Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, SEPTEMbER 4, 2026 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller Smartphones Made Simple for Seniors Dear Savvy Senior, My 79-year-old mom just upgraded from a flip phone to a smartphone, but she’s having trouble figuring it out. Is there a way to make it easier for her to use? --Only Daughter Dear Only, Switching from a flip phone to a smartphone can be a big adjustment. What seems second nature to younger users can feel overwhelming to someone who’s never used a touchscreen. Even though the screen is bigger, the text can still be tiny, the buttons hard to tap, and one accidental touch can open an app or change a setting. Even simple tasks like texting or taking a picture can suddenly feel frustrating. The good news is that smartphones can be surprisingly senior-friendly. Both iPhones and Android phones have built-in accessibility features that make them easier to see, hear, and navigate. The exact steps vary depending on the phone, but here are some of the most helpful settings to look for. Apple iPhone If your mom has an Apple iPhone, start by opening the Settings app, then tap Display and Brightness. From there, she can make the text larger, turn on bold text, and use Display Zoom to make icons, buttons, and menus bigger. Even these small changes can make the phone much easier to use. Accessibility offers several helpful tools. VoiceOver reads whatever is on the screen aloud, Zoom enlarges small text or photos, and Voice Control lets her open apps or dictate messages simply by speaking. For a simpler home screen, try Assistive Access. It creates a clean layout with large buttons and fewer apps, and you can lock it with a passcode so it won’t accidentally switch back. For someone moving from a flip phone, this can make using the phone much less intimidating. Google Pixel If your mom uses a Google Pixel, open Settings, then Display, and select Display size and text. She can make words, buttons, and icons larger and increase color contrast to make everything easier to see. Swipe gestures can be confusing for first-time smartphone users. Switching to the traditional three-button layout brings back simple on-screen buttons for Home, Back, and Recent Apps, making navigation much easier. In Accessibility, TalkBack can read text aloud, Magnification zooms in on parts of the screen, Live Caption adds subtitles automatically, Sound Amplifier makes soft sounds louder, and Voice Access lets her control the phone by speaking. Samsung Galaxy If she has a Samsung Galaxy phone, start by turning on Easy Mode. Open Settings, tap Display, and turn it on. This enlarges text and icons, simplifies the home screen, and adds a slight delay to reduce accidental taps. She can also adjust font size, screen zoom, and switch navigation from gestures to buttons. Accessibility settings improve contrast, offer captions or hearing aid connections, and let her operate the phone with voice commands. Extra tips Clean up your mom’s home screen by removing apps she doesn’t use and placing her most used apps – such as Phone, Messages, and Photos – on the first screen. Choose a simple wallpaper, turn up the ringtone and alert volume, add favorite contacts for one-touch calling, and increase the screen timeout so the display stays on longer. Remember, the goal isn’t to master every feature. Start with the basics – answering calls, sending texts, and taking photos – and give her plenty of time to practice. A little patience goes a long way. With a few simple adjustments, her smartphone can become a tool she actually enjoys using. Send your questions or comments to questions@ savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. New era, familiar face as Bluestein takes over Saugus football By Dom Nicastro There is a new head coach calling the shots for Saugus High football this fall, but there aren’t any surprises about Greg Bluestein’s relationship with the Sachems. Bluestein grew up in the program, graduated from Saugus High in 2008 and returned to the Sachems’ coaching staff in 2022. Now, after serving as defensive coordinator and associate head coach under former coach Steve Cummings, Bluestein takes over a program looking to build upon some encouraging signs from the end of last season. And his first preseason as the man in charge has been a busy one. Saugus enters the 2026 campaign with roughly 35 players, a new coaching staff and plenty of work underway as Bluestein and his assistants figure out exactly what kind of team they have. The team opens up at Cambridge Rindge & Latin Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. “Numbers are good,” Bluestein said. “30 or 35 kids. You’re always looking for more obviously, but it’s not a bad start.” The Sachems fini shed 2-9 last fall, but the record didn’t tell the entire story of how they finished. Saugus blanked East Boston, 34-0, before nearly pulling off a Thanksgiving stunner against Peabody. The Sachems exploded to a 20-0 first-quarter lead against the Tanners and eventually fell, 28-26. It was a painful ending but also provided a glimpse of the young talent that would be back for 2026. Now Bluestein gets the opportunity to lead that returning group. Senior Paxton Ferraro, a Northeastern Conference to work with. One of the most intriguing returning players is junior quarterback Eli Fialho. Fialho received valuable varsity experience as a sophomore and showed his playmaking ability on Thanksgiving. With Saugus trailing Peabody in the fourth quarter, he escaped pressure and connected with Jordan Rodriguez for a 65-yard touchdown that pulled the Sachems within two points. This preseason, however, it isn’t only Fialho’s arm and legs that have impressed his new head coach. SHS Sachems head football coach Greg Bluestein. League All-Star last season, begins the year as Saugus’ captain and will have no shortage of responsibilities. Bluestein described Ferraro as the type of player coaches can use almost anywhere. “He’s a leader by example,” Bluestein said. “He’s doing a great job of making sure that the kids are where they need to be in terms of practice times and stuff, but also on the field, getting them lined up properly and stuff, and just providing effort everywhere he goes. He’s a great kid, coach’s dream. Wish I had him for another couple years.” As for where Ferraro will play? “Everywhere,” Bluestein said. “He’s gonna be moving all over the place, offense, defense. He’s kind of a Swiss Army knife in that way. He’s just somebody that you line him up, and he figures it out. So we’re lucky to have him.” Ferraro is one member of a sizable senior class that gives the first-year head coach some veteran pieces “Eli has been like poster child for leadership this whole camp,” Bluestein said. “Super, super proud of the way he’s handled things in terms of our installation process and all the stuff that we’ve been going through. It’s been a rigorous camp, but he’s done a really good job of not just the effort on his part, but holding everybody accountable.” Bluestein said Fialho has been willing to demand the same commitment from his teammates. “He’s been getting on kids and making sure that they’re providing the effort that we need to be successful,” Bluestein said. Bluestein is also excited about the speed of senior receiver Ryan Moreira, whom the coach believes is ready for an expanded opportunity. “Ryan Moreira is somebody that stands out in terms of our receiving corps,” Bluestein said. “Lots of speed. I’ve been waiting for him to come on for a while now, so I’m excited to see what he can do, now that he’s getting his chance.” Exactly what the Saugus offense will look like remains FOOTBALL | SEE PAGE 12
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