The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

Good morning, Saugus

Saugus residents are gearing up for a busy week. The State Primary Election is Tuesday. Schools starts Wednesday. A new playground just got unveiled. And next month’s calendar is already full of community events and activities.

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, August 28) 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.

This week’s “Shout Outs”

From Janis Jarosz: “The Meg Foundation Board of Directors announce the names of five new members to the MEG; Ms. Linda Nicholson, Ms. Eva Spaulding, Mr. Anthony Speziale, Mr. Robert Nazzaro and Ms. Christine Moreschi.

“Ms. Spaulding is in the process of creating Saugus MEG, a brand-new Facebook page highlighting photos of the MEG rooms, rental information and continuous news on the upcoming Christmas Tree Festival.”

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.

Monthly Historical Society meeting

On Wednesday, September 9, Alison C. Simcox and Douglas L. Heath will speak about their latest book “Walls, Rock, and Rum: Colonial History and the Founding of Middlesex Fells.” Middlesex Fells is one of the most storied state parks in the United States. Home to Indigenous Peoples for thousands of years, this land became part of Charlestown, first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Puritans transformed the landscape, marked woodlots with stone walls and gave the largest lots to wealthy men. They harvested timber and quarried stones from the Fells to build homes, ships and walls and to fuel brickmaking and rum distilling. Enslaved labor, acquired through the transatlantic trade, supported these markets. Today the Fells is preserved, but beyond its trails and wooded vistas lie deeper stories of Indigenous communities and colonial transformation. Alison C. Simcox and Douglas L. Heath trace this history with new research published for the first time. The authors have spoken to the Historical Society about their previous books, including two about Breakheart Reservation, and have been very popular with their audiences. They will have books available for purchase at the event, and as always it is open to the public and there will be light refreshments. The event will be held at 30 Main Street at 7 p.m.

Saugus Democrats event Sept. 20

The Saugus Democratic Town Committee is holding a “Coffee and Conversation” event on Sunday, September 20, at 10 a.m. at the Saugus Italian American Club, 1 Beachview Ave., Saugus. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Come for coffee and pastries and meet your local and state representatives and candidates. All are welcome to attend! For tickets and information contact sa*******@***il.com.

Blood Drive Sept. 14

The VFW will be hosting a Red Cross blood drive on September 14, from noon to 5 p.m. Appointments are recommended and can be made at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-733-2767; Saugus VFW, 190C Main Street, Saugus, MA 01906.

Fall Family Festival 2026

Come celebrate the annual festival at Breakheart Reservation on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free events will include lawn games, live animal exhibits, storytelling, music and family-oriented activities. Watch and learn about owls with Mass Audubon or hold a live snake with the Cape Ann Vernal Pond team. This event is cosponsored by the DCR, Friends of Breakheart, Saugus Cultural Council and SAVE.

Saugus Youth Cross Country 2026

With kids headed back to school soon, another season of Saugus Youth Cross Country gets underway. The program, aimed for youth in Grades 1 through 5, will begin its new year on Sept. 1. The Cross Country members run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. at the track behind Belmonte STEAM Academy and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Breakheart Reservation.

“Cross Country is a sport where athletes run on paths, grass, trails, and parks instead of a track,” said Coach Christopher Tarantino, known popularly as “Coach T,” who oversees the program.

“It is a test of endurance, determination, and heart! Every practice is an adventure and every athlete improves at their own pace,” he said.

“Parents, here’s why your child should get involved! Cross Country is much more than running. It teaches children perseverance, confidence, goal setting, and mental toughness while keeping them active in a fun, encouraging team environment. Through games, age-appropriate training, and positive coaching, children develop lifelong healthy habits, make new friends, build self-confidence, and learn that hard work pays off. Whether your child is already active or just getting started, Cross Country is a welcoming sport where every athlete can succeed,” he said.

The training distances are as follows: from 1st-3rd grades, .7 miles; 4th and 5th, 1.2 miles.

Here are some program highlights:

• Practice races Saturdays TBD at Frey Park in Lynn Mass., at 285 Walnut St.
• Varied Saturday practice locations to be determined
• Saturday, Oct. 31, there will be a Halloween Fun Run practice at Breakheart Reservation.
• Wednesday, Nov. 11, on Veterans Day, Gannon Golf Course at 60 Great Woods Rd. in Lynn will host the 12th Annual Massachusetts Elementary School Cross Country Championship. Arrival time is set for 8:30 a.m. The race will start at 9:30 a.m. There will be lunch at Prince Pizzeria following the meet. More information TBA.
• Ending Thursday, November 12: Wrap-up session at Belmonte.

Cost: $150 for first year, $100 returning from Cross Country 2025.

If any questions, further information or to register, please contact Coach T at 781-854-677 or ch********************@***il.com.

Veterans Day Bricks Program is Back

The Saugus Veterans Council is pleased to reinstate the Brick Program! After our vendor retired last year (thank you, Del from Pavlok, for working with us over the years), we have found another engraver who will be taking our orders for Veterans Day! Proceeds from the brick sales are devoted to the upkeep of Saugus Veterans Park. If you are interested in purchasing a brick, a 4×8″ is $100 (three lines) and an 8×8″ (five lines) is $200. Please contact Corinne Riley (781-231-7995) for an application or more information. All orders must be in no later than Sept. 10.

The Veterans Council will have its annual booth at our Town’s Founder’s Day celebration. We will have a scratch ticket raffle, sale of challenge coins and MREs! Stop by our booth and support the council and say hello to our retired Veterans who served to protect our great nation.

On Friday, September 18, we will hold the POW/MIA Missing Man Table Ceremony at 6 p.m. at Veterans Park, corner of Central and Winter Sts. This recognition of Prisoners of War and Missing In Action is to honor and know “You are not forgotten.”