THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | FROM PAGE 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2020 For more information or assistance please email Trash/recycling on one-day holiday delay The Town of Saugus announces that trash and recycling collection will run on a one-day delay from Tuesday, Oct. 13, through Saturday, Oct. 17, due to the observance of Columbus Day. There will be no collection on Monday, Oct. 12, due to the holiday. Services will resume on a one-day delay from Tuesday, Oct. 13, through Saturday, Oct. 17. Residents whose collection day falls on Monday will be collected from on Tuesday. Collection will continue to run on a oneday 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: Saturday, Oct. 10; Wednesday, Oct. 14. 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. Town-wide Fall Street Sweeping underway The Town’s Annual Fall Street Sweeping Program began this week. Sweepers are starting in the area of north Saugus (Precincts 5 and 7) and will work their way across town, working from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Residents are kindly asked to keep vehicles off the street when sweepers are in the area. Locals may assist the Department of Public Works by sweeping their driveways or sidewalks into the gutter area prior to the program’s start. Residents are asked not to sweep driveways and/or sidewalks once the sweepers have swept. Keep in mind that street sweepers are unable to collect stones, branches, leaves or foreign objects. In addition, residents are asked to be mindful that sweepers cannot pick up large piles of sand. Please contact the Department of Public Works at 781-231-4143 with any questions. Fall Curbside Leaf Collection dates The Town of Saugus announced that the Fall Curbside Leaf Collection will take place during the following weeks: Oct. 26–30, Nov. 16–20 and Nov. 30–Dec. 4. Residents should place leaves outside by 7 a.m. during their regularly scheduled collection day. Please ensure that leaf containers are physically separated from trash and recycling. Paper leaf bags are the preferred method of leaf disposal. However, if using barrels, they must be clearly marked with yard waste stickers. Stickers, which are free, may be obtained at Inspectional Services in the lower level of Town Hall (298 Central St., Saugus). Barrel covers must remain removed so that the leaves are visible. Plastic bags, cardboard boxes, branches, and brush will not be accepted. Please note that separate trucks collect the rubbish, recycling and leaves, so the leaves may be collected at a different time of day. “Missed pick-ups” will not be conducted. Please contact Lorna Cerbone at 781-231-4036 with any questions. Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus (HS2) The Grab-N-Go meals program is back for another year at the Saugus Public Schools to keep needy students from going hungry. Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus (HS2), in partnership with Whitsons Food Service, resumed the program this week. Breakfasts and lunches will be available for pick up at Veterans Memorial School at 39 Hurd Ave. every Tuesday and Friday between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekly until further notice, according to Julie Cicolini, a board member with Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus. “Students will receive meals for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Tuesday pick up,” Cicolini said. “Students will receive meals for Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays at the Friday pick up. This will ensure that meals are available for seven days a week.” “As a reminder, please maintain social distancing with food service employees and wear a mask during pick up,” she said. hs2information@gmail.com or visit the Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus Facebook page. HS2 is a nonprofit group that helps to offset food insecurity households. HS2 provides a weekend supply of nutritious food for weekends or school holidays during the school year. 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. despite concerns over the Coronavirus. But they have made adjustments to protect their core of volunteers and the needy people who receive the food. “For the protection of our volunteers and clients, and to limit personal contact & crowding/gathering, the food pantry has been distributing pre-bagged groceries,” said Wendy Reed, Clerk of the Saugus Board of Selectmen, who also oversees the operation of the all-volunteer food pantry. “We understand clients may receive items they don’t want or need, but 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 in the basement of the Cliftondale Congregational Church at 50 Essex St. in Saugus. Food help for veterans Saugus offers a Veterans Food Pantry on the third Wednesday of each month. “We have been holding it in Melrose since the Saugus Senior Center has been closed,” Saugus Veterans’ Service Officer Jay Pinette said. “The pantry provides a mix of fresh produce and non-perishable foods. The pantry is open to Veterans and/or surviving spouses. Registration is required and may be done by contacting the Veterans Services Office.” “The food market is generally held at the Saugus Senior Center, but given the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently offering a contact-free, drive-thru food pantry at Memorial Hall on Main Street in Melrose. If you are unable to pick-up, some limited deliveries may be available. This offering is year round. Please call the Saugus Veterans’ Service Office at 781231-4010 or e-mail VeteransServices@saugus-ma.gov in order to register. Proof of Veteran status is required.” Food4Vets/Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, Inc. (VNEOC) Veterans will be provided a box of nonperishable food supplies that should be sufficient to cover meals for 10-14 days (two adults), plus fresh fruit and vegetables when available. You must preregister and show proof of Military/Veteran Status – North Shore Community College Danvers Campus, 1 Ferncroft Rd., Danvers; Wednesday, Oct. 14 and 28, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. To register, use the following link: https://clearpathnewengland.formstack.com/forms/food_supply_request_vneoc_danvers. For registration assistance, please feel free to contact VNEOC at 978-372-3626. A copy of the Veteran’s DD-214 or other proof of Veteran status is required. Or call the local Veterans Service Officer for assistance. Saugus Public Library update The Saugus Public Library announced a change to the hours for Front Door Pickup: “Due to popular demand, [we are] providing earlier pickup hours on Wednesdays for Front Door Pickup. This will provide a more convenient pickup time for patrons for whom a late day pickup just didn’t work…Front Door Pickup hours will take place from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. However, Tuesday and Thursday Front Door Pickup hours will remain the same – 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. “The new schedule: “Tuesday: 3:30 to 6:30 pm “Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. to 2: p.m. “Thursday: 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. “How do you use Front Door Pickup? To get started, go to our online catalogue [https://evergreen.noblenet.org/eg/opac/home]. Click on the green MY ACHelping the Vets During these challenging times, your local Veterans’ Service Officers (VSOs) would like to share some information on a benefit program that is available to those who qualify. If you are a Veteran or the surviving spouse of a Veteran, the “Chapter 115 Benefits Program” is a Massachusetts state initiative that provides financial aid for Veterans and/or their surviving spouses who reside in Massachusetts and meet certain income and asset guidelines. Benefits may include monthly ordinary benefits and/or payment/reimbursement for medical expenses. Whether laid off, in transition or living on a fixed income, the program is designed to provide short-term or long-term assistance as needed to provide relief. The program is overseen by the Massachusetts Department Veterans’ Services (DVS), which runs the program in partnership with local VSOs. Every town or district in Massachusetts has a VSO. VSOs assist Veterans and their dependents in learning about, applying for and receiving Chapter 115 benefits. VSOs can also help you in applying for other benefits and connecting with local resources. Your local VSO handles applications, obtains program approval from DVS and provides local benefits. The program is funded by a combination of state and local funds. DVS pays for 75 percent and your city or town pays for 25 percent of the approved benefits. There are income and asset limits for the program. As a general rule, income and asset requirements are: • Family of one – monthly income less than $2,081and an asset limit of $5,000 • Family of two – monthly income less than $2,818 and an asset limit of $9,800 To determine if you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Chapter 115 program, visit the following link and follow the instructions – https:// massvetben.org/ – or call your local VSO for more information. The VSOs are also able to help Veterans apply for Federal VA benefits, local benefits and provide food assistance monthly. For example, did you know that if you own a home and have a VA service-connected disability, you are eligible for a partial or full exemption of your property taxes? “Please contact your local Veterans’ Service Officer for more information on any of the services mentioned. We are all here to assist. We are regularly checking voicemails and emails as we continue to work remotely and in our offices throughout COVTHE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 18 Page 11 COUNT button in the screen’s upper right. Login in to your account using your library card number and password, then simply place items on hold. [For more detailed instructions, see the video on the website.] “Once we notify you that your items are ready, call us at 781-231-4168 ext. 3102 to set a pickup date. Or you can call us at the same number to reserve up to three items over the phone. “Either way, you must make an appointment to pick up once your items are ready. Call us to set a pickup date at 781-231-4168 ext. 3102. “Please leave a voicemail if you don’t get through. We’ll return your call and set a pickup day as soon as we can.” “The Library remains closed to the public, meaning no one can come inside our building except staff, delivery personnel, building maintenance personnel, and other Town employees on official business. “However, there is quite a bit going on at the Saugus Public Library. “For more information, please visit our website www.sauguspubliclibrary.org.” Buy a brick to honor your vets “Veterans Buy-a-Brick Program. Due to the low number of orders and the uncertainty of how a Veterans Day ceremony will be allowed, the program will be extended until May. The installation of bricks will be during the Memorial Day ceremony. We will be contacting the people who have already purchased a brick. Any questions, please call 781-231-7995.”
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