The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

Good morning, Saugus

If you are a Boston sports fan or just love watching pro football, Sunday will probably be a big day to be with family and friends as you host or attend a Super Bowl party. Some folks like to tune in just for the commercials.

Most of the Saugonians who will be watching are New England Patriots fans who will be rooting their hearts out Sunday night as they watch their favorite team play the Seattle Seahawks for the NFL title.

Weather permitting, I will watch the game at home with my brother Wayne and a few friends. We are longtime Pats season ticket holders who have been to close to 300 games together since the early 1990s. We have never been to a Super Bowl and would rather watch it at home and invest the money we would have spent on the game on next year’s tickets.

For what it’s worth, I’m picking the underdog Pats to win by a field goal or touchdown. I picked them to win about nine games this year and possibly make the playoffs. But once they made the playoffs, I picked them to win all three games. What a remarkable season that was unexpected and has brought great joy to thousands of fans across New England. Go Patriots!

It looks like School Committee Member Joseph “Dennis” Gould may be one of the most passionate Patriots fans in town when it comes to rooting for his team in person. He’s been to 10 consecutive Super Bowls that Patriots have played in. Dennis will be watching it from home this year.

Please check out the excellent feature story written by BU student journalist Gabriella Galbadis on this Saugus Super Patriots fan in this week’s paper. Gabriella got in the Super Bowl mood this week by visiting both Kane’s Donuts shops in Saugus to check out those Super Bowl-themed donuts that Kane’s are famous for and to sample the mood of local Pats fans.

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, Feb. 6) 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 at 781-233-2663 or go to the website (cliftondalecc.org) for details.

Legion Breakfast on Fridays

There’s a good breakfast deal for Saugus veterans and other folks who enjoy a hearty breakfast on Friday mornings. The American Legion Post 210 at 44 Taylor St. in Saugus offers Friday morning breakfasts for the 2026 season. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with breakfast served from 8-9:00 a.m. for an $8 donation. Veterans who cannot afford the donation may be served free.

This week’s “Shout Outs”

Saugus Senior Center Director Laurie Davis offered these words of praise for all involved in the cleanup of the recent snowstorm: “A ‘shout out’ to Town Manager Scott Crabtree, Jeannie Meredith, Brendan O’Regan, The DPW, Dana Marshall and the entire team who worked tirelessly to clear the Saugus Senior Center! Dealing with that much snow was no small feat. Thanks to all their hard work the seniors can move, walk, and park around the center safely and easily. We truly appreciate them looking out for our community.”

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.

SRWC Annual Meeting on Feb. 23

The Saugus River Watershed Council has rescheduled its Annual Dinner Meeting to Monday, Feb. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Marina at The Wharf (543 North Shore Rd. in Revere). The Sunday/Monday snowstorm led to the cancellation of the original dinner meeting. This is being billed as a fun night with stewardship awards, silent auctions and raffles. Steve Fantone will present the keynote presentation and wildlife slide show. Those who attend the annual meeting can also learn about the new Rumney Marsh Conservancy. Tickets cost $35. For details, go to www.saugusriver.org.

Sideshow Tony at library tomorrow

At 11 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 7), the Saugus Public Library welcomes back magician and music man Tony Gangi. Step back in time for a one-of-a-kind performance that blends music, history and magic. Tony Gangi of Great American Street Organ brings a beautifully restored, hand-cranked organ to life, filling the air with lively melodies while sharing fascinating stories about the history of these remarkable instruments. As the tunes play, Tony weaves in moments of wonder with clever feats of magic, surprising audiences of all ages. Part concert, part storytelling and part magical spectacle, this immersive experience celebrates the charm of old-world music and the joy of live performance in a truly unforgettable way.

The fashions of Downton Abbey tomorrow

Saugus residents who love “Downton Abbey” will have a special treat at the Saugus Public Library on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 1:30-3 p.m. in the Community Room. Join us for an informative presentation about the lives and fashions of the residents of Downton Abbey. Travel with us through time while we explore the styles of 1912 through the 1920s.

Presenting the program will be Karen Antonowicz of Spirits of Fashion. Register online at sauguspubliclibrary.org.

Teen Creative Writing Group meets Feb. 9

Teenagers who want to get creative are welcome to join the Teen Creative Writing Program being offered at the Saugus Public Library at 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, in the Brooks Room on the second floor. You can work on any creative writing project, such as a story, novel or poem. No registration required. This program is suitable for fifth graders and up. For details, please contact Rachel Huntington, the Reference and Young Adult Librarian, at 781-231-4168 or rh*********@******et.org

Pre-K Parent Information Night – Feb. 12

Here’s a chance for new parents to learn about the School Department’s preschool programming. Saugus Public Schools will host a Pre-K Parent Information Night on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. at the Veterans Early Learning Center (39 Hurd Ave.). These issues will be addressed: the Preschool Vision, Entering the Lottery, the Registration Process, Financial Obligations, Daily Operations, Parent Questions and Registration Documents.

Based on your child’s birth date, they will be placed in one of the following programs:

• three-year-old AM (8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.) or three-year-old PM (12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.) – DOB between 9/1/2022 and 8/31/2023
• four-year-old (8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) – DOB between: 9/1/2021 and 8/31/2022

All pre-k programs run Monday through Friday. (Please note: Wednesdays are early release days.)

For more information, please call Christine Moreschi at 781-231-8166.

This month’s Fireside Chats at Breakheart

Speakers for the Fireside Chats held on Saturdays at 10 a.m. at Breakheart Reservation in the Visitors’ Center (177 Forest St., Saugus) are as follows:

Feb.7: Julie Martin, director of visitor engagement and programs, and Ryan Hutton, digital strategist.

Feb. 14: Amelia Zani, State Lands Management forestry assistant.

Feb. 21: Sean Riley, stewardship research biologist, and Lis Kernana, shorebird protection coordinator.

Feb. 28: JP Patton, staff archeologist, and Leah Hopkins, indigenous peoples partnership coordinator.

Fireside Chats require no walking, just sitting inside with a cozy fire!

Pen to Paper writing workshop

The library’s monthly “Pen to Paper” writing workshop – led by Laura Eisener – which usually takes place on the third Tuesday of each month, will be held on the fourth Tuesday, February 24, for this month only so as not to conflict with Mardi Gras and Chinese New Year events. The writing workshop is held in the Brooks Room at 6:30-7:30 p.m. and is free and open to any writers who would like to participate, no preregistration required. This and other events are listed on the library’s website Events calendar: https://www.sauguspubliclibrary.org/events/