Montvale Plaza hosts holiday cheer for seniors
Published on December 22nd, 2004
STONEHAM, MA - Already removing the humbug from the holiday season by volunteering to assume the full-costs of the normally town-paid senior Christmas Party, Montvale Plaza owner Marty Murphy promised to get rid of one other winter villain.
And after Monday morning's party brought together smiling town officials who regularly butt-heads in the town's heated political arena, the Christmas Grinch was no where to be seen.
Instead, the gathering of 70 volunteers - which included Town Accountant Ron Florino, School Committee secretary Ruth Cronin, Senior Center Director Jane Lavender, and Selectmen wives Wendy Smith, Jill Kennedy, and Barbara Ciccarello - worked their hardest to cater to each of the 300 seniors in attendance.
Dressed in matching Santa Claus hats, Stoneham Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly and Assistant Superintendent Joe Casey marched from table to table serving coffee and tea. Police Chief Gregory O'Keefe labored through the clean-up, busing the various tables by carefully removing dishes. And even Town Clerk John Hanright could be seen carrying a basket or two of rolls to the guests of honor.
"I thought this was very nice," said 41-year Stoneham resident Mary Bird, who was enjoying her second-year at the annual Christmas bash. "We look forward to this every year. It's just a time for all of us to get together and really enjoy each other."
"I enjoyed this very much," added Edwina Holmes, a 50-year resident of the town. "I really do look forward to this. I enjoy the laughter and the entertainment."
Satisfying over 400 hungry stomachs of volunteers and seniors with chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes, and a holiday decorated ice-cream roll, Murphy left few details unaddressed this year. Including the decoration of the hall with holiday-themed red and green and labeling each of the tables with names like, Blue Christmas, Dancer, and Jingle Bells, the businessman also hired a caroler dressed in a sparkling red cocktail dress.
Murphy even arranged for a visit from Jolly Old Saint Nick, whose appearance during a clapping, singing rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" was coupled with a sky-pointing, hip-wiggling jig that appeared to take choreographic cues from a 70's-era disco club.
Recognizing Murphy's altruistic actions, the town's Board of Selectmen applauded the Medford-native for his generous spirit.
"The Board of Selectmen had a tight budget last year, and we were unable to put in the $5000 for the party like we did every other year. We just couldn't afford it. And when Mr. Murphy found out we couldn't have the Christmas Party after 20-years, he volunteered to pay for the whole thing," explained Selectmen Chair Cosmo Ciccarello.
"The board felt very strongly that you've been so kind and generous, that we wanted to give you a small token of our appreciation," the Chairman added, presenting Murphy with a small wooden clock.
While professional differences were thrown out the door at the onset of the celebration, the town fathers still couldn't pass over the opportunity to throw in their playful jabs at one another. During an extended multi-prize raffle that may go down in town history as the Ciccarello comedy hour, the Selectmen Chair took his aim as he basked in the limelight. Standing on an elevated platform at the front of the holiday-decorated banquet hall and armed with a microphone as he read off the raffle winners, very few escaped his lighthearted wrath.
"Pull another one, that's my mom," joked Selectman Charlie Smith upon seeing his mother waving a recently called raffle ticket excitedly.
"Everybody can get prizes. Having to put up with you Charlie, she deserves two presents," shot back Ciccarello as the crowd broke into laughter.
"Gee, Larry, you move pretty fast, I'd hate to be a robber. You'd catch them right away," responded Ciccarello later after Safety Officer Larry Rotondi quickly located and handed a prize to another winner.
"Hey Larry, you've got to move around, here," the Chairman responded a mere 30 seconds after commending the Rotondi. "Move faster!"
But while the Chairman got in the majority of comical jabs with his quick-witted commentary, Smith and others didn't fail to return fire. In a particularly funny exchange, Smith complained that his side of the room wasn't on the receiving end of raffle prizes enough, especially after a 14-pound turkey was awarded to the opposite side of the room. "There's another turkey to go out," said Ciccarello to Smith's remarks.
"Yeah, but the biggest turkey is right there on the stand," retorted Smith to laughter and applause.
"Oh, he's picking on me again. See, he's always picking on me," Ciccarello commented, putting on his best victim-expression.
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