Town Notes
Published on December 6th, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - Town Common needs you.
The $4.1 million Town Parking and Common Project needs private money to pay for the finishing touches.
Mark Vaughan of the Common Committee said his group is looking for sponsors to pay around $2,000 per bench for 15 benches to be placed in and around the Common.
"This represents an overrun of only one half of one percent," Vaughan said. "Think about the Central Artery to put this in perspective."
Any individual, family or business who wishes to sponsor a bench should call Project Manager Joe Slavet at 279-2608. Sponsors’ names will be engraved on two by four-inch plaques attached to the back supports of the cast iron benches.
"This is another way people can be a part of the creation of our new Town Common," Vaughan said.
The Common Committee hopes to get the sponsor list over the next couple weeks, order the benches this winter, and have them in place by spring.
St. Pat’s project still alive
Saint Patrick Parish continues its capital campaign to raise $5.1 million for an enlargement of the church and the construction of a parish center.
The Capital Campaign Cabinet is pleased to announce that the figure of $3.5 million in pledges was achieved on Monday, Dec. 4. The response to the campaign has been extraordinary over the past week as pledges totaling over $700,000 have been received during that time period.
There will be an important consultation meeting on Sunday evening, Dec. 10, to review the current situation and then discuss the next steps in the building project. The meeting will take place in Monsignor Sexton Hall at 7:45 p.m. Representatives of the chief consultative bodies within the parish will participate in the discussion: The Parish Pastoral Council, The Parish Finance Council, The Building & Grounds Committee, The Building Committee and The Capital Campaign Cabinet.
This is an open meeting; all interested parishioners are encouraged to participate in this important planning session.
Mr. Angelo Petrozzelli, the architect who designed the proposed project will be present at the Sunday night meeting as a consultant. The scale model of the proposed facility is on display at Saint Patrick Church. The design doubles the seating capacity of the church from 550 persons to 1,100 persons. The Parish Center will offer a large gym/ auditorium that seats 300 people at round tables or 500 people in auditorium-style seating.
The Parish Center will also offer meeting rooms for parish organizations and offices for the members of the Parish Pastoral Staff. The whole facility will be air-conditioned and handicapped-accessible with a hospital-size elevator. There will be no part of the church, parish center or school that necessitates the use of stairs.
The goal of the Campaign Cabinet was to reach a total of $4 million in pledges by the time of the Dec. 10 consultation meeting. As pledges continue to be received this week, it looks like that goal is attainable. Those who still wish to make a three-year pledge, or a donation, may contact Saint Patrick Rectory at 438-0960. Payment on pledges need not begin until the new year.
Pastor Fr. Bill Schmidt said the support of the Stoneham Community to this historic initiative on the part of Saint Patrick Parish is deeply appreciated.
An Archdiocese capital campaign threatens to put the brakes on the St. Pat’s effort at anytime, but as of press time the local parish is still striving toward its goal.
"We’re going to keep going until they shut us down," Father Schmidt said.
Tisei win was a whooping
In the 2000 General Election State Senator Richard Tisei won re-election to his post as State Senator for the
Third Middlesex District, which includes Stoneham, by the greatest percentage margin of any Republican in the state.
Tisei received 48,957 votes, representing 73 percent of the district vote. In Stoneham Tisei got 7,280 votes, or 75 percent. Tisei received more votes than any other Republican candidate for State Senate.
Democratic challenger Stephen Spain garnered only 18,130 votes in the Third Middlesex District.
Flag
Remember the flag controversy? Either way, Old Glory is flying in front of Town Hall once again.
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