The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

Good morning, Saugus

Nowadays, a decade is a long time for anyone to spend on the job.

With this week’s edition, I have reached my 10-year anniversary as Editor of The Saugus Advocate. I officially began covering the town on a Leap Year Monday – Feb. 29, 2016. And my first edition was Friday, March 4. It’s now well over 500 weekly newspapers that I was directly involved in – reporting exclusively on the Town of Saugus government, activities in the schools, community events, important news and human-interest stories. During that time, I spent thousands of hours interviewing Saugus residents – from everyday people to public officials and community leaders. I have written thousands and thousands of words about Saugus, while snapping hundreds of photos and writing hundreds of headlines and photo captions. I would have to say that 10 years has been a good run and I hope that the decade I spent covering the town has been informative, educative, helpful and entertaining to our readers while illuminating important issues that spur public discussion and lead to the betterment of the community.

I’m 73 with more than a half century in the business. And I don’t have any retirement date set. I’ve always told people I meet in town that I enjoy what I do and will continue my lifelong profession as long as my health holds out and as long as Advocate Newspapers Publisher Jim Mitchell wants me to oversee the town’s news coverage. About this time every year for the past 10 years, I usually commit to at least one more year. So, right now, that’s my goal. I’m hoping for a year of good health and good reporting. Stay tuned.

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, Feb. 27) 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.

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.

This week’s “Shout Outs”

Longtime Saugus writer and historian Janice Jarosz, a frequent contributor to The Saugus Advocate, offered this week’s “Shout Outs: “Special thanks to the DPW for getting the town through the Blizzard of 26 and also thanks to Ms. Bridget Marino who, for many years, has taken care of the neighborhood fire hydrant by clearing it out with the right 3 by 3 foot snow clearance every time there is a flicker of snow coming our way. Hugs and kisses!!!”

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.

Remembering a Saugus gold medalist

Last week’s victory by the U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey team over Canada to clinch the Gold Medal rekindled fond local memories of Sandra Whyte-Sweeney – a great woman hockey player from Saugus who starred on the women’s team that won the gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. She contributed two assists and a goal in Team USA’s 3-1 victory over Canada in the gold medal game.

“Sandra and my son Thomas played together under the Saugus Youth Hockey Teams when they first started out at 10 -11,” Janice Jarosz recalled this week.

“Hockey was very popular back then,” Jarosz continued, noting that Sandra’s parents live on King Street in Saugus.

“Sandra’s grandmother, Mariane (Sperry) Whyte was the first female to be elected to the Saugus Youth Hockey Program,” Jarosz said.

Whyte is a 1988 Saugus High School graduate who starred in field hockey who later went on to play center for the Harvard University women’s hockey team, where she went on to become one of the school’s all-time greats, later being inducted into the Harvard athletes’ Hall of Fame. She was the Ivy League Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992.

SRWC Annual Meeting March 16

The Saugus River Watershed Council will host its Annual Dinner Meeting on Monday (March 16) 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.

Final Fireside Chat at Breakheart tomorrow

The last in a series of Fireside Chats will be held tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 28) at 10 a.m. at Breakheart Reservation in the Visitors’ Center (177 Forest St.). Join Jonathan Patton, Staff Archaeologist, and Leah Hopkins (Narragansett Tribe), Indigenous Peoples Partnership Coordinator, as they discuss archaeological collaboration within DCR.

Saugus Democrats caucus March 4

A caucus to elect delegates to the Massachusetts Democratic State Convention will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Italian American Club at 1 Beachview Avenue in Saugus at 6:30 p.m. The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in the Town of Saugus. We will be selecting 13 Delegates and 4 Alternates to represent the Town of Saugus at the Democratic State Convention on Friday, May 29, and Saturday, May 30, at the DCU Center in Worcester. If you have any questions, call Joe Malone at 781-307-1674 or e-mail him at li***********@*****on.net

St. John’s will host March 14 craft fair

St. John’s Episcopal Church will host an Artisan Marketplace on Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 8 Prospect St. in Saugus. The Marketplace will feature talented local artisans offering a variety of exquisite, handcrafted items. Shoppers will find unique gifts for birthdays, Mother’s and Father’s Day and anniversaries, or special touches for the home. Visitors are invited to enjoy refreshments from the snack bar and a special 11 a.m. appearance by musician Chris D’Agostino, a Boston-based singer-songwriter, keyboardist and guitarist. He covers musical genres across various decades: rock, pop, soul and folk. Children ages 10 and under may register from 12:15 p.m.-12:45 p.m. to participate in a 1:00 p.m. Easter egg hunt.

Art on the Wing

Join the library and Wingmasters for this unique opportunity! Draw or paint live birds of prey! Wingmasters will present five live birds for 10-15 minutes each while the audience draws and asks questions. Participants need to bring their own art supplies. The library will provide plain paper, pencils and colored pencils. Saturday, March 21, from 10-11 a.m. in the Community Room; age eight and up, please. Online registration starts on March 7.

Coach T’s spring track program

Plans are in the works for the Saugus Sachems Youth Spring Track Program for 2026. Here’s the basic information.

Who: Grades K-6^th.

Where: Belmonte Track.

When: 4:00-5:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays – May 19-June 11.

This program is geared toward new track and field athletes. It will prepare them for the larger-scale summer camp.

Cost: $150 first year, $75 if returning.

For any questions, further information or to register, please contact Coach Christopher Tarantino (Coach T) at 781-854-6778 or ch********************@***il.com