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Good morning, Saugus!
Today (Friday, May 26) marks the beginning of the long Memorial Day weekend when Saugus and communities throughout the nation pause to reflect on the brave sacrifices of Americans who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
At about 3 p.m. today, Veterans Graves Registration Officer Randy Briand and his army of helpers will converge on Riverside Cemetery to place miniature American flags on each of the veterans’ graves. The local Boy and Girl Scouts are usually the nucleus of the volunteers. But Randy welcomes any help he can get. And if you have some free time this afternoon and are in a patriotic mood, come down to Riverside Cemetery and help by flagging a few of the veterans’ graves.
The town’s annual Memorial Day Parade is the weekend’s main event and is set for tomorrow (Saturday, May 27). Bands, marchers, vehicles and other participants will gather at the staging area at Anna Parker Field at 124 Essex St. at 9 a.m. The parade will begin at 10 a.m., traveling the same parade route as last year: down Essex Street toward Cliftondale Square, down Lincoln Avenue, onto Central Street, to Winter Street and into Riverside Cemetery for the Memorial Day Ceremonies.
Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Stephen L. Castinetti, commander of the Saugus Veterans Council, said this year’s parade will feature a media truck that will display sites that honor Saugus veterans and photos of deceased military men and women. A video prepared by Saugus TV Studio Associate John Prudent will be running throughout the parade, and residents will be able to view it. Frank Manning, the outgoing commander of Cpl Scott J. Procopio Saugus American Legion Post 210, has been chosen as this year’s parade grand marshal. A former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to New Zealand will be this year’s keynote speaker. Castinetti said this year’s parade will include Junior ROTC color guard units from Beverly, Peabody, Revere and Salem. Guy Moley, the man behind local charity car shows, will arrange to have some classic cars in the parade. Martin Cox has offered to bring three military vehicles with him. The ceremony at Riverside Cemetery is expected to take place at about 11 or 11:15 a.m., according to Castinetti.
On Monday evening from 5:30 p.m. to dusk, the Saugus Veterans Council will be sponsoring Motorcycle Monday at Fuddruckers on Route 1 North. People can visit the Fuddruckers parking lot, check out the motorcycles and enjoy a burger while supporting the Saugus Veterans Council. This will be a regular Monday evening event throughout the summer.
Saugus, be safe
Memorial Day Weekend is traditionally one of the busiest traveling periods of the year. The heavy traffic – with people rushing to family outings and get-togethers with friends – makes it a dangerous time to be out on the highways. It’s a period where traffic fatalities are known to spike.
It’s also the time of the year when fun outdoor activities can turn tragic. Warmer weather might make an outdoor lake seem inviting to swimmers who are oblivious to posted warning signs and not familiar with the hazardous conditions that could prove fatal.
If you are traveling on the highways this weekend, drive safely. If you are participating in outdoor events, play it safe and don’t engage in risky behavior.
I plan to attend the Memorial Day Parade and ceremony in Saugus tomorrow. And on Sunday, I plan to go down to Swansea in Southeastern Massachusetts to put flowers on the veterans’ graves of family members in my hometown cemetery.
One of them is my late twin brother, Lance, who was killed in a motorcycle accident on Memorial Day of 1978. Lance, who served with the U.S. Air Force in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam during scary times during the Vietnam War, was an honor roll student going into his junior year at the then Southeastern Massachusetts University – now UMass Dartmouth – at the time of his accident. And so it goes: On a dark, foggy night, less than a quarter of a mile from my folks’ house in Swansea, he hit a curb with his motorcycle and went flying off the vehicle. He died quickly after snapping a vertebra, according to the doctors.
My brother – the Air Force veteran who came home safely after dangerous duty in Southeast Asia – was a Memorial Day traffic fatality statistic. It’s something you never forget.
Big week ahead for the Class of 2023
Next week marks the final days together for the students of the Saugus High School graduating Class of 2023. Besides graduation rehearsals, there will be special activities throughout the week for the seniors. The 152 Commencement Exercises of Saugus High School is set for Friday, June 2, in Christie Serino Jr. Memorial Stadium adjacent to the new Saugus Middle-High School Complex.
Holiday delay on trash/recycling pickup
The Town of Saugus announced that trash and recycling collection will run on a one-day delay for the Memorial Day Holiday. Trash and recycling will not be collected on Monday, May 29, due to the holiday. Collection will resume on a one-day delay on Tuesday, May 30. Residents are kindly asked to leave trash and recycling curbside by 7 a.m. the day after their normally scheduled collection day.
The Town of Saugus would like to thank everyone for their cooperation. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Scott A. Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions.
“Saugus Over Coffee”
The next “Saugus Over Coffee” forum has been set for Tuesday, June 20, at 6:30 p.m., when we will be featuring Precinct 6. We will be sending out invitation soon – via email and letters to the homes of each of the five Town Meeting members
For those unfamiliar with the “Saugus Over Coffee” forums, they are cosponsored by The Saugus Advocate and the Saugus Public Library. The primary purpose is to give citizens in each of the town’s 10 precincts an opportunity to voice their concerns about top issues in their respective precincts. It also gives them an opportunity to meet their Town Meeting representatives and chat over a cup of coffee or tea. Town Meeting members will benefit by getting to know more about concerns in their precincts. Viewers of the forums videotaped by Saugus TV will also get to learn a little about the history or interesting things about the precinct being featured each month.
One of my major hopes for the forums is that it spurs an interest for citizens to become potential candidates for Town Meeting in this fall’s town election. The public should keep in mind that there was a paucity of candidates for Town Meeting seats in the town elections back in 2021. In five of the 10 precincts, only five candidates ran for the five seats. That means half of the 50-member body was elected without competition.
Stay tuned for more information as “Saugus Over Coffee” continues. Here is the remaining schedule: Precinct 6 – June 20; Precinct 7 – July 10; Precinct 8 – August 14; Precinct 9 – September 11; Precinct 10 – October 23.
Please check with The Saugus Advocate or library for any changes in dates. Residents can check the programming guide on the station’s website (www.saugustv.org) for dates and times. A video of the forum will also be available for viewing on the station’s vimeo page within a day or two after the event – www.vimeo.com/saugustelevision.
A June run for Mission Ready
Marine veteran Brandon Montella, the U.S. Marine veteran who completed a 100-mile run last Veterans Day to honor local veterans and to raise money for his nonprofit cause, announced he has scheduled a 5K fund-raising run/walk through Breakheart Reservation this summer. The event – set for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 10 – is to benefit his 501C3 Mission Ready, which provides fitness programs and events to under-resourced youth and veterans. Here’s a link to the event with all the information and sponsors on the site: https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Saugus/MissionReady5K
Multiple “Shout Outs” this week
Once again, we’ve received several “shout outs” from our readers:
Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member Jeanie Bartolo: “Memorial Day marks the 4th anniversary of The Advocate’sSounds of Saugus ‘Shout Out’ column with a total of 327 Shout Outs, so I thought a ‘Shout Out’ for ‘Shout Outs’ to EVERYONE who nominated someone special and a great big thanks to Editor Mark Vogler for printing them every week. Let’s keep it going! Many thanks, have a great Memorial Day weekend!”
Gordon Shepard, for all Saugus residents who volunteer to help maintain, restore and beautify the veterans graves in Riverside Cemetery and Parish Cemetery: “I want to give ‘shout outs,’ especially for the DPW who went down to Parish Cemetery last fall and cleaned up some leaves and cut down some trees I requested. And some ‘shout outs’ for the DAR for all that they do. The more people that go down there and see it [Parish Cemetery], the better off we are in getting it taken care of on a regular basis.”
Editor’s Choice: Gordon Shepard. When it comes to keeping the gravesites of town veterans and cemetery grounds in great shape, no living Saugonian has done more on a voluntary basis than Gordie Shepard.
Shirley Bogdan: “I’d like to give a ‘shout out’ to whoever decorated Veterans Park with American flags. It looks beautiful. Thank you very much.”
Ruth Berg for her grandson: “David Benjamin Levine just graduated with the highest of honors; Summa Cum Laude and the Chancellor’s Medal from U/Mass Lowell.”
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 (mvoge@comcast.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.
Attention 2016-18 Saugus High grads
The Saugus High School graduate classes of 2016, 2017 and 2018 Cumulative Record Folders will be destroyed on July 15, 2023. Any graduates from the dates above of Saugus High School wishing to obtain their records before they are destroyed, please email Kim Alba at kalba@saugus.k12.ma.us. The pick-up dates and times will be given to you via email. If you would like them mailed, please include an address in your email.
Seeking Sachems Sports Historical Data
If you are knowledgeable about the Saugus High Sachems Boys and Girls sports teams prior to 1969, Saugus Public Schools could use your help. The School District is looking for data on Saugus High Sachems Boys and Girls sports teams prior to 1969 that won a conference, regional and/or State Championship. “For example, we need data on the 1966, ’67 or ’68 Saugus varsity cross country team that won the State Championship,” Saugus School Committee Member Dennis Gould wrote in a press release.
“We need the team, the year and what championship they won. Pictures of the teams, trophies or old banners would be great also,” Gould said. “The data will be used by the School District to generate historical banners to hang in the new complex and to give to the Saugus Sports Hall of Fame for permanent record.”
If you happen to have access or knowledge of such data, please email it to Dennis Gould, School Committee, jdgould1969@aol.com. Dennis can also be reached at 1-617-257-4847.
Kowloon launches outdoor dining next week
The Kowloon Restaurant, which is located at 948 Broadway (Route 1 North) in Saugus, opened its outdoor dining venue on May 17 – serving a full food and bar menu. The Kowloon Restaurant is open every day from noon till closing, and the outdoor venue is open Wednesday to Sunday from 5 p.m. to closing. This month’s Outdoor Concert Lineup:
May 26: WildFire Band – free admission, reserved seating is $10 per person. Doors open at 5 p.m.
May 27: Cover Story Entertainment – free admission, reserved seating is $10 per person. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Next month’s lineup includes the following:
June 4: Sunday Country Night Live with Darren Bessette and Samantha Rae Band – 6:00 p.m. – free admission, reserved seating is $10 per person.
June 9: Live Music: World Premier Band – 8:00 p.m. – free admission, reserved seating is $10 per person.
June 10: Live Music: Dave Macklin Band – 8:00 p.m. – free admission, reserved seating is $10 per person.
June 11: Sunday Country Night Live with Whitney Doucet & Moonshine Band – 6:00 p.m. – free admission, reserved seating is $10 per person.
June 16: Live Music: Back to the 80’s Band – 8:00 p.m. – free admission, reserved seating is $10 per person.
June 18: Sunday Country Night Live with Cashwood – 6:00 p.m. – free admission, reserved seating is $10 per person.
June 24: Live Music: WildFire Band – 8:00 p.m. – free admission, reserved seating is $10 per person.
June 25: Sunday Country Night Live with Houston Bernard Band – 6:00 p.m. – free admission, reserved seating is $10 per person.
Bingo is back!
The Kowloon Restaurant announced Bingo every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Hong Kong Lounge. Prizes will be given away each week with a grand prize set at the finale in March. A full Chinese gourmet spread is available during Bingo – featuring pupu platters, egg rolls, crab Rangoons, Saugus Wings, General Gau’s chicken, lobster sauce, fried scallops, lo mein, moo shu pork, salt and pepper calamari and sushi – along with a full bar menu, including the signature mai tais and scorpion bowls.
Summer Track camps gearing up
Chris Tarantino – a 1990 Saugus High School graduate who has a reputation for mentoring young athletes in the sports of track and field – is gearing up for the start of another Saugus Sachems summer track camp. Tarantino said the summer program targets kids in grades 1 to 8, in the age bracket of five to 14. The program is sponsored by the town’s Youth & Recreation Department.
Here are some of the details: The camp will be scheduled on running days behind the Belmonte, from 6-8 p.m. Some important dates for six to18 year olds:
June 19-22: Trial and final registration week
June 26-30: First formal week
July 3-7: Second formal week
July 7: Pasta Dinner at Prince Pizzeria at 6 p.m.
July 8: In-house meet at Belmonte starting at 10 a.m.
July 10-13: Retrain week
July 15: Summer Showdown – Cranston, R.I.
First-year runners will be charged $250. The price will be $200 for runners returning from spring; $150 for returning runners from spring who have a uniform; $100 for runners with three-plus years in the program; and $50 for those with three-plus years in the program who have a uniform. The cost includes: Camp t-shirt, pasta dinner, entry in Summer Showdown and uniform. Please register for Summer Track Camp by June 1 to assure a uniform for Cranston.
For more details, you can reach Coach Tarantino by calling him at 781-854-6778 or emailing him at christophertarantino24@gmail.com.
C.H.a.R.M. Center is open
The Town of Saugus announced that the community’s compost C.H.a.R.M Center will be open to residents on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The site is located behind the Department of Public Works at 515 Main St.
Stickers are required to gain seasonal access to the site. Stickers may be purchased for $25.00 at the Department of Public Works (DPW) located at the Compost Site when making your visit to the Compost Site. The Town accepts checks only for payment of the $25. No cash will be accepted. Kindly bring a check when visiting. Thank you! Compost site stickers must be permanently placed on the lower left corner of residents’ automobile windshields. Vehicles registered out of state are not permitted.
Yard waste must be disposed of in brown compost bags or open containers. The Town will accept grass clippings, leaves and brush. As in years past, no branches or limbs larger than three inches in diameter are permitted.
Residents may call Scott Brazis at the Solid Waste and Recycling Department at 781-231-4036 with questions.
Saugus Democrats to elect state delegates
On Tuesday, June 6, at 6:30 p.m., the Saugus Democrats will convene in person at the Saugus Public Library to elect 13 delegates and four alternates to represent Saugus at the 2023 State Democratic Convention.
Registered and preregistered Democrats in Saugus who are 16 years old by May 23, 2023, may vote and be elected as delegates or alternates during the caucus. Youth (age 16 to 35), people with disabilities, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community not elected as delegates or alternates are encouraged to apply to be add-on delegates at the caucus or by visiting massdems.org/massdems-convention. The 2023 Convention will be in person at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Mass., on September 23.
Those interested in getting involved with the Saugus Democratic Committee should contact Chairman Joe Malone at saugusdtc@gmail.com or 781-233-1358.
Food Pantry notes
The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, May 26) from 9:30-11 a.m.
Veterans bricks available
The Saugus War Monument Committee, once again, is sponsoring the Buy A Brick Program to honor all those who have served their country. If you would like to purchase one in the name of someone who is presently serving or has served, in the memory of a loved one, or just for someone from your family, school, etc., the general pricing is $100 for a 4″ X 8″ brick (three lines) or $200 for 8″ X 8″ brick (five lines). Each line is a maximum of 15 characters. The improvement and upkeep of the monument on the corner of Winter and Central Streets rely on the generosity of donors through fundraising.
The brick application must be in by Sept. 15 to ensure the bricks will be ready for Veterans Day. Please contact Corinne Riley at 781-231-7995 for more information and applications.
Final Legion breakfast today
The Saugus American Legion Post 210 will host its final breakfast of the season today (Friday, May 26), from 8–9 a.m. The Legion requests a donation of $8 from those who are looking for a delicious meal at Legion Hall. The 2023-24 season will begin the Friday (Sept. 8) following Labor Day (Sept. 4). The Legion also welcomes veterans who can’t afford the meal to enjoy a free breakfast. Bon appétit!
Saugus TV’s Summer Bash
Saugus TV welcomes Saugus residents to a special celebration – Saugus TV’s Summer Bash – on Saturday, June 10, from noon to 3 p.m. at 30 Main St., Saugus. Free entry. Free food. A photo booth and fun.
Selectmen will honor town employees
With the state Department of Public Health ending COVID-19-related safeguards and requirements on May 11, selectmen have decided they want to honor town employees who helped the town get through three-plus years of the global pandemic. They have sent out invitations to their June 13 meeting at 7 p.m. in the second floor auditorium to thank town employees personally for their “selfless commitment and dedication in putting the health and welfare of our community first.” In addition, there will be a reception for all town employees between 6 and 7 p.m. in the auditorium.
Saugus High Class BBQ on Aug. 26
Saugus High alumni Mike Allan (1979) and Pete Nicolo (1980) are hosting this year’s annual Saugus High Class BBQ, which is set for 1 to 5 p.m. at Saugus Everett Elks Grove on Saturday, Aug. 26. There’s an outdoor shelter. So, the event will go on, rain or shine.
“Last year we had over 250 people attend (mostly Saugonians) and we are expecting maybe even a larger crowd,” Nicolo said. “Saugus High Classmates from multiple years, along with some of our Saugus Politicians, Coaches and Teachers attended.”
All Saugus High Classes are welcome. There will be a cash bar during the day event. The action will move to Elks Hall at 401 Main St., from 5 to 8 p.m.
“Most of us have kept in touch with some of our classmates / friends throughout the years,” Nicolo wrote in a recent letter. “But what about the classmates/friends that you would love to see and have not seen in decades? This is what made our recent Saugus High Class BBQ this past September 2022 such a success. Take advantage of this Opportunity to possibly meet them there or reach out to anyone you’d like to see and reconnect!”
“Last year’s Saugus High Class BBQ had some classmates traveling from places as far away as England, Hawaii, California, Florida, North Carolina and other parts of the US. Many old friendships were rekindled, while new friendships with old Classmates were made,” Nicolo said. “Some friends/classmates had not seen each other in decades (over 40 years), while so many from surrounding classes mingled together and had a blast. It was quite a wonderful experience for many.”
Nicolo said the event has already generated great interest, but asks that people who plan to go RSVP by Aug. 5 or sooner to help the organizers plan the event better.
Make checks ($45 per person) payable to: Saugus High Class BBQ, 13 Bourbon St., Unit 55, Peabody, MA 01960 or Venmo: Pete Nicolo@Pete-Nicolo
Alumni with questions can contact Peter Nicolo (1980) at psnicolo2533@comcast.net – 978-815-8234 or Mike Allan (1979) at Allan7915@gmail.com – (781) 953-2279.
What’s happening at the Saugus Public Library
For schoolchildren looking for interesting projects and programs to participate in this fall, there’s plenty to do at the Saugus Public Library. There are some very good programs offered for grownups, too.
Clay Faces with Stamped Words: Express yourself with these fun clay pots made from air-dry terra-cotta clay. Learn how to hand build a coiled clay vessel, then turn it into an animal or human face. Play with the facial expressions and personalize your pot with stamped words. Thursday, June 8, 5:30-7 p.m. in the Brooks Room; ages 11-18. Please register in advance; space is limited. Call 781-231-4168 or register online from the Events Calendar: www.sauguspubliclibrary.org
Join our Teen Advisory Board: first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Teen Room; fifth grade and up. Meet with the Teen Librarian once a month to talk about what you’d like for programs and materials at the library. Your opinion matters! No registration required. Snacks provided! (sauguspubliclibrary.org – 781-231-4168)
Just Sew! Saugonians are welcome to join a monthly sewing class for adults that is held the third Monday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library. The class covers basic topics like sewing buttons, hemming clothing and mending torn fabric and will move on to more advanced topics in the coming weeks. This class is free. (See sauguspubliclibrary.org)
Tree Talk: On Monday, June 5, from 6-8 p.m., the Saugus Public Library will have a two-part workshop on urban tree care and printmaking, inspired by trees. Landscape designer Laura D. Eisener will talk about the importance and care of urban trees, followed by a printmaking workshop led by local artist Kelly Slater. Participants will make one-of-a-kind prints inspired by urban and old-growth trees. No experience required! This is a free workshop, but registration is required. Contact the Saugus Public Library to register.
Cybersecurity: On Thursday, June 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room, the Saugus Public Library will host a talk titled “Let’s Discuss Cyber: Hackers, Attackers, and Thieves with Robert Siciliano: Cyber, Social, Identity, and Personal Protection.” Siciliano, a longtime security expert and private investigator, will talk about various hack attacks, how they occur and how to prevent them. This program, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the New Friends of the Saugus Public Library. Attendance is limited to 45 people. Visit https://www.sauguspubliclibrary.org/events to register.
First Baptist Church presents “Can We Talk…”
First Baptist Church Pastor Leroy Mahoney invites troubled people to join others in a special program called “Can We Talk … Community conversations on Trauma and Healing” the first Thursday of every month from 6 to 7 p.m. at Rev. Isaac Mitchell Jr. Fellowship Hall (105 Main St. in Saugus). “Join us as we gather in community to share our stories, thoughts and feelings about whatever you are going through,” Rev. Mahoney states in a written announcement.
“As always, it is a safe space to come together in community,” he says.
About The Saugus Advocate
We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is noon Wednesday. If you have a story idea, an article or photo to submit, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a message at 978-683-7773. 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.
Let’s hear it!
Got an idea, passing thought or gripe you would like to share with The Saugus Advocate? I’m always interested in your feedback. It’s been six and a half years since I began work at The Saugus Advocate. I’m always interested in hearing readers’ suggestions for possible stories or good candidates for “The Advocate Asks” interview of the week. Feel free to email me at mvoge@comcast.net.
Do you have some interesting views on an issue that you want to express to the community? Submit your idea. If I like it, we can meet for a 15- to 20-minute interview over a drink at a local coffee shop. And I’ll buy the coffee or tea. Or, if you prefer to continue practicing social distancing and be interviewed from the safety of your home on the phone or via email, I will provide that option to you as the nation recovers from the Coronavirus crisis. If it’s a nice day, my preferred site for a coffee and interview would be the picnic area of the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site.
