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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020 Page 11 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | FROM PAGE 10 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., beginning on Oct. 20. All are welcome. For more information and to receive a Zoom invitation, email johntbeach@comcast.com. Rev. Beach has been the priest at St. John’s since May. He had previously served as an interim priest for The Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Taunton. Town-wide Fall Street Sweeping underway The Town’s Annual Fall Street Sweeping Program began on Oct. 5. Sweepers started in the area of north Saugus (Precincts 5 and 7) and are working 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. 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 other 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 announces 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, at 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. Breakfasts and lunches are 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. Healthy Saugus-Healthy Students (HS2) is a nonprofit group that helps to offset food insecurity in households. For more information or assistance, please email hs2information@gmail.com or visit the Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus Facebook page. 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 & 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 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, drivethru 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 781-231-4010 or e-mail VeteransServices@ saugus-ma.gov in order to register. Proof of Veteran status is required.” Food4Vets/Veterans Northeast Outreach Center food distribution Veterans will be provided a box of nonperishable food supplies, which 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. 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 “We continue to offer our popular Front Door Pickup service from the Central Street foyer on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. “Pickup Hours are: “Tuesday: 3:30 to 6:30 pm “Wednesday: 10:30 am to 2 pm “Thursday: 3:30 to 6:30 pm “How do you use Front Door Pickup? To get started, go to our online catalog. Click on the green MY ACCOUNT 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. How do you do that? Watch this video [https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=j0m7bB5HyA0&feature=youtu.be] for step by step instructions. “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 pickup 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.” 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.” Helping the Vet 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 of 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% and your city or town pays for 25% 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 COVID-19.” Melrose: Karen Burke, 781-979-4186, kburke@ cityofmelrose.org Wakefield: David Mangan, 781-246-6377, dmangan@wakefield.ma.us Saugus: Jay Pinette, 781-231-4010, jpinette@saugus-ma.gov A Beetlejuice benefit at Kowloon Restaurant The Kowloon Restaurant, which is owned and operated by the Wong family, is set to host the movie “Beetlejuice” in a Halloween benefit for Winter Walk, a philanthropic organization that raises awareness and funds in an effort to end homelessness in Greater Boston. The event – hosted by Sue Brady Hartigan (Boston radio talent & Winter Walk Event Committee) – is set for Friday, Oct. 30. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and movie time is at 7 p.m. at Kowloon Restaurant, Route 1 North in Saugus. Admission is $75 per parking spot (for up to six people) and $50 per table (for up to four people). Guests can bring their own blankets and lawn chairs for the turf area. The movie is shown in the outdoor dining area and is socially distanced. Guests are invited to dress up in costume for Halloween, and the most creative costume wins a prize. THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 12

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