THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 Page 3 ~ THE ADVOCATE ASKS ~ Saugus residents discuss why they look forward to Founders Day and what makes it such a special event Editor’s Note: For this week, we spent four hours milling around Town Hall Center and Central Street last Saturday (Sept. 11), talking to people who were out enjoying the weather and the 40th Annual Saugus Founders Day. Founders Day was cancelled last year because of health concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. We interviewed young children, teenagers, middle-aged people and senior citizens. They included prominent town officials and lesser-known citizens of Saugus. We asked each one the same two questions: What do you think of this year’s Founders Day? What makes it so special for you? Some highlights of those interviews follow. Mekhi Coburn, 17, a senior in the Saugus High School Class of 2022, sat in the metal chair overhanging the dunk tank, bracing himself for somebody to hit the target with a baseball, causing his chair to collapse so he would go splashing into the tank. “I’m going to be dunked for about an hour. I don’t mind. I wanted to help my class out. This is the first time I have done this, but I have been coming to Founders Day since I was 10 years old.” Rayaan Jubeili, 17, a Saugus High School senior in the Saugus High Class of 2022, sat in a chair near a table of paper plates and whipped cream in a spray can. Her face showed little dabs of whipped cream where she had tried to wipe it off. “I have an hour shift. So far, I’ve taken four pies to the face and we’re only 10 minutes into the shift. I volunteered for this. It’s not a big deal because it helps raise money for the Senior Class. And I get to hang out with my friends.” Town Meeting Member Bob Long was enjoying a beautiful day out in the sun, joined by his wife Carol and her two sisters: Mae Erickson and Rosalie Caci. Bob Long: “It’s great to see this happening again. This is great for the community because it brings it alive again. Just to see people out HEADED TO FOUNDERS DAY: The Saugus Board of Selectmen leave the parking lot of the Central Fire Station on Hamilton Street last Saturday (Sept. 11) after attending a low-key 20th anniversary of “9/11” ceremony organized by the Fire Department. Soon after, they walked to Saugus Center to attend the 40th Annual Saugus Founders Day. Pictured from left to right are Selectmen Debra Panetta, Michael Serino, Anthony Cogliano, Corinne Riley and Jeff Cicolini. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) here, moving around – this gives us a chance to see people that we haven’t seen for more than a year. It’s just good to see them mingling. That’s what makes Founders Day great for people like myself; I don’t get to see them unless I come out like this. When a lot of things were closed because of the pandemic, the only place I saw anybody was at the Stop & Shop. Rosalie Caci: “It’s not as big as in past years, but it still brings a lot of families out.” Mae Erickson: It’s different from the previous years. But it’s good. And it’s nice to be able to be out again.” Carol Long: “I think it’s great that they brought it back again. I’m a little disappointed that they don’t have ‘The Person of the Year’ awards. But the most important thing is it’s back. You see people that you haven’t seen in a while. School Committee Member Arthur Grabowski was talking to people near Town Hall. He’s usually a regular at Founder’s Day. “It’s good to see this event come back. And this year, we have great weather. A year ago, a lot of people were wearing masks. It’s pretty telling that 99 percent of the people that you see here today have no masks on. But I’m really disappointed that they don’t they don’t have ‘the man and the woman of the year’ this year.” Saugus resident Tam Le walked toward the Saugus Fire Department truck exhibit with a box of pizza. He was joined by his daughter RESIDENTS | SEE PAGE 11
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