town government through August 2025. For more photos and related story on the explanation of each selectman’s vote, see inside. (Saugus Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) D O TE CAT 781-233-4446 Friday, July 23, 2021 Making the Square safer Town gets $98K Shared Street & Spaces Grant to make Cliftondale Square traffi c and sidewalk improvements; new crosswalk signs for dangerous intersections By Mark E. Vogler I t’s been a great month for residents and local offi cials who are committed to the revitalization of Cliftondale Square. On Wednesday, Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree’s offi ce announced that the town had received a $98,000 Shared Street and Spaces Grant to create a safer Cliftondale Square. News of the town receiving the grant comes on the heels of flashing crossing beacons being installed last week at two dangerous intersections in the Cliftondale area – one adjacent to the Cliftondale Post Offi ce and the other near the Lincoln Avenue/Central Street intersection. “Cliftondale Square is a special neighborhood within the Town of Saugus, and it has been a longterm goal of this administration to revitalize it,” Crabtree said in a press release issued by his office announcing the grant which enables the town to make traffic and sidewalk improvements in the Cliftondale Square area. “With this grant award, the Town will be able to make the necessary investment to improve safety within the Square, and take initial steps towards attracting more business, visitors, and residents to this beloved area within the community,” Crabtree SQUARE | SEE PAGE 5 ANGELO’S FULL SERVICE Regular Unleaded $2.859 Mid Unleaded $2.919 Super $3.079 Diesel Fuel $3.079 "42 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2020 KERO $4.65 DEF $3.49 9 Diesel $2.859 9 HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! 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Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 Road Races are Back! $2.39 After pandemic cancellations last year, the YMCA of Metro North’s 5ks and Half Marathon return to in-person run or walk for charity (Editor’s note: The following info is from a press release issued this week by the YMCA of Metro North in Saugus.) L ace up your sneakers and get ready to run or walk with the YMCA of Metro North. With one month to go before the start of its popular Road Race Series, registrations are picking up as runners and walkers turn out for the return of in-person races. Participants can run or walk the YMCA of Metro North four 5ks or run the Half Marathon. Proceeds from each race support access to the YMCAs health programming for members of the community and provide fi - nancial assistance to children to attend Y Academy child care programs and summer camps. The series kicks off on Saturday, Aug. 21, with the Saugus Family YMCA’s Not a Walk in the Park 5k through the scenic trails of Breakheart Reservation in Saugus. “We are going to have a lot of fun this year. People are ready to get back to these in-person events that bring our communities together for a great cause,” YMCA of Metro North President and CEO Kathleen Walsh said. “I really missed the races last year. Our virtual events were a novel idea during the pandemic, but nothing beats the excitement of race day,” Walsh said of the Road Race Series registrations that provide a race number and race day gear for all four 5k races. RUNNING FOR REAL: Popular race events return after a year’s absence because of COVID-19. Here is a happy contestant from the Saugus Family YMCA’s “Not a Walk in the Park 5k” at Breakheart Reservation in April 2019. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) The Saugus Not a Walk in the Park 5k at Breakheart Reservation on August 21 will be followed by the Demakes Family YMCA’s Stride Along the Tide 5k at Nahant Life Saving Station on Sept. 25; the Melrose Family YMCA’s Spooky Sprint in Downtown Melrose on October 30; and the Torigian Family YMCA’s Livestrong at the Y Half Marathon and inaugural LiveSTRONG 5k on November 20. The LiveSTRONG half marathon will run concurrently with the LiveSTRONG 5k. “We are so ready to kick off the Metro North’s Road Race Series in Saugus again,” said Saugus YMCA Senior Program Director Issac Fowler. “It’s a tradition our commuBanking with a hometown touch. Open a free checking account with no monthly fees, and get access to Mobile Banking, Bill Pay and other features. Because no matter where you go, we’re right by you. Call or visit us to sign up. 419 BROADWAY, EVERETT MA 02149 61 7-38 7 - 1 1 10 7 7 1 SALEM ST, LYNNFIELD, MA 01940 781-7 76- 4444 WWW.EVERET TBANK . COM nity really enjoys. These are family-friendly events for everyone. Whether you walk or run, we have prizes for people in all ages and categories,” he said. “It’ll be a great way for people to get together outdoors and reconnect with their neighbors.” Registration is open for each of the individual 2021 Road Race Series 5ks and the Road Race Series bundle. Each YMCA race welcomes runners and walkers of all ages on the course for these family-friendly events. Prizes are awarded to the top runners in each age group and gender, and all participants will be eligible to win raffl e prizes. The races include chip-timing by Bay State Timing Services, an exclusive race t-shirt and post-race refreshments. Road Race Series participants will receive an additional gift at the conclusion of the LiveSTRONG 5k in November for completing all four races. For more information about the 2021 road race series, please visit www.ymcametronorth. org/support/road-race-series/. Camp Funshine B Saugus Catholics Collaborative offers free Summer Fun Program for kids next month lessed Sacrament Parish and Right by you. Member FDIC Member DIF St. Margaret’s Parish will host a lively summer experience this year on the grounds of Blessed Sacrament Church. Called Camp Funshine, the program is open to any Saugus child who will be entering Grades 1 through 5 in September. The camp runs Aug. 9-12 (mornings only) from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. This free program includes crafts, water games and faith-based activities. For more information, please call Dawn Hunt at the Saugus Catholics Collaborative Offi ce at 781-233-2497 or email her at dawn@sauguscatholics.org.

THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 Page 3 Selectmen explain their votes on Town Manager Scott Crabtree’s 3-year contract extension Editor’s note: These are highlights of comments made by each of the selectmen at Tuesday night’s (July 20) meeting when they explained the reason for their vote. Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano: “Scott has been the sixth town manager that I’ve had the pleasure of extending or voting for. It started with Ed Collins, Richard Cardillo, Steve Angelo, Andrew Bisignani, John Vasapolli in there twice as a temporary, so this has been the sixth time for me. “And I think Corinne’s right in her statement that when the election was held in 2019 people were looking for change. And I think Scott Crabtree was probably wondering how he and I were going to work together because we had some history in the past. And I think we worked very well together, because at the end of the day, it’s not about me or Scott Crabtree. It’s about the town, and we always put the town first. So, I’m happy that you’re here, Scott, keeping the seat warm for me, hopefully, and I wish you well and congratulations. “The only other thing that I would like to say – that at the conclusion of the vote, I stressed to the manager that regardless who voted for you or didn’t vote for you, everyone is treated the same: fairly. And he assured me that we would all be treated that way. Again, congratulations, Scott.” Board of Selectmen ViceChair Corinne Riley: “On whether to support an extension or not, I think that it’s important to remember that no one – town employee, elected official or anyone else – is all good or all bad. We all have our strengths and weaknesses – no exceptions. “It’s my opinion that in some respects the Manager has done enough to warrant the extension. Specific areas include a conservative fiscal policy, the completion of the ACO and the progress of the school building projects. There are also areas where, in my opinion, more work is needed to warrant an extension. Specific areas include better planning, better customer service and more transparency. I’ll provide more details in the upcoming evaluation. “When weighing all of these things, I also took into considEXPRESSING THEIR SUPPORT Selectmen Debra Panetta (fourth from the left) read from a detailed list of accomplishments she credits to Town Manager Scott Crabtree during Tuesday night’s (July 20) Board of Selectmen meeting. From left to right are Selectman Michael Serino, Board of Selectmen Vice-Chair Corinne Riley, Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano, Selectman Panetta and Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) eration the wishes of the voters who put me in this seat. Voters spoke loud and clear at all levels of our local government last election and clearly indicated their appetite for change. If they didn’t, then we’d have a very different Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Town Meeting today. The position of Town Manager is not voted directly by the people, but I felt that since the overwhelming number of voters in our last election voted for change, they deserved a seat at the table to have their voices heard. For this reason, I could not support a contract extension. “On the contract itself, I researched the contracts for seven other Town Managers in eastern Massachusetts and compared them to the current contract negotiated back in 2015. In my opinion, the current contract needed work to be fair to the Town. “Specifically, I along with other Board members advocated for a section specifying an evaluation in Open Session, and that any merit increase in salary should be tied to the evaluation. I am pleased that these were included and feel they will provide greater accountability. “Additionally, I advocated for a more limited Indemnification section, details of which will be in the Executive Session minutes. Though Town Counsel did not feel it was necessary, in my opinion, it would provide greater protection to the Town, but the Board did not support changing the Indemnification section. Regarding the length of the contract, I advocate for a shorter duration, specifically 18 months. While I recognize the benefits of stability in the Town Manager’s position, I also did not want a contract to go beyond two years so as to take the extension decision out of the next board’s hands. “The Board has voted to extend the Town Manager’s contract; I accept that, and I want to congratulate the Town Manager, and I look forward to working with the Board and the Manager on all the challenges and opportunities in front of us.” SELECTMEN | SEE PAGE 15

Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 Invasion of the scuttle fl ies Flies that are making life miserable for Saugus residents can pose a signifi cant health risk, according to entomologist By Mark E. Vogler A n entomologist warned Health Director John R. Fralick this week that an invasion of scuttle fl ies in a home on Pemberly Drive can pose "a signifi cant" health risk. “While these types of infestations seem to be rare, they represent a signifi cant risk particularly in situations where people have prolonged and intense interactions with fly populations,” Tony Kiszewski advised Fralick in a letter dated July 20 (Tuesday). “Their larvae can exploit a wide variety of substrates, but they are particularly well known for infesting animal carcasses and human corpses. Literature reviews of their public health relevance reveal that they have been associated on occasion with human myiasis, including urinary tract, intestinal and nasopharyngeal infestations,” he wrote. “They have also been reported to be able to infest unhealed wounds in recuperating patients,” he said. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree referred to the letter this week when briefi ng selectmen on the neighborhood concern over scuttle fl ies that have recently plagued residents of Pemberley Drive near Fiske Brook. Kiszewski is a public health entomologist with a primary appointment at Bentley University and a secondary appointment as a research associate at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard. He specializes in biting Diptera including mosquitoes and serves in the Mosquito Advisory Group for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Kiszewski said he was recently contacted by Boston Television Station WBZ news to assist in the identifi cation of some specimens collected on sticky cards taken from a light trap in the laundry room of a house on Pemberly Drive. “There were hundreds of specimens of tiny flies (23mm) on each card that turned out to be higher Diptera (Infraorder Muscomorpha) in the family Phoridae, commonly known as scuttle or coffi n fl ies,” Kiszewski advised Fralick. “Further microscopic examination revealed them to be members of a highly cosmopolitan species known as Megaselia scalaris.This struck me as rather unusual because though M. scalaris has been found all over the world, they are more commonly associated with warm climates in tropical and subtropical regions,” he said. “My first encounter with them was as a U.S. Navy entomologist working in Okinawa Japan with the USMC’s 3rd Medical Battalion. I once discovered larvae and pupae of this species infesting ketchup bottles in a Marine mess hall on Camp Hansen,” he said. “Out of curiosity and at the invitation of a WBZ crew, I visited the site at Fiske Brook on July 15 and sampled fl y specimens from residents’ homes, gnat swarms near the stream itself, the vacant lot across the stream, and a large sample of decaying sediment from the A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE (781) 289-4959 Same Location * Same Service for over 49 Years! CIGAR GIFT PACKS UNDER $50 Chris Dan Steve Cigar Accessories ---------GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE Summer Is Here & So Are We! 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The satellite sculptures will be in front of Revere City Hall (281 Broadway), at the 500 Ocean Avenue apartments and at Suff olk Downs (525 McClellan Hwy., Boston) in the coming weeks . (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) They’re coming back! Renowned sand sculptures return to the Beach Aug. 6 Scuttle fl ies edge of the stream. I found no evidence of a signifi cant presence of fungus gnats in the families Sciaridae or Mycetophilidae. The adult fl ies swarming near the stream are primarily chironomids. Insect larvae in the sediment fl anking the stream were primarily chironomids or tipulids.” He said he investigated the culvert and streambed as well as a vacant lot across the stream but was unable to locate a source for the adult fl ies, although they were still entering people’s houses at the time. “One resident stated that she fi lls up one sticky plate per day in her light traps. I remain intrigued by this unusual situation and eager to discover the source of this infestation,” he said. 20th Annual Walk of Hope for ALS – Sept. 11 W AKEFIELD – The 20th annual Walk of Hope for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), a 3.5-mile walk around Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefi eld to benefi t The Angel Fund for ALS Research, will be held on Saturday, September 11. Walkers of all abilities are encouraged to participate as individuals or as a team. The walk begins with registration at 9 a.m. followed by the start of the walk at 11 a.m. The traditional release of white doves will be held prior to the start of the walk. In addition to the walk around Lake Quannapowitt, the event includes activities and refreshments for all walkers. Although masks are not mandated, non-vaccinated walkers are encouraged to wear masks. The Angel Fund for ALS Research is a nonprofi t organization dedicated to supporting ALS research at UMass Medical School in Worcester. ALS is a progressive, always fatal neuANNUAL | SEE PAGE 16

THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 Page 5 MAKING | FROM PAGE 1 added. “We are grateful of the Baker-Polito Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s support of the Town of Saugus and its goal to create safer streets, sidewalks, and crossings in Cliftondale Square,” he said. Meanwhile, state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) and Board of Selectmen ViceChair Corinne Riley were able to see the results of their three-year-old project – to do something to better protect friends and residents from getting hit by cars while trying to cross the streets in Saugus. Riley, who was not yet a selectman, discussed possible ways to make town streets safer. “We looked at crosswalk signs in the other communities,” recalled Wong. “Corinne got the cost of signs in other towns and cities. I applied for $50,000 in the state budget for the crosswalk signs, which the town has received – many thanks to the state delegation, House of Representatives, Senate and the Governor for approving this amount,” Wong said. “The signs are not a cureall. The vehicles still have to slow down and the residents also have to be more aware of their surroundings. This project is an example of what can happen when residents, local and state governments work together,” he said. Revitalization committee chair suggested grant Joe Vecchione, a Precinct 2 Town Meeting member who chairs the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee, which he instigated, said he hopes the two recent developments will help to spur other efforts to improve Cliftondale Square – with the long-range goal of making it a viable business community again. “Finally, after years of studies and stagnancy, we’re beginning to see progress materializing,” Vecchione told The Saugus Advocate yesterday. Vecchione organized and chaired a community forum last month at the MEG Building, where he invited residents, tenants and property owners to show up and offer their ideas on how to improve the Square. The committee will reconvene next month or in early September to begin drafting a final report, which is due for submission to the Town Meeting by Nov. 1. Vecchione pitched the idea FOR A SAFER CLIFTONDALE SQUARE: Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Corinne Riley stands near the new flashing crossing beacon installed last week at a dangerous intersection in front of the Cliftondale Post Office. Riley and state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) collaborated on a project three years ago that led to a state grant that funded the installation of three crosswalk signs like this last week – two of them in the Cliftondale Square area. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) for the town applying for the grant earlier this year during a virtual Zoom forum set up by selectmen so local residents and officials could provide feedback and make requests of the town’s legislative delegation. “I mentioned the Shared Streets and Spaces grant, how it’s purpose was appropriate to the context and issues in Cliftondale and if there would be another round of funding, which Senator Creighton confirmed,” Vecchione said. “I sent a follow up email to our Planning Department and Town Manager to advocate and apply pressure for the Town to complete an application for the May deadline. Previous applications for the grant in the past year [not in Cliftondale] were not accepted as they did not meet the criteria of the grant,” he said. “While the authority of the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee is limited in nature, I do believe our continued persistence, our collaborative and pragmatic approach, and our success in raising renewed awareness of the glaring issues in Cliftondale with data-driven, upto-date background has certainly accelerated revitalization efforts and push for investment in this struggling business and housing district coming out of a crippling pandemic. The success in being awarded this grant is a testament of how persistence, collaboration and cooperation can yield meaningful results,” he said. Cliftondale becoming a bigger town priority In his press release, Crabtree characterized CliftonMAKING | SEE PAGE 13 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK ADVOCATE NEWSPAPER FACEBOOK.COM/ADVOCATE.NEWS.MA 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

Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 VOTE | FROM PAGE 1 During the Board’s June 25 Executive Session – which was confirmed in public later – Riley proposed a substitute motion for an 18-month extension. That motion failed 4-1. The board then approved Cicolini’s motion for the three years, which passed 4-1. “Regarding the length of the contract, I advocated for a shorter duration, specifically 18 months,” Riley said, reading from a statement at Wednesday night’s selectmen’s meeting. “While I recognize the benefits of stability in the Town Manager position, I also did not want a contract to go beyond two years so as to take the extension decision out of the next board’s hands,” she said. “The Board has voted to extend the Town Manager’s contract; I accept that, and I want to congratulate the Town Manager, and I look forward to working with the Board and the Manager on all the challenges and opportunities in front of us.” New contract features public evaluation During the nine-plus years of Crabtree’s time as town manager, several officials have called for more transparency and accountability in the process of evaluating and rewarding the town manager for his job performance. Under the terms of the contract extension approved by selectmen, Crabtree will receive a performance appraisal in open session every January. The town manager and selectmen will also discuss goals and objectives publicly. Crabtree has agreed to meet with selectmen within the next 45 days “to discuss mutually agreeable goals and objectives,” according to Cicolini, who shared the highlights of the contract extension at Wednesday night’s meeting. The town manager and four of the five selectmen must agree to the language and criteria for the performance review, Cicolini noted. He said the first public evaluation will take place within 30 days of an agreement on the new evaluation process. Here are other contract provisions Cicolini mentioned: • Crabtree’s base salary will be $183,824 when his new extension becomes effective on Aug. 25, 2022. GETTING SHOWERED WITH PRAISE: Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree (right) listened at Wednesday’s meeting as selectmen took turns explaining why they think he deserves a contract extension. At left is Janice Jarosz, interim clerk to the Board of Selectmen. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) • He will receive a 1.5 percent cost of living increase each year – half of what he currently receives. • Selectmen have the right to award Crabtree a merit increase of up to 5 percent annually, based on his public evaluation and meeting performance goals and objectives. • Crabtree has agreed to give up the 5 percent longevity allowance that he is entitled to as a town employee with 20 years of service to the town. He served previously as a town police officer for more than 10 years. • His seven percent education stipend will be capped at $12,868. • Crabtree’s conference and course work will be capped at $3,000 a year. His longevity stipend will be capped at $1,000 per year. No need for a pay raise right now Selectman Michael Serino said he recalled that when he voted to hire Crabtree for the town manager’s job back in 2012, “We gave him what the previous town manager was getting … like $120,000. ...It was low.” Since last fall, when Cicolini lobbied to begin contract negotiations with Crabtree, selectmen have conducted some research on what town managers are earning in other communities. Serino said he was “shocked” to learn that Crabtree’s salary was comparable to what other communities were paying. A look at 13 other communities revealed that Crabtree’s base salary of $183,824 was right in line with an average of $180,000 a year. “We decided not to give another increase right now,” Serino said. In addition, the board decided to cut the annual cost of living increase in half, to 1.5 percent. “I appreciate everybody’s support,” Crabtree told the board. “Obviously, I’d be lying to say this isn’t a tough job,” he said, referring to the past history of Saugus being a difficult place for town managers to succeed – a community where many town managers have served just a short duration, causing one Boston newspaper to refer to the town manager’s job as “a revolving door.” “It’s pretty difficult to maintain friendships and support and allies because everybody has different interests,” Crabtree said. Crabtree became town manager on April 1, 2012. His days at Town Hall nearly ended in October of 2014 when the Board of Selectmen at the time voted 4-1 to fire him. Selectman Panetta was the lone board member supporting Crabtree. But Panetta and enough citizens in the community rallied behind Crabtree, engineering a successful recall in March 2015 of the four selectmen who fired the town manager. Panetta and the four “recall advocates” who joined her on the board – Cicolini, Mark Mitchell, Jennifer D’Eon and Scott A. Brazis – rehired Crabtree as one of their first actions as a new board. After serving about eight months together, the board won overwhelming support from voters in the November 2015 town election. They were reelected in 2017. But two years later, the political landscape changed again. Crabtree seemed to lose support on the board when Mitchell decided not to run for another term after being indicted for allegedly stealing from the nonprofit Boston Center for Adult Education. D’Eon and Brazis lost their seats in the 2019 town elections. Cicolini announced months ago that he doesn’t plan on seeking another term on the board. Meanwhile, Crabtree has VOTE | SEE PAGE 7

THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 Page 7 The Artistic Gymnast By Th e Old Sachem, Bill Stewart T his week I will write about a sport I never played or studied. The sport is Artistic Gymnastics. In the 40s and 50s of my youth, without smartphones and the apps to fill your hours, very little television to absorb you interests, you placated yourself by playing games outdoors that you saw and tried. Football, baseball, basketball and hockey were our modus operandi as to playing games in season, sometimes just in our neighborhood, the town or the area. I even got interested in soccer when my two oldest sons became captains of the Saugus High team. I want to interest you in the sport of Artistic Gymnastics, which you will be seeing in the period ahead as the OlymVOTE | FROM PAGE 6 impressed the current board enough to secure a three-year extension. He’s persevered during the challenging times of COVID-19. He’s also been a part of some major accomplishments in municipal government over the past fi ve years. Up until several months ago, former Town Manager Andrew Bisignani (2003-2012) had served the longest of any town manager – about nine years. Crabtree has surpassed Bisignani. Besides Bisignani, there were 17 other regular town managers who were in offi ce less time than Crabtree has served. Their service ranged from a year to fi ve years; many of them for just half that period, which earned Saugus the reputation of being “the graveyard for town managers.” “Thank you for the feedback” At Wednesday night’s meeting, Crabtree expressed gratitude to selectmen for placing their confi dence in him. “It’s an honor. It is a tough job, and I’d be lying to say it’s not,” Crabtree said. “I’ve been through a lot. The town has been through a lot and others have been through a lot. I appreciate the support and I’m going to continue to work as hard as I can. I love the job. I love the community. And I appreciate it and thank you for the feedback,” he said. Crabtree acknowledged that he’s learned on the job to be more open-minded when it comes to receiving feedback from elected and appointed pics get underway. From what I see now and remember from prior Olympics, the participants spend a lot of time on bars and on a mat doing calisthenics and jumping about. It is usually performed by small people because larger people have size and weight to make the performance very difficult. But I do remember Olympics of an earlier era when the great Russian team had an older, larger girl performing at a very high-performance level. Quality of performance has improved yearly since the 90s when the Russians excelled. Today the women of Team USA are ranked as among the best in the world. And that brings us to the gargantuan abilities of little Simone Biles. Simone was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, and today resides in Spring, Texas. She stands at four feet eight inchoffi cials, as well as citizens. “If there’s anything I’ve learned over the years, it’s trying to do that and trying to continue to be open-minded, to be able to try to fi lter and identify what the wants and needs are of elected and appointed offi - cials as well as the public and be able to put a plan together that can be supported and then actually executed and completed in success,” Crabtree said. “I think if you look at the history of Saugus, that’s always been the challenge – of actually completing something and doing something – I’d like to continue to do that.” Crabtree is a fourth-generation Saugus resident. He and es, every bit as the best in the world. She has performed for the USA national team since 2013. Her birth mother was unable to care for Simone or her three other siblings, so her grandfather Ron Biles was temporary custodian of the children and adopted Simone and her sister Adria. Biles holds Belizean citizenship through her adoptive mother, Nellie Cayetano Biles, Ron’s second wife. The family is Catholic. Simone was introduced to the sport of gymnastics at six years old as part of a day-care field trip when the instructors saw she had ability. She was enrolled in a training program at Bannon’s Gymnastics in Spring, Texas, and started training with Aimee Boorman at eight years old. She began her career at 14 on July 1, 2011, at the American Classic in Houston, where she GYMNAST | SEE PAGE 8 his wife, Christina, have three young children. He is a Saugus High School graduate from the class of 1988. Previously, he served as chairman of the Saugus Board of Selectmen and was a town police officer for more than a decade. Crabtree holds a Bachelor of Science degree in management with a concentration in accounting from Boston University and a juris doctor from New England School of Law. He clerked for a Superior Court judge and worked as an accountant for a Boston law fi rm before starting his own Saugus law practice. He has been a member of the Massachusetts Bar since December of 2004. AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE Is your vehicle ready for the Summer Season?!! Recharge your vehicle's AC for the warm weather! Includes up to 1 LB. of Refrigerant* (*Most Vehicles/Some Restrictions May Apply) AC SPECIAL Only $69.95 DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! CASH FOR YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV! 2012 HONDA PILOT EXL 2011 FORD FESTIVA Loaded, One Owner, Sunroof, Back-up Camera, Warranty, Only 101K Miles! TRADES WELCOME! $15,900 Financing Available! Only 105K Miles, Clean Title, Save Money on Gas! Great Commuter Car! TRADES WELCOME! $5,995 (781) 321-8841 • (617) 571-9869 Easy 1236 EasternAve • Malden EddiesAutotech.com Vehicle! We Pay Cash For Your

Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 Delta variant targeting those without COVID vaccine W By Christopher Roberson ith the recent rise of the COVID-19 Delta variant, doctors at area hospitals suggest that this strain of the virus can attack anyone who has not been vaccinated – and it will do so with ease. Delta is a staggering 225 percent more contagious than the original COVID-19 virus and the other variants that have surfaced. “It is almost exclusively infecting unvaccinated individuals,” said Dr. Lou Ann Bruno-Murtha, division chief of infectious diseases at Cambridge Health Alliance. “This variant has demonstrated improved fitness and is expected to increase.” Although there have been instances of Delta breaking through the vaccine, Bruno-Murtha said, the probability of a vaccinated person becoming infected remains quite low. “Fully vaccinated individuals are very well protected against the Delta variant,” she said. “Only 0.1 percent of breakthrough infections in Massachusetts are attributed to Delta and by and large, have been mild infections not requiring hospitalization.” To date, 63 percent of Massachusetts residents are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bruno-Murtha said Delta is most likely to flourish among groups of unvaccinated individuals. “Local clusters will emerge, particularly where unvaccinated individuals gather now that masking and physical distancing in public areas is no longer required,” she said. “Masking and other mitiLaw Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com gation strategies may need to be implemented locally, in response to increases in community transmission rates.” Looking ahead to the 20212022 school year, she strongly recommended that masks continue to be worn and that parents and school staff be fully vaccinated as well. Unlike last fall, Bruno-Murtha said remote learning is not the answer this year. “Our children will do better by returning to the classroom,” she said. “Although some cases will continue to occur in the foreseeable future, testing and contact tracing should limit clusters and enable public health and school officials to react quickly.” Dr. Scott Dryden-Peterson, an attending physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said Delta is now responsible for the majority of the state’s COVID-19 infections. Although studies remain ongoing, he said, the Delta strain appears to be more severe. “If community rates of COVID-19 continue to increase, either from Delta or another variant, increasing use of masks and distancing would be a good idea,” he said. “I advise my older patients and those with conditions that place them at risk to continue to wear masks in public indoor spaces, even after vaccination.” Dryden-Peterson said getting vaccinated will continue to be crucial, particularly since the upcoming school year is expected to be in-person. “To make schools as safe as possible, we should encourage vaccination of adults and older children to protect children who cannot yet be vaccinated,” he said. Therefore, until a pediatric GYMNAST | FROM PAGE 7 placed third all-around, first on vault and balance beam, fourth on floor exercise and eighth on uneven bars. Later in July she competed at the 2011 U.S. Classic in Chicago, Illinois, placing 20th all-around and fifth on the balance beam and the floor exercise. She was ready for the big time. Her prior attainment allowed her to compete in the 2012 American Classic in Huntsville, Alabama. Biles placed first all-around and on vault, tied for second on floor exercise, placed third on balance beam and fourth on uneven bars. That was good enough to qualify for the U.S. National Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, where she finished third all-around. On her performance, Simone was named to the U.S. Junior National team at 15 years old. She was included in the 2013 America Cup as a replacement for a player selected earlier, but sustained injuries. She finished as second when she fell off the beam after leading for two rotations. In this year she competed as part of the U.S National team in Jesolo, Italy, and Chemnitz, Germany, where she won many of the individual events and helped the US team to Gold Medals. Next that year was the USA Gymnastics National Championships, and her winning routines earned her the crown of allaround champion. Because of the outstanding performance, she was named to the Senior National Team and competed in the 2013 World Artistic Gymnastics in Antwerp, Belgium, where she qualified for the allaround and won the competition with a score of 60.216. An injury kept her out of the early competitions in the US in 2014, but she won the U.S. Classic in Chicago. Later that season she won the national championship again. The 2015 season was a very busy one for Biles: She started off by winning the AT&T American Cup, won the City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy and received her third all-around title in the US National Championships. She was selected to compete for the US team in the world championships in Glasgow, Scotland, where she helped her team win their third consecutive world championship. Simone won the AllAround title at the 2016 Pacific Rim Championships, where she performed a new, more difficult vault and a new floor routine. Biles won the 2016 U.S. National Championship AllAround title by 3.9 points over Aly Raisman. In July she was named to the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. She was originally dropped from the events for doping, but she was reinstated when she applied for a Therapeutic Use Exemption after announcing she had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. On August 9, 2016, she won her first Olympic Gold Medal in the gymnastics team event. She took the Gold Medal in the individual all-around and the vault. Simone won the Bronze Medal in the balance beam, then another Gold in the floor exercise. Biles did not compete in 2017, using the time to cowrite an autobiography with journalist Michelle Burford, “Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance.” Simone returned to action in 2018 and won the US Classic in July. In August she placed first in every event in the 2018 National Championships. In October at the 2018 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, she went to an emergency room the night before qualification with stomach pains that were actually kidney stones. It was not appendicitis and she checked herself out of the hospital. The next day she qualified to the all-around, vault, balance beam and floor exercise finals in first place and second in the uneven bars. Biles won a Gold Medal in the all-around finals, GYMNAST | SEE PAGE 12 vaccine becomes readily available for children under the age of 12, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that children, ages two and older, wear masks.

THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 Page 9 Bike to the Sea to hold community meeting on July 28 B ike to the Sea is reaching out to the Hispanic community in the Everett, Malden, Revere, Saugus, Lynn and surrounding communities by holding a meeting in Spanish on Wednesday, July 28, at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at Winners Sports Bar & Grill (361 Ferry St. in Everett). All are welcome and those planning to order food should arrive a little earlier (by 6:45 p.m.). Discussions and the presentation will be made in Spanish. Featured speaker Tim Cobau will give a presentation on the Hispanic Community Outreach Committee in hopes of welcoming more trail enthusiasts from different backgrounds. This is a community meeting of Bike to the Sea enthusiasts. To RSVP, please email espanol@ biketothesea.org or text 339224-2448. About Bike to the Sea and its trail Bike to the Sea connects communities by building and improving shared-use paths and promoting safe and happy trail use for all ages and abilities. It was started more than 25 years ago to build an off-road trail from Everett through Malden, Revere and Saugus to Lynn and Nahant Beach. Its supporters come from those communities as well as surrounding communities, including Melrose, Medford and Somerville. That trail – called the Northern Strand Community Trail – is now a reality, running along the former route of the Saugus Branch Railroad. The trail from Saugus to Lynn was recently paved, and more landscaping improvements and amenities are being added. The Northern Strand will soon connect directly to Encore Boston Harbor and “connector projects” could add access to Assembly Row in Somerville and into Boston. The Northern Strand is part of the East Coast Greenway, a series of connecting routes/paths for bicyclists and pedestrians from Maine to Florida. THIS WEEK ON SAUGUS TV Sunday, July 25 from 9 to 11 p.m. on Channel 8 – “Sunday Night Stooges” (The Three Stooges). Monday, July 26 all day on Channel 8 – “Movie Monday” (classic movies). Tuesday, July 27 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 9 – Board of Selectmen Meeting from July 20. Wednesday, July 28 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 9 – Board of Appeals Meeting from July 22. Thursday, July 29 at 6 p.m. on Channel 9 – School Committee Meeting ***live***. Friday, July 30 at 6:30 p.m. on Channel 8 – The Graff Report with Nick Graffeo. Saturday, July 31 at 9 p.m. on Channel 8 – What’s Cookin’? With Danny. Saugus TV can be seen on Comcast Channels 8, 9 & 22. For complete schedules, please visit www.saugustv.org. ***programming may be subject to change without notice*** Aluminum Everett 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Owned & operated by the Conti family since 1958 • 63 Years! “Same name, phone number & address for over half a century. We must be doing something right!” Owned & operated by the Conti family since 1958 • 57 Years! family since 1958 • 60 •Vinyl Siding •Carpentry Work •Decks •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Fully Licensed •Roofing •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roofing • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! Everett Aluminum Summer is Here!

Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 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. A date set for COVID-19 remembrance This just in from Board of Selectmen Vice-Chair Corinne Riley: A date has been set by the Town of Saugus along with the Saugus Clergy, “Remembering Those Who Passed and Those That Lifted us Up.” The notice reads as follows: “Since COVID-19 hit Saugus last Spring, we’ve lost so many not only from COVID, but from other causes as well. During the time of lockdown, social distancing guidelines affected how, if at all, we said goodbye to our family members and friends. “A Candlelight Vigil is being planned for Sunday, Sept.19th on the Town Hall lawn. It will be a time to remember those who have passed, and also a celebration of Thanksgiving for those who we relied upon so heavily during one of the most susceptible times we have faced in recent history. “More information will be forthcoming over the next few weeks regarding this town event. If you lost a loved one during the COVID pandemic and would like their name mentioned at the vigil, please send their names along to Saugusremembers@gmail.com and we will be sure to include them.” As of yesterday (Thursday, July 22, 2021), Saugus has had 4,231 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 74 deaths since March 1, 2020, according to an update provided to us by Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. What’s happening at Breakheart? Brett Power, a spokesman for the state Department of Conservation & Recreation, gave us some listings for the balance of this month at Breakheart Reservation. Family Fishing, Tuesday, July 27, 10:00-11:30 a.m.: Join our park interpreter for a drop-in fishing program! Learn how to fish, what fish live in our ponds and how to catch and release responsibly. Bait and a handful of rods will be provided but feel free to bring your own gear and fish with us and share your tips! No fishing license is required for this program. Meet at the dock on Pearce Lake Beach. Animal Adventures, Tuesday, July 27, 1:30-2:30 p.m.: an afternoon safari exploring the animals, plants and other living things you can find in and around Pearce Lake. This will be a short, ~1/2-mile hike along the shore – best for ages five and up. Meet at the kiosk by Pearce Lake Beach. All programs are free and open to the public. Bring water, use sunscreen/bug spray, dress in comfortable layers and wear sturdy, closed toe shoes. An adult must accompany children. Inclement weather cancels outdoor programs. Reasonable accommodations upon advance request. Breakheart Reservation is located at 177 Forest St. in Saugus. Parking is free. For more information call 781-233-0834 or visit the website – https://www. mass.gov/locations/breakheart-reservation – or email brett.power@mass.gov. Town of Saugus Election Calendar for 2021 The town’s political season had its unofficial opening this week when election nomination papers became available on Monday (July 19) at the Town Clerk’s Office. But as of yesterday, the first few days weren’t very eventful, according to Election Coordinator Andew DePatto. “There have been two individuals who have pulled nomination papers for Town Meeting,” Andrew told us Wednesday. “As of today, we have had no one pull papers for the School Committee or Board of Selectmen,” he added. Here are some other important dates released by the Saugus Town Clerk’s Office. Sept. 7 at 5 p.m.: last day for incumbent Town MeetGuy and “the angels” will try again Sunday The Moms Cancer Fighting Angels’ car show was cancelled last Sunday (July 18) due to rain. Organizer Guy Moley wants folks to know that the show will go on this Sunday (July 25) from 4 to 8 p.m. at Fuddruckers in Saugus. Guy and the Moms Cancer Fighting Angels relay team returns for their 6th Annual Car Show Cruise Night to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Wakefield. The event will feature many classic and antique cars, trucks and motorcycles. “There will be raffles and a 50/50 – and new this year, we will have a soc hop area where you can dance to not only juke box music, but a live perforGUESS WHO GOT SKETCHED! In this week’s edition, we continue our weekly feature where a local artist sketches people, places and things in Saugus. Got an idea who was sketched this week? If you do, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a phone message at 978-683-7773. Anyone who correctly identifies the Saugonian being sketched between now and Tuesday at noon qualifies to have their name put in a green Boston Red Sox hat with a chance to be selected as the winner of a $10 gift certificate, compliments of Dunkin’ at the 1204 Broadway Saugus location (on Route 1 North). But you have to enter to win! Look for the winner and identification in next week’s “The Sounds of Saugus.” Please leave your mailing address in case you are a winner. (Courtesy illustration to The Saugus Advocate by a Saugonian who goes by the name of “The Sketch Artist”) ing Members wishing to become a candidate for reelection to submit written notice to the Town Clerk. Sept. 10 at 5 p.m.: last day to OBTAIN nomination papers. Sept. 14 at 5 p.m.: last day for candidates to SUBMIT nomination papers to the Board of Registrars (Town Clerk’s Office) for certification of signatures. Sept. 30 at 5 p.m.: last day to file objections or withdrawals. Sept. 30 at 5:30 p.m.: drawing of ballot positions (Town Hall Auditorium). Oct. 13: from 8:15 a.m.-8 p.m.: last day to register to vote. Oct. 26: Office of Campaign Finance Reports are due on this Monday, the 8th day preceding the election. Nov. 2: Town Elections. Dec. 2: Office of Campaign Finance Reports are due on the 30th day following the election. Fifty certified signatures of registered voters are required for the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and Housing Authority. Ten certified signatures of registered voters are required for Town Meeting Members. Signatures must be of registered voters in the candidate’s precinct. All candidates are expected to comply with the Town of Saugus Zoning Bylaws (Article 7, Section 7.3, Sub-Section 8) regarding political signs. mance from Jay Dehart,” Moley says. “We ask that you bring your family and friends and come hungry because Fuddruckers will be generously donating 20 percent of all food sales to the American Cancer Society,” he says. “In the event of rain, we will postpone the show until the following Sunday. Remember it all takes place at Fuddruckers Saugus, at 900 Broadway, the Route 1 North home of the world's greatest hamburgers. For any questions about the event feel free to contact the team Capt Guy Moley 781-640-1310.” Country Night Live at the Kowloon tomorrow The Kowloon Restaurant is set to host Country Night Live with Samantha Rae Whiskey at 6 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, July 24). Doors open at 5 p.m. and showtime follows at 6 p.m. in the restaurant’s outdoor venue on Route 1 North in Saugus. Ticket prices are as follows: Tables are $50 (seats four guests); car spots with turf area are $75.00 (bring your own chairs); and VIP tables are $100 (seats four guests – and offers the best stage view). Samantha Rae Whiskey is a country-rock act that delivers a mix of country-rock originals and pop-country radio favorites driven by a powerful rhythm section. The band is fronted by Samantha Rae. Critics call her “A beautiful and energetic small town country spitfire who packs both a punch and sultry country tone.” The band was nominated and won the prestigious fan-voted New England Country Music Group of the Year. Opening the show is Carly Tefft, along with Whitney Doucet and Moonshine. A “Shout-Out” for Chris and Alex – two topnotch planners Joe Vecchione, chairman of the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee, was thrilled to learn this week that a Shared Street and Spaces grant application he lobbied for the town to go after has recently been awarded. So, Joe wanted to publicly thank “EconomTHE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 11

THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 Page 11 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | FROM PAGE 10 ic Development Coordinator Chris Reilly and Town Planner Alex Mello from our Planning Department for submitting a successful application for this grant.” “On behalf of the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee, we hold their work and efforts in the highest regard and appreciate it greatly,” Joe wrote in an email to us this week. “The Department of Planning and Economic Development submitted the application in a timely manner and we fortunately have been awarded $98,000 for improvements related to the grant.” A “Shout-Out” for Rep. Wong and Selectman Riley I am going to exercise my editorial discretion this week to offer a parallel “Shout-Out” to another pair of local officials for making a great contribution to improving the safety at two dangerous intersections in Cliftondale Square and also another one. Kudos to state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) and Board of Selectmen Vice-Chair Corinne Riley for following through on some important safety issues in response to a town-wide problem they noticed three years ago when several pedestrians suffered serious and even fatal injuries crossing intersections. Corinne, who wasn’t yet elected to the Board of Selectmen, collaborated with Rep. Wong to identify special crosswalk flashing signs to install at intersections. Corinne, who has worked in the past as Wong’s campaign manager, researched the costs of signs in other cities and towns. And Wong applied for $50,000 in the state budget. The persistence and hard work paid off last week, as three signs were installed – two of them in the Cliftondale area: one of them in front of the Cliftondale Post Office on Lincoln Avenue, the other at Kent Street and Central corners to cross Lincoln Avenue. The third flashing crosswalk sign was installed at the crossing of Central Avenue from the Adams Avenue corner in front of the Saugus Youth and Recreation Department. Of course, we would be remiss to not mention that Rep. Wong and Corinne got some help from other members of the state legislative delegation, the House of Representatives, the state Senate and Gov. Charlie Baker’s Office. A “Shout-Out” for Donna Lawrence Here’s one I’m borrowing from the Facebook page of Saugus Firefighters Local 1003. While leafing down the webpage recently, I noticed a photo of Fire Department members presenting Retired Chief’s Administrator Donna Lawrence with a gold badge after her 35 years of dedicated service to the Saugus Fire Department. The post also noted that 249 visitors to the firefighters’ website signed on saying they loved or liked the post. And there were more than 70 comments. This would have been a great “Shout-Out” to have someone contribute to our “Sounds of Saugus” column. Well, it’s certainly one worth recycling. Congrats to Donna. More about Cliftondale Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Joe Vecchione, who is also chair of the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee, gave us an update this week on the latest exodus of popular businesses from the part of town he has called home for all of his life. “As you may have heard, another business, Everything’s Hair, has left the Square after over 25 years in business – leaving yet another vacancy in the retail strip,” Vecchione wrote to us in an email. “We really need to find a way to reduce turnover and vacancy in the square and find ways to incentivize businesses. We’ve covered my thoughts about how to incentivize in a previous Advocate Asks.” “Mr. Reilly did mention once again the Microenterprise Fund where businesses with less than 5 full time employees can receive awards up to $10,000. If businesses applied in 2020, they may be eligible for a second round of funding. There are still tens of thousands of dollars remaining in this fund so I hope struggling businesses take advantage of what the town currently has to offer in the interim.” So, hopefully that information helps a few Saugus businesses stay afloat. Vecchione said he wants to emphasize that the work of his committee “is not complete” as a result of the grant the town received this week. “These objectives are only a piece of our overall ambitions,” he said. “There is still much more to do from beginning to formulate what a zoning amendment looks like, continue to push for the many short term solutions we presented to the Town Manager at our first meeting in April, look for ways to program the square and attract events in it, synthesize the results of the public survey and forum into our final report, and continue to converse with and stay up to date with stakeholders and Town officials looking for potential opportunities that will contribute to the long term success of the square,” he said. “While this grant is a meaningful step in the right direction, there’s still plenty of work to be done, short term and long term.” A “Shout-Out” for 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. We have a winner! Congratulations to Sharon Bogdan for getting her name drawn from the green Boston Red Sox hat as the winner in last week’s “Guess Who Got Sketched” Contest. She was among a number of readers who guessed it correctly to win a spot in the hat. 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 And a Big Happy Birthday to him is ...... “100 year old (as of July 9th) Multi talented, Anthony Bicchieri Of ‘The Tony Barrie Band,’ known more by his entertainment name as Tony Barrie. “Tony’s popular band started in 1949 and has been in demand for decades. The band is the longest running band around these areas. “They have not done a parade since 2019. It was great to see Tony’s talented band in the Wakefield parade! Tony’s band loves to interact with the crowds. “Tony’s band performs in multiple parades a day such as, Beverly Farms Parade, Manchester by the Sea Parade, Wakefield parades, Saugus parades. When they performed at parades, his wife Ann was right there too doing her part as driver. “What energy! “Tony’s Barrie’s band would start off with ‘When The Saints Go Marching In’ Adding some of Tony’s favorites ‘Over There’ and ‘the Marines hymn.’ “Tony loves to sing and a few of his favorites are Tony Bennet and Frank Sinatra. He likes Frank’s ‘When somebody loves you, it’s no good unless they love you All the way’ And Tony loves his wife Ann All the way just like that song! Tony sings to his wife, writes notes to her and constantly tells her in all different ways how much in love with her he is. These two have been married 72 plus years. All this love and music created 3 children! “They were married in 1949 and as soon as they said ‘I do’ at St. Margaret’s he was on cloud 9. I don’t think This man ever left that cloud! Tony just gushes over his wife Ann and all she did and still does for him. Such a beautiful love these two share. “Tony was an Ensign in the U.S. Navy, Masters in Electrical Engineering from Tufts, G.E. employee 44 years and of course his Tony Barrie Band which is his joy. Tony has been a lifelong resident with his true flame, his wife Ann. “Thank you Tony and Ann of The Tony Barrie Band. You two shine “Yours Truly, “The Sketch Artist” A food drive for pets continues If you are an animal lover and/or have a soft spot in your heart for needy dogs and cats, you might want to contribute to the Pet Food Donation Drive. Marcia Benson wants to remind Saugus residents about the food drive that the Good Hope Food Pantry is hosting now through July 31. Good Hope is located at 47 Grove St. in Lynnfield and is part of the Calvary Christian Church. The pantry is held on Thursday mornings and hundreds of vehicles show up from Saugus and area communities. Saugus residents who would like to donate some food for our fury, four-legged friends can do so by visiting drop-off spots at Saugus Town Hall, Carpenito Real Estate and the Saugus Public Library. Marcia writes that the organizers are seeking wet and dry dog and cat food, treats and litter – and are especially in need of cat food and litter. For more details, check out https://create.piktochart.com/output/55052935-pet-food-drive. Or you can email Marcia at Marciabenson5@icloud.com. 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 Community Garden 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. A reunion for Saugus High Extension Program Justin Dolan asked us to put the word out for some of his classmates in Saugus and the general area “who don’t participate with social media forms of communication” regarding a first reunion for the Saugus High School Extension Program (Est. 1971) by Anthony J. DeMatteo. That first reunion is set for Sunday, August 22, 2021, at the Saugus/Everett Elks Grove (401 Main St., Saugus) from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance. “The program was a lifesaver for many as well as instrumental in helping students graduate from SHS,” Justin wrote to us this week. For more info call Dolan at 781-690-3137 or Marsha Silver at 207-658-7723. About the veterans’ bricks Board of Selectmen Vice-Chair Corinne Riley, who is involved with a lot of veterans events and programs in town, passes this note along: “The Saugus Veterans Council would like to inform those who ordered bricks prior to May 2021, which were displayed at the Memorial Day Ceremony, that those bricks will be installed at Veterans Park mid August and will be dedicated on Veterans Day.” Summer Reading Program at the library This comes from Amy Melton, Head of Children's Services at Saugus Public Library: “The Saugus Public Library is reopening just in time for its annual summer reading program. Although the school year is ending, it doesn’t mean that the opportunity to learn and grow has. This summer kids of all ages will explore the animal kingdom as the Saugus Public Library presents its ‘Tails and Tales’ sumTHE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 13

Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 SAUGUS GARDENS IN THE SUMMER Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener T here are a few walkers who get out rain or shine, often with cheerful umbrellas and canine companions. In the garden, heavy rains bring a break from having to water with the hose, but the rain also encourages growth of weeds, and wet foliage provides an invitation to fungus diseases. At the Community Garden at St. John’s, a few things are already getting harvested, and volunteers have been enjoying working together outdoors and sharing stories. Northeast Nursery in Peabody donated some wonderful vegetables, including hot peppers, sweet peppers and eggplants, all planted last week by volunteers. The gardeners chose plants that are not popular with rabbits, since the bunnies in the Saugus center neighborhood seem quite hungry and determined to chew through the fence! Some of the ‘Hungarian Wax’ hot peppers already have fruits so large it is a wonder the plants can still stand upright! On July 14 the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife advised taking down bird feeders and bird baths to prevent spread of a still mysterious illness affecting birds in much of the United States, but at least this comes at a time when seeds and fruits are fairly abundant. Many garden plants, including ornamental grasses, produce seeds that are relished by birds, and eating from plants makes it less likely that birds will congregate in one spot. So far sick birds have not been observed in Massachusetts. A beautiful native perennial that produces abundant birdseed once the flowers finish is coneflower (Echinacea purpurea and hybrids). It looks like a colorful daisy. The “cone” at the center of the flower head may be yellow or orange toned, and the petal-like ray flowers around the edges are often pinkish purple or white, but there are also varieties that may be red, yellow or orange. It is great for bouquets, but if you leave the flowers on the plant to go to seed you are also providing food for birds. Several species of giant hyssop or hummingbird mint (Agastache spp.) are in bloom now. Attractive to many pollinators, their minty foliage makes GYMNAST | FROM PAGE 8 the vault, the Silver in the uneven bars, Bronze on the balance beam and Gold on the floor exercise. Her six medals in this World Championships brought her total number of world medals to 20. In March 2019 she won Gold at the Stuttgart World AT THE SAUGUS IRONWORKS: Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) at the Saugus Ironworks. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) A COLORFUL LANDING SPOT: A red coneflower (Echinacea spp.) with a bumblebee grows beside pale yellow ‘Moonshine’ Yarrow (Achillea ‘Moonshine’) at the Saugus Ironworks. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) GOING FOR GOLD: ‘Kudo Gold’ hummingbird mint (Agastache hybrid) seems like the perfect plant to celebrate the summer Olympics’ opening day, and to attract pollinators to your garden. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) them unattractive to rabbits. Hummingbird mint is available in a wide range of flower colors to suit almost any garden. A dwarf form with golden blossoms, ‘Kudos Gold,’ seems like an appropriate plant to celebrate the summer Olympics’ opening ceremonies. The most familiar member of this genus is likely to be the lavender ‘Blue Fortune’ anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum ‘Blue Fortune’), which smells quite a bit like licorice. It is one of the many fragrant plants in the Saugus Ironworks garden. Because of the foliage fragrance, this plant was named after fennel (Foeniculum vulCup then in July won the 2019 GK US Classic. August saw her competing in the U.S. National Gymnastics Championships, where she won the all-around. During the competition she became the first woman to complete a triple twisting double somersault on floor exercise and the first gymnast to comIT SMELLS LIKE LICORICE: A bumblebee alights on ‘Blue Fortune’ anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) at the Saugus Ironworks. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) gare), which is unrelated but has a similar scent. Some kinds of fennel are a popular flavoring in Mediterranean cuisine, and fennel seeds are often used to flavor Italian sausage. Fennel is a pretty, feathery plant, but it has seeded itself a little too lavishly in my garden. Fennel has a tie to the Olympics: In Greek mythology, Prometheus, who stole the fire to give to mankind, used a hollow fennel stalk to carry the fire to earth from Mount Olympus. This is the inspiration for the torch carried around the world preceding the modern day Olympic games. The Greek word for fennel is “marathon,” and our word meaning a 26.2-milepete a double twisting double somersault dismount of the balance beam. The 2019 World Championships found the US team qualify to the team finals on the work of Biles, and the team went on to win the championship. Biles won a Gold on the vault and the balance beam, her 24th World Championships NOW GROWING: A bright yellow ‘Hungarian Wax’ pepper ripens on a new plant at the community garden at St. John’s rectory. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) IN MY GARDEN: A fennel flower (Foeniculum vulgare) blooms. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) long race came from the name of the Greek town which was the ancient battle site, a name which originally meant a field full of fennel. Editor’s Note: Laura Eisener is a landscape design consultant who helps homeowners with landscape design, plant selection, and placemedal, the most world championship medals by a gymnast, either man or woman. The 2020 season was cancelled because of the pandemic. In May of 2021, competing in the U.S. Classic, she debuted a Yurchenko double pike vault, which no woman had ever completed before, on her way ment of trees and shrubs, as well as perennials. She is a member of the Saugus Garden Club and offered to write a series of articles about “what’s blooming in town” shortly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was inspired after seeing so many people taking up walking. to another championship. She won her seventh national allaround title and qualified for the Olympic tryouts. Simone Biles is now looking forward to competing in Tokyo, hopefully bringing home additional Gold and other Olympic medals to add to her collection and fame. GO BILES!

THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 Page 13 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | FROM PAGE 11 mer reading program. Activities will include Take & Make crafts, virtual STEM programming, storytimes, outdoor performers and more. “The Saugus Public School District recommends that students read at least 20 minutes a day this summer. The library is here to help families create a summer reading routine that is fun for kids and their families. The 2021 Summer Reading Program is open to young people, preschool through young adult. “We reward our readers! We’ve once again partnered with local businesses to reward summer reading. We’d like to thank those businesses who generously donated prizes and the New Friends of the Saugus Public Library who purchased others. We’re also participating in Read to Bead – kids collect reading Brag Tags and colorful beads as they go. “Families are encouraged to register for the animal themed ‘Tails and Tales’ Summer Reading Program using the Beanstack app. It’s easy – just download the Beanstack app, register under the Saugus Public Library, and you’re on your way. It’s like a Fitbit for reading! For more information, or to register in person, stop by the library or visit our website (www.sauguspubliclibrary.org/children/summer-reading-program/). “It’s been a challenging school year. It’s important to keep reading to retain skills – and an opportunity to catch up with peers. Research shows that children who do not read during the summer fall behind. The effect is cumulative – over many summers these students fall significantly behind their peers. “Most importantly perhaps, it’s an opportunity to build a reading routine: turn off the media, sit with a child, and enjoy some beautiful story books. Try reading a longer book to them, and let them read to you. With Beanstack kids can take a safari around the world to learn about animals on different continents, listen to animal stories from around the world and do research on their favorites. “Need some help finding registering for summer reading, or finding a ‘just-right book’ for your child? Stop by the library and see us! All programs are free of charge.” CHaRM Center Recycling Drop-Off site open for season The community’s Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) site is open. This site will remain open to residents on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The site is located behind the Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. At the CHaRM center, the Town will accept the same recycling items that can be placed outside for curbside collection each week, such as paper, cardboard, bottles, cans and glass containers. No shredded paMAKING | FROM PAGE 5 dale as an ongoing priority. “Saugus officials have spent years researching and identifying infrastructure improvement needs within Cliftondale Square,” his press release said. “Following careful research and data collection, Saugus officials applied for funding assistance from the Department of Transportation to begin making necessary capital improvements to this important community neighborhood. After recently being awarded this funding, the Town will now be able to make these important and necessary improvements.” The Shared Streets and Spaces grant program, which per is accepted for on-site recycling. Additional acceptable items include TVs and computers (up to three per year per address); car tires up to 22" (for a fee of $3); books; and textiles, such as clothing, bedding, pocketbooks, belts and shoes. Plastic bags are not permitted; residents are kindly asked to empty recyclables out of any plastic bags and to remove the bags from the site. Also, rigid plastics are not being accepted for recycling at this time. Residents may call Lorna Cerbone at the Solid Waste and Recycling Department at 781-231-4036 with questions or for more information. Compost site open The town compost site is open to residents on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The site is located behind the Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. Stickers are required to gain seasonal access to the site. Stickers may be purchased for $25.00 at the Department of Public Works (DPW) located at the Compost Site when making your visit to the Compost Site. The Town accepts checks only for payment of the $25.00 – no cash will be accepted – kindly bring a check when visiting. Thank you! Compost site stickers must be permanently placed on the lower left corner of residents’ automobile windshields. Vehicles registered out of state are not permitted. Yard waste must be disposed of in brown compost bags or open containers. The Town will accept grass clippings, leaves and brush. As in years past, no branches or limbs larger than three inches in diameter are permitted. We ask all residents to please wear a mask and maintain and respect social distancing from others while visiting the site. Residents may call Lorna Cerbone at the Solid Waste and Recycling Department at 781-231-4036 with questions or for more information. Help the Vietnam Vets “Roll to DC” A reminder from Joseph “Dennis” Gould, a Vietnam War Era veteran who served four years with the U.S. Navy – he has organized a fundraising drive that will help area Vietnam Era veterans visit Washington, D.C., in the fall of next year. “I am glad to announce that we will have a ‘Roll to DC’ for Vietnam Era Veterans from Melrose, Saugus, Lynn and surrounding towns September 2022. “The managers of this effort will be Saugus VFW Post # 2346. “Gould will be Chair and David Nelson, Saugus American Legion and Stacey was created in response to COVID-19, allows Massachusetts cities and towns to apply for funding to assist their needs for safer outdoor recreation, commerce, community activities and mobility. With this grant funding, the Town of Saugus will be able to fund a “road diet” for the rotary in Cliftondale Square. A “road diet” is a best practice in transportation planning that reduces the width of a road to better organize and slow down vehicular traffic, which improves operations, mobility and safety for walkers and riders alike, according to Crabtree. Earlier this year, the town engaged The Engineering Corp. to conduct a traffic and parking analysis of Cliftondale Square with the goal of taking a comprehensive approach to providing adequate parking, vehicle circulation and safe pedestrian accommodations to attract new businesses, visitors and residents to the neighborhood. The analysis identified the following recommended improvements: new ADA-accessible crosswalks, reconfigured travel lanes around the rotary, designated bus stops, crosswalk bump outs and improved parking accessibility. “The Town will consider incorporating these recommendations into the upcoming traffic and sidewalk improvements to Cliftondale Square,” Crabtree said. Minchello, Melrose Senior Center will be Vice Chairs. “Stan King, Quartermaster Post # 2346 be Treasurer.” The trip will be a four-night trip to D.C., staying at The Presidential Inn at Joint Base Andrews, the home of presidential aircraft. It will include a ceremony and wreath-laying at the Vietnam Wall and the Tomb of Unknown Soldier as well as visits to all military memorials and statues. “We are looking for major sponsorship and donations from all. The Vietnam Veterans will go on this trip free, but it will take approximately $70,000 of sponsorship and donations,” Gould said. “If you would like to be a major sponsor, please contact chairman Dennis Gould cell 617 257 4847 or e mail “Jdgould1969@aol.com “If you would like to send in a donation, please make check out to: ‘Saugus VFW – Roll to DC’ write ‘Roll to DC 2022’ in comment Line and mail to: “Saugus VFW Post 2346 “190C Main St “Saugus Ma 01906” If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to assist the committee, please contact Dennis at the contact info above.

Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records the votes of local representatives and senators from the week of July 12-16. $200 MILLION FOR LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES (H 3951) House 150-0, Senate 40-0, approved and Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a bill that includes authorizing $200 million in onetime funding for the maintenance and repair of local roads and bridges in cities and towns across the state. The $350 million package, a bond bill under which the funding would be borrowed by the state through the sale of bonds, also includes $150 million to pay for bus lanes, improvement of public transit, electric vehicles and other state transportation projects. “Public transportation is a public good,” said Senate Transportation Committee Chair Sen. Joe Boncore (D-Winthrop). “The $350 million investment is among the largest Chapter 90 bond bills to date and represents the Legislature’s commitment to safe roads, reliable bridges and modernized transit infrastructure.” “The long-standing state-municipal partnership established under the Chapter 90 program is critical to helping cities and towns meet their transportation infrastructure needs,” said GOP House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “Today’s agreement continues the House and Senate’s ongoing commitment to support this important road and bridge program.” “When building a better normal post-pandemic, investment in transportation infrastructure is crucial,” said Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville). “Our communities should feel that their infrastructure is reliable and making it easier for them to go back to their normal activities.” “This legislation recognizes that in addition to the backlog of local OBITUARIES Eileen L. (Sullivan) Ferraro Vivien A (Covino) Regan ter to Rose Larson, Connie Mustone, Gloria Panarello, Grace Price, Josephine Natale, and Francis (Frank) Covino–the only son of a proud Italian father, and that made him a big deal. Mom and her sisters were aff ectionately known as CBS (the Covino Broadcasting System) based on their timely and effi cient dissemination of local “news” from one sibling to the next, a telephone line Vivien manned with her family and friends for the rest of her life. Vivien is survived by her sons Tim (Deb) Regan, Paul Regan, Matt (Kathy) Regan, Jack (Michaela) ReDied unexpectedly on Thursday, July 15 at her home in Revere, she would have celebrated her 89th birthday on July 31. Eileen was born in Lynn; she was raised and educated in Saugus. She was a proud alumna of Saugus High School Class of 1950. After high school, she worked at New England Tel & Tel until the early 1960s. She and her husband were married and settled in Revere where she raised her children. She stopped working to take care and raise her children. She was a proud mother and wife. She was dedicated to her family & extended family. She is the beloved wife of the late Joseph L. Ferraro. Loving mother of Richard L. Ferraro & wife Sheila of York, PA, Laurie M. Ferraro of East Boston & David A. Ferraro of Rockland. Cherished grandmother of Felicia, Brianna, David & Kyra Ferraro. She is also lovingly survived by several nieces, nephews, grandnieces & grandnephews. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to Northeast Elder Services, ATTN: “Meals on Wheels”, 300 Rosewood Dr., Danvers, MA 01923. Of Peabody, formerly of Saugus and Winthrop, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2021, at the Melrose-Wakefi eld Hospital. She was the devoted wife of the late Walter J. Regan, with whom she shared over sixty years of marriage. No doubt Dad was waiting with open arms. Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Joseph (Giuseppe) Covino who emigrated from Italy and Eva (Studzinska) who emigrated from Poland. Vivien grew up in Winthrop and was a proud graduate of WHS, Class of 1949 (the 49ers). She was also proud not to be a member of the Naughty Niner’s. Her mom, Eva (pronounced Ev ah) had a green thumb, was an animal whisperer, and was terrifi ed of thunder and lightning. When thunder rumbled through Winthrop, her mom would sit on the table in the middle of the kitchen, clasping Holy Water to her chest. No lightning ever dared strike Eva’s Catholic home. Her dad Joseph was a gentle and well-educated man who once owned a fi sh market in Boston and died in his beloved Italy. Vivien was a dear and dedicated sisgan and her daughter who was her “heart”, the aptly named Joy (Andrew) Wallace; her beloved grandchildren, Chris and TJ (Stephanie) Regan, Alex, Matthew and Nicole Regan, Jill, Katie and Samantha Wallace, and Jack and Caitlyn Regan; and by two great grandchildren, Mason Regan and Brody Walter Regan. She loved her siblings’ children as her own and was the “favorite” Auntie Bib to so many loving and devoted nieces and nephews. Their love for our mom was palpable and kept her heart full as she prepared to move on to heaven. Our mom also had a legion of friends, and many would say that she was the glue that kept them together all these years. It is impossible to refl ect upon our mom’s life without thinking of all her Pals. Before she died, she told me to “tell my Pals I love them”. And that she did. To our Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, and Friend, we are so lucky to call you ours. Ninety years on earth is quite the accomplishment. What an honor it was to share our time with you. In lieu of fl owers, donations may be made in her name to Saint Jude at www.stjude.org. roads in need of repair, there is an unmet need for local projects that benefi t all modes of transportation,” said Rep. Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett) House chair of the Committee on Transportation. “I am pleased that the Legislature was able to provide municipal assistance for road work and expanded funding for towns and cities to advance public transit and reduce congestion.” Sen. Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough) said the bill is a smart investment for the commonwealth. “There is no question our local infrastructure is in dire need of repairs and upgrades,” said Feeney. “As we recover from the pandemic and businesses and offi ces reopen, more people are hitting the roads and commuting once again. This comprehensive investment in our transportation infrastructure will put people to work and allow our city and town offi cials to forge ahead with the critical projects necessary to keep our communities moving along safely.” BHRC | SEE PAGE 16 S y Senior Why You Should Create a “My Sa e a BY JIM MILLER Social Security Account” Y Shld C Dear Planning, Checking your offi cial Social Security statement every year is smart move to make sure your posted earnings are correct, which will ensure you get the benefi ts you’re entitled to. But most Americans don’t do it. In fact, most U.S workers have never even created a digital “my Social Security account” so they can access their statement information. Here’s what you should know. Online Statements In 2017, as a cost cutting measure, the Social Security Administration stopped mailing paper Social Security statements to everyone under age 60. The only people who still get statements in the mail are those over age 60 who aren’t yet getting benefi ts and who haven’t set up an online account. (Paper statements, however, are still available to anyone on request by submitting form SSA-7004.) If you haven’t done so, you should create a “my Social Security account” which will give you instant access to your personal Social Security statement so you can check your earning record and get estimates of your future retirement benefi ts at full retirement age, as well as at age 62 and age 70. Your statement will also let you know how much you would qualify for if you become disabled, and how much your family members will receive in survivors’ benefi ts if you die. How to Create an Account? To create a “my Social Security account,” go to SSA. gov/myaccount. When you open the account, you’ll be asked to enter your Social Security number and birth date, and you’ll also be prompted to answer a series of multiple-choice questions that might include inquiries about fi nancial products you Senio nior t nir ior “M Dear Savvy Senior, I’m 58 years old and working on a plan for my retirement. I’ve read that I need to check my Social Security statement every year to validate its accuracy. How do I go about doing this? Planning Ahead own and previous addresses to confi rm your identity. Then you’ll receive a code by either email or text, which you will enter online to complete the process. If you have a problem creating an online account, call 800-772-1213. After you establish an account, you’ll get an annual email reminder to log on and review your statement. If you have a security freeze on your credit report to help ward off fraud, you must lift it temporarily to set up your online Social Security account. Specifically, you’ll need to thaw the freeze at Equifax, the company the administration currently uses to help verify users’ identities. Creating an online account is also a good idea to prevent someone else from fraudulently creating one fi rst and using it to steal benefi t payments in the future. Given the number of security breaches in recent years, it’s possible someone may be able to illegally obtain your sensitive personal information, like your Social Security number, and use it to set up an account in your name. Once you get access to your statement, compare the earnings listed on your statement with your own tax records or W-2 statements. You have to correct errors within 3 years, 3 months and 15 days following the year of the mistake. If you happen to spot a discrepancy within that time limit, call 800772-1213 to report the error. Some corrections can be made over the phone, or you may need to schedule an appointment and go in with copies of your W-2 forms or tax returns to prove the mistake, or you can mail it in. 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.

THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 Page 15 SELECTMEN | FROM PAGE 3 Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini “I think the decisions that Scott’s made over the tenure that I’ve served with him – six and a half years – he’s proven that he can make the tough decisions. Yeah, he likes to help people. Yeah, he likes to do what’s right. But he always has a cautious eye on finances, on doing the right thing, not breaking the law, following protocol. And I really think it’s tough to find all of those attributes in one individual who can still accomplish things in the town in a manner of what we’ve accomplished over his 12 years, but over the last six or seven years. “I look at his focus. He has a very high level of ethics. Of course, there’s going to be people who work under you who don’t like you. I bet you my line is longer than your line. But you know what? In the end, as long as they know that you’re fair and you care about what you’re doing and you’re doing the right things, I really do think that comes down to it. Selectman Serino talked about the fact that we examined 15 communities. “It’s scary that what some communities are paying on top of an assistant town manager – you’re talking $350,000 a year – for people with four years’ experience – and their finances are nowhere near ours. So, I really think, for me, it was an easy answer; it was a very, very easy decision; I didn’t struggle with it. I actually wanted to give you four years. I think you deserved four to get five in total. And we’re lucky to have him. “Are there things he needs to work on? Sure. I’ll fill out an evaluation and I’ll tell you the things I think you can do better. But, ultimately, we look at the tangible things that we look for in a town manager to lead our town and continue with our financial strength, to continue to build our resources and grow our town so we’re sustainable for the long haul .... I don’t think you’re going to find a better person to sit in this seat and I was honored to be one of the votes. “And you obviously had unanimous consent for approval of some extension, so you’re doing something right. And it just came down to duration. So, I don’t congratulate you – I thank you for putting up with it, because I can tell you right now, I wouldn’t do it. And you’re [to Cogliano] for wanting him to keep the seat warm. It’s a thankless job. There’s a lot of ridicule. Good thing you’re not on Facebook. I’m sure the Facebook warriors will all be out there, and they’ll all have a lot to say, but until they walk a mile in your shoes, it’s very easy to be a Monday morning quarterback. So, I commend you, I applaud you and I congratulate you for a job well done.” Selectman Debra Panetta “I voted in favor of extending Mr. Crabtree’s contract for three years because I think he’s done an exceptional job moving our Town forward. I believe he’s been able to listen to the residents and elected and appointed officials, prioritize needs, put plans together, and execute effectively.” She cited various examples of accomplishments achieved by the town with Crabtree in charge of municipal government: Education “Under Scott’s leadership, our Saugus children have a beautiful, state-of-the-art Middle/High School. The Belmonte school has been renovated for the upper elementary school students, serving students 2-5. These efforts, which were supported by over 70 percent of the voters, are all part of the district-wide master plan solution to prioritize education in Saugus. We are now moving underway with full renovation for pre-K through 1st grade state-of-the-art facility. “We got three awards for design and construction for the middle/high school. This was the largest capital project that Saugus has ever undergone.” Parks & Playgrounds “Our Town has prioritized parks and playgrounds under Scott’s watch; including Bristow Park, Belmonte Middle School Tennis Courts, improvement in Stackpole Field, the Veterans playground and the Evans Park basketball courts.” Grants “Some of our successes include: “Estimated $65M grant through the MSBA for the new Middle/High School. “Saugus was awarded a community development block grant COVID-19 grant to help small businesses (up to $360K). “We have received an estimated $1M in grant money since Saugus has become a green community (good for the environment while receiving funding) – solar farm, electric cars & charging stations, energy efficient lighting (replacement of the Street Lights in Town, approximately 3,000) “Awarded multiple SAFER grants for the hiring of firefighters (approx. $2M). “Awarded $1M towards the final design and construction of the first phase of the Ballard Street RiverWalk project from the Seaport Economic Council.” Safety “We have continued to invest in public safety under Scott’s watch. We have acquired new police cruisers, new fire truck, we’ve added radar speed signs, and we’ve had a comprehensive, town-wide speed limit analysis completed by The Engineering Corp. (TEC) of Andover. Scott also worked hard to try to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the community and prioritize the health and safety of all residents during this global pandemic. He hired a new Director of Public Health, hired additional nurses, as well as other health care professionals to support and aid the public during these trying times.” Administrative Consent Order “Successfully addressed the ACO court order in a timely manner. This was an estimated 25 million endeavor.” Financials “Implemented and upheld financial management policies and procedures, which led SELECTMEN | SEE PAGE 17

Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 BHRC | FROM PAGE 14 “These funds will continue a partnership with our cities and towns ensuring that our infrastructure needs are met at the local level,” said Rep. Brad Hill (R-Ipswich). (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Donald Wong Yes Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of July 12-16, the House met for a total of seven hours and 42 minutes while the Senate met for a total of three hours and 23 minutes. Mon. July 12 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:04 a.m. Senate 11:05 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. Tues. July 13 No House session No Senate session Wed. July 14 House 11:05 a.m. to 3:37 p.m. No Senate session Thurs. July 15 House 11:00 a.m. to 2:08 p.m. Senate 11:16 a.m. to 2:19 p.m. Fri. July 16 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com ANNUAL | FROM PAGE 4 romuscular disease which leads to muscle weakness and, as it progresses, results in total paralysis and the inability to speak and swallow while the mind and senses remain intact. To register as a walker or to register a team, log-on to The Angel Fund for ALS Research website at www.theangelfund.org or call the organization at 781-245-7070. Donations to The Angel Fund for ALS Research can be made online or can be sent to The Angel Fund, 649 Main St., Wakefield, MA 01880. All donations should be made payable to The Angel Fund for ALS Research. Information about sponsorship opportunities can also be obtained on the website, www.theangelfund.org, or by calling 781-245-7070. Frank Berardino MA License 31811 WASTE REMOVAL & BUILDING MAINTENANCE • Landscaping, Lawn Care, Mulching • Yard Waste & Rubbish Removal • Interior & Exterior Demolition (Old Decks, Fences, Pools, Sheds, etc.) • Appliance and Metal Pick-up • Construction and Estate Cleanouts • Pick-up Truck Load of Trash starting at $169 • Carpentry LICENSED & INSURED Call for FREE ESTIMATES! Office: (781) 233-2244 ~Handyman Services~ •Plumbing •Electric •Ceiling Fans •Waterheaters + More Call Tom 781-324-2770 Mold & Waterproofing EXPERTS • Sump Pumps • Walls & Floor Cracks • ALL WORK GUARANTEED - Licensed Contractor - JPG CONSTRUCTION Cell phone 781-632-7503 508-292-9134 • 24 - Hour Service • Emergency Repairs BERARDINO Plumbing & Heating Residential & Commercial Service Gas Fitting • Drain Service 617.699.9383 Senior Citizen Discount We follow Social Distancing Guidelines!

THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 Page 17 SELECTMEN | FROM PAGE 15 FRANK’S Housepainting (781) 289-0698 • Exterior • Ceiling Dr. • Power Wash • Paper Removal • Carpentry FREE ESTIMATES — Fully Insured “Proper prep makes all the difference” – F. Ferrera • Interior to the Town achieving a AA+/ Stable rating under S&P Global Ratings. For me, this is the single most important thing that occurred under Scott’s watch. “When I became a Selectman almost 10 years ago, there was talk about going into receivership. There was discussion about closing the Library, the Senior Center, and Youth and Rec. The Essex Street Fire Station was continuously being closed due to lack of funds. Per Standard & Poor’s, Saugus now has a ‘very strong economy, strong management, strong budgetary fl exibility, and very strong liquidity.’ This is a complete 180 from where we were when I fi rst got elected. “The Town continues to benefit from our AA+ bond rating where we just refi nanced $2,015,000 of bonds issued 3/3/11 which resulted in a gross budgetary savings of $343,752. “We have approximately $10M in our stabilization fund, which is our ‘rainy day’ fund. By the Town being in good fi - nancial shape, we have saved millions in dollars in borrowing – where we can continue to save money & invest in our community.” Master Plan “Scott has hired the MAPC (Metropolitan Area Planning Council) to help develop the Goals & Vision for Saugus over the next 15 years. Public meetings have been held to engage the public on what direction they want Saugus to take. With so many accomplishments, I feel that an extension of Scott’s contract is deserved. Scott loves Saugus, and it is evident with the decisions that he makes for our community. Congratulations Scott.” Selectman Michael Serino “We did look at 13 communities and I was shocked about the salaries. They were in the $180,000 range – the average. I know when I hired Scott back in 2012, we gave him what the previous town manager was getting. And that was like $120,000. That was low, so I was kind of surprised by that [comparison to other communities], so that’s why at the end of his contract, which expires next August, his base salary will be about $183,000. So he was in range with the other 13 communities, and that’s why we decided not to give an increase right now and only give 1.5 percent COLA increase vs. a 3 percent increase.... “On the performance review, Jeff [Cicolini] was right on the money. We decided that if we’re going to increase the COLA or give the manager a bonus, it should be based on performance skills and not be an automatic increase. “There’s no manager that’s perfect. The Board of Selectmen – I’ve been through three; as a Town Meeting member, I’ve probably been through 10. There’s no manager that’s perfect. They have their good side and they have their shortfalls. And, you know, there might be some shortfalls in this manager. We’ll look at that in January. “But on the upswing, we have a $10 million stabilization fund. We have $4 million in free cash. We have a construction of a new Middle-High School and an update in the Belmonte School and in the Veterans School. And we have completed our state mandated ACO [Administrative Consent Order], and he had to bring us through the COVID crisis, which was difficult on some members who didn’t want to stay on “Zoom” [remote video conferencing] many months. “We did have some disagreement over the years of the contract, but we ended up with a three-year extension. And I think we went in with less than that – I know I did – but we all came to an agreement of three years. So, I want to congratulate the manager. And as always, we’ll work together. Thank you.” n

Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 on record was at a fair in Turkey in what year: 1620, 1778 or 1833? 10. What two eagle species are native to North America? 11. On July 26, 1921, 1. On July 23, 1888, what mystery writer of “The Big Sleep,” “Farewell, My Lovely” and “The Long Goodbye” was born? 2. In the 1800’s what bird’s feathers were more valuable than gold? 3. Which continent is the smallest? 4. Which U.S. state is first in corn production: California, Indiana or Iowa? 5. Where is the game of Marco Polo traditionally played? 6. July 24 is International Self-Care Day; in 2019 what United Nations organization announced SelfCare Month from June 24 to July 24? 7. Who did comic George Burns partner with? 8. Where did German chocolate cake originate: Germany, Austria or the USA? 9. On July 25, 1871, the first U.S. patent for a carousel was issued (to an Iowan); the earliest carousel what radio and TV personality was born who had the nickname “Shep”? 12. From what 1851 American novel is the following quote? “The devil fetch ye, ye ragamuffin rapscallions; ye are all asleep. Stop snoring, ye sleepers, and pull.” 13. What is tetrahydrocannabinol also known as? 14. July 27 is National New Jersey Day; what is the state’s nickname? 15. How are The Sultan of Swat, The Georgia Peach and The Yankee Clipper similar? 16. What is the meaning of the Latin Amor Vincit Omnia, which is the title of a painting of Cupid by Caravaggio? 17. On July 28, 1917, the Silent Parade took place on what well-known street to protest violence towards African Americans? 18. What is the world’s smallest country? 19. What is the name of the computer with artificial intelligence in “2001: A Space Oddity”? 20. July 29 is National Lasagna Day; what is the plural of lasagna? REAL ESTATE TRANSAC TIONS Copyrighted material previously published in Banker & Tradesman/The Commercial Record, a weekly trade newspaper. It is reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Warren Group. For a searchable database of real estate transactions and property information visit: www.thewarrengroup.com. BUYER1 Grillo, Damiano DelCid, Karen J Candreva, Ida R BUYER2 Grillo, Juliana Marques, Paulo Theophanis, Christina O Wagner, Clifford A Degennaro, Lucia SELLER1 H A Panasuk T G&A Pro Painting Inc Lee, Wade Vernaci, Emanuel J Acierno, Luigi SELLER2 Spirito, Janet M Li, Kevin Acierno, Maria ADDRESS 7 Sunset Dr 10 Hampton St 311 Walnut St 54 Boulder Rd 6 Linwood St CITY Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus DATE 01.07.2021 30.06.2021 30.06.2021 29.06.2021 28.06.2021 PRICE $515 000,00 $465 000,00 $600 000,00 $151 000,00 $870 000,00 ANSWERS 1. Raymond Chandler 2. Egret 3. Australia 4. Iowa 5. A swimming pool 6. The World Health Organization 7. Gracie Allen 8. USA – the name derives from Baker’s German’s Sweet Chocolate (developed by Samuel German, who owned the Baker Chocolate Company on the Neponset River in Massachusetts). 9. 1620 10. Bald and Golden 11. Jean Shepherd 12. “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville 13. THC 14. The Garden State 15. They are baseball players’ nicknames (for “Babe” Ruth, Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio, respectively) 16. Love Conquers All 17. Fifth Avenue in NYC 18. Vatican City (a nation-state) 19. Hal 20. Lasagne

THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 Page 19 Follow Us On: COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SALES & RENTALS Sandy Juliano Broker/President Sizzling Hot House Prices! Sell now before the market cools down! WE KNOW EVERETT!! Call TODAY to sell or buy with the best! NEW LISTING BY SANDY! SOLD! UNDER AGREEMENT TWO FAMILY 111-113 CHESTNUT ST., EVERETT $849,900 LISTED BY SANDY NEW PRICE! CALL NORMA FOR DETAILS! 617-590-9143 LISTED BY NORMA TWO FAMILY - 123 BUCKNAM ST., EVERETT $849,900 CALL QUAZI FOR DETAILS! 617-447-1989 SOLD! UNDER AGREEMENT 4 FAMILY TWO FAMILY 141 GARLAND ST., EVERETT $925,000 CALL SANDY FOR DETAILS: 617-448-0854 EVERETT RENTAL 1 BEDROOM $1,650/MO. WALK TO EVERETT SQUARE CALL NORMA FOR DETAILS 617-590-9143 EVERETT RENTAL 2 BEDROOM CALL NORMA FOR DETAILS 617-590-9143 Open Daily From 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. 433 Broadway, Suite B, Everett, MA 02149 Open Daily From 10:0 Joe DiNuzzo - Broker Associate :0 00 AM 5:00 PM www.jrs-properties.com Norma Capuano Parziale - Agent Denise Matarazz - Agent Maria Scrima - Agent Follow Us On: 617.544.6274 756 BROADWAY, EVERETT $859,900 CALL NORMA FOR DETAILS! 617-590-9143 EVERETT RENTAL - RENTED! WOODLAWN AREA 3 BEDROOM $2,400/MO. MOVE IN READY CALL NORMA FOR DETAILS 617-590-9143 SOLD! 3 BEDROOM SINGLE NORTH READING EVERETT RENTAL 2 BEDROOM $2,500/MO. CALL NORMA FOR DETAILS 617-590-9143 CHELSEA RENTAL - RENTED! 1 BEDROOM $1,400/MO. CALL JOE FOR DETAILS 617-680-7610 Rosemarie Ciampi - Agent Michael Matarazzo -Agent Mark Sachetta - Agent

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