Opening remarks and introductions
Town Manager Steve Angelo
Christine Proia's Dance Academy
Justine Comeau, Baton Solo,
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"
Wanapanaquins
Sandra's School of Dance
Tony Cogliandro's Kenpo Karate of Saugus
Saugus 2000 -- Chairman John Mangini
Business Awards, Town Manager Steve Angelo
Person of the Year
Outrageous Fortune
Charleena's School of Dance Troupe
Willis-Paris-Chase-Strong -- "W.P.C.S."
Special thanks to the Saugus Playground Commission for
again sponsoring this great and talented group!
Saugus celebrated its 350th birthday nineteen years ago and Saugus Founders' Day has been an annual event ever since. Founders' Day was just one of the many events that year to celebrate the birthday but was particularly popular with the townspeople. The Town of Saugus recognized the importance of this gathering in front of Town Hall and have enthusiastically supported it every year. This same Town Hall was the gathering place for our ancestors to meet and share the harvest of fresh fruits and vegetables, jellies, and home-made crafts.
The main street in front of Town Hall is covered with tables and booths displaying many home-made crafts and gifts for sale. Over 90% of these booths are run by Saugus people (or ex-Saugus people who have come back home for the day). Many have worked all year on their crafts and this gives them an opportunity to show off their talents and perhaps make a profit in the process. Most of the comment sheets they return each year state that they did well on their booths, but more importantly, they had fun and got to see people and renew old acquaintances.
The neighbors around Town Hall have continued to be supportive and many have joined in on the activities and even coordinate parties to go along with the day. It is one day that could really be an inconvenience but they have really been patient and helpful through the years.
You will find that most of Saugus Center will have something going on to visit. The following is an idea of what you can do this Saugus Founders' Day:
Located this year at the Unitarian Universalist Church will again be volunteering their efforts to make breakfast for the vendors and public. After the crafters have set up their booths, they can relax and have coffee and breakfast and at the same time help out a great group of Saugus people. The church is located at the corner of Main and Summer (lawn of the white church).
Located on upper Taylor Street will be open for the day and will be serving food and drinks and information will be available. A nice place to get away for a break in the activities and show your support for our veterans.
Located at 30 Main Street will be open to the public to view the work that has been done this year at the museum. Many artifacts have been brought in from its many storage areas throughout the town. They will also sponsor pony rides with picture taking at Unitarian Church lawn on the corner of Summer Street and Taylor Street. Look for their booth in front of Town Hall where they will be selling note paper, magnets, maps/booklets, and T-shirts.
Will again sponsor the 17th Annual Saugus Founders' Day, Officer Harold Vitale Memorial Road Race and Non-Competitive Walk. This 4 mile distance race will start from Saugus High School at 9:30 AM. Free T-shirts to the first 250 paid, qualified applicants. Look for Pee-Wee Fun Run at 9:00 AM. Of special interest again this year will be the Saugus Police Officers running to honor the memory of Officer Harold Vitale. For more info call the Saugus Chamber of Commerce at 233-8407.
Under the direction of Bill Diotte will again have the Bike Auction. The viewing will be in front of the Saugus Police Department at 10:30 AM and the auction will start at 11:00 AM. If you are missing a bike, be sure to come to the viewing before the auction!
And Chief Newbury will sponsor an Open House at the Fire Station on Hamilton Street. Look for the antique fire engine and the tables with up-to-date fire safety information.
Will sponsor a book sale for Founders' Day. The main entrance will be closed, please use the Taylor Street entrance in the Program Room.
Along with the Saugus DARE program will sponsor an Auto Show in the Saugus Iron Works parking lot from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM that will include 30 cars from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. A slide presentation will commemorate Roland Wells Robbins and his work at Saugus. This program will be presented in the forge four times during the day by University of Kentucky professor Donald Linebaugh. There will also be archeology programs for kids. "Virtual Dig", a five year web page project for school teachers will kick off at 1:00 PM. Using Roland Robbins' field notes and photographs we will rediscover the original iron works as it was recovered from the ground.
Look for the booth in front of the Town Hall. This year they will raffle off a large basket full of TY products including Beanie Babies donated by Lomas Flowers. All proceeds will go towards the millenium celebration planned for December 31, 1999 at the Square One Mall. Also available will be Saugus Millenium Babies, T-shirts, hats, refrigerator magnets, and bumper stickers. This will be a celebration that Saugus will remember for a long time -- stop by and hear all about it!
The non-profit groups / organizations are busy planning their menu for the food area. This year the food area will be on the Police Station side of the Town Hall because of the continuing renovation going on. This takes much time and energy on the part of these volunteers each year but they have fun planning and working together and at the same time make money for their activities for the year. Food will be provided by Saugus Band Parents, SHS Classes 2000, 2001, & 2002, Boy Scout Troops 61 & 62, Rainbow, Knights of Columbus, Friends of SHS Hockey, SHS Cheerleader Parents, Eastern Star, SHS Tennis, Theatre Company, Cliftondale Congregational Church, East Saugus United Methodist Church, Figlia D'Italia, Parents of Multiples, Saugus Community United Methodist. Special thanks to the Saugus Board of Health for their help and guidance in preparing our volunteers for this event.
While you are sampling the food, you can take your time and visit the following information booths. Sign the Saugus Page of the Saugus Advertiser, Saugus Lions Club, Saugus Garden Club, Theatre Company, Boy Scout Troop 66, SAVE, Home Depot, YMCA, Saugus Youth Commission, Gannon Real Estate, Citizens Bank, Family Fuel, North Shore Electrology, Saugus Council on Aging, Eastern Bank, Saugus Boosters, Wendy Carpenito Real Estate, Bank Boston, Friends of Breakheart, MediaOne Cable, Saugus Democratic Town Committee (third edition Christmas ornaments). Saugus.net will not have a booth per se, but will have several representatives walking around.
Special thanks to the Saugus Youth Commission and Brenda Dumais, Youth Coordinator, John Gould, and Mike Gallant for making this year's Fun Area bigger and better. This year the PTOs and school sponsored games will be set up for 9:00 AM. They will also have school items for sale. The larger fun items such as the Sumo Wrestling, Raging Bull, Dunk Tank, etc. will open from 10:30 AM until 3:30 PM. The Drama Club will do face painting; Elaine Lynch will do temporary tattoos. This is a safe environment for our children and young adults to work for their group or organization to raise funds for their activities during the year and again, they serve as great role models. PTOs participating will be Evans, Oaklandvale, Waybright, and Belmonte Middle School. Also SHS Peer Leaders and SHS Debate Team will have games and the SHS Peer Moderators will have a banner to sign and information, the Explorer Post 210 will do a Speed Pitch, the SHS Golf Team will also be helping out.
This will be the tenth year for this award. The announcement will be at noon on the stage in front of the Town Hall. Previous recipients have been Stanley Day, Bill McKinney, Belden Bly, Dr. Herb Upton, Jim Vernelli, Alice Vail, John Lumsden, Barbara MacKenzie, Edwin "Bucker" Holmes, Kathy Blasingame, Rosemary DeGregorio, Rev. Walter Smith, Clayton Trefry, and Marie Poitras. Nominations are made and voted on by the previous recipients. This yearly award is a special way to acknowledge Saugus citizens who quietly and unselfishly volunteer many hours to their community.
Will have a money raffle and old, new, and hard-to-get dolls as well as informational literature at their booth in front of the Town Hall.
Sing-a-long with Kevin McNamara will be performing again this year during the day. Look for Kevin up in the Fun Area on the lawn of St. John's Church. Thank you Saugus Youth Commission for again sponsoring this! With his guitar, harmonica, and drum machine, Kevin leads his audience through children's songs, standards, rock and roll, folk, pop, and always invites the children to join in.
Under the direction of Sam Biancuzzo and Jason Scadotro, located at 304 Central Street will have an Open House at the studio from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM. You can view classes and obtain information and flyers.
They will again sponsor their Annual Founders' Day Home Show located at 327 Central Street from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. There will be refreshments and also entertainment. There will be cooking demonstrations by Executive Chef, Scott Lane.
Will sponsor an Open House at 320 Central Street. As much as they wanted to have a booth in Saugus Center, they wanted to invite the public to walk up the street and view the medical center and also to meet the doctor and staff.
Located at 300 Central Street will be joining Saugus Founders' Day with their annual cookout. They will also have many items on sale, including hand woven items from Guatemala. Start time will be 9:00 AM.
Located at the corner of Central and Prospect Streets will have a busy day. They will start at 10:00 AM by selling Mexican burritos and soft tacos and homemade chili for lunch on the lawn of St. Johns Church. At 4:30 PM until 6:00 PM you can have another homemade dinner. Adult tickets are $6.00. For children 12 and under tickets are $4.00. Ticket reservations can be made at 233-1242 or at the door.
Will also be having a T-Shirt Giveaway Contest during which several T-shirts will be given out at random times during the day.
The Saugus Founders' Day Committee sincerely appreciates the support of the Town of Saugus officials and administration for helping to make this day possible each year. Sincere thanks to Town Manager Steve Angelo and Sue Dunn for all their help and support. We thought this year would be especially hard for us because of all the renovation but in fact they have worked even harder to help make it happen. All of the departments have been extremely helpful and have enthusiastically worked together with us -- thank you!
The Saugus Center residents and businesses have truly displayed their community spirt by embracing this day and adjusting their schedules to cope with this event.
The Saugus Founders Day Committee:
Donna Gould, Kathy Blasingame, Carol Blasingame,
Eleanor Carlson, Joyce Tramontozzi, and Lyn Dombrowski
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