A Common facelift
Published on July 28th, 2004
STONEHAM, MA - The town’s common will receive a very expensive facelift after two local charity groups unveiled their plans to make $35,000 in donations to the open-space at Tuesday’s Selectmen meeting.
As part of the Rotary International Club’s 100th Anniversary Celebration, the local branch of the service organization announced its plans to donate a 24 by 24 foot bandstand to the town.
Proposing to construct the clear cedar, Queen Anne designed structure at the corner of the common closest to the Congregational Church and Town Hall, Stoneham Rotary Club President Scott Fraser hoped to break ground on the project September 18.
With local architectural firm The MZO Group designing the project and the students at the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School building the structure free of cost, the total worth of the donation could jump to upwards of $60,000.
“We hope that you will approve of this gift this evening, as we would like to plan a ground breaking ceremony on Town Day, September 18, at 10:30 a.m.,” said Fraser.
“I think it’s a fantastic idea and I couldn’t believe the Rotary Club was willing to spend that type of money for the town,” responded Selectmen Chairman Cosmo Ciccarello to the proposal.
Despite the Selectmen’s enthusiasm, some members of the Town Common Oversight Committee did have some reservations with the project, including the placing of a permanent structure on the grounds, the maintenance and electricity costs associated with the project, and the proposed location of the bandstand.
“We were hoping they would come before us so we could review the entire proposal,” said Town Common Oversight Committee Chairman Stephen Born.
Because Fraser needed almost immediate confirmation that the project would move forward in order to notify the vocational school administration, Born and the rest of his committee immediately ratified the project’s concept within an hour.
“The answer is yes. All the members are unanimously in favor of this concept. We will form a subcommittee of three persons to work with the Rotary Club over the details,” said Born to the applause of the audience in the hearing room.
Similar to the agreement made with the Rotary Club, the Town Common Oversight Committee and Selectmen also accepted a $5000 donation from the Stoneham High School 1982 Beautification Fund, Inc., a charity comprising various members of the SHS Class of 1982.
Proposing to plant a 16-foot Douglas Fir holiday tree, which will eventually grow to a maximum height of 40-60 feet, the charity’s President Christin Oneschuk explained that the idea for the purchase came after a fellow classmate passed by this year’s holiday tree.
“I had a classmate call me last November and say, ‘Chris, I think I’ve found the class beautification project for 2004. I just went by the holiday tree at the town common and it was a little disappointing,” recalled Oneschuk.
Not only would the high school alumni pay for the cost of purchasing, moving, and planting the tree, Oneschuk also agreed to pay for the cost of relocating any plants at the proposed site, installing new electrical outlets, reconfiguring the common’s sprinkler system, and for any lights or decorations needed.
“You’re willing to pay for all that? Wow, really thank-you,” said a shocked Ciccarello.
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