THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 30, 2022 Page 15 THE SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 14 sketch was D.J. Brian Cross. Brian was front and center, playing tunes to add to the atmosphere of festivities at the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. This is Brian’s third year as the D.J. However, he’s been on the scene throughout his years as a Saugonian. Brian is a Saugus High Graduate of 2012. He can be seen as a helping hand in many Fundraising Events and volunteer efforts. “He has a charismatic personality befitting a D.J. Position. Brian has also been coordinating the Saugus Christmas Parade ceremony since 2014. “As Brian kept the music flowing forth, he was open to taking personal requests. His music was most enjoyable as people strolled about welcoming in the 2022 Christmas season. “Thank you for the music! “Yours Truly, “The Sketch Artist” Host agreement negotiations continue Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano announced at Tuesday’s meeting (Dec. 27) that representatives of WIN Waste Innovations will be back at Town Hall on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. in the second floor auditorium to offer another proposal to selectmen. Selectmen, back in October, approved a Host Community Agreement (HCA) with WIN Waste Innovations that enables the company to extend the life of the ash landfill adjacent to its trash-to-energy plant on Route 107 by two decades. But the amended HCA which selectmen supported by a slim 3-2 vote includes substantial changes – including a provision that the Town of Saugus receive free tipping fees for waste disposal over the life of the agreement. The town currently pays about $900,000 in annual tipping fees to WIN Waste Innovations. But the annual savings to the town could be considerably more if the agreement receives the required backing of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Affairs (MassDEP), the Board of Health and Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. Complaints about the complainer Patrick Higgins, the man who filed the recent complaint alleging Open Meeting Law violations about the Saugus Board of Selectmen, has been called a “prolific complainer of Open Meeting Law violations.” He’s also a former resident of my hometown – Swansea, Mass. And he once led the charge to have Penny – the beloved cat that lived in the Swansea Public Library – tossed out into the street. Higgins complained that the town and the library violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by allowing the cat to live in the library. He contended that the cat’s presence in the library bothered people with allergies to cats. Higgins later withdrew the complaint, which became the subject of national news. For the most part, Swansea citizens supported Penny over Higgins. It’s good that people embrace open government. But Higgins, who operates a group called Patrick Higgins and Associates isn’t exactly a model citizen for the public good. He has felony convictions in Pennsylvania for falsely collecting unemployment while working in a fastfood restaurant. While selectmen were discussing Higgins’ complaint, Plainville selectmen were meeting to discuss a complaint Higgins had filed against them. It’s apparent that Higgins is spreading himself thin and is getting a little sloppy as he files his complaints. For instance, in the recent complaint filed against the Saugus Board of Selectmen, he lists Stanley Widak, Jr., as the chair and the person who committed the alleged violation. Widak doesn’t even live in Saugus. He lives in Plainville and chairs that town’s Board of Selectmen. My take on it: He doesn’t really care about Saugus. How could he if he misidentifies people he’s complaining about? Legion breakfasts on Friday mornings Saugus American Legion Post 210 hosts its popular breakfasts from 8-9 a.m. on Fridays. The Legion requests a donation of $8 from those who are looking for a delicious meal at Legion Hall. The Legion also welcomes veterans who can’t afford the meal to enjoy a free breakfast. Bon appétit! Compost/Recycling DropOff Site winter schedule The Town of Saugus Compost/Recycling Drop-Off Site closed for the winter season on Dec. 10. The site will reopen for recycling on the third Saturday of the month in January, February, and March, weather permitting. The dates are Saturday, January 21, Saturday, February 18, and Saturday, March 18, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please contact Director of Solid Waste/Recycling Scott Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions. For more information about the Town of Saugus, visit www.saugus-ma.gov What’s happening at the Saugus Public Library For schoolchildren looking for interesting projects and programs to participate in this fall, there’s plenty to do at the Saugus Public Library. There are also some very good programs offered for grownups, too. 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group on Zoom (Editor’s Note: This program is a series that begins in January, but folks should register as soon as possible if they wish to participate.) If you are unemployed and actively looking, underemployed, seeking a new career direction, re-entering the job market after a long employment gap, or recently retired and looking for your “Encore Career,” this networking group program is perfect for you! Remember, 85% of jobs are found through networking! The Massachusetts Library Collaborative’s 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group meets on Wednesday mornings via Zoom from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the first and third week of each month, January–June 2023. For the convenience of those who cannot attend the morning sessions, the group will also meet on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Register for either morning or evening sessions. By registering for one morning session, you will also be registered for all other morning sessions. The same is true for the evening sessions. Each biweekly meeting is facilitated by Deborah Hope, MBA, PCIC, an experienced executive career coach. Deborah is a former Fortune 500 executive, investment banker and entrepreneur and transitioned to executive coaching over 12 years ago. She has coached with Harvard Business School Executive Education programs and the Mass. Conference for Women., and she has been trained or certified in a variety of coaching models and assessment tools. Deborah has facilitated 50+ job seekers networking groups since 2016. The Tewksbury Library has partnered with libraries in Andover, Billerica, Chelmsford, Danvers, North Andover, Saugus, Shrewsbury, Westford and Wilmington (among others) to sponsor this group. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Meeting via email. Please register in advance from our online Events Calendar. A Zoom conversation with young adult author Maureen Johnson: Wednesday, January 4, 7-8 p.m. Enjoy a special evening with two of the country’s top young adult authors as Maureen Johnson (“Nine Liars”) is interviewed by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (“The Final Gambit”) in this Zoom webinar. Maureen Johnson is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including the Truly Devious series, the Shades of London series, “Suite Scarlett” and “13 Little Blue Envelopes.” Her collaborative books include “Ghosts of the Shadow Market” (with Cassandra Clare) and “Let It Snow” (with John Green and Lauren Myracle), which was also a hit feature film on Netflix. Maureen’s books have sold more than three million copies worldwide and have been published in more than 30 countries. She grew up in Philadelphia, graduated from the University of Delaware and has an MFA in Writing from Columbia University. Maureen lives in New York City with her husband and dog. Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 acclaimed young adult novels, including The Inheritance Games trilogy, “Little White Lies,” “Deadly Little Scandals,” “The Lovely and the Lost” and The Naturals series. Jen is also a Fulbright Scholar with advanced degrees in Psychology, Psychiatry and Cognitive Science. She received her Ph.D. from Yale University in 2012 and was a professor of Psychology and Professional Writing for many years. Hosted by the Tewksbury Public Library, in collaboration with dozens of Massachusetts public libraries – please note this program is open to both adults and teens. NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 24 hours of the program. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Meeting via email. Please register in advance from our online Events Calendar. How do you make a catapult? Join us on Saturday, January 7 at 10:30 a.m. to meet local guy Derek Forestier, who will be at the Saugus Public Library to talk about how he and his four friends – all skilled craftsmen – came to be stars on the Netflix show “Making Fun,” a show where kids ask the guys to make outrageous items. Some of the fun projects Derek helped create were a guitar boat, a 12-foot dinosaur that spit tacos and a unicorn bicycle with a glittery surprise. Derek will talk about how TV shows are made, how they built the crazy ideas and how he came to be a celebrity while having fun with his friends. This is a free program, but registration is required. Call 781-231-4168, ext. 3107 or visit our online Events Calendar. Join our Teen Advisory Board: first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Teen Room. First meeting: Tuesday, January 3. Fifth grade and up. Meet with the Teen Librarian once a month to talk about what you’d like for programs and materials at the library. Your opinion matters! No registration required. Snacks provided! sauguspubliclibrary. org – 781-231-4168. Just Sew! Saugonians are welcome to join a monthly sewing class for adults that is held the third Monday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room of Saugus Public Library. The next meeting is Monday, Jan. 16. The class will cover basic topics like sewing buttons, hemming clothing and mending torn fabric and will move on to more advanced topics in the coming weeks. This class is free. (See sauguspubliclibrary.org) A neat teen group called Manga & Anime Club: The Manga & Anime Club, from all accounts, is a lot of fun for kids in Grades 6 and up. So, if you are curious, check out the Teen Room. Chat with friends! Make crafts! Try Japanese snacks! Club meetings will continue on Saturdays through May from 1011 a.m. They will be held on Jan. 7, Feb. 4, March 4, April 1 and May 13. Please sign up in advance; call 781-231-4168 or stop by the Reference Desk. https://www.sauguspubliclibrary.org/new-manga-anime-club.../ – Saugus Public Library, 295 Central St., Saugus, Mass. THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 17
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