THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, May 18, 2018
THE SOUNDS
pieces of equipment will be on display at the annual benefit organized by Guy Moley (781-640-1310). Fuddruckers will donate 20 percent of all sales to the American Cancer Society. The Saugus Police and Fire Departments as well as local car By Mark Vogler club Rt. 1 Riders will be among the many groups and businesses joining in. Saugus Police Officer Tim Faucet and his K9 police ere are a few tidbits that you might want to know about this dog will offer a demonstration. week in Saugus. Some citizen concerns Memorial Day Parade The Saugus Veterans Council Memorial Day Parade & CeremoYou can count on Saugus Public Library Director Alan M. Thibeault as somebody who could become a welcomed ally in the nies will be next Saturday, May 26. The Parade will step-off at 9:30 Saugus citizens’ pursuit of more transparency in local govern- a.m. from Jackson Street to Lincoln Avenue to Central Street to ment. That was pretty clear from a conversation I had with the Winter Street to Riverside Cemetery, where there will be a Melibrary director last Friday as we interviewed him for this week’s morial Day Ceremony. The Parade will reform and march from Riverside Cemetery, Winter Street to Central Street to Town Hall, “The Advocate Asks.” It’s one thing to say you are all for “transparency.” But how many where a ceremony will be held. The Saugus Veterans Council invites the public to attend and in local government actually walk the walk, when it comes to making their public bodies as accessible as possible. participate in the town’s annual Memorial Day observance. I think Thibeault is indeed an advocate for more transparency, based on a look at the wonderful website that’s evolving for the Selectmen cancel next week’s meeting Saugus Public Library (see http://www.sauguspubliclibrary.org). This in from Wendy Reed, clerk of the Saugus Board of SelectCheck out the link to the Saugus Public Library Board of Trust- men: The board has cancelled its meeting scheduled for next ees, in particular. Check out the Trustee Minutes. Wednesday (May 23). “One of the things that we’ve been trying to do here over the last two months is to be a little bit more transparent in how we A Ninety Nine Memorial Day Salute govern ourselves. To that end, we’re trying to get ourselves into The Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub announced this week that better compliance with the Open Meeting Law,” Thibeault told the Ninety Nine will celebrate Memorial Day with veterans past me. and present as well as active duty military with special meal “Getting all of our minutes up as far back as we can, online. The deals. These tributes launch with Memorial Day, Monday, May meetings are always open. I post them on the library’s website 28, followed by July 4 and Veteran’s Day. All 106 Ninety Nine resso that everybody knows that they are there. Things like that. If taurants across New England and Upstate New York – including trustees approve a change to a policy at the library – and there’s the Ninety Nine on Route 1 in Saugus – will continue the mila lot of that going on right now because they started revising itary initiative of honoring veterans and activity duty military all of the library policies about a year ago. And we’re still sort of which started in 2016. “For the men and women who have dedicated their lives to working our way through that, so every time we do that, we’ll put something up on our blog – right on the front page of the our country, including some of our very own Ninety Nine team members, we want to honor their tremendous courage and eflibrary’s website,” he said. Other than the Board of Selectmen, there aren’t too many lo- forts in protecting our country,” said Ninety Nine Restaurant & cal bodies that post up-to-date meeting minutes on the town Pub President Charlie Noyes. “These special offerings and celebrations are our way of saying thank you not just on Memorial website. During my interview with Thibeault last Friday, I fired a few Day, July Fourth or Veteran’s Day, but all year long.” On Memorial Day, veterans or active duty military who purquestions at him about how the library could become creative and facilitate transparency in government by establishing a “Cit- chase any meal will receive a free entrée from the “9 Real Size izens’ Corner” where you’ve got a computer or several set up Entrées for $9.99 menu” by presenting proof of service. All year where citizens can retrieve municipal budgets and a multitude long veterans and active duty military who visit their local Nineof other public information about their local government. What ty Nine can receive a 10 percent food discount (offered daily) by I proposed to the library director was something a little more us- presenting proof of service. er-friendly than people going into Town Hall or trying to navigate the town website on their home computers. Some folks Take a Kid Fishing Day This just in from the Saugus Youth and Recreation Department: don’t even have a computer at home. And there isn’t a computer for public viewing in Town Hall. And people in many offices “Take a Kid Fishing Day 2018” is set for Saturday, June 2, from 8 are reluctant to give you information unless you file a public re- a.m. to noon at Camp Nihan, which is located on Walnut Street, cords request. You can’t even get the minutes for most local bod- just after Kohl’s Plaza. ies in a timely fashion! “Maybe you haven’t fished in years, but remember the joy? This “You could set up a couple of computers and program them for is your time to pass it along to your child,” says the announcecertain aspects of town government. And anybody who wants ment. “Is your child asking to go fishing, but you don’t know where something could come to an information center and look for it. And there are senior citizens who might be interested in some- to start? We can help … We provide all the bait, tackle, snacks thing like that,” I suggested to Thibeault. and a limited number of rods to help your child experience the “You could have information, like for the Open Meeting Law joys of fishing,” it continues. or the laws that affect the local government and history. I notice Tom’s Bait & Tackle and the Massachusetts Department of Conthat you do have a collection of the annual reports going back servation and Recreation are sponsoring this free event. All chilon the shelves upstairs and some other things behind locked dren must be accompanied by an adult. glass cabinets,” I told him. “I’m surprised that Town Hall doesn’t use you for making infor- Learn about birds of prey mation more readily available. There are meeting minutes for a Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) is sponlot of committees that aren’t readily available. It’s like you have soring a very special free event presented by Wingmasters to to make an appointment and file public records request and help town residents of all ages learn more about our New Engstuff for information that should be readily available. So, this is land birds of prey. The program will be held at the Saugus Pubalmost like fertile ground here – if you had a couple of comput- lic Library (295 Central St.) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesers set up here in the library for public access on information re- day, May 23. Space is limited, so please make your reservations early for lated to the local government.” Thibeault seemed to embrace the idea of the library helping this event – simply contact the Saugus Public Library at 781-231to facilitate the public’s right to know. “Yeah, I would be open to 4168, ext. 3106, to make your reservation. Birds of prey are also known as raptors, and they are huntdoing something like that, for sure,” Thibeault said. “Well, I certainly would be willing to play that role.” ing birds characterized by hooked beaks and powerful grabSure seems like there’s a lot of potential here. Just think: “A Cit- bing feet armed with sharp talons (the word raptor comes from izens’ Corner” at the Saugus Public Library. Of course, it proba- a Latin word that means “to seize”). Raptors can also boast the bly won’t happen unless the library directors hear from enough best eyesight and the sharpest hearing in the animal kingdom. Raptors include hawks, falcons and owls, and this presentation, citizens to make it a worthwhile project. Stay tuned. which incorporates five to six live birds of prey, gives an overview of these different categories. The program is designed to explain Еouch-a-Truck benefit Sunday If you like kids, trucks, classic cars and good causes, Mom’s Can- predation, the birds’ place at the top of the food web, their difcer Fighting Angels is hosting a Touch-a-Truck event Sunday (May ferent hunting adaptations and their status in a rapidly chang20) from noon to 3 p.m. at Fuddruckers in Saugus. More than 30 ing world. Because many birds of prey are declining in number,
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Page 15 this presentation also features one or more of the endangered raptors that Wingmasters cares for, and explains why these species face an uncertain future. Please plan to join us for this exciting free event. Light refreshments will be served. For more information about this SAVE event and for any questions regarding SAVE, please contact SAVE President Ann Devlin at 781-233-5717 or adevlin@aisle10.net. You can also visit the websites www. saugussave.org and www.saugussave.com. Town announces reopening of CHaRM Center Recycling Drop-Off Site The Town of Saugus announces that the community’s Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) site will be open to residents on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The site is located behind the Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. There is no preregistration or fee required to enter the site; however, proof of residency is required. At the CHaRM center, the Town will accept the same recycling items that can be placed outside for curbside collection each week, such as paper, cardboard, bottles, cans and glass containers. Additional acceptable items include TVs and computers (up to three per year per address); bulky rigid plastic items, such as Little Tikes toys, laundry baskets, Rubbermaid trash barrels, 5-gallon pails, etc.; car tires up to 22” (for a fee of $3); books; and textiles, such as clothing, bedding, pocketbooks, belts and shoes. Plastic bags are not permitted. Residents are kindly asked to empty recyclables out of any plastic bags, and to remove the bags from the site. Residents may call Lorna Cerbone at the Solid Waste and Recycling Department at 781231-4036 with questions or for more information. “Fun Run” Sundays Saugus natives and running exercise buddies Stephen Boudreau and Chris Tarantino have an open invitation for children in grades 1 through 8 to participate in weekly Sunday morning “Fun Runs” at Breakheart Reservation. Here’s all you need to know to check out this opportunity brought to you by the two Saugus High track star alumni who resurrected the sport of Cross Country at the Belmonte Middle School last year: When: Come to the Visitor’s Center at Breakheart Reservation on any Sunday at 9:45 a.m. Who: Any Saugus children in
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