THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 Page 15 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | FROM PAGE 14 execute these commitments. Brooks looks at a range of people who have lived joyous, committed lives, and who have embraced the necessity and beauty of dependence. He gathers their wisdom on how to choose a partner, how to pick a vocation, how to live out a philosophy, and how we can begin to integrate our commitments into one overriding purpose. In short, this book is meant to help us all lead more meaningful lives. But it’s also a provocative social commentary. We have taken individualism to the extreme— and in the process we have torn the social fabric in a thousand different ways. The path to repair is through making deeper commitments. In The Second Mountain, Brooks shows what can happen when we put commitment-making at the center of our lives.” If you love to read and participate in book discussion books on a very global level involving religion and life, there’s still time to participate. I’m getting COVID-19 fatigued I’m growing weary of those ungrateful readers who express dismay about us not covering a particular local government reading like we are recorders rather than reporters trying to make sense of the doings of town government. If you want a blow-by-blow description of what happens at every meeting, watch the rerun on vimeo.com/saugustelevision. We do try to monitor important meetings like next Tuesday’s Special Town Meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. However there is so much space and time you can spend on gleaning useful information to our readers. And to tell you the honest truth, it’s pretty darn easy to get “Zoomed out” during these crazy days of COVID-19. And with The Saugus Advocate, we try to present balanced coverage that just doesn’t have to do with Saugus Town Hall government and politics. How about a little bit of sports, arts, culture, history too? All government coverage can make Jack or Jill a dull boy or girl. If I had my druthers, I would drive from Methuen down to Saugus to cover a Board of Selectmen or Board of Health meeting and follow the discourse, especially reaction from citizens in the audience who may be affected by the actions taken by the local government body. Back in normal times, after a voter, I would follow citizens leaving the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall and hand and/or their attorney a business with my telephone numbers and emails in case they wanted to comment on the government action taken. As an observer of Saugus town government, that aspect of journalism no longer exists when you have to settle for watching the “Hollywood Squares” version of Saugus town government via “Zoom” video conferencing. And I hate the distractions. The major one is local government officials who don’t know when to turn off the mute button or when to turn it on. Sometimes you can see people’s jaws moving, but no words being spoken. Other times, you can pick up the background noise of dogs barking, toddlers babbling, or spouses squabbling in the background. That’s not real reporting, folks. I long for the 45-minute, one-way drives to and from Saugus Town Hall again. Hopefully late spring or early summer. Stay tuned. Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus (HS2) continues With the start of 2021, the Grab-N-Go meals program is back for another year at the Saugus Public Schools to keep needy students from going hungry. Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus (HS2), in partnership with Whitsons Food Service, continues with its noble program. Breakfasts and lunches will be available for pick up at the Veteran Memorial School at 39 Hurd Ave, every Tuesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information or assistance please email hs2information@gmail.com or visit the Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus Facebook page. Healthy Saugus-Healthy Students (HS2) is a non-profit group that helps to offset food insecurity households. HS2 provides a weekend supply of nutritious food for weekends or school holidays during the school year. For more information or assistance please email hs2information@gmail.com or visit the Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus Facebook page. Healthy Saugus-Healthy Students (HS2) is a non-profit group that helps to offset food insecurity households. HS2 provides a weekend supply of nutritious food for weekends or school holidays during the school year. Food Pantry still open The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will continue to remain open on Fridays between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Fridays despite concerns over the Coronavirus. They have made adjustments to protect their core of volunteers and the needy people who receive the food. For the protection of volunteers & clients, and to limit personal contact and crowding/gathering, the food pantry has been distributing pre-bagged groceries, Even though clients may receive items they don’t want or need, food pantry organizers feel this is the best course of action to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19. Those in need, even for short term or one-time assistance are encouraged to come. The food pantry is located in the basement of the Cliftondale Congregational Church at 50 Essex St. in Saugus. Food help for veterans Saugus offers a Veterans Food Pantry on the third Wednesday of each month. “We have been holding it in Melrose since the Saugus Senior Center has been closed, “Saugus Veteran Services Officer Jay Pinette says, “The pantry provides a mix of fresh produce and non-perishable foods. The pantry is open to Veterans and/or surviving spouses. Registration is required and may be done by contacting the Veterans Services Office,” The food market is generally held at the Saugus Senior Center, but given the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently offering a contact-free, drive-thru food pantry at Memorial Hall on Main Street in Melrose. If you are unable to pick-up, some limited deliveries may be available. This offering is year round. Please call the Saugus Veterans’ Service Office at 781231-4010 or e-mail VeteransServices@saugus-ma.gov in order to register. Proof of Veteran status is required. Helping the Vets During these challenging times, your local Veterans’ Service Officers would like to share some information on a benefit program that is available to those who qualify. If you are a Veteran or the surviving spouse of a Veteran, the “Chapter 115 Benefits Program” is a Massachusetts state initiative that provides financial aid for Veterans and/or their surviving spouses who reside in Massachusetts and meet certain income and asset guidelines. Benefits may include monthly ordinary benefits and/or payment/reimbursement for medical expenses. Whether laid off, in transition or living on a fixed income, the program is designed to provide short term or long term assistance as needed to provide relief. The program is overseen by the Massachusetts Department Veterans’ Services (DVS), which runs the program in partnership with local Veterans’ Service Officers (VSOs). Every town or district in Massachusetts has a VSO. VSOs assist Veterans and their dependents in learning about, applying for, and receiving Chapter 115 benefits. VSOs can also help you in applying for other benefits and connecting with local resources. Your local VSO handles applications, obtains program approval from DVS, and provides local benefits. The program is funded by a combination of state and local funds. DVS pays for 75 percent and your city or town pays for 25 percent of the approved benefits. There are income and asset limits for the program. As a general rule, income and asset requirements are: Family of one-monthly income less than $2,081and an asset limit of $5,000 Family of two-monthly income less than $2,818 and an asset limit of $9,800 To determine if you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Chapter 115 program, visit the following link and follow the instructions: https:// massvetben.org/ or call your local VSO for more information. The VSOs are also able to help Veterans apply for Federal VA benefits, local benefits and provide food assistance monthly. For example, did you know that if you own a home and have a VA service-connected disability, you are eligible for a partial or full exemption of your property taxes? Please contact your local Veterans’ Service Officer for more information on any of the services mentioned. We are all here to assist. We are regularly checking voicemails and emails as we continue to work remotely and in our offices throughout COVID-19. Melrose: Karen Burke 781-979-4186 kburke@cityofmelrose.org Wakefield: David Mangan 781-246-6377 dmangan@ wakefield.ma.us Saugus: Jay Pinette 781-231-4010 jpinette@saugus-ma.gov Buy a brick to honor your vets “Veterans Buy-a-Brick Program. Due to the low number of orders and the uncertainty of how a Veterans Day ceremony will be allowed, the program will be extended until May. The installation of bricks will be during the Memorial Day ceremony. We will be contacting the people who have already purchased a brick. Any questions, please call 781-231-7995.” Side Door Pickup at the Saugus Public Library To help keep the building and staff warmer during the winter, the Saugus Public Library moved its Front Door Pickup service from Central Street to Taylor Street in mid-December Patrons are required to place items on hold via the library’s online catalog and then, once notified that their item(s) are ready, schedule a pickup date. Pickup times remain the same: Tuesday: 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm Wednesday: 10:30 am to 2:00 pm Thursday: 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm In addition to the slight change in location, the library has made it easier for its patrons to retrieve their items. Instead of waiting for a librarian to place your item on the table, we’ll place all scheduled holds on a table in the Taylor Street hallway. All you’ll have to do is walk in (one at a time, please, and don’t forget to wear a mask!) and retrieve the bag with your name on it. The library also provides remote printing pick up and take & make crafts from the Taylor Street hallway. Should you need assistance; a librarian will be standing by near the hallway to help. Fast, simple, and easy! For more information on this and other services, visit http://www.sauguspubliclibrary.org Let’s hear it! Got an idea, passing thought or gripe you would like to share with The Saugus Advocate. I’m always interested in your feedback. It’s been nearly five years since I began work at The Saugus Advocate. I’m always interested in hearing readers’ suggestions for possible stories or good candidates for The Advocate Asks interview of the week. Feel free to email me at mvoge@ comcast.net. Do you have some interesting views on an issue that you want to express to the community? Submit your idea. If I like it, we can meet for a 15 to 20 minute interview while practicing social distancing outside a local coffee shop. And, I’ll buy the coffee. Or, if you prefer to be interviewed from the safety of your home on the phone or via email, I will provide that option to you as the nation copes with the Coronavirus crisis.
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