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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 Page 11 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS By Mark E. Vogler H ere are a few tidbits that you might want to know about this week in Saugus. World Series Park to dedicate lights tonight This just in at the deadline yesterday – World Series Park will be holding a dedication of the lighting project tonight (Friday, Oct. 8). There will be a food buffet and entertainment from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., immediately followed by the dedication ceremony. All donors have been invited to the reception and ceremony. The culmination will be the lighting up of the park. Mobile vaccination bus tomorrow The Saugus Public Schools, in collaboration with the Saugus Board of Health, have made it more convenient for town residents to get vaccinated for COVID-19 if they haven’t already. There will be a mobile vaccination bus in the parking lot of the Saugus Middle-High School tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 9) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Erin McMahon told the School Committee at Wednesday (Oct. 6) night’s meeting that she and Health Director John R. Fralick III have been working on the logistics for the mobile vaccination bus since July. Town residents will be able to receive the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The vaccination rate for students from 12 to 15 is fewer than 60 percent, according to McMahon. Trash/recycling running on one-day holiday delay The Town of Saugus announced that trash and recycling collection will run on a one-day delay from Tuesday, Oct.12, through Saturday, Oct.16, due to the observance of Columbus Day. There will be no collection on Monday, October 11, 2021, due to the holiday. Services will resume on a one-day delay from Tuesday through Saturday. Residents whose collection day falls on Monday will be collected on Tuesday. Collection will continue to run on a one-day delay for the remainder of the week. The compost site will be open normal hours, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the following days: tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 9) and Wednesday, Oct. 13. The Town of Saugus would like to thank everyone for their cooperation. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Lorna Cerbone at 781-231-4036 with any questions. We have a winner! Congratulations to Donna Lawrence for getting her name drawn from the green Boston Red Sox hat as the winner of last week’s “Guess Who Got Sketched” contest. She was one of several people who answered correctly. But we only have one winner each week. Guessing the right answer before noon on Tuesday has a chance to go into the hat. Here’s the answer, offered by the person who goes by the name of The Sketch Artist: “The answer to last week’s sketch is the life-saving Saugus Fire Department Lieutenant Damian Drella, who is also an E. M. T. “The Lieutenant has been with the Saugus Fire Dept. For 30 + years…Lt . Drella assists with time is of the essence life or death emergencies, gas leaks, someone trapped in a car or elevator, vehicle, car crashes, and drug overdoses. “Emergency and Public Safety Officers never know what will unfold during the day. So, they have to be prepared and up for anything – highly skilled and calm under pressure. Lieutenant Damian Drella is seasoned with these skills and highly qualified with team efforts and experience. “Most often when Public Service Emergency Teams approach a scene, they never know what’s waiting for them at the other end. They answer the calls with bravery, knowing this could be their last mission, but still forging ahead – often laying their life on the line to be accessible to help another to survive, often protecting the innocent from perpetrators. They may rescue a family from a burning house, a couple from a locked car and flooded streets with wires down or trapped in cars during severe storms. The list is endless of what these firefighters do for us in our Saugus town. “Lieutenant Damian Drella is an accomplished, pubGUESS WHO GOT SKETCHED! In this week’s edition, we continue our weekly feature where a local artist sketches people, places and things in Saugus. Got an idea who was sketched this week? If you do, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a phone message at 978-683-7773. Anyone who correctly identifies the Saugonian being sketched between now and Tuesday at noon qualifies to have their name put in a green Boston Red Sox hat with a chance to be selected as the winner of a $10 gift certificate, compliments of Dunkin’ at the 1204 Broadway Saugus location on Route 1 North. But you have to enter to win! Look for the winner and identification in next week’s “The Sounds of Saugus.” Please leave your mailing address in case you are a winner. (Courtesy illustration to The Saugus Advocate by a Saugonian who goes by the name of “The Sketch Artist”) vice – family of Emergency Services ready to serve. Such a great example to follow. “Thank you for ALL you do for ALL of us Saugonians making us feel safe, protecting our environment and our homes! “Yours Truly, The Sketch Artist” Legion Hall Fridays for breakfast! Great news for people who enjoy the Friday morning breakfasts at the Saugus American Legion Cpl Scott J. Procopio Post 210. Legion Hall, which is located at 44 Taylor St., has resumed its Friday breakfasts and will continue through the last Friday in May of 2022. The buffet breakfast is served at 8:00 a.m. for a donation of $7. Want to be a Knight? The Knights of Columbus is looking for new members to join. If interested in becoming a member of this local organization, please call 781-233-9858. “Shout-Outs” to the marathoners from Saugus Monday (Oct. 11) marks the 125th Boston Marathon – an internationally famous running event that was cancelled last year because of COVID-19. Normally held on lished photographer. He takes action photography, which is published in many newspapers, including The Saugus Advocate. His photographs cover a large scope of subjects. Some of his topics include chronicling the damages of storms such as Hurricane Florence, and also Fire Investigations. Such an array of depth and lively action scenes in his photography. His photos are crisp and clear and seem to tell a story with no words. “Lieutenant Damian Drella is a Saugus High Graduate class of 1985. His wife was an E. M. T. and their children have served or are currently serving in some Emergency Capacity such as EMTs Paramedic and Firefighters. Both of their sons are E.M.T.’s and headed in the direction of following their Dad’s footsteps as life-long Firefighters. The Lieutenant is surrounded by his family of Public SerPatriots Day, the organizers decided to delay the race this year until the fall because of lingering concerns about the pandemic. This week’s “Shout-Outs” are dedicated to the 14 runners from Saugus who are registered in the race. Giant cheers go out to David Alvarez, Kevin Belyea, Christopher Chapruet, Heather Delaney, Robert Favuzza, Brenda Iafrate, Matthew Imbergamo, Kristina Italiano, Dave Jefska, Michael Mclaughlin, Shelagh O’Connell, Gina Spaziani, Katherine Swierk and Don Zollo. While most of us will be relaxing with family and friends over the holiday, these 14 athletes will compete in the world’s oldest annual marathon – a grueling 26.2 mile race that will test their physical endurance and mental toughness. Hats off to those runners! Make Saugus proud. And they will, just by completing the long race that they trained hard for. A posthumous “Shout-Out” for Greg Nickolas School Committee Member Joseph “Dennis” Gould submitted this “shout-out” posthumously in honor of Gregory Nickolas, the town’s late Youth & Recreation director, who passed away last week at age 58: “Greg was an asset to Saugus Youth and was not afraid to utilize his life experiences to guide the youth in a positive manner. “He never wanted to be in the spotlight but rather help our youth.” Want to “Shout-Out” a fellow Saugonian? This is an opportunity for our paper’s readers to single out – in a brief mention – remarkable acts or achievements by Saugus residents or an act of kindness or a nice gesture. Just send an email (mvoge@comcast.net) with a mention in the subject line of “An Extra Shout-Out.” No more than a paragraph; anything longer might lend itself to a story and/or a photo. A “Shout At” for stupid student vandals School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge was visibly angry at the Wednesday (Oct. 6) School Committee meeting when he essentially read the riot act to the so far unknown students vandalizing the bathrooms in the new Saugus Middle-High School. “It’s not a joke,” Whittredge said, referring to a recent incident where bathroom fixtures were ripped off or damaged. “I just want to let the parents know that anybody caught doing this … it’s not going to be ‘Hey, it’s a joke, let ’em go.’ You are going to be prosecuted.” “It’s expensive to fix all this stuff that kids are ripping out. There’s no need for it,” he said. Hopefully, school officials and police will find out who is responsible for the vandalism. The kids should be expelled or suspended and prosecuted for their crimes and ordered to pay restitution. There’s no need for this type of conduct in Saugus Public Schools. Laugh with the Lions Back from the pandemic restrictions, the Saugus Lions are out roaring again. And they should be in rare form on Thursday, Oct. 21, when they hold their annual comedy night fundraiser at Prince Pizzeria. There will be great food, awesome prizes and uproarious (no pun intended) comedians, including Johnny Pizzi. Come join the fun while helping a great cause – 100% of all fundraising proceeds go back to the community and eye research. Many strides have happened toward the end of blindness. With your help, blindness will be no more! Tickets are $30. That includes pizza and the show – a good deal! Doors open at 6:30 p.m. We want to see you there! Pumpkin Patch in full swing The First Congregational Annual Pumpkin Patch is upand-running and will be open through Halloween, Oct. 31. Pumpkins of all sizes are displayed on the church lawn and are available for purchase every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. “Come and visit our Pumpkin Patch. It will put you in the fall spirit,” Pumpkin Patch Coordinator Carl Spencer said. “The pumpkins are going fast, so come and choose yours. We appreciate all the people who helped unload THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 12

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