Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, OCTObEr 18, 2024 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus Just in time for the finest parts of the fall season! The second floor auditorium at Town Hall looked brand spanking new when I checked it out late Tuesday afternoon. The door was open just wide enough where I could get a good look at the new paint, and the floors that were buffed up were nice and shiny. Just in time to host the Board of Selectmen’s meeting that was scheduled there for last night. And just in time for next Wednesday’s (Oct. 23) free COVID-19/Flu Vaccine Clinic scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To tell you the truth, even with the chairs and tables still stacked up on the stage or on the floor immediately outside the auditorium, I’ve never seen the place looking this great. Now, after making the auditorium aesthetically pleasing, all the town has to do is get an audible sound system installed so the acoustics of the chamber are enhanced, too. Stay tuned. Parental Misconduct at Serino Stadium It’s just too bad that a small group of adults from Saugus and Salem who were attending a Saugus Youth Football game on Oct. 6 spoiled things for the two teams of kids and their coaches who were competing Food Pantry notes The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, Oct. 18) from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity. If you are able to donate to the food pantry, you can also stop by during those hours or drop donations off at the Saugus Public Library during library hours. A SNEAK PEAK: Here’s a photo shot on Tuesday night (Oct. 15) through an open door of the new and improved second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall, which was supposed to be ready in time for last night’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting. on the field. It’s also too bad that the incident once again sparked TV and radio coverage that sullied Saugus’ reputation and public image. I’d wager to say that the childish and bratty behavior of adults at a youth sporting event happens in practically every community in Massachusetts. The Saugus incident won’t be the first or last time it happens in Saugus or anyplace else. It gets me thinking about the similar misconduct I observed when I managed a youth league LET THE PROS HANDLE IT! ™ Say “NO” to Cleaning Out Your Gutters. baseball team of kids from ages 10 to 12 during the summer of my senior year in High School in Swansea, Mass., and the first two years of my college experience at UMass Amherst. I remember keeping a diary of the numerous transgressions by parents that I observed, transforming it into a term paper for a Sociology Class at UMass and later handing it to a sportswriter for The Spectator, a weekly newspaper that was published in the neighboring town of Somerset. The young sportswriter used the recycled college term paper as the basis of a mini-expose on parental misconduct by grownups at Swansea Little League events. Soon afProtect Your Home With LeafFilter. 20 10% OFF Your Entire Purchase* FREE INSPECTION! BEFORE AFTER + % OFF Seniors + Military ++ We off er fi nancing that fi ts your budget!1 Promo: 285 CALL TODAY FOR A 1-888-617-2908 + See Representative for full warranty details. *One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. 1Subject to credit approval. Call for details. AR 366920923, AZ ROC 344027, CA 1035795, CT HIC.0671520, FL CBC056678, IA C127230, ID RCE-51604, LA 559544, MA 176447, MD MHIC111225, MI 262300173, 262300318, 262300328, 262300329, 262300330, 262300331, MN IR731804, MT 226192, ND 47304, NE 50145-22, 50145-23, NJ 13VH09953900, NM 408693, NV 86990, NY H-19114, H-52229, OR 218294, PA 179643, 069383, RI GC-41354, TN 10981, UT 10783658-5501, VA 2705169445, WA LEAFFNW822JZ, WV WV056912. We’re looking to install our NEXT GENERATION gutter guard on your home! FULL SERVICE GUTTER PROTECTION – SCHEDULE YOUR FREE INSPECTION NOW! 1-888-617-2908 ter the article was published, the writer began working on organizing an Independent Little League in Swansea. In my three years of managing the Tigers in the Minor League branch of the Swansea Little League, I witnessed some outrageous behavior of parents who lost sight of the ideals and purpose of youth baseball – to promote physical fitness, good sportsmanship and teamwork among the young athletes. In too many unfortunate cases, youth baseball in my hometown became an outlet for adults to fulfill their sports fantasies through the lives of their kids. I’m sure it goes on in any community. Parents get carried away emotionally over a kid’s game. They take it too seriously and bad things happen. Bad things, like fighting the parents of their kids’ rival in the stands, like what happened at Serino Stadium. Saugus 4-1-1 gearing up for 2025 Selectman Corinne Riley, who was the driving force behind a nifty program that helps newcomers to Saugus – as well as old-timers – get better acquainted with their community, said she regrets that “Saugus 4-1-1” didn’t happen this fall after successful Saturdays at the Saugus Middle-High School over the past two years. “The Saugus 4-1-1 Committee would like everyone to know that the Saugus 4-1-1 event will be taking place, but will be held in March 2025,” Selectman Riley said in a recent announcement. “Invitations to all new residents as well as non-profits will be mailed out in January. We are looking forward to having this wonderful event for new residents as well as those who have been here for years to learn what Saugus has to offer! More detailed information will be coming soon,” she said. Stay tuned for updates on “Saugus 4-1-1.” Legion Breakfasts today The American Legion Post 210 has begun its 2024-25 breakfast season. There’s a good deal for Saugus veterans and other folks who enjoy a hearty breakfast on Friday mornings. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with breakfast served from 8-9:00 a.m. for an $8 donation. Veterans who cannot afford the donation may be served free. This week’s “SHOUT OUTs” We received one nomination for a “Shout Out” this week. Janice Jarosz offered a huge collective “Shout Out” for the many who working behind the scenes to make this year’s upcoming Christmas Tree Festival a great event: “The MEG Foundation members are getting very busy in preparing for the 2024 Christmas Tree Festival opening on November 8, from 3-8PM and continue on November 9, 3-8 PM; November 10 from 12 noon to 5 PM, November 15, 3 – 8 PM and November16, from 3 – 8 PM 2024. “Committee members have been meeting for several weeks preparing for all the new and exciting events that will be taking place throughout the Festival! “If you are interested in sponsoring a tree for your group or organization, please contact Linda Ross at auntilinda88@gmail. com, or cell 617-686-4645 at your earliest convenience as space is limited.” Chris Luongo, chair of the Saugus Republican Town Committee, said he’s looking forward to being a part of the upcoming MEG event. “It would be wonderful to put a picture of the Republican tree from the event and advertise the Meg Foundation at the same time,” Luongo said this week. Of course, he put a plug in for the Republican Town Committee. “If you are interested in joining the Republican Town Committee, you can reach me at luongo118@aol.com,” he said. THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 13
13 Publizr Home