THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, AUGUST 22, 2025 Page 13 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus For most families with school-age kids in Saugus, today (Friday, Aug. 22) marks the beginning of the last weekend of summer vacation, as a brand-new school year begins next Tuesday. Warmest regards to Saugus Public Schools administration, faculty, staff, students and parents as they prepare for the start of the 2025-26 academic year. Best wishes to all the kids who will be going to area outof-town schools and their parents. Best wishes, too, for the Saugus kids who are headed off to embark on a college education or to continue their education plans. A special note to the Saugus High Class of 2026 and other town residents who will begin their senior year at high schools in neighboring communities: Have fun and enjoy your final year with friends before you head off to a new chapter of your lives. But make the most of your school year. Study hard and take time to plan for life after high school and the career you have chosen. The next nine months will be important ones as you carve out your niche in life as young adults. Set your goals high. For me, I’m nearing the end of my two-week vacation. For the most part, it’s been a peaceful and productive one. I got to spend some time with friends who treated me to cookouts and a few nice restaurant meals. I tackled some projects and took steps to get organized for the rest of my year. The campaign is on! The Nov. 4 Town Election is 10 weeks away from this coming Tuesday (Aug. 26). 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. As of Monday, there were seven Saugus Middle-High School Administration, pictured from left to right: Middle School Associate Principal David Micu, Middle School Assistant Principal Michelle Dwyer, High School Assistant Principal Victoria Colaianni, Middle School Assistant Principal Jacqui Alongi and Saugus Middle High School Principal Dr. Carla Scuzzarella. (Saugus Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) candidates who pulled papers for the five seats on the School Committee and seven candidates for the five spots on the Board of Selectmen. School Committee Member Stephanie Lauren Mastrocola was the latest candidate, the first incumbent member. The field so far includes former School Committee Members Arthur Grabowski and Joseph “Dennis” Gould and challengers Shannon McCarthy, Andrew T. Finn, Roberto F. Bruzzese and Finance Committee Member Brian J. Doherty. Meanwhile, three incumbent selectmen have already pulled papers: Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta and Selectmen Anthony Cogliano and Michael Serino. Former Selectman Jennifer Elaine D’Eon heads the list of challengers, which includes Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member Stacey Marie 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. There are all sorts of reports out there on possible candidates who haven’t announced yet. If 10 candidates wind up on the Nov. 4 ballot for the School Committee and Selectmen races, that would be great for town voters. To have a competitive local election, the ideal situation is to have two candidates for each elective position. 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. 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. Stay tuned. This week’s “Shout outs” Since I received no reader nominations, here’s an Editor’s Choice. Before I went on vacation, I interviewed longtime Saugus resident Millie Doucette, who turned 100 yesterday (Aug. 22). I found Millie to be a remarkable senior citizen who still maintains a relatively independent lifestyle for a person of her age. Millie is very well-spoken and articulate – and capable of carrying on great conversation on a variety of subjects. She has an impressive memory and is the subject of this week’s “The Advocate Asks.” Millie also strikes me as a very good cook and offered me a tasty plate of meatloaf straight from her kitchen oven when I arrived at her house for the interview earlier this month. 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 The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Aug. 22) 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 THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 14
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