Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, AUGUST 12, 2022 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Ash landfill debate continues WIN Waste Innovations is expected to reach capacity at its ash landfill adjacent to its trash-to-energy plant on Route 107 within two years. When it runs out of space, WIN will have to truck the ash to another location. But WIN has offered the town a proposed Host Community Agreement to consider: WIN pays the town up to $15 million in exchange for adding 25 additional years to the life of the ash landfill. There was an interesting Facebook posting that was brought to my attention recently. “It’s about time, but I’m not sure taking 15 million from WIN waste is a good idea. I’d rather they take their 15 million and bring their polluting incinerator up to date with the rest in the state....feels like a bribe and the cost is our health. I’d rather pay more and breathe clean air, just my opinion....we do need the fire station though.” That’s one of many opinions floating around town on what surely will wind up the FIREFIGHTER | FROM PAGE 2 Saugus resident Thomas Trainor Jr., 27, is a 2013 Saugus High School graduate who played football, basketball, track and baseball. “My inspiration comes from the desire to serve and protect the town…I have been inspired by the idea of such a rewarding job and friends that have worked the job before me,” Trainor Jr. said. He is not married nor does he have children. Trainor Jr. worked as a dispatcher for the town. He will be the first firefighter in his family. Fire Captain Christopher Rizza said the recruits are on a oneyear probationary period. On Tuesday, they did a classroom lecture, followed by ground ladder practice. “It went well,” Rizza said. “A lot of information is thrown at them very fast.” Fire Captain Christopher Rizza (far right) took advantage of the summer temperatures to train the new probationary firefighters outside of the Central Fire Station on Tuesday. Fire Captain Christopher Rizza and trainee Rachael Patrizzi adjusted the ladder during Tuesday’s training. most polarizing question for the town to consider in recent memory: Should Saugus make a multimillion-dollar deal with WIN to extend the life of the ash landfill? Saugus residents and people from neighboring communities will get a chance to share their views on the question when the Board of Health’s Landfill Subcommittee holds a public feedback session next week (at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24, in the second floor auditorium of Saugus Town Hall). Town residents and others who wish to submit questions or comments for the Aug. 17 meeting can email them to Selectman Corinne Riley at criley@ Saugus-ma.gov. “I have received just one question so far,” Selectman Riley said recently. Her town email is being used for public feedback because she is the secretary of the Landfill Subcommittee (which has been referred to as the Wheelabrator Subcommittee, the WIN Waste Innovations Subcommittee and by a few other names). “There will be citizen comment during the meeting where anyone will be able to ask a question or make a comment. Any member of the committee can be contacted, just as any other board or committee members are approachable. My email is still being used for submitting questions/comments,” Riley said. The subcommittee, which is being co-chaired by Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano and Board of Health Chair William Heffernan, will be meeting several times before making its recommendation to the full Board of Health on whether to accept or reject WIN Waste’s proposed Host Community Agreement. It’s important to note that it will take many more meetings involving several town and state agencies before a Host Community Agreement becomes a reality. If Saugus residents don’t get a chance to attend next Wednesday’s meeting, there will be plenty of opportunity for them to express their concerns before any agreement is reached. It’s not a done deal. The subcommittee had been meeting with WIN officials for about 18 months to discuss a wide range of issues, which has improved relations between the town and trash-to-energy plant owners and, hopefully, will lead to the betterment of Saugus. Stay tuned. Back-to-School countdown Hey, Saugus kids! Hope you’ve made the most of your summer vacation, as you will be headed back to school two weeks from this coming Monday (Aug. 15). Classes begin on Aug. 30 for students in grades 1 to 12. Kindergarten and Pre-K classes start on Aug. 31. Enjoy the remaining days of your summer. Read a little. Have fun. Relax. If you are interested in local places to visit to spice up your summer, go to the Saugus Public Library, the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site, Breakheart Reservation, the Youth & Recreation Department or the Saugus Senior Center. Collectively, these places offer a lot of summertime options for Saugus residents. Navy Band Concert – Aug. 24 The Friends of Breakheart are hosting the U.S. Navy Band’s “Rhode Island Sound Machine” on Wednesday, August 24. This is a free concert and a very popular one that’s been enjoyed by local residents over the years. The band will travel here from Rhode Island and will arrive at about 3 p.m.to set up. The Friends of Breakheart will serve them supper and the concert will begin at 6 p.m. The program will feature a mix of popular music, old favorites and patriotic themes. So if you don’t have any plans for the night of Aug. 24, the Gazebo Lawn at Breakheart Reservation would be a great place to be. Chairs and blankets are recommended for those who plan on attending. This event is proudly cosponsored by the nonprofit, all-volunteer Friends of Breakheart Reservation and the state Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR). We have a winner! Congratulations to Michael THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 13 Recruit Thomas Trainor carried a ladder during this week’s training. Firefighter recruits took turns in command of mock scenarios. Recruit Joseph Prince learned the basics of ladder drills.
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