Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, AUGUST 8, 2025 The Sounds of Saugus LOOKING BACK: Here is a scene from the 2011 Saugus High Baseball Alumni game. After an absence of several years, the Annual Saugus High Baseball Alumni Game will return to World Series Park on Saturday, August 16, at 4 p.m. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate) By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus The Nov. 4 Town Election is 12 weeks away from this coming Tuesday (Aug. 12). That’s a long time to campaign. But things have definitely been heating up in the School Committee and Board of Selectmen races since the nomination papers became available to aspiring candidates on July 21. Former School Committee Chair Joseph “Dennis” Gould heads a field of five challengers who are eyeing a two-year term on the School Committee. Also pulling nomination papers for a run for the town’s top elected education post are Shannon McCarthy of Precinct 6, Andrew T. Finn of Precinct 4, Roberto F. Bruzzese of Precinct 9 and Finance Committee Member Brian J. Doherty of Precinct 1. As of early this week, when we checked the candidates’ list at the Town Clerk’s Office, no incumbent School Committee members had pulled papers yet. But, it’s still early. Candidates have until 5 p.m. on Sept. 12 to obtain nomination papers from the Town Clerk’s Office. The deadline for filing those nomination papers is 5 p.m. on Sept. 16. Meanwhile, three incumbent selectmen have already pulled papers: Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta and Selectmen Anthony Cogliano and Mike Serino. Former Selectman Jennifer E. D’Eon heads the list of challengers, which includes Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member Stacey Herman-Dorant, Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member Frank Federico and Sandro Pansini Souza, an unsuccessful candidate for selectman two years ago when he finished seventh in a field of seven candidates. He currently serves as treasurer on the Saugus TV Board of Directors. Precinct 8 Town Meeting Member Kristi Talagan, who ran for the Saugus Housing Authority four years ago and lost, has pulled papers to run for a seat on the Housing Authority again. Stay tuned. School Days nearing Hope you are having a fun, safe and productive summer. Tuesday, Aug. 26, is the first day of the new school year. That’s just two weeks from this coming Tuesday (Aug. 12). Not long from now, we’ll be admiring the fall colors and the start of the football season. Founders Day is little more than a month away. That’s always a big deal for Saugonians. And the campaigns for the various town political candidates should be in full spring by then. Stay tuned. World Series Park will host alumni game The Annual Saugus High Baseball Alumni Game will return to World Series Park on Saturday, August 16, at 4 p.m. After an absence of several years, the alumni game will offer the opportunity to former Saugus High School baseball players to play in a game. Anyone who would like to play should contact Saugus High coach Mike Mabee at 781941-0775. A “Shout out” for outstanding athletes For this week’s column, we received a collective “shout out” from Christopher Tarantino, also known as “Coach T,” who oversees the Saugus Sachems Summer Track Camp. “Coach T” submitted the following nomination: “I would like to give a ‘shout out’ to the 13 outstanding athletes, from the Saugus Sachems Summer Track Camp, that stepped into the unknown and accepted the challenge of being trailblazers by taking part in the Junior Olympic program. In doing so they represented themselves, their families, our program, and our community in a positive light... First up was an Association meet, back in June where top 8 places moved on to Region 1 meet, held in July and from there top 8 qualify for Nationals, that were held in Savannah, Georgia. Participants included Naomi Tarantino, Olivia Clark, Annalisa Ferrara, Elizabeth Silipigni, Thomas LeBlanc, Matthew Benoit, Mark Benoit, AJ Diciero, Santino Diciero, and Luiz Sena, all of which qualified for Region 1, as well as Matthew Bell, Liam Marcu and Matthew Silipigni. 8 of the 10 qualifiers for Region 1 competed with six of them, Annalisa Ferrara, Thomas LeBlanc, Mark Beniot, AJ Diciero, Santino Diciero, and Luiz Sena making Nationals. Annalisa Ferrara, 80m hurdles and Luiz Sena, high jump, got down to Savannah, Georgia to compete in the National meet. Congrats to them all.” 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. Saugus United Parish Food Pantry today The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, August 8) from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. 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. Newspapers at the library Thanks to a donation from a patron, The New York Times is now available at the Library, according to Saugus Public Library Director Alan Thibeault. “You can also stop by and read the Saugus Advocate, Lynn Item, Boston Herald, and the Boston Globe as well!” Thibeault said. Saugus Youth Cross CounTHE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 13
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