The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

“The Campaign is on,” as they say in politics. And it’s definitely on, as far as the Town of Saugus is concerned.

In the first two days since nomination papers became available at the Town Clerk’s Office on Monday (July 21), four potential challengers emerged for the Board of Selectmen and two likely candidates made their intentions known for the School Committee. Those six candidates have already begun the process of going out into the neighborhoods to secure the 50 certified signatures of registered voters that will be required to get their name on the ballot for the Nov. 4 Town Election. The candidates have until Sept. 16 to file those nomination papers. Shortly after, the town’s registered voters will know what their choices will be on Election Day in Saugus.

A minimum of two candidates makes for a competitive and spirited election. That’s always to the town’s benefit. And if four of the five incumbent selectmen run for reelection (Selectman Corinne Riley announced earlier in the year that she wouldn’t seek a fourth two-year term), that will make for a competitive selectmen’s race. The School Committee could also become contested, based on some of the reports we are hearing.

In-depth coverage of a local election is one of the most important functions of a community newspaper. And we will strive to do the best we can to provide thorough and insightful coverage of Town Election 2025 for our readers by explaining who the candidates are while illuminating the important issues of the campaign in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned.

 

Making the rail trail better

I got to spend several hours last week hanging out on the rail trail, talking to walkers, kids and grownups on bikes and anyone on e-bikes who paused to talk to me. A few things are obvious from my time reporting. The 2.5-mile segment of the Northern Strand Community Trail that runs through Saugus is a recreational asset to the town, and the people who use it love it.

There are also a few things the town could do to make it better and safer. For starters, put some signs up with the 15 mph speed limit. If you can’t afford the signs, paint them on pavement. Also, it would be a good idea to assign the role of review and oversight of the rail trail to the Youth and Recreation Committee or create a new committee to focus exclusively on ways to maintain and improve this great recreational asset that Saugus residents seem to enjoy.

And local officials should also talk to Rick Fail, a town resident who enjoys riding his e-bike up and down the trail. He’s also vocal about the safety hazards related to e-bike, especially when kids are riding them. Some adults need to smarten up, too, when it comes to their unsafe and reckless operation on the rail trail.

 

A “Shout out” for Toni-ann

Amy Melton, Head of Children’s Services at the Saugus Public Library, offered the following “Shout Out” to Toni-ann Merlina, a local educator hired by the library to lead summer reading programs in grades 1 through 4: “Many thanks to Toni-ann for her dedication to students and families!”

Amy also offered a poem:

Summer Slide is not much fun,

But reading and writing get it done!

At Saugus Library, we learn and grow,

With Ms. Toni-ann, we’re on a roll!

“The Summer Slide” refers to the learning loss that grade school students can experience when out of school for the summer. Amy stressed that Toni-ann has been instrumental in helping to combat the “Summer Slide” through her work with students in the Summer Reading Program at the Library.

 

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 (mv***@*****st.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.

 

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry today

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry has returned to its normal schedule today (Friday, July 25), from 9:30-11 a.m., at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. The food pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Friday mornings. Volunteers are also welcome. Please call the Food Pantry Office (781-233-2663) or go to the website (cliftondalecc.org) for details.

 

A conversation with candidate Stacey

In our story last week on Stacey Herman-Dorant’s campaign for the Board of Selectmen, we mentioned an upcoming political time for her, mentioning the day of the week, but not the date. That apparently caused some residents to show up last Sunday (July 20) – two weeks ahead of the actual date. As a courtesy to the candidate and the voters who want to meet with Stacey, we are running the note again:

  Join Stacey for coffee and conversation at Panera Bread in the Community Room on Sunday, August 10 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Can’t make that date? Reach out to Stacey at st****************@***il.com, she would love to meet you and answer any questions.

 

Help plan the Second Annual Saugus Cultural Festival

Join the Saugus Cultural Festival Subcommittee to help organize the 2nd Annual Saugus Cultural Festival! The Saugus Cultural Council is looking for Saugus resident volunteers to serve on a Subcommittee to help plan and organize the 2026 Saugus Cultural Festival, which is happening on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Saugus Middle High School!

Help out with:

• Coordinate diverse entertainers, food vendors and miscellaneous activities
• Work with Saugus 411 Committee on community/information tables for community groups & local businesses/nonprofits
• Support in social media, print and other digital marketing
• Support in crowdsourcing for grants and festival sponsors
• And more!

Other commitments:

• Monthly evening meetings starting August 2025; Subcommittee may meet twice a month starting October 2025 until March 2026.
• Share progress at Saugus Cultural Council public meetings every first Tuesday starting September 2025 until March 2026

Interested in volunteering? Email us at sa*******************@***il.com by July 31.

 

Free Health Fair Sept. 19

The Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee and the Saugus Senior Center are teaming up once again in their 2nd Annual Health, Wellness and Resource Fair to be held on Friday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St., Saugus). There will be a variety of health organizations that will offer free health screenings, educational tables, giveaways, raffles and much more. This is a free event and open to the public for all ages.

 

KOC Flea Market Sept. 27

The Knights of Columbus Council 1829 of Saugus will be holding a Festive Indoor Flea Market and Craft Fair on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the KOC hall at 57 Appleton St. in Saugus. Vendors/dealers will be charged $30 per space; one table and chairs provided. Please submit payment as soon as possible. For details, please call KOC at 781-233-9858 or Paul Giannetta at 978-239-1392.

 

Visitor Services available at Saugus Iron Works

The Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site has begun its “visitors’ services,” marking the opening of restrooms and the museum. This is the expected schedule of tours for the summer: Wednesday–Sunday at 11 a.m., house tours, 1/2 hour; Wednesday–Sunday at 2 p.m., industrial site tours, which will include waterwheel demonstrations when staffing permits. On Fridays and Saturdays only, there will also be a 10 a.m. waterwheel demonstration. Visitors’ services will end on Oct. 31.

 

Library events

• Level Up at your library: Now through Aug. 20, submit what you read this summer and you may win an Amazon gift card. Enter to win by going to our website and filling out the book review form; grades 7-12.
• Adult Summer Reading Contest at the library: June 18-August 20; adults ages 18 and up can participate in our Adult Summer Reading Contest for the chance to win a gift card to a local restaurant! Fill out an online (www.sauguspubliclibrary.org) book review form for every book you read over the summer, and you will be entered to win! The more books you read, the greater your chances of winning! Graphic novels, manga, cookbooks, e-books and audio books count, too. Good luck!

 

Buy-A-Brick for a veteran

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 a 8″ x 8″ brick (five lines). Each line has 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 September 10 to ensure the bricks will be ready for Veterans Day. Please contact Corinne Riley at 781-231-7995 for more information and applications.

 

C.H.a.R.M. Center is open

The Town of Saugus Solid Waste/Recycling Department announced that the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (C.H.a.R.M.) is open with normal operational hours of Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The C.H.a.R.M. Center is located at 515 Main St., Saugus, behind the Saugus Department of Public Works. Residents are welcome to use the C.H.a.R.M. Center for their recycling needs. Saugus was the first municipality in Massachusetts to open a C.H.a.R.M. Center.

The C.H.a.R.M. Center accepts the following items at no cost to residents:

• Bottles and cans
• Paper and cardboard
• Scrap metal
• Shoes, clothes and other textiles
• Fluorescent light bulbs and batteries (button and rechargeable)

Residents are also permitted the free disposal of three TVs or computers/CRT monitors per household each year at the C.H.a.R.M. Center.

Residents can obtain new stickers for this year free of charge when visiting the C.H.a.R.M. Center. By purchasing a $25 sticker that is valid for the entirety of the season, residents will be permitted to dispose of yard waste and brush at the C.H.a.R.M. Center. The $25 sticker also covers the cost to dispose of hard/rigid plastics at the facility. The C.H.a.R.M. Center accepts CHECKS ONLY, no cash or cards.

Please note that the C.H.a.R.M. Center does not accept any household trash or construction materials and debris. The Town of Saugus reserves the right to refuse any material if quantity or quality is questionable. Go to https://www.saugus-ma.gov/solid-waste-recycling-department and click on “Recycling Guide” for a comprehensive list of items that are accepted or not accepted at the C.H.a.R.M. Center, in addition to guidelines for how to prepare different items for disposal at the facility.

The C.H.a.R.M. Center will remain open on Wednesdays and Saturdays through the season until the winter. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Scott A. Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions.

 

Saugus High Class of 1980

Attention, Saugus High Class of 1980. Mark your calendars for Nov. 29 (Saturday after Thanksgiving) and reach out to your friends that you’d like to see at the 45th Class Reunion for 1980 graduates and friends. The reunion will be held that day from 1 to 6 p.m. inside the Saugus Elks.

Invite Saugus High friends from other classes that you may want to be at our 1980 Class Reunion. Our last Saugus Class BBQ event a couple of years ago had three sisters from three different classes attend and they had a blast – so many loved seeing them and appreciated them being there. So many old friends reconnecting after decades; friends from overseas and across the country came; Saugus Classmates that left in Jr. High and that went to other High Schools came. How special it was for so many people to see each other after over 40 years.

Reach out to your friends who are not on Facebook to give them some early notice in case they may want to attend and need to make travel plans. Some of our Classmates have kept in touch with some of our High School teachers, and they attended our last two Saugus High Reunion events – we hope they’ll join us again. Feel free to reach out to any of your favorite teachers that you may want there – I’m sure they would love to hear from you.

More information is forthcoming. Any questions, please feel free to reach out to Andrea or Pete:

Andrea Saunders (1980 Class President) can be reached at pa********@*ol.com or 978-482-5787.

Pete Nicolo can be reached PS**********@*****st.net or 978-815-8234.

 

About The Saugus Advocate

We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is 6 p.m. on Tuesday. If you have a story idea, an article or a photo to submit, please email me at mv***@*****st.net or leave a message at 978-683-7773. Or send your press release to me in the mail at PO Box 485, North Andover, MA 01845. 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.