THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JAnUAry 3, 2025 Page 15 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus Hope your holidays were full of happiness and joy shared with family and friends. Here’s to good health and prosperity as we begin a new year. May you accomplish most of your resolutions and goals that you have set for the next 12 months. Whether it’s losing weight, adjusting to a healthier diet and lifestyle, engaging in educational pursuits or embarking on various self-improvement projects, organize a plan and resolve to stick to it. If you are thinking about getting involved in volunteer activities that contribute to the betterment of your community, this is the year to do it. The biennial town elections are scheduled for November. Five seats on the Board of Selectmen, five seats on the School Committee and 50 seats on the Annual Town Meeting are all up for grabs. Getting involved as a candidate or political organizer in a Town Meeting race is a great way to get involved in your hometown. It’s not too early to begin thinking about participating in your local government. President Carter was a great human being Our nation will pay its respects to Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, who passed away over the weekend at the age of 100 – the oldest age a president has ever lived to. From what I’ve read and know of the man, he’s probably the best human being who has ever served as president. Just a few years after leaving the White House, Carter and his wife Rosalyn embarked on a three-decade partnership with Habitat For Humanity, volunteering thousands of hours in the construction and repair of more than 4,000 homes for less fortunate people. Rather than writing books or trying to make money off his years of political office, as many former presidents do, Carter dedicated himself to a humane and noble cause that made it possible for many Americans to own swer session to follow. This week’s “SHOUT OUT” Janice Jarosz submitted this “Shout Out.” “SHOUT OUT to the Richard Andrews family, who once lived in the Cliftondale area of Saugus, MA. Their children attended the Cliftondale School but, tragically, they lost their only daughter, Patricia, in an automobile accident at eight years of age, in 1967. Despite the heartache and hardship suffered by the family through the years, they all dedicated much of their time and energy in ‘giving back’ to the community they loved. “Mr. Andrews volunteered often at the Cliftondale School, and also at Saugus Cable TV. Mrs. Andrews served as the President of the Cliftondale School PTA for several years always setting the example to REVIVE IN 2025: Happy New Year! (Painting by Joanie Allbee) their own homes. As a young reporter working for a Virginia newspaper in 1976, I got to spend a brief moment trying to interview Jimmy Carter just hours before his presidential debate with President Gerald Ford at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. I happened to be milling around outside a hotel when I noticed Carter coming out to greet his wife and to remove a suitcase from a car. My interview plans were spoiled by a Secret Service agent, who pushed me to the ground away from the presidential candidate. I was wearing a press pass at the time, but I was the only reporter in an area where several photographers were working. The color of my media pass was a different color than what the photographers were wearing. I’m sure the future president would have allowed me some time to ask him a few questions had the Secret Service agent not intervened. Even so, it was one of those interesting and memorable experiences that I will never forget in the course of a half century of newspaper journalism. Saugus United Parish Food Pantry The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Fridays from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. If you are able to donate to the food pantry, you can also stop by during those hours, drop off donations at the Saugus Public Library during library hours or contact office@cliftondalecc. org to make an appointment. Legion Breakfasts today There’s a good 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 2024-25 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. Helping Saugus Seniors On Monday, Dec. 16, at the Saugus Senior Center, the Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee and Eagle Bank teamed up to hold a trusts, wills and asset protection presentation. This was a very informative discussion for the seniors that attended. The presentation was conducted by Senior Vice President of Eagle Bank Gisella DiPaola and Assistant Vice President Juan Lopez. Subjects discussed were estate taxes, probate, property assignments, living trusts and more. This was an hour-long presentation with a question and anher children of the virtue of ‘giving back.’ “Both parents are gone now , but Richard Jr, Dana, Darrly, Brian, Kevin and Mark continue to this day to keep the Andrews family tradition of ‘giving back.’ For several years, they produced the very popular ‘Haunted House’ at the MEG, donating their time and talents for weeks in setting up and performing a wonderful and exciting Halloween event for children and parents alike! “Kevin and his brothers have spent the last fifteen years gathering and delivering donated toys to the children of Saugus, and in the last nine of those years Kevin and his crew stationed their Christmas project at the MEG continuing in the tradition. “This year, Kevin worked through several obstacles but still brought ‘Christmas magic’ to the children of Saugus. “The Andrews parents and sons never looked or wanted any public recognition – the brothers just go quietly about their lives, always ready to ‘give back’ in caring for our community and honoring the memory of their parents. “I am sure Rich and Carole are smiling down from heaven with pride.” THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 16
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