SAUGUS — When Corinne Riley started Saugus 411 last fall, she imagined the event as a way for new residents to learn about the town, its services, and the nonprofit organizations that serve it. Now, in its second year, Saugus 411 has grown into a full-fledged community get-together.
The event was held at the Saugus Middle/High School complex Saturday and drew a crowd of roughly 100 people throughout the course of the morning. The first 50 attendees were gifted “swag bags,” complete with fliers on local businesses and organizations, while 32 organizations filled the complex to welcome residents new and old.
Attendees could take tours of the new complex, get free eye and hearing tests from the Lion’s Club, watch a demonstration from the Garden Club, and even get a sneak peek at the Saugus Theater Company’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” Also in attendance were both the Fire and Police departments, the Youth and Recreation Department, the library, representatives from the Senior Center, churches, youth sports, and local Boy Scout, Girl Scout, and Cub Scout troops.
For Riley, the event served as a way to showcase what she believes is the “heart of the town” — its volunteers.
“It’s definitely something to bring the community together,” she said, adding that many organizations and residents were surprised by the wide array of opportunities to get involved in town.
Riley, who serves on the Board of Selectmen, said the idea for Saugus 411 came from her experience attending a “Wakefield 101” event with state Rep. Donald Wong, whose district includes most of Saugus, while serving as his campaign manager. Riley said that event was “unbelievable” and made her wonder why Saugus didn’t have something similar.
That event was organized by the Wakefield Chamber of Commerce, and Riley said she would love to see Saugus’ chamber reinvigorated to the point where it could run the event and incorporate a stronger presence for businesses. As a sitting selectman, Riley said she was wary of even the appearance of soliciting favors or donations from businesses.
But, she said, close to 20 local businesses contributed fliers or coupons that were included in the swag bags.
“Hopefully this (event) will entice people to want to push the Saugus chamber because that’s what keeps these businesses from being empty,” she said. “We need to start pushing businesses so they stay in business — and who better to do that than the residents?”
And, she said, the event has value even for lifelong Saugonians.
“So many people that have been here forever found things out at 411, that’s a plus in my eyes,” she said.
