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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 Page 11 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | FROM PAGE 10 terest in Saugus residents running for public office. I’ve talked to a few local officials and have read a little on local social media (something I don’t like to make a habit of doing) about the ugly side of Saugus politics discouraging people who might otherwise run for local office. It’s true that Saugus politics has a long reputation for being a brutal blood sport. But it would be a shame if civic-minded folks decide to shun public office because of the nasty body politic of Saugus. If you feel like you have something to contribute to the betterment of your community, have the support of your family and have the time – run for public office, but run for the main reason that you want to help your town. It would be a shame if only three people run for the School Committee and only six for the Board of Selectmen. And that was the count as of Wednesday (Sept. 1), according to the Town Clerk’s Office. Though the number of candidates pulling nomination papers at this point may seem down, there is still a week to go. “Some years papers are pulled early and some years papers are pulled at the last minute,” Town Clerk Ellen Schena told me yesterday. “Last day to pull candidate papers is Friday, September 10th until 5 p.m. The Town Clerk’s office will remain open until 5 p.m.” For Saugus residents who plan to run as candidates in the town’s fall elections, here are some important dates released by the Saugus Town Clerk’s Office: 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 eighth 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. A concert for cancer care The Kowloon Restaurant is set to host Country Women, a benefit concert with Samantha Rae Whiskey–6 and Ayla Brown & Rob Bellamy – along with Darren Bessette & Carly Tefft and Sandy Gennaro – on Friday, September 10. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and tickets are $20 per person. The concert will benefit the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The concert is slated for Kowloon Restaurant’s outdoor entertainment venue on Route 1 North in Saugus. Samantha Rae Whiskey–6 is a country-rock act that delivers a mix of country rock originals and pop country radio favorites driven by a powerful rhythm section. The band is fronted by Samantha Rae. Critics call her “A beautiful and energetic small town country spitfire who packs both a punch and sultry country tone.” The band was nominated for and won the prestigious fan-voted New England Country Music Group of the Year. Ayla Brown & Rob Bellamy are billed as “Country/ Americana. Rob is the grit of the vocal and Ayla is the soul.” The newly married couple first began writing songs together after meeting over a 1,000 miles away in Nashville. They eventually began recording demos, uploading videos on Facebook and YouTube of their songs and booking shows together along the East Coast. In 2019, they released their first EP, “Make it Mean Something.” For tickets, call the Kowloon Restaurant at 781-2330077. A “Shout-Out” to the DAR We didn’t receive any recommendations for shoutouts this week. So, I will use my editorial discretion to recognize members of the Parson Roby Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. The local DAR has approached the town recently with a request for permission to register Riverside Cemetery with the “Wreaths Across America” Organization. “It is our organization’s goal to promote education, historic preservation and patriotism,” DAR representatives wrote in a recent letter to Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. “Our aim is to gather enough Sponsorships to have ‘Wreaths Across America’ place wreaths on all veteran graves this December 2021,” the letter continued. “Your permission, endorsement and Cemetery Chairman are required prior to us gathering support from family, friends and neighbors in recognizing our town veterans. The DAR has always supported veterans, since our founding in 1893, and this is just a small gesture for us to recognize their service to our town, state and country.” Special praise to DAR representatives Charlotte Line, Gail Cassarino, Janice Jarosz, Jaclyn Smith, Linda Ross and Wendy Renda for organizing the effort. The local DAR organized a cleanup of the old burial ground at Saugus Centre last October. Their project included cleaning up the old headstones so they looked like new ones. 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. A community garden update If you are young or old and feel like doing some real earthy community service, why not join the growing team that’s been assisting the Community Garden which has been helping to feed the hungry and needy people of Saugus? Contact The Rev. John Beach of St. John’s Episcopal Church to get the latest update on how the garden is doing and what you can do to help. Anyone who wants to help out Rev. John on this noble project can call him at 774-961-9881 or send him an email at revjbeach@ gmail.com. We will keep you posted as the garden continues to grow. Remember folks, this is your garden. Be a part of it. “We are also working on the garden on Friday from 9-11 and invite all interested folks to join us,” Rev. John wrote in an email to us this week. Clarifying some veterans’ issues Jay Pinette, the Veterans Services Officer for the Town of Saugus, wanted to pass along a few words to clear up any confusion about how his office works. “Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) are not VA employees and do not have direct access to VA systems or information,” Jay wrote to us in an email. He continued, “Local VSOs are employees of their respective cities and towns. VSOs are generally able to assist veterans and eligible dependents with VA-related claims and benefits activities. “One of the primary duties of the VSOs is to administer a program for veterans and eligible dependents that is referred to as ‘Chapter 115’. Under Chapter 115 of Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L. CH. 115), the Commonwealth provides a uniform program of financial assistance for low income veterans and their dependents. Qualified veterans and their dependents who meet the income and asset eligibility criteria may receive monthly financial benefits that are intended to assist the veteran with housing and living expenses. “If local Veterans wish to enroll in VA healthcare and/or obtain a VA ID card, representatives from the VA Bedford will be on-site at the Lynn VA Clinic twice a month. The on-site enrollment will be held on the 1 st and 3 rd Tuesday of each month from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Appointments are advised and the dates and times are subject to change. The Lynn VA Clinic is located at 225 Boston Street, Suite 107. For more information or to schedule an appointment for enrollment, call 781-687-3348 or e-mail vabedoutreach@va.gov. “The Veterans Services Offices of Saugus and other surrounding communities have partnered with the Greater Boston Food Bank to hold monthly mobile food markets for veterans. With the closure of the Saugus Senior Center during the pandemic, the food market was moved to Melrose. We have now moved the food market back to the Saugus Senior Center. The veterans mobile food market is held on the third Wednesday of each month. Veterans and eligible dependents must sign up with the Saugus Veterans Service Office to determine eligibility. VSO Jay Pinette can be reached at 781-231-4010 or at jpinette@saugus-ma.gov. Or on the first floor of Saugus Town Hall at 298 Central Street, Saugus MA 01906.” About the veterans’ bricks Board of Selectmen Vice-Chair Corinne Riley, who is involved with a lot of veterans events and programs in town, passed this note along: “The Saugus Veterans Council would like to inform those who ordered bricks prior to May 2021, which were displayed at the Memorial Day Ceremony, that those bricks will be installed at Veterans Park mid August and will be dedicated on Veterans Day.” CHaRM Center Recycling Drop-Off site open The community’s Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) site has opened. This site will remain open to residents on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The site is located behind the Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. At the CHaRM center, the Town will accept the same recycling items that can be placed outside for curbside collection each week, such as paper, cardboard, bottles, cans and glass containers. No shredded paper is accepted for on-site recycling. Additional acceptable items include TVs and computers (up to three per year per address), car tires up to 22” (for a fee of $3), books and textiles, such as clothing, bedding, pocketbooks, belts and shoes. Plastic bags are not permitted, residents are kindly asked to empty recyclables out of any plastic bags and to remove the bags from the site. Also, rigid plastics are not being accepted for recycling at this time. Residents may call Lorna Cerbone at the Solid Waste and Recycling Department at 781-231-4036 with questions or for more information. Compost site open The town compost site is open to residents on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The site is located behind the Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. Stickers are required to gain seasonal access to the site. Stickers may be purchased for $25.00 at the Department of Public Works (DPW) located at the Compost Site when making your visit to the Compost Site. The Town accepts checks only for payment of the $25.00. No cash will be accepted. Kindly bring a check when visiting. Thank you! Compost site stickers must be permanently placed on the lower left corner of residents’ automobile windshields. Vehicles registered out of state are not permitted. Yard waste must be disposed of in brown compost bags or open containers. The Town will accept grass clippings, leaves and brush. As in years past, no branches or limbs larger than three inches in diameter are permitted. We ask all residents to please wear a mask and maintain and respect social distancing from others while visiting the site. Residents may call Lorna Cerbone at the Solid Waste and Recycling Department at 781-231-4036 with questions or for more information. Help the Vietnam Vets “Roll to DC” A reminder from Joseph “Dennis” Gould, a Vietnam War Era veteran who served four years with the U.S. Navy. He has organized a fundraising drive that will THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 12

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