Cleaning Up Their Town

Selectmen present citations to Dottie Barker and Dick Lynch for their efforts to beautify and improve the appearance of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

Selectmen call Dorothy “Dottie” Barker and Richard “Dick” Lynch exemplary citizens who take pride in the way their community looks – and by their actions serve as role models for the young generation of Saugonians. They welcomed Barker and Lynch as invited guests at Tuesday (April 30) night’s board meeting, presenting them citations to honor their contributions to the betterment of Saugus:

• Barker was recognized “for her continuing dedication to preserve the beauty of Golden Hills.”
• Lynch received his commendation “for continuously going above and beyond to keep Saugus ‘Clean.’”

Barker and Lynch were each invited individually to stand at the lectern in the second floor auditorium at Town Hall and talk about the projects they undertook for the betterment of Saugus.

Barker, an Everett resident, who has lived in Saugus for about 49 years, thanked selectmen “for bringing me here tonight and honoring me this way. It means a lot to me.” She didn’t feel comfortable talking about her good deeds.

But Selectman Corinne Riley, who nominated Barker for the citation, lauded her for her contributions to Saugus. “We were at Golden Hills for a cleanup that the neighborhood put together,” Riley said of how she first learned about Barker.

“Several residents started telling me the story about Dottie and how she even takes her own lawnmower and walks it down and cuts the grass around all that area, picks up all the trash along the streets. She’s been doing it for a very long time. She picks up after people that don’t know enough to throw it in the bucket,” Riley said.

“When I found out about you, I said we have to acknowledge you and thank you for everything you’ve done,” she told Barker. “I understand that you’ve done it for years, And this isn’t new. This is what you do because you have a lot of pride. And it’s great to see you take such pride in your community, your area, your neighborhood and take care of the people that live near you. So, thank you very much for your service to the town and to the people who obviously love you.”

In a brief telephone interview later, Barker said that in addition to picking up trash strewn around her neighborhood, she had a passion for planting flowers all over. “I love flowers. I put them everywhere,” she said.

“I care about where I live and I take pride in how everything looks. I take it personally. I would hope that other people would take pride in ownership,” she said.

During the presentation of the citation, each selectman got a chance to elaborate on the citation. “If we had more Dottie Barkers in Saugus, we’d be a much better place for it,” Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeff Cicolini said.

“Hopefully, a lot of younger people in Saugus learn from your example,” he said.

Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta praised Barker for being an asset to her neighborhood. “Golden Hills is unique and rather quite beautiful,” Panetta said.

“You made it that much more beautiful,” she said.

Selectmen Anthony Cogliano and Michael Serino also thanked Barker for the volunteer work she does to make her neighborhood attractive.

In introducing Lynch, Panetta mentioned that he has been involved in Saugus cleanups for at least two decades. “He continuously goes over and above, just as Dorothy does. He is cleaning every inch of Saugus, it seems. And he was recognized by Scott Brazis,” Panetta said, referring to the town recycling coordinator, who wrote a letter nominating Lynch.

Lynch recalled that he first got involved in cleaning up litter around 1992, working to clean up the Saugus River. “It just got under my skin and into my veins,” said Lynch, who has gotten involved in routine cleanups along Eastern Avenue.

Lynch told selectmen that he has picked up about 19,000 nip bottles since 2014. He also estimates that he has picked up more than 100,000 beer cans and beer bottles during that time.

“Thank you very much for what you do to keep Saugus clean,” Riley told Lynch.

“I wish people would stop making piles and take back the nickel,” she said.

Cogliano suggested that all cleanup activity that Lynch gets involved with is great exercise. “I’m sure it helps keep you young,” Cogliano said.

Serino said he thinks that Lynch is so active that he has “the DPW trained.”

Cicolini said Lynch has “set the bar” for other citizens to follow. “Having people like you who truly take pride in our community is awesome,” Cicolini said.

Panetta said Lynch’s involvement in cleanups around Saugus seem to be a daily occurrence.

“I love doing it and enjoy doing it,” Lynch said.