Capsule marks time in Saugus

SAUGUS – The town of Saugus is starting to come together with contributions for its time capsule contest.Hammersmith Family Restaurant, 330 Central St., will donate $350 to be used as prize money for two of the eight individual contests.East Boston Savings Bank will provide a banner, and Saugus Savings Bank will fund the program brochures. Individual donations are also being made, said Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian.”A day doesn’t go by at Hammersmith Family Restaurant without there being passionate discussion about Saugus,” said Hammersmith Restaurant co-owner Angelo Agganis in a release. “This contest is a great way for the whole community, now and 100 years from now, to hear some of what we hear each and every day.”The contest, which is hosted by the Saugus Bicentennial Committee, is to determine what will be placed in a time capsule at a ceremony on Oct. 23. It’s a way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Saugus’ incorporation as a town.The theme for the contest is “what I want you to know about Saugus.” It is broken up into eight separate competitions, giving contestants the opportunity to express themselves on different platforms.There will be two age groups for the poster contest: kindergarten through fourth grade and fifth grade through eighth grade.A writing contest will be split up into four separate competitions: grades three through five, six through eight, nine through 12, and adults.There will also be a video contest, which will be broken up into two groups, grade six through 12 and adults.In addition to having their work included in the capsule, cash prizes will be awarded to each first, second, and third place winner.”Each first-place winner is awarded $100,” said Manoogian. “Second-place winners are awarded $50 and third-place winners are awarded $25. That’s a total of $175 per contest.”$1400 is needed for the contest prizes alone, Manoogian said. Hammersmith Restaurant’s donation will fund awards for the adult writing contest and one of the two poster contests.”We are delighted when we see young families come to our restaurant with their children and return with their children,” said Debbie Agganis Politis, co-owner of Hammersmith. “We enjoy seeing their growth over the years and hearing about their successes as they grow older.”The poster contest, open to Saugus children in grades K-4, is a wonderful way to encourage children to express the pride they have in their community,” she said.”Debbie and her family have been involved with the town for the better part of 40 years,” said Manoogian. “They like to help with things that keep people together and involve the community at large.””The Saugus 200 Committee is grateful that a long-established Saugus family-operated and oriented business has come forward to show support for the upcoming celebration of our 200th year of incorporation,” said Saugus 200 Chairman Jean Swanson.The capsule itself will be donated by the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home. Winners will be recognized at a ceremony in October, and the capsule will be buried at the new Round Hill Park once construction is completed. Submissions for the contest can be mailed or hand-delivered to the Town Clerk until Sept. 30.