Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 6, 2026 The Sounds of Saugus we thank you wholeheartedly. By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus Boy, I just can’t wait for this winter to end. Normally, I go to all of the Board of Selectmen’s meetings in person, rather than watch them on Saugus TV (which I do anyway because the acoustics are so bad in the second floor auditorium that I can’t understand what people say when they don’t talk into the microphone). But this week’s meeting was a rare one I had to cancel, for safety’s sake. Driving down from Methuen to Saugus and back on an evening when you get freezing rain on top of snow makes for treacherous driving conditions. Several friends warned me it wasn’t worth the risk of driving on the ice. I was convinced to stay home after watching WBZ-TV News live photos of cars sliding and spinning on Route 1. Meanwhile, I had a driveway that needed to be plowed. Sorry, Saugus Board of Selectmen. It wasn’t worth the hassle. “We would also like to give a Shout Out posthumously for Margie Berkowitch. She was a wonderful woman, attended so many annual Saugus events, and lived her whole life here. She was proud of her family and was a great friend. One had only to say, I’m going to do this or that and she was right there to help and do her part. She will be missed by so many people.” Precinct 6 Town Meeting A SPECIAL “SHOUT OUT”: The Saugus Selectmen honored Saugus High School girls basketball star Peyton DiBiasio with a citation at Tuesday night’s meeting to recognize her recent accomplishment of breaking the all-time career scoring record for girls and boys. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) Congratulations, Peyton! The one thing I missed at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting was getting to see Saugus High girls basketball star Peyton DiBiasio honored as a special guest at the meeting. Selectmen presented a citation to Peyton to recognize “her historic achievement on breaking the Saugus High School basketball record, which had stood since 1966, on January 29, 2026.” The citation further congratulated her “for this significant triumph and your continued pursuit of excellence.” Peyton set the all-time school career scoring record for both girls and boys. Indeed, a shining moment for Peyton, her family, friends, teammates, coaches and fellow students in the Saugus High Class of 2026 and the entire Saugus High sports community. Well done, Peyton! Saugus United Parish Food Pantry The Saugus United Parish Breakheart Reservation hosted its final Fireside Chat of the year last Saturday (Feb. 28). Visitor Services Supervisor Jessica Narog-Hutton (center) welcomed DCR Indigenous People’s Partnership Coordinator Leah Hopkins (left) and archeologist Jon P. Patton (right) for a discussion on archaeological collaboration within the state Department of Conservation & Recreation before a crowd warming themselves by the fireside with complimentary hot cocoa coffee and donuts. (Photo courtesy of Joanie Allbee). Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, March 6) from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. The food pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Friday mornings. Volunteers are also welcome. Please call the Food Pantry Office at 781-233-2663 or go to the website (cliftondalecc. org) for details. Legion Breakfast on Fridays 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 2026 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. This week’s “Shout Outs” We received several “shout outs” this week: Josh Dellheim sent this “Shout Out” to his wife, Vanessa, for recent career honors bestowed upon her: “Congratulations to Vanessa (Arone) Dellheim who received in February national recognition from the American Physical Therapy Association with the 2026 Mary Sinnott Award for Clinical Excellence in Acute Care! Vanessa was recognized for her support and advancements towards patient care, professional mentorship, and national speaking contributions to further progress in acute physical therapy practice.” Al and Joyce Rodenhiser offered two “Shout Outs” for this week’s paper, one of them to Saugus Advocate Editor Mark E. Vogler: “Hello and congratulations for reporting on Saugus happenings for ten years. We would like to give you a Shout Out for reliable, timely, accurate news for all this time. All our friends who read The Advocate appreciate your dependability and all that you put into your articles. It’s one of the most important parts of democracy and Member Jeanie Bartolo submitted the following: “This sad ‘Shout Out’ is for Margie Berkowitch who passed away last week. She was an absolute legend in this town. Always had a great big smile and a hug for me every time I saw her. She was one of the finest people I know. She was involved in many organizations as well as being Saugus’ Woman of the Year (2013), but we will all remember her most for her devotion to the Catholic Church and her Quilting. Her gorgeous quilts are masterpieces and won many awards over the years. I am lucky to have one of her quilts that she donated to the Library for a silent auction and I won the bid. I treasure it because Margie made it. You will be so missed, Rest in Peace my dear friend.” Joanie Allbee offered the following: “I’d like to give a ‘Shout Out’ to the handiwork of Marge Berkowitch’s hands. Although she has sadly passed, Margie’s handiwork lives on and breathes throughout. “Just this Christmas as I was helping decorate our Saugus Historical Christmas tree, I was hanging handcrafted quilted ornaments by Margie and thinking Is there anywhere this marvelous 2013 Saugus Woman of the Year has not left a mighty fingerprint? Her beauty surrounds us. “This Eucharistic Minister’s quilts won awards and hung her quilts for all to see on Saugus Senior Center walls for winter warmth. She provided seasonal decor with small quilted squares to Senior Center walls too. “Margie often gave her quilts to events for raffle prizes. “It was a pleasure sketching Margie for a ‘Guess Who Got Sketched’ contest of 10/16/2020 SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 11
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