The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

Hope you are having a fun, safe and productive summer.

Tuesday, Aug. 26, is the first day of the new school year. That’s three weeks from this coming Tuesday (Aug. 5). Not long from now, we’ll be admiring the fall colors and the start of the football season. Founders Day is little more than a month away. That’s always a big deal for Saugonians. And the campaigns for the various town political candidates should be in full swing by then.

Stay tuned.

 

A trash update

Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree’s office issued a statement this week reminding residents that with the successful transition to Capitol Waste Services, Inc. for the Town’s new trash and recycling hauler comes positive improvement with more on-time pickups and consistent scheduled service to the residents of Saugus.

“In order to achieve the most efficient trash/recycling pickup system possible, the Solid Waste/Recycling Department is reminding residents to place their trash and recycling curbside by 7 a.m. on their designated collection days,” the town manager said in the recent press release.

“There has been no schedule change regarding trash and recycling collection days since Capitol Waste Services, Inc. assumed the responsibility for solid waste/recycling pickup effective July 1, 2025. Capitol Waste is consistently picking up as scheduled and completing the routes daily,” Crabtree said.

“To find a street-by-street listing of trash and recycling collection routes, please visit the Town of Saugus website under the Solid Waste and Recycling Department, where there is link titled ‘Trash and Recycling Collection Routes’ at www.saugus-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1181/f/uploads/updated-trash-route….” he said.

“Trash and recycling will be picked up weekly on your scheduled collection day, unless an announcement is posted on the town website for trash and recycling collection running on a one-day delay due to a recognized holiday.”

“Town Manager Crabtree thanks residents for their patience and support as the Town works with Capitol Waste Services to strengthen solid waste and recycling services in the community.

“In the future, additional updates will be provided to residents regarding trash and recycling services. The Town’s goal is to maintain the current manual collection services initially, and ensure that white goods collection, recycling frequency and method, leaf collection, and other related services will continue in the same manner as residents are accustomed to, while planning an educational and informational campaign over the next year that will allow more time for careful planning and a positive step forward for our community as we prepare for a future transition to automated waste collection services.”

“Residents with any questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Solid Waste and Recycling Director Scott Brazis at 781-231-4036 or sb*****@*******ma.gov”

 

Vandalism returns to World Series Park

Picnic benches housed under the pavilion at World Series Park were recently severely damaged. World Series Park Director Bob Davis discovered the damage on a recent visit to the park after an extended medical absence.

“Why would anybody do such damage? It shows a complete lack of respect for what the Park represents,” Davis said.

This is another example of other vandalism that has occurred over the past 20 years of the Park’s existence. Someone has offered to repair the damage. Davis requests that anybody who knows who is responsible for the damage to report the person to Saugus Police.

 

World Series Park will host alumni game

The Annual Saugus High Baseball Alumni Game will return to World Series Park on Saturday, August 16, at 4 p.m. After an absence of several years, the alumni game will offer the opportunity to former Saugus High School baseball players to play in a game. Anyone who would like to play should contact Saugus High coach Mike Maybee at 781-941-0775.

 

A “Shout out” for summer track camp

We didn’t receive any nominations from our readers for “Shout Outs” for this week’s paper. Using my editorial discretion, I nominate members of the Saugus Sachems Track Camp and the parents who supported their kids this summer.

 

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, August 1), 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.

 

Newspapers at the library

Thanks to a donation from a patron, The New York Times is now available at the Library, according to Saugus Public Library Director Alan Thibeault. “You can also stop by and read the Saugus Advocate, Lynn Item, Boston Herald, and the Boston Globe as well!” Thibeault said.

 

Saugus Youth Cross Country 2025

Grades 1-5 and 6-8 students not running for a school team can start Tuesday, Aug. 26. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Belmonte; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Breakheart Reservation. The training distances are 1st to 3rd, .7 miles; 4th and 5th, 1.2 miles; 6th-8th, 1.9 miles.

Practice races are Saturdays (to be determined) at Frey Park in Lynn at 285 Walnut St.

Saturday, Oct. 25: Fun Run practice at Breakheart. Athletes are encouraged to wear a costume.

Saturday, Nov. 1: 16th Annual Massachusetts State Middle School Cross Country Championships at Willard Field in Devens; more information to be announced.

Tuesday, Nov. 11: 11th Annual Massachusetts Elementary School Cross Country Championship; 8:30 a.m. arrival and 9:30 a.m. start; Lynn’s Gannon Golf Course, 60 Great Woods Rd.; lunch at Prince Pizza following the meet.

Ending Thursday, Nov. 13 – wrap up Session at Belmonte.

Cost: $150 for first year, $75 returning from Cross Country 2024.

If you have any questions, need further information or want to register, please contact Coach T at 781-854-6778 or Ch********************@***il.com.

 

A conversation with candidate Stacey

In a recent story 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 on 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 9am-11am. Can’t make that date?

  Reach out to Stacey at st****************@***il.com, she would love to meet you and answer any questions.

 

Founders Day book sale Sept. 13

The New Friends of the Saugus Public Library are gearing up for their annual Book Sale, which will take place on Saturday, September 13, during the Town’s Founders Day celebration. They are seeking donations of adult fiction, both hard cover and paperback, as well as children’s books. Sorry, but they are not accepting donations of nonfiction books, text books or any non-book items (puzzles, games, workbooks, etc.). All donations must be clean and in excellent condition; no stains, yellowing, rips, wrinkles, odors or marked up pages please!

Please check in at the desk in the main lobby when bringing in donations. If you are hoping to donate a large quantity of books or have questions, please email sa*@******et.org or call 781-231-4168 ext. 3102 before coming in. Thank you for your understanding and for supporting the New Friends!

 

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.