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Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUly 10, 2026 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus Hope you enjoyed a happy, healthy and safe Fourth of July weekend. I got to spend half my day Saturday at the Saugus Iron Works, where the town celebrated America’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. “It was even better than what we envisioned,” said Corinne Riley, the former selectman who chaired the Saugus 250th Committee and lobbied hard last fall during her final months in office to make sure the town would have such a celebration. “All of us put so much effort into honoring the Patriots who fought, along with their families that stayed behind and sacrificed for the freedom we enjoy today, the highlight was everyone singing ‘God Bless America,’” she said. Board of Selectman Chair Debra Panetta, who worked on the committee to see the project through, said she was “very happy with the 250 celebration event that was held on July 4. I thought we had an excellent turnout.” I got into town nearly two hours before the event Saturday morning. I was expecting a huge crowd and some traffic congestion near the Iron Works. So, I parked my car under a shady tree next to the Saugus Public Library and walked to the Iron Works. I figured that if it was a little bit cooler (It seemed like we were in the 92-94 range during the event), it would have been an even larger crowd. “With all the people coming and going during the event there easily would have been 350-500 people,” the committee wrote me in an email this week. Compared to the numerous events I have covered during my decade-plus years as the editor of The Saugus Advocate, this event was right up there with the best of them that I reported on. But I was expecting a larger crowd. There were a couple of factors at play. The hot, humid weather could have kept some people away. And, of course, a lot of people may have had plans for holiday get-togethers and get-aways. In recent decades, Saugus hasn’t done much four generations wanted to pose with Sharon and me and pretend it was the 1700’s . We were gatekeepers/greeters. We missed a lot of the main events, but we gave our all where we were, helping people who kept coming in.” Genovese enjoyed being part of visitors’ Kodak moments. “Having our picture taken with Mr. George Washington was awesome,” she said later. Saugus United Parish Food Pantry The Saugus United Parish THE GATEKEEPER GREETERS: Left to right: Joanie Allbee, Sharon Genovese and Paula Howard. They were the welcoming committee for last Saturday’s America 250th Celebration. They are the members of Daughters of the American Revolution Saugus Parson Roby Chapter who greeted guests, answered questions, spoke of the day’s events and gave out bells to ring in the festivities. All took turns welcoming guests to sign the big replica of the Declaration of Independence. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) to celebrate July 4 – other than the Lynnhurst July Fourth Block Party, a neighborhood tradition that’s been going on for 109 years. A lot of Saugus residents enjoy going to the July 4th parade in the neighboring town of Wakefield. My takeaways on the event There were three aspects of the 250th celebration that I will long remember when the subject comes up. First, I will long remember the gentleman who played George Washington. He was a well-sort-out guy at the celebration. He posed for lots of photos with people attending. I tried to strike up a conversation with him and get a little background information about him. But he told me he was from Virginia and he was determined to be George Washington on this day. His real name is Glenn Siner – a retired history teacher from Glocester, Rhode Island. He really enjoys history, particularly about George Washington and the American Revolution. He’s been a Revolutionary War reenactor for 15 years, participating with the Captain William Tew’s Company of the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment, which reenacts battles and skirmishes with the British. Last Saturday’s celebration at the Iron Works was just another Washington reenactment gig for him. And the crowd loved him. Secondly, I couldn’t get over the brave men and women from Saugus who showed up wearing colonial outfits, which had to be very uncomfortable in the hot and humid weather. Special kudos to Selectman Anthony Cogliano, who played the part of Ben Franklin; Tom Raiche, who dressed up and acted like Parson Joseph Roby, the famous Saugus minister who advocated for American independence from the pulpit; and Tony Speziale, who portrayed American patriot John Hancock. And also, hats off to all of the women – most of them event organizers – who dressed up in colonial gowns for the occasion. I’m sure they were hot in the park, but they were a big hit among the crowd, too. The last big impression that I left the Iron Works with on Saturday was the welcoming committee – the group of ladies from the Parson Roby Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) who sat at the desk at the park entrance. They greeted people with a smile, offered them a miniature bell – red or blue – to join in the noon bell-ringing ceremony, got visitors to sign a giant copy of the Declaration of Independence and were there during the duration of the afternoon to answer questions about the NSDAR, Saugus during the American Revolution and anything else that came their way. They even honored photo requests. Special praise to Sharon Genovese, Paula Howard and Joan Allbee, three DAR ladies who spent most of their afternoon at the welcoming table. “I loved the people’s excitement when receiving a bell to ring for freedom,” said Allbee. “One woman, as soon as her hands were on the bell she rang it out jumped up and down shouting ‘We’re free! We’re free! I love America,’” she said. “I loved participating in asking people to sign the Declaration of Independence and see huge smiles and hugs. And visitors asked to pose with us for pictures after signing the Declaration. One family that spanned Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, July 10) from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. But the food pantry will be closed next Friday, July 17. It will be open all other Fridays in July with its regular hours of 9:30-11. The food pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Friday mornings. Volunteers are also welcome. Please call the Food Pantry Office (781-233-2663) or go to the website (cliftondalecc.org) for details. This week’s “Shout Outs” We received several this week: From Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member Sue Palomba, who made a trip to the Lynn Fells Parkway on Sunday to check out the 99th Annual Imperio Mariense Feast, which featured Portuguese food and entertainment: “I was so surprised about this place. I heard about it, but I cannot believe what an event they have yearly. Next year it will be 100 years old. Oh my God! These people have worked so hard to put this together. What a meal! Unbelievable!” From Joan Allbee, a volunteer in various town activities and a frequent contributor to The Saugus Advocate: “I’d like to give a shout out for Corinne Riley. Corinne is an amazing woman. She would have my vote for ‘Saugus Woman of the Year 2026.’ Corinne did an amazing job as planner, presenter, organizer and assisting with the setting up of the Saugus Iron Works 250th Birthday of America celebration. “From July 4th at the crack THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 9

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