Selectmen offer a Bouquet of Compliments

Saugus Garden Club receives a citation honoring the 80th anniversary of its creation as a beloved town organization

By Mark E. Vogler

The agenda for Tuesday night’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting was light. But the opening minutes of the session were heavy in high praise that selectmen heaped on the Saugus Garden Club to go with a special citation in recognition of the group’s 80th anniversary. “They do so much for the town,” said Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta, herself a longtime member of the club.

“It’s not just having a green thumb. They do so much volunteerism, so much charity work in our community. And they’ve been around for 80 years and they’re incredibly active,” Panetta said.

“And we’re thrilled tonight to give you a citation on behalf of the Board of Selectmen in the Town of Saugus on your anniversary,” she said.

Actually, the board had two citations, which they presented to the club’s two longtime Co-Presidents, Donna Manoogian and Lorraine DiMilla.

Panetta invited each of her fellow board members to offer remarks about the special occasion of honoring a group that originated eight decades ago.

“Eighty years is a long time to keep something going,” Selectman Corinne Riley said. Riley thanked the group for its longtime commitment to the betterment of the town and said she hoped the club would be around for another 80 years to do wonderful things.

“Thank you for coming out tonight in this horrible heat wave that we’re having,” Selectman Anthony Cogliano said, referring to the 100-degree weather that hit Saugus and many other communities throughout Essex County and the state.

“And it’s nice to see you,” Cogliano said.

Selectman Michael Serino called the club “an asset to our community.” “You do so much for the town,” he said.

Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeffrey Cicolini lauded the club’s longevity. “Congratulations… eighty years…truly amazing,” Cicolini said.

“Seeing what you do around town and how active the group is, is truly remarkable. …It’s a true testament to the dedication of everybody. Thank you for all you do. And again, congratulations,” he said.

Panetta asked Donna Manoogian to offer a brief history of the club before the 15 Garden Club lady members (there are a few men members now) who showed up for the meeting posed for photos with the selectmen and the town manager.

“It was formed in 1945 and it was part of the Victory Gardens that was sweeping the country,” Manoogian recalled of the private gardens of vegetables, fruits and herbs that American were encouraged to plant to augment their rations and also as a morale booster during and after World War II.

“And from that, 28 people were in the beginning stages. And right now, we have just over 70 members,” she said.

Manoogian noted there was a dip in membership back in the 1960s and the 1970s, which prompted the club to switch from daytime meetings and lunches at members’ homes to evening meetings, so the club could accommodate more women who were working. That change helped boost membership, she said. “And now we’re looking at some split between evenings and daytime meetings to accommodate more [members],” Manoogian said.

Over the years, the Saugus Garden Club has developed a reputation as a great collaborator among community organizations, working with other groups to make events more successful. “We partner with SAVE. We partner with the library and the Friends of the Library and any organization that really wants us to come and speak,” Manoogian said.

“We’re very happy to come and tell them a little bit about the history of the club,” she said.

Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree, like the selectmen, marveled at the club’s continued success for so long. “I just think it’s fantastic,” he said, stressing his amazement that the club is still going strong after 80 years.

“It’s a great organization,” Crabtree said.

“It’s such a community building group of people that get together. It’s really very impressive,”