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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

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