THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2022 Page 11 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good Morning, Saugus! Best wishes to all our readers for the happiest of holidays of your faith. In this week’s issue, we asked each of the selectmen and School Committee members what they would present to the town as a Christmas present – if it’s within their power to do so. As editor of The Saugus Advocate for six years and nine months now, I offer my own present for the town – a renewed commitment to offer our readers an interesting and informative newspaper which always strives to be a force of good in the community – seeking to spotlight town people and events that lead to the betterment of Saugus. Our primary task is to provide useful information that keeps residents informed on important issues that affect the community as a whole and residents individually. We feel it’s important to shine a light on town and local government – including public schools, the town’s chief employer and the agency that affects the most lives in the community on a daily basis – when things break down and when the government needs to step up to address various challenges or problems. At the same time, we think it’s important to shine a public light on the many great things that are happening here, whether by individuals or groups. I recently turned 70 and I’m finishing my 50th year as a newspaper journalist since I began my career during my junior year at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, working weekends in the Northampton news bureau of The Springfield Union and filing stories I developed while living on campus during the week. My personal Christmas present to the people of Saugus is that I will continue to work hard to provide Saugus a well-balanced and respected hometown newspaper as long as my publisher wants to keep me as the editor. I have no immediate plans to retire. I’ve told close friends and colleagues that I will continue reporting, writing stories and headlines, taking photos and editing stories relevant to Saugus as long as I am blessed with good health. Whether it’s five to 10 more years – or longer – I plan to continue doing what I’m doing, as long as there’s a place for a real newspaper (not online paper) in Saugus. We are Saugus’ hometown newspaper. We are the only newspaper that covers Saugus people and events exclusively. Looking ahead to the year 2003, one of my top goals is to provide topnotch coverage of the town’s biennial elections – which includes the five-member Board of Selectmen, the five-member School Committee, the 50-member Annual Town Meeting and the Housing Authority. Another goal is to become more relevant to our readers, as we look to improve various areas of the paper and maybe add some new features. Right now, I am blessed to have people like Laura Eisener (“Saugus Gardens”), Bill Stewart (“The Old Sachem” columnist who writes about sports), Joanie Allbee (photos/essays/ articles), Jay DeMarco (“Small Saves” cartoon), Janice Jarosz (articles and photos), Tom Sheehan (articles) and “The Sketch Artist” as a core of nonpaid frequent contributors who help make “The Saugus Advocate” the paper that it is. And, of course, we have part-time staffers Tara Vocino (who takes photos and writes human interest stories) and Greg Phipps (who covers Saugus sports). And publisher Jim Mitchell oversees the paper as it’s put to bed in Everett on Thursdays. So, a lot of hard work goes into putting out the paper every week. So, I feel honored to coordinate our coverage and collaborate with our paid staffers and unpaid contributors to put out the paper every week. Year in Review For next week’s (Dec. 30) edition of The Saugus Advocate, we plan to put together our annual “Year-In-Review” issue. In past years, we have invited the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee to pick what they think are the top stories of the year. We will still do that. But, at the same time, we welcome similar input from our readers. If you feel like weighing in on the year 2022 as it relates to Saugus, email us a letter to mvoge@comcast.net by Tuesday, Dec. 27. Tell us what you think was the top story of the year and offer a brief reason. And also list some runner-up stories that you think were major news in Saugus during 2022. About The Saugus Advocate We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is noon Wednesday. If you have a story idea, an article or photo to submit, please email me at mvoge@ comcast.net, or leave a message at 978-683-7773. Let us become your hometown newspaper. The Saugus Advocate is available in the Saugus Public Library, the Saugus Senior Center, Saugus Town Hall, local convenience stores and restaurants throughout town. Candlelight Church Service in Cliftondale Debbie Hoyle of Cliftondale Congregational Church at 50 Essex St. wants residents to know the church will hold its annual Candlelight Christmas Eve Service tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 24) at 7 p.m. (street parking only). A Christmas morning service will be held at 10:45 a.m. (parking lot and street parking available). Regardless of where you are on your faith journey, or how festive or not you’re feeling this holiday season, we invite you to be encouraged by the real hope, peace, joy and love of Christmas. Food Pantry notes: The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open on Friday, December 23 from 9:30-11 a.m. for those in need of food assistance. The food pantry will then reopen on Friday, January 6 from 9:3011 a.m. We will be closed on December 30 in observance of the holiday. This week’s “Shout Outs” We received two “shout outs” this week from our loyal readers. Sue Fleming offered these words of praise to fellow Saugonians: “I would like to give a Shout Out to everyone involved in the Menorah Lighting at Town Hall on Monday. It was a beautiful ceremony and it should make us all remember that we are One! I appreciated the honoring of the Veterans who were present to follow up on Wreaths Across America last Saturday. Thank you to the Town of Saugus for all the great things that happen here. Have a very Merry Christmas!” Joanie Allbee noted the noble actions of Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Debra Panetta, who went to great lengths – and miles – to attend this past Monday’s (Dec. 19) lighting of the Menorah on the front lawn of Saugus Town Hall. “Hello. I’d like to give a shout out for Debbie Panetta! “She had a non refundable vacation planned months ahead, however when she heard of the Lighting ceremony of our new Menorah beautifully placed at Town hall front lawn; she interrupted her vacation plans just 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”) for the sole reason of attending. Debbie states ‘I really care about everything that happens in my Town, I love Saugus!’ “The Rabbi said it’s the action behind the words that are the true meaning and Debbie’s actions spoke forth plenty of goodness and kindness in example of the Menorah lights shining brightly for Chanukah. “The Menorah lighting is about the light overcoming the darkness. The Menorah ‘lamp’ lighting ceremony was sentimentally done and Ruthie Berg lit the first candle of Chanukah.” 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 Kevin Wildman for making the right identification in last week’s “Guess Who Got Sketched” Contest. Kevin is one of several readers answering correctly. But he was the only one to have his 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 was D.J. Brian Cross. Brian was front and center playing tunes to add to the atmosphere of festivities at the Annual Tree LightTHE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 12 —Cont est— CONTEST SKETCH OF THE WEEK
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