The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

Nothing like a good walk several times a week, for the fun of it and for your health. If you are already an avid walker or somebody who is thinking about reactivating a dormant walking program or just starting one, here’s an event worth checking out. Here’s a recent press release issued by Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree’s Office:

“The Town of Saugus welcomes residents to participate in the first-ever Saugus Wellness Collective Walk on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 9 a.m. at Breakheart Reservation.

“The Saugus Wellness Collective organized this walk to promote healthy lifestyle choices while fostering a sense of community and support. The walk will utilize the Healthy Heart Trail at Breakheart Reservation, which is a two-mile loop that has been recognized by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation as a premier route beneficial to cardiovascular health.

“Highlights of the Saugus Wellness Collective Walk include:

“Free T-shirts for registered walkers

“Light refreshments

“Live entertainment featuring Saugus Health Director John Fralick

“To secure your spot and a free T-shirt (while supplies last), please preregister for the walk by emailing Karli Brazis at kb*****@*******ma.gov.

“The walk for wellness at Breakheart Reservation is intended as a signature kickoff event for the Saugus Wellness Collective. The Saugus Wellness Collective aims to raise awareness for mental health and substance use disorders, as well as to provide resources for residents seeking assistance in their recovery efforts.

“The Saugus Wellness Collective is excited about partnering with the community in the future.”

 

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry

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

 

This week’s “Shout Outs”

We received a nomination from Vanessa Dellheim: “I wanted to send a shoutout to the Belmonte STEAM academy after school enrichment program. They just completed a production of the wizard of OZ that was truly spectacular! Thank you to Bridgette Vaudo, Bethany Gravel and Amelia Kracik.”

A “Shout Out” from the Editor: To the 164 members of the Saugus High School Class of 2026 who will be receiving their diplomas at Christie Serino Jr. Memorial Stadium tonight.

Hats off to this year’s graduates and the best of luck to each of you individually as you pursue your future endeavors and dreams. May you be good citizens and contribute to the betterment of your community, whether it be Saugus or any other place you call home.

Additional “Shout Outs” to the parents, faculty members, High School staff, school administration, tutors, mentors, friends, relatives and anyone else who played a role in helping to shape the careers of these young men and women who will assemble for the final time together tonight.

 

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.

 

Countdown till Saugus celebrates America’s 250th

Here’s an updated report from the Saugus 250th Celebration Committee:

The Saugus 250th Celebration Committee is putting some of the final touches on the event. We have started to hear from precincts that will be submitting a patriotic decorative truck and hope to continue to hear from more in the next week or two! The committee will be doing a spot with SCTV that will have a lot of information on the event itself, so watch out for it! Again, Saugus has a rich history in its role in the Revolutionary War. We have a very hardworking committee; however, we need volunteers for the event! If you can help out on the 4th, overseeing children’s games, serving food, etc., let us know. America’s 250th Celebration is just five weeks away! It will be observed locally at the Saugus Iron Works, Saturday, July 4^th, noon to 4 p.m. There will be speeches by Parson Roby, General George Washington and reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. There will be entertainment, children’s games played back in the 1700s and an old-fashioned community get-together and BBQ! We are looking forward to the 10 precincts entering a patriotic decorated vehicle! Join us for a fun-filled historical event celebrating our Founding Fathers who created our country’s democratic form of government.

The time is coming up quickly, and we heard from Precincts 2 and 4 on submitting a vehicle. We’d like to hear from the other eight precincts on submitting a patriotic decorated vehicle. If you are going to submit one, please let us know no later than June 20.

Several of our volunteers did an informational spot on SCTV for the celebration; it was great and we can’t wait for everyone to see it. Thank you, John, Michelle and Maureen!

If you want more information or have questions, email cc*****@*****st.net.

 

June 6 Blood Drive at Legion Hall

Saugus American Legion Post 210 is hosting its Memorial Blood Drive tomorrow (Saturday, June 6) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cpl. Scott J. Procopio & Capt. William Shoemaker American Legion Post Hall at 44 Taylor St. Please call the Red Cross (1-800-733-2767) to schedule an appointment.

 

Touch A Truck on Sunday

The Blessed Sacrament Church at 14 Summer St. will be hosting a Touch A Truck Event on June 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. Tiger Institute who will be doing a karate demonstration. There will also be a police K9 demonstration. There will be all sorts of trucks and vehicles for kids to touch and check out. There will be raffles, food and beverages. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. This will mark the seventh year for Moms Cancer Fighting Angels’ involvement in the event.

 

Annual S/Sgt. DeFranzo observance Wednesday

A small group will gather at the Staff Sergeant Arthur F. DeFranzo VFW Post 2346 at 10 a.m. next Wednesday (June 10) for the Post’s annual observance in honor and memory of Sgt. DeFranzo, who died of wounds he received on June 10, 1944, in a gallant display of heroism that led to his receiving the Medal of Honor posthumously. In recent years, members of the DeFranzo family have attended the ceremony, which takes place in front of the DeFranzo Memorial near the Post at 190C Main St. People then adjourn to the Post for a collation. All are welcome.

 

Saugus Democrats meet June 10

The next meeting of the Saugus Democratic Town Committee is Wednesday, June 10, at 7 p.m. at SaugusTV offices at 30 Main St. Parking is in front of the building or across the street. Entrance is via the side door.

 

Elks to hold Narcan program June 15

  The Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee is holding a Narcan presentation at the Saugus Senior Center on Monday, June 15, at 10 a.m., at 466 Central St. in Saugus. This is an hour-long free event. Drug overdose is the leading cause of death in the United States. Witness the benefits of Narcan and its many uses. Samples will be shown to all present. Don’t miss out on this event. Light refreshments will be served.

 

Strawberry Festival June 20

A note from Laura Eisener: The Saugus Historical Society Strawberry Festival and Saugus Garden Club Plant Sale will be Saturday, June 20. Strawberry Shortcakes, hot dogs, soda and chips will be available at the Legion Hall from 10-2, and the Garden Club as well as several craft vendors will be set up on the Roby School Lawn as usual. There are some new vendors planning to come in addition to several vendors who have been there for several years in a row. The festival is rain or shine! Hope to see you there for this popular town tradition.

 

Home Base on June 20

On Saturday, June 20, Team Marshalls4Vets and Staff Sergeant Arthur F. DeFranzo VFW Post 2346 will be cosponsoring a Fundraiser Party Benefiting Home Base from 7 p.m.-1 a.m. at the Post. Tickets will be $50 per person with a limit of 100. Catering will be provided by Kowloon, Texas Roadhouse and other local restaurants. There will be prize Raffles, 50/50 raffle & more.

Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, is dedicated to healing the invisible wounds for Veterans, Service Members and their Families through world-class clinical care, wellness, education and research. To donate online: https://runtohomebase.org/support/#marshalls4vets.

 

KOC Crafts Fair Aug. 8

The Saugus Knights of Columbus No. 1829 will host a crafts fair Saturday, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 57 Appleton St. in Saugus: baked goods, candles, handmade textiles, jewelry, wood carving and much more. Visitors can also enjoy making their own sundaes, or popcorn, hot dogs, hot coffee and donuts and raffles.

 

Upcoming events at the Saugus Public Library

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

Laura Eisener offered this report: “Natural World”, a beautiful exhibit of photographs by Jordan Lavine, graces the walls of the reading room at Saugus Public Library. Iconic New England scenes include the forge and slitting mill at Saugus Ironworks, the old stone church in Boylston, MA with the US flag reflected in the water, views of Acadia National Park in Maine, and many others taken throughout the seasons. Bird lovers will enjoy a bald eagle seeming to howl at the moon, a camouflaged owl in a tree trunk, and many more. Other subjects include pollinators among blossoms and other wildlife. This display will run through June – be sure to get over and see it!

• 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.

 

SAVE Annual Meeting June 16

Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment will hold its 53rd Annual Meeting & Dinner on June 16 at 7 p.m. at Magia’s Restaurant & Bar (126 Newbury St., Danvers). A social time will be held at 6:30 p.m. The program will feature a brief business meeting, stewardship award, guest speaker, raffles and an update on SAVE activities. The guest speaker will be Kirstie Pecci, Executive Director of Just Zero, a national zero waste, nonprofit organization, who will be presenting on the topic “Massachusetts: Time to Change our Solid Waste System.”

The Dinner Buffet will include fresh garden salad, penne with pomodoro, baked haddock, chicken parmigiana, vegetable, rolls and butter, dessert, coffee and tea. Free parking is available on-site, and the facility is ADA accessible.

SAVE was founded in 1973 to promote a better quality of life in Saugus through environmental concern and action.

 

Summer Track Camp 2026 coming

The Saugus Sachems Youth Summer Track Camp 2026 is about a month away. This vibrant program, now in its 21st year, is where student athletes from a wide range of ages come together to listen well, work hard and have fun! They will be guided by veteran coach Christopher Tarantino, his coaches, counselors and alumni, as well as current middle and high school track team members. Participants work on social and team building skills, as well as setting individual and team goals, all while learning the fundamentals and/or the advanced techniques of this dynamic sport, track and field.

Cost: $350 first year, returning $300, $250 if 4th+ year in summer program; includes pasta dinner, t-shirt, uniform and entry into Summer Showdown. Subtract $50 from cost if returning with uniform.

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

Here’s what parents and participants need to know:

Who: five to 18 years old.

Where: Belmonte Track.

When: 6-8 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

June 22–26 – final registration week/returning athlete training.

June 29–July 3 – first formal week.

July 6–9 – second formal week.

July 10 – 10 a.m.-12 p.m. – makeup practice (if necessary).

July 10 – 6 p.m. – Pasta Dinner at Prince Pizzeria.

July 11 – 9 a.m. – in-house meet at Serino Stadium.

July 13 – 16 – retrain week.

July 18 – Summer Showdown in Cranston, R.I.

July 22 – wrap up.