THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, NOVEmbER 13, 2026 Page 9 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus It’s been a busy week for the town’s new veterans service officer, retired U.S. Army Col. Joseph Connell. On Tuesday, he gave an inspiring speech to the fourth and fifth grade students at the Belmonte STEAM Academy Veterans Day observances. Second and third graders got to watch Col. Connell’s speech live-streamed. Then on Wednesday, he was the keynote speaker at the Saugus Veterans Council’s Annual Veterans Day Observance held at Saugus Veterans Park. Col. Connell told me a few weeks ago that he hoped to get around and meet as many local veterans as he can. He certainly had that opportunity. After telling the students at the assembly about the importance and meaning of Veterans Day, Col. Connell introduced the attending veterans who stood with him on the stage. Belmonte STEAM Academy Principal Chris Blair, his staff and faculty and the students welcomed their hometown veterans in style. They were treated to a veterans’ breakfast in the cafeteria teacher lounge. The veterans got to visit the classrooms after the assembly. The school also prepared a Belmonte Veterans Slideshow, dedicated to the students’ family members who served, which could be viewed in the hallway throughout the week. “We take Veterans Day seriously here at Belmonte and believe it’s important to teach our students about the commitment and sacrifices our veterans make to our country, and about the meaning of service to one’s nation and community,” Principal Blair wrote in his invitation to Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree, the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee. Hopefully, that should make local veterans feel appreciated for their service to the country. Saugus United Parish Food Pantry The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, Nov. 13) from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the base*Coordinate volunteers for packing food bags weekly *Organize driver volunteers for school drop-offs *Time Commitment: ~1 hour weekly (Thursdays, typically evenings) ● Volunteer Purchasing Coordinator – keep our pantry stocked with nutritious food. *Inventory food pantry supplies *Purchase and restock food items *Ensure shelves are replenished for ongoing needs *Time Commitment: Monthly, flexible scheduling ● Volunteer Fundraising CoA CITATION FROM SELECTMEN at last week’s (Dec. 4) meeting: Congratulations to Amy Amirault, owner and instructor of Tiger Institute Tae Kwon Do, on celebrating 40 years! The Saugus Board of Selectmen presented Amy with a citation recognizing this incredible milestone and honoring the lasting impact of Tiger Institute Tae Kwon Do on the community. The citation recognizes that Tiger Institute Tae Kwon Do has exemplified dedication to building confidence, character, wellness and friendship through the teaching of Tae Kwon Do. Congratulations, Amy, on 40 years of dedication, leadership and positively impacting the lives of so many students. What an amazing accomplishment and legacy in the Saugus community! (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) ment 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 781-233-2663 or go to the website cliftondalecc.org for details. A Friendsgiving meal on Sunday The Saugus collaborative is holding a Friendsgiving on Sunday, Nov. 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall, 14 Summer St., Saugus. The collaborative is offering a free Thanksgiving meal to all attendees. We currently have 130 people registered to attend. This is Blessed Sacrament’s way of reaching out to all who have either strayed from the Catholic Church or are looking to get more involved. There will be a children’s table set up for crafts. Email nanbrown3@aol.com to register. A special meal for Sachem football seniors The Lions Clubs of Saugus and Peabody will be getting together next week as cohosts of a very unique pre-Thanksgiving meal for Senior Class High School football players from both communities who will be playing in their final football game on Thanksgiving Day. The 54th Annual Saugus and Peabody Lions Clubs’ Football Meeting and Dinner is set for 6 p.m. at Prince Pizzeria on Route 1 South in Saugus. The senior members of the two rival teams and their coaches will break bread and do a little socializing for a special evening. The head coaches will reflect on their past season and share their personal stories of what it was like playing on Thanksgiving Day when they were in high school. They will offer some advice to the seniors on how they should prepare for and embrace the final game of their high school playing careers – and in most cases, the last time they play a meaningful football game unless they go on to play college ball. I’ve been to a number of these dinners during my decade-plus as Editor of The Saugus Advocate, and it’s always a great event. The highlight is the awarding of the Heisman Trophy for a special player on each team by the head coach. Sometimes, the trophy presentation is made to the team’s best player. Sometimes, the honor goes to an unsung hero who may not be a star of the team. Overall, the night should prove to be a memorable occasion for the graduating student athletes of both teams. Hats off for the two Lions Clubs for keeping this tradition alive all of these years. Volunteers need for Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus Joseph “Dennis” Gould, the School Committee member who instigated the creation of the great nonprofit group known as Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus (HS2), asked me to put the word out that HS2 is in need of volunteers. So, here goes. Whether you are a student or a senior citizen looking for a noble cause to get involved in, HS2 needs volunteers for the 2026-2027 school year. HS2 is looking for dedicated people to help provide healthy food and resources to students in the Saugus community whose families could use a helping hand. Here’s your chance to make a difference in a student’s life by using your time and talents to ensure no student goes hungry. Here’s a list of volunteer opportunities that need to be filled: ● Volunteer Bag Assembly Coordinator – help ensure students receive weekly food support. *Oversee food bag assembly process ordinator (or Team) – support our mission through creative fundraising. *Develop and lead fundraising initiatives *Coordinate grants, food drives, and campaigns *Bring fresh ideas to grow community support *Time Commitment: Flexible: one-time events or ongoing projects. If any of these opportunities interest you, please send a letter of interest to HS2Saugus@ gmail.com. And please know that you will be making a huge difference in a student’s life. This week’s “Shout Outs” From Corinne Riley: “I’d like to give a ‘shout out’ to Town Manager Scott Crabtree and the Town of Saugus for the renovations made at the American Legion building. The building has held many titles over the years and is a huge part of our Town’s history having been built in 1837. It has had great improvements and there will be more to come! It’s home to the Veterans Council and the American Legion and these improvements gave the Legion a much needed renovation for our Veterans who gather there. Many do not know that the hall can be rented for celebrations and now with these wonderful improvements, it’s worth checking out!” From “The Pumpkin Patch”: “In conjunction with last week’s ‘Shout Out.’ Not only thanking the many volunteers that help make the Pumpkin Patch SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 10
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