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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 1, 2024 Page 13 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus! It was about this time eight years ago that I had just begun my second journalistic tour of duty covering Saugus – this time as editor of The Saugus Advocate. I had last reported on the people and events of the town for a five and a half year–stint with North Shore Sunday that ended in the spring of 1992. In between the two Saugus stops, I had spent three years as editor of The Nantucket Beacon followed by 18 years at The Eagle-Tribune in North Andover. I still remember my first night back in Saugus, sitting in the cramped, but cozy first floor conference room at Saugus Town Hall. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree presided over his annual briefing of Saugus selectmen on what was then his proposed budget for the 2017 Fiscal Year. I was just a guest that night, and didn’t have to file a story on the proposed budget. But I would hit the ground running the following week, covering Super Tuesday. I hung around outside the Precinct 9 polling location at the Oaklandvale Elementary School. I remember interviewing a bunch of Saugus residents who voted for Bernie Sanders that day. The U.S. Senator from Vermont won a close race for Democratic votes in Saugus over Hillary Clinton. Meanwhile, Donald Trump trounced his nearest Republican challenger, John Kasich. What I remember most about those hours outside the Precinct 9 polls was getting to talk to two first-time voters and how thrilled they were to be exercising their democratic rights. And they were more than proud to discuss their choice of Sanders during interviews with The Saugus Advocate after they voted. I plan to spend a couple of hours on Tuesday covering what would be my third presidential primary. Hopefully, I will find the same passion and young idealism that I found eight years ago in first-time voters Hannahy Lydon, then 18; and Nick Dicredico, who was 21. But that may be a challenge, given how jaded and down people are on politics. And this is the first time I can recall in many a Presidential Election Year where the primary really doesn’t mean anything for voters in either party. Stay tuned. No retirement plans yet It’s about this time every year that I make a decision on whether to go another year as a newspaperman. It was professionally fulfilling for me to make it to a half century of reporting. At age 71, I know I don’t have too many years left in a dying profession that’s been rewarding to me. It all depends on good health. Journalism is something that I still enjoy and take pride in – knowing that a consistently good newspaper is an asset to any community. After eight years covering the town for The Saugus Advocate – plus the five and a half years in a previous newspaper stint – I have invested more than 13 years of my professional life in Saugus. Driving up and down Route One has always been the least desirable part of the job. But it has been a fun, interesting and challenging job that I’ve always taken pride in doing. But, as they say, all good things come to an end at some point in life. If I had the energy and commitment to go another decade, I would. But I wouldn’t want to convert to an online journalist. I’m a print guy. I have to feel and see the real paper. Two sad “Shout Outs” Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member Jeanie Bartolo contributed this week’s “Shout Outs.” “I have two sad ‘Shout Outs,’” Jeanie wrote in a recent email. “The first is for Carol Davis, wife of Bob Davis, who passed away last week. All of us who go to World Series Park knew Carol. She was just the sweetest person, I never saw her without a smile on her face and a kind word for everyone. I will miss her. Rest in Peace,” Jeanie wrote. “The second sad ‘Shout Out’ is for Ruth Swanson who also passed away last week. I first met her when we were on the Cultural Arts Council together. Her love for the Arts was such that she was a founding member of the M.E.G. Cultural Arts Center in Cliftondale Square. She was smart, funny and witty and I will miss her too. Rest in Peace.” 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 of kindness or a nice THE MEG BUILDING, which was originally known as the Bond Building, but known mostly as the Cliftondale School during most of its century of existence, is one of the most famous historical landmarks in Precinct 2. It houses the MEG Foundation – named after Marleah Elizabeth Graves – a legendary Saugus educator. Plans are in the works for an “Open House” event at The MEG on May 4-5. (Saugus Advocate file photo) gesture. Just send an email (mvoge@comcast.net) with a mention in the subject line of “An Extra Shout Out.” No more than a paragraph; anything longer might lend itself to a story and/or a photo. Food Pantry notes The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, March 1) from 9:3011 a.m. Legion Breakfast today There’s a good breakfast 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 2023-24 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. Countdown Till Town Meeting The 2024 Annual Town Meeting convenes on Monday, May 6 – that’s still more than two months away. Having collaborated with the Saugus Public Library and SaugusTV while moderating 10 months of “Saugus Over Coffee,” in which we featured the town’s 10 precincts last year, I feel invested in the Town Meeting process. As a special service to our readers and the registered voters of Saugus, we will reach out to the Town Meeting members in each precinct, focusing on one precinct each week, in the weeks leading up to the start of Town Meeting. We plan to ask Town Meeting members about their expectations for the upcoming Town Meeting. This week, we received responses from three of the five Town Meeting Members in Precinct 1. Next week, we will reach out to Town Meeting Members in Precinct 2. By the time Town Meeting convenes, all 50 members will have had a chance to respond to these four questions: 1) What do you consider the top priority for the town as you prepare for the opening of the 2024 Town Meeting session? 2) What do you consider the top priority for residents in your precinct as you prepare for the opening of the 2024 Town Meeting session? 3) Are you working independently or in collaboration with other members on articles to be introduced for this year’s Town Meeting? Could you please elaborate? Summarize your article and what you hope to accomplish. 4) Please feel free to share any other views about the upcoming Town Meeting. Town Meeting forums at the library In recent weeks, Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian has been providing a wonderful opportunity for Saugus citizens who want to learn the basics about Town Meeting – the legislative body of Saugus town government. Manoogian has presided over several Town Meeting forums held at the Saugus Public Library. Manoogian is a veteran of about four decades in local town government at various levels, including many years as a Town Meeting member. Manoogian will be leading two more sessions this year that are tailored for newly elected Town Meeting members or veterans who want to refresh themselves about Robert’s Rules of Order or how to put forward an article for consideration. The sessions for March 25 and April 22 will be held in the Community Room at the library from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Learn about Appleton’s Revolution on March 13 The first Saugus Historical Society meeting of the spring will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13 at 30 Main St. in Saugus. Paul E. Kenworthy will talk about “the first American Revolution,” which began in Saugus when Samuel Appleton spoke from a high rock adjacent to what is now Appleton Street on September 19, 1687, denouncing Governor Edmund Andros. In 1686, Edmund Andros was appointed governor of the Dominion of New England by Great Britain. He instituted many laws and policies that were not popular in New England. One of the most significant protests during Andros’ threeyear administration occurred here in Saugus. A year after Andros’s appointment, ApTHE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 14

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