THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 Page 9 2020 | FROM PAGE 5 from 25 speakers during a twohour session. The town manager’s budget includes $1.9 million less than what the School Committee was seeking for the FY 2021 budget. A proposed Town Meeting article would call on the governor to restart the Regional Saugus River Floodgate project. Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus announces a program to make sure no Saugus students go hungry. March The Board of Health initiates a complaint against Wheelabrator over noise complaints. A Special Town Counsel advises the City of Revere to deny a developer’s request to accept Muzzey Street as a public way on the Caddy Farm site. Saugus voters favor Biden over Sanders for Democratic Party nomination in a presidential primary that draws a low turnout. New Board of Health bylaws initiated by Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) – banning plastic bags and polystyrene food containers – take effect. School Committee Member Hatch calls the District Review Report the school district’s “bible” for turning Saugus Public Schools around. Six new members – all of them town natives and Saugus High graduates – begin their careers at the Saugus Fire Department. The town manager warns residents to expect “disruptions” to town and school events and non-town/ school events in town buildings as the community braces for COVID-19. Town Meeting members reelect Steve Doherty as town moderator in a hotly contested race over former Town Moderator Robert Long, 22-20, in an 83-minute, seven-round election. Teachers Union President Lavoie addresses the School Committee on Elementary School Grade Configuration. A new Wheelabrator subcommittee created by the Board of Health draws critics – including some selectmen – before it even gets started. A Special Town Meeting backs Saugus Police Officer Kevin Nichols’s proposed legislation to be exempt from mandatory retirement. The town manager bolsters Health Department services to prevent potential spread of virus; Town Hall closes to the public. Saugus town and school officials discuss concerns about COVID-19. Square One Mall closes to help contain the virus. Supermarkets are packed as nervous shoppers face the COVID-19 threat. The Town shuts down municipal buildings in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. Saugus spring sports are delayed until late April. Kowloon closes to patrons dining in. Prince Pizzeria lets Saugus know that the restaurant isn’t happy about star Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s decision to leave the New England Patriots, with an electronic sign saying “Really, Tom?” Board of Selectmen Chair Cogliano calls for Saugus Middle-High School construction site work to stop, claiming it exposes workers to the virus. Saugus High School students use colored chalk to write on sidewalks to inspire walkers during the Coronavirus crisis. Saugus COVID-19 cases double; now there are eight residents testing positive, town health official reports. Kowloon Restaurant lays off 90 percent of its workers. Youth and Recreation Department staff make “Boredom Bags” to keep kids busy while school is out. The Saugus Girl Scouts adapt to the virus by holding online meetings. The Saugus Faith Community leader says local churches are developing ways to bring religious services into people’s homes through “virtual services.” April COVID-19 cases spike in Saugus; residents testing positive climb to 24. School Committee members express optimism about remote learning using computers from home. Christine Quagenti discusses her efforts to keep COVID-19 from hurting her daughters’ education. Nicholas DiVola – the son of a Saugus man suffering from COVID-19 – receives a drive-by birthday parade to celebrate turning 17. Susan Curry influences Saugus residents on at least 200 streets to put stuffed bears and other animals in their windows as she wages her “#BeLikeGeorgie” project on Facebook. Coronavirus cases in town double within a week; now there are 51 confirmed cases. The Town hires a third nurse to beef up Health Department protection for residents. Crabtree says the town has more than $10 million in reserve funds that could soften fiscal drain on running town government during COVID-19 times. Selectman Cicolini castigates the Saugus TV Board of Directors and architect for a $350,000-plus cost overrun on the new studio. The town manager extends the deadline for residents to pay personal and real estate taxes until June 1. Confirmed Saugus COVID-19 cases more than double to 137. The School Committee approves a new three-year contract for Saugus teachers; a $2.4 million cost for the school district over its life. The Town adopts a new safety policy for all active construction worksites during the COVID-19 pandemic. Crabtree says COVID-19 is SIGN OF THE TIMES: The Town of Saugus kept running, but Town Hall and other municipal buildings shut down during the year because public health officials deemed them unsafe for visitors. taking a devastating toll on the cost of running town government. COVID-19 cases reach 211 in Saugus; six residents die from the killer disease. First-term Town Meeting Member Joe Vecchione shares his vision for improving the Business Highway Sustainable Development Zoning District. The Selectmen get an initial review of Apex Entertainment’s plans to open a center at Square One Mall. The Selectmen agree with neighbor and vote to deny a request by 7-Eleven on Lincoln Avenue for a 24-hour license. “Saugus gardens in the pandemic” debuts in Saugus Advocate; landscape design consultant and Saugus Garden Club member Laura Eisener begins weekly series on “What’s blooming in town” to make residents’ walks more enjoyable. May Town considers a policy that would require face masks to protect the public from the virus. Carmine Moschella, a 92-yearold woodworking teacher, gets a surprise birthday parade and retirement farewell. The names and faces of Saugus High Class of 2020 members displayed on red banners get hung on utility poles around town as a graduation tribute. Confirmed Saugus COVID-19 cases increase to 298. The Board of Health approves orders in response to the COVID-19 crisis; grocery stores, pharmacies and other essential businesses in town face possible $1,000 fines for violations. Gianna Petkewich of Saugus earns Valedictorian honors as the highest-ranked student of this year’s graduating class at Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School. This happens three years after her brother Nicholas accomplished the academic feat. Gianna completes her education with a perfect attendance record throughout High School and from Kindergarten through Grade 8 of Saugus Public Schools – something accomplished by her sister Alexa and her brother Nicholas. Janet Maestranzi, a registered nurse, helps to fight COVID-19 by making face masks pro bono in her spare time. Mass. Depart2020 | SEE PAGE 10 Happy New Year from Everett Bank! WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER YEAR OF BEING RIGHT BY YOU. WE’RE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 1ST AND WILL BE BACK OPEN ON MONDAY, JANUARY 4TH. 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