The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

 

What can you say about somebody who trains for months on a rigorous, physically-challenging schedule in all kinds of weather to run in a race that covers 26.2 miles through eight communities?

Simply answered, that’s one heck of an athletic accomplishment no matter what their time is when they cross the finish line – whether it takes them three, four, five or six-plus hours.

Sixteen Saugus residents were among more than 30,000 runners who completed this year’s Boston Marathon this past Monday. The group included 11 women and five men.

Christopher Chapruet, 34, was the fastest man in the group, completing the race with a time of two hours, 56 minutes and 10 seconds. Pablo Rodriguez, 45, finished second in the group with a time of 3:05:04. Casey Hyde, 31, had the best time among women runners from Saugus, finishing at 3:26:12.

There were three runners in their 20s – all women – Sadie Bossi, 28; Erin Donlan, 24; and Astrid Toro, 28. There were three runners in their 60s – woman runners Stephanie Romano, 63, and Brenda Iafrate, 61 – and a longtime male marathoner – Robert Favuzza, 61. And there were seven other runners who completed this historic race – a personal achievement they will remember for the rest of their lives – five women: Jillian Bowe, 30; Abbey Chesna, 47; Claribel Oliveras-Ortiz, 49; Gina Spaziani, 59; and Kit Vincent, 34; and two men: Manolo Morales, 36; and Daniel Nucci, 36.

It’s quite possible that there were other marathon runners in the race with Saugus connections – people who work in town but live elsewhere; former Saugus residents or Saugus residents who ran under a different town registration. Let us know, so we can salute you, too.

Any Saugus resident who trains for and successfully completes a prestigious race like the Boston Marathon has done their community proud and deserves to be honored. It would be great to see members of this group receive a citation at an upcoming Board of Selectmen’s meeting.

 

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, April 24) 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. The Friday breakfasts will last until May 29.

 

Cleaning up the town

There’s a lot of raking and sweeping going on in Saugus lately, as a number of residents, led by Town Meeting members, are initiating various cleanups in their respective neighborhoods. Here’s a rundown on what’s happening.

• Tomorrow (Saturday, April 25): Volunteers will be getting together to paint and clean up the Oaklandvale School starting at 8 a.m. Ashley Panzini reached out to the Board of Selectmen this week to spread the word to people who want to join in the cleanup.
• Sunday (April 26): Attention Precinct 1: Join your Town Meeting Members for a community cleanup from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Appleton Street, Stackpole Gate Area. Additional parking is available at the Knights of Columbus. We will clean up Prankers Pond and other areas in our precinct. All are welcome. Come for as long as you can. Hope to see you there! Can’t make it, join the Saugus Precinct 1 Facebook Page; submitted by Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member Stacey Herman-Dorant.
• Saturday, May 2: Residents of Precinct 5 are organizing a cleanup at the Lynnhurst School beginning at 8 a.m. and lasting through noon. Trash bags and water will be provided.

 

Tree Farm cleanup tomorrow

Organizers of the Tree Farm’s Annual Arbor Day Cleanup welcome your help tomorrow (Saturday, April 25). Laura Eisener reports that volunteers are invited to join the Saugus Tree Committee, SAVE and Saugus Garden Club members at the Tree Farm for the annual Arbor Day cleanup and maintenance day.

The Tree Farm exists to grow sapling trees, which have been donated or purchased, until they are a size that can be used as street trees or park trees around the town. Many trees raised at the Tree Farm in past years have taken their places on streets, grounds of former schools and other public sites.

This year, the Tree Farm maintenance and planting will take place on Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to noon. The rain date is May 2.

“We need help weeding and cleaning up along with digging holes on the right side of the farm to transplant our small saplings,” Tree Committee Chairman Nancy Prag said. “The main focus will be working on the right side of the farm.”

Volunteers need not have special skills or experience, and can come for the whole event or any portion that fits their schedule. The Tree Committee recommends that volunteers wear comfortable work clothes, bring garden/work gloves, wear sunscreen and bring their own spring water. If you have a shovel or rake, or small saw or clippers, you may want to bring those as well, but the Tree Committee will also have some extra tools and work gloves if you don’t have your own.

The Saugus Tree Farm is located adjacent to the rail trail. There is very limited parking in a dirt area next to the Tree Farm fence, but the best parking option is Central Street near the Northern Strand trail, facing toward Boston Street (near Dynasty Upholstery). Walk down the path about a quarter of a mile and take a right down the dirt road (you will see a metal gate on the opposite side). Alternatively, you could take Jasper Street (between the bike trail crossing and the rotary) from Central Street, take your second right, Cross Street (small printing on the street sign says (to Auburn Street), then bear left on Auburn Street Park along the street near the Pioneer Building, a small stone building. Walk through the driveway between 25 and 27 Auburn St. and straight across the rail trail; continue down the dirt road, which turns left to the Tree Farm. There is some very limited parking, usually used for delivering trees and supplies to the farm.

This Arbor Day activity is a great time to see the tree farm as leaves are just beginning to emerge, and to be part of the process that goes into nurturing our public trees.

 

Town’s annual spring street sweeping continues

The Town’s annual spring street sweeping program will resume next Tuesday, the day after the Patriots’ Day holiday, working across town from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Here is the remaining sweeping schedule:

• Week of April 21: Precincts 2, 6 and 8.
• Week of April 27: Precincts 1, 4 and 9.
• Week of May 4: Remaining work not accomplished in the areas listed above. Please check the Town of Saugus website for an updated listing of roadways to be swept and estimated dates this work will be performed. These precinct maps show where the street sweeping will occur by precinct.

As the sweeping efforts are based on many variables, including weather, this schedule is an estimate and is subject to change.

Residents are kindly asked to keep vehicles off the street when sweepers are in the area. Residents may assist the Department of Public Works by sweeping their driveways and sidewalks into the gutter area prior to the program’s start. Residents are asked not to sweep driveways and/or sidewalks once the sweepers have swept.

Please keep in mind that street sweepers are unable to collect stones, branches, leaves or other foreign objects. In addition, residents are asked to be mindful that sweepers cannot pick up large piles of sand.

Please contact the Department of Public Works at 781-231-4143 with any questions. Thank you for your patience and consideration.

 

This week’s “Shout Outs”

From Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta: “A ‘Shout Out’ to all of the precincts that are participating in clean-ups around town. And thank you for everyone who helped out with the Golden Hills cleanup last Saturday.”

From Precinct 8 Town Meeting Member Arthur Grabowski: “I want to shout out to our Town Manager Scott Crabtree. As a town meeting member for several years and 10 years on the school committee, I have worked closely with Scott on several issues and more importantly I have worked very closely on the town budget.

“Scott has kept the town moving in the right financial direction. He has brought the town back from the brink of receivership. People forget that we had the Essex Street fire station intermittently closed, there was the threat to close the library, possibly close the senior center and we were threatened with a huge trash fee and a tax override. After Scott took over he got the finances in order and all those threats disappeared. With careful and thoughtful financial management we are now in a good place budget wise. Outside rating agencies have placed us in a AA+ bond rating.

“Our reserves and stabilization account has been recognized by the state as adequate and commendable. Certainly all town departments would like more funding and certain elements in town would like to drain our reserves to satisfy their specific ideas, but we must stay the course and adhere to the town manager’s proposed budget and the recommendations of the finance committee.”

 

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.

 

News from the Democratic Town Committee

The Saugus Democratic Town Committee will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, April 29, at the Saugus Public Library at 6 p.m. in the Community Room of the first floor.

 

Virtual Meeting on bridge replacement April 29

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is hosting a Live Virtual Public Information Meeting on Wednesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. to brief the public on the replacement of the General Edwards Bridge, which connects Lynn and Revere on Route 1A.

What is happening?

At this meeting, the project team will provide an overview of the project and present the latest design updates. Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.

How will this affect you?

The General Edwards Bridge connects Lynn and Revere by carrying Route 1A over the Saugus River. MassDOT is currently planning the replacement for this 87-year-old structurally deficient drawbridge, with a new fixed bridge that will be constructed just downstream and adjacent to the existing drawbridge. The new bridge will be built as close to the existing bridge as feasible and will feature longer spans with fewer piers in the water, improving navigation through the channel. The new fixed bridge will also provide greater vertical clearance above high tide and a wider navigation opening, allowing most vessels to pass without interruption. Eliminating bridge openings will improve reliability for motorists traveling along Route 1A.

 

Coming Spring Attractions:

• Student Government Day: Friday, May 1, at 8:30 a.m. in the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. Here’s your chance to see future Saugus leaders of tomorrow – the kids who are currently students in the Saugus Middle and High School grades – perform in mock sessions of the Board of Selectmen, the School Committee and the Annual Town Meeting. All members of Saugus local government are invited to come and observe, and even share some pointers with the students. The Saugus Business Education Collaborative will be coordinating the lunch.
• The Saugus-Everett Elks will hold a Scams, Cyberfraud and Exploitation presentation. The Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee and Eagle Bank will be holding an hour-long free presentation on Scams, Cyberfraud and Exploitation at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St. in Saugus) on Monday, May 11, at 10 a.m. Attorney Stephen Miliotis and Gisella DiPaola will be conducting this event. Become educated in the latest scams that intrude into our lives. All ages are welcome. Call 781-233-4178 to reserve your seat. Walk-ins are also welcome.
• Remember The Fallen: Members of the Saugus Veterans Council are hard at work planning and organizing the Memorial Day Parade, which is set for Saturday, May 23. Council members are committed to making this year’s parade and ceremony one of the best-attended in years. That’s a noble goal and an appropriate way to honor all of the Saugus residents who have sacrificed their lives while serving their country in the armed forces over the years. Honor the town’s fallen. Show your support. If you want to volunteer to help or participate in the parade, contact Saugus Veterans Council Commander Steve Castinetti at 781-389-3678.

 

Upcoming events at the Saugus Public Library

Here are a few interesting programs at the Saugus Public Library worth checking out:

• A teen poetry slam on April 27 at 4 p.m. in the Brooks Room. Suitable for fifth grade and up; no registration required. Verse by verse, let your heart speak.
• Please join us on Monday, May 4, at 4 p.m. in the Brooks Room to make Pokémon designs with the Pop-Up Art School. Registration required; suitable for fifth grade and up. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Saugus Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
• Come and have your tarot cards read by a professional! Please join us at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 18, in the Brooks Room. Suitable for fifth grade and up; no registration required.
• See Jonah Knight perform a magic show and facilitate a Dungeons and Dragons game! Please join us on Monday, June 22, at 4 p.m. in the Brooks Room. Suitable for fifth grade and up; registration required.

 

Curbside leaf collection May 4

  The Town of Saugus announces that spring curbside leaf collection will take place during the week of May 4, 2026. Residents may dispose of leaves curbside on their regularly scheduled trash and recycling collection day between Monday, May 4, 2026, and Friday, May 8, 2026.

Leaves should be left outside at the curb by 7 a.m. on the appropriate days. Please ensure that leaf containers are physically separated from trash and recycling. Paper leaf bags are the preferred method of leaf disposal. If using barrels, however, they must be clearly marked with yard waste stickers. Stickers, which are free, may be obtained at Inspectional Services in the lower level of Town Hall at 298 Central Street, Saugus. Barrel covers must remain removed so that the leaves are visible.

Plastic bags, cardboard boxes, branches and brush will not be accepted.

Please note that separate trucks collect the rubbish, recycling and leaves, so the leaves may be collected at a different time of day.

Missed pickups will not be conducted. Please contact Scott Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions.

 

Saugus Youth Football & Cheer Golf Tournament July 13

Saugus Youth Football & Cheer (SYFC) will host its 3rd Annual Sachem Classic Golf Tournament on Monday, July 13, at Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead, continuing a growing tradition that brings together local businesses, families and community supporters for a day of golf and giving back. The Sachem Classic has quickly become one of SYFC’s premier fundraising events, helping to support equipment purchases, uniforms and program enhancements for young athletes across Saugus. Proceeds from the event also fund SYFC’s annual high school scholarships and provide financial assistance to ensure that all athletes — regardless of financial circumstances — have the opportunity to participate in the program.

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for local businesses and community partners interested in supporting the program while gaining valuable exposure. Several sponsorship levels are offered, including Sachem, Platinum, Gold, Dinner and Tee Box sponsors. Benefits include recognition on marketing materials and social media, signage throughout the tournament and visibility during the event.

For those interested in participating on the course, golfer registration will open on May 1. Spots are expected to fill quickly based on strong interest in previous years.

“This tournament is a cornerstone event for our organization,” said David Silipigni, SYFC Board Member. “The support we receive from local businesses and families directly impacts our ability to provide a positive, structured environment for our athletes. It also allows us to give back through scholarships and ensure that every child who wants to play has that opportunity.”

All sponsorships are tax-deductible, with proceeds directly benefiting SYFC’s mission of promoting teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship among Saugus youth. Those interested in sponsoring or learning more about the event may contact Sa***********@*******fc.com.

 

Coach T.’s spring track program

Plans are in the works for the Saugus Sachems Youth Spring Track Program for 2026. Here’s the basic information:

Who: Grades K-6^th.

Where: Belmonte Track.

When: 4:00-5:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays – May 19-June 11.

This program is geared toward new track and field athletes. It will prepare them for the larger-scale summer camp.

Cost: $150 first year, $75 if returning.

For any questions, further information or to register, please contact Coach Christopher Tarantino (Coach T) at 781-854-6778 or ch********************@***il.com