born in April 1743 has an epitaph that doesn’t mention he was president? On April 27, 1822, what U.S. president was born whose first name is that of a Greek hero?

have been on display.

This week, we are featuring Paul E. Kenworthy, who is a park ranger at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. His display centers around a set of three books of The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski: 1. “Blood of Elves,” 2. “Time of Contempt” and 3. “Baptism of Fire.” This New York Times bestselling series inspired the hit video games and the Netflix TV series. Paul incorporates red roses, white mini-roses and white wax flowers in a red velvet covered jar, with gauntlets and sword hilt.

Next week, we’ll feature the final entry. Food pantry still open

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will continue to remain open on Fridays between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Fridays despite concerns over the novel coronavirus. But the Pantry has made adjustments to protect its core of volunteers and the needy people who receive the food.

“For the protection of our volunteers & clients, and to limit personal contact & crowding/gathering, the food pantry has been distributing prebagged groceries,” says Wendy Reed, Clerk of the Saugus Board of Selectmen, who also oversees the operation of the all-volunteer food pantry. “We understand clients may receive items they don’t want or need, but feel this is the best course of action to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19. Those in need, even for short term or one-time assistance are encouraged to come.”

The food pantry is located in the basement of the Cliftondale Congregational Church at 50 Essex St. in Saugus.

Taking care of hungry students

Julie Cicolini, a member of the Board of Directors for Healthy Students–Healthy Saugus (HS2), wants to make sure people in the community are aware of some recent program changes. “Please be aware that Healthy Students–Healthy Saugus bags are now available on Thursdays instead of Fridays 10 a.m. to noon,” she advised us this week. “Whitsons food service, that has been managing the grab-n-go meals for students and HS2 weekend bag distribution during the school closure, will be moving to two days a week. This is to help reduce contact and limit residents from leaving their home to pick up food.”

“HS2 will provide weekly, no contact, delivery on Thursdays to ensure those we serve receive their HS2 weekend bags riching Saugus’ theatre and cultural arts. I always enjoyed talking to him about the theater, music and the arts. His legacy as a brilliant, soft spoken, gentleman whose contributions to all aspects of the theatre will live on. A Star on Broadway has gone dim with his passing.” An honorary “Shout-Out” for all Sachem seniors

It broke my heart to hear that students won’t be returning to class this school year. That was the disappointed news that Gov. Charlie Baker delivered this week. Particularly the graduates of the Class of 2020 – the last group of seniors to attend class at the soon-to-be-demolished old Saugus High School.

About this time 50 years ago, I was getting ready for some really great memories as a member of the Class of 1970 at Joseph Case High School in Swansea, a town of about 14,000 back then in Southeastern Massachusetts, near Fall River. It started with classmates signing fellow classmates’ yearbooks and getting favorite teachers – or any teachers – and janitors to sign them. There was Class Day, the Senior Prom, Awards Night, Graduation practice, then the cap and gown ceremony that included the march to “Pomp and Circumstance.” And then later a nice party at your house attended by a small group of family and friends.

Those are some beautiful memories that unfortunately this year’s class across the nation and all over the world won’t get to enjoy. There will be some kind or recognition once social distancing ends.

But if you happen to run into any members of the Saugus High Class of 2020, wish them the best. They earned it, even though they won’t get to enjoy the traditional high school graduation celebration. And that’s a shame. 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 the 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 photo. Books in Bloom at home

This is the first April in six years that visitors to the Saugus Public Library couldn’t go and enjoy a “Books in Bloom” event, a unique exhibition where entrants match up books with floral displays. But over the past month, The Saugus Advocate has been offering a virtual Books in Bloom event where we practiced social distancing by running the photos of several exhibits that would H ere are a few tidbits that you might want to know about this week in Saugus. Hope hangs out at Town Hall

In case you have noticed while driving around the rotary in Saugus Center or taking a walk down Central Street, there’s a huge stuffed bear tethered to a pole at the top of the steps to the front entrance of Town Hall.

Photo op for moms out for a stroll with little kids? Of course!

But there’s something special about this big bear. And there’s a little more to the story of the friendly “bear hunting” which has been going on in Saugus for about a month.

“This is Hope the bear! He is now living at the Town Hall and is an active participant in the ‘sign for hope’ campaign in Saugus,” Jeannie Meredith texted me earlier in the week.

“Hope is looking to install joy and hope to all the Saugus residents while participating in the ‘be like Georgie’ campaign. Hope was donated by the Ricupero Family,” Jeannie added.

A bear on the front steps of Saugus Town Hall? Stop the presses! I had to drive down to Saugus on Wednesday to check this one out and grab a photo.

I am surprised this wonderful human interest story has not wound up on national television yet. At times when folks are grasping for something positive to make them feel good in the midst of these challenging times of COVID-19 – young kids, old kids, parents and senior citizens are having a little fun, walking through neighborhoods with the specific mission of looking for bears in the window.

“#BeLikeGeorgie” is the brainchild – or should we say “bearchild” – of Susan Curry, the focus of an “Advocate Asks” interview published in the April 10 issue of The Saugus Advocate. She talked about the good will project she launched late last month to build community spirit and friendship during these troubled times of the novel coronavirus.

Georgie is also the founding mascot teddy bear that is displayed in a front window of Susan Curry’s School Street home. It’s the same one that her late dad – George Moriello – gave to her daughter 24 years ago.

The bear population of #BeLikeGeorgie is up in house windows on more than 250 Saugus streets, and it has spread through social media to at least 10 states.

“The new streets have leveled off but the good news is the bears are all still up in all those windows – now people from neighboring cities and towns are telling us they are taking rides through Saugus with their kids because we have so many!” Curry wrote me in an email this week. “It’s nice to be able to provide some entertainment for as many people as possible! The creativity is also growing. Many people report having gangs of stuffed animals in their windows instead of just one bear and the Rock painting is going strong! I started a SHS 2020 class bear rock to get the older kids interested.”

Stay tuned for another friendly “bear hunting” report next week. “Two sad Shout-Outs”

Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member Jeanie Bartolo offered nominations this week for two Saugonians she requested to be recognized posthumously. “I have two Shout Outs but they are sad ones; they are for two fine Saugonians who have recently passed away,” Jeanie wrote us in an email this week.

“The first one is for Kristine Obdens, better known as ‘Teenah Beenah’ who loved her husband Don, her family, the Patriots and all of us who were lucky enough to have her as a friend. She was just the sweetest person. You couldn’t help but smile whenever she walked into a room. I would always think ‘great Tina and Don are here, come and sit with me!’ She was one of the unsung heroes of Saugus for her volunteerism for the Veterans Council, the American Legion, Wounded Veterans Motorcycle Ride and the Veterans and Memorial Day Parades. I will miss you Tina more than words can say.

“The second sad Shout Out is for Leonidas Nickole, an Army Veteran and creator of the Theatre Arts Department at Emerson College. He directed over a hundred theatrical productions for the College. He founded The Saugus Towncriers Community Theatre that now lives on as The Theatre Company of Saugus.

“He was a Charter Member with me on the Board of Directors for the Saugus Public Library Foundation. He is a legend for enTHE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS By Mark Vogler

A VIRTUAL “BOOKS IN BLOOM”: The Sixth Annual “Books in Bloom” event, which was scheduled for earlier this month at the Saugus Public Library, was cancelled this year because of concerns about the deadly COVID-19. But Laura Eisener, who is a member of the Saugus Garden Club, still went ahead and provided us with five floral displays that her family would have entered. This week, we present an entry from Laura’s husband,

Paul Kenworthy. (Courtesy Photos to The Saugus Advocate) SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 13