The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus!

Apparently, the negotiations went well on Tuesday when two members from the Saugus Housing Authority met with Katelynn Lemieux to negotiate a salary and benefits package for her possible hiring as the next executive director of the Saugus Housing Authority. The current Executive Director, Laura Glynn, who plans to leave after 10 years to care for her ailing father, confirmed that the negotiations went well and that an agreement was reached between Lemieux and Housing Authority Chair William Stewart and Member Maureen Whitcomb.

Glynn said yesterday that there is a tentative start date for Lemieux for April 1, pending the state’s approval of the contract and benefits that were negotiated. Glynn said she was preparing a package to submit to the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. Lemieux’s hiring would not become official until the EOHLC approves it, according to Glynn.

Stay tuned

 

A Super “Shout Out” for Nick Graffeo

We received one “Shout Out” this week, but it was a big one from a super Sachem sports fan, former School Committee Member Joseph “Dennis” Gould. He nominated Nicki Graffeo, a volunteer for Saugus TV, who loves to give many athletes on the Sachem sports scene some positive coverage. We received this email from Gould on Monday night:

“At tonight’s Sachem boys basketball game Nick Graffeo will be recognized for his volunteer efforts to support our Saugus Sachem boys and girls teams.

“As many of you know, I attend at many Sachem boys and girls team’s games, and it is always great to see Nick’s smiling face and his efforts to bring us the games live or on tape that we can’t not attend in person is greatly appreciated.

“He also works with Saugus Cable compiling the season long highlights for each sport that is an awesome memory for families and student athletes.

“Great job Nick!

“Congratulations on this recognition you truly deserved!!!

“Dennis Gould”

And then there was this “Sachem Nation Alert that was mass-texted out before Monday night’s 6 p.m. boys basketball game “to recognize a member of our community for his dedication to Saugus Athletics… Nick Graffeo was selected by the state athletic directors assoc. to receive an award for his volunteer work with Saugus TV.”

 

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 (mvoge@comcast.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.

 

Food Pantry notes

  The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Feb. 23) from 9:30-11 a.m.

 

Legion Breakfast today

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 2023-24 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.

 

Town Meeting forum set for Monday

Due to the Community Room at the Saugus Public Library being used for In-Person Early Voting, there has been some recent rescheduling of the Town Meeting forums. There’s a Town Meeting educational forum set for 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26 in the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. The sessions for March 25 and April 22 will be held in the Community Room at the library from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

  Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian is providing an opportunity for Saugus citizens who want to learn the basics about Town Meeting – the legislative body of Saugus town government. Manoogian is a veteran of about four decades in local town government at various levels, including many years as a Town Meeting member. The three sessions Manoogian will be leading this year are tailored for newly elected Town Meeting members or veterans who want to refresh themselves about Robert’s Rules of Order or how to put forward an article for consideration.

 

Budget time nearing

Selectmen have scheduled their next meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27 in the first floor conference room at Saugus Town Hall. That session will essentially kick off the town’s municipal budget season. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree will unveil his spending plan for the 2025 Fiscal Year that begins July 1. Soon after, the town’s Finance Committee will schedule its series of Wednesday review sessions of each of the department budgets and make recommendations for the Annual Town Meeting, which is set to convene on the first Monday in May. Stay tuned.

 

Democratic Town Committee Caucus – Feb. 27

The Saugus Democratic Town Committee (SDTC) will hold its Caucus this Tuesday, Feb. 27, to elect delegates to the Democratic State Convention held in June. The Caucus will be at 7 p.m. at the Saugus Public Safety Building (27 Hamilton St., Second Floor). The Caucus is open to the public, but only registered Saugus Democrats can vote on delegates.

The primary function of the SDTC is to support Democratic candidates for office, both locally and at the state level. It also engages in voter education and voter registration. Registered Democrats living in Saugus who are interested in playing an active role in the political process in Saugus are welcome to attend any meetings of the Committee. For questions contact saugusdtc@gmail.com

 

Compost/Recycling Drop-Off Site winter hours

  The Town of Saugus Compost/Recycling Drop-Off Site is closed for the winter. But it will reopen for recycling on the third Saturday of March 2024 weather permitting. Please note: The site will be open March 16 during the period from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please contact Scott Brazis, Director of Solid Waste/Recycling, with any questions at 781-231-4036.

 

Kindergarten Enrollment 2024-2025

Open enrollment for kindergarten will begin on Monday, April 22, and continue through Friday, April 26. Kindergarten is free and full day (8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.). Families can pick up a kindergarten registration packet at the main office of the Veterans Early Learning Center between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Completed registration packets will be due on Wednesday, May 22, and Thursday, May 23, during the following hours: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (All registration documents must be included on the packet return dates.) Staff will be available to collect your documentation at the main entrance. Once all documentation is confirmed we will schedule an appointment for a mandatory kindergarten screening. Kindergarten screenings will be held on June 3 & 4 and will last 20 minutes.

*While there is no official deadline for kindergarten registration, we ask that you register your student by May 24, to help us effectively plan staffing and programming for next year.”

 

SAVE 2024 Environmental Scholarship Available

  Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) is very pleased to announce that it is offering a $1,000 Environmental Scholarship to a Saugus resident who is or will be attending a two- or four-year college or other educational institution and pursuing a degree in an area that would positively impact the environment. A qualifying applicant may be a 2024 high school graduating senior or a current college undergraduate student continuing their education.

Applicants can download the SAVE 2024 Environmental Scholarship Application Form found at www.saugusSAVE.org. Please note: Section C of the application should be identified with your initials only and should provide a brief summary of any of your activities relating to the environment, as well as describe how you feel your career choice will positively impact the environment.

Please email your application – no later than midnight on April 19, 2024 – to: SAVE Co-President Ann Devlin at adevlin@aisle10.net

 

What’s new at the Saugus Public Library?

  There’s always something interesting going on. Here’s a few activities worth checking out:

Adult Craft Night! It’s set for Tuesday, March 5, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Brooks Room on the second floor. The upcoming craft will be handwarmers. Keep the last of the winter chill away with these herbal handwarmers – made with dried corn and lavender. These are eco-friendly and reusable.

Please register in advance; space is limited. Call 781-231-4168 or register online using our Events Calendar: sauguspubliclibrary.org/events

Cradles to Crayons: The Boston Bruins, Cradles to Crayons, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and Wonderfund are once again partnering to rally communities in support of children in need across Massachusetts by encouraging donations of new pajamas. The drive began on Feb. 1 and will run through Feb. 29. Here is how you can get involved and support the 17th Annual Bruins PJ Drive:

1) Register on our website and learn more about this year’s PJ Drive.

2) Collect new pajamas, size 12-18 months through 18/20 (adult medium).

3) Drop off or ship your donation to Cradles to Crayons, 281 Newtonville Ave., Newton, MA 02460.

4) Celebrate and appreciate. Your donations will provide thousands of children with a warm pair of pajamas.

 

Bingo is back at the Kowloon!

  Join the Kowloon Restaurant for Wednesday Night Bingo. The event takes place every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and will continue to April 3. Entry is free. Games, prizes and music highlight the event. For more information, call the Kowloon Restaurant at 781-233-0077 or visit online at www.kowloonrestaurant.com

 

March 8 Night Dance Jam at the Kowloon

  The Kowloon Restaurant is set to host Friday Night Dance Jam where Motown meets Freestyle, starring the Classic Supremes, The Cover Girls, P2, Lance Bernard Bryant and Jovian Ford. DJ Ricky will spin club classics. The event is slated for March 8.

VIP Tickets are $75 per person for reserved seating, buffet and photos with the artists. Doors open for VIP tickets from 6-8 p.m. General admission tickets are $65 per person for reserved seating only. Doors open for general admission tickets at 8 p.m. Showtime is 9 p.m. Tickets are available by Order Online at Kowloonrestaurant.com or the Kowloon front desk or charge-by-phone: 781-233-0077. For more information, call the Kowloon Restaurant at 781-233-0077 or visit online at www.kowloonrestaurant.com

 

Wednesday fireside chat at Breakheart

  The state Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) invites the public to join agency staffer Ben Jenelle, DCR District 5 Fire Warden, by the fire in Breakheart Reservation’s Visitor Center on Wednesday morning (Feb. 28, 10 a.m.). This offers visitors a unique opportunity to engage directly with a DCR expert and learn more about the agency’s work, with a specific focus on Breakheart Reservation. Learn from a firsthand account of the Breakheart fires from the Spring/Summer of 2022 and understand their impact on the reservation. The Warden will tell us about the measures taken by DCR to manage and mitigate future fire risks.

 

Maple sugarin’ time!

  Come to Breakheart Reservation Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for this fun annual event. Experience the process of maple sugarin’ from tapping a tree to sampling real maple syrup. The hands-on tour includes the history of maple sugaring from Native Americans to today, tree identification & tapping, wood splitting, the evaporator and a tasting station.

For more information or questions, please call 781-233-0834 or stop by the Visitor Center at Breakheart Reservation, 177 Forest St., Saugus.

 

Winter is calling at Breakheart

  If you love hiking, nature and the great outdoors, there’s a lot going on this winter at Breakheart Reservation – courtesy of the state Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR). All programs are free and open to the public. An adult must accompany children.

Reasonable accommodations available upon request. Parking fees may apply depending on the program location. For more information, please email Jessica Narog-Hutton, Visitor Services Supervisor, at jessica.narog-hutton@mass.gov

Here are a few programs that DNR has in the works:

• On Sundays now through March, why not do something easy, like a Sunday morning hike from 10 a.m. to noon. Check in at the Visitor Center (177 Forest St., Saugus). Join the Park Interpreter for a weekly guided hike. Each trip will highlight natural and historic features that make Breakheart unique. Hikes will be moderately paced and range from two to three miles over sometimes uneven and rocky terrain. This activity is best suited for ages eight years and up. The hike will be canceled in the event of heavy rain.
• On Thursdays now through March, the Camp Nihan Educational Center (121 Walnut St., Saugus) will offer the Wild Breakheart Series from 9 to 10 a.m. Join Breakheart staff for this rotating nature series that will explore different aspects of Breakheart in the wintertime. This month learn about animal tracking. Discover how tracks that animals leave behind can tell us a story about what they do when no one is around. In March be a part of the Breakheart Birding Club. Discover what birds are starting to come back for the spring and what birds stay from the winter.
• On Fridays now through March, check out Kidleidoscope from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Visitor Center (177 Forest St., Saugus). Come join a park interpreter for a story time and nature walk. Complete a small craft and explore the woods! Walks are gently paced and approximately one mile, though not accessible for strollers. This activity is appropriate for families with children who are three to five years old. Meet at the Visitor Center.
• On Saturdays now through March, “Step into the Past” from 10 a.m.to noon at the Visitor Center (177 Forest St., Saugus). Join the park interpreter to discover the park history. Hikes are about two and a half miles and of moderate difficulty along rocky trails with several stops. Best for adults and older children with a keen interest in history. Meet outside the Visitor Center. This activity will be canceled in the event of rain.
• First and third Saturdays: Stories in Stone: Breakheart has been shaped not only by nature but by the many people who have called it home.
• Second and fourth Saturdays: Glacial Giants: Countless clues to a glacial past dot the landscape. If one knows where to look, this hidden geologic history can be revealed.

 

About The Saugus Advocate

We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is noon Wednesday. If you have a story idea, an article or photo to submit, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a message at 978-683-7773. 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.