Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, March 20, 2020 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS By Mark Vogler H ere are a few tidbits that you might want to know about this week in Saugus. A journalistic challenge I’ve been reporting and writing for newspapers for close to fi ve decades, and I’ve never encountered a journalistic challenge quite like this one. Covering a multi-faceted story where you can’t walk into a government offi ce for records or you can’t interview somebody over a hot or cold beverage at a local coffee shop or a nice sandwich at a sub shop or restaurant. If your subject would rather have you go to interview him or her, that’s no longer such a great idea. In the current national and state emergency involving the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, coff ee shops, restaurants and bars are no longer fertile reporting grounds because you can’t consume any food in these establishments under government rules now in eff ect in Massachusetts to help contain and eradicate the virus. Sure, you can catch the people coming out of the coff ee shops and restaurants. But a majority of the folks you run into want nothing to do with newspaper reporters. Few folks would invite them into their homes for an interview because they don’t want to catch something that might turn out to be the Coronavirus. And who can blame them with the new rules of social distancing being advocated by health and government offi cials on all levels. So, at age 67, I fi nd myself making some major adjustments in reporting and newsgathering techniques -- relying more on technology and less on face-to-face contact with potential news sources. In the coming weeks -- and months, if this extreme period of isolation lasts that long, we’ll try to make adjustments on the fl y to bring you an interesting package of news stories, photos and feature articles. SORE ABOUT BRADY: Prince Pizzeria let Saugus know that folks at this popular Route 1 restaurant weren’t happy about the news of Tom Brady’s departure from the New England Patriots week. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) If you have a news tip or want to opine on a subject related to the Coronavirus, please call or email me. I welcome your feedback. Food Pantry still open Here’s some good news for people who fi nd the food pantry in the basement of the Cliftondale Congregational Church at 50 Essex St. in Saugus a key resource in helping ends meet. Especially during these times of great uncertainty and anxiety. “I feel it’s important to let you know the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will continue to open of Fridays between 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM,” said the email I received this week from Wendy Reed, Clerk of the Saugus Board of Selectmen, who also oversees the operation of the all-volunteer food pantry “For the protection of our volunteers & clients, and to limit personal contact & SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 17 This week on Saugus TV RIGHT BY YOU RIGHT BY YOU BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Monday, March 23 at 8 p.m. on Channel 9 – School Committee Meeting from March 12. Tuesday, March 24 at 7 p.m. on Channel 8 – Cliftondale Church Service from March 15. Wednesday, March 25 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 9 – Finance Committee Meeting from March 11. Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. on Channel 9 – Special Town Meeting from March 9. Friday, March 27 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 22 – Historical Society Meeting from March 11. Saugus TV can be seen on Comcast Channels 8, 9, & 22. For complete schedules, please visit www.saugustv.org. ***programming may change without notice*** JOE BONO owner of THE BERRY TAVERN, AL DENTE, BENEVENTO’S, AND BENCOTTO OVER 20 YEARS OF BANKING WITH EVERETT BANK “I can be myself and they can be themselves. Regular people doing business the right way.” VISIT US TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO RIGHT BY YOUR BUSINES S 419 BROADWAY, EVERETT MA 02149 | 61 7 . 38 7 . 1 1 10 7 7 1 SALEM ST, LYNNFIELD, MA 01940 | 78 1 . 7 7 6 . 4444 Member FDIC Member SIF EVERETTBANK . COM SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 16
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