The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus!

 

Sunday (Sept. 17) is going to be a big day in Saugus Center. St. John’s Episcopal Church will observe a special occasion at the 10 a.m. Sunday worship service when parishioners welcome Rev. Roger Nelson, who served for 30 years as priest and pastor at the church before retiring in 2003. The church will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of his arrival and will host a reception following the service in Ashworth Hall at 8 Prospect St., Saugus.

During his three decades at St. John’s, Rev. Nelson focused on the youth of the parish, led the EYC for many years and was very active in ecumenical and outreach ministries, which extended beyond the church. He maintained the parish’s ecumenical engagement with other clergy in the community as a member of the former Saugus Council of Churches (which evolved into the Saugus Clergy Association).

The Rev. Nelson, 83, is retired and living in New York with family. Later in the day, the Parson Roby Chapter, Daughters of American Revolution located in Saugus will be organizing a special event outside Town Hall. It has been a tradition to ring the bells on Constitution Day – Sept. 1. The local DAR hopes to bring this tradition to Saugus by giving out little bells to the public to ring on the steps of Town Hall at 4 p.m.

The event gets underway at 3:30 p.m. when a crowd gathers for a reading of the Preamble to the Constitution, a proclamation declaring the day as the beginning of Constitution Week (Sept. 17-23) and the bell ringing.

The weekend kicks off on a patriotic note at 6 p.m. today (Friday, Oct. 15) with National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Veterans Park, with a ceremony to remember those who never returned – the prisoners of war and service members who are missing in action.

 

Food Pantry notes

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Sept. 15) from 9:30-11 a.m.

 

Legion Breakfast today

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 2023-24 season. 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 for free.

 

Town Election Watch

It will be a simple, straightforward question that voters will be asked on the Nov. 7 town election ballot. Town Clerk Ellen Schena said the wording of Question 1 will read as follows: “Shall a commission be elected to revise the Charter of the Town of Saugus. Yes or No.” There will be another ballot question asking voters to choose the candidates they would like to see fill the nine-member commission, providing the vote approves the creation of a Charter Commission.

Right now, the potential race for the Charter Commission is overshadowing all of the other town political races. Four more town residents – Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Joseph John Vecchione IV, Lawrence Mingolelli, School Committee Chair Vincent Serino and Christopher Tarantino – had pulled papers this week to make it a potential 30 candidates running for the nine seats.

Meanwhile, the races for the Board of Selectmen (eight for five seats), School Committee (nine for five seats) and Housing Authority (four for two seats) have a potential 21 candidates running for 12 seats combined, as of Wednesday (Sept. 13). 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, Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano pulled out papers for what he is hoping to be a third consecutive two-year term on the board. All five incumbent selectmen are running for reelection.

Former School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge has pulled out papers for a potential run for the five-member board. Whittredge has been the top vote-getter in the School Committee race for the last two elections. He stepped down six months after his election following the death of his wife. With nine candidates in the field – seven of them with past School Committee experience – this race is currently more competitive than the Board of Selectmen.

Nothing is official yet. Each of these candidates may run or decide not to. They have four days – up until 5 p.m. on Tuesday (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. Today (Sept. 15) is the final day to obtain nomination papers – just four days before the filing deadline.

Stay tuned.

 

Town Meeting races

Forty-seven of the 50 incumbent Town Meeting Members have taken out nomination papers, indicating an interest in running for another two-year term. As of Wednesday (Sept. 6), here is 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 reelection.

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

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

PCT 3: Arthur Connors, Jr., Richard Thompson, Daniel Schena, Rick Smith and Annemarie Tesora.

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

PCT 5: Pamela Goodwin, Jaclyn Hickman, Ronald Wallace, Brenton Spencer and Mary Migliore.

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

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

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

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

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

Meanwhile, 16 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 15 potential challengers to incumbent Town Meeting members are:

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

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

PCT 3: Leonard Ferrari, Jr.

PCT 4: Andrew Whitcomb and Stephanie Shalkoski.

PCT 7: Fred Federico.

PCT 8: Arthur Grabowski and Kristi Talagan.

PCT 9: John Cottam.

PCT 10: Steven C. DiVirgilio and James Tozza.

Currently, there are three precincts where all five candidates would get elected without opposition: 5, 6 and 9. That’s two fewer “no competition” precincts than two years ago. Only six candidates have pulled papers for the five seats in Precincts 3, 7 and 8. Meanwhile, these four precincts are shaping up to be competitive:

PCT 2: eight candidates (four incumbents and four challengers).

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).

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 four 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, eight in Precinct 2, six in Precinct 3, six potential candidates in Precinct 2 and 6 in Precinct 7. But two of the precincts that had more than five candidates two years ago have just five candidates running at this time – Precincts 5 and 9.

Stay tuned.

 

Special “Shout Outs”

We had one nomination for a “Shout Out” this week. Doris Napier: “A great big thank you to Laurie Davis for allowing a free lunch to the art class at our Saugus Senior Center for the celebration of our first art show ever. All who visited the senior center that day were allowed to vote for their favorite painting. It was a great time had by all.”

  Editor’s Choice: A “Shout Out” to Donna Gould, the driving force behind Founder’s Day, and often called the true founder of a community event that has thrived in Saugus for over four decades. Donna showed up at Town Hall to be a part of Saturday’s festivities, particularly the presentation of the “Person of the Year Awards” near the front steps of Saugus Town Hall.

 

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.

 

Precinct 9 makes the most of “Saugus Over Coffee”

Normally, I set up 24 chairs in the Community Room at the Saugus Public Library an hour or so before each “Saugus Over Coffee” forum. But on this past Monday night (Sept. 11), I wound up setting up four extra chairs, as 28 people showed up in addition to the three Town Meeting members from Precinct 9 – Katrina Berube, Judith Worthley and Robert J. Long. Not only was it the most people who showed up to one of our forums – double the previous high of 14 – it was the most passionate crowd we’ve had. And there was some intense, sometimes contentious discussion – particularly on the location of the proposed West Side Fire Station, which has been talked about for more than four decades.

Four of the town’s five selectmen appeared at the forum: Board Chair Anthony Cogliano, Board Vice Chair Debra Panetta, Selectman Corinne Riley and Selectman Michael Serino. Robert M. Strasnick did not respond to our invitations via email and a letter to his home address and did not attend the session. Daniel Kelly emailed ahead of time to say he wouldn’t be attending the meeting because of his work schedule.

Kelly did, however, offer to write a brief statement to the residents of Precinct 9 who he won’t be able to address on Saugus TV: “I am a lifelong Saugus resident and a precinct 9 resident for approximately 40 years. I work in inspectional services for the town of Saugus as a local building inspector. I serve on the Board of Assessors also. I have served as a town meeting member for the last 6 years and I am seeking re-election this year. I think some of our biggest issues in precinct 9 are a new fire station for the west side of rt 1. The lack of usable playground equipment at our neighborhood park. The small basketball court is in very poor condition. Many of our streets are in need of resurfacing. I would like to see the town seek grants to purchase some of the remaining open land to preserve the integrity of the watershed that supplies the 3 ponds. I hope voters will support me with one of their votes.”

The final “Saugus Over Coffee” forum is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23 in the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library and will feature Precinct 10.

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. 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). 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.

 

Saugus 4-1-1

It’s been years since Saugus has had a Chamber of Commerce promoting its economic, cultural and historic assets in town. To fill part of the void, Selectman Corinne Riley spearheaded “Saugus 4-1-1” last October. It was such a success that Riley and others involved with the event are planning the Second Annual Saugus 4-1-1 for Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Saugus Middle-High School Complex at 1 Pearce Memorial Dr. The event is tailored for new residents as well as established Saugonians.

“Take in everything there is to find out about our town,” declares a postcard-sized promotion that circulated Saugus Center. “Learn about non-profit, youth sports and clubs you or your family may be interested in, town information, Senior Center, Library Groups, Houses of Worship, School District information.”

Tours of the complex will be available. The Lion’s Club will have its eyemobile there. For further information or questions, please email Saugus411@gmail.com

 

Upcoming Fall events at Breakheart

The state Department of Conservation & Recreation has released the following listing of events at Breakheart Reservation this fall.

Full Moon Hike: Thursday, September 28, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Join us for a moonrise hike while we talk about the importance of the full moon, moon cycles and phases. There will be campfire fun and activities. This program is for adults and families with children eight years old and up. Bring a flashlight and dress appropriately! Registration is required; please email jessica.narog-hutton@mass.gov for more information.

Easy Like a Sunday Morning Hike: Join the park interpreter for this weekly guided hike! Each trip will highlight natural and historic features that make Breakheart unique. Hikes will be moderately paced and range from two to three miles over sometimes uneven and rocky terrain. Best for ages eight years and up. Meet at the Visitor Center. Heavy rain cancels. Wednesdays: September 13 and 20 and October 4 and 11, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Step Into the Past: Join our park interpreter on a guided hike to discover the site’s history. Topics and routes vary throughout the season. Hikes are approximately 2.5 miles, moderate difficulty, along rocky trails, with several stops – best for adults and older children with a keen interest in history. Meet outside the Visitor Center. Rain cancels. Thursdays: September 14 and 21 and October 5 and 12, 10 a.m.-11 a.m.

Breakheart Birding Club: Help our park interpreter identify and count the many different birds that visit Breakheart! Take part in this worldwide project to document the distribution, abundance and movements of thousands of species of birds. Binoculars are encouraged but not necessary. First time birders welcome! Best for adults and older children. Meet outside the Visitor Center. Rain cancels. Fridays: September 15 and 22 and October 6 and 13, 10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

Kidleidoscope: Come join our park interpreter for a story time and nature walk! Complete a small craft and explore the woods! Walks are gently paced and approximately one mile, though not accessible for strollers; appropriate for families with children three to five years old. Meet at the Visitor Center. Saturdays: September 16 and 23 and October 7, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Family Fishing at Camp Nihan: Join our park interpreter for a drop-in fishing program! Learn how to fish, what fish live in our ponds and how to catch and release responsibly. Bait and a handful of rods will be provided but feel free to bring your own gear and share your tips! No license required if fishing in this program. Appropriate for families with children five years and older. Meet at Camp Nihan; follow signs once you’re there. Rain cancels.

Breakheart Fall Fest special event: Saturday, Sept. 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Come celebrate with us at this one-of-a-kind fall festival at Breakheart Reservation! This free event will include lawn games, a petting zoo, storytellers, music and family-oriented activities! At the Visitor Center – 177 Forest St., Saugus.

 

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.

 

The Democratic Town Committee welcomes new members

  The Saugus Democratic Town Committee (SDTC) is looking to expand and diversify its membership. The primary function of the Committee is to support Democratic candidates for office, both locally and at the state level. It also engages in voter education and voter registration. Registered Democrats living in Saugus who are interested in playing an active role in the political process in Saugus should contact saugusdtc@gmail.com.

Many people visited the SDTC table on Founders Day where they found voter registration information, free flags and handouts on flag etiquette.

 

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 – 617-257-4847. 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. The 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.

 

For loss of loved ones and pets

Rev. Ed Bernard, an associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Saugus, will be offering two grief/bereavement information and discussion groups through the Saugus YMCA this fall. The first group will be a one and one-half hour session dealing with the loss of a pet. The second one involves four one-hour group meetings dealing with the loss of a loved one. There is no charge for either program. The pet group will be co-facilitated with a bereavement counselor from a local hospice. Rev. Bernard is a certified health care chaplain. He can be reached at 508-245-8885.

 

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.