Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 9, 2022 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus! I’ve been to six Christmas Tree Lighting events in Saugus since I became editor of The Saugus Advocate back in March of 2016. The 2020 event was postponed because of the pandemic. All things considered, I believe the one last Friday (Dec. 2) was the best one weatherwise. It was very comfortable, and my bare hands didn’t go numb when I took photographs. So, it was relatively mild late autumn conditions, which proved to be favorable for the large crowd that turned out early. It was too bad that the public was not allowed to enter Town Hall and head upstairs to the second floor auditorium, which accommodated a lot of fun events that were once a regular fabric of the annual festivities until COVID-19 struck in March of 2020. I remember the Gingerbread House contests and face painting and plenty of warm space to accommodate those folks who came to see their children get photographed with Santa Claus. I didn’t see any face-painting this year. And the Gingerbread House contest hasn’t been part of the program for several years. Photo opportunities with Santa Claus are still a big draw. But Santa now poses for photos with children in a chair that was set up in front of the Central Street entrance to the Saugus Public Library. And there was an adjacent booth nearby in case it rained. All in all, it was a very nice event – well planned by the town’s Youth & Recreation Department, the Department of Public Works, the Fire Department and other town agencies. I enjoyed myself, walking around in the crowd and soaking up the atmosphere. I spent some time hanging on the top steps of Town Hall, talking to Brian Cross, who served as this year’s DJ for all of the Christmas music. Brian, a 2012 graduate of Saugus High School, was providing the music for his third tree lighting event. He’s been coordinating the town’s Christmas Eve Parade since 2014. “I’ve been coming down here my whole life. It’s one of those yearly traditions that Saugus residents enjoy,” he said. During the final 20 minutes of the night, I asked Brian as to whether he took requests. He told me he did, but it didn’t seem like folks were taking advantage of that opportunity, so I peppered him with a few requests, just to see whether he knew his tunes and had an extensive collection. Well, I found out that even if he didn’t know some tunes, he could easily find them if he received a song title. Brian played Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song,” one of my favorites that dates back to 1961. My other requests were Burl Ives’ “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Believe” – the theme song for the animated Christmas movie “The Polar Express” – “The Little Drummer Boy” sung by Carrie Underwood and Josh Groban’s “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” Brian was able to get them all within seconds without any problems. So, for me, that was a special treat, in addition to hanging out at the petting zoo. Saugus Tree Lighting 2022 turned out to be a great night. A “Shout Out” to Guy Moley We didn’t receive any nominations from readers to recognize deserving candidates for “Shout Outs,” so, using the editor’s prerogative, I will go with Guy Moley – who had an extremely busy weekend. On Friday night, he was down at Saugus Center playing Santa Claus. Then, on a rainy Saturday night, Guy was working with Mom’s Cancer Fighting Angels at Fuddruckers, trying to raise money for a great cause. Hats off to Guy Moley this week. 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 Nicole Berger for making the right identification in last week’s “Guess Who Got Sketched” Contest. Nicole 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 Pastor Joe Hoyle’s wife Debora De Paula Hoyle. “Debbie is the Administrative Assistant of the Cliftondale Congregational Church. “Debbie does alot of behind the scenes administration tasks effortlessly and with a smile. “She helps the Saugus Food Pantry run smoothly and efficiently! “Debbie’s quick to give praise and recognition to others. She is caring, sensitive and compassionate in her ways. “Saugus Advocate November 23, edition has the ‘Counting Your Blessings in Saugus’ by Mark E. Vogler Front Page and on page 2 Pastor Hoyle and Debbie are giving credit to others for their generosity and efforts. “Pastor Joe Hoyle and Debbie involve themselves with an array of outreaches from tending an information booth with gifts at the 411 Saugus Event to weekly 10:30 AM Wed Bible Studies at the Senior Center. “Thank you Debbie for all you do. “You shine with such hospitality and grace to others “Your hand is generously extended towards your fellow man. Yours Truly, “The Sketch Artist” Saugus River Watershed Council Annual Meeting Monday This year’s Annual Meeting and Dinner of the Saugus River Watershed Council (SRWC) features a keynote presentation by Cindy Lupi from Clean Water Action, where she coordinates community-based efforts to reduce pollution and promote a cleaner, more sustainable economy. The event is set for Monday, Dec. 12 from 6:30–9 p.m. at Spinelli’s on Route 1 in Lynnfield. The Saugus River Watershed Council will also present River Stewardship Awards, highlight 2022 accomplishments and elect 2023 board members. Admission to the annual meeting of $35 per person includes the keynote presentation plus a delicious dinner buffet. Menu: roast beef, roasted potatoes, pasta, dinner rolls, salad and homemade dessert. A cash bar will be available. This event is handicap accessible and open to the public. Online registration and payment information is available under the events section at https://www.saugusriver. org/annualmeeting. Preregistration requested. This year’s Steward Awards will be presented to Rep. Jeff Turco and Jonah Chiarenza. Debra Panetta, President of the SRWC, said in a press release, “Representative Turco continues to be an environmental champion for Saugus and Revere, and I am delighted that Jeff will be receiving this award.” Mary Lester, Executive Director, is very excited for this award to be presented to Jonah Chiarenza from Bike to the Sea. She said this organization deserves so much for everything they have done for the Northern Strand and all the efforts put forth with bringing communities together. This year’s event will also feature sale of holiday wreaths for $40 each. These handmade wreaths feature fresh woodland evergreens, pinecones and other decorative elements. They will also be having an online auction that will become live that night, raffles and a 50/50. All proceeds will benefit the Saugus River Watershed Council’s environmental education, SRWC scholarship and river restoration programs. Vacations and more can be bid on here: https://srwc.betterworld.org/ auctions/saugus-river-watershed-council-2. The Saugus River Watershed Council is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization founded in 1991 to protect and restore the natTHE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 17 —Cont est— CONTEST SKETCH OF THE WEEK 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”)
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