The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

Good morning, Saugus

Writing this week’s column is one of my final tasks of 2025 as editor of The Saugus Advocate. It’s been a productive, but challenging year. And I just can’t wait to meet my deadline so I can begin enjoying a much-welcomed vacation until it’s time to begin work on our Jan. 9 edition of The Saugus Advocate, which is about two weeks from this past Monday (Dec. 22).

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and safe holiday and an outstanding New Year.

For those folks who observe and celebrate Christmas, I am including a copy of a special Christmas card with this week’s column. On Wednesday, Dec. 3 after wrapping up that week’s edition, I was going to walk outside to get some fresh air. As I looked out my storm door window at the front of the house, I saw a family of five deer walking down my driveway. One of them headed to a pumpkin I had cracked open a few weeks earlier in my front yard. In just a matter of seconds, I spotted four of the deer feasting on the scattered pieces of pumpkins. Immediately, I grabbed my cell phone and began snapping away photos of the lead deer, probably the mother, who had her back to me. I banged on the bottom of the screen door to get her attention and, hopefully, get her looking at me without scaring her and the other deer away. It worked. And as the deer walked toward my backyard, I continued snapping photos and got several of her looking in my direction as she walked away. It didn’t take me long to figure out that I had my Christmas card for this year. So, I’m making that a lead photo for this week’s “Sounds of Saugus” column.

I learned something from my latest deer encounter. Squirrels and birds aren’t the only wildlife that enjoy nibbling on pumpkin pieces. Deer do, too. And I have the photos to prove it.

Christmas and New Years combined

In this week’s issue, we combined some holiday stories with our “Year-In-Review for 2025.” Early next year, we still plan to do a few year-end wrap-up stories and do our annual Cover Photos of the Year. But in this week’s paper, you will find a month-by-month breakdown of the stories that made Page One this year. We also reached out to the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee and invited them to share their thoughts on what the top story of the year was and to share their New Year’s resolutions or goals for 2026.

It’s a great time of the year for the town as residents look forward to happy holiday get-togethers with family, relatives and friends while counting their blessings for good health and happiness. It’s also a great time to engage in acts of kindness to brighten up the lives of less fortunate people whose lives are plagued by poor health, hunger, illness, poverty and sadness. Fortunately, there are untold people who live in town who strive to contribute in their own way to make the world and their hometown a better place.

My personal resolutions and goals for 2026

As I told readers in this column before, I will continue to work as Editor of The Saugus Advocate as long my health permits and as long as my publisher, Jim Mitchell, wants me to continue to oversee our weekly newspaper. With our first paper next March, I will have worked a decade as the newspaper’s editor. My goals for the new year are to strive to work to make the paper even better than this year, as best as I can with the resources I have. It’s been a difficult environment for newspapers these past few years. Saugus is fortunate to have a publisher who wants to maintain a high-quality weekly newspaper that covers the town exclusively.

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be closed on Friday, December 26, and Friday, January 2, in observance of the holidays. The food pantry will reopen on Friday, January 9, 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 (781-233-2663) or go to the website (cliftondalecc.org) for details.

Legion Breakfast on Fridays

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 2025-26 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.

A Candlelight Christmas Eve Service in Cliftondale

The Cliftondale Congregational Church will host a Candlelight Christmas Eve Service on Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m. at the church at 50 Essex St.

Saugus Senior Center

The Bible Study at the Senior Center will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 7.

This week’s “Shout Outs”

From Crystal Cakounes, director of the Saugus Youth and Recreation Department, a “shout out” for Brian Cross, who oversees the Annual Christmas Eve Parade: “He is the young man that organizes this parade all by himself.  We assist him where we can, but he orchestrates the entire thing from the kindness of his heart… to keep this wonderful tradition alive.”

From Donna Lawrence: “A shout out to retired Lt. Bill O’Malley and his better half Carole for another successful year with the Fire Department toy drive. Bill and Carole, you and the elves come through again!”

An Editor’s “Shout Out”: “For Brian Cross and everyone who has worked to make this year’s annual Christmas Eve Parade a popular holiday event for Saugus residents.

An Editor’s “Shout Out”: “For all of the Saugus residents who contribute in their own ways to help brighten the holidays for less fortunate citizens, through toy drives donations to the food pantries in town.

An Editor’s “Shout Out”: to all of those citizens who volunteer untold hours on a wide range of elected or appointed town boards and committees for the betterment of the town. Their collective service to the community is crucial to enhancing the quality of life and services in Saugus.

An Editor’s “Shout Out”: to the dependable corps of contributors to The Saugus Advocate who don’t get paid, but who work hard to make The Saugus Advocate more interesting, entertaining and educational. People like Laura Eisener (“The Saugus Gardens” column along with frequent articles and photos), Joanie Allbee (The Sketch Artist, frequent articles and photos), Janice Jarosz (frequent articles and photos with a historical flair) and James DeMarco (“Small Saves” cartoon). Thank you all for your years of service.

First Day Hike at Breakheart begins 2026

Laura Eisener passed along this note to remind us of the many great activities that Breakheart Reservation has in store for area residents for the new year, beginning with the wonderful First Day Hike on Jan. 1, which has become a tradition with many people. There are two choices of route, with a hike leader for each loop of the paved trail: The inner loop is about 1.9 miles and the outer loop is about 2.9 miles. Please be sure to wear footwear suitable for walking.

You may well meet some new friends or perhaps your neighbors along this social walk! The First Day Hike is 10 a.m. to noon, with hot chocolate and snacks served in the festively decorated Visitors’ Center afterward. If the ground is extremely icy or there is heavy rain or snow, the hike may be shortened or cancelled, but we hope for good weather to start off our new year!

Winter is by no means a slow period at Breakheart! There are guided walks several days a week all winter, and the very popular Fireside Chats in February have moved to Saturdays, as several people have requested. The Visitors’ Center is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including New Year’s Day itself, when it will be bustling with hikers. You can relax in the Visitors’ Center even on most rainy or snowy days!

As nature begins to show signs of spring, the Maple Sugarin’ Days celebration will be held on Saturday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be various maple-related activities inside and outside near the Visitors’ Center.

The current winter schedule of programs is online at: https://www.mass.gov/doc/breakheart-winter-programs/download

Here is a summary of some upcoming events:

• Wild Breakheart Winter Tree ID series: Wednesdays in January, 9-10 a.m.
• Wild Breakheart Animal Tracking series: Wednesdays in February, 9-10 a.m.
• Step into the Past: Thursdays 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Jan. 5 and 29, Feb. 12; Hikes of about 2.5 miles, moderately difficult terrain. Themes include “stories in stone” and “glacial giants.”
• The Beavers are Back! Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m., Jan. 8 and 22, Feb. 5; Meet outside the Visitors’ Center to learn about beavers and their history while enjoying a walk in Breakheart.
• Kidleidoscope: Fridays 10:30-11:30 a.m., December-February (except Dec. 26). Storytime and easy walks for children and their adult caregiver.
• Nice and Easy Hike: Saturdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., December and January; moderate hikes for ages eight and up; can include some uneven and rocky terrain, two to three miles, moderately paced.
• Fireside Chats: Saturdays, 9-10 a.m., Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28; programs inside Visitors’ Center presented by various “Behind the Scenes” experts. Speakers to be determined, no walking required.

Heavy rain or snow or icy surface conditions may cancel outdoor events. Please wear appropriate footwear for walks/hikes. Breakheart Reservation, Department of Conservation & Recreation, 177 Forest Street, Saugus, MA 01906, 781-233-0834.

SRWC Annual Meeting Jan. 26

The Saugus River Watershed Council will hold its annual meeting Monday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Marina at The Wharf (543 North Shore Rd. in Revere). This is being billed as a fun night with stewardship awards, silent auctions and raffles. Steve Fantone will present the keynote presentation and wildlife slide show. Those who attend the annual meeting can also learn about the new Rumney Marsh Conservancy. Tickets cost $35. For details, go to www.saugusriver.org.

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 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.