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Grand Opening Celebration Saturday, February 28, 2004 |
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We are OPEN!
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| Young and restless no more
Dreams do come true in Marshfield. Hundreds gathered Saturday in a Library Plaza parking lot to celebrate the grand opening of the Boys & Girls Club as the sun set behind the newly renovated building. "We did it", club president Bill Bowers said. "And the definitive word in that sentence is we." Children and adults celebrated the opening Saturday afternoon with hours of open house tours, dancing under the indoor basketball hoop and plenty of goodies to eat. The music blaring inside the club could be heard across Library Plaza. It took the time, money and labor of hundreds of volunteers transform the concept of a local Boys & Girls Club from a dream to reality. "It's hard to believe this dream was conceived four years ago by individuals who wanted to provide a safe environment for children has culminated in this beautiful activity," said Selectmen Chairman Michael Maresco. With Selectmen Jim Fitzgerald and Greg Owen mingling among the crowd, Maresco declared February 28 as Boys & Girls Club Day in Marshfield. From the club's inception, children and teenagers, serving on the youth advisory group, have been involved with the planning process. "We're going to have the coolest, most fun, safest club in town," said Amanda Avesta, 16. "This has been a remarkable experience for all of those involved." Avestas, a sophomore at Notre Dame Academy, added that her involvement with the club brought her back together with her Marshfield friends. To top off the day's festivities, fireworks burst into the sky just after the dozen members of the youth advisory group who have been involved from the start cut through the blue ribbon. Bowers urged the club's kids to "make it your own" as the covering was lifted from the club's sign hanging above the doorway. Town, county and state officials were on hand to celebrate the grand opening along with the owner of a voice that is known by Red Sox fans. Joe Castiglione, Marshfield resident and voice of the Red Sox for WEEI, served as master of ceremonies for the event, announcing each speaker in batting line-up order while sporting a Sox jacket and reminding the audience he was heading down to spring training in Florida this week. State Sen. Robert Hedlund, R-Weymouth, and state Rep. Frank Hynes, D-Marshfield - the lead-off and clean-up hitters-commended the club's directors and volunteers for their efforts during the past four years. "For those of us in state government, knowing the way things move...four years is quick," Hedlund said. Hynes and Hedlund each brought citations from the state government, including one from Gov. Mitt Romney. Plymouth County District Attorney and town resident Timothy Cruz applauded those involved for bringing a Boys & Girls Club to town. "It's so great to be here in my hometown of Marshfield," Cruz said. "This is such a great event. Everyone should be commended for the work they've done. All of Marshfield should be proud." Although the national charter opens the club to kids from 6-18, most of the 112 kids signed up for the Marshfield club are in the "tweens," or middle school ages. Executive Director Michael Lozano and his three-member staff welcomed kids into the club Monday for the first day of after-school activities and homework help. There's a fitness room, with equipment donated from the Newton club, an arts and crafts area, a computer lab, indoor basketball hoop, game tables and television. The club's teen members also have a separate room to hang out in without the younger kids, complete with a television and DVD player. The club will be open every weekday from 3-8 p.m. On early release days, which generally fall on Thursday, the club will stretch its hours from 1-7 p.m. As not every town has a Boys & Girls Club, those from neighboring towns also are welcome to join the Marshfield organization. The Ventress Memorial Library and the club reached an agreement with the town in the summer of 2002 to lease space in an unoccupied Library Plaza storefront for three years with a two renewal option that can be exercised by selectmen. The lease is a compromise between the club and the library. The club originally wanted to inhabit the site on a permanent basis, but at the same time, the library wants to use the space for a much-needed expansion. Dan Burke, co-chair of the club's Founders Campaign, said it will cost about $15,000 a month to run the facility. The club originally set out to raise at least two years of operating budget before opening its doors. After meeting that amount, they then set their sights on raising a total of $550,000 as part of its Founders Campaign. Club officials said Saturday they have raised about $500,000. While the club is now open, donations will always be on the club's list of needs. Anyone interested in supporting the organization can call (781)834-CLUB for more information or log onto www.BoysandGirlsClubofMarshfield.com to make an online donation. Donations, made payable to the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield, also can be mailed to P.O.Box 311, Marshfield, MA. 02050.
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Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield is a qualified 501c(3) corporation, |