The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus!

We didn’t receive any nominations this week from readers who wanted to publicly recognize fellow Saugonians with “An Extra Shout Out” for doing something remarkable or worthy of high praise. So, I will use my editorial discretion to offer some substitute “Shout Outs.”

The first one goes to Janice Jarosz and the Board of Selectmen for devoting the first 35 minutes of Tuesday (Jan. 23) night’s meeting to really spreading some good cheer throughout the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. Janice and the selectmen dedicated that 35-minute time slot to honoring the Saugus Pop Warner U8A and U12 cheerleading squads and their coaches for their outstanding performance in cheerleading competition locally, in Massachusetts, across New England and nationally.

Let’s just call this “a mega Shout Out,” courtesy of the Board of Selectmen. Call it 63 good reasons to cheer about something good in Saugus. Selectmen presented each of the 63 young ladies with a citation congratulating them for their success.

The girls U8A team, led by Head Coach Jennifer Kohr, finished third place in the national competition in Florida after capturing first place in the state and regional contests. The girls U12 team, led by Head Coach Charlene Berridge, finished sixth overall in the Nationals after capturing first place in state competition and third place in the regionals.

“What you did down in Florida was awesome,” Selectman Corinne Riley told the girls. “You showed Saugus what you could be and do,” she said.

“The commitment that is needed to do what you did is just outstanding,” Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta added.

“The Board is extremely proud of each and every one of the girls and their accomplishments,” Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini said.

Let’s give a plug to each of the girls:

U8A Team: This team consists of 30 girls from the first, second and third grades – Charlotte Applegate, Karen Boyd, Ailyah Velasquez, Giabella Lorenzo, Lillian LoPresti, Brynn Clifford, Stella Bacci Olsen, Isabella Bluestein, Audrey Gregorio, Caroline Gianatassio, Evelyn Powers, Francesca Lincoln, Olivia Zawadski, Evelyn Lauziere. Avaleigh Kohr, Grace Lester, Amelia Lewis, Dakota Dost, Melissa Santos, Alessandra MacTaggart, Josephine Vitiello, Grace Whitehurst, Julianna D’Amico, Mila McDonough, Elena Melon, Anaya Boyd, Hadley Nichols, Madison Giglio, Tatum Hoy and Faith Harrington.

U12 Team: There are 33 cheerleaders. They are Francesca Bashaw, Mia Powers, Aris Emmanuel, Samantha Williams, Summer O’Brien, Bianca Catanzariti, Reese Bruno, Aubrey McKay, Alana MacTaggart, Kiera Mannetta, Viviana Barrera, Amelia Westerfield, Julianna Cascio, Anna Ly, Brayleigh Caruso, Sky Gerardi, Sophia Alexandre, Erica Mpwagi, Kaylee Durand, Averie Ancrum, Giuliana Frost, Aryanna DiPietro, Lilliana Fronduto, Isabella Pagliarulo, Ellie Miranda, Anya Scandone, Adriana Amoroso, Holly Berridge, Sophia Machado, Kallyanne Kim, Selina Jiang, Hannah Strout and Sara Mendes.

 

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.

 

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 tomorrow (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.

 

Food Pantry notes

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Jan. 26) 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.

 

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 February and March 2024 weather permitting. Please note: The site will be open on Feb. 17 and March 16 during the period from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please contact Scott Brazis, Director of Solid Waste/Recycling, with any questions at 781-231-4036.

 

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.).

 

Kindergarten enrollment for 2024-2025

  Open enrollment for kindergarten will begin on Monday, April 22, and continue through Friday, April 26. Kindergarten is free and full day – 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Families can pick up a kindergarten registration packet at the main office of the Veterans Early Learning Center between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Completed registration packets will be due on Wednesday, May 22, and Thursday, May 23, during the following hours: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (All registration documents must be included on the packet return dates.) Staff will be available to collect your documentation at the main entrance.

Once all documentation is confirmed, they will schedule an appointment for a mandatory kindergarten screening. Kindergarten screenings will be held on June 3 & 4 and will last 20 minutes.

*While there is no official deadline for kindergarten registration, we ask that you register your student by May 24, to help us effectively plan staffing and programming for next year.”

 

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.

• Saturday, Jan. 27, 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 (781-231-4168 or email her at melton@noblenet.org).
• 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) in 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.

 

Bingo is back at the Kowloon!

  Join the Kowloon Restaurant for Wednesday Night Bingo. The event takes place every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and will continue to April 3. Entry is free. Games, prizes and music highlight the event. For more information, 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. 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.

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