The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

Looking back over the years in communities where I covered local elections, the prevailing attitude of civic-minded citizens was always that it is important to field at least two candidates for every office that was up for election. Many of those candidates who ran knew that they would get trounced at the polls. They also knew that they were running for the public good – to make sure that the heavily favored incumbent candidate didn’t get a “free ride” in his or her reelection bid. The motive was to make sure there was some spirited debate about important issues that were at the heart of a particular election.

A competitive election at every level fosters good government. A newspaper that is determined to be a force of good in the community provides the readers with thorough and in-depth coverage of the candidates and the issues.

And quite often, there are candidates out there who run to make the election meaningful. And if you are a civic-minded person who cares deeply about the integrity of your local government, that’s a noble reason to run. And if you keep running, voters are going to take you seriously one day and elect you.

I once covered the persistent efforts of a Lawrence politician who ran numerous times before he finally got elected to the City Council. He later ran for mayor and eventually the state Legislature. Marcos Devers became an acting mayor and was later elected to the State House.

There’s no reason why Saugus can’t field 10 candidates to run for the Board of Selectmen and another 10 to run for the School Committee. And the same should apply to the 10 precincts who each elect five Town Meeting members every two years to sit on the 50-member local legislative body. All a Town Meeting candidate has to do is obtain the signatures of 10 registered Saugus voters whose signatures are certified.

The deadline for pulling nomination papers to run for one of the Town Meeting seats is Sept. 12 – just a week from today (Friday, Sept. 5). Then you have until Tuesday, Sept. 16, to file the signed nomination papers with the Town Clerk.

Are you up for the challenge, citizens of Saugus?

Stay tuned.

 

Running a robust campaign

A Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member has stepped up her campaign for a selectmen’s seat. Here’s her latest invitation: “The Committee to Elect Stacey Herman-Dorant for Selectman invites all members of the Saugus Community to attend her meet and greet event on Sunday, September 14th at the Saugus Italian American Club, 1 Beachview Drive, from 4:00-6:00pm. Stacey is energized to kick-off the campaign season and wants to hear from you! RSVP is appreciated to: st****************@***il.com. We hope you will join us.”

 

Signature events for September

There are a couple of Saugus events worth noting that will be coming up this month.

Joyce Rodenhiser asked me to put the word out in this column to let our readers know that they should “Save the date – Sept. 13” on their calendar. Joyce passed on this important information: “At noon time, in front of our Town Hall, on Founders Day, the Persons of the Year will be announced! Come, see who has been helping Saugus be a better place because of what they have done voluntarily for Saugonians and organizations.

“Founders Day is a great time to see old friends and classmates! It’s a big block party with lots of food, fun, civic organizations and shopping. Join us downtown to see what’s happening!”

There’s another signature Saugus event happening in September. Karen Spencer reminded me this week that “The Pumpkin Patch” will reappear at First Congregational Church on the side lawn along Hamilton Street, facing Saugus Town Hall. “Our first delivery of pumpkins will be on Saturday, September 27th at 9 am,” Karen wrote in her email. “We need help to un-load the huge truck that will be parked on Hamilton Street. Please come down to the church and help. High school students will receive community service hours for helping. The second delivery is expected on October 11th where we also need help.”

Two great community events that are coming up soon!

 

This week’s “Shout outs”

We received several nominations from loyal Advocate readers:

• From frequent contributor Janice Jarosz:

“A Shout out to two very special employees of the Town of Saugus who retired on August 22.

“From the Retirement Board, Ms. Ann Quinlan, who served for over twenty-six years as its Administrator. Ann was always very helpful and dedicated to her position and spent much of her time explaining the ins and outs of the retirement process.

“Also Ms. Stephanie Puracchio, who served as both the clerk of the Conservation Commission and the Board of Appeals. Stephanie wore those two hats for most of the 15 years she served. Always helpful to the petitioners in the filing of requests and dealt with the demands of deadlines with ease and a smile.

“A special thank you to Ann and Stephanie for their professionalism, expertise, and dedication to the citizens of Saugus. Both will be missed.”

• From Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member Mark Bell:

“I wanted to give a shout out to all the volunteers who are going to be coaching all of our youth sports and activities for the upcoming school year! These programs don’t run without them and Saugus has a great group of parents and volunteers who do a great job!”

• Board of Appeals Member Chris Riley:

“I’d like to submit a shout out for next week’s paper. The shout out is for Stephanie Puracchio. Stephanie has been the clerk for the board of appeals and the conservation commission for many years and she’s done a great job. Virtually every applicant that comes to the board of appeals mentions how helpful Stephanie has been for them, and she is already missed by the board. Congratulations to Stephanie on her retirement.”

• Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Peter Rossetti:

“I offer Marilyn Carlson a shout-out. I think she deserves it for her efforts to get the clock in the conference [room] taken care of. God knows how many hours people have spent in that room with no clock telling the right time.

“She was a school teacher in Saugus for many years. Not sure what grades or which school. She was also a member of the Town Historic Commissions and Friends of the Town Hall. She was also Woman of the Year in 2007 with Dick Barry.”

Marilyn, a former Saugus resident, learned last month that a balance of $130 remained in the old Friends of Town Hall account. She recommended using that money – along with Rossetti and her chipping in $13.75 apiece to pay Chelsea Clock for repairs to get the conference room clock working again.

 

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.

 

School Band and Chorus notes

Mike Sullivan, a Board Member of the Saugus Band & Chorus Parents Association, wanted to share some recent association-related news:

“We have a few updates on the Saugus High & Middle School Band and Chorus for you to share in the weekly Sounds of Saugus column.

“1. Founder’s Day Jail Fundraiser Saturday September 13. Members of the public can bail local school administrators, office holders, and office candidates out of jail, with a good sense of fun.

“2. New Band Director Chance Krause! SMU graduate Chance joined the Saugus schools last month.”

 

What’s going on at the library

Watercolor hibiscus flowers painting class: Thursday, September 18, 6-7:30 p.m. in the Brooks Room. Sign up began Thursday, September 4, on our online Events Calendar (https://www.sauguspubliclibrary.org/events/). Presented by Pop Up Art School.

 

Rossetti Insurance Agency leaving town

Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Peter A. Rossetti wanted to share this news with our readers, explaining the departure of Rossetti Insurance Agency from Cliftondale:

“We are expecting the staff to move to the new location at the end of September. The new location will be on Rt. 129 in Lynnfield at Goodwins Circle. A letter was sent to the clients, letting them know about the merger. I decided to merge so that we could offer our clients a better choice of insurance companies to deal with. The insurance market is very competitive these days. We are merging with DiVirgilio Insurance. My father and Al DiVirgilio, the former Mayor of Lynn, had been friends for many years. I am friendly with his son, Matt, who is the owner of the DiVirgilio agency.

“I am staying in Cliftondale with the tax and Law Office, and plan to be here to serve clients. Rossetti Ins has been in Cliftondale since about 1970. I used to work in the front window at 473 Lincoln until we moved across the street to 442 Lincoln. My father built that building in the 80’s. He purchased the land and sold part of it to the Credit Union for their building. We finally built the office we are presently in after that, and have been a Cliftondale landmark ever since.

“I also ran for Town meeting in the early 70’s and got elected. I thought it was so that I could represent both where I worked and lived. We, the other businesses in the area, started the Cliftondale Merchants Association and gave the local merchants a voice in Town Government. We even had something called Appreciation Day. The merchants got together and had a street fair. We closed Lincoln Avenue on a Friday afternoon and had activities, including an elephant for rides, a camel, various bands, and all the dance and karate studios we could find. They were great events, but after a few years, it got to be too complicated, so we gave it up and allowed it to move to Saugus Center, where it became Founders Day.

“Over the years, I have tried to promote Cliftondale and make sure that we have our share of police protection and traffic control, and I plan to keep doing it. I was born and raised in Cliftondale. I attended Sunday School and was an altar boy at St Margaret’s. Hopefully, we will see a full-time restaurant with a full liquor license in Cliftondale in the near future. Things have changed over the years, but hopefully things will improve for Cliftondale.”

 

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Sept. 5) 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.

 

Town Democrats meet Sept. 10

The Saugus Democratic Town Committee will meet on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. in the second floor conference room of the Saugus Public Safety Building (27 Hamilton St., Saugus).

 

Alcohol/Drug Recovery program Oct. 20

The Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee is sponsoring an Alcohol and Drug Recovery presentation from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Monday, October 20, at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St. in Saugus). This will be an hour-long presentation conducted by Sober Shuttle, Inc. explaining the benefits offered to recovering individuals. This is a free event, and people who are interested are welcome to attend. If you or someone you know would like to know more about these services, you should not miss this informative event. Services provided are cost-free transportation into treatment, recovery coach services, placement assistance, food assistance, clothing assistance, community engagement and much more. Light refreshments will be served.

Call the Saugus Senior Center at 781-231-3178 to attend. Walk-ins are also welcome.

 

Cultural Council seeks grant applicants

Tori Darnell, co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council, submitted this announcement to alert town residents and local organizations about local grant opportunities:

Did you know that the Saugus Cultural Council has awarded grants to people and organizations for artistic, educational, and cultural projects and programs since 1998? We are committed to supporting cultural programs and events that showcase diversity and add vibrancy in the Town of Saugus. This includes the visual arts, education, dance, drama, interpretive science, the environment, literature, music, public art, and wellness.

If you have an idea for a project and/or program that brings public benefit to the Saugus community, then consider applying for a Local Cultural Council Grant! Our 2026 grant application period runs from September 2 through October 16, 2025. We prioritize applications from Saugus organizations, individuals, and organizers, and to projects that take place in the Town of Saugus. More information about grant guidelines and priorities can be seen at https://massculturalcouncil.org/local-council/saugus/.

On Tuesday, September 9, the Mass Cultural Council will host an online information session on how these grants work and how to apply. The session is free and can be accessed at https://massculturalcouncil.org.

The Saugus Cultural Council will be available at Founder’s Day, Saturday, September 13, to provide live support in submitting an application or provide project feedback. Come with a description of your project and any questions about the grant application process. The Saugus Cultural Council will also be available at the Saugus Public Library on Tuesday, September 23, to provide additional live support.

 

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 not running for a school team can run on 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 Championship 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– 9:30 a.m. start; Lynn Gannon Golf Course, 60 Great Woods Rd.; lunch at Prince Pizzeria 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.

 

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 hardcover and paperback, as well as children’s books. Sorry, but they are not accepting donations of nonfiction books, textbooks 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!

 

Document Shred-It Sept. 13

Town Manager Scott Crabtree and the Department of Solid Waste/Recycling invite residents to participate in a document shredding event on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon behind the Saugus Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. Shredding unwanted sensitive and confidential documents can help to protect your personal information and to limit the chances of falling victim to identity theft.

This free event is for Saugus residents only. Saugus residents will be able to properly dispose of sensitive and confidential documents in an eco-friendly manner. Documents will be shredded on-site and then recycled. As a reminder, most nonsensitive and confidential paper documents can be recycled curbside weekly on your pickup day.

Acceptable items for the Saugus Shred-It event include: paper folders with brads, manila folders, paper clips and binder clips, notebooks, checkbooks. The following items will not be accepted at the shredding event: food waste, three-ring binders, cardboard boxes, electronics, metal, plastic, trash, compact discs, magazines, newspapers, hanging file folders.

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

 

Free Health Fair Sept. 19

The Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee and the Saugus Senior Center are teaming up once again for 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.). 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 at Saugus Iron Works

The park grounds at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site are open now through Oct. 31, 24 hours a day/seven days a week. Restrooms are open Wednesday through Sunday; 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Monday through Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum and industrial site buildings are open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

A return of the Halloween Pet Parade on Oct. 19

The Friends of Breakheart are gearing up for their Third Annual Halloween Pet Parade, which is set for Sunday, Oct. 19. Registration begins at 11 a.m. at the Christopher P. Dunne Memorial Visitor Center (177 Forest St. in Saugus). A $10 donation is required to enter your pet. The Friends will use the proceeds for park activities and future events. Cash or check. No Venmo. Prizes will be awarded for Best Costume, Best Silly Pet Trick and Best Personality. Raffle prizes are open to all who donate. For more information, please call Joyce at 781-233-1855, extension 1019, or Lisa Mirasola at 781-808-7817.

 

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.

 

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.