THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 7, 2025 Page 13 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus I had a conversation this week with a woman who lives in Precinct 3 who said she was concerned that the town’s proposed conversion of the Stocker Playground into a dog park was “a done deal.” I reassured her that it’s not, as the project is subject to review by the Conservation Commission, which is scheduled to hold a meeting this Wednesday (Feb. 12) at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall Annex, 25 Main St. Saugus residents will get to view the plans and learn more about the project – and share their feedback at the meeting. In addition to the Conservation Commission, which will determine whether the project poses no environmental threat to the area and wetlands, the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will also be doing its own review to make sure the town complies with state environmental regulations. So, it’s hardly “a done deal.” Should the Conservation Commission or DEP determine the project would have an adverse impact on the local wetlands and environment, that could delay or even threaten the project. A section called “Stocker Field Dog Park Information” was recently posted on the town website. Anyone who wants to learn more about the project can go on the town website. More information can be accessed at https://www.saugus-ma. gov/home/news/town-saugus-announces-plans-stocker-field-dog-park-ensuring-full-compliance-environmental. Residents can inspect the plans and NOI at https://www.saugus-ma. gov/home/pages/stocker-field-dog-park-information Any concerned citizen will have plenty of opportunity to weigh in on the project. Stay tuned. Saugus Cultural Festival Feb. 23 We’re a little more than two weeks away from the first Saugus Cultural Festival, which is set for Sunday, Feb. 23 at Sau15 Saugus 4-1-1 set for March The Saugus 4-1-1 forum that was originally scheduled for March 1 has been reschedSITE OF A PROPOSED DOG PARK: The Stocker Playground will be the subject of great discussion at this Wednesday’s (Feb. 12) Conservation Commission meeting set for 7 p.m. in the Town Hall Annex at 25 Main St. The Town has filed a Notice of Intent (NOI) with the commission related to the Proposed Stocker Field Dog Park Project. Residents – who support or oppose the project – will have an opportunity to learn more about the town’s plans to convert the playground into a dog park and share their views at the public meeting. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) gus Middle High School from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This inclusive and family-friendly event will celebrate Saugus’ cultural diversity through the showcase of food, performances and other activities, according to Tori Darnell, Co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council – the event’s organizers. The Cultural Council has invited musicians, dancers, poets, actors and artists of all kinds to showcase their talents on the local stage. There will also be food vendors on hand to share their culinary creations with festival-goers. This is a great opportunity to share new experiences with the community. To learn more information, please contact the Cultural Council by email – saugusculturalcouncil@gmail.com – or by phone: 339-440-1017. An open community discussion on the Saugus Cultural Festival is set for this Tuesday (Feb. 11) at 6 p.m. in the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library. uled for later in the month. “The Saugus 4-1-1 Committee would like everyone to know that the Saugus 4-11 event will be taking place on March 15, 2025,” Selectman Corinne Riley said in an email to The Saugus Advocate. “(Please note the date change). Invitations to all new residents as well as non-profits will be mailed out in January. We are looking forward to having this wonderful event for new residents as well as those who have been here for years to learn what Saugus has to offer! Also, if you have a local business or service to promote, send your request or further inquiries to Saugus411@gmail.com, there are ‘Welcome Bags’ that are given out to the new residents with all kinds of information which could include your business or services offered to our Saugus residents. Stay tuned for further updates!” Selectman Riley was the driving force behind the nifty program, which had two previous well-attended Saturdays at the Saugus Middle-High School in recent years (2022 and 2023). Stay tuned for more details. Saugus United Parish Food Pantry The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Fridays from 9:3011 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. Please note that the pantry is pausing food drive donations through the end of February because of the generosity of the community during the holiday season. Food drives will resume in March. 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. A Super “SHOUT OUT” for Lukeman Nouri Saugus Public Library Director Alan Thibeault offered some high praise this week for a 17-year-old senior from the Pioneer Charter School of Science II in Saugus who was responsible for creating a tutoring program run by a small group of student volunteers from the local school. “This is definitely Lukeman’s program,” Thibeault said in an interview this week while touting the Tutoring Circle organized by Lukeman Nouri as “a great program.” “He’s doing a service to the town, providing help to students of all grades,” Thibeault said. “It’s a credit to the school, a credit to him [Lukeman] and also the kids who are involved as volunteer tutors. He came to see me the early part of last year with the idea of doing this. He’s smart. He’s nice. He wants to serve the community. He organized this program and he set it up so kids can go online and register the courses they need help with. This is a great partnership [between the library and the Pioneer Charter School].” I got to talk with Alan briefly on Monday afternoon in the library’s community room, before spending about 90 minutes observing the tutoring class and interviewing Lukeman Nouri, a very impressive Saugus teenager who is the subject of this week’s “The Advocate Asks.” For the parents of Saugus kids who might be having trouble with a particular subject – whether your child attends Saugus Public Schools, a local Charter School or a vocational school – the Tutoring Circle is an option you might want to consider. And it won’t cost you anything except for the time and gas you use to drive to drop your children off at the library and to pick them up later. This is the link for parents to register their children: https://forms.gle/YSnjS6KSjFuBQFkT6 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 THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 15
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