The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

And Happy Home Coming to Saugus Middle-High School!

It’s been a big week for the school’s faculty, staff, students and their families, with daily events that began Monday to observe “A Celebration of Our First Five” – that’s half a decade in the new school building. Grades 6 and 7 have each had their own Ice Cream Social. Eighth graders will have their Ice Cream Social today at 1:30 p.m., in the Cafe. There will be a Home Coming Dance for students in grades 9 through 12 in the Cafe at 6 p.m. today.

The grand finale to this week’s activities is set for tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 4), beginning with SMHS Band and Chorus Performances at 9:30 a.m. The Field Hockey team will host Swampscott in Serino Stadium at 10 a.m. At 10 a.m., there will be a brief ceremony to mark “Celebration of Our First Five” at the front of the school. There will be tours of the building beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Gym will be decked out with new banners to celebrate Saugus High’s athletic successes. Then at Noon the Girls Soccer team will host North Andover in Serino Stadium. This will definitely be a special day for the Saugus Middle-High School community, and certainly for the Sachem alumni from all graduating classes from the school’s past.

 

A Pumpkin Patch “Shout Out”

We received only one nomination from our readers for a “Shout Out” this week. But it was a big one, offered by Karen Spencer of the First Congregational Pumpkin Patch:

“The First Congregational Pumpkin Patch would like to shout out Matt Serino, Saugus High School Athletic Director, and Greg Bluestein, Saugus Pop Warner President for their help unloading our 3,000 + pumpkins last Saturday. Matt showed up with the high school sports teams (football, soccer, track, cheerleaders etc.). There were 70 high school students. Greg came with Pop Warner football players, cheerleaders and parents. We had over 100 young people on our lawn taking pumpkins from the truck to the lawn working side by side with each other. A very large task was made small because of their efforts. This was a true community event and we are proud of the young people who came to help. If you would like to help, we have another delivery on Saturday, Oct. 11 @ 9:00 am.”

 

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

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Oct. 3) 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.

 

SAVE Candidates’ Night next Wednesday

Here’s a message from SAVE about its environmental forum scheduled for next week, featuring the candidates for Board of Selectmen in the Nov. 4 Town Election:

For more than ten years, Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) has held a Candidates Night event featuring environmental questions to those running for the Saugus Board of Selectmen.

This year’s forum will take place on Wednesday evening, October 8th at 6:30 p.m., in the Saugus Town Hall Auditorium, 298 Central Street. Doors will open to the public at 5:45 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided by The Saugus Garden Club.

We are fortunate to have Joyce and Al Rodenhiser, who have agreed to act as Moderator and Time Keeper at our Candidates Night event again this year. They have a long history with us, being part of the original founding group. We appreciate their contributions over the past 50+ years, as well as their continued involvement with our organization.

The format will include an Opening Statement by each of the candidates, then a series of questions drawn randomly from our fishbowl by the Moderator. All questions are related to environmental issues having direct impacts on our town. Each candidate will then have the opportunity to present their Closing Statement.

SCTV will be present to televise the forum live on Comcast Channel 8, and it will also be available online.

We hope you join us for a valuable opportunity to see and hear the Selectmen Candidates’ views on important environmental issues in order to make an informative decision this upcoming Election Day.

ABOUT SAVE: Founded and incorporated in 1973, Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting a better quality of life in Saugus through environmental concern and action. SAVE has a long history of advocating for increased recycling and composting, preserving and protecting open space, and raising awareness through educational programs. Our mission is to safeguard the town’s natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations. For more information, visit https://saugussave.wordpress.com

 

Hear the Louise Hawkes story Wednesday night

Here’s a special notice from Laura Eisener, president of the Saugus Historical Society, about an interesting program scheduled for Wednesday (Oct. 8) at 7 p.m. at the society’s offices at 30 Main St.:

“Louise Hawkes changed the history of Saugus in ways that impact everyone in town, although many residents don’t know her name. For 35 years she worked as a clerk in the office of the Saugus Board of Assessors, but it may be her extracurricular activities as president of the Saugus Historical Society and treasurer of the Parson Roby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution that had the most influence on the average Saugonian. Longtime residents may remember how she started a penny drive among the schoolchildren to buy the Appleton Taylor Mansfield House (then known as the “Ironmaster’s House”) to keep it in Saugus and prevent it from being taken apart and shipped to Dearborn Michigan! Hear more about this 20th century woman who helped this town become renowned worldwide for its contributions to industry. Janice Jarosz, Samantha Hawkes Clark, Kathy Blasingame and other direct descendants will share many of the efforts of Louise Hawkes that saved the Saugus Iron Works for generations to come at 7 PM on October 8 at 30 Main Street. The program is free to the public and light refreshments will be served.”

 

Library hosts history of Boston comedy tomorrow

Check out 100 Years of Boston Comedy with Nick Zaino at the Saugus Public Library at 295 Central St., Saugus, Mass., tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 4) from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Community Room. The event is free, but registration is required at https://sauguspubliclibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/100-years-of-boston-comedy-with-nick-zaino/

Join veteran arts journalist Nick Zaino at the Saugus Public Library and explore Boston’s long history of comedy, from vaudeville to YouTube, highlighting some of the personalities that have defined laughter in America using audio and video clips.

Bob and Ray started their radio run in Gloucester at WHDH. Tom Lehrer shocked crowds in song. Jay Leno, Denis Leary, Paula Poundstone, Steven Wright, Janeane Garofalo, Conan O’Brien, Eugene Mirman, Mike Birbiglia, Bo Burnham, Chris Fleming, Sam Jay, Ziwe – all began their comedy careers in the greater Boston area.

Bio: Nick A. Zaino III is an arts freelancer, creator of Boston Comedy Radio, podcaster and musician, and writes features and previews for the Globe on a weekly basis. The 100 Years of Boston Comedy lecture series is the basis for the book he is writing.

 

Scout Troop 62 seeks new members

Boy Scout Troop 62 is seeking new members to join the troop. Girls as well as boys will be welcome.

“We are also starting a girl unit,” Troop 62 Scoutmaster John Kane said this week. “Scouting for the troop is now open to both Girls and Boys, ages 10 to 18 years old.”

“These will be separate units meeting at the same time and location. They will also be working together on some activities,” he said.

Both units meet in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church at 50 Essex St. in Saugus. Meeting time will be 6:45 until 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Come check out the fun.

If you have questions, please call Scoutmaster John Kane at 781-389-2708 or come down to Cliftondale Congregational Church and say “Hi!”

 

Attention political candidates!

As the most widely read newspaper that covers Saugus exclusively, we consider it an important public service to our readers to cover local election campaigns comprehensively. Two weeks ago, The Saugus Advocate published the list of candidates who are expected to appear on the Nov. 4 Town Election Ballot. We invited the candidates in each of the contested townwide races to introduce themselves to our readers with political announcements. At this time, we’re also trying to set up candidate forums for some of the election races.

As a courtesy to our readers, we are publishing information that will enable the candidates to make themselves known to the public on SaugusTV. Michelle Fox, the Executive Director of Saugus TV (Saugus Community Television, Inc.) submitted this information to us and we are sharing it with the candidates:

TO ALL CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THE 2025 SAUGUS LOCAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 4, 2025

“It is election time once again in the Town of Saugus, and Saugus TV offers a number of different ways for candidates to get information out to Saugus residents.

• Campaign Slides: Any candidate, for any Board or Seat, can place a campaign slide on Saugus TV, that can be seen on Comcast Channel 8, during scheduled and non-scheduled Community Bulletin Board times. Please email all slides to m.*****@******tv.org

“There is NO COST to place a Campaign Slide. Campaign Slides will air in alphabetical order. Campaign Slides will run from October 6th until November 4th at 8PM.

• Candidate Statement Video: Saugus TV invites candidates for the Saugus Board of Selectmen and the Saugus School Committee to schedule a time to come to the studio, located at 30 Main Street, to record their candidate statements. Each candidate is allowed three minutes of air time to let viewers know who they are and why they are running for office. This statement is intended to be shot in one take. We allow for on-site review of your take and will reshoot if necessary. This time-slot is for one hour, all takes will be completed during that hour slot.

“There is no cost to the candidate for participating in this taping.

“Candidates running for Saugus Board of Selectmen or Saugus School Committee who are interested in recording a candidate statement are invited to contact Saugus TV to schedule a filming session.

“Filming will take place between September 15th and October 10th. To book a time slot, please contact Michelle by email at m.*****@******tv.org or call the studio at 781-231-2883 to coordinate with our staff.

“Deadline to record your video statement is October 10th at 5PM so we can air the program for a full two weeks.

“All candidate statements recorded will then be compiled into a single program that will air on Comcast Channel 8 starting October 13th. This program will air three times a day, at random times in the morning, afternoon, and evening until the election is over on November 4th. Air date and times TBD. Saugus TV program schedules are available at www.saugustv.org . The program will also be available to view on our Vimeo page at www.vimeo.com/saugustelevision.

• Candidate Forums: Saugus TV may tape and cablecast other organization’s forums and/or debates, with notice at least 5 days prior to the event, subject to crew availability.
• Additional Political Programming: Saugus TV encourages all Saugus residents, persons associated with a business or organization (whether for profit or non-profit), including candidates for any political office, to use the public access channel to communicate their political views. Candidates and other providers of political programs, as well as the programs themselves, are subject to the same policies and procedures as any other user of Saugus TV, including with respect to the use of a bulletin board.

“Saugus TV is non-partisan; therefore, we do not produce programs/spot(s) endorsing specific candidates or ballot questions. We encourage residents, organizations, and businesses to become members of Saugus TV. If a candidate is a member, or becomes a member of Saugus TV, they may produce, create and submit a program/spot(s) that will air on Saugus TV.

“These programs/spots will be shown on Comcast Channel 8 and will air 4 times a week (like any other member production), at random times, and will run until election day.

“Viewers will be able to find these airings on the Saugus TV Program Schedule.

“We look forward to working with all of the candidates, and hope that you take advantage of everything Saugus TV has to offer.”

 

Trivia Night is Oct. 16!

This came in from Selectman Corinne Riley:

Members of the Saugus Business Education Collaborative have scheduled their popular fundraising event: “Trivia Night”! If you are interested in securing a table for your team, it will be at Kowloon, October 16 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Register your team from businesses, organizations, teachers, PTOs, friends…all are welcome! You will be competing for a trophy, as well as bragging rights!

Teams are at least five members, cost is $275.00 per team or $55.00 per participant. Do you want to come and join in the fun as a spectator? The cost is $25.00 each. Cost includes a buffet dinner.

A fun-filled night that benefits the students of our town! If you are interested please email cc*****@*****st.net or pe*************@*ol.com to register your team no later than October 14.

 

Breakheart Happenings

Breakheart Reservation will be hosting several family-oriented, fun events this month:

Beginning tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 4) and lasting through the following three Saturdays, Yoga will be offered from 8 to 9 a.m. Come for this four-week experience – a dynamic class that beautifully intertwines movement with breath, guiding you through a seamless flow from one asana to the next in Vinyasa yoga. Each transition is fluid and intentional, creating a harmonious connection between body and spirit as you explore the depths of your practice. Embrace the rhythm of your breath while discovering the grace of each posture, allowing the essence of yoga to unfold with every flowing movement. This class is led by Nicole Salvati. There is a $10 suggested donation for each class. Please scan or follow the link to register! https://tinyurl.com/breakheartyoga

In case of rain, class will move into the Visitor Center.

On Saturday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m., state Rep. Donald Wong will offer a class in Tai Chi and Qigong. Spend some time in nature connecting with your body and movements. This program will be offered at the Visitor Center at 177 Forest St. in Saugus. All abilities are welcome! In case of rain, this event will be canceled. Dress comfortably. Email Je******************@**ss.gov with any questions.

There will be an Early Fall Guided Nature Walk on Oct. 23 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Please join Jeff Adams for a guided nature walk at Breakheart Reservation. The focus will be on plant ID with select natural history and lore mixed in, too. And we’ll use helpful identifiers, such as galls, leaf shapes, flowers, fruits and diagnostic characteristics that enable us to immediately identify the plant. Registration is required. Follow the link or scan the code to register: https://tinyurl.com/EarlyFallHike

Meet outside the visitor center, heavy rain cancels. Email Je******************@**ss.gov with questions.

 

The Library is looking for volunteers

If you love being around books, try hanging out at the Saugus Public Library. If you already hang out there, here’s a message from Lisa, the Head Reference Librarian: “We are looking for teens that need community service hours, and adults to volunteer at the library. We currently have openings on Tuesdays and Saturdays. If you are interested, please email Lisa, Head Reference Librarian at le*****@******et.org, call 781-231-4168, or stop by to fill out a Volunteer Application.”

 

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.

 

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.

 

2026 Local Cultural Council grant cycle now open

The Saugus Cultural Council has received an allocation of $15,500 from the state to fund enriching and diverse cultural activities, events and school field trips for Saugus and neighboring communities, according to Tori Darnell, co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council. Grant applications are welcomed between September 2 and October 16. For more information, please email sa*******************@***il.com.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Saugus High Class of 1980 Reunion is Nov. 29

The 1980 Saugus High School Class will observe its 45th Reunion on Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Saugus Elks Hall. Hello everyone.

Although our 1980 SHS Class is not merging with any other classes, we wanted to extend the invitation to our friends and family members that would like to join us. I (Pete Nicolo) have several friends that did not graduate in our year (1980) that will be attending.

Most of us have kept in touch with some of our classmates / friends throughout the years. But what about the classmates / friends that you would love to see and have not seen in decades? I’ve recently reconnected with a couple of Classmates that I really hung out with and had a lot of laughs with in High School – hadn’t seen them in over 40 years. It has been quite a wonderful experience for me to reconnect with them.

This is an opportunity to reconnect or simply have some laughs with old friends. Come see your SHS friends and be a part of making this a memorable event. We expect a good turnout – you’ll have a Blast!

Some of the people we have sent / extended the invitation to are:

• Invites were extended to our entire 1980 Saugus High Class (over 90% of 1980 Classmates contacted – including Classmates living overseas)
• Saugus Jr. High Classmates that left and graduated from other High Schools
• Saugus High family members (1 Classmate has 2 sisters that graduated a couple of yrs. earlier and later)
• Saugus High School teachers and coaches attending (Babcock, Volpe, Melvin, Ward and others) – please feel free to reach out / invite your favorite teachers that you may keep in touch with and want to see there
• People move, addresses change, friends from other classes may want to attend – please help us extend our invitation to them.
• If you are one of our classmates that hasn’t attended in a long while, you are the people we look forward to seeing. Long Lost Friends!

There already appears to be much interest in this event, so if you plan on going, please RSVP by November 8 or earlier. This will help us plan better for this gathering.

Make checks ($45 per person) payable to: Pete Nicolo, 15 Tilden Lane, York, Maine 03909 or Venmo: Pete Nicolo@Pete-Nicolo

Any questions, please feel free to reach out to: Andrea Saunders (1980 Class President) or Pete Nicolo (Class of 1980) at:

Andrea Saunders: Pa********@*ol.com or 978-482-5787.

Peter Nicolo: Pe************@*TX.com or 978-815-8234 (new email address).

 

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.