Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 2, 2022 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus! What a great day for Saugus to start its holiday/holy season. There are two big events happening today to usher in the season in majestic style. If you prefer to be inside this afternoon and tonight instead of shivering out in the cold, then check the MEG Foundation’s 12th Annual Christmas Tree Festival, which gets underway at 3 p.m. at the MEG Building (54-58 Essex St.). If you don’t mind the cold outdoors and love admiring Christmas lights, then the annual tree lighting ceremony at Saugus is a great place to hang out. A program full of family events gets underway at 5 p.m. Santa’s arrival at Town Hall and the actual tree lighting get underway at 7 p.m. I may hit town early today so I can hit both events. I love browsing all of the Christmas trees at the MEG and taking in the Xmas decorations in the old building. But my favorite is watching the Petting Zoo at the tree lighting ceremonies. Beginning in this week’s paper and lasting through December, The Saugus Advocate will run a comprehensive listing of holiday and holy events in a column titled “HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS AND BLESSINGS.” If you or your group has an event you would like posted, please send it and we’ll get it in the column. Spreading the joy Last Saturday, I got to spend a few hours in the parking lot of the Saugus Senior Center. There was a dedicated contingent of Saugus Lions Club members greeting cars as they drove in to drop off presents for the Lions Club’s Third Annual Roaring Toy Drive. Whatever toys that the Lions picked up were turned over to retired Saugus Fire Capt. Bill O’Malley, who along with his wife, Carole, are among the driving forces of the Saugus Fire Department’s Toy Drive. Capt. O’Malley is a modest man who doesn’t like to take much credit for the amazing organization that’s been in place since he began the toy drive more than three decades ago. And the success of the toy drive shows that the town really has a big heart when it comes to brightening the holidays for needy and less fortunate people. A “Shout Out” for Old Sachem Jeanie Bartolo, a frequent contributor to The Saugus Advocate and a longtime contributor to the “Shout Out” (She actually was the catalyst of the popular feature in this column) nominated Bill Stewart for this week: “This ‘Shout Out’ goes to Bill Stewart for being recognized for his 50 years as a Town Meeting Member representing Precinct 3. Our State Representative, Donald Wong, presented Bill with a Citation from the House of Representatives at last week’s Board of Selectmen meeting. I sought Bill’s opinion many times on issues regarding Town Meeting. His fund of knowledge of the town always amazed me and I sorely miss him being at Town Meeting. Bill is also on the Housing Authority as well and the author of the Advocate’s weekly “The Old Sachem” column. This Citation is an honor so well deserved. Congratulations Bill!!” 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 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. We have a winner! Congratulations to Debra Panetta for making the right identification in last week’s “Guess Who Got Sketched” Contest. Debra is one of several readers answering correctly, but she was the only one to have her name picked in a drawing from the green Boston Red Sox cap. Here’s the correct answer, offered by the person who goes by the name of The Sketch Artist: “The answer to last week’s sketch is Ron Wallace. “So far, Ron wins the prize as being the most popular sketch in 2 1/2 years! “Congratulations Ron! “Ron has been at countless fundraisers, Volunteer efforts and Town functions too numerous to name but the people see him even if he’s picking up old dirty trash on the Northern bike strand behind a fence in Spring’s early thaw or picking up trash in September’s rain. “Ron is a Saugus High class of ‘87’ and still has his highschool buddies as best friends that in itself would give clues to why Ron’s so popular … because he’s a faithful good friend to keep. “Ron is a Precinct 5 Town Meeting Member and in his fourth 2 year term. Will it be his last? … Well, not if the people can convince him otherwise lol. “He assists with fundraisers car shows (antique cars are among his favorite his friends say.) “Ron pitches in on trails and park clean ups and on cemetery concerns and over all community betterment projects. Ron is usually spotted behind the scenes, busily happily completing tasks and assignments. “Ron took it upon himself to clean two headstones that were barely readable from too many years of overgrown algae etc. “Now Benjamin Newhall Johnson (saugonian who owned Breakheart Reservations land and gave it freely to the State for All walks of life and animal habitats to enjoy!) He took out the D-2 Bio Solution and soft brush and wooden stick and brightened up Isabelle Louise Hallin’s grave also in Riverside Cemetery. “Ron’s wife Amy taught Special Education in Lynn Schools; two of their children, Abigail and Andrew are successfully off on their college paths and Alex is a student at Saugus Middle School. “Throughout the years Ron, Amy and kids are seen enjoying life as a family throughout our memorable Saugus events. “Ron, keep on blazing those trails! “You sure have a lot of fans! “Yours Truly, “The Sketch Artist” Friends of Breakheart notes This note from Peter Rossetti, Jr., of the Friends of Breakheart: On Sunday, Nov. 20, Breakheart Reservation hosted its annual Turkey Trot at 177 Forest Street in Saugus. Approximately 80 runners and walkers attended this year. The winner for the men’s division was Andrew Breck of Melrose with a time of 18 minutes for the 5k run which 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”) was an excellent time. Frankly he wasn’t even breathing hard when he crossed the finish line! The winner of the woman’s division was Freddi Triback of Lynn with a time of 27 minutes, also an excellent time. The last runner coming in was Bob Schrater of Salem. After the race there was a raffle with an assortment of turkeys, hams, and gift cards with the grand prize being a truck load of split wood donated by the DCR. It was a perfect day for a race; the weather was cool but not frigid so even the spectators were comfortable. It is always refreshing to see the camaraderie among the runners. We would like to acknowledge and thank the DCR, The Friends of Breakheart, Rossetti Insurance, and Bob Nazzaro for supplying the refreshments, and raffle prizes. The next event sponsored by the DCR is the First Day Hike on New Year’s Day. It is a wonderful way to start the New Year. Please check newspapers and flyers for further updates. Other activities are being planned to include the famous Maple Sugaring event and a park clean up when the weather improves. If interested in getting involved with the Friends Group, please call 781-233-1855 X19. Happy Holidays and look forward to seeing you at the Park. Garden Club News Laura Eisener submitted this information on recent and upcoming Saugus Garden Club activities: The Saugus Garden Club THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 13 —Cont est— CONTEST SKETCH OF THE WEEK
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