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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 8, 2024 Page 13 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus! Normally, a kid being beaten up on school grounds wouldn’t attract a reporter’s interest enough to result in a newspaper story. As Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli told me in a brief interview this week, “Fights happen in school.” The Police Department might get contacted by school authorities or a parent concerned about their child’s safety and mental well-being. But for the most part, fighting on school grounds gets handled internally by school officials and usually doesn’t wind up being publicized. And rightfully so. But if a student’s beating is particularly vicious and winds up on video shot from cell phones – and gets talked about by public officials – there’s a very good chance it’s going to wind up becoming a news story. And rightfully so. Anyone who got to view one of the videos being mass distributed in Saugus this week of a 13-yearold girl pummeling another 13-year-old girl would have to feel great empathy for the young victim and be outraged by the images, which show that nobody came to the young girl’s assistance. Any person who doesn’t feel that way would have to have the heart of a lizard. After viewing one of the videos that was shared with me, I found the most disturbing thing was that nobody tried to help the girl. A few seemed to enjoy the moment, using their cell phones to chronicle the beating for the twisted gratification of others. After spending about 90 minutes on the phone talking to the mother of the girl who was beaten, it’s clear to me that this is a new story that needs to be told without glossing over anything, and while protecting the privacy of the young victim. The Saugus public officials and concerned citizens who have been calling on the School Department to hire a School Resource Officer (SRO) have another example of why it would enhance the safety of kids, faculty and staff by having a trained police officer on school grounds. At the same time, there needs to be a public discussion about what the School Department is doing or isn’t doing about the bullying problem in local schools. Does the School Department have adequate staff to handle situations as they arise? Are they getting the proper training? Are potentially problematic kids getting disciplined? Are the potential victims receiving the attention they need? Parents of Saugus school children deserve some answers. Hopefully, the front-page story we ran in this week’s Saugus Advocate will help to facilitate some productive public discussion about what needs to be done to guarantee a safe learning environment for all. Stay tuned. This week’s “Shout Outs” We received several nominations this week to recognize Saugonians for contributions to the betterment of their hometown. From Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian: “I’d like to nominate Pct. 10 Town Meeting Member Carla Scuzzarella for a ‘shout out.’ Carla has spent many hours designing and planning the town meeting mini seminars. Her expertise as a lifelong educator has proven to be beneficial to both myself and her Town Meeting Member colleagues, many of whom have offered positive feedback. Thank you Carla for your dedication and support!” From Precinct 5 Town Meeting Member Ronald Wallace, who nominated the late Carolyn Davis: “Carolyn was an amazing person. I grew up listening to her play the organ at church. She was a SHS class of 1961 grad. Her son Glen is a Town Meeting member with myself and Glen’s wife Laurie runs the Senior Center. Obviously Bob Davis is well known for World Series Park but Bob & Carolyn also gave hundreds of hours to the First Congregational Church asking for nothing in return. “I will miss her at the pumpkin unloading every fall. She was a true Saugus Sachem.” From the Saugus Lions Club: “The Saugus Lions Club would like to thank all who participated in our February raffle. We are extremely grateful to all who made this fundraiser a success in the THE MEG BUILDING, 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, which was named after Marleah Elizabeth Graves – a legendary Saugus educator. Plans are in the works for an “Open House” event at The MEG from May 4-5. (Saugus Advocate file photo) purchase of calendar(s). It is not how much you contributed but it is your generosity that allows us to continue doing all the good works. Now and in the future. Congratulations to all the lucky winners!! We hope you had as much fun with it as we did. The list of those who won a prize can be found on Saugus Lions Club House events at https://e-clubhouse.org. Go to Gift Calendar Raffle February 2024. With much gratitude.” 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 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 8) 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. Maple sugarin’ time tomorrow! Come to Breakheart Reservation on Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for this fun annual event. Experience the process of maple sugarin’ from tapping a tree to sampling real maple syrup. The hands-on tour includes the history of maple sugaring from Native Americans to today, tree identification & tapping, wood splitting, the evaporator and a tasting station. For more information or questions, please call 781233-0834 or stop by the Visitor Center at Breakheart Reservation (177 Forest St., Saugus). Learn about Appleton’s Revolution – March 13 The first Saugus Historical Society meeting of the spring will be at 7 p.m. 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’ three-year administration occurred here in Saugus. A year after Andros’s appointment, Appleton spoke from the top of the rock outcrop against Great Britain’s demands from the colonies. The Appleton’s Pulpit historical marker at that spot is familiar to many residents and was recently restored by the local Parson Roby Chapter of the DAR. This program will give the background of that incident, including political changes in England and in the colonies that profoundly changed the relationship between them. Paul is a National Park Ranger at the Saugus Iron Works and vice-president of the Saugus Historical Society. The program is free to the general public. There will be a brief meeting at 7 p.m. to allow Saugus Historical Society members the opportunity to vote on the slate of officers for this year, followed by a presentation of a booklet of photographs of the work of Carmine Moschella that was created by his daughter Carla Moschella for the historical society archives. Many Saugus residents will remember Mr. Moschella’s work at the high school and the many projects he contributed to the town. He THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 15

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