Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MAy 31, 2024 A Flowery Night Author Neal Sanders entertains crowd at Saugus Garden Club’s Annual Fundraiser Mary Lynch delivers a bouquet to the winning bidder at the Saugus Garden Club Fundraiser. (Photo courtesy of Debra Panetta) By Laura Eisener A large crowd turned out at Town Hall Auditorium last week at the Garden Club Annual Fundraiser to hear author Neal Sanders’ program, “Gardening is Murder.” The talk was a very humorous reminder of the realistic frustrations of gardening, the challenges of finding useful gardening advice on the internet, and a tonguein-cheek account of the development of the garden he and his wife share in Medfield, Mass. Neal and Betty have been well known in the gardening world for decades. The program title was also an allusion to Neal’s “retirement” activity of Writing. Neal Sanders has written 15 books, most of them mysteries involving characters who belong to garden clubs or whose activities take PATRIOTISM | FROM PAGE 7 It wasn’t initially clear to bystanders at the park what had happened. Some observers said they thought Panetta had dropped her cell phone on the sidewalk. “At first, we didn’t know what happened,” said Clark Moulaison, a studio associate at SaugusTV. Panetta stood close to the black lab, holding her hand. Then Moulaison noticed blood spots sprayed on the sidewalk. “All of a sudden, we saw her hand bleeding and we rushed over to try to help. We tried to stop the bleeding,” Moulaison said. Joe Matterazzo, from the staff Club members Kitty Amara, Laura Taglieri and Helen Fahey serve coffee at the Garden Club Fundraiser. (Photo courtesy of Debra Panetta) Saugus Garden Club President Donna Manoogian and her daughter Myra Monto circulate through the crowd at the Garden Club Fundraiser. (Photo courtesy of Debra Panetta) Pam Goodwin, Margery Hunter, Sue Molina and Nancy Prag enjoy the festivities at the Saugus Garden Club Fundraiser. (Photo courtesy of Debra Panetta) them into horticultural situations. A few are set in more corporate environments, where he worked for most of his career, but the gardening scene has been important to him and his wife for most of their lives as well. They were both very active with the New England Flower Show, which was held in Boston for more than a century, and which thrived until COVID shut down the show in March of 2020. In addition to the lecture and book signing, the event featured a long and delicious buffet of desserts and snacks, many of them homeSaugus Garden Club members Laura Eisener, Ruth Berg and Debra Panetta check out the refreshment buffet. (Photo courtesy of Debra Panetta) made by club members, an auction of bouquets, raffles of gift baskets, gift cards, garden tools and many other items, and drawings for several door prizes. Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta (right) found a way to participate in the parade without walking – by sitting in the Parson Roby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution float. She was joined by DAR Member Joanie Allbee. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Charlie Zapolski) of AM radio station WMEX from Quincy, joined Moulaison in assisting Panetta until medical staff arrived. Saugus police arrived and took a report of the incident. Holding the American flag with her wounded right hand, Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta participated in the Memorial Day observance at Riverside Cemetery. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Charlie Zapolski) Panetta said she doesn’t know the dog’s owner, but has been reassured that the animal has had its shots and is properly licensed. Panetta feels comfortable around dogs – “I am a huge dog lover. I have two large huskies.”
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