The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

  Hope you had a safe and fun Fourth of July shared with family and friends.

If you are looking for something interesting to do this weekend, be sure to check out the 2nd Annual Boardman House Community Day, which is scheduled for Sunday (July 14) from noon to 3 p.m. at 17 Howard St. Historic New England – the oldest, largest and most comprehensive regional heritage organization in the nation – owns this historic home, which was built in 1692 for William Boardman III and his family. Boardman House has original 17th and 18th century architectural features and offers a story of unbroken family history for over 300 years. While William Boardman himself only lived a few more years after moving here, his descendants lived in the home until 1911. In 1914 the preservationist William Sumner Appleton acquired it for the Society for Preservation of New England Antiquities (SPNEA) – now known as Historic New England.

Folks attending Sunday’s Community Day can learn more about historic and environmental resources in the area from Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) and the Saugus Historical Society. This is a free event which enables visitors to enjoy house tours while exploring Saugus history at their own pace. They can also try their hand at some family-friendly lawn games. For more information on Historic New England, visit HistoricNewEngland.org or call 978-377-7459.

 

A special Guy Moley car show to fight cancer

  If you want to do something cool with your kids or love admiring cool cars – or both – plan on attending Mom’s Cancer Fighting Angels’ 10th Annual Car Show, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Saugus Middle/High School (1 Pearce Memorial Dr.). The event will feature a live WROR 105.7 FM Street Team with games and prizes, DJ Jim Reece of Lil’ Jimmy’s Stack of Records and cool cars, trucks and motorcycles with raffles and trophies for the winners.

Guy Moley started this event as a continued tribute to his beloved mother, Irene Comeau, who passed away from esophageal cancer over a decade ago. With the love and support of his wife, Brenda; his sister, Jodi Lyn Comeau; and her daughter, Alexis, Mom’s Cancer Fighting Angels continue keeping Irene’s memory alive while raising money to strengthen the American Cancer Society.

“We will be honoring the now closed Saugus Route One Fuddruckers one last time as we feel Fuddruckers held the first nine car shows – and if not for Fuddruckers, we may not be here today,“ Guy said.

“We will be honoring Bill Pappas, the owner of the former Full of Bull Saugus Restaurant. Bill Pappas actually taught me ALL I know about how to run a Car Show,” he said.

The 10th Annual Car Show Cruise Night is open to all cars, trucks and motorcycles. All proceeds go to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Wakefield.

There will be food, music, raffles, 50/50 trophies and more. The rain date is July 21. For any questions, please call Guy Moley at 781-640-1310.

 

My half century reflections of UMass Amherst

  Fifty years ago this spring, I graduated from UMass Amherst with lofty goals of becoming a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper reporter who would become a force of good in the world while making his parents and journalism professors proud. I was an idealist who didn’t care about making the big bucks. I was only interested in busting the big stories that would make me stand out above the crowd of competing journalists. I was determined to practice the brand of journalism which contributed to the betterment of my community – no matter wherever I lived.

Even before I received my bachelor’s degree in Journalistic Studies, I had an edge on most of the aspiring journalists in the graduating Class of 1974 at UMass Amherst. I had accumulated about two years worth of bylined news clips – including a number of front-page articles published in The Springfield Union – one of the state’s top daily newspapers. Besides being a full-time student, I made the most of my time working part-time during the week and full-time on the two weekend days, working out of the newspaper’s Northampton bureau. My portfolio included a series of articles which led to a grand jury investigation and the indictments of two police officers and a head cook at a campus dining commons who were involved in a food theft scandal.

I also had a meaningful internship in Washington, D.C., during the fall of 1973 with the U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance. I used my Springfield Union press credentials and my time in the nation’s capital – living with a small group of interns within walking distance of the Capitol – to freelance articles to newspapers back in Massachusetts on the Watergate scandal, which led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. I even got cleared to join the Washington press corps at the White House on the night that Nixon nominated Congressman Gerald Ford to replace Vice President Spiro Agnew, who resigned in disgrace.

When I returned to Amherst for my final semester at UMass Amherst, I organized a small group of campus journalists to produce a cable TV program focusing on the 1974 gubernatorial race. The project consisted of televised hour-long press conferences with each of the four major candidates vying for governor. We interviewed Republican Gov. Francis W. Sargent, Republican challenger and former state Commerce Commissioner Carroll Sheehan, state Attorney General and Democratic challenger Robert H. Quinn and former state Rep. Michael Dukakis – who beat Quinn in the Democratic Primary and went on to defeat Gov. Sargent.

During my stint as a part-time cub reporter for The Springfield Union, I also got to cover the murder of a Smith College coed, which drew intense media coverage from around the state.

While working on my college degree, I developed a hell of a resume as I embarked on a career in journalism. Essentially, I gained two years of experience during my final two years on campus.

Fifty years later, at age 71, I find myself still going strong in my chosen profession. I never became rich and famous. I never really cared about that. But I did share in a Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting 21 years ago with The Eagle-Tribune of North Andover for spot news and follow up coverage of the tragic drowning of four Lawrence kids who fell through the ice on the Merrimack River.

Many of my peers from the Class of 1974 have passed on or have long since retired from the dying newspaper profession. I’m probably 75 percent the reporter I was back in 1972 when I began writing newspaper stories. But my health and resolve are good enough to enable me to continue to be a force for good in the community I happen to be working in – Saugus, Mass. I’m also blessed with the backing of a publisher who encourages me to continue practicing my craft the best way I know how – by producing a balanced, entertaining and informative package of articles for The Saugus Advocate readers.

I know that eventually I will wake up one morning and will realize that I’ve done as much as I could to put out a decent hometown weekly newspaper. At some point I will realize it’s time to finally retire. But as I’ve said several times in this column before, I’ll continue as long as my health holds up, as long as I have the support of my publisher and as long as The Saugus Advocate continues in its print format. I have zero interest in extending my career with an online newspaper. I’m a paper guy, who loves to feel the paper and smell the newsprint.

 

Knights begin planning flea market and craft fair

  The Knights of Columbus Council 1829 announced this week that it plans to hold its Festive Holiday Flea Market and Craft Fair on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 57 Appleton St. The huge indoor affair is still weeks away. But it’s not too early for participants to begin planning. Vendor space for this year’s event will be $30 with free admission and free parking to go along with raffles, food and fun.

Anyone with questions should call the Knights of Columbus at 781-233-9858. For more information, Paul Giannetta can also be reached at 978-239-1392.

 

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.

Adult coloring group being phased out: “We’ve decided to discontinue our coloring group for the present time and wanted to let you know,” Reference Librarian Denise Hills said this week.

“If someone shows up because the information has already been published, that is fine, we will accommodate them. But going forward we won’t be having it. If anything changes I will let you know,” she said.

 

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 open today (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.

 

Five “Shout Outs” for betterment of Saugus

It’s always a great week when we receive multiple “Shout Outs” from our readers. There’s always enough room to run as many as people send us. So, keep them coming.

This week’s contributors:

  Anthony Speziale, president of the Saugus Lions Club: “I would like to give a big shout out to the Saugus Lions Club on their 95th birthday. Thank you to all the club members and the people of Saugus. With all your help we were able to donate $20,000.00 to eye research. Not only do we raise money for eye research but ‘we serve’. We give back to our community in the form of scholarships, donations, visual aids, and serve those less fortunate in many other ways.

“Many thanks to Martha Poti for opening up her home for our end of the year outing and a special thank you to Charlie Zapolski, for all the wonderful pictures. Catch up with us on Facebook. e-clubhouse/Saugus Lions.”

  Laura Eisener, president of the Saugus Historical Society and author of the popular “Saugus Gardens” column in The Saugus Advocate: “I’d like to make a shout out to Jaclyn and Derek Hickman and to the Ray Maes band for keeping the Lynnhurst fourth of July tradition going! So nice to have an event you can just walk to.”

  Joyce Rodenhiser, a member of Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE), who has served on the Saugus Annual Town Meeting and remains very active in local civic affairs: “May we have Shout Outs for five very diligent women? The officers of SAVE who were pictured on page 14 of The Advocate last week have been so faithful to their officers for a long time. Ann Devlin, Margery Hunter, and Pam Goodwin have served in these capacities for many, many years. Stephanie Shalkowski and Mary Kinsell have served a while as well. Between them and the other members of SAVE, they have been aware and acting on environmental issues affecting Saugus (as you printed) for fifty one years. That’s a long time to keep on top of things and we all admire their tenacity.”

  Joseph E. Dion, Senior Vice-Commander of Saugus American Legion Post 210: “The Cpl Scott J. Procopio/Capt. William G. Shoemaker Saugus American Legion Post 210 would like to thank the townsperson who brought up the subject of painting the Hall in May of 2022, and the town meeting members who unanimously passed a bond for that purpose. We would also like to thank the town for hiring the same very professional workers who prepped and painted the exterior of the Town Hall to clear the building down to the bare wood, replace rotted siding and corner pieces, and repaint the trim, handrails, fire escape, and handicapped access ramp as well as the building. They were hard at work for most of June, and the place looks marvelous. If you haven’t seen it since its shabby days, take a drive past 44 Taylor Street and see its new appearance. The veterans of Saugus appreciate your support.”

  Kathryn Walton, the Children’s Librarian at the Saugus Public Library: “Thank you to Officer Tyler from the Saugus Police Department for coming to our law enforcement story time today [Wednesday, July 10]. He answered loads of questions and even let the kids sit in the parade cruiser with the lights on! We read ‘How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe?’ by Jane Yolen, a great book to prompt a discussion of safety with younger kids. Thank you Officer Tyler, and thank you to the Saugus Iron Works for hosting this special library program!”

 

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.

 

July Events at the Kowloon

Here’s what’s happening this month at the Kowloon Restaurant:

JULY 12: CONCERT SERIES: COVER STORY – 7 p.m. – Free General Admission or $10 Reserved Seating.

JULY 13: CONCERT SERIES: LISA LOVE – 7 p.m. – Free General Admission or $10 Reserved Seating.

JULY 17: BINGO NIGHT with DJ TOMMY – 7 p.m. – Free General Admission.

JULY 18: TALENT SHOWCASE: TOMMY FLYNN – 7 p.m. – Free General Admission.

JULY 19: CONCERT SERIES: BACK TO THE 80s – 7 p.m. – Free General Admission or $10 Reserved Seating.

JULY 20: TAYLOR DAYNE with THE ORIGINAL COVER GIRLS – 8 p.m. – $69 General Admission, $79 Reserved Seating, $120 Premium Seats, Early Admittance, Buffet & Host Bar.

JULY 21: SUNDAY COUNTRY NIGHT LIVE: SAMANTHA RAE – 6 p.m. – Free General Admission or $10 Reserved Seating.

JULY 24: BINGO NIGHT with DJ TOMMY – 7 p.m. – Free General Admission.

JULY 26: CONCERT SERIES: PERFECT EXAMPLE – 7 p.m. – Free General Admission or $10 Reserved Seating.

JULY 27: CONCERT SERIES: WILDFIRE – 7 p.m. – Free General Admission or $10 Reserved Seating.

JULY 31: BINGO NIGHT with DJ TOMMY – 7 p.m. – Free General Admission.

For all tickets, call the Kowloon Restaurant at 781-233-0077 or access online at www.kowloonrestaurant.com

 

What’s breaking at Breakheart

On Thursdays now through August, the Visitor Center will host a Wild Breakheart Series from 10–11 a.m. 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 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.