Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 5, 2025 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus Just a week ago, many of our readers were finishing up their Thanksgiving celebration while looking ahead to the holiday season. Christmas lights, inflatable decorations and wreaths have been sprouting up at homes across town ever since as Saugus embraces the spirit of good will and acts of kindness. Tonight, an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people will gather on the front lawn of Town Hall and the Saugus Center rotary as the town hosts one of its biggest community-wide events of the year – the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Festivities, which will last from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. outside Saugus Town Hall. If there’s truly a wholesome family event to lift the holiday spirits, tonight is the one – hot chocolate and cider to sip, cookies to munch on, adorable little animals to hold and pet, fun rides in the cold and a visit from Santa Claus; plenty of precious moments to capture on camera for the family photo album and lots of happy memories to be made. And that ’s what it ’s all about. Even an outsider like myself, who lives next door to New Hampshire, will still get to enjoy a special night, while working, of course. If you are headed down to Saugus Center tonight, bundle up, wear warm socks and don’t forget your gloves. Other holiday events this weekend The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Festivities is just the kickoff of a busy weekend during a busy season. St. John’s Episcopal Church, at 265 Central St. (at the corner of Central and Prospect Streets), is hosting a Christmas Craft Fair tomorrow (Saturday, December 6), from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 8 Prospect St. in Saugus. We will have a number of assorted craft, baked goods and Saugus United Parish Food Pantry, who want to extend a collective “Thank you” to all who helped out to make the Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive a success: “We had many volunteers the day before and over the last several weeks, but here is a list of the businesses and organizations who supported--in addition to the many who supported anonymously. “Food Drives: Title Boxing Saugus, Convenient MD, Belmonte Steam Academy, Alta Performance, Girl Scouts Troop 67718, Girl Scouts Troop 83409, VFW Auxiliary, Lions Club, Saugus Library (hosts a year-round drop-off location). “In-Kind Donations: EastA SPECIAL NIGHT AT SAUGUS CENTER: This will be the view from the top steps of Saugus Town Hall tonight after Santa Claus flicks the light switch as the town hosts its Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Festivities. This photo shows the large crowd that gathered for last year’s event. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) vendor tables, as well as an indoor yard sale, snack bar, etc. There will be a visit with Santa from 9 to 10:30 a.m. St. Margaret’s Church, at 431 Lincoln Ave. in Cliftondale, is holding a Christmas Stroll from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 6) and on Sunday from 8 am until noon. The Friends of Breakheart will be collaborating with the state Department of Conservation & Recreation on Sunday with a “Meet Santa” event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center (177 Forest St., Saugus). Santa will be handing out candy canes, goodie bags, hot chocolate and cookies plus crafts for the kids. If you have an upcoming holiday event that you would like plugged in The Saugus Advocate, please email it to me by 6 p.m. Tuesday to get in the next Friday edition of The Saugus Advocate. Menorah Lighting Ceremony Dec. 15 The Town Manager’s Office issued the following press release this week: “Congregation Ahavas Sholom is inviting the community to attend a Menorah Lighting Ceremony to celebrate Hanukkah on Monday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m. in front of Saugus Town Hall, 298 Central St. “During the ceremony, members of Congregation Ahavas Sholom will light the Menorah, which in Judaism symbolizes the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and represents a celebration of light over darkness. “All are welcome to join in this celebration. “The Menorah is a central symbol in the celebration of Hanukkah, a Jewish festival that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in the second century BCE when the Jewish people successfully rebelled against the Seleucid Empire. “The Menorah Lighting Ceremony is open to all, as it seeks to promote understanding and appreciation of different cultural traditions within our Community.” Hot chocolate and doughnuts will be provided. Saugus United Parish Food Pantry The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Dec. 5) from 9:30-11 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 (781-233-2663) or go to the website (cliftondalecc.org) for details. We have a winner! Congratulations to Mary E. Gillespie, whose name was picked as the winner in the drawing for “GRATEFUL ABUNDANCE,” the16 by 20 inch acrylic painting by Joanie Allbee, which appeared in our Thanksgiving edition. A special “Thank you” to Joanie Allbee for her hard work, effort and dedication to producing a wonderful piece of art that is fitting for the season. This week’s “Shout Outs” We had several nominations this week: From Debora de Paula Hoyle, Administrative Assistant at Cliftondale Congregational Church and the ern Bank (bags), Market Basket Lynn, Price Rite Lynn, Trader Joe’s Saugus, Whole Foods Lynnfield, Stop & Shop Saugus (year-round provides us with baked goods).” From Town Clerk Ellen Schena, recognizing all of the folks who gathered at Saugus Town Hall on a recent Saturday morning to make sure a vote recount went smoothly: “I had 3 wardens: Kellie Nickole, George Falardeau and Tim McAnany. Town employees who have done this for me in the past: Michelle Napoli, Stephanie Puracchio, Tracy Grove & Meredith Casagrande. And of course my Assistant Stephanie Hardy. Also present and working were Town Counsel John Vasapolli; Board of Registrars; Marcia Pollock, Erica Machut and Anthony Specizale.” A Selectmen’s “Shout Out” for Matthew McGovern At their Nov. 25 meeting, the Saugus Board of Selectmen had planned to present a citation to Matthew McGovern “in recognition of his exemplary civic responsibility on September 25, 2025, for his prompt actions and vital assistance to law enforcement, in removing a dangerous driver from our community and protectTHE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 13
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