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Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, March 1, 2019 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS By Mark Vogler H ere are a few tidbits that you might want to know about this week in Saugus. Catching up to the 21st century I’ll be the first person to admit that I’m probably still one of the most low-tech people working in town. But, I’m happy to say that I probably won’t be losing too many more text messages or phone calls that readers or town officials send to my cellphone. On Sunday, I decided to finally part ways with my trusty Jitterbug flip phone and switch over to a more modern Samsung Galaxy S9 – and without increasing my monthly bill that much. When I began working for The Advocate in Saugus three years ago, a few town officials would laugh at me anytime I broke out the Jitterbug. Then, they would ridicule me when I didn’t get their texts or phone messages. As time went on and more people were calling me on the cellphone, I discovered I would lose text messages that I was creating if somebody called or texted me at the same time. I also discovered that I didn’t receive some of those calls and texts. I checked with GreatCall – the company that carries the Jitterbug – and a representative confirmed that I would have to “upgrade” to another phone if I wanted to eliminate that nuisance. To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t mind keeping the Jitterbug if I were fully retired. The Jitterbug is a nice, compact phone that I carry in a small zip-up camera case on my belt. And I put it on vibrate. So, when I’m not driving, I could pull it out and check my messages. The disadvantage for a low-tech guy like myself who is trying to run a small weekly newspaper is that I had to go to the Saugus Public Library anytime I was in Saugus to check my Comcast emails. But with the new cellphone, I can check my emails and phone calls to my home anytime, in the privacy of my car or at the local coffee shop. In fact, I can even respond to them, using my cellphone. I still keep this cellphone on vibrate, but I can tell when somebody is trying to call me at home, because my belt will start to jiggle, indicating that somebody is calling my landline. Neat, but simply the convenience of modern technology. Being a low-tech guy though, there’s a learning curve involved before I get the hang of things. For starters, the Jitterbug wouldn’t even allow Comcast to transfer my contacts and numbers to my new phone. So, late Sunday night, just before midnight, I accidentally called my cousin and his wife while trying to enter their contact information. Then, on Monday, while trying to experiment with my new cellphone by calling my landline – to see if I got the hang of things – I punched the wrong button after putting in my number and I wound up dialing some number in Afghanistan by mistake! Then it took me a couple of hours to figure out how to answer the phone. The people at the store where I bought the phone didn’t make it clear to me that I needed to push a button on the left side of the phone and drag the phone icon to the center of the screen. I finally learned how to answer phone calls by going on the Internet to search for instructions to the phone. So, after working the phone practically all day Monday, I ended the day having coffee with my friend Michael Miller, the airport manager at Lawrence Municipal Airport. He’s been advising me for more than a year to junk my Jitterbug and get this Samsung Galaxy phone. So, he was more than happy to share some helpful tips by actually showing me what I can do with my own phone. Well, this is a big step for me. I was one of the last holdouts on the cellphone. And I didn’t get one until they got rid of the pay phone at Lawrence City Hall. I used to always call my newspaper, using their 1-800-number from a pay phone. But those days are long gone, and so are the days of me using a flip phone. Pinewood Derby tomorrow! Pack 62 will be holding its annual Pine Wood Derby tomorrow (Saturday, March 2) at the Cliftondale Congregational Church (50 Essex St. in Saugus). The Open Race (adults, Boy Scouts, parents and siblings) starts at 10 a.m. Pizza will be served around noon. Cub Scouts start racing around 1 p.m. This free event is for anyone who would like to come down and watch some good, clean family fun. One of the highlights of this year’s event could be a car designed and built by Selectman Jennifer D’Eon. It’s kind of a neatlooking derby entry that looks like a miniature Titanic on wheels. But Jen is concerned that it might be too heavy to speed down the track. Come down to Cliftondale to cheer Jen on, or root for the other competition. Check it out! Saugus Babe Ruth sign-ups The remaining Saugus Babe Ruth Baseball sign-ups will be held at the Fox Hill Yacht Club on Ballard St. on March 11 and March 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. Any Saugus resident 13, 14 or 15 years of age is eligible to sign up. The cost for the season is $175 per player. After teams are picked, uniforms and a game schedule will be issued. Most games will be played at World Series Park, which is celebrating its fifteenth season. Corned beef at “The Pumpkin Church” The First Congregational Church in Saugus – this year’s Annual Corned Beef Supper is set for Saturday, March 9. The doors will open at 4:30 p.m. Dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. A donation of $13 is requested in advance, or $15 at the door. Youth sports collaborate this month! Saugus Youth Soccer, Saugus Pop Warner, Saugus National Little League, Saugus American Little League, Saugus Softball and Saugus Lacrosse are excited to announce their joint fundraising event! Come join in on a night of food, dancing, poker and lots of fun at Breakaway in Danvers on Friday, March 22! This is a great opportunity to support one league or multiple leagues all at the same great event! There are two ticket levels available for purchase: $20 General Ticket – includes cheese pizza, salad and DJ entertainment; $40 Poker Ticket – includes Texas Hold’em Tournament entry fee, cheese pizza, salad and DJ entertainment Prizes will be awarded to players who place in 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m., and the tournament will begin at 7:30 p.m. There are a limited number of tickets so make sure to purchase them early. Tickets can be purchased at https://www. eventbrite.com/e/saugus-youth-sports-fundraiser-texas-holdemtournament-and-dancing-at-breakaway-tickets-55458865961. As much as we love our kids, this is an adult only event. Please share with aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends so that we can come together to support all the sports that our children love to play! Calling civic-minded Saugonians Once again, Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and the Board of Selectmen are looking for a few good men and women who would be interested in serving as volunteers in local government. The Selectmen are accepting applications for appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Library Board of Trustees. These are volunteer / non paid positions for Saugus residents. Those interested may submit letter of interest / resume, no later than March 12 to: Saugus Board of Selectmen Saugus Town Hall 298 Central St., #4 Marching as one league – in one parade The newly-formed Saugus Little League has announced it will host its annual Opening Day Parade on Saturday, April 20 at 9 a.m. This year, the Saugus National and Saugus American Leagues will march as one. Parade participants will assemble at 8:30 a.m. at the Oaklandvale School, which is located at 266 Main St. With a police and fire escort, the marchers will leave the Oaklandvale School at 9 a.m. and head north up Main Street. They plan to arrive at the Elks Field, which is located at 401 Main St., at about 10 a.m. in time for the Opening Day Ceremony. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and the Board of Selectmen are expected to participate. Tom Whittredge, executive president of the Saugus Little League, says he’s expecting 300 players to participate in Opening Day. Deadline for Town Meeting Warrant Anyone who has an Article to be inserted into the Annual Town Meeting Warrant may submit the Article with appropriate number of signatures to the Selectmen’s Office, no later than April 2, or bring it to the April 2 meeting. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium (298 Central St.) that night. For more information you may contact Wendy Reed, clerk of the Board of Selectmen, at (781) 231-4124 or email her at wreed@saugus-ma.gov or drop by the first-floor office at Saugus Town Hall (298 Central St.). The Annual Town Meeting begins on the first Monday in May, which is May 6 this year. Main attractions at the Saugus Public Library There’s always something interesting or entertaining going on at the Saugus Public Library – for people of all ages – from young children to senior citizens. Here are a few events to check out: A Books in Bloom Bulletin: Spring is here! Well, almost. But if you want a preview of what it could be like, come down to the library and sign up for this year’s annual edition of Books in Bloom. There will be an informational meeting for exhibitors on Saturday, March 16 at noon for this special event that’s sponsored by the Saugus Garden Club and the New Friends of the Saugus Public Library. This year’s event is set for Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6, from 9 a.m. to closing. The two floors of the library will be beaming with all sorts of spring colors on those two days, as the participants get creative by matching floral arrangements with books. They use flowers to interpret a book’s title, cover or theme. There are four categories this year: Fiction, Nonfiction, Children’s Books and Young Adults. The deadline for entering is March 24. For more information, please contact Lorraine DiMilla (781-233-7451) or Donna Manoogian (781-233-5640) of the Saugus Garden Club or stop by the library. Create an entry for the Saugus Garden Club Flower Show, Tuesday, March 12 at 3:30 p.m. A Storytime with Kelly – Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Thursday, March 14, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. A story and a treasure hunt. Friendship Storytime on Fridays continues. This special program for children, which begins at 9:30 a.m., is sponsored by the Coordinated Family Community Engagement Grant. It can help parents nurture their child’s social and early literacy skill with structured storytime. Keeping Us in Stitches has returned. It will continue every second and third Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.; Grade 2 and up; older children can learn to sew using needle, thread (and maybe a sewing machine) with teachers Miss Joyce and Miss Margie. Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten playgroup! This program, which is sponsored by the Coordinated Community Engagement Grant, runs from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturdays. It’s recommended for children ages three through five. The Yoga Experience. Here’s a free, basic yoga class that is ideal for beginners. This 60-minute slow flow class opens with a brief meditation followed by a gentle warm-up, some core strengthening, standing postures, and flexibility poses. Each session winds down with deep relaxation. SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 11

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