Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 22, 2023 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good morning, Saugus! Santa Claus is coming to town in just two days – Christmas Eve (Sunday, Dec. 24)! Saugus will host its annual Christmas Eve Parade, which has evolved into a popular town tradition over the four decades of its existence. “The Santa Parade is always going to be my Christmas memory,” School Committee Member Ryan Fisher told The Saugus Advocate this week. “It’s driven by my house since I was a child, and my parents would reschedule our Christmas Eve plans around making sure we were home to see it. I’m now the parent that gets to share that experience with my daughter, and it means so much to have that shared memory that I know she’ll always remember. I’m so grateful to the organizers and volunteers for that gift.” The town’s Christmas Eve Parade is ready to roll, with the help of parade coordinator Brian Cross, who is heading up an army of volunteers. Cross, who is looking forward to working as DJ for the night, notes that this will mark the 40th anniversary for the parade. “I’ve been doing this since 2014,” he said in a recent —Cont est— CONTEST SKETCH OF THE WEEK interview. There will be a lot of town departments involved, too, particularly the Youth & Recreation Department. Saugus fire, police and other emergency crews will be involved with the event that’s been a popular crowd pleaser for locals, going back several decades. The parade is set to start on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, at 6 p.m. from the Public Safety Building on Hamilton Street with a police and fire escort for Santa and some other special vehicles as part of the procession. It is scheduled to finish the three-hour tour through town on Central Street in Saugus Center at 9 p.m. “Santa would like to see as many children as possible, so listen for the sirens and come out and greet Santas as he passes by,” says Buddy, “Santa’s Third Best Elf” in a note on the parade route announcement that was recently released. Santa’s Parade Route Released Santa’s parade route for Sunday, Dec. 24, as posted on the Saugus Christmas Parade Facebook Page (https://www. facebook.com/saugussantaparade/), is as follows: 6-6:10 p.m.: Hamilton Street, Saville Street, Elm Street. 6:10-6:25 p.m.: North Saugus School, Indian Rock Drive, Arrowhead Drive. 6:25-6:40 p.m.: Walnut Street, Central Street, Appleton Street, Summer Street, Taylor Street. 6:40-6:55 p.m.: Saugus Center, Main Street to Forest Street. 6:55-7:10 p.m.: Lynn Fells Can You Guess Who? If you know, call 978-683-7773 and your name will be entered into a drawing contest to win. The prize is a $10 gift certificate from the contest’s sponsor, the Hammersmith Family Restaurant, which is located at 330 Central St. in Saugus. Parkway, Main Street, Hickory Lane, Juniper Drive. 7:10-7:25 p.m.: Howard Street, Main Street, Vine Street. 7:25-7:40 p.m.: Essex Street, Mount Vernon Street, Laurel Street. 7:40-7:45 p.m.: Lincoln Avenue and Cliftondale Square. 7:45-7:55 p.m.: Lincoln Avenue to Seagirt Avenue. 7:55-8:10 p.m.: Venice Avenue, Wickford Street, Pevwell Drive, Gates Road, Richard Street. 8:10-8:25 p.m.: Dudley Street, Ballard Street, Johnson Street, Vincent Street, Chestnut Street. 8:25-8:30 p.m.: Winter Street to Central Street. 8:30-8:40 p.m.: Denver Street, Laurel Gardens, Elmwood to Adams Avenue. 8:40-8:50 p.m.: Central Street, Hurd Avenue, Westland Avenue, Springdale Avenue, Stone Street. 8:50-9 p.m.: Central Street to Saugus Center. A Christmas Eve pageant for kids On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, at 4:30 p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church will be reenacting the nativity of Jesus in a family service. All Saugus children are welcome to participate. If you are interested, please contact The Rev. John Beach at revjbeach@gmail.com or the church office phone: 781233-1242. Food Pantry notes The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry is open today (Friday, Dec. 22) from 9:30-11 a.m. Legion Breakfast today There’s a good breakfast 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 2023-24 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. Special “Shout Outs” Joyce Rodenhiser offered several “shout outs” for this week: “A Shout Out to thank all the volunteers at Saugus Senior Center who ably assist the wonderful staff!” “Let’s give a Shout Out to Louise Nazzarro and Pauline Gautreau and all the other volunteers at the Saugus Public Library who, working with the wonderful staff there, make our library a lively, relevant place in which to learn all kinds of things!” 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 Maria Rodriguez, one of several readers who answered correctly to last Friday’s sketch contest and had her name selected in a drawing. Maria will receive a $10 gift certificate from the contest’s sponsor, the Hammersmith Family Restaurant, near Saugus Center. Now, here’s the answer from the person who goes by the name of “The Sketch Artist: “The answer to last week’s sketch is Corinne & Steve O’Neill. They have been married twenty two years. In March, Corinne started teaching beginners line dance at the Saugus Senior Center on Tuesdays at 10:00 am, Steve showed support to his wife by attending the first class and has continued ever since. “Corinne beams a genuine ray of sunshine as she greets everyone. She is full of encouragement and patience in her dance classes. I have on occasion joined her classes and had so much fun and actually learned a lot of dance steps too. “Corinne adds such a peaceful atmosphere to her dancing classes which are conducive to a learning environment. “On Tuesday’s before sunrise, she greets her students with an email encouraging THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 17
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