THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 Page 11 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | FROM PAGE 10 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 says. “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…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 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 am 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 Veteran 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 longterm 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% 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 1 – monthly income less than $2,081and an asset limit of $5,000. Family of 2 – 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 and 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 will be shown in the outdoor dining area and will be socially distanced. Guests are invited to dress up in costume for Halloween, and the most creative costume wins a prize. Winter Walk – founded by Paul English (Kayak co-founder & CEO of Lola) – raises awareness and funds toward an end to homelessness in Greater Boston. Winter Walk is a two-mile walk which begins at and ends on Copley Plaza. Participants, housed and homeless, will walk together and hear real stories of Boston’s homeless population. The 2021 Winter Walk, presented with Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan (BMCHP), is set for both a live and virtual event on Sunday, February 7, 2021. COVID-19 testing extended This just in from Saugus Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree, the Saugus Board of Health and the Saugus Health Department: They announced the extending of free COVID-19 testing until January 15, 2021, as part of a partnership with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s “Stop the Spread” initiative, which aims to help mitigate the spread of the virus in high-risk communities and prioritize residents’ safety. Saugus has been upgraded to a high-risk from a moderate-risk community and has moved to a shaded red from yellow on the state’s coronavirus map based on the average daily incidence rate over the past two weeks. Cities and towns shaded red have the greatest risk levels. The Town of Saugus’s continued partnership with the Commonwealth, AFC Urgent Care, Fallon Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Square One Mall is a collaborative effort to work to downgrade the Town’s designated “High Risk” “Red” COVID-19 status through the existing COVID-19 testing sites in Saugus. AFC Urgent Care, located at 371 Broadway, is currently offering free testing by appointment on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please register online at afcurgentcaresaugus. com. Call (781) 233-1000 for more information. Fallon EMS at the Square One Mall (Far Side Parking Lot on Essex Street) located at 1201 Broadway with entry off of Essex Street, will continue to offer free mobile drive-up testing for Saugus residents in their cars Monday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. through January 15, 2021. No appointment is needed. Residents drive-up and register using a tablet when they arrive. Saugus Police will be assisting with traffic. The testing site will be staffed by 10-12 individuals to handle registrations. All samples go directly to the Broad Institute in Cambridge for immediate testing with a 24-36 hour turnaround time. Notification of results will be made for negative results via emails while phone calls will be made for positive COVID-19 results. This information will be on the Town’s website and on the state’s website: https://www.mass.gov/ info-details/stop-the-spread?rgja#saugusLet’s hear it! Got an idea, passing thought or gripe you would like to share with The Saugus Advocate? I’m always interested in your feedback. It’s been more than four and a half years since I began work at The Saugus Advocate. I’m always interested in hearing readers’ suggestions for possible stories or good candidates for “The Advocate Asks” interview of the week. Feel free to email me at mvoge@ comcast.net. Do you have some interesting views on an issue that you want to express to the community? Submit your idea. If I like it, we can meet for a 15- to 20-minute interview while practicing social distancing outside a local coffee shop. And I’ll buy the coffee. Or, if you prefer to be interviewed from the safety of your home on the phone or via email, I will provide that option to you as the nation copes with the Coronavirus crisis.
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