SASAUGUSUGUS Vol. 24, No. 47 Have a Safe & Happy Thanksgiving! -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday A Time For Giving 781-233-4446 Wednesday, November 24, 2021 Duty in the face of danger Three Saugus fi refi ghters who assisted police offi cers who were stabbed in August 2020 attack were among those honored at “Firefi ghter of the Year Awards” ceremony By Mark E. Vogler S THE SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING: Pictured from left to right, volunteers Dawn Bizzarro and Melody Bizzarro-Raimo handed out a turkey to a needy Saugonian last Saturday (Nov. 20) in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry distributed packaged dinner baskets to more than 80 families in the community, helping to make their dreams for a holiday meal possible. For the story and related photos, please see inside. (Saugus Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) A third grade hero J School Committee honors 8-year-old student for his quick response to help a classmate who was choking on a nacho at lunch But School Committee Chair By Mark E. Vogler acob Puglisi can boast to his buddies that he sat in the chairman’s chair during a Saugus School Committee meeting last week and banged the gavel as the honorary chair. That’s a heady moment that no other student currently enrolled in Saugus Public Schools has experienced. Thomas Whittredge decided that giving up his seat and gavel for a few minutes to the third grader from the Belmonte STEAM Academy was the right way to honor an eightyear-old student who is credited with saving the life of a classmate in the school cafeteria several weeks ago. After learning about how Jacob rushed to the HERO | SEE PAGE 7 augus Fire Department Capt. Chris Vinard and fi refi ghters Sean Bohannon and Greg Cinelli responded to a call to assist police at a Tuttle Street home on Aug. 6, 2020, after a suspect in a criminal investigation allegedly locked himself inside and threatened to harm himself. The Fire Department’s role that day was to open the door for police and stand by in case medical aid was needed. But the firefighters’ task aid of a student who was choking on a nacho during a lunch break and then began performing the Heimlich maneuver on him, Whittredge decided prior to the Nov. 2 town election that he would invite Jacob to a future meeting so the committee could thank him for his heroics. Whittredge got reelectevolved into more dangerous duty after three police offi cers suffered stab wounds at the hands of a knife-wielding man after they entered the house. Firefighter Cinelli was credited with stopping the attack by disarming the suspect. Captain Vinard and Firefi ghter Bohannon maintained control of the scene until additional police arrived and transferred the suspect to custody. The case was one of several acts of heroism cited yesterday in Worcester’s Mechanics Hall at the 32nd annual Firefi ghter of the Year Awards ceremony as state Department of Fire Services offi cials and Gov. Charlie Baker honored fi refi ghters from 14 Massachusetts fi re departments. The three Saugus fi refi ghters received the Governor’s Group Citation for Meritorious Conduct for their response to the stabbing of the three Saugus police offi cers. They were cited “for extraordinary actions that helped to control the situation and prevent any further harm to the injured offi cers.” Additionally, Firefi ghter Cinelli was one of six fi refi ghters who received the Medal of Valor “for his courage, quick thinking, and life-saving actions in the face of an armed assailant, despite the danger to himself.” “Firefi ghter Cinelli, who has served several combat tours as a U.S. Marine and has a brown belt in Jiu Jitsu, stepped in to help stop the attack,” according to the Department of Fire Services. “He grabbed the knife, disarmed the assailant, and placed him in a shoulder hold while police officers secured the struggling suspect’s hands and legs.” The wounded offi cers recovered from their injuries. Meanwhile, Steven Sossong, the Tuttle Street resident charged in connection with the stabbing incident, awaits trial on multiple charges, including three counts of armed assault with intent to murder, four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon DUTY | SEE PAGE 2 ANGELO’S FULL SERVICE Regular Unleaded $3.259 Mid Unleaded $3.299 Super $3.419 Diesel Fuel $3.399 "43 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2021 KERO $4.81 DEF $3.49 9 Diesel $3.099 9 HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN A A DA Prices subject to change FLEET
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