THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 20, 2026 Page 9 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus The Board of Selectmen should have declared tomorrow (Saturday, March 21) as “Get to Know Your Hometown Better” Day, a special day when citizens of any age – from children to senior citizens, and who have spent any length of time in town, from newcomers to old-timers – can learn a few new things about Saugus. The Saugus Cultural Council and the Saugus 411 Committee will present the first annual Saugus Community Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Saugus Middle High School complex. The six-hour program will feature live performances, activities, food and more to celebrate the culture and diversity of the townspeople who make Saugus the community it is. Its organizers are promoting it as a great way for Saugus residents to learn more about their community and what it has to offer. It’s an opportunity for newcomers to town to get better acquainted with how to make life easier and various attractions. It’s also a chance for longtime residents to refresh themselves with knowledge about their hometown and to renew connections. Hey, Saugonians! Take some pride in Saugus and seize the opportunity to get closer to your community. Check out the listings of Wellness Activities and Performances in the graphics accompanying this week’s column. Saugus United Parish Food Pantry The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, March 20) 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. Wellness activities are available for free tomorrow (Saturday, March 21) at the First Annual Saugus Community Festival. 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” From Stephanie M. Shalkoski: “A Shout out to Ryan Duggan, a member of SAVE (Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment), for a great talk at the Saugus Public Library last week. He spoke to fellow SAVE members about Reading the Forested Landscape, showing how to understand the age and story of trees in a clear, engaging way—complete with props! Ryan volunteered his time and brought both expertise and enthusiasm. Kudos, Ryan! P.S. If any readers are interested in presenting on an environmental education topic, contact SAVE at SAVE01906@gmail.com.” Collectively, from the Saugus-Everett Elks Lodge #642, inscribed on the plaque honoring Saugus Senior Center Director Laurie Davis as Citizen of the Year “For her tireless commitment to Saugus Seniors.” 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. Sideshow Tony at library tomorrow Tomorrow (Saturday, March 21) at noon, the Saugus Public Library will welcome back magician and street organist Tony Gangi as he blends music, history and magic for audiences of all ages. Gangi of Great American Street Organ brings a beautifully restored hand-cranked organ to life, filling the air with lively melodies while sharing fascinating stories about the history of these remarkable instruments. As the tunes play, Tony weaves in moments of wonder with clever feats of magic, surprising audiences of all ages. Part concert, part storytelling and part magical spectacle, this immersive experience celebrates the charm of Performances are available for free tomorrow (Saturday, March 21) at the First Annual Saugus Community Festival. old-world music and the joy of live performance in a truly unforgettable way. Protecting retirement assets from AI, March 28 Robert Siciliano (CSP, CSI, CITRMS) will be at the Saugus Public Library on March 28 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. to offer a free program titled “The Strategic Human Firewall: Protecting Retirement Assets in the Age of AI Deception.” For retirees in 2026, protecting a lifetime of savings requires moving beyond basic awareness. As AI driven threats like voice cloning and deepfakes become the “new normal,” criminals are bypassing technical perimeters by targeting the Human Blindspot™ — our natural instinct to trust the familiar. This program deconstructs the predatory “Pig Butchering” phenomenon, where scammers “fatten up” victims through emotional grooming before draining their wealth. By mastering the Triple-A Protocol, attendees shift from “default to trust” to a “verify everything” mindset. We cover the technical basics — from password managers to multi-factor authentication — to harden your digital home. Learn to transform your personal defense into a Strategic Human Firewall™, ensuring that your retirement remains secure in an era of industrialized deception. This is a fully interactive, nontechnical session. We’ve stripped away the jargon to focus on practical, real-world strategies you can use immediately. Come prepared to ask questions and engage in a candid dialogue about protecting yourself or your organization’s money and your own peace of mind. Learning objectives: · Mitigate the Human Blindspot™: Recognize how psychological “action bias” and manufactured urgency cloud judgment dur ing AI -enhanced scams. · Identify Pig Butchering Tactics: Detect the warning signs of long-coninvestment fraud and emotional grooming used to exploit seniors. · Execute the Triple-A Protocol: Implement a mandated workflow—Analyze, Authenticate and Act — to verify every high-stakes digital request. · Harden Technical Basics: Deploy password managers, MFA and “Out-of-Band” verification to protect Social Security and retirement accounts. SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 10
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