Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUly 28, 2023 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus! The political season for the town’s fall elections began officially this week as nomination papers became available at Town Clerk Ellen Schena’s office. As of yesterday, three potential candidates came forward to pull papers. School Committee Member Joseph “Dennis” Gould has said recently that he planned to run for reelection to a third two-year term. He took the first step by collecting nomination papers. He was one of three potential candidates for town-wide office as of yesterday (Thursday, July 27), according to the town clerk. Sandro Pansini Souza also pulled papers for the Board of Selectmen, and Nicholas V. Melanchook walked away with nomination papers for the Housing Authority. Nothing is official yet. These three candidates may run or decide not to. They have about seven weeks – up until 5 p.m. Sept. 19 to submit nomination papers to the Town Clerk’s Office for certification of signatures. Fifty certified signatures of registered voters are required for the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and the Housing Authority. Only 10 certified signatures of registered voters are required for Town Meeting, but each of the signatures must be from registered voters in the candidate’s precinct. Sept. 15 is the final day to obtain nomination papers – just four days before the filing deadline. Stay tuned. The Navy Band is coming! Peter A. Rossetti Jr. of the Friends of Breakheart announced this week that Breakheart Reservation will again be hosting the Navy Band – on Saturday, Aug. 19, at 6 p.m. “Should be a good time, provided the weather holds. Blankets and mosquito spray are a good idea,” Rossetti said. The Navy Band has long been a summertime attraction at Breakheart. This year, Rhode Island Sound will be playing the music. Here’s some preliminary information that the Friends provided on the band: “Rhode Island Sound is the most contemporary sounding group from Navy Band Northeast. This ensemble entertains audiences with music ranging from rhythm and blues to classic rock. Performing current popular music at high schools throughout New England, Rhode Island Sound also performs public concerts at a variety of venues. Their versatility and showmanship have always kept them in great demand since their inception in 1974.” Stay tuned for more details as they become available. Greg King Memorial Fund 4th Motorcycle ride The Greg King Memorial Fund 4th Motorcycle ride is set for Aug. 6 at the Saugus-Everett Elks. The fund is dedicated to helping erase the stigma of addiction. Besides the ride, there will be a pig roast, DJ, Raffles and 50/50. Proceeds from the event will be given to Healthy Streets serving Lynn and other communities. A Special “Shout Out” We had no nominations for “Shout Outs” this week. So, here’s a special thank you to School Committee Member Dennis Gould for suggesting that we interview his 101-year-old Aunt Maddie. “Although she now lives in Florida, she grew up and lived in Saugus on Gould Family Farm on 196 Walnut St. which is now the plaza and behind it storage facility,” Dennis wrote me in an email several weeks ago. “Thought you might like to write a story of Gould family who started at 196 Walnut with James and Nellie Gould,” he said. We always welcome readers’ suggestions for neat people to write human interest stories about, so we did take the hour-and-45-minute drive last Friday up to Limerick, Maine, to spend some time with Madeline Grace Gould Armstrong, who is the subject of this week’s interview for “The Advocate Asks.” I love int er viewing 100-year-old people. And Maddie proved to be one of the most interesting centenarians I’ve interviewed during my 51-year journalism career. I tried doing the interview initially over the telephone. After about 90 minutes of talking to the woman on my cell phone, I wondered whether it would be worth the trip to interview this wonderful woman in person and learn what life was like decades ago on a Walnut TURKEY TENANTS? These feathered friends appeared to be checking for vacant apartments at the Saugus Housing Authority this week. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Joanie Allbee) Street farm that just about everybody in town knew about and loved to visit to get their fresh farm vegetables. Dennis suggested that I drive up there and sit with Maddie for a spell and really get to know her. And I jumped at the invitation. And the rest is history, as they say. And Maddie is surely a rich part of Saugus living history. Dennis knew his aunt was special and worth the ride up there for the write-up. Last Friday’s four hours on the road was time well spent. Dennis put me in touch with his cousin, Shawn Buckless, who lives with Maddie. And Shawn was an accommodating and great host. 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. We have a winner! Congratulations to Lyn Caissie, whose name was drawn as the winner in last Friday’s Sketch of the Week Contest. Lyn was among several people who guessed correctly. But there can only be one winner of the $10 gift certificate of your choice. Now here is the answer – provided by the Saugus resident who goes by the nickname of “The Sketch Artist”: “The answer to the sketch is a gentleman who is a mixture of determination and congeniality. A true natural leader who usually finds his way appointed to the top cat position in most organizations he joins. “The man of many hats caricature drawing is Mr. John Cannon! John’s favorite expression when asked, How are you? most likely will be his signature exclamation with a smile ‘I am living the dream.’ “John who is a U.S.N. Veteran, served as a cook and Galley Watch Captain for the Navy. He generously drew upon his skills of cooking for 100’s of soldiers at a time in the Navy to add a breakfast fundraiser to Saugus American Legion post #210. At Saugus American Legion Post # 210 he accomplished several fundraising events and organized Super-bowl parties and raffles. The first breakfast he had started had nine people in attendance and it was up to 45 people when he decided to move on. “Mr. Cannon is an American Legion District 8 Commander of Essex County which includes overseeing 33 Posts. He assists with fundraising, membership drives, general guidance and unexpected circumstances within these 33 posts. “Mr. Cannon is on the Board of Directors for the American Legion Dept. of the Massachusetts State Finance Committee which oversees the American Legion budget. “John was appointed to a one-year Board member position on Saugus Zoning Board of Appeals; this is his second year serving! He was re-appointed to a five-year term. “John served two terms as vice president of the North Shore Model Railroad Club of Wakefield – he was then Elected President which he is now on his second term. “John is Chairperson of the North Shore Model Railroad Club Show Committee which involves fundraising and selling product at railroad shows all over New England to raise money for North Shore Model Railroad Club as this defines their budget. “John previously served for three years as Chairperson on the Board of Directors for Saugus Housing Authority. “Mr. John Cannon often states, ‘I truly believe in teamwork’ and ‘no man is an island’ and he models these quotes in his daily life. “John grew up with a quote his parents taught him ‘You only get out of life what you put into it’ “And John pours forth into his life with a joy de vivre! (a delight in simply living your life) “While sketching John, his sense of humor had him delighted over several caricature drawings which he immediately texted these caricatures to all of his address book friends. “On a fine weather’s day you can find John at the beach or walking (he tries to walk 75 miles a month.) THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 17
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