The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus!

 

The holiday spirit is on full display in Saugus as we move closer to Christmas Day (Dec. 25).

Tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 16) at noon, the town will host a very solemn and patriotic event that is also being observed in communities throughout our nation, from tiny towns to big cities. The Parson Roby Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) is sponsoring and organizing its third Wreaths Across America event – helping both Riverside and Old Burying Ground Cemeteries to remember and honor veterans by laying remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes. As in past years, residents who want to witness something special or assist in placing the wreaths on the graves of the departed Saugus men and women who served in America’s Armed Forces will be welcome.

 

Santa Claus is coming to town – soon

If you are reading your Saugus Advocate this morning (Friday, Dec. 15), there are just nine more days to one of the most exciting nights for hundreds of kids in Saugus – the town’s Christmas Eve Parade. The town’s Christmas Eve Parade is ready to roll, with the help of parade coordinator Brian Cross, heading up an army of volunteers. Cross, who is looking forward to working as DJ for the night, notes that this will mark the 40th anniversary for the parade.

“I’ve been doing this since 2014,” he said in a recent interview.

There will be a lot of town departments involved, too, particularly the Youth & Recreation Department. Saugus fire, police and other emergency crews will be involved with the event, which has been a popular crowd pleaser for locals, going back several decades.

The parade is set to start on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) at 6 p.m. from the Public Safety Building on Hamilton Street with a police and fire escort for Santa and some other special vehicles as part of the procession. It is scheduled to finish the three-hour tour through town on Central Street in Saugus Center at 9 p.m.

“Santa would like to see as many children as possible, so listen for the sirens and come out and greet Santas as he passes by,” says Buddy, “Santa’s Third Best Elf” in a note on the parade route announcement that was recently released.

 

Santa’s Parade Route Released

Santa’s parade route for Sunday, Dec. 24, as posted on the Saugus Christmas Parade Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/saugussantaparade/), is as follows:

  6-6:10 p.m.: Hamilton Street, Saville Street, Elm Street.

  6:10-6:25 p.m.: North Saugus School, Indian Rock Drive, Arrowhead Drive.

  6:25-6:40 p.m.: Walnut Street, Central Street, Appleton Street, Summer Street, Taylor Street.

  6:40-6:55 p.m.: Saugus Center, Main Street to Forest Street.

  6:55-7:10 p.m.: Lynn Fells Parkway, Main Street, Hickory Lane, Juniper Drive.

  7:10-7:25 p.m.: Howard Street, Main Street, Vine Street.

  7:25-7:40 p.m.: Essex Street, Mount Vernon Street, Laurel Street.

  7:40-7:45 p.m.: Lincoln Avenue and Cliftondale Square.

  7:45-7:55 p.m.: Lincoln Avenue to Seagirt Avenue.

  7:55-8:10 p.m.: Venice Avenue, Wickford Street, Pevwell Drive, Gates Road, Richard Street.

  8:10-8:25 p.m.: Dudley Street, Ballard Street, Johnson Street, Vincent Street, Chestnut Street.

  8:25-8:30 p.m.: Winter Street to Central Street.

  8:30-8:40 p.m.: Denver Street, Laurel Gardens, Elmwood to Adams Avenue.

  8:40-8:50 p.m.: Central Street, Hurd Avenue, Westland Avenue, Springdale Avenue, Stone Street.

  8:50-9 p.m.: Central Street to Saugus Center.

 

Fire Department Kids Coat Drive tonight

The Saugus Fire Department, working with the Saugus Police Department, is hosting an Ugly Sweater Party today (Friday, Dec. 15) from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Saugus/Everett Elks at 413 Main Street. It’s a fundraiser to support the Fire Department’s First Annual Kids Winter Coat Drive – an effort to collect kids winter coats for local families in need. There will be music, a cash bar and raffles – as part of the fundraiser. There will be a donation/entry fee to help raise funds to help purchase new children’s winter coats. Please contact Lt. McDermott or Firefighter Long (781-241-1170) for more details. Or go to this link –

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kids-coat-drive-ugly-sweater-party-tickets-768555800087 – for more information.

 

Get your letters to Santa

While parents are running around doing some Christmas shopping for young kids, there’s a special treat available that doesn’t cost anything: Mail a letter to Santa Claus – and get a response back. Retired Saugus postal worker Karen Coburn is once again volunteering many hours of her time to make that happen. She’s set up a special “Santa’s MailBox” near the entrance inside the Saugus Post Office in Cliftondale. I got a call from Karen this week that she’s prepared to be a pen pal again to dozens of kids in town and a few others in surrounding communities who want to write letters to Santa.

With the support of the Saugus Post Office, she’s been gathering “Letters To Santa” for about two decades. Though Karen retired from the U.S. Postal Service in May of 2019 after three decades – most of it in Saugus – she continued to receive Santa letters because she couldn’t find somebody to take over the project.

The red metal mailbox with the inscription “LETTERS FOR SANTA” is all set in the lobby of the Saugus Post Office in Cliftondale to spread a little Christmas cheer. But time is running out. C’mon, parents. Get your kids to write those letters today.

Karen has some advice for parents to help make this homegrown holiday tradition more enjoyable: Be sure to include the child’s address on the envelope so Santa knows where to send his responding letter. Also include a little information about good things the child has done – something positive or something that really stands out – so that Santa can get more personal in his letter.

 

“Operation Santa Paws”

Now through Dec. 22, Chestnut Woods Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Saugus will be running “Operation Santa Paws.” The skilled nursing facility at 73 Chestnut St. welcomes donated items, such as blankets and towels, dog and cat beds, unopened pet food/treats, pet toys, grooming products, collars and leashes and food/water bowls. Any pet items collected will be donated to a local animal shelter. It’s Chestnut Woods’ way of giving back, according to the facility’s administration.

“Therapy animals play a vital role in long-term care residents’ lives, particularly those living with dementia and Alzheimer’s,” a recent flyer noted. “Benefits of animal therapy for seniors include emotional uplift, increased self-esteem, improved social skills, and reduced risk of depression and anxiety.”

For more information, visit ChestnutWoodsRehab.com.

 

Holiday event announcements welcomed

Does your organization, church or business have plans for a holiday or holy event that they would like to publicize this month? Feel free to email an announcement or press release to mvoge@comcast.net, headlined “Holiday Happenings and Blessings.”

 

Food Pantry notes

  The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Dec. 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 a.m., with breakfast served from 8-9:00 a.m. for an $8 donation. Veterans who cannot afford the donation may be served free.

 

Open House for Band Exhibit Sunday

The Saugus Historical Society will have an Open House for the Saugus High School Band exhibit on Sunday (Dec. 17 from noon until 3 p.m. The exhibit is also open by appointment. Call Laura Eisener at 781-231-5988. The band has performed across the country and in Canada over the years and won many band competitions. Come and see the display of uniforms, newspaper articles and other memorabilia and perhaps meet other band members to compare memories!

 

Special “Shout Outs”

We received a couple of nominations this week:

Saugus Lions Club President Anthony Speziale gave a collective “shout out” to all of those volunteer who helped to make the Lions Club’s annual toy drive a huge success: “Thank you to the public and the Saugus Lions Club. From our toy drive and working together with Ret. Capt. Bill O’Mally and the Saugus Fire Department, we were able to collect three truckloads of toys. In addition, The Lions donated four trees for those families to put up a tree with decorations and make this holiday bright. Those that came got to meet Mrs. Claus (Karen Speziale) & Lily (Sharon Genovese).

“Sponsored trees with decorations are: The Speziale Family, Webster Credit Union, Michael Murphy, Patty Fierro and the Tax Shop & Financial Center.”

Saugus Public Library Director Alan Thibeault offered special holiday praise for a local business for helping to make the season brighter for the children who visit the library: “The Saugus Public Library would like to give a Shout Out to Soc’s Ice Cream’s Paul and Sharon Cacciola for donating a Christmas Tree to the Library for the third straight year. Paul and Sharon brought the tree to the Library on December 8th and set it up on the second floor for us. Staff members Lisa LeJeune and Denise Hills decorated the tree.

“Soc’s Ice Cream has been a generous sponsor of Library programs and services for years. Their donations in support of our Children’s Summer Reading Program, in particular, are significant and very much appreciated.”

 

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.

 

Compost/Recycling Drop-Off Site winter hours

The Town of Saugus Compost/Recycling Drop-Off is closed for the winter. But it will reopen for recycling on the third Saturday of January, February and March 2024 weather permitting. Please note the following dates that the site will be open during the period from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Saturday, March 16, 2024

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

 

Selectmen meet Tuesday night

In what will probably be their final meeting of the year, selectmen will meet next Tuesday (Dec. 19) at 7 p.m. in the second floor auditorium at Town Hall.

 

What’s new at the Saugus Public Library?

  There’s always something interesting going on. Here’s a few activities with checking out:

  Math Tutoring, grades K-12: Students from the Pioneer Charter School of Science 2 will offer tutoring in mathematics for grades K-12. There is no charge and students from all schools are welcome. The next tutoring is scheduled from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m. in the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library on Dec. 18 and Dec. 19.

  December Art Exhibit: Local artist Joanie Allbee, AKA “The Sketch Artist, who for several years had her sketches featured anonymously in The Saugus Advocate, has more sketches on display in the Reading Room of the Saugus Public Library. Each week The Advocate published one of these works and invited readers to guess who the subject was. This month’s exhibit in the Reading Room features sketches done in 2023 and 2023 Sketches of Our Saugonian Luminaries.

 

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.