Hundreds of town residents, former residents and visitors of all ages gathered at Saugus Center last Saturday (Sept. 10) for the 41st Annual Saugus Founders Day. For the first time in three years, “Person of the Year” awards were presented to the outstanding man and woman citizens selected by the award’s past recipients. Founders Day was canceled in 2020 because of health concerns related to COVID-19. The town’s biggest community event returned last year. But past “Person of the Year” Award recipients did not meet to pick 2021 award recipients because of continued health concerns over COVID-19. (Saugus Advocate photos by Mark E. Vogler)
“PERSON OF THE YEAR” IN 2014: award recipient Gordon Shepard and his wife Debra.ELECTED OFFICIALS: Pictured from left to right: Saugus Selectmen Mike Serino, Jeff Cicolini and Debra Panetta, State Senator Brendan Crighton, State Representative Jessica Ann Giannino, State Representative Donald Wong and Saugus Selectman Corinne Riley. The legislators presented commendations to the two “Person of the Year” award recipients.LONGTIME BEST FRIENDS: 1995 “Person of the Year” Kathy Blasingame and 2002 award recipient Donna Gould, who is credited with being a key founder of Saugus Founders Day.THREE PAST HONOREES: 2019 “Person of the Year” Award recipient Debra Dion-Faust, 2002 recipient Donna Gould and 2015 recipient Joyce Rodenhiser – who presided as Master of Ceremonies last Saturday.DJ FOR THE DAY: Saugus resident John Claffey of Spin’ N Tunes Disc Jockey Service presided over the entertainment for last Saturday’s Founders Day from his sound system set up on top of the steps of Saugus Town Hall.RAISING THE FLAG: Pictured from left to right are Tyler Dockery and Jason Casaletto.OPENING CEREMONIES: Members of the Saugus Veterans Council saluted as Kim Tobey sang the National Anthem during the flag raising.NATIONAL ANTHEM: Former Saugus resident Kim Tobey returned to another Founders Day to sing the National Anthem and a few of her favorite songs.DOING THEIR DUTY: Saugus Youth & Recreation Department staff members Jason Casaletto, a sophomore at Salem State University, and Tyler Dockery, a junior at Saugus High School, are shown preparing to raise the American flag.“PERSON OF THE YEAR” AWARD RECIPIENT IN 2019: awardee Randy Briand (left) and Saugus Selectman Mike Serino.WRESTLING FANS AND THEIR IDOL: Jake Guarnieri, 15, a sophomore at Saugus High School, and his mother, Tyess Guarnieri, 53, got to hold the championship belt of retired pro wrestler Rocky Ramond, 54, of Saugus. He’s a former New England Tag Team Champion in Empire Pro Wrestling.OLD FRIENDS: Pictured from left to right: lifelong Saugus resident Eugene Decareau and former Saugus resident George Brown greeted each other at Saugus Center.BABY’S DAY OUT: Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano dotes on his 18-month-old granddaughter Luciana Cross, who experienced her second Founders Day. She is the daughter of Mike and Gabriela Cross.A RETURN OF “THE KID DRUMMER”: Gino Figliola, now 16, of Haverhill, who first began performing at Founders Day in 2015 when he was nine years old.FILMING FOUNDERS DAY: Saugus TV Program Manager Rachel Brugman aimed her camera toward the dancers entertaining spectators in front of Saugus Town Hall.SEEKING BAIL MONEY: Selectman Jeff Cicolini held out his cup, looking for donations so he could be released from the Saugus Band-Its Jail. The “bail money” helps the Saugus High School Band.PRISONERS FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Saugus School Committee Chair Vinny Serino; sixth-grader Matheus Rodrigues, who plays the flute in the Saugus Middle-High School Band; and Diana DiPesa shared a cell at the Saugus Band-Its Jail, hoping to raise money for the band.GETTING JAILED FOR THE BAND: School Committee Chair Vinny Serino got his mug shot taken as he was “booked-in” at the Saugus Band-Its Jail.FOUNDERS DAY DANCERS: The MICA Dance group performed in front of Saugus Town Hall.