The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

  Memorial Day is over. Saugus High School graduation has come and gone. Covering those two events, which occur on consecutive weeks, usually keeps me busy – especially with shooting a bunch of photos, processing them and selecting them for photo pages.

Even with a lull in the action this past week, it seems like things will get hectic in the coming weeks between now and the Fourth of July – which will be on a Thursday this year – and is just a day short of three weeks away.

And next Wednesday, June 19, America will be observing a relatively new federal holiday – “Juneteenth” – which essentially commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, to inform slaves that they were truly free, setting into motion the Emancipation Proclamation that President Abraham Lincoln had made official in writing on Jan. 1, 1863 – nearly two and a half years earlier.

Juneteenth National Independence Day became an official federal holiday in 2021 when President Biden signed it into law. Town Hall and all other municipal buildings and federal buildings in Saugus and across the nation will be closed in observance of the holiday.

Today (Friday, Feb. 14) is Flag Day. Father’s Day is Sunday (Feb. 16). That’s really a commercialized holiday. But for those who celebrate Mother’s Day, Father’s Day deserves to be celebrated equally.

Meanwhile, there are some activities this weekend that should draw great interest. Sunday will certainly be a family day locally, marked by cookouts or restaurant reservations to honor all of the beloved dads. Tomorrow (Saturday, June 15), the Saugus Historical Society will host its annual Strawberry Festival from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the American Legion Hall while the Saugus Garden Club holds its annual plant sale on the front lawn of the Roby School on Main Street.

Next week, the Saugus Public Library should begin to feel a spike in the daily crowds as the library launches its Kids 2024 Summer Reading Program. Please see a related story in this week’s issue. Stay tuned for more activities.

 

Food Pantry notes

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, June 14) from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church.

 

Legion Breakfasts over for summer

  American Legion Post 210 would like to thank all those who made the 2023-24 breakfast season such a success, and wish them a wonderful summer. We will resume serving breakfast on Friday, September 6, 2024.

 

Sharon’s Sneaker Crew yard sale tomorrow

Sharon Genovese and her group – Sharon’s Sneaker Crew – will be hosting a Jimmy Fund Yard Sale tomorrow (Saturday, June 15) at 23 Lily Pond Ave. from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lots of good items: TV, bike, furniture and toys. The second date is Saturday, June 22. All proceeds will go to the Jimmy Fund Walk. She and members of her crew plan to walk in the Boston Marathon Dana-Farber Jimmy Fund Walk this fall. If you need any more information, you can call or text Sharon at 617-966-3475 or email her at sunkin1@aol.com.

 

Mick Foley at Kowloon June 19

  The Kowloon Restaurant (Route 1 North in Saugus) is set to host Mick Foley, professional world champion wrestler, for the only one-man live show this year. The event is slated for June 19, 2024. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and showtime is 7 p.m.

VIP Super Tickets are $150.00 per person for Priority Seating, a photo opportunity and three autographs. VIP Tickets are $99.00 per person for Priority Seating, a photo opportunity and an autograph. General admission is $33.00 per person and includes the show only. Tickets are available by order online at Kowloonrestaurant.com or the Kowloon front desk or charge-by-phone: 781-233-0077.

Michael “Mick” Francis Foley is an American retired professional wrestler and author. He is currently signed to WWE, under the company’s “Legends” program, acting as a company ambassador.

Don’t miss his only appearance as Mick discusses the legendary “Hell In A Cell” match. For more information go to www.kowloonrestaurant.com

 

A “Shout Out” for the Pen Pal Program

  Saugus Senior Center Director Laurie Davis wants to express her gratitude for all of the people who contributed to the success of the Pen Pal Program. We received this email from Laurie, seeking some publicity about the program. Not having any nominations from our readers for “Shout Outs” this week, we decided that Laurie’s email qualified as a mega “Shout Out”:

  The Saugus Senior Center, along with the fourth-grade students from the Belmonte Steam Academy, were thrilled to participate for the second year in a row in our Pen Pal Program. Senior Center Outreach Coordinator, Cheryl Roberto, once again joined with fourth-grade teacher, Brigitte Vaudo, to promote this wonderful intergenerational program that is such a benefit to both seniors and students. We begin promoting this program in September with sign-ups for Seniors who would like to have a Pen Pal. Students are then matched to a senior, and the communication continues throughout the school year with letters exchanged approximately every other month. This year, Bernadette Wilkinson, Council on Aging Board Member as well as a retired educator, stepped up and volunteered to assist in picking up and delivering the letters. On Monday, June 3rd, we were able to host a pizza party for both seniors and students to meet their Pen Pals. It was another great success, and all participants expressed their delight and excitement to continue this program next year!

 

Want to “Shout Out” a fellow Saugonian?

  This is an opportunity for our paper’s readers to single out – in a brief mention – remarkable acts or achievements by Saugus residents or an act of kindness or a nice gesture. Just send an email (mvoge@comcast.net) with a mention in the subject line of “An Extra Shout Out.” No more than a paragraph; anything longer might lend itself to a story and/or a photo.

 

June events at Kowloon

JUNE 14: Concert Series: SUNSET VIEW – 7:00 p.m. – Free General Admission or $10 Reserved Seating.

JUNE 14: Mai Tai THC-Infused Seltzer Launch: LIVE MUSIC – 7:00 p.m. – 21+ only and Free General Admission.

JUNE 15: Concert Series: DAVE MACKLIN BAND – 7:00 p.m. – Free General Admission or $10 Reserved Seating.

JUNE 21: Concert Series: UP ALL NIGHT! – 7:00 p.m. – Free General Admission or $10 Reserved Seating.

JUNE 26: Bingo Night with DJ TOMMY – 7:00 p.m. – Free General Admission.

JUNE 28: Concert Series: DAVE MACKLIN BAND – 7:00 p.m. – Free General Admission or $10 Reserved Seating.

JUNE 29: Concert Series: XS BAND – 7:00 p.m. – Free General Admission or $10 Reserved Seating.

For all tickets, call the Kowloon Restaurant at 781-233-0077 or visit online at www.kowloonrestaurant.com

 

SAVE Annual Meeting/Dinner

Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) will hold its 51st Annual Meeting & Dinner on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at Polcari’s Restaurant (92 Broadway-Route 1 North, Saugus). Social time starts at 6:30 p.m.; dinner buffet begins at approximately 7:00 p.m. The public is cordially invited and we hope you can join us for the mixed buffet consisting of garden salad, chicken & broccoli penne, cheese ravioli, assorted pizzas, rolls and butter, dessert, coffee and tea. A cash bar will be available.

Tickets are $35 per person. Payment can be made by check or Venmo. For a printable copy of the registration form, please visit the https://saugussave.wordpress.com website on the “News & Events” page. Please make payment as soon as possible (but no later than Wednesday, June 12) either via mail to SAVE Treasurer, Mary Kinsell, 11 Sunnyside Ave., Saugus, MA 01906, with a check payable to SAVE, Saugus, or make your payment by Venmo to @SAVE-org and complete your forms here: https://tinyurl.comSAVE6-28. You may also contact Ann at adevlin@aisle10.net or Mary at Mkinsell@verizon.net or, for further information, please visit our website at http://www.saugussave.org. Please let us know if you are able to join us for a fun and informative evening, as well as a wonderful buffet dinner, as soon as possible.

Our guest speaker for the evening, Scott A. Brazis, Saugus’ Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator, will give a brief update on new initiatives and future plans for the Saugus Recycling/CHaRM Center.

Free parking is available on-site, and the facility is accessible for persons with disabilities.

 

Summer track is coming

Coach Christopher Tarantino’s popular Summer Track for youths ages five through 18 begins on July 1. The program is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. at the track outside Belmonte STEAM Academy. Registration will run from June 24-28. Here is the schedule:

July 1-5: first formal week.

July 8-11: second formal week.

July 12, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: makeup practice (if necessary).

July 12, 6 p.m.: pasta dinner at Prince.

July 13, 9 a.m.: in-house meet at Serino Stadium.

July 15-18: retrain week.

July 20: Summer Showdown, Cranston, R.I.

July 24: wrap up.

Cost: $250 first year, $200 returning with uniform, $150 if three years or more in summer program; includes pasta dinner, t-shirt, uniform and entry into Summer Showdown.

Please note that these programs are not being offered through the town’s Youth & Recreation Department. Please contact Coach Christopher Tarantino directly with questions at 781-854-6778 or christophertarantino24@gmail.com.

 

CHaRM Center is open

  The Town of Saugus recently announced that the CHaRM Center is open Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents will be required to buy a $25 Sticker to use the Compost Facilities as well as to recycle hard plastics. The rest of the Facility’s features are free to use for any Saugus resident. Residents are also allowed three TVs or computers/CRT monitors for free per household each year. The Town of Saugus reserves the right to refuse any material if quantity or quality is questionable.

The final date the CHaRM Center will be open for the season is December 14. However, the Facility will be open the following winter dates, weather permitting: January 18, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; February 15, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; March 15, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Scott A. Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions.

 

Brick program for Saugus War Monument

The Saugus War Monument Committee, once again, is sponsoring the Buy-A-Brick Program to honor all those who have served their country. If you would like to purchase one in the name of someone who is presently serving or has served, in the memory of a loved one, or just someone from your family, school, etc., the general pricing is $100 for a 4″ X 8″ brick (three lines) or $200 for an 8″ X 8″ brick (five lines). Each line is a maximum of 15 characters. The improvement and upkeep of the monument on the corner of Winter and Central Streets rely on the generosity of donors through fundraising.

The brick application must be in by Sept. 10 to ensure the bricks will be ready for Veterans Day. Please contact Corinne Riley at 781-231-7995 for more information and applications.

 

About The Saugus Advocate

We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is noon Wednesday. If you have a story idea, an article or photo to submit, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a message at 978-683-7773. Let us become your hometown newspaper. The Saugus Advocate is available in the Saugus Public Library, the Saugus Senior Center, Saugus Town Hall, local convenience stores and restaurants throughout town.