The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus!

 

If you are one of those unlucky property owners who was affected by last week’s flooding and are worried about the future of your home or business, you might think about attending next Tuesday night’s (Jan. 23) Board of Selectmen’s meeting at 7 p.m. in the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian has written a letter to each of the board members requesting that he be allowed to discuss the flooding that took place on Jan. 13 (see front page story in this week’s edition).

Manoogian also requests that selectmen take one of these two recommended actions:

• Immediately endorse the Saugus River Floodgate Project and communicate this action to the town’s state and federal political delegations.
• Create a subcommittee with members of the board’s choosing, to report back within 30 days on the Saugus River Floodgate Project.

Manoogian’s correspondence is on the agenda for next Tuesday night’s meeting. His public presentation will essentially get the ball rolling again on an issue of extreme importance to homeowners and business owners whose property sets in an area that’s prone to flood damage.

If you are a property owner who has been financially affected in the past by flood damage to your home, business or personal property (like cars and trucks) and you are free on Tuesday night, show up for the selectmen’s meeting and share your story and call on selectmen to do everything in their power to help your cause. If you live in a flood prone area and intend for your family to live in Saugus for years to come, the letter that Manoogian has written affects the future of you and your family.

 

Cheers for the Sachem Champs

If you’re a local sports fan with a lot of pride in your community, there’s another event worth checking out on Tuesday. At 6 p.m. there will be a special ceremony in the Saugus Middle-High School Gym to honor boy and girl athletes who played on the Sachem Northeast Conference title teams during 2021-23, since the opening of the new Middle-High School Complex. Special championship banners will be unveiled in the gym to honor these Saugus High teams who won Northeastern Conference Championships: the girls softball and volleyball teams of 2021; the 2022 boys soccer team; and the boys basketball team, the girls basketball team, the girls softball team and the girls soccer team of 2023.

It will be a great night for the coaches and players on those teams and their families. And for any Sachem sports fan, young or old, it should be a proud night.

 

Food Pantry notes

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Jan. 19) 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.

 

A Special “Shout Out”

Julie Cicolini offered these words of praise for this week’s column:

“I would like to give a ‘shout out’ to Tiger Institute Tae Kwon Do and Sabumnim Amy Amirault for coordinating monthly food drives for Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus (HS2). The students and families of Tiger Institute have been very generous with their donations of a variety of food items. HS2 is very grateful for their commitment to their community and their support to fight food insecurity.”

 

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 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 site will be open tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 20) during the period from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will also be open during the same time period for the following Saturday dates: Feb. 17 and March 16.

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

 

Who wants to be a magician?

Have you ever dreamed of being a magician? Want to know how to pull a rabbit out of a hat? Or make objects disappear into thin air?

If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions, plan on showing up for a special program on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 2 p.m. in the Community Room at the Saugus Public Library. Come meet a member of the Salem chapter of the Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) and learn how to become a master of magic! There’s even a Society of American Magicians Youth Program for would-be-Harry Potters and Hermione Grangers. Those who show up for this magic workshop will be able to obtain information about the Society of American Magicians as well as the Society of American Magicians Youth Program, which ranges from ages seven through 17.

Tony Gangi, one of the organizers of the upcoming workshop, said folks who attend shouldn’t consider the event a magic show. “It’s a recruiting event where there will certainly be magic performed and some tricks will even be taught, but there is no formal show,” Gangi said. “It’s more of a ‘come hang out with magicians’ event,” he said.

The organizers are hoping that more than a few of the Saugus residents who attend will be interested in becoming members of the Society of American Magicians or the Society of American Magicians Youth Program.

 

Town Meeting Sessions

Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian is providing an opportunity 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 this 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.

 

Cornhole League begins Feb. 8

The Knights of Columbus is holding a Cornhole League, starting Feb. 8. It will be held at 57 Appleton St. in Saugus. For more information and league rules, please sign up at https://www.volosports.com/l/6569015e70de58f41da6e7af

 

Pre-K Parent Information Night

The Veterans Early Learning Center at 39 Hurd Ave. will host a Pre-K Parent Information Night on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. The event is designed for new parents to learn about the center’s preschool programming. Parents will get to learn about the preschool vision, entering the lottery, the registration process, financial obligations, daily operations, parent questions and registration documents. All Pre-K programs run Monday through Friday, with an early release on Wednesday.

Based on the child’s date of birth (DOB), placement will be in one of the following programs.

DOB between Sept. 1, 2020, and Aug. 31, 2021: three-year-old a.m. (8:30 to 11 a.m.), three-year-old p.m. (noon to 2:30 p.m.).

DOB between Sept. 1, 2019, and Aug. 31, 2020: four-year-old (8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.).

 

What’s new at the Saugus Public Library?

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

  $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.

Delayed Opening Monday: The Library will open at noon on Monday, Jan. 22, for staff training.

Here are a few best bets for this coming week:

• Monday, Jan. 22, from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m. in the Community Room: Math Tutoring for grades K-12 by students from the Pioneer Charter School of Science 2. There is no charge and students from all schools are welcome.
• Monday, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., “Just Sew” will be offered in the Community Room. Join a monthly sewing class for adults! This free program will teach you how to perform various sewing tasks you can begin to use right away. Sewing is a basic skill everyone should have. The class will cover beginner topics like sewing buttons, hemming clothing and mending torn fabric and move on to more advanced topics. Bring any projects you would like to work on. You can also bring your sewing machine for tips on machine sewing. If you don’t have a project right now, come anyway and learn from the class. Thread, needles, scissors and basic supplies will be provided.
• Tuesday, Jan. 23, from 3:30 to 4 p.m., drop by the Craft Room for Friendship Storytime & Craft. Join Miss Steph for stories and activities focused on friendship & feelings! This is recommended for ages three and older. No registration necessary. Contact: Amy Melton at 781-231-4168 or email her at melton@noblenet.org.
• Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m. in the Brooks Room on the second floor: Math Tutoring for grades K-12 by students from the Pioneer Charter School of Science 2. There is no charge and students from all schools are welcome.
• Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: The Yoga Experience in the Community Room, a free, basic yoga class that is ideal for beginners. This 45-minute slow flow class opens with a brief meditation, followed by a gentle warmup, some core strengthening, standing postures, and flexibility poses. Each session winds down with deep relaxation. Lisa Poto is a registered yoga teacher and a member of the Yoga Alliance. She graduated from Barre & Soul’s 200-hour yoga teacher training program.
• Thursday, Jan. 25, from 3:30 to 4 p.m., there will be a Chinese New Year Storytime with Kelly! Chinese New Year story, craft and treat with Ms. Kelly in the Craft Room. This event is rescheduled from Jan. 18. No registration is required. This is intended for ages four and up. Contact Amy Melton at 781-231-4168 or melton@noblenet.org.
• Thursday Night Book Group from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. in the Community Room. This month’s book is “Home Before Dark” by Riley Sager.
• Saturday, Jan. 27 from 9:30 to 10 a.m. in the Crafts Room, Drop In: Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten with Miss Steph. Join us for fun, educational activities to help prepare your preschooler for kindergarten. This is for ages three to five. No registration required. Contact Amy Melton at 781-231-4168 or email her at melton@noblenet.org.
• UPCOMING: Henna for teens! On Tuesday, January 30, Mandy from Wicked Good Henna will be here to do custom henna tattoos from 4-5 p.m. in the Brooks Room. No registration necessary. Age 11 and up, please. Drop by and bring your friends. Contact Lisa LeJeune at 781-231168 or email her at lejeune@noblenet.org.

 

Kowloon Komedy Lineup

The Kowloon Restaurant, which is located at 948 Broadway (Route 1 North), Saugus, has set its Komedy Lineup for January 2024: January 26: Paul D’Angelo; 8 p.m. – $20. For all tickets, call the Kowloon Restaurant at 781-233-0077 or access online: www.kowloonrestaurant.com.

 

Winter is calling at Breakheart

If you love hiking, nature and the great outdoors, there’s a lot going on this winter at Breakheart Reservation – courtesy of the state Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR). All programs are free and open to the public. An adult must accompany children.

Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. Parking fees may apply depending on the program’s location. For more information, please email Jessica Narog-Hutton, Visitor Services Supervisor, at jessica.narog-hutton@mass.gov

Here are a few programs that DCR has in the works:

• On Sundays now through March, why not do something easy, like a Sunday morning hike from 10 a.m. to noon? Check in at the Visitor Center (177 Forest St., Saugus). Join the Park Interpreter for a 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. This activity is best suited for ages eight years and up. Meet at the Visitor Center. The hike will be canceled in the event of heavy rain.
• On Thursdays now through March, the Camp Nihan Educational Center (121 Walnut St., Saugus) will offer the Wild Breakheart Series from 9 to 10 a.m. Join Breakheart staff for this rotating nature series that will explore different aspects of Breakheart in the wintertime. This month, check out the Winter Tree ID. Next month learn about animal tracking. Discover how tracks that animals leave behind can tell us a story about what they do when no one is around. In March, be a part of the Breakheart Birding Club. Discover what birds are starting to come back for the spring and what birds from the winter stay.
• On Fridays, now through March, check out Kaleidoscope from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Visitor Center (177 Forest St., Saugus). Come join a 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. This activity is appropriate for families with children who are three to five years old. Meet at the Visitor Center.
• On Saturdays now through March, “Step into the Past” from 10 a.m.to noon at the Visitor Center (177 Forest St., Saugus). Join the park interpreter to discover the park history. Hikes are about two and a half miles and are 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. This activity will be canceled in the event of rain.
• First and third Saturdays – Stories in Stone: Breakheart has been shaped not only by nature but by the many people who have called it home.
• Second and fourth Saturdays – Glacial Giants: Countless clues to a glacial past dot the landscape. If one knows where to look, this hidden geologic history can be revealed.

 

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.