Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2024 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus! Hope your holidays and New Year were filled with good cheer and happy memories shared with friends and loved ones. And, hopefully, you have embarked on some challenging resolutions for the new year – like making a commitment to eating healthier and getting regular exercise to shed the weight. Got to love the spirit and the commitment of all those people who ventured outside on New Year’s Day to begin their year with a nice, long walk. Just keep it up, and you will be pleased with the results. A special day at the library The Nutcracker story came to life last week (Dec. 28) at the Saugus Public Library for a crowd of school-age children who received a special holiday treat. “The kids listened to the Nutcracker story while ballet dancers acted it out,” said Amy Melton, Head of Children’s Services at the library. “Children got to meet the dancers, and have their pictures taken. They made Nutcracker crafts and had a ballet lesson too. It was great fun! We were so fortunate to have such elegant ballerinas join us!” Melton said the library strives to host programming during the holiday break for school-age children. Lila Giamanco, a 12th grader at Mystic Valley Regional Charter School and a member of Center Stage Dance Studio in Melrose, played the part of Clara. She works a few hours a week in the Children’s Room at the library. Mackenzie Bright, a 12th grader and a student at the Conservatory program at Northeast School of Ballet, played the Sugar Plum Fairy. “They did the performance out of the goodness of their hearts,” Melton said. Looking back on 2023 Hopefully, readers will enjoy our photo spread in this week’s paper that includes the top cover photos of each month during 2023. It’s time-consuming, but fun to do this every year for our readers, following the Yearin-Review issue. I’d like to thank my good photojournalist buddy, David Spink, who wrote about Saugus and took a lot of photos in town many years ago when he was a staff writer and photographer at North Shore Sunday. David has been a regular reader of The Saugus Advocate since I became editor in March of 2016. Each week, he helps me out with his photographic expertise by recommending which photo shots belong on page one and which ones don’t. Here’s David’s take on this year’s best photo – of Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian relaxing with a cup of coff ee and his dog, Axel, after an interview in preparation for “Saugus Over Coff ee,” a series of public forums cosponsored by The Saugus Advocate and the Saugus Public Library, focusing on issues related to each of the town’s 10 precincts: “Manoogian! It is the best photo. No way around it. And he’s been up to his ears in town aff airs for more than 40 years. Just a tremendous portrait.” David spent several hours this week reviewing more than 52 photos that made it on page one. He recommended what he thought was the “best cover photo” for each month last year. He was also fond of a couple of other photos: the bird on the weather vane shot in February, our September shot of Gail Cassarino holding a bell and the American fl ag during a bell-ringing ceremony she led in front of Saugus Town Hall to celebrate the 236th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. But David said the portrait of Manoogian with Axel at the kitchen table of his Ballard Street home stood out. “It’s the grabber. Man and his dog is easy to like,” David noted. Food Pantry notes The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Jan. 5) from 9:3011 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 off ers 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 aff ord the donation may be served free. Special “Shout Outs” We didn’t receive any nomA SPECIAL “NUTCRACKER” TREAT: Twin sisters Claire and Marie Venezia (center), second-graders at the Belmonte STEAM Academy, got to meet ballet dancers Mackenzie Bright (left) and Lila Giamanco (right) last week during a holiday program for kids at the library. (Courtesy photo of Amy Melton) inations from readers this week. Using my editorial discretion, I would like to give a giant, collective “Shout Out” to all town residents of Saugus who volunteer to serve on a wide range of committees, boards and commissions – whether appointed or elected – which contribute to the betterment of their community. Special kudos to the 50-member Town Meeting, which numbers five members for each of the town’s 10 precincts. In many instances, these elected representatives serve as the eyes and ears of the Board of Selectmen and the town manager when it comes to identifying potential neighborhood problems and concerns. Town Meeting members who live in particular precincts are able to lend credibility to concerns that reach the town manager and selectmen’s desks. Town government in Saugus works well when the citizen volunteers collaborate with paid professional staff for the common good of the community. And citizens who want to get involved are always welcome. Just drop a letter off at the Town Manager’s Offi ce or the Board of Selectmen, stating your interest in serving the town and summarizing your expertise or background which could help the town out. 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 Pauline Nelson, one of several readers who answered correctly to last Friday’s sketch contest and had her name selected in a drawing. Pauline will receive a $10 gift certifi cate 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: “Last week’s sketch is of Gloria Johnson. She has lived in Saugus for 33 years with her husband Joe of 50 plus years and happily counting. They have three children who are all graduates of Saugus High, with successful jobs and off on their own. “Gloria loves volunteering at several organizations and often is heard saying, ‘If you are looking for me, you can find me at my Happy Place at the Senior Center.’ She is a Saugus Senior Center Board Member. Gloria enjoys running a Senior Center Singing Program on Tuesday’s, 12:30-2:00. She is usually in THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 19
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