Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 27, 2026 A Town Displays Its Diversity The First Annual Saugus Community Festival draws several hundred residents to Saugus Middle High School By Mark E. Vogler L ast Saturday’s visit to the Saugus Middle-High School was a fun family event for Joseline Ramirez and her three young sons. The boys got to eat pizza and mac and cheese, play a Spanish version of Bingo, listen to some live music, watch performances and see a side of Saugus they have never seen before – a diverse town of many ethnic cultures and backgrounds representing more than three dozen nations. They were among a crowd estimated at 500 people who turned out for the First Annual Saugus Community Festival, which featured more than three dozen flags representing the native countries of immigrant citizens now residing in Saugus. Ramirez’s sons JJ Mendez, 10, and Jeremy Mendez, 4, painted on paper squares that were later installed in a giant wall mural made up of 250 individual paintings from people in the community who sought to express themselves about their town while reflecting on the diverse cultural identities and multigenerational stories of the Saugus Community. One-year-old Jaed Mendez just soaked it all in as he relaxed in his mother’s arms as she walked around the ground floor of the Middle A CULTURAL MURAL: Artistically inclined children and adults got to contribute to “The Bridge” mural on the wall at the Saugus Middle High School last Saturday. The mural included 250 individual squares of paper art put together to reflect the diverse cultural identities and multigenerational stories of Saugus. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) High School. “We had a good time,” Ramirez said of the few hours they spent at the festival, which merged two previous events: the Saugus Cultural Festival and Saugus 411. “All of the people were really kind and nice. It was a lot of fun,” she said. Ramirez and her husband Jeremias Mendez immigrated from Guatemala about 15 years ago. They have lived in Saugus for the last three years. Ramirez said the day was definitely an entertaining one for her sons. But as a parent and a newcomer to Saugus, she called the day a rewarding one that enabled her to get better acquainted with the town and what it has to offer its residents. “There are a lot of things going on in town – things that can help you. If we didn’t come to the festival today, we wouldn’t know about it,” Ramirez said. “I’ve seen a lot of stuff that I haven’t seen before – many programs that I didn’t know about.” While visiting the various taFour-year-old Jeremy Mendez painted one of the 250 squares that made up “The Bridge” mural at the First Annual Saugus Community Festival. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) bles staffed by community organizations, churches, various groups, town agencies and schools, Ramirez said, she discovered new educational opportunities available in the community for her children. “I didn’t know about these schools,” she said after visiting the tables offering background information about the Pioneer Charter School of Science based in Saugus and Northeast Metro Tech in Wakefield. “These are schools they could go to, but you have to apply for it,” she said. SAUGUS HISTORY AND GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: Members of the MEG Foundation offered a true taste of the town at their table. From left to right are Rhonda Combe, Janice Jarosz and Patty Staples. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Having both schools represented at the first Saugus Community Festival was important, according to Saugus School Committee member Joseph “Dennis” Gould, who is also a co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council. “I love the fact that we have kids from the Pioneer Charter School and The Voke here today, helping out as volunteers,” Gould said. “They’re part of this community. They’re part of our diversity, and I would like to see FESTIVAL | SEE PAGE 5 Spring is Here! 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 67 Years in Business! n Roofing fng
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