The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

 

Best wishes to our Saugus Advocate readers and all town residents for a happy, healthy and safe Fourth of July weekend. It’s dangerous out there on this holiday weekend, with firecrackers, drunk or buzzed drivers and people not observing fire safety at family cookouts.

Best bet for local events this weekend: Check out the Saugus Feast in Honor of the Divino Espirito Santo – an annual event held in Saugus this time each year to celebrate the coronation of the Holy Ghost emperor and empress. The custom starts with a procession, followed by mass and coronation, before a Holy Ghost soup lunch. If you love Portuguese food, you will love this one. Enjoy the traditional foods like Malassadas, Bifanas, Iscas de Fígado, Favas and more on Saturday (July 5) and Sunday (July 6) at 262 Lynn Fells Parkway, Saugus.

 

This week’s “SHOUT OUTs”

Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member Jeanie Bartolo submitted “a sad Shout Out” for Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member Robert A. Palleschi, who died last week at the age of 79. Jeanie offered a special tribute: “I could go on for days with all of Bob’s accomplishments, including saving the Saugus Public Library from closing permanently and being Acting Town Manager. But Bob would not want that because he was such a kind, humble man. He never sought accolades. He was always there when friends and Saugus needed him. I am honored he considered me his friend and I will miss him. May he RIP.”

  A few other “Shout Outs”: Frequent Saugus Advocate contributor Janice Jarosz, in her role as a longtime member of the Parson Roby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, emailed me a list of 36 “Saugus Patriots” who are buried in the Revolutionary War Cemetery. As long as we’re observing the 249th birthday of the nation, let’s give a fitting local tribute to those veterans from Saugus who fought for Independence. The Fourth of July is a fitting time to do that. Buried on the East Side of the old cemetery are Hitchings, B.; Taggard, D.; Danforth, Joseph; Pearson, Samuel; Boardman, Samuel; Boardman, Ivory; Howard, Ezekiel; Tuttle, William; Pratt, Amos; Cheever, Abner, Sr.; Newhall, Jacob; Newhall, Calvin; Boynton, Nathaniel; and Redden, Benjamin. Buried on the West Side of the old cemetery are Hawkes, Nathan; Hawkes, Erach; Jacobs, Benjamin; Hershey, E.; Allen, Lem; Roby, Parson; Boardman, Aaron; Mansfield, Benjamin; Burrill, John; Hawkes, Thomas; Hawkes, Adam; Hitchings, Thomas; Hitchings, Daniel; Hitchings, I.; Pool, John; Brown, Ezra; Briden, Samuel; Hitchings, Nathaniel; Mansfield, Thomas; Mansfield, Samuel; Hitchings, Nathan; and Sweetser, Samuel.

Here’s a collective “Shout Out” from The Saugus Advocate editor to all of the town residents – departed and still living – who contributed to the betterment of the Congregation Ahavas Sholom as well as the betterment of Saugus. The Congregation recently observed its 100th anniversary as an integral part of Saugus Center.

Here’s a “Shout Out” to Kowloon, America’s largest Chinese restaurant, which is located at 948 Broadway, Route 1 North in Saugus. The restaurant has announced plans for its 75th Diamond Anniversary with a Gala Block Party on August 20 from 7 p.m. to midnight. (Rain date: August 21, 2025.)

Headlining the outdoor concert is Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame group Starship, featuring Mickey Thomas playing “We Built This City,” “Sara,” “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” and “Jane.” Tavares will also be performing their greatest hits: “It Only Takes A Minute,” “Whodunnit” and “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel.” Scott Brown & the Diplomats will open the show, bringing their classic rock and roll songs to the stage. DJ Steve Virgilio will be spinning.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Joey Fund for cystic fibrosis. Ticket Prices: $150 includes reserved seats, early admission and a light buffet. The doors open at 5 p.m. There’s a Special for four or more: $125 per person. $100 for general admission and no reserved seats; $75 for standing room only. The doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by ordering online at Kowloonrestaurant.com, at the Kowloon Front Desk or Charge-By-Phone: 781-233-0077.

 

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.

 

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be closed on Friday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday. The Food Pantry will return to its normal schedule next Friday (July 11) 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.

 

Saugus trash/recycling collection running on one-day delay for Fourth of July holiday

The Town of Saugus announces that trash and recycling collection will run on a one-day delay for the Fourth of July holiday on Friday, July 4, 2025. Trash and recycling will not be collected on Friday, July 4, 2025, due to the holiday. Collection will resume on a one-day delay on Saturday, July 5, 2025. 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.

 

A special call for art

Here’s a special request from Tori Darnell, co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council:

I wanted to share with you that the Saugus Cultural Council has partnered with Bike to the Sea to host an outdoor art show along the Northern Strand Trail on Saturday, July 19th. This special 1-day event is to celebrate local creativity and community spirit by showcasing artwork from residents of all ages who live along this community-connecting trail.

I am reaching out to community groups and leaders along the trail; Everett, Malden, Revere, Saugus, and Lynn, for their support in promoting the call for artists for this community-connecting event. Artists are to submit artwork through this online form: https://forms.gle/sM9KLBzskdJHKaUc6/. Artwork deadline entry is July 1st, 2025.

Tori can be reached at 339-440-1017 for more details.

 

Help plan the Second Annual Saugus Cultural Festival

Join the Saugus Cultural Festival Subcommittee to help organize the 2nd Annual Saugus Cultural Festival! The Saugus Cultural Council is looking for Saugus resident volunteers to serve on a Subcommittee to help plan and organize the 2026 Saugus Cultural Festival, which is happening on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Saugus Middle High School!

Help out with:

• Coordinate diverse entertainers, food vendors and miscellaneous activities
• Work with Saugus 411 Committee on community/information tables for community groups & local businesses/nonprofits
• Support in social media, print and other digital marketing
• Support in crowdsourcing for grants and festival sponsors
• And more!

Other commitments:

• Monthly evening meetings starting August 2025; Subcommittee may meet twice a month starting October 2025 until March 2026.
• Share progress at Saugus Cultural Council public meetings every first Tuesday starting September 2025 until March 2026

Interested in volunteering? Email us at sa*******************@***il.com by July 31.

 

Narcan presentation July 14 at Senior Center

The Saugus Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee will hold a Narcan Presentation at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St. in Saugus) on Monday, July 14, at 10 a.m. This is a free hour-long presentation. Become educated on how to save lives from an accidental overdose. Light refreshments will be served. Call the Senior Center at 781-231-4178 to reserve your seat. Walk-ins are welcome.

 

Visitor Services available at Saugus Iron Works

The Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site has begun its “visitors’ services,” marking the opening of restrooms and the museum. This is the expected schedule of tours for the summer: Wednesday–Sunday at 11 a.m., house tours, 1/2 hour; Wednesday–Sunday at 2 p.m., industrial site tours, which will include waterwheel demonstrations when staffing permits. On Fridays and Saturdays only, there will also be a 10 a.m. waterwheel demonstration. Visitors’ services will end on Oct. 31.

 

Library events

• Henna For Teens: Get a free Henna Design tattoo from a professional Henna artist; July 21 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the Brooks Room. Registration required. Fifth grade and up.
• Level Up at your library: Now through Aug. 20, submit what you read this summer and you may win an Amazon gift card. Enter to win by going to our website and filling out the book review form. Grades 7-12.
• Adult Summer Reading Contest at the library: June 18-August 20; adults ages 18 and up can participate in our Adult Summer Reading Contest for the chance to win a gift card to a local restaurant! Fill out an online (www.sauguspubliclibrary.org) book review form for every book you read over the summer, and you will be entered to win! The more books you read, the greater your chances of winning! Graphic novels, manga, cookbooks, e-books and audio books count, too. Good luck!

 

Buy-A-Brick for a veteran

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 a 8″ x 8″ brick (five lines). Each line has 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 September 10 to ensure the bricks will be ready for Veterans Day. Please contact Corinne Riley at 781-231-7995 for more information and applications.

 

C.H.a.R.M. Center is open

The Town of Saugus Solid Waste/Recycling Department announced that the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (C.H.a.R.M.) has opened for the season, with normal operational hours of Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The C.H.a.R.M. Center is located at 515 Main St., Saugus, behind the Saugus Department of Public Works. Residents are welcome to use the C.H.a.R.M. Center for their recycling needs. Saugus was the first municipality in Massachusetts to open a C.H.a.R.M. Center.

The C.H.a.R.M. Center accepts the following items at no cost to residents:

• Bottles and cans
• Paper and cardboard
• Scrap metal
• Shoes, clothes and other textiles
• Fluorescent light bulbs and batteries (button and rechargeable)

Residents are also permitted the free disposal of three TVs or computers/CRT monitors per household each year at the C.H.a.R.M. Center.

Residents can obtain new stickers for this year free of charge when visiting the C.H.a.R.M. Center. By purchasing a $25 sticker that is valid for the entirety of the season, residents will be permitted to dispose of yard waste and brush at the C.H.a.R.M. Center. The $25 sticker also covers the cost to dispose of hard/rigid plastics at the facility. The C.H.a.R.M. Center accepts CHECKS ONLY, no cash or cards.

Please note that the C.H.a.R.M. Center does not accept any household trash or construction materials and debris. The Town of Saugus reserves the right to refuse any material if quantity or quality is questionable. Go to https://www.saugus-ma.gov/solid-waste-recycling-department and click on “Recycling Guide” for a comprehensive list of items that are accepted or not accepted at the C.H.a.R.M. Center, in addition to guidelines for how to prepare different items for disposal at the facility.

The C.H.a.R.M. Center will remain open on Wednesdays and Saturdays through the season until the winter. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Scott A. Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions.

 

Saugus High Class of 1980

Attention, Saugus High Class of 1980. Mark your calendars for Nov. 29 (Saturday after Thanksgiving) and reach out to your friends that you’d like to see at the 45th Class Reunion for 1980 graduates and friends. The reunion will be held that day from 1 to 6 p.m. inside the Saugus Elks.

Invite Saugus High friends from other classes that you may want to be at our 1980 Class Reunion. Our last Saugus Class BBQ event a couple of years ago had three sisters from three different classes attend and they had a blast – so many loved seeing them and appreciated them being there. So many old friends reconnecting after decades; friends from overseas and across the country came; Saugus Classmates that left in Jr. High and that went to other High Schools came. How special it was for so many people to see each other after over 40 years.

Reach out to your friends who are not on Facebook to give them some early notice in case they may want to attend and need to make travel plans. Some of our Classmates have kept in touch with some of our High School teachers, and they attended our last two Saugus High Reunion events – we hope they’ll join us again. Feel free to reach out to any of your favorite teachers that you may want there – I’m sure they would love to hear from you.

More information is forthcoming. Any questions, please feel free to reach out to Andrea or Pete:

Andrea Saunders (1980 Class President) can be reached at pa********@*ol.com or 978-482-5787.

Pete Nicolo can be reached PS**********@*****st.net or 978-815-8234.

 

About The Saugus Advocate

We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is 6 p.m. on Tuesday. If you have a story idea, an article or a photo to submit, please email me at mv***@*****st.net or leave a message at 978-683-7773. Or send your press release to me in the mail at PO Box 485, North Andover, MA 01845. 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.