The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus!

 

Vacations are nice, especially when you need to relax and rest up for health reasons. I appreciate all of the phone calls, text messages and emails from town readers, residents and town officials wishing me well as I recover from a medical procedure.

But after two weeks of some needed time off, I’m glad to be back to covering news, people and special events in Saugus. And I plan to be in town tomorrow morning (Saturday, Sept. 9), bright and early, to hang out for several hours around Saugus Center for the 42nd Annual Founder’s Day – one of the top community events of the year and probably the one that draws the biggest crowd. Certainly, it’s the biggest fund-raising day of the year for many of the nonprofit organizations in town. That includes student groups that are trying to raise money for various school projects.

My favorite of the fund-raising projects is the one organized by the Saugus Band Parents Association. Representatives of the group run a makeshift Jail, where school and town officials who volunteered to be humiliated for a good cause are paraded up Central Street after being arrested by band members. They are booked into the jail, dressed in prison clothes and given metal cups that they rattle through their jail cell bars, begging for their bail money. Every Founder’s Day, I like to hang out in front of the jail, snapping photos of the town and school officials who happen to be in the cell. And I usually bring a bunch of one dollar bills to put in their bail cups.

So, if you want to see a selectman, School Committee member, school or town official or other volunteer jailbird behind bars, stop by the jail, which should be set up on Central Street. Have a good laugh at the town official’s expense, while making a contribution to a noble cause – to help the Saugus High School Band.

And if the makeshift jail doesn’t interest you – and you’re still in a benevolent mood – there are plenty of charities to choose from. The place will be swarming with school-age kids trying to raise money for their various causes. The Boys Scouts, the Girl Scouts, Youth sports leagues, High School students seeking contributions to various clubs and activities will all be there. So will various churches, social organizations and various fraternal groups that contribute to the betterment of Saugus in their own way.

Central Street will be closed off from the rotary at Town Hall nearly all the way up to the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site.

For Saugus residents hoping to see their friends or newcomers to town who want to make some friends, Founder’s Day is a great event.

Joyce Rodenhiser has a good way of summing up Founder’s Day: “Founder’s Day is a great time to see old friends and classmates! It’s a big block party with lots of food, fun, civic organizations, entertainment and shopping. Join us downtown to see what’s happening!!”

Joyce, who is a member of the Founder’s Day “Persons of the Year Committee,” also noted that it’s important to not lose sight of the purpose of Founder’s Day: to honor the town’s proud heritage of its founders – from the town’s ancestors who contributed to the development of the town all the way through the contemporary founders who contribute to the betterment of Saugus. “At noon time, in front of our Saugus Town Hall, on Founder’s Day, the Persons of the Year will be announced! Come, see who has been helping Saugus be a better place because of what they have done voluntarily for Saugonians and organizations,” Joyce said.

The Persons of the Year presentation is a Founder’s Day tradition that dates back to 1989, with that first award going to Stanley Day. In 1993, separate awards were presented to a woman and a man selected for the honor. The plaque is inscribed with this tribute: “In Recognition of Your Dedication to The Town of Saugus. This Award Truly Exemplifies the Outstanding Ideals and Spirit of Our Founding Fathers. THE TOWN OF SAUGUS SALUTES YOU.”

Other than in two years when the presentation was postponed because of public health concerns related to COVID-19, this wonderful tradition has continued. Past recipients of the award have already met and selected a deserving man and woman for this year, who will be honored at noon. Many of the living past recipients will sit in chairs on a platform set up on the steps of Saugus Town Hall. For those Saugonians who attend Founder’s Day frequently, but haven’t taken the time to watch the Persons of the Year ceremony, it’s a great opportunity to meet and greet a collection of special people who have helped make Saugus a community that residents expect and love.

If you go to Founder’s Day, embrace the essence of what the day is about. See you near the steps of Saugus Town Hall at noon on Sept. 9

 

Founder’s Day Book Sale

The New Friends of the Saugus Public Library are preparing for their September 9 Founder’s Day Book Sale in the Community Room. They are asking for donations of gently used adult hardcover and softcover adult fiction and children’s books. Please limit donations to only adult fiction and children’s books; they do not have storage space for adult nonfiction or media like music CDs and DVDs. And please… clean and newer books only. No tattered pages, odors, stains or battered/dirty covers!

Books may be dropped off at the Library’s Main Circulation Desk during business hours. Please do not place donations in the outdoor book drops.

 

Saugus Democratic Town Committee seeks new members

The Saugus Democratic Town Committee currently has openings for new members. The primary function of the Committee is the selection and support of Democratic candidates for office both locally and at the state level. It also works to support voter education and voter registration. If you are a registered Democratic living in Saugus and are interested in playing an active role in the political process in Saugus as a Democrat, contact Committee Chairman Joe Malone at lincoln66in56@verizon.net.

 

Saugus High Band exhibit on display Sunday

The Saugus Historical Society will hold an Open House of the Saugus High School Band exhibit on Sunday (Sept. 10) – one day after Founder’s Day – from 2 to 5 p.m. at 30 Main St.

The exhibit showcases uniforms and photos from the Saugus High School Band, which has long been a proud institution in Saugus. The band, which was first formed in 1937, became renowned under the direction of Jerome Mitchell, who was the music director for many decades. In late fall 2022, the auditorium at the Saugus Middle-High School Complex was named the Lemoine-Mitchell Auditorium after him and beloved drama teacher Nancy Lemoine.

 

Food Pantry notes

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Sept 8) from 9:30-11 a.m.).

 

Legion Breakfasts begin today

Debbie Faust, building manager of Saugus American Legion Post 210, recently announced some good news for folks who enjoy the Friday morning breakfasts at Legion Hall: “The American Legion Post 210 at 44 Taylor Street in Saugus will be starting its weekly Friday morning breakfasts for the 2023-24 season on Friday, September 8. Doors open at 7:30, with breakfast served from 8-9:00 a.m. for an $8 donation. Veterans who cannot afford the donation may be served free.”

 

Town Election Watch

The nine seats on the Charter Commission continue to draw the most interest among local political races in the Nov. 7 town election as potential candidates pull nomination papers from the Town Hall. Four more town residents – all of them familiar faces at Saugus Town Hall or in town government – pulled papers this week, to make it a potential 26 candidates running for the nine seats. The latest candidates to express an interest in serving on a panel to study potential changes in Saugus governance are Jeannie Meredith, an administrative aide to Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree; Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Debra Panetta, a veteran of more than three decades in local government; Precinct 9 Town Meeting Member Robert J. Long, who served for 18 years as a former town moderator; and Precinct 4 Town Meeting Member Maureen Whitcomb, who serves on the Saugus Housing Authority.

As of Wednesday (Sept. 6), twice as many potential candidates (26) had pulled out nomination papers for the Charter Commission’s nine seats as the Board of Selectmen (seven) and the School Committee (six) combined. As a rule of thumb, a local election isn’t much of an election unless you have at least two candidates running for one seat.

In the signature race, Michelle Raponi pulled out papers for a potential candidacy for the Board of Selectmen. Meanwhile, Precinct 4 Town Meeting Member William Leuci has pulled out papers for a potential run for the five-member School Committee.

Nothing is official yet. Each of these candidates may run or decide not to. They have 11 days – up until 5 p.m. on Sept. 19 – to submit nomination papers to the Town Clerk’s Office for certification of signatures. Fifty certified signatures of registered voters are required for the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, the Housing Authority and the nine-member Charter Commission. Only 10 certified signatures of registered voters are required for Town Meeting, but each of the signatures must be from registered voters in the candidate’s precinct. Sept. 15 is the final day to obtain nomination papers – just four days before the filing deadline.

Stay tuned.

 

Mixed interest in Town Meeting races

Forty-one of the 50 incumbent Town Meeting Members have taken out nomination papers, indicating an interest in running for another two-year term. Incumbent Town Meeting members have until Tuesday (Sept. 12) to return their forms.

As of Wednesday (Sept. 6), here was the expression of interest in each of the 10 precincts. In four of the precincts (1, 4, 6 and 10), all five Town Meeting members seemed ready to run for re-election.

PCT 1: Susan Dunn, Anthony Arone, Mark Bell, Assunta Palomba, Christopher Jones.

PCT 2: Christine Moreschi, Robert Camuso Sr., Peter Rossetti Jr.

PCT 3: Arthur Connors, Jr., Richard Thompson, Daniel Schena, Richard Thompson.

PCT 4: Glen Davis, William Leuci, Robert Northrup, Maureen Whitcomb, Stephen Doherty.

PCT 5: Pamela Goodwin, Jaclyn Hickman, Ronald Wallace.

PCT 6: Elisa LeBrasseur, Jean Bartolo, Allen Panico, Kevin Currie, William Brown.

PCT 7: Stefano D’Anna, John Chipouras, Robert Palleschi, Michael Paolini.

PCT 8: William Kramich, Jr., William Cross III, Thomas Traverse.

PCT 9: Katrina Berube, Judith Worthley, Robert Strasnick, Daniel Kelly.

PCT 10: Martin Costello, Darren Ring, Peter Manoogian, Sr., Carla Scuzzarella, Peter Delios.

Meanwhile, 11 potential new candidates had pulled papers to challenge the incumbents in their respective precincts. Precinct 9 Town Meeting Member Robert J. Long can’t run for reelection because a change in the boundaries of his precinct left him and his neighbors in Precinct 4. So, Long has pulled papers to run in Precinct 4.

The other 10 potential challengers to incumbent Town Meeting members are:

PCT 1: Stacey Herman-Dorent and John O’Brien.

PCT 2: Joseph Malone, Matthew Parlante and Yves J. Lamite.

PCT 4: Andrew Whitcomb and Stephanie Shalkoski.

PCT 8: Arthur Grabowski.

PCT 10: Steven C. DiVirgilio and James Tozza.

Currently, there is a potential shortage of candidates in these five precincts:

PCT 3: four candidates (four incumbents).

PCT 5: three candidates (three incumbents).

PCT 7: four candidates (four incumbents).

PCT 8: four candidates (three incumbents and one challenger).

PCT 9: four candidates (four incumbents).

Meanwhile, these three precincts are shaping up to be competitive:

PCT 4: eight candidates (five incumbents and three challengers).

PCT 1: seven candidates (five incumbents and two challengers).

PCT 10: seven candidates (five incumbents and two challengers).

There isn’t much competition in these two precincts:

PCT 2: six candidates (three incumbents and three challengers).

PCT 6: five candidates (five incumbents).

The good news is there is still time – up until Sept. 19 – for potential candidates to pull nomination papers and file them to the Town Clerk to qualify for placement on the Nov. 7 ballot. It’s also good news that two of the five precincts where only five candidates ran for the five seats two years ago have more than five potential candidates at the moment: seven potential candidates in Precinct 1 and six potential candidates in Precinct 2.

Stay tuned.

 

Special “Shout Outs”

There were no nominations from readers this week to recognize fellow Saugonians with a “Shout Out.” So, using my editorial discretion, I recognize the girls of the Saugus Softball U12 All-Stars who were honored as special guests at Tuesday night’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Each of the players received a citation. The girls won the District 16 Championship – a first for a U12 in the history of Saugus Softball Little League. They went on to finish third in the Massachusetts State Championship Tournament. Hats off to the girls!

 

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.

 

“Saugus Over Coffee”

The next “Saugus Over Coffee” forum is set for 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 11 in the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library and will feature Precinct 9. Each of the five Town Meeting members received personal invitations mailed to their homes and emailed to them several weeks ago. Only Robert J. Long, the subject of this week’s “The Advocate Asks” column, responded to confirm his intention to attend the forum. We did not hear back from Town Meeting Members Katrina L. Berube, Judith Worthley, Robert M. Strasnick and Daniel Kelly.

But for the sake of the Precinct 9 residents who plan to show up to meet their representatives, express concerns about issues affecting them in their neighborhoods and also listen to the Town Meeting members discuss their concerns, we hope the turnout of Town Meeting members is not similar to the past two forums. Only one member from Precinct 8 showed up last month, and none of the Town Meeting members from Precinct 7 showed up at the July forums. Fortunately, those forums were productive because a couple of selectmen showed up at each one and addressed the residents’ concerns.

For those Saugus residents who are 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 in 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 9 – Sept. 11; Precinct 10 – Oct. 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.

 

Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus (HS2) is back

The Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus (HS2) Program has returned for the 23-24 School Year! The nonprofit organization will begin service starting on Friday, Sept. 22, and continue during the school year. HS2 volunteers help to offset food insecurity in households by providing a supply of nutritious food for when school lunches and breakfasts are unavailable to them on weekends. How HS2 works:

• HS2 bags are distributed at Saugus Public Schools on Fridays to take home to anyone who signs up. Bags include such items as peanut butter, canned meals/soups/tuna/vegetables, pasta, fruit cups, cereal, oatmeal, goldfish, pretzels and granola bars.
• All food is provided to children free of charge.
• There is no qualification needed.

It is our hope these resources will support the health, behavior and achievement of every student who participates.

To sign up go here to complete online form: https://forms.gle/gmMGguycSHBdziuE9

Feel free to email HS2Saugus@gmail.com for additional information.

 

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.

  “Sketch Artist” exhibit: This month’s art exhibit in the Reading Room features the Saugonian Luminaries of 2021, done by the Saugus Advocate Sketch Artist in the “Guess Who Got Sketched” series. For the past three years, Saugus’ only newspaper ran a weekly sketch done by the formerly secret sketch artist – unveiled this year as Joanie Allbee. These sketches depict, describe and honor prominent Saugonians. Each week, The Advocate publishes one of these works in its pages and invites readers to guess who the subject is. The accolades on each artwork provide clues for the reader to identify the subject of the sketch. Readers could guess the identity of the portrait subject and there would be a drawing from the correct answers – the person whose name was drawn would receive an award, usually a gift card to a local business.

Stop by the Library’s Reading Room this month to see a sampling of sketches you might remember from past issues of The Advocate and to help celebrate some of our good friends and neighbors!

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)

  Calling all Teen Club Readers: Lisa LeJeune, Young Adult/Reference Librarian, invites members of the Teen Club to meet once a month to discuss a teen graphic novel. Interested club members can pick up copies of the book at the Main Desk. Club meetings will be held on the last Tuesday of the month, starting Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 5-5:30 p.m. in the Teen Room. Grade 5 and up – to sign up, please call 781-231-4168, come in, or sign up using the library’s Online Events Calendar. The first book will be “Pumpkinheads” by Rainbow Rowell.

  Just Sew! Saugonians are welcome to join a monthly sewing class for adults that is held the third Monday of each month from 6:30-7:30 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)

Adult Coloring Group: Come relax with our continuing Adult Coloring Group. It’s a great opportunity to take time to unwind, be creative and have fun – no experience necessary! We have pencils and coloring pages ready and waiting… See you there! Space is limited; please call to register (781-231-4168 x 3106). The next session is Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 10 a.m. in the Brooks Room on the second floor of the library.

 

Reaching out to Sachem sports champs

Calling all former Saugus High School athletes – boys and girls – who played on regional and/or state championship teams. Saugus Public Schools officials invites you to be part of a special upcoming event planned for the fall that seeks to honor any members of Saugus High School Girls and Boys sports who were on Conference, Regional and/or State Championship teams who could come to the Saugus Middle School/High School Complex for the unveiling ceremony for new banners in the Gym. The Saugus School Committee Athletic sub-committee, along with Acting Superintendent Mike Hashem, is looking to locate Saugus High School athletes who participated on the following Conference and/or State Championship teams to invite them to the unveiling of the Saugus High School Championship Banners.

This event will take place on Tuesday, November 21, at 6 p.m. during Saugus High Spirit Week. If you played on any of these girls’ or boys’ teams, please email Saugus School Committee Member Dennis Gould at jdgould1969@aol.com or call him at his cell phone – 6172574847. Any members of these championship Saugus High School teams in their respective sports will be welcome guests on Nov. 21.

  Girls Volleyball: 2021.

  Girls Softball: 1972, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1999, 2001, 2011, 2021 and 2023.

  Girls Field Hockey: 1978, 1982, 1986, 1987, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

  Girls Basketball: 1973, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2017, 2019 and 2023.

  Girls Soccer: 2004, 2005 and 2018.

  Girls Tennis: 2004, 2005 and 2006.

  Girls Indoor Track: 2005, 2006 and 2007.

  Outdoors: 2005.

  Cheerleading: 1984, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

  Boys Baseball: 1969 and 1984.

  Boys Basketball: 1991 and 1984.

  Boys Hockey: 1948, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

  Boys Soccer: 1975, 1995, 1997 and 2022.

  Boys Golf: 1981, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002.

  Boys Indoor Track: 2020.

  Boys Tennis: 1997 and 2007.

  Boys Football: 1944, 1959, 1975 and 1977.

  Boys Cross-Country: 1967.

 

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. 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 & pepper calamari and sushi – along with a full bar menu, including the signature mai tais and scorpion bowls.

 

MEG Xmas Tree Festival dates

  The MEG Christmas Tree Festival Committee has been meeting throughout the summer and preparing for the 2023 Christmas Tree Festival. They have already been in touch with Santa, Petting Zoo Animals and the elves Kathy and Karen. The Schedule:

Nov. 3 – 3 to 8 p.m.

Nov. 4 – 3 to 8 p.m.

Nov. 5 – noon to 5 p.m.

Nov. 10 – 3 to 8 p.m.

Nov. 11 – 3 to 8 p.m.

Many more surprises are in the planning stage and further information will be provided in the coming weeks!!

 

Information for Political candidates

Rachel Brugman, Operations Manager for Saugus TV, issued a statement this week to all candidates running in the town election on Nov. 7. The statement advised:

–Any candidate, for any board or seat, can place a campaign slide on Saugus TV, which can be seen on Comcast Channel 8, during scheduled and non-scheduled community bulletin board times. There is no cost to place a campaign slide. Campaign slides will air in alphabetical order. Campaign slides will begin Oct. 7 and run until Nov. 7.

–Saugus TV invites candidates for Saugus Board of Selectmen and Saugus School Committee to schedule a time to come to the studio (30 Main St.) to record their candidate statements. Each candidate is allowed three minutes of air time to let viewers know who they are and why they are running for office. This statement is intended to be shot in one take. We allow for on-site review of your take and will reshoot if necessary. There will be no reshoots available thereafter. There is no cost to the candidate for participating in this taping. Beginning on Sept. 11, candidates running for Saugus Board of Selectmen or Saugus School Committee that are interested in recording a statement should contact Saugus TV Operations Manager Rachel Brugman to schedule a date and time. Rachel can be reached at R.Brugman@SaugusTV.org and 781-231-2883. Deadline to record your statement is Oct.19 at 5 p.m.

All candidate statements recorded will then be compiled into a single program that will air on Comcast channel 8 starting October 21. This program will air three times a day, at random times in the morning, afternoon and evening until the election is over on Nov. 7. Viewers will be able to find these airings on the Saugus TV program schedule as “Candidate Statements.” Saugus TV program schedules are available at www.saugustv.org. The statements will also be available to view on our Vimeo page at www.vimeo.com/saugustelevision

–Saugus TV may tape and cablecast other organizations’ forums and/or debates, with notice at least five days prior to the event, subject to crew availability.

–SCTV encourages all Saugus residents, persons associated with businesses or organizations (whether for profit or nonprofit), including candidates for any political office, to use the public access channel to communicate their political views. Candidates and other providers of political programs, as well as the programs themselves, are subject to the same policies and procedures as any other user of SCTV, including with respect to the use of the community bulletin board. Saugus TV is nonpartisan; therefore, it does not produce programs/spot(s) endorsing specific candidates or ballot questions.

 

Veterans Food Market

  The Veterans Food Market will always be held on the third Wednesday of each month. The distribution point is at the Saugus Senior Center. The food market will take place from 10:30 to noon each month. ln order to ensure that we have the proper amount of food and to avoid waste, we are no longer going to make telephone calls to clients to confirm their monthly participation. lf you are on our list, we are going to assume that you will be attending. We would ask that you contact us one week in advance if you will not be participating. lf you no-show twice without notifying us, you may be dropped from our list and may not be able to participate in the future. Veterans and/or eligible dependents of Veterans must be preregistered with the Saugus Veterans’ Services Office to participate in the food market.

PIease feel free to contact the Saugus Veterans’ Service Officer, Paul Cancelliere, or Nancy Stead at 781-231-4010 or email nstead@sauqus-ma.gov to register or with any additional questions.

 

CHaRM facility is open

  The CHaRM facility will be open during the summer 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 of Saugus 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 Cultural Council seeks help

The Saugus Cultural Council is recruiting new members. If you have a passion for arts, education, community engagement and building an inclusive community, feel free to apply. Please send a letter of interest and brief resume to the Saugus Board of Selectmen. The Saugus Cultural Council is a local agency funded by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information, please contact saugusculturalcouncil@gmail.com.

 

Sharon’s Sneaker Crew is back

Sharon Genovese and her group – Sharon’s Sneaker Crew – will be walking on Oct. 1 in the Boston Marathon Dana-Farber Jimmy Fund Walk. The crew will also be sponsoring a craft fair in September. All the proceeds will be going to the Jimmy Fund. If you need more information, you can call or text Sharon at 617-966-3475 or email her at sunkin1@aol.com.

 

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.

 

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.