Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 SAUGUS GARDENS IN THE PANDEMIC Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener E ven in a normal February, it is easy to get discouraged by winter and eager for spring. Over 150 years ago, Henry David Thoreau advised walking and observing nature despite rough weather, as an antidote: “Take long walks in stormy weather or through deep snows in the fields and woods, if you would keep your spirits up. Deal with brute nature. Be cold and hungry and weary.” THE FRIENDLIEST OF BIRDS: The black-capped chickadee, the state bird of Massachusetts, perched on a weather vane in Lynnhurst. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) RED CEDAR: Growing near Birch Pond with waxy cones. Named red cedar for the color of its heartwood, this small tree has long been prized for its insect and rot resistant wood. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) It may take a bit of fortitude to get out the door, but once you set out you warm up fast. Already this week the icicles have melted, reformed and melted again. Weather seems to have been fluctuating uncertainly between winter and spring, with snow flurries alternating with rain, but we know the bloom of the lilacs is likely to be still a few months away. Among the birds that visit my SHEDDING TIME: Mature red cedar at the edge of Lynn Woods, showing peeling bark. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) ILLUMINATING WEATHER: Woods on a snowy evening, lit up by the lights of Route 1. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | FROM PAGE 11 Veterans’ Services (DVS), which runs the program in partnership with local 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% of the approved benefits and your city or town pays for 25%. There are income and asset limits for the program. As a general rule, income and asset requirements are: Family of 1 – monthly income less than $2,081and an asset limit of $5,000. Family of 2 – 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 and 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 feeder daily are black-capped chickadees, the state bird of both Massachusetts and Maine. They stay year round and are at home in residential areas as 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 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Thursday: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. well as woods. Chickadees are among the friendliest of birds and least frightened of people. In fact they fairly quickly can be persuaded to eat sunflower seeds or other treats from an outstretched hand. While they will eat many kinds of seeds, they also are fond of small insects and spiders. A large part of their diet is insect larvae, so they can be said to do their part in helping to limit garden pests. Even when you can’t see them, they have such a cheery upbeat song. GARDENS | SEE PAGE 15 “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 pickup and take & make crafts from the Taylor Street hallway.” “And should you need assistance, a librarian will be standing by to help. “Fast, simple, and easy!” For more information, 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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