Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2020 Ready for the Holidays The town has installed a tree on the Saugus Center rotary, just in case there is a tree-lighting ceremony this year By Mark E. Vogler A few weeks ago, Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree disclosed that the Town of Saugus was in the process of purchasing a new holiday tree to be planted near the town’s Civil War monument on the rotary of Saugus Center. Crabtree was optimistic, at that point, that it is still possiAUTOTECH 1989 SINCE CA$H FOR YOUR CAR! DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! Cold Hard Cash For Your Car, Truck or SUV! 2014 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE LT Excellent Condition, Most Power Options, Key-less Entry, Panoramic Moon Roof, Backup Camera, Remote Start, 126K Miles, Warranty! TRADES WELCOME $10,900 Easy Financing Available! EddiesAutotech.com 2008 CADILLAC DTS Platinum Package, Every Conceivable Option, Clean Title, Only 86K Miles, Warranty! TRADES WELCOME $8,500 781-321-8841 1236 EasternAve • Malden We Pay Cash For Your Vehicle! ble for the town to have its festive tree-lighting ceremony in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. His hope at the time was that signifi cant progress in reducing the number of confi rmed cases would enable the town to celebrate the fi rst Friday of December in the way it has for many years. But with the recent spike in confi rmed Coronavirus cases over the past few weeks, Crabtree this week said the annual tree lighting event and arrival of Santa Claus – and a night full of fun events, including a petting zoo, visiting Santa Claus in the second fl oor auditorium at Town Hall, various rides and holiday face paintings – are in jeopardy because of the virus. “We will have to talk to the Health Department and look at the state guidelines [for COVID-19],” Crabtree said. “It may not be possible under COVID. We’d have to plan it out and think about it,” he said But even if the town wants to do the minimum – and light up a Christmas tree – that’s been taken care of. The town’s Department of Public Works recently installed a new Colorado blue spruce tree that measures 27 to 29 feet tall, according to the town manager’s administrative assistant, Jeannie Meredith. The new tree is slightly smaller than the 31-foot-tall Norwegian spruce which was planted in the island last December. That was a replacement tree for the Colorado blue spruce, which stood about 45 to 48 feet tall, A NEW HOLIDAY TREE: If there is a holiday tree-lighting ceremony this year, the town has got a new one to be the centerpiece of the annual celebration. Town DPW staff recently installed this 27-29 feet tall Colorado blue spruce. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) which was mowed down by a reckless Lynn driver in July of last year. “The replacement tree the DPW put in last year didn’t take very well and had to be replaced,” Crabtree said in an interview. “But we had a warranty that allowed us to get a new tree, which was planted last week,” he said. Some Saugus Highlights By Th e Old Sachem, Bill Stewart This week we honor two Saugus heroes. Richard J. Barry was a very good friend of mine. We worked together for the town government, for Little League and the Senior Center, among other groups. He graduated from Lynn English High School and spent his free time during this period working at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Lynn. His father died when Dick was 15 so he had to work to help with family expenses. He started as an usher and his abilities eventually rose him to the manager. He married the popcorn seller, Eleanor O’Keefe, a while later when he turned 25. He left the Paramount to enlist in the US Army during the KoHIGHLIGHTS | SEE PAGE 12
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