The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

  The memories of my Fourth of July holidays growing up in Swansea, down in southeastern Massachusetts, are still quite vivid after all these years. The night before July 4, my dad would take my two brothers and me across the Taunton River to Fall River, where we would watch a bonfire set ablaze in one of the city’s parks. Then, on July 4 night, we’d get to have our choice of where to go to see the fireworks. Swansea, Somerset, Fall River and the neighboring communities all had them. In between, we would set off firecrackers, sky rockets, sparklers and Roman candles – which we bought legally in Warren, R.I., and brought them back to Swansea – where all kids had them. Nobody was going to get arrested in those days for having a little fun with some backyard July 4 celebrations, providing there was no horseplay or threatening activity.

Then, if the weather was nice, we would squeeze in the world-famous Fourth of July Parade in Bristol. Its claim to fame is being the oldest, longest continuously operating July Fourth Parade. I remember the red, white and blue stripes down the middle of the road, which ran for two and a half miles. Come to think of it, the Fourth of July celebrations I remember as a kid were quite remarkable.

Not so in Saugus, unless you go back decades. There isn’t much of a July 4 tradition left – except for the people who live in the Lynnhurst neighborhood. There’s a unique century-old patriotic tradition that lives on in Saugus – the Third of July Lynnhurst Block Party and the Fourth of July celebration, which brings great joy and pride to the neighborhood that will be hosting these festivities.

It all starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night (July 3) at the Lynnhurst School Field, also known as Dana H. Johnson Memorial Park. The folks who are organizing this event recommend that anyone who plans to go bring chairs, refreshments, snacks, bug spray and lawn games. The main event of the night will be the Brian Maes Band. There will also be a 50/50 raffle – arm’s length for five bucks.

The night, which ends at 10 p.m., continues the next day at 9 a.m. at Dana H. Johnson Memorial Park with an old-fashioned field day that kids will love. There will be contests for kids of all ages, both boys and girls. They include most patriotic costumes, doll carriage, tricycles and bicycles. The athletic contests will feature potato sack races, three-legged races and tug of war – to name a few. Boys and girls from ages eight to 13 will be able to compete in watermelon- and pie-eating contests. Hot dogs, popsicles and water will be provided.

Well, if you have kids and don’t have any definitive plans on how to spend the holiday or night before, head over to Lynnhurst and partake in what has really become a neat July 4 family-oriented event.

 

Imperio Mariense De Saugus weekend

  And if you have a hankering for Portuguese food, it will be worth your while to check out Imperio Mariense De Saugus, which will be held from 3 p.m. to midnight on Saturday (July 6) and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday (July 7) at 262 Lynn Fells Parkway in Saugus. Besides the food, this is an annual event that dates back to 1927, when a dozen immigrants from the island of Santa Maria, Azores, decided to bring their own feast and tradition here and share it with the community.

According to the website, “the annual feast held in Saugus Massachusetts to celebrate the coronation of the Holy Ghost emperor and empress. Custom starts with a procession, followed by mass and coronation before the Holy Ghost soup lunch. The Holy Ghost celebration is specific to Azorean natives, established to reinforce a sense of community between the islands.

“The feast is held on Lynn Fells Parkway for two days. The feast is put together in large part by the dedication and hard work of the board members and volunteers, who get together to bake and prepare a week leading to the event.

“Imperio Mariense Feast visitors are Portuguese natives or descendants who come from surrounding cities such as Cambridge, Hudson, Stoughton, Taunton, Bridgewater and many other out of state cities. Visitors can expect plenty of entertainment over the weekend as there is usually bands and surprise guests that will take stage.”

If you love Portuguese bread, kale and chourico, this might be your lucky weekend. Bon Appetit!

 

A Holiday trash delay

The Town of Saugus announces that trash and recycling collection will run on a one-day delay for the July 4th Holiday. Trash and recycling will not be collected on Thursday, July 4, due to the holiday. Collection will resume on a one-day delay on Friday, July 5.

Residents are kindly asked to leave trash and recycling curbside by 7 a.m. the day after their normally scheduled collection day. The Town of Saugus would like to thank everyone for their cooperation. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Scott A. Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions.

 

Summer Concerts “In The Park”

  Here’s some good summer music to your ears. Once again, the Saugus Public Library and the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site will be teaming up to bring free outdoor concerts “In The Park” at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. The Squeezebox Stompers, a Boston area Americana Roots band, will kick off the summer series on July 10.

“They’ve performed Americana, Cajun, zydeco, blues, folk, and originals all over New England for the past 15 years,” according to promotional information provided by the Iron Works.

“Members of the band have received Boston Music Awards and Songwriting Awards. They are noted for their step-lively up-beat music inspiring audiences to get up and dance. Their instrumentation includes accordion, keyboards, fiddle, saxophone, harmonica, penny whistle, guitar, bass, and drums. The Squeezebox Stompers guarantee a rockin’ good time.”

These free weekly concerts are open to the public and begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning July 10 through August 28. Here’s the 2024 lineup:

July 10: Squeezebox Stompers (Cajun & Zydeco).

July 17: Memorylaners (50s & 60s).

July 24: Mamadou (World Music, West African Rhythms).

July 31: Sweet Soul Sounds (Motown, Funk, Hip Hop).

August 7: Atwater & Donnelly (Trad. American & Celtic Folk & Dance).

August 14: Ditto (Folk & Rock: 60s and 70s).

August 21: Headlands (Folk, Country, Americana Pop).

August 28: Jumpstreet (Rock, R&B, Blues, & Jazz).

Bring chairs or a blanket and a picnic! Enjoy a summer evening at the historic Saugus Iron Works with great music and friends!

This year’s summer concert series is partially funded through a generous grant from the Mass Cultural Council.

 

What’s happening at the Saugus Public Library

For schoolchildren looking for interesting projects and programs to participate in this fall, there’s plenty to do at the Saugus Public Library. There are some very good programs offered for grownups, too.

  Upcycled Feather Wall Hanging: by Pop Up Art School, ages 10-18, Friday, July 12, 11:30-12:30 in the Community Room. Please sign up using the online Events Calendar. Get ready to turn upcycled materials into an amazing wall hanging for your room! You’ll use strips of leftover fabric to create a backdrop for feathers made from fringed pages of old books. If you want, you can give the feathers a splash of color with watercolor paint. This project is sustainable and perfect for adding a personal touch to your space! sauguspubliclibrary.org – 781-231-4168.

  Saugus Police and Cruiser Visit: Come along to enjoy a special story time, Wednesday, July 10 at 10 a.m. at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. Recommended for ages three and up. Rain date is July 17. Please check the event calendar the day of the program for updates.

 

Community Garden volunteers welcomed

  If you love gardening and would love to volunteer a few hours for a good cause this summer, offer your services at the Community Garden at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Volunteers are welcome to come any Friday or Saturday morning for the rest of the summer to help weed and nurture the crops. If these times are difficult, arrangements can be made for other days. For details, contact The Rev. John Beach at St. John’s Episcopal Church (revjbeach@gmail.com).

 

Food Pantry notes

  The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is closed Friday (July 5) in observance of the July Fourth holiday. It will reopen on Friday, July 12, from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church.

 

Legion Breakfasts over for summer

  American Legion Post 210 would like to thank all those who made the 2023-24 breakfast season such a success, and wish them a wonderful summer. We will resume serving breakfast on Friday, September 6, 2024.

 

A “Shout Out” for a grateful citizen

  Janice Jarosz, the clerk for the Board of Selectmen, offered a patriotic “shout out” for this week’s paper, which is appropriate as Saugus and the rest of the nation pauses to observe the Fourth of July. Here’s the email we received from Janice:

“Leo, a custodian at the Saugus Town Hall, deserves a ‘Shout Out’ as he is one of the most cheerful, happy and dedicated employees, whom we all appreciate. Leo is always there when needed, and on occasion, helps out with language problems to those who only speak Spanish.

“In a recent conversation with him, he told me about his family moving from El Salvador to Canada and in 2001 he came alone to America. In 2010, Leo became a US citizen. ‘That day was the happiest and proudest day of my life’ and we are all better for it!!!”

 

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.

 

Traffic Advisory for Lynn Fells Parkway

  The state Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) has issued a traffic advisory in effect through Wednesday (July 3) and again on Monday (July 8) through Tuesday (July 9). The DCR will close Lynn Fells Parkway (northbound) between Laurine Road and Forest Street in Saugus from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate drainage improvement work. Traffic patterns will be clearly marked, and a police detail will be onsite.

 

Beatle Juice at Kowloon on July 11

  The Saugus Lions Club will present “Beatle Juice” in concert at Kowloon Restaurant (948 Broadway/Route 1 North) at 6 p.m. on July 11. The rain date is Aug. 8. Tickets cost $35 apiece. Please contact your local Saugus Lions Club for more details – Tom Traverse at 781-727-5629.

 

Theatre Company of Saugus sets audition dates

  This came in from the Theatre Company of Saugus, which will present “Evil Dead the Musical” in October 2024. Auditions are scheduled for July 8, 9 and 11; with callbacks on July 13.

The Story: Five college students go to an abandoned cabin in the woods and accidentally unleash an evil force that turns them into demons. It’s all up to Ash (a housewares employee turned demon-killing hero) and his trusty chainsaw to save the day. Blood flies. Limbs are dismembered. Demons tell bad jokes … and all to music. The songs in the show are completely off the wall, with titles like “All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Candarian Demons” and “What the F**k was That?” and have had the audience rolling in their seats and screaming for more and more blood.

You don’t need to be a fan of Evil Dead to love this show. You don’t need to be a fan of horror to love this show. You don’t even need to be a fan of musicals to love this show. This is a pure comedy start to finish. It has fun with the horror genre, and in doing so appeals to a wider audience than you could ever imagine.

The director is Jason Hair-Wynn, who directed previous Theatre Company of Saugus productions of “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Nevermore.” The music director is Shane Stetcher, with choreography by Jason Hair-Wynn and Jill Tokac and fight choreography by Amanda O’Donnell. The stage manager is Ally Lewis.

Performances of “Evil Dead the Musical” are on October 11-12-13 and 18-19-20, 2024. Rehearsals are planned for Sunday afternoons and on Monday and Wednesday evenings, with the possibility of adding more based on actor availability.

For the audition, please prepare a song from the show for a character you are most interested in, or sing a song in the style of the show. All songs, sheet music and sides are linked on the theatre’s website. Sign up for an audition slot on one of these dates:

• Monday, July 8 – 7-10 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 9 – 7-10 p.m.
• Thursday, July 11 – 7-10 p.m.

To sign up for an audition slot, to see the role descriptions and to view the audition sides, music and other information, please visit the Auditions page on the Theatre Company of Saugus website: TCSaugus.org/auditions/

Callbacks will be on Saturday, July 13, starting at 1:00 p.m. (Plan for a long afternoon.) Callbacks will consist of singing, acting, movement and possible stage combat. You will be learning a short combination from the show. This dance is not very complicated, and you do not have to be a strong dancer to be in this show. The main focus is that you can commit to this hilarious choreography and show the character as a “deadite,” as well as retain choreography quickly.

Performances, auditions and rehearsals of “Evil Dead the Musical” will be at the Theatre Company of Saugus home at the American Legion Post 210 at 44 Taylor St. in Saugus, Mass. The upstairs performance space is not wheelchair accessible.

 

What’s breaking at Breakheart

On Thursdays now through August, the Visitor Center will host a Wild Breakheart Series from 10–11 a.m. There will be no program on July 4. Join us for this rotating nature series as we explore different aspects of Breakheart! Meet outside the Visitor Center; rain cancels. During July, it will be Tree ID – explore the park and discover what trees are in the park and how to identify them. In August, park visitors can participate in Animal Exploration – enjoy discovering what animals call Breakheart home!

On Saturdays now through August, there will be an Easy, Breezy, Beautiful Hike from 1:30–3:30 p.m. (There will be no program on July 13.) Join the Park Interpreter for this 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; best for ages eight years and up. Meet at the Visitor Center. Rain cancels.

On Fridays now through August, the Visitor Center will host a Kidleidoscope from 10:30–11:30 a.m. Come join our 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; appropriate for families with children three to five years old. Meet at the Visitor Center. (No program on July 13.)

There will be Family Fishing on Saturdays now through August from 9:30–11:00 a.m. at Camp Nihan (131 Walnut St.). Join our park interpreter for a drop-in fishing program! Learn how to fish, what fish live in our ponds and how to catch and release responsibly. Bait and a handful of rods will be provided, but feel free to bring your own gear and fish with us and share your tips! No license required if fishing in this program. Appropriate for families with children five years old and up. Meet at Camp Nihan. Rain cancels.

 

CHaRM Center is open

  The Town of Saugus recently announced that the CHaRM Center is open Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents will be required to buy a $25 Sticker to use the Compost Facilities as well as to recycle hard plastics. The rest of the Facility’s features are free to use for any Saugus resident. Residents are also allowed three TVs or computers/CRT monitors for free per household each year. The Town of Saugus reserves the right to refuse any material if quantity or quality is questionable.

The final date the CHaRM Center will be open for the season is December 14. However, the Facility will be open the following winter dates, weather permitting: January 18, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; February 15, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; March 15, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Scott A. Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions.

 

Brick program for Saugus War Monument

The Saugus War Monument Committee, once again, is sponsoring the Buy-A-Brick Program to honor all those who have served their country. If you would like to purchase one in the name of someone who is presently serving or has served, in the memory of a loved one, or just someone from your family, school, etc., the general pricing is $100 for a 4″ X 8″ brick (three lines) or $200 for an 8″ X 8″ brick (five lines). Each line is a maximum of 15 characters. The improvement and upkeep of the monument on the corner of Winter and Central Streets rely on the generosity of donors through fundraising.

The brick application must be in by Sept. 10 to ensure the bricks will be ready for Veterans Day. Please contact Corinne Riley at 781-231-7995 for more information and applications.

 

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.