Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS By Mark E. Vogler H ere are a few tidbits that you might want to know about this week in Saugus. Another political season begins Monday – July 19 – is the unofficial start to this year’s town political season. It happens every two years. Voters in the town’s 10 precincts will go to the polls in November to cast their ballot for candidates they would like to see on the five-member Board of Selectmen, the five-member School Committee, the 50-member Town Meeting and the Housing Authority – if there are vacant or expired seats. So, on Monday, candidates considering political office will be able to pick up their nomination papers at the Town Clerk’s Office. For those who are interested, here’s something you can cut out and tape or attach to your refrigerator: Town of Saugus Election Calendar for 2021 Here are some important dates released by the Saugus Town Clerk’s Office: July 19: Local election nomination papers become available. Sept. 7 at 5 p.m.: Last day for incumbent Town Meeting Members wishing to become a candidate for reelection to submit written notice to the Town Clerk. Sept. 10 at 5 p.m.: Last day to OBTAIN nomination papers. Sept. 14 at 5 p.m.: Last day for candidates to SUBMIT nomination papers to the Board of Registrars (Town Clerk’s Office) for certification of signatures. Sept. 30 at 5 p.m.: Last day to file objections or withdrawals. Sept. 30 at 5:30 p.m.: Drawing of ballot positions (Town Hall Auditorium). Oct. 13 from 8:15 a.m.-8 p.m.: Last day to register to vote. Fifty certified signatures of registered voters are required for the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Housing Authority. Ten certified signatures of registered voters are required for Town Meeting Members. Signatures must be of registered voters in the candidate’s precinct. Oct. 26: Office of Campaign Finance Reports are due on this Monday, the 8th day preceding the election. Nov. 2: Town Elections. Dec. 2: Office of Campaign Finance Reports are due on the 30th day following the election All candidates are expected to comply with the Town of Saugus Zoning Bylaws (Article 7, Section 7.3, Sub-Section 8) regarding political signs. Guy and “the angels” are back Sunday On Sunday, July 18 the Moms Cancer Fighting Angel’s relay team returns to Fuddruckers Saugus for their 6th Annual Car Show Cruise Night to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Wakefield. The event will feature many classic and antique cars, trucks and motorcycles. “There will be raffles and a 50/50 – and new this year, we will have a soc hop area where you can dance to not only juke box music, but a live performance from Jay Dehart,” says event organizer Guy Moley. The event will run from 4 to 8 p.m. “We ask that you bring your family and friends and come hungry because Fuddruckers will be generously donating 20 percent of all food sales to the American Cancer Society,” Moley says. “In the event of rain, we will postpone the show until the following Sunday. Remember it all takes place at Fuddruckers Saugus, at 900 Broadway, the Route 1 North home of the world’s greatest hamburgers. For any questions about the event feel free to contact the team Capt Guy Moley 781640-1310.” GUESS WHO GOT SKETCHED! In this week’s edition, we continue our weekly feature where a local artist sketches people, places and things in Saugus. Got an idea who was sketched this week? If you do, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a phone message at 978-683-7773. Anyone who correctly identifies the Saugonian being sketched between now and Tuesday at noon qualifies to have their name put in a green Boston Red Sox hat with a chance to be selected as the winner of a $10 gift certificate, compliments of Dunkin’ at the 1204 Broadway Saugus location on Route 1 North. But you have to enter to win! Look for the winner and identification in next week’s “The Sounds of Saugus.” Please leave your mailing address in case you are a winner. (Courtesy illustration to The Saugus Advocate by a Saugonian who goes by the name of “The Sketch Artist”) A “Shout-Out” for benevolent strangers We didn’t receive any nominations this week from readers recommending good candidates worthy of an extra “Shout-Out” – a little public praise for unsung heroes who contribute to the betterment of the town through good deeds or remarkable acts of kindness or accomplishing something significant. In that case, I shall use my editorial discretion to nominate those benevolent strangers who are out there in town restaurants, spreading some good cheer by picking up the tab for people they don’t even know. Every town has got to have a few of these generous people who derive great satisfaction in paying for somebody else’s meal or meals while remaining anonymous. It’s got to be happening in Saugus as well as virtually every community across the state – because it’s happened to me twice since last Thanksgiving. Once when a man sitting in a bar adjacent to a dining room in White’s of Westport picked up the restaurant check for my brother and me; that bill was close to $100; the second time was back in late May when I was enjoying a salmon salad at one of my favorite places in the Merrimack Valley – the Grill Next Door in Haverhill. It was a Thursday night, and I decided to grab something healthy, but tasty to eat, along with some chili and a couple of cold glasses of Allagash White on draft. I tried to find out from my waitress who paid the bill, but she wouldn’t say, other than that a stranger decided to treat me to the meal. At least back in November my brother and I got to thank the stranger personally. Normally these benevolent “gifters” don’t want to be identified. At least, that’s what restaurant waitresses have told me in the past. The free meal back in May was the third time it’s happened to me in my life. Several years ago, while eating alone at the Olive Garden at The Loop in Methuen, an anonymous person paid for my meal. I never found out who it was that time either. It’s very apparent that there are kind people out there in restaurants performing unusual acts of kindness by picking up the dinner or lunch tab for people they don’t even know. Hats off to the folks in Saugus who do that. A “Shout-Out” for Father Jay Also deserving of a super “Shout-Out” is Father Jason “Jay” Makos, the new pastor of Saugus Catholics Collaborative. He deserves lots of praise for his very public and forthright discussion of his personal struggles with alcoholism, which have led to six and a half years of sobriety. Father Jay is the subject of “The Advocate Asks” interview appearing in “The Saugus Advocate” this week. In my five-plus years as the editor, I’ve had some very compelling interviews with men and women leaders of the Saugus Faith Community. But it was quite unusual to interview a local clerical leader who has already shared his experiences with his parishioners about his past drinking problems from the outset of his arrival in town. I knew it was going to be a different kind of interview when Father Jay greeted me a couple of Fridays ago in a relaxed wardrobe and the tattoo visible on his right arm. He also struck me as a priest who works out regularly, lifting weights. He’s a very friendly guy who would seem like good company at a New England Patriots or Boston Red Sox game. In fact, he prides himself on being a Boston sports fan. And he said he’s gone to games at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, where the Patriots play their home games. And there’s something else very special about him. He’s got a five-year-old Boston terrier named Thea, who is very unique. Father Jay introduced her to me as “a gift for sobriety” he received on the first anniversary of his achieving sobriety. This dog is so friendly that she began high-fiving me shortly after I met Father Jay at the Saugus Catholics Collaborative office. High-fiving me, like I THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 11
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