The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus!

Best wishes to all our readers for a Happy New Year.

And hopefully, you will fulfill most of your New Year’s resolutions over the next 12 months, whether it’s dropping weight, decluttering your house, getting organized, breaking bad habits or leading a healthier life.

As we approach a new year, it’s a good time to break out those 2024 planners and desk calendars and take some time to organize and lay out schedules for the new year. Don’t forget to label a few file folders now for the placement of W-2 forms and other information that will be arriving in your mail soon – important documents that you will need when you sit down with your accountant to prepare your income tax returns.

Hope you had a great holiday season, with plenty of time to relax and enjoy with family, relatives and friends – particularly some important people that you don’t get to see that often.

Overall, I had a wonderful holiday despite the adjustments I had to make in my schedule because of illnesses and family crises affecting loved ones and friends that I had hoped to visit. I had to cancel some Christmas Eve plans last Thursday, on account of COVID-19. My brother Wayne called just as I was finishing up last week’s paper. He told me that a friend in Fall River who was hosting a Christmas Eve party had to cancel because he was sick. I later learned that it was because the friend had caught COVID. A half hour later, my brother called again to tell me that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and that he had to stay in his room for five days so he couldn’t spread the illness.

On Saturday, I got a call from my photographer buddy David in Cambridge telling me that he had caught something on a recent visit to New York City and had to cancel our get-together that day. He was supposed to take me to Summer Shack and treat me to a nice seafood meal. David had told me he had tested himself for COVID and it turned out negative. But, apparently, he had a whopper of a cold and figured it would be best for me not to visit him.

I had more holiday plans that got canceled yesterday because of a health emergency in my friend’s family.

Fortunately, I’ve gotten through most of the holiday season without catching a bad cold or COVID. And I was still able to get to see some of my friends. I also got to drop off a bag of presents at my brother’s assisted living home so he could enjoy the holiday while being confined to his room.

 

“First Day Hike” at Breakheart on Jan. 1

For those Saugus residents who need a starting point to a health and exercise program over the new year, check out the First Day Hike, which is scheduled for Breakheart Reservation on New Year’s Day. The event will begin at 10 a.m. at 177 Forest St. in Saugus. Plan on meeting at the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center. Breakheart will offer two guided hikes – a two-mile and a three-mile hike – through the paved loops of Breakheart. Hikers will be able to view animal tracks, Civilian Conservation Corps projects and the Lower and Upper Ponds. Be prepared for cold weather – dress in layers and wear winter boots. Warm up with hot chocolate and clam chowder from Kelly’s Roast Beef by the fire at the Visitor Center after the hike! Bring your friends and family!

The event is cosponsored by the Friends of Breakheart Reservation and the state Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR).

 

Another week of holiday trash delays

The Town of Saugus announced that trash and recycling collection will run on a one-day delay for the next week in observance of the New Year. Trash and recycling will not be collected on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, due to the holiday. Collection will resume on a one-day delay on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

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.

 

Food Pantry notes

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Dec. 29) 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.

 

Special “Shout Outs”

We didn’t receive any nominations from readers this week. Using my editorial discretion, I would like to give a giant, collective “Shout Out” to all town residents whose jobs kept them from celebrating the holidays with family this year. I would like to send a second giant, collective “Shout Out” to all of those volunteers who went out of their way to help make the holidays brighter for our less fortunate citizens.

 

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.

 

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Debra Panetta, one of several readers who answered correctly to last Friday’s sketch contest and had her name selected in a drawing. Debra will receive a $10 gift certificate from the contest’s sponsor, the Hammersmith Family Restaurant, near Saugus Center.

Now, here’s the answer from the person who goes by the name of “The Sketch Artist”:

“The answer to last week’s sketch is the fun loving, lavender mist hair colored Sharon Genovese. Sharon is artistic, creative and generous. She donates and decorates her own M.E.G. center Christmas tree every year at the yearly Christmas Tree raffles Event. She makes all kinds of beautiful arrangements for table Centerpieces at Events.

“Sharon is a Lion’s Club Member and Saugus Garden Club Member.

“And now here’s Sharon in her own words to tell you a little about herself.

“‘I met my husband 40 years ago on a cruise to Bermuda. It was the last Carnival Cruise to leave from Boston. We dated for a year, got engaged and got married the following year on October 5,1985. Our first son Michael was born on 7/2/89 then 7 years later my twin sons Matthew and Bobby were born. My children attended Saugus schools

“‘I walk with a group called ‘Sharon’s sneaker crew’ in the Dana Farber Boston Marathon cancer walk. This is my 10th year coming up.’

“Sharon is Nonna to three grandchildren, her son & his wife and three grandchildren live in Alabama (his wife’s hometown). Sharon has a big heart and is a rescue Mom to three kitties.

“Thank you Sharon for all you do!

“You are a bright beacon in Saugus

“Yours Truly,

“The Sketch Artist”

 

My resolutions for 2024

In this week’s issue, we allowed Saugus selectmen and School Committee members to sum up the major town news stories during 2023 and to talk about their top priorities for the New Year.

I’m mulling over a few projects at The Saugus Advocate that will help to make the paper more relevant to our readers. Last year, we initiated the “Saugus Over Coffee” series filmed and broadcast by Saugus TV to help people in the town’s 10 precincts get to know their precincts and their Town Meeting members better – over a cup of coffee. The program, which was cosponsored by the Saugus Public Library, featured each of the 10 precincts monthly, from January through October. We also worked with Saugus TV to produce three nights of question and answer forums to introduce the 27 candidates for the nine Charter Commission seats to residents. Twenty-four of the candidates accepted our invitation to participate.

This year, we might resurrect “Saugus Over Coffee” in a different format. Stay tuned.

In the coming weeks, you might notice a few changes in our weekly package.

As editor of The Saugus Advocate for six years and nine months now, I am making a renewed commitment to offer our readers an interesting and informative newspaper which always strives to be a force of good in the community – seeking to spotlight town people and events that lead to the betterment of Saugus. Our primary task is to provide useful information that keeps residents informed on important issues that affect the community as a whole and residents individually. We feel it’s important to shine a light on town and local government – including public schools, the town’s chief employer and the agency that affects the most lives in the community on a daily basis – when things break down and when the government needs to step up to address various challenges or problems. At the same time, we think it’s important to shine a public light on the many great things that are happening here, whether by individuals or groups.

I recently turned 70 and I’m finishing my 50th year as a newspaper journalist since I began my career during my junior year at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, working weekends in the Northampton news bureau of The Springfield Union and filing stories I developed while living on campus during the week.

My personal gift to the people of Saugus is that I will continue to work hard to provide Saugus a well-balanced and respected hometown newspaper as long as my publisher wants to keep me as the editor. I have no immediate plans to retire. I’ve told close friends and colleagues that I will continue reporting, writing stories and headlines, taking photos and editing stories relevant to Saugus as long as I am blessed with good health. Whether it’s five to 10 more years – or longer – I plan to continue doing what I’m doing, as long as there’s a place for a real newspaper (not online paper) in Saugus.

We are Saugus’ hometown newspaper. We are the only newspaper that covers Saugus people and events exclusively.

Right now, I am blessed to have people like Laura Eisener (“Saugus Gardens”), Bill Stewart (the “Old Sachem” columnist who writes about sports), Joanie Allbee (sketches/photos/essays/articles), Jay DeMarco (“Small Saves” cartoon), Janice Jarosz (articles and photos), Tom Sheehan (articles) as a core of nonpaid, frequent contributors who help make The Saugus Advocate the paper that it is. And, of course, we have part-time staffers Tara Vocino (who takes photos and writes human interest stories) and Dom Nicastro (who covers Saugus sports). And publisher Jim Mitchell oversees the paper as it’s put to bed in Everett on Thursdays. So, a lot of hard work goes into putting out the paper every week.

So, I feel honored to coordinate our coverage and collaborate with our paid staffers and unpaid contributors to put out the paper every week.

My personal challenge is how can I make The Saugus Advocate more user friendly and relevant to its readers? Stay tuned.

 

Compost/Recycling Drop-Off Site winter hours

The Town of Saugus Compost/Recycling Drop-Off Site 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.

 

What’s new at the Saugus Public Library?

  There’s always something interesting going on. Below are a few activities worth checking out.

The library will be closed next Monday (Jan. 1) In observance of the New Year’s holiday.

  $5 for a bag of books: If you love reading, here’s a great deal. Buy a New Friends of the Saugus Public Library mesh book bag for $5 and fill it with as many books as you’d like. Proceeds benefit the New Friends so they can support public library service in Saugus.

Town Meeting Sessions: Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian is offering quite a Christmas present for Saugus citizens who want to learn the basics about Town Meeting – the legislative body of Saugus town government. Manoogian is a veteran of about four decades in local town government at various levels – including many years as a Town Meeting member. The three sessions Manoogian will be leading next year are tailored for newly elected Town Meeting members or veterans who want to refresh themselves about Robert’s Rules of Order or how to put forward an article for consideration.

But the sessions that Manoogian is planning are free and open to the public – for all interested citizens. The sessions will take place on four nights in 2024 – Jan. 29, Feb. 16 & 29 and March 25 – from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library at 295 Central St.

Adult Coloring Group: Here’s an invitation to grown-ups to attend the adult coloring group. It’s a great opportunity to take time to unwind, be creative and have fun. No experience is necessary. Pencils, gel pens and coloring pages are ready and waiting. Spaces are limited, so please call to register at 781-231-4168. The next session is set for Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Brooks Room on the second floor of the library.

 

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.