Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 13, 2024 MAIL | FROM PAGE 3 For several years she’s gotten help from her husband, John, who sits down at the kitchen counter with her and reads the letters. When they’re done, they write letters back to all the children who included a return address in their Santa letters. She graduated from Saugus High School in 1981. John, 63, moved with his family from Chelsea to Saugus when he was 15. He is a 1974 Saugus High School graduate. He worked for the Saugus Police Department for 33 years and retired in 2009 at the rank of sergeant. Karen and John referred to one heartfelt text they received from an admirer who “hung around with the wrong crowd when he was a kid,” according to John, who got to know him while he was a police offi cer. The grateful kid – now a grownup – wrote a moving letter to Karen and off ered her money to buy postage stamps for the Santa letters. “I’ve always wished I could repay everything your husband did for me as a kid somehow so please let me know if you’ll need more,” the man wrote. “Even though what John did for me is worth way more. I’d probably be in If We Happen To Meet By Accident ... You’ll Be Glad You Found Us! There is a difference between the rest and the BEST! Celebrating 46 Years In Business! TONY’S AUTO BODY Call or Visit 781-321-0032 34 Sharon Street Malden, MA 02148 TONYSAUTOBODYLLC.COM COME VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART BODY SHOP • Computerized Paint Matching (State of the Art Spray Booth) • Computerized Frame Machines • P.P.G. Refinishing System • R134 + 1234yf A/C Machines Fully Insured -RS2415 Insurance Company Approval ALL OUR WORK IS GUARANTEED! TONY BARTOLO Owner 46 Years Let Us Handle Your Next Insurance Claim. Go With the BEST It Doesn’t Get BETTER! RENTAL CARS Available John and Karen Coburn noted the overwhelming support they received from Saugus residents on social media after they learned she could no longer set up her mailbox for Santa letters at the Saugus Post Offi ce in Cliftondale. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) WINTER CONCERT | FROM PAGE 6 line snaked around the hallways to the auditorium doors, but everyone did get a seat once they were inside. The sixth graders started the concert with “Hot Cross Buns” – moving on to “Down By The Station.” The kids did a great job, especially considering that some of these young people had not even held their instruments until a few months ago. A traditional English folk song called “Country Walk” was among the charming tunes, and then one of my favorite seasonal carols, “Good King Wenceslas.” The music included some songs that most people would be familiar with, such as “Jolly Old St. Nick” and “Jingle Bells” but also a round called “Sweetly Sings the Donkey.” A special guest was Miss Massachusetts Teen Maggie Leighton from Leominster High, who is an advocate for music education. She spoke briefl y on the importance of music, then joined in on some of the songs on the piano herself. All three middle school prison or dead if it weren’t for him. I love what you’re doing Merry Xmas to you and John.” John got a little emotional as he recalled some of the reaction he’s observed. “I’m so proud of the Saugus people that they don’t want to see this end. They know it’s a good thing,” he said. Over the years, Karen said, she has received personal satisfaction, but said she never fully understood until now how special writing “Santa letters” can be. “I myself didn’t realize what big event it was and how important to people it is. I did it because I cared for the children,” she said. “I hope to do this for many, many years,” she said. Among those who re - sponded to her text was Alex Manoogian. “Wait a minute. Why were you responding to letters [for] Santa?” Manoogian asked. “I thought Santa himself was writing back to me. This whole time, and now at 38 years old, I fi nd out it’s been you?” grades – six, seven and eight – played “Candy Cane Lane” and a few more seasonal songs. Music directors Justin Jones and Evan Smith provided the names of the songs for the benefi t of the audience. After the sixth graders rejoined the audience, the older students performed a few more tunes, including a medley from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and a creative mashup of “Silent Night” and “All Through The Night.” The more experienced group also played “Feast of Stephen,” a more complex version of “Good King Wenceslas,” before the Middle School Jazz Band took over the performance. Their version of “Up on The Housetop” had some delightful extra fl ourishes from what is most often heard. During the Intermission, the Band Parents announced the raffl e basket winner. Evan Smith accompanied the chorus on the piano following the intermission. They sang a Hannukah song, then “Winter Stillness,” which incorporates some traditional German songs, “Silver Bells” and “Holiday Road.”TLINES:
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