THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 4, 2022 Page 15 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good Morning, Saugus! Next week is a very important and patriotic one – for Saugus, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the rest of our nation. On Tuesday (Nov. 4) Saugus residents and Americans across the country will go to the polls to vote in local, state and Congressional elections. While the local state legislative race lacks a competitive choice – just state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) – local voters will be electing a new governor and new attorney general. And history could be made in both races. Attorney General Maura Healey could become Massachusetts’ first elected woman governor. Healey is one of two candidates in next week’s election who could become the first two openly lesbian governors in the country. Tina Kotek, a Democrat who is running in Oregon, could also achieve that distinction. Meanwhile, Democrat Andrea Campbell could become the first black woman elected as attorney general in Massachusetts. The second big day of next week is Veterans Day, which will be celebrated on Friday (Nov. 11). Veterans Day ceremonies get underway at 11 a.m. at Veterans Park (245 Winter St.). The Saugus Veterans Council will be in charge of the ceremonies honoring veterans past and present for their military service to the country. Unlike Memorial Day – which honors those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty – this national holiday celebrates all veterans. Veteran’s Day Field of Flags Preparations for the Veteran’s Day Field of Flags to be placed on the lawn of the Saugus Town Hall to honor and remember all veterans on Nov. 11, 2022, is underway. The Parson Roby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is sponsoring this event to honor all veterans, living or deceased, including those currently serving. American flags, sponsored through the Parson Roby Chapter DAR at a cost of $5 each, will be placed on the Saugus Town Hall lawn prior to Nov. 11 and will wave throughout the week until Nov. 11. Last year was the first year of Parson Roby Chapter DAR sponsoring the Field of Flags and it was a huge success. There were more than 100 flags sponsored with veterans’ names waving in the wind, and we hope for many more veterans to be sponsored this year. Forum to discuss future of closed school buildings Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and the Board of Selectmen invite town residents to attend a public forum to discuss and provide input for potential future uses of closed school buildings and property. The public forum will be held on Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. in the upstairs auditorium at the Saugus Town Hall (298 Central St., Saugus). “We hope residents will join us on Monday, November 14th to share and provide input on the use of these important community facilities and properties,” Town Manager Crabtree said in a press release issued this week. “I t ’s impor tant that we receive feedback from many stakeholders in order to create the best possible plan moving forward with input from Town officials and the community,” he said. School Committee members voted earlier this year to turn the vacant Douglas Waybright Elementary School, the Lynnhurst Elementary School and the Oaklandvale Elementary School to the Town of Saugus. The Roby School Administration Building was turned over to the town late last year. There are four buildings and adjoining land that provide a number of potential options for future use. This is an opportunity for town residents and representatives of various organizations to offer recommendations and ideas to town officials on how the properties should be used. Stay tuned. Town-wide Fall Street Sweeping underway Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and the Department of Public Works are pleased to announce that the Town’s Annual Fall Street Sweeping Program began on Tuesday, Oct.11. Sweepers began in the area of North Saugus (Precincts 5 and 7) and worked their way across Town, working from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The town asks that residents 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. But they should not sweep driveways and/or sidewalks once the sweepers have swept. Residents should 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 781231-4143 with any questions. “Remnants of the railroad in Saugus” set for Nov. 9 The Saugus Historical Society’s next meeting will be on Nov. 9 and will be about remnants of the railroad in Saugus and surrounding areas, including views of historic depots and other buildings, tracks and local railroad memorabilia. Railroad buffs Paul Kenworthy, Jack Klecker, Laura Eisener and possibly others will share their interest in trains. Steve Carlson has shared some of his research on the “Saugus Branch” railroad which served our community for 100 years and which inspired Elliott Paul’s 1912 book “Linden on the Saugus Branch,” an account of his “boyhood in a New England Town.” The event takes place at 7 p.m. at 30 Main St. in Saugus, the home of the Saugus Historical Society and the Saugus Cable TV station. New town residents and any railroad enthusiasts are especially welcome this month, and the meeting is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. For more information contact Saugus Historical Society President Laura Eisener at 781-231-5988. A “Shout Out” to a hero fighter We received no nominations this week from readers requesting public recognition of Saugus folks for good deeds, acts of kindness or extraordinary accomplishments. In this instance, a gigantic “Shout Out” is in order for Saugus native and 1998 Saugus High School graduate Rob Hoffman – who was recently honored for his heroics as a Groveland firefighter. GUESS WHO GOT SKETCHED? If you know the right answer, you might win the contest. In this week’s edition, we continue our weekly feature where a local artist sketches people, places and things in Saugus. Got an idea who’s being sketched this week? If you do, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a phone message at 978 683-7773. Anyone who identifies the Saugonian sketched in this week’s paper between now and Tuesday at Noon qualifies to have their name put in a green Boston Red Sox hat with a chance to be selected as the winner of a $10 gift certificate, compliments of Hammersmith Family Restaurant, 330 Central Street in Saugus. But you have to enter to win! Look for the winner and identification in next week’s “The Sounds of Saugus.” Please leave your mailing address in case you are a winner. (Courtesy illustration to The Saugus Advocate by a Saugonian who goes by the name of “The Sketch Artist”) “Rob was recognized this week for his actions helping to rescue two victims during a 3rd Alarm fire in June at the Manor apartment building in Groveland,” Saugus Firefighters Local 1003 noted in an Oct. 17 post on its Facebook Page. Firefighter Hoffman received multiple commendations, including: A Certificate of Excellence, signed by Groveland Fire Chief Robert Valentine and Groveland Town Administrator Rebecca Oldham “In recognition for performance of duty on June 24, 2022 while working with Police rescuing two victims from the fire at 2 Manor Drive.” A Certificate of Commendation from the Groveland Board of Selectmen for “working with Groveland Police to rescue two residents trapped in a burning apartment building.” Groveland selectmen commended Hoffman for his “professionalism, knowledge, heroism and willingness to assist people in distress.” A legislative citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives, signed by House Speaker Ronald Mariano in recognition of Hoffman’s “quick and heroic actions in protecting and saving the residents of Manor Drive, as well as the rest of the citizens in Groveland.” 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 kindness or a nice THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 18 —Cont est— CONTEST SKETCH OF THE WEEK
16 Publizr Home