SAUGUS D Your Local News, Sports & Information Online! Scan & Subscribe Here! OCAT CAT WELCOME, NEW CENTENARIAN I State Rep. Donald Wong presented a Massachusetts House of Representatives Citation to Antonetta D’Alessandro on Oct. 15 at the Rubin House in Saugus. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) TE E Vol. 27, No.46 -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 781-233-4446 Friday, November 14, 2025 The Starting Point Selectmen and School Committee members make leadership roles offi cial as they prepare for their next two years in offi ce By Mark E. Vogler t ’s usually the tradition that the top two vote-getters in the election of the Board of Selectmen and School Committee races are awarded the chair and vice chair leadership roles. In separate organizational meetings following their respective swearing-in ceremonies last week, the two townwide policy-setting local government bodies made it offi cial: · Veteran Selectman Debra Panetta will preside as chair again while Selectman Anthony Cogliano will serve as vice chair for the next two years. · After fi nishing as the top vote-getter among School Committee candidates for third time in the last four town elections, veteran School Committee Member Thomas Whittredge will be the chair again while runner-up Stephanie Mastrocola will assume the vice chair’s seat. The offi cial votes were taken last week immediately following the swearing ceremonies. A very experienced Board Voters elected all four incumbents who sought reelection to the Board of Selectmen. Newcomer Frank Federico, who finished in an impressive fourth place as a first-time candidate in a townwide campaign, had completed one term as a Town Meeting member in Precinct 7. He essentially fi lled the vacancy left by former Selectman Corinne Riley, who had decided not to run for a fourth two-year term. All four of Riley’s former colleagues each have a decade or more of experience in accumulated time served as a selectman. “I’m starting my 17th year,” Cogliano said. “I look forward to it. This is my swan song,” he said, referring to his pre-election declaration that he would not seek another two-year term if reelected. Serino said he is also beTHE STARTING POINT | SEE PAGE 2 Over 47 Years of Excellence! 1978 - 2025 Mid-grade Regular 2.78 3.37 3.53 $3.54 Full Service ULS $2.99 Order online at angelosoil.com Kerosene Now Available! FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 year on the board. Selectmen will meet again on Nov. 25 School Committee welcomes new members The School Committee doesn’t have the aggregate experience that the Board of Selectmen possesses. Brian Doherty and Shannon McCarthy are both newcomers. Doherty brings some special fiscal expertise, having served previously on the town Finance Committee Committee member Gould THE NEW SCHOOL COMMITTEE: Left to right: Joseph “Dennis” Gould, Vice Chair Stephanie Mastrocola, Chair Thomas Whittredge and Committee members Shannon McCarthy and Brian Doherty were sworn in last week (Nov. 6) by Town Clerk Ellen Schena. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler). THE STARTING POINT | FROM PAGE 1 ginning his 17th year in total service to the board. Panetta said she is beginning her 15th Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net has four years of past experience. Mastrocola is beginning her second two-year term. Whittredge is the most experienced, having been elected to the committee four times. “I really love helping the kids. It just feels like it’s part of me. It really does,” Whittredge said. “And I’m not going to let you down,” he said. Nov. 20 is the next scheduled School Committee meeting. The committee is also expected to meet on Dec. 4 and Dec. 11. NEWLY ELECTED HOUSING AUTHORITY MEMBER: John Chipouras was sworn in last week (Nov. 5) by Town Clerk Ellen Schena. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Campaign Finance Reports N Federico spent close to $6,000 on selectman’s race By Mark E. Vogler ewly elected Selectman Frank Federico raised $10,025 in campaign contributions while THE NEW BOARD OF SELECTMEN: Left to right: Vice Chair Anthony Cogliano, Chair Debra Panetta and Selectmen Jeffrey Cicolini, Michael Serino and Frank Federico were sworn-in last week (Nov. 5) by Town Clerk Ellen Schena. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) spending $5,707 to get elected, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Town Clerk’s Office eight days before the Nov. 4 town election. That was the most amount of money a candidate raised or spent in the Board of Selectmen’s race. The recent campaign finance repor ts also show that Stacey Herman-Dorant raised $3,450.95 and spent $2,157.69; Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta raised $2,025 and spent $2,037.85; Selectman Michael Serino raised $700 and spent $380.48. The latest campaign finance reports filed with the Town Clerk’s Office show Jennifer D’Eon spent $140; Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini did not raise or spend any money; Vincent Serino did not raise or spend any money. Selectman Anthony Cogliano and Sandro Pansini Souza did not file reports that were due eight days before the Nov. 4 election, according to records posted on the Town Clerk’s website
THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 ~ The Advocate Asks~ Page 3 Rooting for the Yankees never gets old for Antonetta D’Alessandro, the latest Saugus resident to turn 100 Editor’s Note: For this week’s column, we sat down with Antonetta D’Alessandro, the newest Centenarian of Saugus, who celebrated her 100th birthday on Oct. 15 with family and friends. She also received a special visit from state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus), who presented her a Citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives honoring her special day. Antonetta lived most of her life in East Boston before moving to Saugus about a year ago. She currently resides at the Rubin House. She is the wife of the late John D’Alessandro, whom she met at age 15. She is the daughter of the late Joseph and Sadie DeAngelis, owners of DeAngelis Bakery in East Boston. Her late sister, Mary Burke, was a School Committee member in Saugus, and Mary’s daughter, Linda MacTaggart, is a lifelong Saugus resident. Diane LaVertue, of Winthrop, Antonetta’s daughter, wrote in a note about her mom: “She is a wonderful, kind, caring and generous woman, but she does have her faults. We have had to contend with her love of the New York Yankees as well as the other man in her life … Frank Sinatra.” Q: Please tell me a little bit about yourself, Antonetta. Where were you born? A: I was born in a house at 173 Maverick St. in East Boston. Q: How many siblings did you have? A: I had two sisters and a brother. I was the oldest. Q: Where did you go to High School? A: Girls High in Roxbury. After I graduated, I went to work at diff erent places. I worked 25 years at Teradyne in Boston and then I retired. ASKS | SEE PAGE 4 SAUGUS’ NEWEST CENTENARIAN: Antonetta D’Alessandro recently showed off a blanket with her birth year – 1925 – one of the gifts she received after turning 100. She grew up rooting for the Boston Red Sox, but became a passionate New York Yankees fan years ago after getting tired with the Red Sox’ losing ways. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) SABATINO/MASTROCOLA INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available Sabatino Insurance is proud to welcome the loyal customers of ALWAYS READY TO SERVE YOU: Our Staff are, Emma Davidson, Jeimy Sanchez, Josephine Leone, Marie D’Amore, Rocco Longo, Z’andre Lopez, Anthony DiPierro, Darius Goudreau, Laurette Murphy, Danielle Goudreau and Tina Davidson. PHONE: (617) 387-7466 FAX: (617) 381-9186 Visit us online at: WWW.SABATINO-INS.COM
Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Veterans Day 2025 Principles from a fallen marine’s Journal live on By Mark E. Vogler I n his Veterans Day keynote address Tuesday (Nov. 11), retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Thomas J. Grace recalled the words of a fallen Marine who was killed in action while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom in May of 2007 at the age of 34. “I’d like to close with a short writing Major Doug Zembiec wrote in his journal titled ‘Principles my father taught me,’” Lt. Col. Grace told the crowd at Veterans Park. Major Zembiec had the nickname “The Lion of Fallujah” and was also called “the unapologetic warrior.” “His words are as prophetic to the Veteran Community as If We Happen To Meet By Accident ... You’ll Be Glad You Found Us! There is a difference between the rest and the BEST! Celebrating 46 Years In Business! TONY’S AUTO BODY Call or Visit 781-321-0032 34 Sharon Street Malden, MA 02148 TONYSAUTOBODYLLC.COM COME VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART BODY SHOP • Computerized Paint Matching (State of the Art Spray Booth) • Computerized Frame Machines • P.P.G. Refinishing System • R134 + 1234yf A/C Machines Fully Insured -RS2415 Insurance Company Approval ALL OUR WORK IS GUARANTEED! TONY BARTOLO Owner 46 Years Let Us Handle Your Next Insurance Claim. Go With the BEST It Doesn’t Get BETTER! RENTAL CARS Available KEYNOTE SPEAKER U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Thomas J. Grace (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) they were to his men,” Lt. Col. Grace said. Major Zembiec wrote the following in his journal. • Be a man of principle. • Keep your word. • Serve your country. Teach. Mentor. Give something back to society. • Lead from the front. Conquer your fears. Be a good friend. • Be humble and self confident. Appreciate your friends and family. • Be a leader and not a follower. Be valorous on the field of battle. • Take responsibility for ASKS | FROM PAGE 3 Q: Tell me about your family. A: My husband, John, died at age 61. We were married for over 40 years. John worked at the Boston Fish Pier for many years and went to Eastern Airlines later as a cook. We had two girls. One passed away six years ago in Florida. I have two grandchildren. Sharon is 55 and Brian is 53. Q: I understand you are a big baseball fan. A: I’m a Yankees fan. I used to be a Red Sox fan. But the Yankees became my favorite team. Q: Did you watch a lot of ASKS | SEE PAGE 5 Antonetta D’Alessandro as a teenager growing up in East Boston (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) your actions. • Never forget those who were killed and never let rest those that killed them. Lt. Col. Grace is the senior Fight for what you believe in. Marine Instructor in the Salem High School JROTC. “To my fellow veterans, continue to hold yourselves accountable, continue to live the oath and continue to promote the values that make our military and our nation great,” Lt. Col. Grace said. “Most importantly, take care of one another. Don’t break each other down. Let us honor our commitment by leading integrity,” he said.
THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Page 5 A Reader’s Perspective Thank you to all who helped make the Oct. 29 Candidates’ Forum a success that should be part of the future of Saugus election campaigns By Janice K. Jarosz O n behalf of Mark Vogler, Joe Vecchione and myself, we extend our deepest appreciation to the public support of the many residents who attended the recent Candidates’ Night and the over 500 who viewed the program from their homes on SaugusTV on October 29, 2025. We also extend our thanks and appreciation to the nine ASKS | FROM PAGE 4 baseball at Fenway Park? A: My uncle used to take me all of the time. And I went to one game at Yankee Stadium. Q: Why did you switch teams? A: Because I got tired of the Red Sox losing. Q: I guess you didn’t approve of the big Red Sox comeback over the Yankees in 2004 when they were three games down and went on to win the next four to win the American League pennant. A: Oh, no! Q: Yeah, that must have ASKS | SEE PAGE 6 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. Daughter Diane LaVertue (left) with her mom, Antonetta D’Alessandro, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) ALL DEPOSITS ARE INSURED IN FULL. Celebrate 135 years of strength & commitment to our community with a special 135-day CD offer. LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 4.25% APY* 135-Day CD *New money only. $250,000 maximum deposit. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate of the date posted and is subject to change without notice. APY assumes the interest remains on deposit until maturity. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. A minimum of $500 is required to open a Certificate of Deposit and earn the advertised APY. 419 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 771 SALEM ST. LYNNFIELD, MA 01940 331 MONTVALE AVE. WOBURN, MA 01801 EVERETTBANK.COM 617-387-1110 781-776-4444 781-281-9092 MEMBER FDIC | MEMBER DIF 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 candidates who participated in this event: Jeff Cicolini, Anthony Cogliano, Jennifer D’Eon, Stacey Herman-Dorant, Frank Frederico, Debra Panetta, Michael Serino, Vincent Serino and Sandro Pansini Souza. A special thanks to Saugus Boy Scout Troop 62 Boy Scouts, under the leadership of Scoutmaster John Kane, who led Scouts Sean Lynch and Shawn O’Connell, Jr. and Scout Leaders Fran Lynch and Shawn O’Connell, Sr., in presenting our American Flag with precision grace. Another special thanks to Musical Director Mr. Evan Smith, who introduced the Saugus High School a cappella Group. The six members sang the National Anthem relying solely on their vocal talents. The authors of the voices were Keisha Salud, Diego Silva Garcia, Maddie Sach, Casidy Hunter, Sean Lynch and Lani Rais. The audience applauded, showing their appreciation of a very moving performance. We also want to recognize Mr. Robert Camuso, who gathered several other Saugonians in making it possible to put together a fair and balanced Candidates’ Forum where residents had the opportunity to meet the candidates and learned, firsthand, of the many issues and possible solutions facing our town. We hope that Candidates’ Forums become a part of the democratic process during future election cycles in Saugus. Editor’s Note: Janice Jarosz is a lifelong Saugus resident, writer and frequent contributor to The Saugus Advocate who served as co-moderator with Advocate Editor Mark E. Vogler at the Oct. 29 Candidates’ Forum for the Board of Selectmen.
Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 A surging Saugus sport The town experiences growth in young girls’ basketball as program grows from a dozen to 110 players in three years By Mark E. Vogler I t would be an understatement to say young girls’ basketball wasn’t very popular in town three years ago. Chris Howe remembers that his then-six-year-old daughter Olivia was just one of a dozen players who signed up for the Girls Basketball Program through the town’s Youth & Recreation Department. “There just wasn’t much of a program,” recalled Howe, who was then a volunteer coach. But girls’ interest in the sport has surged over the last two years, with 85 girls involved in the program last year and 110 already signed up so far this season as tonight’s (Nov. 15) midnight deadline approached. “We have got enough players for 10 teams so far, with the ability to put eight to 10 players on each team,” Howe said in a recent interview. “I’m excited and looking forward to a great season,” he said. Howe is beginning his second season as the Saugus Youth and Rec Girls Basketball Program Director, while his daughter, now nine, is a fourth-grader at Belmonte STEAM Academy. “Over the past two years since I took over in 2023, the girls league has grown from 22 girls to currently over 100. We have become one of the largest programs in town and there is a lot of excitement for the upcoming winter season after a highly successful 2024-25 season,” he said. Howe believes the rise in popularity of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has helped to spur interest in the local girls’ basketball program. “My daughter was my inSt. Anthony’s Flea Market Festival of Trees 250 Revere St., Revere, Lower Hall November 8 * 2:00 - 8:00 PM November 15 * 10 - 8:00 PM Santa arrives Saturday * 12-2 Free hot dogs and chocolate milk 12-2 “I just wanted to see a better program. My goal is to just provide the best program we can, see kids show up and have fun and make some lasting memories that they can take away from this league,” he said. “For me, it’s a passion. I don’t EXCITED ABOUT YOUNG GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: Chris Howe, in his second year as the Saugus Youth and Rec Girls Basketball Program Director. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) spiration and the reason to get this program going in the right direction,” said Howe, 38, a Melrose native who moved to town 12 years ago. His wife, Lauren, teaches Kindergarten at the Veterans Early Learning Center. ASKS | FROM PAGE 5 been tough watching the Red Sox beat the Yankees. But you’re really into baseball. consider this a job. I’m happy to do this. The girls who are involved with the program range from kids who have played basketball for years to girls who just picked up a basketball. I started a summer league for girls this summer and got 110 to turn out. That’s unheard of,” he said. Last year, Howe launched a kindergarten program called Kindergarten Little Hoopsters. It will run again this year. Today [Nov. 14] is the fi nal day for girls to sign up. The deadline will expire at midnight. There is a signup link provided by the Youth and Rec (http://bit.ly/SaugusYouthBball25). “We will be having our mandatory evaluation nights shortly after,” Howe said. “These are not tryouts; every child makes a team and all A: I love baseball. I love it. I can’t wait til Spring Training. I love the Yankees. Q: What do you like about baseball? are welcome to play regardless of prior basketball experience. Evaluation night is our eff ective kickoff to the season and allows coaches to create fun and fair teams for all,” he said. Evaluation night for the girls program (Grades 1-6) is Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Belmonte STEAM Academy. Check in begins at 5:30 p.m. Evaluation Night for the Boys program (Boys Grades 3, 4, 5, 6) is Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Belmonte. Chris Porrazzo is the director of the boys program. “Between Girls, Boys, and Kindergarten programs we have over 300 kids signed up to play basketball this season – and climbing,” Howe said. “Our opening day for games will be Saturday, December 13 and we are opening it up to the town to come down and check out the games. Girls fi rst games will begin at 11AM at Belmonte Gym on 12/13. We will have special guest announcers as well,” he said. Boys will play their games at the gym in the Veterans Early Learning Center. A: The game, of course. I love the homeruns. I never liked baseball when I was ASKS | SEE PAGE 7 Monogram D4 Double siding Cedar impression half rounds Harvey Vinyl Replacement Windows Custom Aluminum Trim work Windows & Doors Top quality Vinyl Siding! •Vinyl Siding •Carpentry Work •Decks •Roofing •Free Estimates •Replacement Windows •Fully Licensed •Fully Insured Everett Aluminum Supplies pp Celebrating 66 Years in Business Since 1958!
ASKS | FROM PAGE 6 younger. My father would have his radio on, listening to the games. My uncle used to get a lot of tickets to the Red Sox games. Uncle Diddy used to take me to the games. Then, I started taking my nephew to the games. Q: Who was your favorite player? A: That depends on the year; Ted Williams, when I was a Red Sox fan. I liked Carlton Fisk, too. I had a crush on him! My favorite player for the Yankees was Joe DiMaggio. Derek Jeter was one of my favorite Yankee players. And I like Aaron Judge. I love the Yankees. Q: Besides baseball, what were your hobbies and passions? A: I plays, dancing and Frank Sinaloved musicals and tra. I loved to hear Frank Sinatra sing. Q: Did you ever meet Frank Sinatra? A: I went to see him four times, but I never met him. I wish I had. But I get to listen to him sing every day in the living room. Q: What do you consider the highlights of your life? A: I got married and I had children and I had grandchildren. Q: Did you do much driving? A: No. I used to walk all of the time. I never had a car. Q: What is your secret to making it to 100 years old? What advice do you have for people who want to live that long? A: No drinking. No smoking Q: Who was your favorite president? THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 A: John F. Kennedy. He was Page 7 young. He was handsome. Q: Did you ever get to meet a president? A: I got to meet George Bush [George H. W. Bush]. He came to Teradyne where I worked. That’s where I met him. I got a picture taken of him and me. Q: Who is the most remarkable or most famous person you have ever met? A: I met Clint Eastwood. I also got to meet [actor] Sean Penn. [The meetings happened when Eastwood directed and co-produced the 2003 movie “Mystic River”]. Q: What ’s the biggest change you have seen in your lifetime? A: Cell phones. Q: What was the most inASKS | SEE PAGE 8 HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Antonetta D’Alessandro is the latest Saugus resident to join the “100 Club” after celebrating her birthday last month. Please see inside for more photos and this week’s “The Advocate Asks.” (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Sharon Genovese enjoyed a special birthday party promise you riches, but I will promise you that you will never be bored.” “Bob keeps his promise to me. He’s exciting and makes me laugh every day and he’s my best friend,“ Sharon said. When asked about what makes a long marriage, Sharon replied: “Marry your best friend. And don’t go to bed mad at each other.” Happy birthdays and Happy Anniversary to the Genovese family. Sharon Genovese (left), who celebrated her 70th birthday party last Saturday night at the Knights of Columbus, savored the moment with her friend Ruth Berg. (Courtesy photo of Joanie Allbee) By Joanie Allbee B ob Genovese generously threw his wife Sharon Genovese a 70th birthday bash last Saturday night (Nov. 8) at the Knights of Columbus at 57 Appleton St. Sharon, who shares her light and life with the world through volunteer causes, shared her birthday cake with their twin sons – Mathew and Bobby – who were born on Sharon’s 41st Birthday. She exclaimed Bob Genovese danced with his wife, Sharon, during her birthday party last Saturday night. (Courtesy photo of Joanie Allbee) that having twins was her best birthday present ever. The trio’s Birthday was Nov. 9. As the calendar scrolls through time in 2025, the twins turned 29 as their mom turned 70. Savvy Sharon, with her lavender hair and maxi dress, greeted guests and offered a bounty of food. While bathed in purple light, the Genoveses slowly danced to their wedding song, Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” On October 5, they celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary. Sharon reminisced about Bob’s proposal: “I can’t Toys! $599.95 Collectibles! $1,195.95 Be prepared before the next power outage. Receive a free 5-year warranty with qualifying purchase* - valued at $535. Call 866-852-0221 to schedule your free quote!
Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Saugus Salutes its Heroes: Veterans Day 2025 M ore than 200 people gathered on a chilly morning at Veterans Park in Saugus on Tuesday (Nov. 11) for the town’s annual observance of Veterans Day – a public recognition of Saugus men and women, living and departed, who have served or continue to serve in the United States Armed Forces. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas J. Grace USMC (retired), Senior Marine Instructor (SMI), Salem High School (Mass.) JROTC, was this year’s keynote speaker. (Saugus Advocate photos by Mark E. Vogler) Terri Osoro of Saugus sang the National Anthem. Saugus Veterans Council Commander Steve Castinetti, a retired U.S. Navy captain, addressed the crowd. A bench honoring Marine Cpl. Scott J. Procopio of Saugus, who died in Operation Iraqi Freedom, was recently relocated from Lynnhurst to Veterans Park in Saugus. Guy Moley, driving his Dodge Ram pickup truck with two large American flags and armed with speakers playing patriotic music, led the parade down Central Street past Veterans Park. ASKS | FROM PAGE 7 teresting thing you’ve done in your life? A: I was very dull. Q: I’m sure you have done The family of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas J. Grace USMC (retired) gather in Veterans Park. some very interesting things. A: I went to see a lot of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas J. Grace USMC (retired), the Senior Marine Instructor (SMI) with Salem High School (Mass.) JROTC, gave the keynote address. The staff at Rubin House joined in the birthday celebration with Antonetta D’Alessandro. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) Broadway shows and musicals. Q: Did you like to cook? A: Yes. Q: What was your favorite dish? A: Ravioli, meatballs and spaghetti, lasagna – anything Italian. Q: How did you celebrate your 100th birthday? A: A big rum cake, pizza, sandwiches and champagne
THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Page 9 Saugus Salutes its Heroes: Veterans Day 2025 Air Force and Army reenactors and a real Navy veteran Spectators line Central Street, waiting for the parade to pass Veterans Park. Joanie Allbee retrieves a flag from the Field of Flags in front of Town Hall. Members and adult leaders of Saugus Boy Scout Troop 62 Top Fire Department and Police officials join Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree (right). Birthdays are special at the Senior Center have their special day recognized. We are so honored to recognize our seniors! The Senior Center likes to recognize a senior’s birthday on the last Friday of the month during a collective celebration. Each birthday recipient receives a free pizza lunch, cake, ice cream and a souvenir group photo. If anyone would like to sponsor a birthday in honor of someone special, please stop by the office and let us know. The Lynn English Junior ROTC Color Guard unit Law Offices of OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS: The Saugus Senior Center recognized 27 residents who celebrated their birthdays collectively at the Senior Center on Friday, Oct. 31. Pictured from left to right: First row: Lynette Terrazzano (administrative assistant), Eline Fils, Arthur Montgomery, Ed Botte, Janice Crager, Rheta Record, Linda Ingeneri, Barbara Gillis, Joyce Costa, Shirley Lawrence, Inez Firth, Barbara Vigliotta, Pat Zaccaria and Cheryl Dellacroce; second row: Clorinda Bettencourt, Anthony Ranieri, Sue Puopolo, Fran Rogers, Paula Taylor Howard, Neil Osgood, Diane Tiro, John Skane, Gary Goodwin, Rafael Bonano, Leo Colon, Tom Lowe and Richard Salerno. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate) L ast month the Saugus Senior Center celebrated 27 October birthdays. This special event was generously sponsored by Shirley Bogdan in memory of her husband, Peter. Shirley is truly the heart behind our monthly celebrations: She wanted to start this tradition because she believes every senior deserves to JOSEPH D. CATALDO, P.C. “ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW” • ESTATE/MEDICAID PLANNING • WILLS/TRUSTS/ESTATES • INCOME TAX PREPARATION • WEALTH MANAGEMENT • RETIREMENT PLANNING • ELDER LAW 369 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 (617)381-9600 JOSEPH D. CATALDO, CPA, CFP, MST, ESQUIRE. AICPA Personal Financial Specialist Designee
Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Saugus Sachems Varsity Hockey Hosts Annual Awards Night at Kowloon Sponsored by the SHS Booster Club Seniors Audrey Comeau and Anna Enwright are recognized by teammates, Sydny Ferreira, Jordyn Deminski, Meri Mogauro and Adila Dzindo. The SHS JV Field Hockey Team with Coaches Andrea Arone and Ari Wadland. Jr varsity Most Improved Player went to Summer O’Brien by Coaches JV Andrea Arone, Ari Wadland, and Head Coach Julie Champigny. The Coaches Award went to Sophia McCarrier, presented by Coaches Andrea Arone, Ari Wadland and HC Julie Champigny. SHS All-Star Julia Strout with 12 goals and 3 assists, shown with Head Coach Julie Champigny. SHS All Conference Angelina Dow with 8 goal and 1 assist with Head Coach Julie Champigny. Head Coach Julie Champigny (right) with Barbara Guarente, and Ari Wadland with the SHS Varsity Field Hockey Team at the Kowloon last Tuesday evening.
THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Page 11 The Effort Award 1st time presentation went to Audrey Comeau. The Unsung Hero Award was presented to Adila Dzindo. Seniors Audrey Comeau and Anna Enwright sign the banner, a SHS Field Hockey tradition. Thanking the coaches for their dedication and support all season, Seniors Anna Enwright, Audrey Comeau, Barbara Guarente, Andrea Arone, Ari Wadland, Head Coach Julie Champigny, Juniors Sydney Ferreira and Jordyn Ripley-Deninski. The SHS Field Hockey MVP Award went to Angela Dow, presented by Coaches Andrea Arone, Ari Wadland, and Julie Champigny. Most Improved Player was 8th Grader Hannah Strout. Turnovers haunt Saugus in 28–0 loss to Lynnfield T By Dom Nicastro he Saugus High football team’s offensive frustrations continued Thursday afternoon in the consolation round opener, as the Sachems fell 28–0 to visiting Lynnfield. It was Saugus’ third straight shutout, dropping the team to 1–8 on the season. Turnovers proved costly from the outset. Each time the Sachems appeared to find a rhythm, mistakes halted progress and handed the ball back to a quick and opportunistic Lynnfield squad. “This past Thursday was turnovers,” said Saugus Head Coach Steve Cummings. “We ended most possessions with turnovers on the ground. We’re not taking care of it. Against a good team like Lynnfield that’s got good team speed, you’re not going to get away with making mistakes like that. We’ve got to take better care of the ball. It’s really hard to finish drives when the ball’s on the ground.” The Sachems reached the red zone twice but came away empty both times. Running backs Chris Mazin and Ryan Shea contributed tough yards, and receiver Jordan Rodriguez hauled in two impressive catches, but every promising series seemed to end the same way — with a fumble or penalty that pushed the team backward. “There were some good things,” Cummings said. “Chris Mazin had some great runs. We got inside the red zone twice, but then as soon as we get in there, we put the ball on the ground, and it’s kind of overshadowing some FOOTBALL | SEE PAGE 12
Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Twinning soccer success: Sewell sisters wrap up historic career for Saugus By Dom Nicastro T he Saugus High School girls’ soccer team will have to figure out a way to replace 183 career points. And those points came from a pair who share the same room in the same house. This season marked the end of an era for the Sewell sisters — senior captains Shawn and Shayln — who combined for 183 career points. Shawn Sewell became just the second 100-point scorer in program history, finishing with 58 goals and 42 assists, while twin sister Shalyn ended her career with 83 points on 47 goals and 36 assists. Together, they joined 2024 graduate and all-time leader Madison Botta (137 points) and 1988 standout Pam Hashem (96 points) atop the Saugus scoring record book. The Saugus Advocate caught up with the identical twins for a Q&A: Advocate: When did you start playing soccer and what were your pre-high school best memories in the sport? Shawn: I started playing soccer at 5 or 6 years old. The best pre-high school memory was winning MTOC and going to states while playing town soccer. Shayln: I started playing soccer when I was 5, and my favorite memories while playing soccer before high school was playing with my town team and winning MTOC. Advocate: Tell me about your relationship with your sis? In a soccer sense, but also as FOOTBALL | FROM PAGE 11 of the good things that guys are doing. Ryan Shea played really well Thursday. He was able to pick up some tough yards. Jordan Rodriguez had a fantastic game, made two unbelievable catches. But we’re just not doing enough around it to make it translate into points.” Despite the recent scoring drought — Saugus hasn’t Airborne sisters Shawn Sewell (left) and Shayln Sewell hugging after a goal Pictured from left to right: Shalyn Sewell, Shawn Sewell, Madison Botta and Taylor Deleidi celebrated a goal during a recent match. just sisters, what do you like to do together? Always had separate rooms or shared? Shawn: Me and my sister always had a close relationship. Soccer being one of those things that kept us close and got us closer. Shayln: Me and my sister are very close. We have so much chemistry when we are playing soccer together. We just know what one another is thinking without having to communicate on the field. We have a twin-sized bed that we share as well as sharing a room with my mum at the same time. Advocate: Tell us about your sister’s soccer game vs. yours? Shawn: We don’t have totally different games on the field. However, she plays a completely different position in the middle of the field that definitely requires playing with greater urgency. I would say we both have impressive vireached the end zone since Oct. 17 — the coaching staff has seen progress from some of its younger players, particularly on defense. “We have some young guys that have been stepping up,” Cummings said. “We got guys like Isaiah Santiago, a freshman who came in and had some solid reps at middle linebacker. He’s working himself into the mix.” Senior captain Nathan Santos has emerged as a leadsion on the field, always finding a way to counter-attack. Shayln: I think my sister and I play the same for the most part, but since she plays as the 9 and I play as the 10, I’m usually more of the playmaker in the midfield, and she tends to score more goals. Advocate: Do you have other siblings? They play sports? Any other athletes in the family? Shawn: I have one older sister who danced all her life, and my mom was a pretty good athlete growing up as well. Shayln: I have one other sister who’s 26, and she used to competitively dance and she still dances and teaches it. Advocate: What kind of twins are you? Shawn: Me and my sister are identical twins, but the easiest identical twins to tell apart. Advocate: What was it like being part of a historic run for er in the middle of the defense. “He’s really come into his own this year,” Cummings said. “He’s making great reads, getting downhill, setting the defensive front up for us. We knew losing Cody Munafo last year was going to be tough, and Nate’s done a really good job of picking up the slack on that.” Saugus will travel to East Boston on Friday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. to face the Jets (1–8), anSaugus girls soccer personally and as a team? Shawn: Being on a historic run, I felt pressured, and I’m sure the team felt a lot of pressure especially with all the challenges we faced this year. I just kept playing hard and only focused on one goal. Shayln: It feels so rewarding especially playing with girls who are like my best friends because it makes me feel like I’m playing with my family. Advocate: What is your message to upcoming girls at Saugus about what it takes to be successful at this level? Shawn: My message to upcoming players would be to not give up on your team and just keep playing hard. It doesn’t matter how good you are; if you give 100 percent and leave everything on the field, nothing but good things will come back to you. Shayln: I think it’s important other team searching for momentum after three straight losses. East Boston’s lone win came Oct. 10 against O’Bryant, 30–8. “They’re a Wing-T team,” Cummings said. “We don’t have a lot of common opponents, so it’s kind of hard to tell. I know we played them a couple of years ago, and they came over here and they were a lot bigger than we thought they were on film. We know to have fun and not take it as serious as you think you need to take it, because when you have fun, it’s usually when you play your best. Advocate: What’s next for you academically and athletically? Shawn: Next year I’m thinking I will attend a four-year college to pursue criminal justice. I’m thinking I’ll play soccer and basketball at a club level. Shayln: Academically I am trying to go and study radiology, hopefully going to college in Florida, but athletically I’m not sure I am going to play soccer at a higher level. Advocate: What kind of fun things/jobs you do in the summer? Shawn: In the summer, I participate in our summer league games and trainings. And spend lots of time hanging out with my friends and family. Shayln: In the summer, I usually just hang out with friends or go to the field and play pickup. we’re going to get tough, hard-nosed football. We just have to match intensity and execute.” The Sachems came out of the Lynnfield game “relatively healthy,” Cummings said, with no major injuries heading into the final stretch. Saugus closes the year with the East Boston road trip before taking a week off and finishing the season on Thanksgiving Day at Peabody.
THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Page 13 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus There’s only 13 days left until Thanksgiving. But the holiday spirit is already spilling over on the streets of Cliftondale as the MEG Foundation prepares to celebrate its 15th Festival of Trees this weekend. Frequent Saugus Advocate contributor Janice Jarosz passed this information along: At 3 p.m. today (Friday, Nov. 14), the MEG Foundation Elves, aka the Board of Directors, will open the doors at 5458 Essex Street, Saugus and once inside, visitors will experience the Christmas Spirit firsthand. Both rooms are full of decorated Christmas trees, and tables full of gift baskets filled with wonderful gifts. The late Ms. Lee Dyment, a longtime Board member of the MEG, has two trees decorated in her honor. Lee was also a member of Saugus Garden Club and members decorated her tree with beautiful handmade Christmas ornaments made by Randy Sue Abber. MEG members decorated their Lee tree with Norwegian memorabilia, covered with many of her cooking items, and several printed copies of her favorite recipes. There are also baskets full of gift items throughout the two rooms along with hot cocoa and cookies for the children and grown-up kids in the lobby as well. Here are the important dates and times: • Saturday, November 15, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; • Sunday, November 16, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. – the Petting Zoo will be visiting from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. • Friday, November 21, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. • Saturday November 22, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Santa will arrive around 4 p.m. for a brief visit. Children can meet with him and have their photos taken by Mr. Steve Bevacqua, Professional Photographer, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be refreshments served by Mrs. Claus and a Special Celebrity!! The hardworking Elves hope to see you to share in the magical spirit of Christmas! lic Library. Have you ever wondered if one of your ancestors helped shape America’s history? This workshop is the perfect opportunity to explore your family tree and to trace your lineage back to a patriot who either gave aid to the cause or fought in the American Revolution. Members of the Parson Roby Chapter, along with experienced DAR genealogists, will be available to guide participants through the process of researching their ancestry and documenting the records needed for possible DAR membership. Attendees will receive one-on-one assistance to help uncover their personal connection to America’s founding. The Daughters of the AmerDECORATED FOR OPENING NIGHT: The stair railings leading up to the second floor of the MEG Building sport holiday bows just in time for visitors who will be feeling the holiday spirit as the MEG Foundation opens the first of two weekends celebrating its 15th Festival of Trees – beginning today at 3 p.m. at 54-58 Essex St. in Saugus. (Courtesy photo of Janice Jarosz) This week’s “Shout Outs” Precinct 5 Town Meeting Member Ronald Wallace offered this “shout out” to a former fellow Town Meeting Member who was defeated in last week’s town election: “Brenton Spencer was on Town Meeting in Precinct 5. He served for 42 years and he was a rock solid, very knowledgeable member. Wanted to thank him for all his years in service to the town of Saugus. He surely will be missed!” Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member Jeanie Bartolo offered this “shout out” to voters in the recent Town Election: “I would like to say Thank You to all the voters who took time out of their busy day to go to the polls yesterday to re-elect me as your representative Town Meeting Member for Precinct 6. It is a privilege to serve you on Town Meeting and I am grateful to all of you for your continued faith and support in me.” Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Carla Scuzzarella offered this “Shout Out: “I would like to thank all the voters in Precinct 10 for their support, and confidence in me as one of their Town Meeting members. I will do my very best to continue representing their interests and concerns.” 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 (mvogeatcomcast.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. Cicolini focusing on new term Selectman Jeff Cicolini said he’s made no decision on his political plans beyond the two-year term (2025-27) he was recently elected to. “Just wanted to clarify that I never mentioned during this election that it would be my last,” Cicolini said in a text this week to The Saugus Advocate. “That was the 2023 election where I was unsure,” he said. Pancake breakfast Nov. 23 The Saugus Band & Chorus Parents Association is holding a Pancake Breakfast fundraiser on Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Saugus Middle High School cafeteria, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for kids and can be purchased at the door. The association will also be hosting a toy drive at the event. Bring an unused and unwrapped toy. Saugus United Parish Food Pantry The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Nov. 14) from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. The food pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Friday mornings. Volunteers are also welcome. Please call the Food Pantry Office (781-233-2663) or go to the website (cliftondalecc.org) for details. Discover Your Roots: DAR Genealogy Workshop at Saugus Public Library tomorrow The Parson Roby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) invites the public to a Genealogy Workshop tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 15), from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Saugus Pubican Revolution is a nonprofit, nonpolitical women’s service organization whose members are dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history and securing America’s future through better education for children. Through projects that honor our nation’s heritage and support our communities, DAR continues to celebrate the spirit of those who helped build our country. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned researcher, this workshop will help you connect the dots – and maybe even discover that a Revolutionary War patriot is part of your own story! For more information or to register, please email Gail Cassarino, Regent, at parsonroby. saugusdar@gmail.com Wills, Trusts and Asset Protection Presentation Dec. 8 The Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee and Eagle Bank are sponsoring a Free Presentation for Wills, Trusts and Asset Protection. This event will be held on Monday, Dec. 8, from 1011 a.m. at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St. in Saugus). Eagle Bank will be providing an attorney to discuss many issues: Estate taxes, Medicaid, probate, property assignments, advantages and THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 15
Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Saugus Gardens in the Fall Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener M any Saugonians woke up to a cold Veterans Day morning, with the temperatures dropping to freezing for the first time. Only a handful of flowers are likely to continue blooming past the first frost, but we may still see a few plants producing a blossom or two, and there is still some planting time left before the ground completely freezes. Heavy winds and rain several times in the last few weeks have brought down leaves of many colors. Birds like the colorful blue jay (Cyanocitta cristatus) flock to feeders for some comfort food. Leaves of Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are among the last to fall each year. In Japan, the fall foliage season is almost as special as cherry blossom time, and many people collect Japanese maples for the variations in leaf shape, fall color and even summer color. Varieties of Two grasses, annual ‘Purple Majesty’ pearl millet and the narrow stalks of native perennial ‘Cinnamon Stick’ little bluestem, have intriguing dark foliage that makes them decorative. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) Japanese maple that have dark red leaves through the sumFall colors surround the Civil War soldiers’ and sailors’ monument in Saugus Center, and the star has been placed on the spruce in preparation for next month’s tree lighting. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) The star on the spruce gets an adjustment. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) mer are among the most popular choices for accent trees. Many people are not aware that there are Japanese maples that have green leaves through the summer, although these often have the most vivid fall color: red, orange, yellow or a combination. As for leaf shape, there are several varieties with “laceleaf”-style leaves, very finely cut shapes rather than the more familiar pointed lobe styles. If you look across Riverside Cemetery from the sidewalk along Winter Street, one particular tree stands out for its mostly vivid red leaves. This is a Japanese maple growing next to one of the water spigots. Another very striking Japanese maple, with more orange leaves than red, is in the traffic island of Saugus Center’s rotary adjacent to the Civil War monuTwo pumpkins on the sidewalk in East Saugus persisted into November with charming designs. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) ment. Its orange colors are striking beside the bright red burning bush (Euonymus alatus) on the south side of the circle. The rotary tree that will soon be stealing the most attention, though, is one that does not lose its leaves; earlier this week I saw DPW workers in their bucket truck adjusting the star on top of the spruce, and lights being strung between branches of other trees throughout the Saugus Center area. Now that night temperatures A bluejay perches on an elderberry bush in Lynnhurst hoping for some sunflower seeds now that the weather is cold. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) are apt to be below freezing, plants are becoming dormant for winter. The stems and leaves of some grasses may remain standing and hold interest even after their stems and leaves turn brown. The ornamental millet (Pennisetum glaucum, sometimes known as Cenchrus americanus ‘Purple Majesty’) is an annual. I have brought it inside my garage at night in case we have some warmer weather later this month and can still enjoy its colorful leaves and dark seed A Japanese maple’s bright red foliage make it stand out at Riverside Cemetery this week. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) GARDENS | SEE PAGE 21
THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Page 15 SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 13 disadvantages of wills and living trusts and much more. To attend this free event, please call the Saugus Senior Center at 781-231-4178. Light refreshments will be served and walk-in’s are welcome. Saugus High Drama Club prepares for November shows The Saugus High School Drama Club (SHSDC), under the direction of Saugus Middle High School Theatre Teacher Nick Raponi, are in rehearsals for their November production of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid.” Dive under the sea with this magical production of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid”! This family-friendly show brings beloved characters, dazzling costumes and unforgettable songs, such as “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” and many more favorites, to life on stage. Filled with heart, humor and spectacle, it’s a celebration of love, adventure and following your dreams. Don’t miss this enchanting journey that will showcase the incredible talent of our SMHS students! It promises to be fun for audiences of all ages! Tickets: Tickets will be available at the door or in advance, online. Tickets can be purchased at https://gofan.co/ app/school/MA14717_1 Show dates: Friday, November 14, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, November 15, at 2:00 p.m. (matinee perfect for younger audience members); Sunday, November 16, at 2:00 p.m. (matinee perfect for younger audience members). Ticket prices: Adults $15, Students $10; Preshow Event, $8 per student (Saturday & Sunday at 12:30 p.m. before the show). In addition to the performance, the Friends of the SHSDC, along with SHSDC students, will host a Community Engagement Fundraiser Event beginning at 12:30 p.m., preceding the Saturday & Sunday matinees. The event will feature photo opportunities with characters, arts and crafts, face painting and more; definitely a fun event for families with young children! More to the Town Moderator at precinct4steve@gmail.com Fall curbside leaf collection dates Town Manager Scott Crabtree announced this week that fall curbside leaf collection will take place during the weeks listed below. • Monday, Nov. 17 to Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 • Monday, Dec. 8 to Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 Residents may dispose of SUPPORTING THE FOOD PANTRY: Angelo Serino (left) recently presented a check for $2,000 from the Cummings Foundation to Pastor Joseph W. Hoyle of Cliftondale Congregational Church for use at the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry. This is the second year that Serino, a Saugus resident, nominated the food pantry for a Cummings Foundation grant. The Cummings Foundation again recognized the good work being done by volunteers at the food pantry. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) information on these events will follow! All performances and events will take place at the SMHS complex, with performances taking place in the Lemoine-Mitchell Auditorium. We are thrilled to bring this Disney Classic to life and genuinely look forward to seeing you in the audience, supporting the hard work and dedication of the SHSDC students! Upcoming library events The Saugus Public Library presents the Creative Craft Group. Bring your own project to work on while relaxing and visiting…knitting, painting, beading, needlework or any other craft. November 20, 10-11 a.m.; limited spots available! Visit our online Events Calendar to register. Opening on the Finance Committee The Town Moderator is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Town’s Finance Committee. The Finance Committee is responsible for reviewing the Town’s annual budget and any financial articles on the Town Warrant and advising Town Meeting on their feasibility. Interested parties should send a letter of interest citing their qualifications leaves curbside on their regularly scheduled trash and recycling collection day, between Monday and Friday on these dates listed. Leaves should be left outside at the curb by 7 a.m. on the appropriate days. Please ensure that leaf containers are physically separated from trash and recycling. Paper leaf bags are the preferred method of leaf disposal. If you are using barrels, they must be clearly marked with yard waste stickers. Yard waste stickers, which are free, may be obtained at Inspectional Services in the lower level of Saugus Town Hall at 298 Central St., or at the Saugus Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. Barrel covers must remain removed so that the leaves are visible. Plastic bags, cardboard boxes, branches and brush will not be accepted. Please note that separate trucks collect the rubbish, recycling and leaves, so the leaves may be collected at a different time of day. Missed pickups will not be conducted. Please contact Recycling Director Scott Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions. “Beyond Plastics” talk at library Monday Andrea Lacroix will be speaking at 6:30 p.m. Monday (Nov. 17) at the Saugus Public Library on the subject “Beyond Plastics” in an event cosponsored by SAVE and the Saugus Garden Club. Andrea has ideas for how consumers can minimize their use of plastic, and she will reveal some facts about our plastic waste that many people may be unaware of. Andrea Lacroix has been Cascading colors of autumn (Courtesy photo of a 16x20 acrylic Fall Foliage painting by Joanie Allbee) interested in trash and recyTHE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 16
SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 15 Page 16 cling for as long as she can remember. She has served on her town’s Waste Reduction Committee for the past 10 years and is active in community events promoting sustainability. She lives in Ipswich, Mass. In October 2022, she took Judith Enck’s master class on plastic pollution and was stunned by the extent not only of plastic waste but of the health issues faced by humans as a result. She joined the Speakers’ Bureau to do her part in educating as many people as possible. Her talks at libraries in Eastern Massachusetts have been very popular. Saugus High Class of 1965 reunion The Saugus High Class of THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 1965 will be celebrating its 60th Reunion on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Prince Pizzeria on Route 1 South in Saugus. Cost is $50 per person. You can contact Ellen Santosuosso at 781-666-3470 or esantosuosso@gmail.com for more details. Come join your friends and classmates for our 60th Reunion. There’s a bonus for those alumni who attend the reunion: The new Saugus Middle-High School will be open on that Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. It will be a great opportunity to see the new campus. Saugus High Class of 1980 Reunion is Nov. 29 The 1980 Saugus High Class will observe its 45th Reunion on Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Saugus Elks Hall. Hello everyone. Although our 1980 SHS Class is not merging with any other classes, we wanted to extend the invitation to our friends and family members that would like to join us. I (Pete Nicolo) have several friends that did not graduate in our year (1980) that will be attending. Most of us have kept in touch with some of our classmates / friends throughout the years. But what about the classmates / friends that you would love to see and have not seen in decades? I’ve recently reconnected with a couple of Classmates that I really hung out with and had a lot of laughs with in High School – hadn’t seen them in over 40 years. It has been quite a wonderful experience for me to reconnect with them. This is an opportunity to reconnect or simply have some laughs with old friends. Come see your SHS friends and be a part of making this a memorable event. We expect a good turnout – you’ll have a Blast! Some of the people we have sent / extended the invitation to are: • Invites were extended to our entire 1980 Saugus High Class (over 90% of 1980 Classmates contacted – including Classmates living overseas) • Saugus Jr. High Classmates SOLE BENEFIT TRUSTS hese types of Trusts are typically utilized when a family member is going into a nursing home and there has been no advanced planning. An example would be if you owned your own home and had not placed it into an irrevocable Trust. Furthermore, you need to be admitted into a nursing home and have a disabled child, disabled grandchild or some other disabled individual that you would like to leave the house to. If you transferred your home T to this type of trust, you would still be able to qualify for MassHealth benefits. The transfer would not be subject to the five year look-back period due to this Trust solely benefitting the disabled child, grandchild or other disabled individual. Also, upon your death after MassHealth having paid for most of your nursing home level care, there would be no payback requirement to MassHealth from the assets in the Trust. The assets would be protected for the disabled beneficiary. The assets in this Trust must only benefit the disabled benTransfers made to such a eficiary and no one else. The Trust will not interfere with any governmental benefits the disabled individual may already be receiving. However, the terms of the Trust must provide for repayment of those benefits upon the death of the disabled beneficiary. If such a provision does not exist in the Trust, the Settlor of the Trust (for example, the parent) will not qualify for MassHealth benefits. If there are assets remaining in the Trust upon the death of the disabled child and upon repayment of all of the governmental benefits, distributions of those remaining assets can be made to family members. Trust would be considered a completed gift. There is no gift tax in Massachusetts and the federal exemption will be $15millionper individual as of January 1, 2026. Therefore, even though technically a gift tax return would be required to be filed, no gift tax would have to be paid.If there are income producing assets in this type of Trust, the Trust would have to file for a new federal identification number and would have to file a Trust income tax return using Form 1041. If the Trustee were to make distributions of income to the disabled beneficiary, the Trustee would claim a distribution deduction on the tax return by issuing a Schedule K-1 form to the disabled beneficiary. The disabled beneficiary would then report the taxable income on his or her individual income tax return. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a masters degree in taxation. that left and graduated from other High Schools • Saugus High family members (1 Classmate has 2 sisters that graduated a couple of years earlier and later) • Saugus High School teachers and coaches attending (Babcock, Volpe, Melvin, Ward and others) – please feel free to reach out / invite your favorite teachers that you may keep in touch with and want to see there • People move, addresses change, friends from other classes may want to attend – please help us extend our invitation to them. • If you are one of our classmates that hasn’t attended in a long while, you are the people we look forward to seeing. Long Lost Friends! There already appears to be much interest in this event. Make checks ($45 per person) payable to: Pete Nicolo - 15 Tilden Lane, York, Maine 03909 or Venmo: Pete Nicolo@Pete-Nicolo Any questions, please feel free to reach out to: Andrea Saunders (1980 Class President) or Pete Nicolo (Class 1980) at: Andrea Saunders: PaulGreens@aol.com or 978-4825787. Peter Nicolo: Peter.S.Nicolo@RTX.com or 978-815-8234 (new email address). About The Saugus Advocate We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is 6 p.m. on Tuesday. If you have a story idea, an article or a photo to submit, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a message at 978-6837773. Or send your press release to me in the mail at PO Box 485, North Andover, MA 01845. Let us become your hometown newspaper. The Saugus Advocate is available in the Saugus Public Library, the Saugus Senior Center, Saugus Town Hall, local convenience stores and restaurants throughout town. ~ School Bus Drivers Wanted ~ 7D Licensed School Bus Drivers Malden Trans is looking for reliable drivers for the new school year. We provide ongoing training and support for licensing requirements. Applicant preferably lives local (Malden, Everett, Revere). Part-time positions available and based on AM & PM school hours....15-30 hours per week. Good driver history from Registry a MUST! If interested, please call David @ 781-322-9401. CDL SCHOOL BUS DRIVER WANTED Compensation: $28/hour School bus transportation company seeking active CDL drivers who live LOCALLY (Malden, Everett, Chelsea and immediate surrounding communities). - Applicant MUST have BOTH S and P endorsements as well as Massachusetts school bus certificate. Good driver history from Registry a MUST! - Part-time hours, BUT GUARANTEED 20-35 HOURS PER WEEK depending on experience. Contact David @ 781-322-9401.
THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Page 17 Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 50 -Report No.45 November 3-7, 2025 Copyright © 2025 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved. By Bob Katzen T HE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of November 3-7. CHANGE ARCHAIC LANGUAGE REFERRING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (H 4704) House 152-0, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would modernize and remove archaic language in state laws to refl ect the evolution of terminology relating to persons with disabilities. The Senate has already approved a diff erent version of the measure, and the House version now goes to the Senate for consideration. Changes include replacing “handicapped persons” with “persons with disabilities;” replacing “the mentally retarded” with “persons with an intellectual disability;” replacing “retarded children” with “children with an intellectual disability;” and replacing “disabled American veterans” with “American veterans with disabilities.” “As lawmakers, we know that words matter,” said Speaker of the House Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “This legislation is our latest eff ort to ensure that our state laws do not use antiquated words that carry negative connotations, words that also serve as a reminder of past injustices.” “Removing out-of-date and offensive language from the Massachusetts General Laws to describe people with disabilities is an important step in ensuring that our values are also refl ected in our statutes,” said Rep. Jay Livingstone (D-Boston), House Chair of the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. “As legislators, it is our job to help make sure that people with intellectual or developmental disabilities feel included, accepted and embraced for who they are, and this is an important step in doing so.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Donald Wong Yes HOME CARE (H 4706) House 153-1, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would establish a licensure process for home care agencies that supporters say will ensure that consumers receive quality non-medical services, and that home care workers are protected. The Executive Offi ce of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) would implement the licensure process and have the authority to approve licenses, survey and investigate home care agencies and impose fi nes. The measure also would require EOHHS to conduct a suitability review for all licensure applicants, including for all individuals with at least a 5 percent ownership interest in the agency; review applicants to ensure that they have suffi cient fi nancial capacity to provide a minimum standard of care; and require EOHHS to publish a list of all licensed home care agencies on its website. Other provisions require minimum standards for home care workers by mandating several background screening checks on them; training and competency requirements for home care workers including confi - dentiality and privacy rights of home care consumers; infection control and communicable diseases; handling of emergencies, including safety and falls prevention; identifying and reporting suspected abuse, neglect or theft; and understanding Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, including person-centered care, activities of daily living, safety and dementia-related behaviors and communication. The legislation implements workforce protections for employees including establishing procedures to ensure home care workers have safe working conditions, adequate training and a process for submitting complaints; requiring licensed home care agencies to have coverage for worker’s compensation and liability insurance; creation of the Home Care Worker and Consumer Abuse Stakeholder Advisory Committee to study and make recommendations on standards and procedures for addressing abusive treatment, including physical, verbal, mental abuse and bullying of home care workers, personal care assistants, home care consumers and family members; and informing home care workers of potentially unsafe working environments. “This legislation could not have been passed at a more critical time,” said Rep. Tom Stanley (D-Waltham), House Chair of the Committee on Aging and Independence. “With our aging population expected to grow exponentially in the coming years and the number of family caregivers shrinking, the demand for home care will subsequently increase. It is critical for the commonwealth to have the proper standards and protections in place for home care agencies to ensure consumers receive quality care and our dedicated home care workers are properly trained and supported in the fi eld.” “With persistent staffing shortages and projections of growing need, urgent legislative action is needed to establish improved oversight over home care agency employers, better prepare to meet future care demands and to reduce the far-too-common abuse and workplace bullying of home care workers and/or their consumer clients,” said Cari Medina, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU, the union which represents more than 60,000 home care worker members. “[We] strongly support this bill to establish a new state process for the licensure of Massachusetts home care agencies, to implement improved operational standards for these agencies and to direct the adoption of new minimum standards and operational procedures for addressing abusive treatment and bullying of home care workers and/or their consumers.” Betsey Crimmins, Executive Director of Mass Aging Access, said that Mass Aging Access and its statewide network of 24 Aging Services Access Points strongly support the bill. “Massachusetts does not license non-medical home care services, even though these services are essential to helping older adults and people with disabilities live safely and independently in their own homes, BEACON | SEE PAGE 18 Say nr Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller How to Make a Home Safer and More Accessible as You Age Dear Savvy Senior, What simple tips can you recommend for making a home age friendly? My husband and I are in our late sixties and want to remain living in our home for as long as possible. Homebody Hanna Dear Hanna, Many older adults, like you and your husband, want to stay living in their own home for as long as possible. But being able to do so will depend on how easy it is to maneuver your living space as you get older. There are literally dozens of simple adjustments and modifi - cations you can do to help make your home safer and more accessible for aging-in-place. Here’s a summary of tips from the National Institute on Aging and AARP, which off ers a free roomby-room guide with practical suggestions for older adults living independently. ENTRANCE WAY: • Have at least one exterior doorway with step-free access. If that is not possible, consider a ramp. • Add a bench in the foyer to sit on when removing shoes or to set down items while locking or unlocking the door. BATHROOM: • Install a walk-in shower with a bench and nonskid decals or mats to prevent falls. • Add a hand-held nozzle to the shower head to facilitate rinsing off while seated. • Install grab bars on the shower wall and near the toilet • Put in a taller toilet or add a toiler riser. • Consider plugging in a nightlight. BEDROOM: • If stairs are too diffi cult to manage, create a bedroom on the main level by transforming a den or an offi ce. • Make sure the bed is easy to get in and out of. Purchase bed risers, if needed. • Invest in an adjustable bed for extra comfort. KITCHEN: • Purchase a stove with safety features that alert the resident when a burner is on or have automatic shutoff s. • Relocate major appliances to make them easier to reach. • Add slide-out drawers or trays to existing cabinets for better access. • Install a lever-style, light-touch or sensor faucet, which is easier to use than a faucet with turn-style knobs or handles. FURNITURE & RUGS: • Get rid of furniture and clutter to make rooms easier to move around in. • Use chairs with armrests, which makes sitting and standing easier. • Avoid furniture with sharp corners, which can cause bruises and cuts when bumped up against. • Hide cords out of pathways — but don’t put them under rugs. • Area rugs, if used, should be secured to the fl oor with a nonslip mat or anti-slip rug tape. For more tips, get a copy of AARP’s “HomeFit Guide” which is a 36-page fully illustrated guide and has more than 100 aging-inplace tips and suggestions that can be made to an existing house or apartment or incorporated into designs for a new residence. It explains how a smartly designed or modified home can meet the varied and changing needs of its older residents. It also features easy-to-do, low-cost and no-cost fi xes that lessen the risk of trip hazards and increase the safety of high-use areas like the bathroom, kitchen and stairway. In addition, AARP also off er videos and a HomeFit AR app (available for iPhone and iPad) that can scan a room and suggest improvements to help turn your house into a “lifelong home,” free from safety and mobility risks. Visit AARP.org/HomeFit to order or download a free copy of this guide, or to watch their videos. You don’t need to be an AARP member to access this content. If you’d like more hands-on help, you could also hire an occupational or physical therapist that works with older adults. He or she can come in, evaluate your home and recommend aging-inplace solutions. And if you get a referral from your doctor, Medicare will usually cover a home walk-through. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. nior ior
Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 BEACON | FROM PAGE 17 resulting in better health outcomes and an improved quality of life,” said Crimmins. “The passage of [this legislation] will fill longstanding gaps in the commonwealth’s current system, bring Massachusetts in line with the majority of other states and strengthen our long-term services and supports network. “ Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver), the only representative to vote against the bill, did not respond to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him why he opposed the measure. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Donald Wong Yes MORE SUPPORT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES (S 2709) Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that supporters say would provide enhanced safety, stability and educational opportunities for military families, and position the Bay State for greater federal defense investment and economic growth around its six military bases. The bill would guarantee that a child of a military family would retain a seat in the classroom at their current school in Massachusetts, even if their parent or guardian is temporarily transferred elsewhere on official orders. If a military family moves permanently and arrives in a Massachusetts community, the bill also requires a timely and seamless transition for students who receive special education services. Other provisions allow certain information from the military to be admissible as evidence in state courts for people seeking temporary domestic violence restraining orders; allow for federal judges to transfer juvenile cases to Massachusetts courts for offenses that occur on military bases; and direct National Guard leadership to track and report suicide data among veterans of the Massachusetts National Guard. Sen.John Velis (D-Westfield), Senate Chair of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, said the bill bolsters the way that Massachusetts cares for its military families and in turn helps improve our Department of Defense scorecard to maintain critical federal military investments in our state. “As we approach Veterans Day, I am incredibly proud to be a part of a legislative body that prioritizes not only our veterans and servicemembers but also our military families as well,” said Velis. “At the end of the day, my focus as Chairman of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs continues to be on ensuring that our commonwealth is not only the very best state for a veteran to call home, but also a welcoming and supportive home for our active-duty service members and their families.” “I’m proud that Massachusetts continues to seek out ways to support our active military members and veterans and their families,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “In advance of Veterans Day, it was important that the Senate reinforce our commitment to meeting veterans, active military members and their families where they are and provide support to those who have served and are serving our nation.” “Military families very often face difficult situations when parents are called to duty, never knowing when or where their service to our country will take them,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This bill will help create a more stable environment for military serving families by ensuring continuous education and a smooth transition for special education services when changing school districts.” “I have seen firsthand the power of legislation that seeks to improve the lives of our military and military-connected families,” said Jeffrey Chin, Executive Director of Blue Star Families of New England.“[The bill] will provide our military families a vital component that has all too often been missing in their ability to properly provide educational resources for their children. These families are often required to move to various duty stations as part of their duty and lifestyle, and this legislation will allow our military families to access the same choices that non-military families have available to them with regard to schools and access to appropriate educational resources for their children.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes DUTIES OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL (S 2675) Senate 38-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that supporters say would clarify the duties of the state’s Adjutant General. The measure provides that the Adjutant General, Massachusetts’ highest-ranking military office, has command of all troops in the state National Guard while carrying out the orders of the governor. The bill also brings state laws about the National Guard chain of command into line with the model used by the vast majority of other states. “The legislation currently before us … seeks to make a technical change to streamline our National Guard’s chain of command structure and bring Massachusetts in line with the vast majority of our sister states,” said Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield). “As currently written, [Massachusetts law] states that the Adjutant General shall not personally excercise command of troops.” Velis continued, “This legislation clarifies that the Adjutant General, in carrying out the policies and orders of the governor, has command of all Massachusetts National Guard troops -- ensuring that the leadership of the Guard is unified and capable of implementing directives with precision. Currently, the Adjutant General lacks the clear statutory authority to personally command our troops during state missions. This gap can cause confusion in command structure and limits the Adjutant General from enforcing the Massachusetts code of military justice.” “It [is] important to make a technical clarification to the command structure of the Massachusetts National Guard that brings us in line with most other states,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes GUARD MEMBERS MUST FOLLOW ONLY LAWFUL ORDERS (S 2675) Senate 38-0, approved an amendment that would require that Massachusetts National Guard service members undergo training on their obligation to follow only lawful orders and that they receive guidance on how to respond to orders that violate Americans’ constitutional or statutory rights. “National Guard troops across the country are being asked to violate the sovereignty of other states and the constitutional rights of ordinary Americans by a president who wants to use them like pawns in his game of intimidation,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Mike Moore (D-Millbury). “This amendment is simple. By creating a comprehensive training curriculum for servicemembers, Massachusetts is empowering our National Guard with the knowledge they need to determine, in the event that they are federalized, whether the orders they receive are lawful. The rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution are non-negotiable – the commonwealth of Massachusetts will not let our Guard be illegally used against its own people.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.) Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL GRADUATE STUDENTS AND FAMILY LEAVE AND UNEMPLOYMENT (S 747) - The Financial Services Committee held a hearing on a measure that would strike the exclusion of graduate student workers from the definition of “employee” in order to allow for graduate student workers to have access to paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance. “Graduate students are workers, plain and simple, oftentimes with families, mortgage and the same health, economic and life challenges that most working people face,” said sponsor Sen. Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough). “They put in long hours and perform critical work. Despite the fact that they are working for educational institutions with abundant endowments, many don’t have the same paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance benefits that are afforded other hard-working people in the commonwealth. This bill would rightfully close that loophole and allow them the same rights as everyone else.” LIFE INSURANCE (S 760) – Another bill heard by the Financial Services Committee would allow the holder of a life insurance policy to update their beneficiaries using an online tool if one is provided by the life insurance company, as long as the company takes reasonable steps to verify that the identity of the requester matches the holder of the policy. This bill would abolish a current law that requires all beneficiary changes to be made in person, with a “wet” signature and witness present. “Technology has significantly developed since life insurance beneficiary practices were set in the commonwealth,” said sponsor Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover). “Many life insurance companies are now able to accept requests to change designated beneficiaries under life or endowment insurance policies, and this bill brings our legislation up to speed with the industry. While we move toward more technologically advanced processes, we can maintain safety and identity verification in similarly advanced ways. This bill will help make this process more convenient and time-efficient for all parties.” DECEASED ANIMALS ON STATE HIGHWAYS (H 3678) – The Transportation Committee held a hearing on a proposal that would require any State Department of Transportation highway employees who find deceased dogs or cats with identification, to either attempt to directly contact the owner or to notify local animal control officers or the police department. “When a pet is hit on a highway and has a collar or microchip, the family should be notified,” said sponsor Rep. Richard Haggerty (D-Woburn). “Right now, there’s no requirement for that to happen, leaving families wondering what happened to their beloved pets. This bill would give them answers and closure.” BILL RUSSELL AND BOB COUSY HIGHWAY (H 3727) – Legislation that would name the portion of the Massachusetts Turnpike between Boston and Worcester, “The Bill Russell and Bob Cousy Highway,” was also before the Transportation Committee. “I believe we should pay homage to celebrated Boston Celtics teammates and NBA champions, Bob Cousy and the late Bill Russell, who were not only exceptional athletes who brought many championships home to Boston, but who were also two great pillars of our community here in the commonwealth,” said sponsor Rep. David Linsky (D-Natick). Linsky continued, “Bill Russell, as the first Black coach in the NBA, was a frequent target of racially motivated harassment and abuse. Even as he received death threats and hate crimes from his own fan base, he courageously continued to pioneer player activism. Russell BEACON | SEE PAGE 19
THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Page 19 BEACON | FROM PAGE 18 marched alongside civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Medgar Evans, and continued to fight for civil rights his entire life. Bob Cousy was also much more than a basketball player. He played a tremendous role in organizing the first player’s union in the NBA which helped kickstart a new era of player empowerment in sports. Russell and Cousy both risked their careers and their lives to fight for what they believed in, and we should continue to honor them for their incredible work for our community.” PROHIBIT RECORDING OR BROADCASTING WHILE DRIVING (S 2349) – The Transportation Committee’s agenda also included a bill, known as Charlie’s Law, which would prohibit anyone from video recording or broadcasting live while driving a vehicle. “I filed this legislation to honor my constituent, Charlie Braun of Northampton - a beloved partner, father, grandfather and community member - who was struck and killed by a motor vehicle while riding his bicycle,” said sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “Reports indicate that the driver of the vehicle was engaged in a FaceTime conversation while driving.Charlie’s tragic death underscored a gap that remains in our distracted driving laws, one that this bill seeks to close.” Comerford continued, “In recent years, there has been a rapid rise in what’s known as ‘vlogging,’ or video recording or live broadcasting, while behind the wheel. A 2021 report from State Farm’s Auto Insurance Research Department found that between 2015 and 2020, the number of drivers recording videos while driving more than doubled, from 10 percent to nearly one in four. The data are particularly troubling among younger drivers: 44 percent of drivers aged 18 to 29 and 37 percent of those aged 30 to 39, reported recording videos while driving. Other states, including Georgia, Arizona, Tennessee and Utah, have taken action to explicitly prohibit this behavior. Massachusetts should do the same.” BREASTFEEDING AND JURY DUTY (H 2021) – The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on legislation that would exempt breastfeeding mothers from jury duty. Supporters said that current law only allows breastfeeding mothers to delay jury duty up to one year with a medical exemption. “Jury duty is a civic responsibility that is a crucial component of our justice system and democracy,” said sponsor Rep. Steven Ultrino (D-Malden). “But breastfeeding parents should not have to jump through excessive administrative hoops simply to request an exemption or postponement. Currently, breastfeeding parents are not guaranteed opportunity for postponement or a hardship transfer to a more convenient location to complete their juror service. This bill will ensure that our court system becomes more family-friendly and does not pose an undue burden on new parents and their infants.” PROHIBIT REVOCATION OF, DENIAL OF OR REFUSAL TO RENEW A STATE-ISSUED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AS A RESULT OF STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT DELINQUENCY (S 2139) – The State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Committee’s hearing included a proposed measure that would repeal the state’s current law that allows for professional licenses to be revoked from, denied to or refused to be renewed for individuals due to a delinquent student loan. Under the terms of the proposed measure, with the exception of the Division of Banks, no state board of registration or agency would be permitted to revoke, deny or refuse to renew any professional license. Under current state law, a borrower’s state-issued professional license cannot be revoked from, denied to or refuse to be renewed for only a borrower who is in default on an education loan. It does not exempt students who are delinquent but have not yet defaulted. Many professionals including electricians, plumbers, accountants, real estate appraisers, real estate brokers and massage therapists are required to be licensed by the state. “This is a commonsense bill that would extend those unemployment protections to individuals who are behind on their student loan payments,” said sponsor Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). “It ensures they don’t fall further behind, or risk defaulting, if their professional license is at risk of being withheld.” RANKED CHOICE VOTING (S 531) – The Elections Laws Committee held a hearing on legislation that would allow any city or town to adopt and implement ranked choice voting for local elections just by approving a local bylaw to do so -- without having to go through the current process which requires a city or town to first pass a local home rule petition and then requires approval by the Legislature. Under current law, any municipality seeking to adopt ranked choice voting for local elections must go through this lengthy and uncertain process. The bill will empower communities to adopt ranked choice voting without having to do so. Ranked choice voting is a system under which voters rank one or more candidates in order of preference. If one candidate receives more than 50 percent of the first-place votes, that candidate would be declared the winner and no other rounds would be necessary. If no candidate receives a majority of firstplace votes, the candidate that receives the least number of first-choice votes is eliminated. The second choice of the voters who supported the eliminated candidate now becomes their first choice and is added to the totals of the remaining candidates. The same process is repeated, if necessary, until a candidate is the first choice of a majority of voters. “Ranked choice voting empowers voters and enhances ballot access, improving representative democracy,” said sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “It supports positive campaigns and bolsters voters’ confidence in our electoral system. Massachusetts voters understand and support ranked choice voting, especially for their local elections. I’m proud to sponsor the bill to clear the red tape preventing municipalities from implementing the election system that voters want for their communities.” QUOTABLE QUOTES – To no one’s surprise, Gov. Maura Healey and President Donald Trump had sharply different views of last week’s elections. Here are some of their post-election quotes. “[The elections were] a resounding rejection of Donald Trump.” ---Gov. Healey. “The results yesterday, across the board — it’s a referendum on Donald Trump. People are not happy with how he’s handling the economy. They’re not happy about the fact that under his presidency, prices continue to go up. People struggle with affordability all around this country, and he hasn’t delivered on what he promised to and that’s what last night was about.” ---Gov. Healey. “It’s pretty clear what’s happening. [Donald Trump], your boss, your leader-in-chief, is taking you all down … and you got midterms next year. Read the room. This isn’t working for people.” ---Gov. Healey. “After last night’s results, the decision facing all Americans could not be more clear. We have a choice between communism and common sense.” ---President Trump. “If you want to see what Congressional Democrats wish to do to America, just look at the result of yesterday’s election in New York, where their party installed a communist as the mayor of the largest city in the nation.” ---President Trump. “Last night I think, if you read the pollsters — the shutdown was a big factor for Republicans. They say that I wasn’t on the ballot was the biggest factor.” ---President Trump. 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, BEACON | SEE PAGE 21 ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ 2025 Financial Records The 2025 Financial Records for the Veterans Lower Elementary School PTO, INC. are available at the address noted below for inspection during normal business hours. Any citizen can request these documents with 180 days after publication of this notice of its availability. The Veterans Early Learning Center PTO, INC. 39 Hurd Ave, Saugus MA 01906. November 14, 2025 LEGAL NOTICE Board of Selectmen Public Hearing Notice is hereby given that the Saugus Board of Selectmen will conduct a Public Hearing for the purpose of determining the percentage of local tax levy FY 2026 to be borne by each class of taxable property within the Town of Saugus, MA. This Public Hearing will be held in the Saugus Town Hall Auditorium, second floor, 298 Central Street, Saugus, MA on November 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM. Debra Panetta, Chairman Meredith Casagrande, Clerk November 14, 21, 2025
Page 20 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS 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 Akwan, Hala Batista-Aybar, Jatna A Gildin, Zachary Kipe, Pamela Lodato, Kara L Obrien Jr, Michael Sanders, Thomas R Sanders, Thomas R Spano Jr, Leo S BUYER2 Alhade, Omar Kipe, Shkelzen Lodato, Michael Obrien, Caitlin SELLER1 Scott, Judith Guzman, Gabriela R Parras, Jose Schmidt-Lama, Andrea B Schmidt, Evan R Luiso, Susan Foti, Danielle Manning Ft Rocky Acres Rt Rocky Acres Rt Walsh, James J FURNISHED ROOM FOR RENT EVERETT SELLER2 ADDRESS 95 Main St 33 Bristow St #2 11 Chase St 56 Summer St Manning Jr, Francis P Sanders, Ronald C Sanders, Ronald C 32 Oakwood Ave 16 Breakheart Rd Lynn Fells Pkwy Sanders Dr 2 Oaklandvale Ave CITY Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus Saugus OBITUARIES Anthony J. Grasso O 1 bedroom, 1 bath furnished room for rent. $275. per week rent. Two week deposit plus 1 week rent required. Call: 617-435-9047 - NO TEXT f Saugus, formerly of Malden, died on Sunday, November 9th at the Tufts Medical Center in Boston at the age of 75 He was the husband of the late Mary E. (Maniscalco) Grasso. Born in Revere and raised in Malden, Mr. Grasso was the son of Ellen (Wedge) and the late Anthony R. “Sonny” Grasso of Peabody. Anthony was a finish carpenter and loved to use his hands. He enjoyed cooking and gardening and loved his cars and detailing them. In addition to his mother, Mr. Grasso is survived by his three sons, Anthony R. Grasso and his wife Caroline of Beverly, Bri1. On November 14, 1851, “Moby-Dick” was published — dedicated to what Salem native? 2. What male name can be used to refer to a cat and a turkey? 3. In what state would you find an exhibit of World Series rings? 4. Is coconut a nut? 5. On Nov. 15, 1887, what painter with the same name of a state was born? 6. What “Cab” recorded the fox trot “Everybody Eats When They Come to My House? 7. Nov. 16 is National Button Day; what is mother-of-pearl, which is used in buttons? 8. How are “Little Lies,” “Don’t Do Me Like That,” and “Cry Me a River” similar? 9. Why does “The Gong,” the world’s largest tubular bell (in a library in Aarhus, Denmark), ring after a button is pressed at a hospital? 10. In what winter sport is a person lying on their back? 11. On Nov. 17, 1947, what group also called SAG) approved using a blacklist? 12. In what year were Qatar’s Leaning Mosque and Minaret completed: 1211, 1811 or 2023? 13. Which of these is a real place in Massachusetts: Dogpatch, Dogville or Dogtown? 14. Nov. 18 is National Apple Cider Day; what president with the same last name as one of the Beatles had the slogan “Log Cabin and Hard Cider”? 15. In 1949 Life magazine reported on the Man from Mars RaAnnemarie and A.J.; three siblings, Ellen Mechionda and her husband Robert of Peabody, Douglas Grasso and his wife Marie of Georgetown and Donna Bacigalupo and her husband Thomas of Lynnfield; and his sisters-in-law, Helen Earley of Sharon and Trudy Grasso of Lynnfield. He was predeceased by his brother Steven Grasso. Relatives and friends are inan Grasso of Fall River and Joseph Grasso and his wife Brittany of Saugus; five grandchildren, Alex, Dominic, Michael, dio Hat; was the hat sold? 16. How are Amelia, Catalina and Lucia similar? 17. On Nov. 19, 2002, the Senate approved of what new cabinet department? 18. What minister was named after a word in this quote: “…the never-to-be-forgotten increase, of every sort, wherewith God favoured the country about the time of his nativity”? 19. What is a boffin: a bird, craft instrument or scientific expert? 20. On Nov. 20, 1900, Chester Gould was born; he created what comic strip detective with a twoway wrist radio? vited to attend an hour of visitation in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, 549 Lincoln Ave., Saugus on Friday, November 14 from 10-11 a.m. followed by a funeral service in the funeral home at 11 a.m. Interment in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park in Peabody. ANSWERS DATE 10.16.25 10.21.25 10.23.25 10.23.25 10.17.25 10.16.25 10.16.25 10.16.25 10.17.25 PRICE 615000 365000 915000 678500 780500 720000 29000 1000 579000 1. Nathaniel Hawthorne 2. Tom (A tomcat is a male house cat, and a tom is an adult male turkey.) 3. NY (at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown) 4. No; it is a drupe, which is a fruit that does not split open and has one seed 5. Georgia O’Keeffe 6. Jazz singer/songwriter/band leader Cabell “Cab” Calloway 7. It is a mollusk shell’s hard, iridescent inner layer. 8. They are songs about lies. 9. The city’s parents of newborns may press a button that remotely triggers the bell. 10. Luge sledding 11. Screen Actors Guild 12. 2023 13. Dogtown (a historic woodland in Rockport and Gloucester) 14. William Henry Harrison (Reportedly, the slogan made the candidate seem less aristocratic.) 15. Yes ($7.95) — “the latest and silliest contribution to listeners who feel compelled to hear everything on the air” 16. They are common female names and names of islands. 17. Homeland Security 18. Increase Mather, whose home (now the site of the Paul Revere House) was destroyed by fire in November 1676 19. Scientific expert (a usually British term that is sometimes used to mean nerd) 20. Dick Tracy
BEACON | FROM PAGE 19 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 filed. 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 November 3-7, the House met for a total of four hours and 51 minutes GARDENS | FROM PAGE 14 heads. The ‘Cinnamon Stick’ variety of the native perennial grass little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Cinnamon Stick’) will be planted in the ground for the winter as soon as I get around to it, since it will grow again next spring. Most little bluestem has interesting colors in its stems, at times a bluish purple, but ‘Cinnamon Stick’ is a dark reddish brown, as the name suggests. Not only does it lend an interesting texture and color to a sunny garden or meadow throughout the year, but the stems can add interest to summer, fall and winter flower arrangements. If you need more urging to get out and take a walk now that the weather feels more wintry, next Monday, November 17, is Take a Hike Day, so it is almost a requirement that you climb Breakheart Hill or at least take a brisk walk around town. It may be more difficult to talk yourself into going out that door into the cold, but the exertion of walking will warm you up fast. Editor’s Note: Laura Eisener is a landscape design consultant who helps homeowners with landscape design, plant selection and, placement 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. Carpentry * Kitchen & Bath * Roofs * Painting Decks * Siding * Carrijohomeimprovement.com Call 781-710-8918 * Saugus, MA General Contractor * Interior & Exterior The Kid Does Clean Outs From 1 item to 1,000 * Basements * Homes * Backyards * Commercial Buildings The cheapest prices around! Call Eric: (857) 322-2854 Frank Berardino MA License 31811 • 24 - Hour Service • Emergency Repairs BERARDINO Plumbing & Heating Residential & Commercial Service Gas Fitting • Drain Service 617.699.9383 Senior Citizen Discount Steps Stoops Rebuilt or Repaired Chimney Rebuilt or Repaired House Foundation Leaks Repaired All Basement Repairs Chimney Inspection Roofing & Siding Masonry Repairs Window Installation & Repairs Drywall & Carpentry Waterproofing and the Senate met for a total of three hours and 57 minutes. Mon. Nov. 3 House11:00 a.m. a.m. Tues.Nov. 4 No House session. No Senate session. Wed. Nov. 5 House11:01 a.m. to3:24 p.m. No Senate session. Thurs. Nov. 6 House11:00 a.m. to 11:13a.m. Senate 12:11 p.m. to3:51p.m. Fri. Nov. 7 No House session. No Senate session. Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Licensed & Insured THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Page 21 to 11:15 a.m. Senate 11:03 a.m. to 11:20 Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019. Clean-Outs! We take and dispose from cellars, attics, garages, yards, etc. Call Robert at: 781-844-0472 Free Estimates American Exterior and Window Corporation Contact us for all of your home improvement projects and necessities. Call Jeff or Bob Toll Free: 1-888-744-1756 617-699-1782 / www.americanexteriorma.com Windows, Siding, Roofing, Carpentry & More! All estimates, consultations or inspections completed by MA licensed supervisors. *Over 50 years experience. *Better Business Bureau Membership. Insured and Registered Complete Financing Available. No Money Down. We follow Social Distancing Guidelines!
Page 22 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Welcome to Beyond Financing, Inc. Your Local Mortgage Company – Licensed, Trusted, and Here to Serv At Beyond Financing, we believe every dream home deserves more than a loan — it deserves the right program. We specialize in: Home Purchase Loans – First-time buyers, move-up buyers, and second homes Refinancing – Lower your rate, shorten your term, or access your equity Investment Property Financing – From single-family to multi-unit portfolios Self-Employed & Alternative Income Loans – Bank statement, 1099, DSCR programs, and ITIN #s F FHA, VA, USDA, and Conventional Loans Jumbo & Non-QM Solutions for complex income and high-value homes With hundreds of lenders and investors nationwide, we deliver the most competitive options — all under one roof. Whether buying, refinancing, or investing, our Certified Mortgage Advisors guide you beyond rates and paperwork toward true financial freedom. Beyond Financing, Inc. Licensed in CA-CT-FL-MA-NH-NC-RI-SC-TX 999 Broadway, Suite 500-N, Saugus-MA 01906 www.BEYONDFINANCING.COM 857.410.1391 IN CA, CT & MA: Mortgage Broker Only, not a Mortgage Lender or Mortgage Correspondent Lender. In FL, NH, NC, RI, SC & TX: Mortgage Broker and Correspondent Lender. Loans are available fairly and equally regardless of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, military status, disability, or ancestry. ve ! TRINITY REAL ESTATE 321 MAIN STREET | SAUGUS, MA | VILLAGE PARK TrinityHomesRE.com Helping Hands Start at Home. Join us in spreading kindness this season! We’re collecting non-perishable food items for our local food bank. Drop off your donations at TRINITY REAL ESTATE 321 Main Street, Saugus, MA Village Park Plaza Monday - Friday 10AM-3PM Together, we can make sure every family in our community has food on the table. We extend our heartfelt gratitude from the whole team! Proud to serve our neighbors in real estate and in heart. Providing Real Estate Services for Nearly Two Decades Servicing Saugus, Melrose, Wakefield, Malden, all North Shore communities, Boston and Beyond. 781.231.9800 NMLS ID: 2394496
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