Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 30, 2026 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus Happy Halloween to all of our readers who love to dress up in costumes, escort kids on their trick or treat rounds or hand out the candy to the kids who come to the front door. Just be safe out there if you are walking around town tomorrow night (Saturday, Oct. 31). And before you go to bed tomorrow night, don’t forget to turn your clocks back an hour to officially end Daylight Saving Time. You will get an extra hour of sleep. But sunrise and sunset will come an hour earlier. Saugus United Parish Food Pantry The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, Oct. 30) from 9:3011 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. The food pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Friday mornings. Volunteers are also welcome. Please call the Food Pantry Office at 781-2332663 or go to the website cliftondalecc.org for details. This week’s “Shout Outs” We didn’t receive any nominations from our readers this week. So, I will go ahead and recognize a lot of Saugus residents, in keeping with the Halloween theme. I offer “Shout Outs” to the Town Hall employees and everyone who dressed up in costume yesterday and handed out candies and treats to kids visiting Town Hall. You helped provide a safe and fun activity to the town’s children. “Shout Outs” are also in order for all the Saugus residents who will stand by their front door tomorrow night to hand out candy to the costumed kids and to those grownups who are accompanying them as they walk the streets trick or treating. 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 BEWARE OF THE PHANTOM FIREMAN! If you find yourself on Hamilton Street, he is ready to hose you down! (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) 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. Some pre-election tips The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office means well by its mass distribution of “Information For Voters” guide on the 2026 Ballot Questions. But most of the people I talk to say it’s too complicated or too cumbersome to be useful. Few citizens actually take the time to wade through the guide to educate themselves on the ballot questions. Here’s some advice to uncomplicate things and make the guide work for you. Just scan the first 23 pages and tear out the Voter Checklist on page 87. Fill that out as you go through the questions and take it to the polls with you. Don’t bother reading pages 24 through 86 unless you are an attorney or plan on doing a book report on the Nine Questions. The rest is simple. Read the sentences on what a “Yes” or “No” vote means, the statement of fiscal consequences and the arguments in favor or against the question. If you are a serious voter, there’s enough information for each question to make an intelligent and informed decision. Write your selection on the checklist after reading each question. Good luck and happy voting. No Endorsement Letters As has been the custom during local and state elections in recent years, The Saugus Advocate is not running any candidate endorsements. In the past, some candidates got supporters to bombard us with the letters, which are essentially free political ads. We get inundated with these letters during local and state elections. If we were to run every one, there would be no room for news. However, we will post these letters on The Advocate Newspapers Facebook page. Household Hazardous Waste Day tomorrow The town will host a Household Hazardous Waste Day tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 31) from 9 a.m. to noon at Belmonte STEAM Academy (25 Dow St.). There is no cost to Saugus residents to discard allowed items at the Household Hazardous Waste Day. No appointment or preregistration is required. The following items can be disposed of at this event: Household materials: acids (corrosives), aerosol cans, art supplies, batteries, chemistry set and photography chemicals, fiberglass resins, furniture, floor and metal polishers and strippers, mercury containing devices, moth balls/crystals, oil paint, paint thinners, varnish, stain/shellac (no latex), rug and upholstery cleaners, solvent adhesives, turpentine and paint solvents, wood preservatives, hair dye, nail polish remover, toilet cleaners, brighteners, chlorine bleach, spot removers, spray starch, whiteners, drain and oven cleaners, lawn and garden materials, cesspool cleaners (corrosives), flammable liquids/gasoline, flea and tick powders, fire starters, herbicides and pesticides, no-pest strips, poisons, pool chemicals, propane tanks (empty or up to 20 lbs.); automotive products: antifreeze, batteries, brake fluid, carburetor cleaner, oil (used), radiator flush, solvents and degreasers, tire cleaners, transmission fluid. Latex paint can be dried out and disposed of with your curbside trash. Please contact Scott Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions. Saugus Lions Food Drive Nov. 7 The Saugus Lions will hold a “Drive up and drop off” food drive on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St.). We will donate all proceeds to the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry, which will be getting Thanksgiving dinners together for families in need. Some items they are requesting: cranberry sauce, boxed mashed potatoes, boxed stuffing, canned corn or green beans, cream of mushroom soup. If you aren’t available to drop off, we are accepting donations through the Lions venmo account, where even a $15 donation may get 15 cans of vegetables or several boxes of stuffing or toward much-needed grocery gift cards. You make the donation and we will do the shopping! Venmo to: Saugus-Lions MA. Please put “Food drive” in the memo. Elks plan Alcohol and Drug Recovery presentation Nov. 9 The Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee is sponsoring an Alcohol and Drug Recovery presentation from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St. in Saugus). This hour-long presentation is free and it will be presented by Sober Shuttle Inc., explaining the benefits offered to recovering individuals. If you or someone you know would like to know more about these services, you should not miss this informative event. Services provided are cost-free transportation into treatment, recovery coach services, placement assistance, food assistance, clothing assistance, community engagement and much more. Light refreshments will be served. Call the Saugus Senior Center at 781-231-4178 to attend; walk-ins are also welcome. Veterans Day Ceremonies Nov. 11 The Saugus Veterans Council will hold the Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11, which will begin promptly at 11 a.m. Please come and show our Veterans that we appreciate their service, and this is the day to say thank you. It will be held at Saugus Veterans Park at the corner of Central and Winter Streets. Slime Night at the Library on Monday Ready to get yucky? Next SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 13
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