Advocate Newspapers

08/07/2025

~ Letter to the Editor ~

Patkin Pond deserves protection – not development

Dear Editor,

Patkin Pond is more than just water and trees. It’s a living symbol of community, conservation and local heritage.
Since 1946, it has been the heart of the Malden Anglers Association, a refuge for wildlife, and a cherished space for those seeking quiet recreation. The Anglers have sponsored programs for veterans and children to visit the pond, learn how to fly fish, and find a reprieve from the urban world.
Now, this fragile gem stands threatened by a high-density housing proposal at 961–999 Broadway.
Though the developer has recently adjusted the project boundary to more than 100 feet from the wetland edge – meeting a minimum threshold to avoid automatic review by the Saugus Conservation Commission – we firmly believe that this move does not absolve them of ecological responsibility. For example, the blasting during construction could affect the natural groundwater springs not visible without closer surveying.
Patkin Pond’s delicate ecosystem, sustained by rainfall and groundwater, remains dangerously exposed to runoff and pollution from construction-related activity, including additional parking lots, retaining walls, and altered drainage patterns.
This project may help Saugus meet its Chapter 40B Safe Harbor requirements, but at what cost?
The loss of biodiversity, fishing access, and an irreplaceable piece of our town’s natural character is too steep a price. The development and its effects deserve a thorough review under both state and local conservation guidelines. Massachusetts prides itself on environmental leadership. Now is the time to prove it.
We have nothing against development, but we ask the developer to make the project more livable for all of us in Saugus – and perhaps make a little less profit in doing so.
We urge residents, elected officials, and the Saugus Conservation Commission to stand up for our environment and Patkin Pond. Let’s demand accountability, transparency, and, most importantly, preservation. Future generations deserve to inherit this haven – not just stories about what it used to be.

Board of Directors - Malden Anglers Association

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08/07/2025

Crabtree announces comprehensive sewer subsystem rehabilitation project

Editor’s note: This story is based on a recent press release.

Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree announced recently that work will begin soon to rehabilitate a major sewer subsystem as part of an ongoing commitment to improve the town’s sewer infrastructure. A comprehensive rehabilitation project is planned for sewer subsystem 2 that will involve the cleaning and lining of about 9,700 linear feet of sewer lines and spot repairs to remove excess water inflow and infiltration (I&I) in sewer subsystem 2.
The sewer infrastructure improvements will take place in an area of Central Street/Appleton Street, Lothrop Street/Riverbank Road, Hamilton Street/Roundhill Street and Pearson Street/Jasper Street. The purpose of this effort is to eliminate sources of water leaking into the sewer system that strains its capacity, can cause sanitary sewer overflows and increases the town’s costs for transportation and treatment of these flows. Crabtree said the project will also improve the structural integrity of these areas.
As part of an Administrative Consent Order originally signed in 2005 to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows into the Saugus River, the town, with its engineering consultants CDM Smith, identified nine subsystems that were prioritized in order to reduce the amount of I&I in the sewer system. With the consent order complete, the town has maintained this positive momentum by rehabilitating more sewer subsystems that were also identified in the study to remove I&I sources. Contractors have lined approximately 210,000 linear feet of sewers in town, rehabilitated 1,600 manholes and removed approximately 950 private water inflow sources from the sewer system.
Work on sewer subsystem 2 is anticipated to begin in early August. The project is expected to be completed around mid-December. General work hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours possible for portions of the work. Sewer usage to some homes will be restricted during working hours. Notices will be distributed to impacted residents 72 hours in advance and again 24 hours in advance, with an additional notice provided once sewer service is restored.
The community can expect some traffic impact in the work zones to allow the construction efforts to safely proceed. Saugus Police Department details will be assigned to the work areas to handle any traffic issues or detours.
We thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation during this construction project that will result in better quality and more reliable sewer infrastructure for our community.
“It’s important the town maintain its commitment to sewer infrastructure upgrades to ease the burden that excess inflow and infiltration places on our aging sewer system,” Town Manager Crabtree said. “The town has successfully reduced water infiltration rates through past sewer rehabilitation projects and we want to keep moving in the right direction. We have come a long way from the days of discharging raw sewage into the Saugus River prior to this Administration,” he said.
If you have any questions about the sewer subsystem 3A project, please contact Saugus Town Engineer Kevin Hallion at 781-231-4032.

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08/07/2025

Riding for Research – Pedaling for a Cure
Father and son ride for ALS research

(Wakefield, MA) – Emmet Davitt and his son Patrick will embark on a 3000-mile bike ride from Calais, Maine (on the Canadian border) to Key West, Florida on September 3rd, 2025, to raise money for The Angel Fund for ALS Research. Emmet, 68, and Patrick, 28, will make the journey to raise money for, and awareness of, medical research to help find treatment and a cure for ALS (commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s’ disease), a disease which has touched multiple members of his family.
The Angel Fund for ALS Research is an independent non-profit charity dedicated to supporting ALS research at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, MA., internationally recognized for its ground-breaking work in the fight against this devastating disease. The laboratory is under the direction of world-renowned researcher Dr. Robert H. Brown, Jr.
Emmet’s cousins and uncle are members of the Kennedy family who have been affected by the disease. His mother, Margaret “Peg”, was the identical twin of Mary Kennedy whose husband, Chris Kennedy, lost his battle with ALS in his mid-sixties, and children Jimmy and Jake Kennedy died at the ages of 31 and 66, respectively. Another son, Angel Fund for ALS Research President Rich (Ratt) Kennedy has been courageously battling the disease for several years.
Emmet and Patrick have set up a fundraising page (https://www.mygiving.net/campaign/Pedaling-for-a-Cure) to enable supporters to make a donation to the fight against ALS.
“We hope you will support us this Fall in our journey and mission with your thoughts, prayers and, if possible, a per mile pledge,” he said. “A penny a mile pledge, for instance, would amount to a $30.00 gift but, of course, any contribution is welcome and greatly appreciated.”
He noted that The Angel Fund for ALS Research operates with minimal overhead costs (e.g. - no board salaries) and that he and Patrick will cover all of their own travel costs on this trip. Every dollar raised will go directly to support the promising research of Dr. Brown and his associates.
Emmet, who has biked across the United States in the past, will travel along the East Coast Greenway, a trip he and Patrick hope to complete in 10 to 12 weeks. They will be joined periodically by Emmet’s wife Julie who will meet up with the duo with supplies and will bike with them for several miles.
“Our journey will be an adventure, and our mission will be deeply personal,” Emmet noted in announcing the fundraising ride. “Millions of families, like my cousins, have been painfully touched by this dreadful, always fatal, neurodegenerative disorder that results in the progressive loss of both upper and lower motor neurons that normally control voluntary muscle contraction.”
“My cousin “Ratt” has been extremely active in the Angel Fund where he is serving as President. Although Ratt worked tirelessly for many years representing the Angel Fund in honor of his late younger brother, he has been in the midst of his own fight over the last several years battling the ravages of ALS. He has been the recipient of remarkable care from Dr. Brown and the staff of UMass-Chan Medical Center, and he credits this care for keeping him alive and optimistic. He lives his life with an incredibly inspiring attitude and endless gratitude. A cure isn’t yet here but there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Emmet concluded.
To donate to Emmet and Parick Davitt’s 3000-mile journey, go to https://www.mygiving.net/campaign/Pedaling-for-a-Cure or the Angel Fund for ALS Research’s website at www.theangelfund.org.

The Angel Fund for ALS Research
The Angel Fund for ALS Research (Angel Fund, Inc). is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Founded in 1997, The Angel Fund focuses on funding scientific investigations at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, MA. The Angel Fund is located in Wakefield, MA
Mission and Impact
The Angel Fund’s mission is to raise funds through events, campaigns, foundation grants, and community outreach to support ALS research aimed at finding the cause, treatment, and cure for the disease. Our organization operates with minimal overhead—no rent, utility bills, or high-paid executives—allowing over 92% of its expenditures to directly fund research.
The Angel Fund has made significant contributions to ALS research, including a $750,000 donation in 2024 to support the work of Dr. Robert H. Brown Jr. and his team at UMass Chan Medical School. Dr. Brown is renowned for discovering the first gene associated with hereditary ALS and leading the first gene therapy clinical trial for the disease.

CUTLINE:

Emmet Davitt and his son Patrick

08/07/2025

Owls visit the Saugus Public Library

By Laura Eisener

The Saugus Public Library brought the extremely popular “Eyes on Owls” program to Saugus last week. It had been scheduled to be held outdoors at Saugus Iron Works. Unfortunately, the rain Thursday morning caused the program to be moved indoors. The Community Room in the library is much smaller than the Iron Works lawn, so some audience members had to be turned away.
The Wilsons kindly stayed after the program to show a few owls to those who were willing to wait until the program ended to see some of the birds. Mark and Marcia Wilson have been bringing live owls to school groups, libraries and other organizations since 1994. The owls they house need to live in a protected environment due to injuries. The program includes information on several owl species and presents information on hazards facing owls. They also bring along some non-owl species, like the kestrel they showed at the library program.
Mark and Marcia prefer to be emailed at [email protected]. Their website – eyesonowls.com – includes interesting information about owls in general and suggestions for ways to reduce owl hazards and to help injured birds, as well as links to other organizations.
August 4 each year is International Owl Awareness Day. Owls are important predators and help control pest rodent populations, but rodenticides and sticky traps sometimes used to reduce these pests can kill owls, as well as eagles, other predators and pets.
Owls are primarily night hunters, so it is not extremely common to see one during the day, although some have been spotted at Breakheart and elsewhere during daylight hours.

CUTLINES:

Marcia Wilson holds two eastern screech owls (Megascops asio). (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener).

An American kestrel is held by Mark Wilson (Falco sparverius). (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener)

Mark Wilson holds a barred owl (Strix varia). (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener)

08/07/2025

The Bands of Summer Continue

Atwater~Donnelly performed historical music and folk songs during a near-perfect evening at the Iron Works

By Laura Eisener

Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly have been performing for many years all over New England. This husband-and-wife duo from Rhode Island specializes in historical music and folk songs and often use unusual instruments in their concerts.
“Tell Me Ma,” sometimes called “The Belle of Belfast City,” is played on the Irish whistle and guitar. It is a traditional tune that sometimes accompanied children’s games, and with variations had been sung all over the British Isles in the 19th century. Lyrics such as “The boys won’t leave the girls alone. They pulled my hair and stole my comb” will bring back childhood memories for many people!
Some of the old songs have different versions because they were passed along orally by many people, sometimes with changes along the way. An example of one of these is “The Conscript’s Sweetheart,” also known as “Jeannette and Jeannot,” which required some research and restoration work by Atwater and Donnelly. This is a 19th century song about parting lovers expressing fear that the other will forget during the impending separation.
One song in particular refers to a historical person from Rhode Island; “My Bonny, Bonny Boat,” played on the mountain dulcimer, is sung from the point of view of Ida Lewis, first female lighthouse keeper. Ida Lewis Rock – off the shore of Rhode Island – is named for her. This song is on their album “The Boat You Row” in which they perform with some additional musicians.
Their books and recordings are available online at atwater-donnelly.bandcamp.com. They also have many recordings as well as a few songbooks and two volumes of Aubrey’s original poetry available on www.atwater-donnelly.com.
In addition to singing and playing various instruments, Aubrey Atwater demonstrated some steps including scissors, silent scissors, and wheel dance, from traditional clogging dance styles. While many songs included guitar accompaniment, some of the less familiar instruments were bones, several types of Irish whistle (they have a collection of them), harmonica, tambourine and dulcimers.
One of the more humorous songs was “The Mermaid from Ontario” written by Shel Silverstein, the author known for his book “The Giving Tree” and others. This one is known for its imaginative story line and impressive “vocabulario”!
The concert finished up with “Cluck Old Hen (She lays eggs for the railroad men).”
The mood was decidedly festive, with free refreshments and souvenirs available from two tables. Raising Cane’s, the new restaurant on Route 1, supplied lemonade and various toys and gift cards, their table presided over by a large plushy dog in sunglasses. The Saugus River Watershed Council gave out cookies and sliced watermelon. As for weather, this was one of the most perfect evenings of the summer, with very few people reaching for their fans or their sweaters. Lots of children and families used the back of the lawn for co****le games, some continuing even after the music ended.
This marks the fourth consecutive summer that the Saugus Public Library and the National Park Service are collaborating on a local outdoor event that seems to get more popular every year. The concert series celebrates local musical talents in Essex County and creates opportunities for residents and visitors to engage with the park during evening hours. The remaining shows begin at 6 p.m. each Wednesday evening in August. People can bring blankets and chairs, snacks, etc. The events take place on the stage behind the museum building, and spectators can settle down on the upper lawn. It is suitable for all ages. Restrooms are available until nearly 8 p.m., when the concerts conclude. If weather looks bad for any particular Wednesday, concert goers are urged to check the library website (www.sauguspubliclibrary.org), which will update for cancellations on that day.
Ditto – which specializes in Acoustic Rock from the 60s and 70s – was scheduled to perform this week (Wednesday, Aug. 6). Here is the rest of the schedule for the summer:
August 13: John Jerome (Rock, Pop, Country, Hip-Hop);
August 20: Jon Waterman (a journey through the roots of American popular music);
August 27: Jump Street (Classic Rock, Motown, Jazz and Funk).

CUTLINES:

Aubrey Atwater (right) demonstrated some traditional step dancing and clogging styles during last week’s concert at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener)

Atwater~Donnelly played several old-fashioned instruments, including these mountain dulcimers, during their concert last week. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener)

08/07/2025

Birthdays are special at the Senior Center

On Friday, July 25, once again, the Saugus Senior Center held its monthly birthday celebration. Each month the Senior Center likes to recognize the Senior birthdays with a collective birthday celebration, usually on the final Friday of the month. Each birthday recipient receives a free pizza lunch, cake, ice cream and a souvenir group photo to take home. If anyone would like to sponsor a birthday in honor of someone special, please stop by the office and let us know.

CAPTION

JULY BIRTHDAYS: The Saugus Senior Center recognized 13 residents who celebrated their birthdays collectively at the Senior Center on Friday, July 25. Pictured from left to right: First row: Henrietta Belyea, Anne Tucker, Bill Bidmead, Eleanor Blaney, Cathy Dortona, Lucielle Moisture, Kathy Billings and Donna McNeil; back row: Annette Reed, Diane Corkey, Diane McConnell, Mary McKenzie and Danielle LeBlanc. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate)

08/07/2025

The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

Good morning, Saugus
The Nov. 4 Town Election is 12 weeks away from this coming Tuesday (Aug. 12). That’s a long time to campaign. But things have definitely been heating up in the School Committee and Board of Selectmen races since the nomination papers became available to aspiring candidates on July 21.
Former School Committee Chair Joseph “Dennis” Gould heads a field of five challengers who are eyeing a two-year term on the School Committee. Also pulling nomination papers for a run for the town’s top elected education post are Shannon McCarthy of Precinct 6, Andrew T. Finn of Precinct 4, Roberto F. Bruzzese of Precinct 9 and Finance Committee Member Brian J. Doherty of Precinct 1. As of early this week, when we checked the candidates’ list at the Town Clerk’s Office, no incumbent School Committee members had pulled papers yet.
But, it’s still early. Candidates have until 5 p.m. on Sept. 12 to obtain nomination papers from the Town Clerk’s Office. The deadline for filing those nomination papers is 5 p.m. on Sept. 16.
Meanwhile, three incumbent selectmen have already pulled papers: Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta and Selectmen Anthony Cogliano and Mike Serino.
Former Selectman Jennifer E. D’Eon heads the list of challengers, which includes Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member Stacey Herman-Dorant, Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member Frank Federico and Sandro Pansini Souza, an unsuccessful candidate for selectman two years ago when he finished seventh in a field of seven candidates. He currently serves as treasurer on the Saugus TV Board of Directors.
Precinct 8 Town Meeting Member Kristi Talagan, who ran for the Saugus Housing Authority four years ago and lost, has pulled papers to run for a seat on the Housing Authority again.
Stay tuned.

School Days nearing
Hope you are having a fun, safe and productive summer.
Tuesday, Aug. 26, is the first day of the new school year. That’s just two weeks from this coming Tuesday (Aug. 12). Not long from now, we’ll be admiring the fall colors and the start of the football season. Founders Day is little more than a month away. That’s always a big deal for Saugonians. And the campaigns for the various town political candidates should be in full spring by then.
Stay tuned.

World Series Park will host alumni game
The Annual Saugus High Baseball Alumni Game will return to World Series Park on Saturday, August 16, at 4 p.m. After an absence of several years, the alumni game will offer the opportunity to former Saugus High School baseball players to play in a game. Anyone who would like to play should contact Saugus High coach Mike Mabee at 781-941-0775.

A “Shout out” for outstanding athletes
For this week’s column, we received a collective “shout out” from Christopher Tarantino, also known as “Coach T,” who oversees the Saugus Sachems Summer Track Camp. “Coach T” submitted the following nomination:
“I would like to give a ‘shout out’ to the 13 outstanding athletes, from the Saugus Sachems Summer Track Camp, that stepped into the unknown and accepted the challenge of being trailblazers by taking part in the Junior Olympic program. In doing so they represented themselves, their families, our program, and our community in a positive light...First up was an Association meet, back in June where top 8 places moved on to Region 1 meet, held in July and from there top 8 qualify for Nationals, that were held in Savannah, Georgia. Participants included Naomi Tarantino, Olivia Clark, Annalisa Ferrara, Elizabeth Silipigni, Thomas LeBlanc, Matthew Benoit, Mark Benoit, AJ Diciero, Santino Diciero, and Luiz Sena, all of which qualified for Region 1, as well as Matthew Bell, Liam Marcu and Matthew Silipigni. 8 of the 10 qualifiers for Region 1 competed with six of them, Annalisa Ferrara, Thomas LeBlanc, Mark Beniot, AJ Diciero, Santino Diciero, and Luiz Sena making Nationals. Annalisa Ferrara, 80m hurdles and Luiz Sena, high jump, got down to Savannah, Georgia to compete in the National meet. Congrats to them all.”

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 ([email protected]) 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.

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry today
The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, August 8) from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. The food pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Friday mornings. Volunteers are also welcome. Please call the Food Pantry Office (781-233-2663) or go to the website (cliftondalecc.org) for details.

Newspapers at the library
Thanks to a donation from a patron, The New York Times is now available at the Library, according to Saugus Public Library Director Alan Thibeault. “You can also stop by and read the Saugus Advocate, Lynn Item, Boston Herald, and the Boston Globe as well!” Thibeault said.

Saugus Youth Cross Country 2025
Grades 1-5 and 6-8 students not running for a school team can start Tuesday, Aug. 26: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Belmonte; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Breakheart Reservation. The training distances are 1st to 3rd, .7 miles; 4th and 5th, 1.2 miles; 6th-8th, 1.9 miles. Practice races are Saturdays (to be determined) at Frey Park in Lynn at 285 Walnut St.
Saturday, Oct. 25: Fun Run practice at Breakheart. Athletes are encouraged to wear a costume.
Saturday, Nov. 1: 16th Annual Massachusetts State Middle School Cross Country Championships at Willard Field in Devens; more information to be announced.
Tuesday, Nov. 11: 11th Annual Massachusetts Elementary School Cross Country Championship; 8:30 a.m. arrival and 9:30 a.m. start; Lynn’s Gannon Golf Course, 60 Great Woods Rd.; lunch at Prince Pizza following the meet.
Ending Thursday, Nov. 13 – wrap up Session at Belmonte.
Cost: $150 for first year, $75 returning from Cross Country 2024.
If you have any questions, need further information or want to register, please contact Coach T at 781-854-6778 or [email protected].

A conversation with candidate Stacey
In a recent story on Stacey Herman-Dorant’s campaign for the Board of Selectmen, we mentioned an upcoming political time for her, mentioning the day of the week, but not the date. That apparently caused some residents to show up on July 20 – two weeks ahead of the actual date.
As a courtesy to the candidate and the voters who want to meet with Stacey, we are running the note again: Join Stacey for coffee and conversation at Panera Bread in the Community Room on Sunday, August 10 from 9am-11am. Can’t make that date?
Reach out to Stacey at [email protected], she would love to meet you and answer any questions.

Founders Day book sale Sept. 13
The New Friends of the Saugus Public Library are gearing up for their annual Book Sale, which will take place on Saturday, September 13, during the Town’s Founders Day celebration. They are seeking donations of adult fiction, both hardcover and paperback, as well as children’s books. Sorry, but they are not accepting donations of nonfiction books, textbooks or any non-book items (puzzles, games, workbooks, etc.). All donations must be clean and in excellent condition; no stains, yellowing, rips, wrinkles, odors or marked up pages, please!
Please check in at the desk in the main lobby when bringing in donations. If you are hoping to donate a large quantity of books or have questions, please email [email protected] or call 781-231-4168 ext. 3102 before coming in. Thank you for your understanding and for supporting the New Friends!

Free Health Fair Sept. 19
The Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee and the Saugus Senior Center are teaming up once again for their 2nd Annual Health, Wellness and Resource Fair to be held on Friday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St.). There will be a variety of health organizations that will offer free health screenings, educational tables, giveaways, raffles and much more. This is a free event and open to the public for all ages.

KOC Flea Market Sept. 27
The Knights of Columbus Council 1829 of Saugus will be holding a Festive Indoor Flea Market and Craft Fair on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the KOC Hall at 57 Appleton St. in Saugus. Vendors/dealers will be charged $30 per space; one table and chairs provided. Please submit payment as soon as possible. For details, please call KOC at 781-233-9858 or Paul Giannetta at 978-239-1392.

Visitor Services at Saugus Iron Works
The park grounds at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site is open now through Oct. 31, 24 hours a day/seven days a week. Restrooms are open Wednesday through Sunday; 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Monday through Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum and industrial site buildings are open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Level Up at your library
Now through Aug. 20, submit what you read this summer and you may win an Amazon gift card. Enter to win by going to our website (www.sauguspubliclibrary.org) and filling out the book review form. Grades 7-12.

Adult Summer Reading contest at the library
Now through Aug. 20, adults age 18 and up can participate in our Adult Summer Reading Contest for the chance to win a gift card to a local restaurant! Fill out an online book review form for every book you read over the summer, and you will be entered to win! The more books you read, the greater your chances of winning! Graphic novels, manga, cookbooks, e-books and audio books count, too. Good luck!

Buy-A-Brick for a veteran
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 someone from your family, school, etc., the general pricing is $100 for a 4" x 8" brick (three lines) or $200 for a 8" x 8" brick (five lines). Each line has 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 September 10 to ensure the bricks will be ready for Veterans Day. Please contact Corinne Riley at 781-231-7995 for more information and applications.

C.H.a.R.M. Center is open
The Town of Saugus Solid Waste/Recycling Department announced that the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (C.H.a.R.M.) is open with normal operational hours of Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The C.H.a.R.M. Center is located at 515 Main St., Saugus, behind the Saugus Department of Public Works. Residents are welcome to use the C.H.a.R.M. Center for their recycling needs. Saugus was the first municipality in Massachusetts to open a C.H.a.R.M. Center.
The C.H.a.R.M. Center accepts the following items at no cost to residents:
• Bottles and cans
• Paper and cardboard
• Scrap metal
• Shoes, clothes and other textiles
• Fluorescent light bulbs and batteries (button and rechargeable)
Residents are also permitted the free disposal of three TVs or computers/CRT monitors per household each year at the C.H.a.R.M. Center.
Residents can obtain new stickers for this year free of charge when visiting the C.H.a.R.M. Center. By purchasing a $25 sticker that is valid for the entirety of the season, residents will be permitted to dispose of yard waste and brush at the C.H.a.R.M. Center. The $25 sticker also covers the cost to dispose of hard/rigid plastics at the facility. The C.H.a.R.M. Center accepts CHECKS ONLY (no cash or cards).
Please note that the C.H.a.R.M. Center does not accept any household trash or construction materials and debris. The Town of Saugus reserves the right to refuse any material if quantity or quality is questionable. Go to https://www.saugus-ma.gov/solid-waste-recycling-department and click on “Recycling Guide” for a comprehensive list of items that are accepted or not accepted at the C.H.a.R.M. Center, in addition to guidelines for how to prepare different items for disposal at the facility.
The C.H.a.R.M. Center will remain open on Wednesdays and Saturdays through the season until the winter. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Scott A. Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions.

Saugus High Class of 1980
Attention, Saugus High Class of 1980. Mark your calendars for Nov. 29 (Saturday after Thanksgiving) and reach out to your friends that you’d like to see at the 45th Class Reunion for 1980 graduates and friends. The reunion will be held that day from 1 to 6 p.m. inside the Saugus Elks.
Invite Saugus High friends from other classes that you may want to be at our 1980 Class Reunion. Our last Saugus Class BBQ event a couple of years ago had three sisters from three different classes attend and they had a blast – so many loved seeing them and appreciated them being there. So many old friends reconnecting after decades; friends from overseas and across the country came; Saugus Classmates that left in Jr. High and that went to other High Schools came. How special it was for so many people to see each other after over 40 years.
Reach out to your friends who are not on Facebook to give them some early notice in case they may want to attend and need to make travel plans. Some of our Classmates have kept in touch with some of our High School teachers, and they attended our last two Saugus High Reunion events – we hope they’ll join us again. Feel free to reach out to any of your favorite teachers that you may want there – I’m sure they would love to hear from you.
More information is forthcoming. Any questions, please feel free to reach out to Andrea or Pete:
Andrea Saunders (1980 Class President) can be reached at [email protected] or 978-482-5787.
Pete Nicolo can be reached [email protected] or 978-815-8234.

About The Saugus Advocate
We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is 6 p.m. on Tuesday. If you have a story idea, an article or a photo to submit, please email me at [email protected] or leave a message at 978-683-7773. Or send your press release to me in the mail at PO Box 485, North Andover, MA 01845. 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.

CAPTIONS

LOOKING BACK: Here is a scene from the 2011 Saugus High Baseball Alumni game. After an absence of several years, the Annual Saugus High Baseball Alumni Game will return to World Series Park on Saturday, August 16, at 4 p.m. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate)

MAKING SAUGUS PROUD: members of the Saugus Sachems Summer Track Camp at an inhouse meet on July 12 at Serino Stadium. Thirteen of these young athletes participated in the Junior Olympic Program this summer. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate)

SAVORING THEIR VICTORIES: a group from the Saugus Sachems Summer Track Camp at the end of the Summer Showdown in Cranston, R.I., displaying some of their hard-earned medals and ribbons ahead of learning they finished third as a team amongst the nearly 20 teams that competed. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate)