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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 Page 13 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | FROM PAGE 12 855-5 Broadway Saugus MA, 01906 Online donations can also be made at: https://givebutter.com/HealthySaugus S2 is accepting non-perishables to support the program. Items can be dropped off in a designated donation bin at the Saugus Town Hall lobby. Items have been carefully chosen and w e 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, Peas, Corn) 15 oz -Canned Tuna 5oz -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) Saugus Cultural Council seeks grant proposals The Saugus Cultural Council has set an Oct. 15 deadline for organizations, schools, and individuals to apply for grants that support cultural activities in the community. Supported programs will take place in 2022. These grants can support a variety of artistic projects and activities in Saugus – including exhibits, festivals, field trips, short-term artist residencies or performances in schools, workshops, and lectures, according to Council Chair, Mike Sullivan. This year, the Saugus Cultural Council will distribute about $16,000 in grants, Sullivan said. Previously funded organizations include: the Saugus Public Schools, Friends of Breakheart Reservation, the Senior Center, and the Public Library. The Saugus Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities every year. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community. For local guidelines and complete information on the Saugus Cultural Council, you can contact Mike Sullivan at michaelsullivan027@gmail.com or 617968-6261. Application forms and more information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available online at www.mass-culture.org. Let’s hear it! Got an idea, passing thought or gripe you would like to share with The Saugus Advocate. I’m always interested in your feedback. It’s been over five and a half years since I began work at The Saugus Advocate. I’m always interested in hearing readers’ suggestions for possible stories or good candidates for The Advocate Asks interview of the week. Feel free to email me at mvoge@comcast.net. Do you have some interesting views on an issue that you want to express to the community? Submit your idea. If I like it, we can meet for a 15 to 20 minute interview over a hot drink at a local coffee shop. And, I’ll buy the coffee or tea. Or, if you prefer to continue practicing social distancing and be interviewed from the safety of your home on the phone or via email, I will provide that option to you as the nation recovers from the Coronavirus crisis. If it’s a nice day, my preferred site for a coffee and interview would be the picnic area of the Saugus Iron Works. 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 a recent email. “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, passes 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 for season 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 Street. 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 accepted for recycling on site. Additional acceptable items include: TVs and computers (up to three per year per address); car tires up to 22” (for a fee of $3); and textiles such as books, clothing, bedding, pocketbooks, belts, and shoes. Plastic bags are not permitted, residents are kindly asked to empty recyclables out of any plastic bags,and 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 has opened 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 the 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, 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, has organized a fund-raising drive that will help area Vietnam Era veterans visit Washington, D.C. in the fall of next year. “I am glad to announce that we will have a “Roll to DC” for Vietnam Era Veterans from Melrose, Saugus, Wakefield and surrounding towns September 2022. The managers of this effort will be Saugus VFW Post # 2346. Gould will be Chair and David Nelson, Saugus American Legion and Stacey Minchello, Melrose Senior Center will be Vice Chairs. Stan King, Quartermaster Post # 2346 be Treasurer. The trip will be a four night trip to DC staying at Presidential Inn on Andrews Air Force Base, home of Presidential Aircraft. It will include a ceremony and laying of a wreath at the Vietnam Wall and the Tomb of Unknown Soldier as well as visiting all Military Memorials and Statues. “We are looking for major sponsorship and donations from all. The Vietnam Veterans will go on this trip free, but it will take approximately $70,000 of sponsorship and donations,” Gould said If you would like to be a major sponsor, please contact chairman Dennis Gould cell 617 257 4847 or e mail Jdgould1969@aol.com If you would like to send in a donation, please make check out to: “Saugus VFW–Roll to DC “ write “Roll to DC 2022” in comment Line and mail to: Saugus VFW Post 2346 190C Main St Saugus Ma 01906 Any questions or if you would like to volunteer to assist the committee, please contact Dennis at contact info above. Food Pantry still open The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will continue to remain open on Fridays between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Fridays despite concerns over the Coronavirus. They have made adjustments to protect their core of volunteers and the needy people who receive the food. For the protection of volunteers & clients, and to limit personal contact and crowding/gathering, the food pantry has been distributing pre-bagged groceries, Even though clients may receive items they don’t want or need, food pantry organizers feel this is the best course of action to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19. Those in need, even for short term or one-time assistance are encouraged to come. The food pantry is located in the basement of the Cliftondale Congregational Church at 50 Essex St. in Saugus.

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