THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Page 3 ~The Advocate Asks~ Saugus Cultural Council Co-Chair Tori Darnell talks about the upcoming First Annual Saugus Cultural Festival Editor’s Note: For this week’s column, we sat down with Tori Darnell and talked to her about the first-ever Saugus Cultural Festival, which is set for Sunday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Saugus Middle High School. Darnell was born in Boston and grew up between Revere and Medford. She bought a home in Saugus in 2021. She graduated from Winthrop Senior High School in 2008 and went to Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to study Fine Arts. She graduated in 2012. She currently works at Scalora Consulting Group, an owner’s representative firm in the design and construction industry. Darnell is married to Edgar Mazariegos Medina and shares one child, Xavier Mazariegos Darnell, 8, who attends a Somerville charter school and participates in the Saugus Cross Country and Track team. Darnell joined the Cultural Council in December 2021 and renewed her term in December 2024 for another three years. She started out as Treasurer and is currently Co-Chair of the council. She has been accepted in the Essex County Community Foundation’s Creative County Initiative’s 2025 Changemakers Cohort, which begins in March 2025. She was nominated for Rising Star for the 2024 Professional Women in Construction. Highlights of this week’s interview follow. Q: How did the idea for the Saugus Cultural Festival evolve? When? Whose idea? Who were the people involved? A: The Council issued a community engagement survey in 2023 to see the program and events residents want to experience in Saugus. We saw an overwhelming interest for more free, community events in Saugus that bring residents together. We take the community’s feedback seriousRON’S OIL Call For PRICE MELROSE, MA 02176 NEW CUSTOMER’S WELCOME ACCEPTING VISA, MASTERCARD & DISCOVER (781) 397-1930 OR (781) 662-8884 100 GALLON MINIMUM Great Classified Ad Rates! Call 781-233-4446 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PASSIONATE ABOUT HER PROJECT: Tori Darnell, co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council, exuded excitement during an interview at a local coffee shop last week as she shared the council’s plans for the first-ever Saugus Cultural Festival. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) ly and have been using it as the foundation on how we serve Saugus. In one of his first meetings on the Council, Dennis Gould asked if we could hold our own festival and events. That got the discussion going. In spring 2024, the Council approved to organize our first event – that would be free, inclusive and family-friendly – that celebrates the cultural fabric of Saugus. The festival is primarily organized by the Cultural Council members with some support from Stephanie M. Shalkoski, Carol Wallace and Alan Thibeault [the Saugus Public Library Director]. Q: What was the original concept? And the venue? What was the ultimate dream of this event? A: The vision for the Cultural Festival is to inspire others in town to create more thoughtful, engaging and educational programs in Saugus. We wanted to organize an event that brought neighbors together to celebrate each other. Our focus was to represent the community and showcase local artists and vendors and other community groups. This is why the Cultural Council selected the Saugus Middle High School for the venue. It is already a well-known community gathering place that is also an ADA-compliant building. And we didn’t have to pay for the venue. It’s a public building that hosts a lot of community activities. Q: Who are the people on the Saugus Cultural FestiASKS | SEE PAGE 9 PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $11.00 Price includes Roller Skates 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required Private Parties Private Parties 4-8 p.m. $10.00 8:30-11 p.m. $11. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required 12-9 p.m. $10.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com
4 Publizr Home