THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 Page 3 Annual Saugus Founders Day gears up for a return on Sept. 11 at town center By Mark E. Vogler F or the first time in two years, residents will get to enjoy Saugus Founders Day – one of the town’s most popular communitywide events over the past four decades – next Saturday, Sept. 11. The event in the past resonates with great community pride. And this year, it coincides with the observance of the 20th anniversary of 9/11 – the terrorist attacks on New York City’s World Trade Center Towers and the Pentagon. Health concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and Gov. Charlie Baker’s orders on social distancing and other protocols led to the cancellation of what would have been the 40th Annual Saugus Founders Day last year. “The Town of Saugus is excited to announce this year’s Annual Founder’s Day Celebration,” Saugus Youth & Recreation Center Programs Coordinator Crystal Cakounes said this week. “The event will take place from 9am–3pm on Saturday, September 11, 2021. Booths will begin in front of Town Hall, and continue down Central Street. This is a wonderful Town tradition, and we are looking forward to celebrating again this year,” she said. The Saugus Advocate will publish a more detailed schedule of events in next week’s edition, as the information was not available at press time. Meanwhile, the Founders Day signature event – the presentation of the “Persons of the Year” awards – will not be made this year. Normally, past winners of the prestigious award honoring Saugus citizens meet in late summer to nominate candidates and select the honorees. “It’s not news to anyone that we are in the midst of a pandemic and, once again, Essex County is in the red and Saugus is in the middle of Essex County,” Joyce Rodenhiser and Kathy Blasingame wrote in a recent email to local newspapers. “So, the committee to select ‘Persons of the Year’ is being cautious. We will not be meeting to make these selections at this time. We sincerely hope to be back in action next year and perhaps we can present ‘Persons of the Year’ for three years, 2020, 2021 and 2022. May you be well and stay safe.” 20th Annual Walk of Hope of Hope for ALS on Sept. 11 T eams and individual walkers are preparing for the September 11 Walk of Hope for ALS, a 3.5-mile walk around Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield to benefit The Angel Fund for ALS Research. This will be the 20th annual walk sponsored by The Angel Fund to support amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research at the Cecil B. Day Laboratory at UMass Medical School in Worcester. The lab is under the direction of world-renowned researcher Dr. Robert H. Brown, Jr. ALS, which is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive, always fatal neuromuscular disease that leads to muscle weakness and, as it progresses, results in total paralysis and the inability to speak and swallow while the mind and senses remain intact. The event begins with registration at 9 a.m. followed by the start of the walk at 11 a.m. Walkers of all abilities are encouraged to participate as individuals or a team. The event will adhere to all current CDC HEALTHY | FROM PAGE 2 ly chosen for their high vitamin and nutrient content. We ask that donations are not expired and come only from this list: –Macaroni & cheese (7.5 oz.) –Peanut butter (15 oz.) –Jelly (squeeze plastic bottles) –Canned vegetables (i.e., sliced carrots, green beans, guidelines, and all unvaccinated walkers are encouraged to wear masks. The walk around Lake Quannapowitt includes the annual release of doves for those who are living with ALS and those who have lost their courageous battle to the disease. There will refreshments for all walkers (in accordance with CDC guidelines). To register as a walker or to register a team, log on to The Angel Fund website at www. theangelfund.org or call the organization at 781-245-7070. Donations to The Angel Fund can also be made online or can be sent to The Angel Fund, 649 Main St., Wakefield, MA 01880. All donations should be made payable to The Angel Fund. To assist its walkers, The Angel Fund for ALS Research has joined classy.org, which enables them to create their own webpage to raise money online. Registered walkers can create their page at https:// theangelfund.org/events/ walk-of-hope-for-als-4/. There are several levels of corporate sponsorship for the peas, corn) (15 oz.) –Canned tuna (5 oz.) –Canned chicken (10 oz.) –Canned beans –Canned meals (i.e., soups, chili, SpaghettiOs, raviolis) –Fruit cups –Oatmeal packets –Cold cereal –Granola bars –Pasta –Pasta sauce (no glass) Walk of Hope for ALS. Several local businesses have already pledged their support as sponsors of the Walk, including the Law Office of Nigro, Pettepit & Lucas, June’s Joggers, The Savings Bank and UMass Medical School. Information about sponsorship opportunities can also be obtained on the website, www. theangelfund.org, or by calling 781-245-7070. The Angel Fund conducts other fundraising events throughout the year that, along with individual and corporate donations, have been beneficial in helping make significant strides in ALS research. For a list of upcoming events, visit The Angel Fund website, www.theangelfund.org.
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