The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

Good morning, Saugus

The Board of Selectmen should have declared tomorrow (Saturday, March 21) as “Get to Know Your Hometown Better” Day, a special day when citizens of any age – from children to senior citizens, and who have spent any length of time in town, from newcomers to old-timers – can learn a few new things about Saugus. The Saugus Cultural Council and the Saugus 411 Committee will present the first annual Saugus Community Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Saugus Middle High School complex. The six-hour program will feature live performances, activities, food and more to celebrate the culture and diversity of the townspeople who make Saugus the community it is.

Its organizers are promoting it as a great way for Saugus residents to learn more about their community and what it has to offer. It’s an opportunity for newcomers to town to get better acquainted with how to make life easier and various attractions. It’s also a chance for longtime residents to refresh themselves with knowledge about their hometown and to renew connections.

Hey, Saugonians! Take some pride in Saugus and seize the opportunity to get closer to your community. Check out the listings of Wellness Activities and Performances in the graphics accompanying this week’s column.

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, March 20) 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 2026 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”

From Stephanie M. Shalkoski: “A Shout out to Ryan Duggan, a member of SAVE (Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment), for a great talk at the Saugus Public Library last week. He spoke to fellow SAVE members about Reading the Forested Landscape, showing how to understand the age and story of trees in a clear, engaging way—complete with props! Ryan volunteered his time and brought both expertise and enthusiasm. Kudos, Ryan! P.S. If any readers are interested in presenting on an environmental education topic, contact SAVE at SA*******@***il.com.”

Collectively, from the Saugus-Everett Elks Lodge #642, inscribed on the plaque honoring Saugus Senior Center Director Laurie Davis as Citizen of the Year “For her tireless commitment to Saugus Seniors.”

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.

Sideshow Tony at library tomorrow

Tomorrow (Saturday, March 21) at noon, the Saugus Public Library will welcome back magician and street organist Tony Gangi as he blends music, history and magic for audiences of all ages. Gangi of Great American Street Organ brings a beautifully restored hand-cranked organ to life, filling the air with lively melodies while sharing fascinating stories about the history of these remarkable instruments. As the tunes play, Tony weaves in moments of wonder with clever feats of magic, surprising audiences of all ages. Part concert, part storytelling and part magical spectacle, this immersive experience celebrates the charm of old-world music and the joy of live performance in a truly unforgettable way.

Protecting retirement assets from AI, March 28

Robert Siciliano (CSP, CSI, CITRMS) will be at the Saugus Public Library on March 28 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. to offer a free program titled “The Strategic Human Firewall: Protecting Retirement Assets in the Age of AI Deception.” For retirees in 2026, protecting a lifetime of savings requires moving beyond basic awareness. As AI driven threats like voice cloning and deepfakes become the “new normal,” criminals are bypassing technical perimeters by targeting the Human Blindspot™ — our natural instinct to trust the familiar.

This program deconstructs the predatory “Pig Butchering” phenomenon, where scammers “fatten up” victims through emotional grooming before draining their wealth. By mastering the Triple-A Protocol, attendees shift from “default to trust” to a “verify everything” mindset.

We cover the technical basics — from password managers to multi-factor authentication — to harden your digital home. Learn to transform your personal defense into a Strategic Human Firewall™, ensuring that your retirement remains secure in an era of industrialized deception.

This is a fully interactive, nontechnical session. We’ve stripped away the jargon to focus on practical, real-world strategies you can use immediately. Come prepared to ask questions and engage in a candid dialogue about protecting yourself or your organization’s money and your own peace of mind.

Learning objectives:

• Mitigate the Human Blindspot™: Recognize how psychological “action bias” and manufactured urgency cloud judgment during AI-enhanced scams.
• Identify Pig Butchering Tactics: Detect the warning signs of long-coninvestment fraud and emotional grooming used to exploit seniors.
• Execute the Triple-A Protocol: Implement a mandated workflow—Analyze, Authenticate and Act — to verify every high-stakes digital request.
• Harden Technical Basics: Deploy password managers, MFA and “Out-of-Band” verification to protect Social Security and retirement accounts.
• Neutralize Deepfakes: Establish family code words to defeat AI voice cloning and “Grandparent” kidnapping scams.

Join us at the Saugus Public Library on March 28; brought to you by the Friends of the Saugus Public Library. Seating is limited. Registration is required. Register at www.sauguspubliclibrary.org/events or call 781-231-4168 ext. 3106.

Remember the Fallen

  Members of the Saugus Veterans Council who are hard at work planning and organizing the Memorial Day Parade, which is set for Saturday, May 23. Council members are committed to making this year’s parade and ceremony one of the best-attended in years. That’s a noble goal and an appropriate way to honor all of the Saugus residents who have sacrificed their lives while serving their country in the armed forces over the years. Honor the town’s fallen. Show your support.

Little League Opening Day

Just three weeks from tomorrow (weather permitting) Saugus Little League Baseball will be celebrating Opening Day on April 11 beginning at 10 a.m. at Grabowski Field off of Hurd Avenue, with a special guest – Boston Bruins National Anthem singer Todd Angilly – starting things off. But the league will launch its 2026 season with its annual parade, which will leave the Belmonte STEAM Academy at 8:30 a.m. Current plans call for the boys and girls players, coaches and other parade participants to assemble at the Belmonte at about 8 a.m. Stay tuned for more details as Little League baseball gets ready to celebrate its 75th anniversary in Saugus.

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