Thumbs up given to Little League vendors
Published on May 9th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - School's out on Tuesday, June 19, the School Committee announced last Wednesday.
With only one snow day used this past winter, the requisite 180 days of school falls on June 19, four days sooner than originally scheduled with a five day allowance for bad weather built into the calendar. Building principals will notify parents of the date, and that last day is a full day of school.
The School Committee gave a thumbs up to Stoneham Little League for a concession stand at ballfields at the East School.
Stoneham Little League president Paul Garozzo proposed installing a storage container on a concrete slab or cinder blocks at the field behind East School to function as a concession stand, replacing the existing folding tables and coolers that are set up at each game to serve ballgame visitors.
The metal container will be a permanent fixture with a concession window cut out and electricity installed. It is expected to be large enough to house a refrigerator, freezer, and popcorn maker, standing approximately 8 feet wide by 20 feet long, and located on the grassy area directly behind East School building.
The idea of a concession stand at the Beacon Street field has been tossed around more than once over the past several years, however, either funding or neighborhood concerns never got the project off the ground. Garozzo told the School Committee that a similar container structure at a ball field in West Medford appealed to him recently and he began to pursue the possibility of such for Stoneham Little League.
"I'm very sensitive to the neighborhood," Garozzo said, explaining that, if approved, Stoneham Little League plans to paint and groom the outside area with some landscaping. Vinyl siding and a roof might be another option to keep the structure aesthetically pleasing to neighbors. In addition, the concession window will be made of a pull down metal door that cannot be easily vandalized. The structure will also be water proof.
The stand is expected to sell cold drinks, ice cream, candy and snacks. No cooking is planned, with the possible exception of providing steamed hot dogs.
According to Garozzo, Building Inspector Cheryl Noble has agreed to grant a temporary permit for the structure, pending School Committee approval. Health Inspector Bob Bracy has also seen the plan and has indicated initial approval as long as Little League adheres to the Board of Health's rules and regulations. Stoneham Little League must also pursue approval from the town's Planning Board and Board of Selectmen.
To neighborhood concerns regarding trash, Garozzo said that he will pursue the idea of sharing the dumpster utilized by current East School tenant, the Seem Collaborative, and will also investigate more frequent trash barrel pick ups with the Department of Public Works.
"I think this is an improvement to the program," said Stoneham Little League vice president Paul McCarthy. "This will make it look cleaner."
Garozzo agreed. "We're not going to leave you high and dry," he told a Hamil Court resident whose house faces the fields. "It's providing a better service."
A notice was sent to abutters stating that the issue was on the School Committee's agenda for the meeting of May 2. The hearings for Planning Board and Board of Selectmen approval will be public hearings and residents are invited to voice their support and concerns then as well.
Last Wednesday, the School Department received bids from two food service programs looking to take on management of the school lunch program. Chartwell and Aramark responded to the request for proposal and those bids will be evaluated and discussed further at the next meeting.
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