THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Page 5 Christmas Eve Pageant spreads biblical message S By Tara Vocino t. John’s Episcopal Church presented the nativity story based on the biblical account of Luke and Matthew on Christmas Eve during their Christmas Pageant. During the Christmas Pageant at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Christmas Eve, shepherds were played by Dante Brown, 10, and Mark Conley, 9, who attend the Belmonte STEAM Academy, and a sheep was played by Briele Brown, 5, who attends Veterans Memorial Elementary School. Jesus’ mother Mary, Kieron Sharwood, 18, who attended Pioneer Charter School of Science II on Main Street, as Joseph, and Baby Jesus. A Wise Man presented a gift to welcome Jesus into the world. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) Shepherds were the first to be notified of Jesus’ birth, according to the nativity story. PANDEMIC | FROM PAGE 1 munity is dealing with it – leads the list of top 10 news stories in Saugus. In a survey this week of the town’s Board of Selectmen, all five members listed COVID at the top of their respective story lists. (Please see inside for this week’s “The Advocate Asks.”) “It affected our health, how we work, how our students are educated, our local government, our economy both nationally and locally, recreational activities, and even how we interact with our family and friends,” observed Selectman Corinne Riley. Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini said he agreed that “the biggest story in the last year still surrounds the pandemic and the continued impact it had on our residents and businesses in town.” “I am not only speaking healthwise, but also from a financial and emotional standpoint,” Cicolini said. “There are so many businesses closing throughout the country given the lasting impact and unfortunately Saugus is not isolated from the impact. We have seen so many wonderful, long standing businesses shut their doors and it truly is sad and unfortunate.” Three Kings holding gifts for baby Jesus, pictured from left to right: Brendan Sharwood, 13, Destin Erickson, 20, and Nicholas White, 21, all of Saugus. A review of the weekly editions of The Saugus Advocate over the past year shows that the COVID-19 story has dominated the news pages like no other story. This year’s COVID-19 coverage included two dozen front page articles this year – twice as many as the next most prevalent news story – the 2021 Town Election, which was featured 12 times on Page One. Stories related to the beginning of a new, promising era for Saugus Public Schools was the subject of seven cover stories throughout the year. The Saugus Town Meeting’s creation of the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee to study ways to revive the once-thriving business district that’s been in decline for close to 40 years also garnered seven front-page articles. “For me, the biggest story of the year continues to be the virus,” Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano said. “I would’ve never thought we’d still be in this situation today,” Cogliano said. “Today our numbers are worse than they were a year ago, testing lines are never ending and take-home tests are hard to find. Our kids are still wearing masks in school, sports teams can’t use locker rooms...and now the City of Boston is going to check vaccine cards beginning January 15, 2022 in order to dine out.” Rounding out the newspaper’s list of top 10 stories for 2021: 2) A new era focused on the pursuit of excellence in Saugus Public Schools. The school district made major strides to turn its education PANDEMIC | SEE PAGE 9
6 Publizr Home