SAUGUS — If you’ve gone to any events around town, whether it be a library event, a Board of Selectmen meeting, or Founders Day, it’s safe to say you’ve seen Maureen Whitcomb behind a camera or helping out in different ways.
Whitcomb, who was born and raised in Saugus and later would raise her quadruplets in town, has been a steady presence for years. She’s been a Town Meeting member and a member of the Housing Authority for 10 to 11 years now. Whitcomb is also a member of Saugus Cable Television, part of the Garden Club, works on securing grants with the Cultural Council, and is an extra set of hands where she’s needed.
Currently, Whitcomb is working on a community event called the Saugus TV Starlight Cinema, with the goal of not just bringing the community together for a movie night, but also bringing Stackpole Field back to life.
“We’re doing sponsorships and donations right now, and we’re trying to get the date set for the middle of July. We’re still not exactly sure when, but we’re aiming for July 14,” she said. “They’re doing work at Stackpole Field right now, and we want the movie night to coincide with the completion of that project. So it’s like ‘Ok, you’re going to come and see a movie, but we also want you to come see the new field.'”
Whitcomb noted that she began getting involved with the town to give back and make it a better place.
“I think it can get better, and it has. I’ve seen it. Over the years, it was pitiful. There’s no doubt about it, but it has really gotten better. And I want to see it still being a community,” she said.
Whitcomb talked about the early years of Founders’ Day and how big a community event it was, noting that attendance has dwindled in recent years.
“We’ve lost that community feel… We’re trying to get it back. There are several of us in town trying to get it back by having events like this movie night… We can be a town. We don’t need to be a city. I believe in town government,” she said.
Whitcomb said it was important for people to get involved rather than just talk on the sidelines. If someone wants change, she said they should run for office and try to create it.
“It’s about being respectful. Not everybody believes in the same things. That’s why you have opinions. If you don’t agree with what the Selectmen do, change it. Run for it. Don’t just sit and criticize them,” she said. “… If you don’t put in the time and effort, to me, you shouldn’t have a say.”
She continued by saying it was about showing up and being active to try to improve the town.
“I’m not one to get involved and be absent. I’m on to put in, and I keep putting in,” she said.
In the 10 to 11 years that Whitcomb has been a part of Town Meeting, she’s only missed one or two meetings due to travel, while she has yet to miss a Housing Authority meeting “because that’s what I’m a part of.”
When thinking back on her time working in town, and all the groups she’s been a part of, Whitcomb said she enjoyed working with kids in schools, going in to volunteer as a classroom parent, especially when her kids were at Veterans Memorial.
“I loved it when I saw them and all the kids. And some of them will still come up to me and go, ‘You were my room mother in seventh grade.’ I would make arrangements with the teacher if the kids had a couple of good weeks or if they achieved reading the books, something like that, I would go in and make it a fun event for the kids,” she said.
Whitcomb would have pizza parties for the students, help with field trips, and be willing to participate whenever she was needed.
She has also helped out at the Senior Center, filmed events for the library, and participated in community cleanup days.
“I’d go to Breakheart with my kids, and I’d tell them, ‘We’re gonna go to Breakheart today and have a cleanup day.’ And I made it fun for them. When we were done, there would be a barbecue for the kids. Now, they’re not afraid to speak up and help out because they saw me do it,” she said.
Whitcomb touched on her time raising her four kids in town, saying that people always knew who she was, especially with a carriage that sat four.
All of her kids are local, and she joked that her son Andrew, who became the youngest Town Meeting member in Saugus when he filled in for a member mid-term, would most likely be taking part in town government in the future. Whitcomb will also be graduating with her son, Bryce, from UMass Lowell in May.
“I always told my kids how important it was to get an education. I didn’t want them to be like me… I had a high school diploma… I got my associate’s degree… My goal was that when they started at UMass Lowell, I was going to do nights and graduate with them,” she said.
However, when COVID-19 hit, Whitcomb had to work more, but she managed to resume school in 2023 and is excited to graduate with her son.
Compared to others in town, I haven’t even made a dent here. I don’t consider myself special. I just consider myself to be helpful. I want to participate, but I’m not looking for any praise… If you ask me, I’ll help you. I just like to be involved. Get involved. It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you’re doing something. Whether it be Breakheart, the Iron Works, or the library… Just be helpful,” she said.
