The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

What a remarkable showing last Saturday morning (April 11) when a crowd, predominantly of parents and kids, along with their coaches, assembled in the parking lot in front of Belmonte STEAM Academy for the annual Saugus Little League Parade. There were also quite a few girls from the Saugus Softball Little League, which marched with the Saugus Little League for the second consecutive year. It was a happy crowd, with kids dressed up in a wide range of colorful uniforms and hats. I saw a sea of smiling faces who turned out for a good exercise event – about eight tenths of a mile from the Belmonte to Grabowski Field on Hurd Avenue.

I decided to immerse myself in the crowd and get a little exercise myself, as I did three years ago when I walked behind a duck boat carrying members of Saugus’s most famous Little League team, which finished second in the U.S. and fourth in the world during the 2003 Little League World Series. Saugus Little League officials called last Saturday’s turnout the biggest one ever for an Opening Day crowd. And I found it fun to be a part of the crowd that marched. I got to see how the spectators lining the parade route responded to the Little Leaguers, which provided a different perspective than if I were on the sidewalk taking photos as the parade passed by. It was also interesting to observe all of the adult coaches who make both leagues – baseball for boys, softball for girls – the successes they are by mentoring the young athletes. They seemed to be just as enthused and energized by the event as the kids were.

 

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, April 17) 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. The Friday breakfasts will last until May 29.

 

One-day holiday trash delay

The town’s trash and recycling collection will run on a one-day delay for the Patriots’ Day holiday. Trash and recycling will not be collected on Monday, April 20, due to the holiday. Collection will resume on a one-day delay on Tuesday, April 21. Residents are kindly asked to leave their trash and recycling curbside by 7 a.m. the day after their normally scheduled collection day. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Scott A. Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions.

 

Town’s annual spring street sweeping continues

The Town’s annual spring street sweeping program will resume next Tuesday, the day after the Patriots’ Day holiday, working across town from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Here is the remaining sweeping schedule:

–Week of April 21: Precincts 2, 6 and 8.

–Week of April 27: Precincts 1, 4 and 9.

–Week of May 4: Remaining work not accomplished in the areas listed above. Please check the Town of Saugus website for an updated listing of roadways to be swept and estimated dates this work will be performed. These precinct maps show where the street sweeping will occur by precinct.

As the sweeping efforts are based on many variables, including weather, this schedule is an estimate and is subject to change.

Residents are kindly asked to keep vehicles off the street when sweepers are in the area. Residents may assist the Department of Public Works by sweeping their driveways and sidewalks into the gutter area prior to the program’s start. Residents are asked not to sweep driveways and/or sidewalks once the sweepers have swept.

Please keep in mind that street sweepers are unable to collect stones, branches, leaves or other foreign objects. In addition, residents are asked to be mindful that sweepers cannot pick up large piles of sand.

Please contact the Department of Public Works at 781-231-4143 with any questions. Thank you for your patience and consideration.

 

This week’s “Shout Outs”

From Precinct 5 Town Meeting Member Ronald Wallace: “I would like to do a ‘shout out’ to everyone who planned the Allan Silipigni Scholarship Fundraiser at Prince Pizzeria this past Sunday (April 12). The place was packed, several great comedians and unbelievable raffles to choose from.”

 

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.

 

News from the Democratic Town Committee

The Saugus Democratic Town Committee will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, April 29, at the Saugus Public Library at 6 p.m. in the Community Room of the first floor.

 

C.H.a.R.M. Center opens for the season tomorrow

The Town of Saugus Solid Waste/Recycling Department recently announced that the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (C.H.a.R.M.) will reopen for the season tomorrow (Saturday, April 18). A press release issued by Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree’s Office said the center will resume normal business hours on 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 will be required to buy a $25 sticker to use the compost facilities as well as to recycle hard plastics. Stickers can be acquired at the compost site or at Inspectional Services at Saugus Town Hall. The rest of the facility’s features are free to use for any Saugus resident. The C.H.a.R.M. Center accepts the following items at no cost to residents:

• Bottles and cans
• Paper and cardboard
• Scrap metal
• Clothes, shoes and other textiles
• Fluorescent lightbulbs 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. The Town of Saugus reserves the right to refuse any material if quantity or quality is questionable.

Please note that the C.H.a.R.M. Center does not accept any household trash or construction materials and debris. Go to www.saugus-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/451/Recycling-Guide-PDF 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.

Please note that single axel trailers will be the largest trailers allowed at the C.H.a.R.M. Center. Any larger trailers will be refused entry.

The final date the C.H.a.R.M. Center will be open for the season is Dec. 12, 2026. However, the facility will be open the following winter dates, weather permitting:

• Jan. 16, 2027, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Feb. 20, 2027, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• March 20, 2027, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Director Scott A. Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions.

 

Virtual Meeting on bridge replacement April 29

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is hosting a Live Virtual Public Information Meeting on Wednesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. to brief the public on the replacement of the General Edwards Bridge, which connects Lynn and Revere on Route 1A.

What is happening?

At this meeting, the project team will provide an overview of the project and present the latest design updates. Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.

How will this affect you?

The General Edwards Bridge connects Lynn and Revere by carrying Route 1A over the Saugus River. MassDOT is currently planning the replacement for this 87-year-old structurally deficient drawbridge, with a new fixed bridge that will be constructed just downstream and adjacent to the existing drawbridge. The new bridge will be built as close to the existing bridge as feasible and will feature longer spans with fewer piers in the water, improving navigation through the channel. The new fixed bridge will also provide greater vertical clearance above high tide and a wider navigation opening, allowing most vessels to pass without interruption. Eliminating bridge openings will improve reliability for motorists traveling along Route 1A.

 

Coming Spring Attractions:

• Student Government Day: Friday, May 1, at 8:30 a.m. in the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. Here’s your chance to see future Saugus leaders of tomorrow – the kids who are currently students in the Saugus Middle and High School grades – perform in mock sessions of the Board of Selectmen, the School Committee and the Annual Town Meeting. All members of Saugus local government are invited to come and observe, and even share some pointers with the students. The Saugus Business Education Collaborative will be coordinating the lunch.
• Precinct 5 is doing a cleanup on Saturday, May 2, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. We will be meeting at the Lynnhurst School. Trash bags and water will be provided.
• The Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee and Eagle Bank will be holding an hour-long free presentation on Scams, Cyberfraud and Exploitation at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St. in Saugus) on Monday, May 11, at 10 a.m. Attorney Stephen Miliotis and Gisella DiPaola will be conducting this event. Become educated in the latest scams that intrude into our lives. All ages are welcome. Call 781-233-4178 to reserve your seat. Walk-ins are also welcome.
• Remember The Fallen: Members of the Saugus Veterans Council 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. If you want to volunteer to help or participate in the parade, contact Saugus Veterans Council Commander Steve Castinetti at 781-389-3678.

 

Upcoming events at the Saugus Public Library

Here are a few interesting programs at the Saugus Public Library worth checking out:

• A teen poetry slam on April 27 at 4 p.m. in the Brooks Room. Suitable for fifth grade and up; no registration required. Verse by verse, let your heart speak.
• Please join us on Monday, May 4, at 4 p.m. in the Brooks Room to make Pokémon designs with the Pop-Up Art School. Registration required; suitable for fifth grade and up. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Saugus Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
• Come and have your tarot cards read by a professional! Please join us at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 18, in the Brooks Room. Suitable for fifth grade and up; no registration required.
• See Jonah Knight perform a magic show and facilitate a Dungeons and Dragons game! Please join us on Monday, June 22, at 4 p.m. in the Brooks Room. Suitable for fifth grade and up; registration required.

 

Saugus Youth Football & Cheer Golf Tournament July 13

Saugus Youth Football & Cheer (SYFC) will host its 3rd Annual Sachem Classic Golf Tournament on Monday, July 13, at Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead, continuing a growing tradition that brings together local businesses, families and community supporters for a day of golf and giving back. The Sachem Classic has quickly become one of SYFC’s premier fundraising events, helping to support equipment purchases, uniforms and program enhancements for young athletes across Saugus. Proceeds from the event also fund SYFC’s annual high school scholarships and provide financial assistance to ensure that all athletes — regardless of financial circumstances — have the opportunity to participate in the program.

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for local businesses and community partners interested in supporting the program while gaining valuable exposure. Several sponsorship levels are offered, including Sachem, Platinum, Gold, Dinner and Tee Box sponsors. Benefits include recognition on marketing materials and social media, signage throughout the tournament and visibility during the event.

For those interested in participating on the course, golfer registration will open on May 1. Spots are expected to fill quickly based on strong interest in previous years.

“This tournament is a cornerstone event for our organization,” said David Silipigni, SYFC Board Member. “The support we receive from local businesses and families directly impacts our ability to provide a positive, structured environment for our athletes. It also allows us to give back through scholarships and ensure that every child who wants to play has that opportunity.”

All sponsorships are tax-deductible, with proceeds directly benefiting SYFC’s mission of promoting teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship among Saugus youth. Those interested in sponsoring or learning more about the event may contact Sa***********@*******fc.com.

 

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

 

Theatre Company of Saugus Youth Theatre Workshop (YTW) Summer Program 2026

Theatre Company of Saugus (TCS) is excited to announce that Early Bird Registration is now open for the Summer 2026 Youth Theatre Workshops. NOTE: Early Bird Registration is a discounted rate that applies through May 25, 2026. Registered and paid in full by Monday, May 25 = $500.00. Registered and/or payment received after Monday, May 25 = $550.00. Multi-Child Rate = email us for more information.

Sessions and Shows:

• Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical Jr.”: Session I – Grades 1 to 8; meet and greet/auditions week of July 13. Program Duration: July 20–31, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tech Week: July 27-31. Performance dates: one show July 31, two shows August 1.
• “Mean Girls Jr.”: Session II – Grades 8 and Up; meet and greet/auditions week of June 15. Rehearsals in the evenings June 22 through August 15, three nights a week, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Tech Week: August 10-14. Performance dates: one show August 14, two shows August 15.

We are also hiring for staff positions. The deadline for Staff Application submissions was Friday, April 10, 2026. (Tech Director position for “Mean Girls Jr.” has been filled.)

Interns: Students in at least Grade 9 as of fall 2026 are able to apply for an Internship with Session I and/or Session II this summer. Students in college, community college, taking a year off or recently graduated from college may also apply. (More full details to come.)

For more information about registration, staff applications or how to become a Sponsor, please visit the website tcsaugus.org or contact the YTW Committee at tc****@***il.com.

TCS Youth Theatre Workshop is a great way to make friends, try something new and expand your theatre horizons! The Workshop aims to offer an inclusive environment where youth can feel empowered to create, learn and grow within the world of theater. Our program is designed to develop and showcase performance skills as well as offer opportunities to learn about and work with the technical and creative design aspects of theater.

Theatre Company of Saugus: 781-816-7019; TC******@***il.com – Tcsaugus.org; Instagram: @tcsaugus; Facebook: Theatre Company of Saugus.