THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 Page 11 Saugus native Paige Marie Giadone-Naimie wins Mrs. New England Petite USA 2021 title (Editor’s Note: Laurie Giadone submitted the following article about her daughter, Paige Marie Giadone-Naimie, who was recently named Mrs. New England Petite USA 2021.The pageant recognizes petite women who are 5'6" tall or shorter. Giadone-Naimie, 29, of Lebanon, Maine, visited the 40th Annual Saugus Founders Day last weekend. She wore a vaccination Band-Aid to promote vaccination as a way to prevent or protect oneself against the spread of COVID-19.) “Paige Marie Giadone-Naimie grew up in Saugus and has always taken pride in this town. Paige is a proud forever Sachem! Paige lost her father to a drug overdose tied directly to mental illness at the young age of 17. Despite this and other adversities she had to face growing up with her father in and out of her life as well as him battling addiction, Paige rose up and decided she was not going to go down that road. Paige made different choices, better choices. Paige graduated from Saugus High School’s Class of 2010 with honors with the special help from Micheal Maruzzi, Jeff Macmillion, Walter Keddy, Patricia Goodwin and so many more amazing teachers and staff at Saugus High School. Paige went on to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree of the Sciences at New England College in Henniker, N.H. where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Psychology and now studies Autism Studies at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Throughout Paige’s career she has become an ABA therapist, helping all children to reach their highest potential inside and outside of the classroom. Paige has two beautiRESIDENTS | FROM PAGE 3 and her two friends – “I’m just giving back to firefighters who give so much to this community. It’s our way of giving back and enjoying Founders Day.” Firefighter Derek Lanzillo: “That was very nice of them. They didn’t have to do that. I appreciate them as much as they appreciate us.” Saugus TV Program Manager Rachel Brugman and Saugus TV Studio Associate John Prudent were hanging out at the Saugus TV booth, informing residents information about the station and handing out station freebies. They and other members of the staff also provided live coverage of the Annual Founders Day events. Rachel Brugman: “It’s not as big as the one two years ago when they last had it, but it’s still pretty good. A lot of kids are coming by to talk to us. Kids love Saugus TV.” John Prudent: “Everybody looks happy. I’m sure everybody is glad to be out here again after COVID had things closed. There’s not as many people, but it still turned out pretty good, all things considered.” Veterans Graves Officer Randy Briand, who was assisting fellow veterans and friends at the Cpl Scott J. BACK IN HER HOMETOWN: Paige Marie GiadoneNaimie, a 2010 Saugus High School graduate, spent several hours on Saturday greeting town residents who attended the 40th Annual Saugus Founders Day. The recently crowned Mrs. New England Petite USA 2021 is working with several local businesses and organizations to promote vaccination as a way to prevent or curb the spread of COVID-19. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Procopio American Legion Post 210 booth: “Nobody was sure whether this was going to go on or not this year. But I think it went pretty well, considering all of the problems we’ve had over the past year and a half because of the COVID.” American Legion Post 210 House Manager Debra Dion Faust: “Everything seems to be going well, as far as I’m concerned. It may be baby steps, but it’s steps in the right direction. We need to stop being afraid to be with other people again. There were nowhere near as many people here today as the last Founders Day, but it’s a pretty good start. I was thrilled that we had it this year. I was glad to see so many people out here. It’s great to see all of your neighbors.” Marine and National Guard veteran Marty Graney: “The crowd is not as big as in prior years. Even the vendors have scaled back and there are not as many food choices. I enjoy the hotdogs and I didn’t get any this year. But the town missed it last year and it’s a good thing to keep going.” Members of the Saugus Garden Club were very visible, as they usually are during the community’s most popular events. They had a booth with flowers – of course. Joyce Rodenhiser: This is fabulous. I think everyone is happy to get out and see each other. Sure, there are fewer people. But it doesn’t matter. This is our town. Whoever wants to show up shows up.” Ruth Berg, a Garden Club diehard who is also the town’s beloved “Hat Lady”: “I think the pandemic taught us all to get along and love each other. With concerns about the pandemic, it’s very hard to plan something like this. Everybody here is a survivor. That’s the bottom line. We all survived the pandemic.” All five members of the Saugus Board of Selectmen were among the nine people who showed up for the 20th anniversary observance of 9/11 at the Saugus Fire Department’s Central Station on Hamilton Street. After the brief ceremony, they all went to Saugus Center to enjoy Founders Day. Veteran Selectmen Debra Panetta: “It was just delightful to see as many people come out for this Founders Day. People were having a lot of fun. They were smiling. People were hugging. They were happy to see people that they hadn’t seen in a long time. People who love Saugus love an event like RESIDENTS | SEE PAGE 17 ful children, Raine and Beau and is married to Garrett Naimie of York, Maine whom she met when she was in college. When Paige is not working as an ABA therapist, she is coaching competitive gymnastics encouraging and empowering today’s youth. Paige is a positive role model in all that she does and has dedicated her life to her children, and others children all over New England. Paige entered the New England Petite USA Pageant with her own platform instilling mindfulness and healthy coping techniques in today’s youth in hopes to combat the mental health crisis we are facing today. Paige has been working to combat today’s mental health crisis through volunteer work with youth at least and most restrictive lock ups throughout New England. Working with MouvaNow to fight against human sex and labor trafficking as well as volunteering at Boston Children’s Hospital. Paige was crowned Mrs. New England Petite 2021 with hopes to use this platform to help her community, to raise mental health awareness in Saugus and throughout New England. Paige’s voice will not be silenced and she is willing to do anything and everything to help in preventative measures with drug/alcohol use and abuse as well as normalizing talk around mental illness! The judges saw what all of Paige’s teachers at the Saugus School Department saw in her, the ability to shine in a dark world, and the determination to make her dreams come true no matter what road blocks come in her way. Saugus should be very proud of their own Mrs. New England Petite USA 2021.”
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