Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 13, 2024 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus The holidays are quickly approaching. Hope everyone is taking the time to enjoy the season, sharing it with friends, acquaintances and people we love. It’s also can be a very challenging time, with not enough time on our personal schedules to get everything we need done. Shopping for presents for family and friends and scheduling holiday dinners go with the season and often make things stressful. Right here in Saugus, there are still plenty of holiday-related events to get involved in. My favorite is the town’s Annual Tree Lighting and Festivities event, which took place Friday. If you have family, it’s always a fun evening. And the great feature of this year’s event was the opening of the recently refurbished second floor auditorium at Town Hall. It was great to see that main asset being used last Friday night. Instead of kids sitting in the cold with Santa in a chair in front of the Saugus Public Library, they got to come out of the cold and warm up inside. Besides the Santa-kid photo op, there was some face-painting. Hopefully, next year, there will be a return of other events, like crafts and a gingerbread house contest and other neat things. I remember a few years before COVID-19 when the town made use of the auditorium on the night of the Tree Lighting. It would be nice to see that again. It was great to see Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta at the event, as she told me she was enjoying some happiness after an emotionally draining week when she lost her mom. It was also good to see all of her board colleagues rally around her with support as she faced one of the difficult personal moments of one’s life – losing a mom. Sooner or later, we all face the tough personal losses. Odd mascots from papers I worked at What do you think about a newspaper that puts the Garfield (the cat) cartoon on the front page of a red rooster on the cover? Early in my newspaper career, I actually worked at a couple of places like that. To the delight of the cat people in their circulation area, the Winter Haven News Chief carried the Garfield comic strip across the front page. The papers also had a cigar store Indian in the visitors’ lobby outside the newsroom. During my days out in West Texas, I worked at the San Angelo Standard-Times, a paper that trotted out the red rooster named General Rainz that allowed the paper to crow any time the dry West Texas region received substantial rainfall. They say General Rainz has been around for a century or more. A makeshift mega “Shout Out” We received a press release from Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree’s office citing a bunch of people in Saugus who contributed to the great success of this year’s Annual Tree Lighting event and festivities. It’s a press release that reflects on the collaborative efforts of many people who helped to make last Friday night a special time for families and other folks who attended the event. We think the press release is worth repeating as makeshift mega “Shout Out.” Town of Saugus Celebrates Annual Tree Lighting Town Manager Scott Crabtree is pleased with the big turnout at Friday’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, as hundreds of residents stopped by the Town Hall grounds to celebrate the start of the holiday season together. Just before 7 p.m., Santa arrived with a police escort on a horsedrawn sleigh and made his way through the cheering crowd to the Town Hall steps. Town Manager Crabtree, the Saugus Board of Selectmen, Santa and the crowd then led a countdown that culminated in Santa and his little friends flipping on the lovely holiday lights in the Saugus Center area. Dozens of families continued inside to the Guy Moley recently shared Christmas Cheer with folks at Heritage Heights. Annually, generous Guy volunteers his time and Christmas scene animation characters. He set up winter wonderland scenes throughout Saugus Housing Authority community areas for all to enjoy. (Courtesy photo of Joanie Allbee The Saugus Advocate) Town Hall Auditorium to meet and get pictures with Santa. Children were also treated to face painting provided by a group of volunteers and Saugus High School students. Smiles abounded throughout the evening as families enjoyed Tree Lighting experiences, such as horsedrawn and tractor-pulled “sleigh” rides, a trackless train, bounce houses and a petting zoo. The Tree Lighting is such an annual success because of the support of dedicated town departments, employees, volunteers and local businesses, such as: · Saugus Police Department (candy goodie bags) · Town of Saugus employees who put up the holiday lights and light up displays on the Town Hall grounds and Saugus Center · Stop & Shop – (chocolate chip cookies) · Hammersmith Family Restaurant (hot cocoa and cups) · TrueVine Church (hot apple cider and popcorn) · Saugus High School Band (played holiday hits outside Town Hall, such as “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night” and “Deck the Halls”) · Saugus High School students and volunteers doing face painting · Phil Rando (assisted with the horses and Santa) “It’s heartwarming to see so many families have a great time at the Tree Lighting,” Town Manager Crabtree said. “Many families look forward to the Tree Lighting each December, as it’s one of those truly special town events that brings the community together and that you don’t want to miss. I thank everyone for all their help and contribution to making this happen.” Saugus United Parish Food Pantry The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Fridays from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. If you are able to donate to the food pantry, you can also stop by during those hours, drop off donations at the Saugus Public Library during library hours or contact office@cliftondalecc. org to make an appointment. Please note that the food pantry will be closed on Friday, December 27, in observance of Christmas. Legion Breakfasts today There’s a good deal for Saugus veterans and other folks who enjoy a hearty breakfast on Friday mornings. The American Legion Post 210 at 44 Taylor St. in Saugus offers Friday morning breakfasts for the 2024-25 season. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with breakfast served from 8-9:00 a.m. for an $8 donation. Veterans who cannot afford the donation may be served free. No new Legion Hall bookings till 2025 The American Legion Post 210 announced recently that it will honor any contract it has signed for a party from now through the end of December, but will not book any new ones until after the first of the year. Wreaths Across America tomorrow On December 14 at noon, the Parson Roby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (MA0136P) is THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 15
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