Girls gain self-esteem at Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield By Sydney Schwartz The Patriot Ledger Posted Mar 22, 2008 @ 02:00 AM One girl said she hadn't seen her father since Christmas. Another said she'd heard a false rumor that her mother was raped. Athird said her dad was addicted to beer. The girls sat in a circle in a small computer room at the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, sharing sincere, powerful stories of their families and learning that they weren’t alone. The girls, a dozen third-, fourth- and fifth-graders, meet weekly for “Go Girl Go,” a health, fitness and self-esteem program for girls in the third through eighth grades. “We talk about girl things,” said Alexa Mahan, 9. “It’s good to talk about them. You get issues out of your head.” “It teaches you self-respect,” said Sydney Eastman, 10. “You can share what’s happening in your life.” Each week, the girls read a story about an athlete and discuss a serious health or emotional issue – like body image, smoking, family issues or bullying – and then do a physical activity related to their discussion. Organizers say the eight-week program, sponsored by the nonprofit Women’s Sports Foundation, is an opportunity for girls to gain self-confidence, learn more about themselves and make new friends. The girls say it is a place where they can talk with their peers and the young group leaders in a safe environment about feelings and thoughts that they might not be able to share with parents. “I just come here because it’s fun to talk about some of the issues I have,” said Makayla Cannon, 9. The class is run by Marshfield High School senior Mary Driscoll, college student Johanna Cullen and Kathleen Newcomb, a recent college graduate who is program director at the club. Older girls meet on Wednesdays and younger girls on Thursdays. When the girls discussed emotions, they learned relaxing breathing exercises. When they learned about stereotypes, they did role playing. One week, the girls made anti-smoking posters. Another week, they read from writings of a female athlete who had to overcome obstacles to self-respect – and wrote lists about themselves. “A lot of these sessions go into having the girls learn more about each other having more respect for the differences in each other,” Newcomb said. “There’s new things every time we’re going in there that we’re dealing with.” This past week, the girls read a story from a six-time Paralympic medalist whose parents got divorced when she was a teenager. They discussed how it must have felt for the athlete to be caught between her parents – and how different kinds of families work in their own ways. Afterwards, the girls scribbled with markers on bright pink paper about their own family angst and talked about what they learned from those experiences. “My parents got divorced,” one wrote. “I learned that I can still have fun with both my parents and love them both the same.” “My mom and my dad and my step mom got in a fight and they wouldn’t stop,” another wrote. “I learned from that fight to get married to someone who I will trust and they will never turn their back on me.”   Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield announces new programs and events -January 23, 2008 The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield announces several upcoming programs and events. The 1,000 member strong club provides area youth between the ages of 6 through 18 with enrichment and recreation programs in a safe environment. Registration begins Jan 23 for the new educational program, known as Go Girl Go, which is a small-group health, fitness, prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program designed to meet the developmental needs of girls in third through eighth grade. The program, which will take place on Wednesdays, will run for eight sessions. It is an opportunity for girls to make new friends, gain self-confidence and learn more about themselves. A dance will take place at the Boys & Girls Club in Marshfield from 7 to 10 p.m on Friday, Feb 8, for children ages 10 through 12. Cost is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Tickets will go on sale Monday Feb 4. Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield will have a snow tubing feild trip to Nashoba Valley's Tubing Park in Littleton on Feb 19. Cost is $25, and those interested should inquire about it at the club. Stay tuned for the next Girls Night Out program at the club, which is Specifically geared toward girls ages 6 years and older.
Girls will enjoy pizza and soda, arts and crafts, hair and makeup and games. Girls Night Out typically takes place from 6 to 9 p.m and is led by high school girls from the Girls and Boys Keystone Club.For more information about programming, call Kathleen Newcomb, program director, at 781-834-2582. Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield's purpose is to establish a safe haven for recreation, which includes a variety of supervised activities for more than 4,000 youth within the town. With the mission "To inspire all young people to realize thier full potential as productive and responsible citizens, as well as become tomorrows capable leaders," the club is geared toward children between the ages of 6 to 18.
Boys & Girls Club offers babysitting course -February 13, 2008 In conjunction with EMS Academy of Marshfield, the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield will host a babysitting course for children ages 11 to 17 from 1 to 5 p.m on Sunday, Feb. 24. The "BLAST Babysitter Lessons and Safety Training" course will instruct the students in proper first aid procedures for common childhood emergencies, fundamentals of emergency care procedures such as choking and CPR, proper response to common childhood behavioral changes, the types of games and toys appropriate for each age group, how to childproof a room according to the age of the child, how to meet all of the child's needs properly and the contents and appropriate use of items in a well-stoked first aid kit. "Babysitting is a serious responsibility. This course provides the necessary basic child care information that will enable the kids to become responsible babysitters who are capable of handling many challenging situations that may arise while caring for a child." said Greg Jackson, the clubs executive director. The course is open to both members and non-members, and the fee is $30.00. Registration has begun. To sign up, call Kathleen Newcomb at the Boys & Girls Club at 781-834-2582. EMS Academy is an accredited training agency through the Department of Public Health Office of Emergency Medical Services. EMS Academy provides classroom, clinical and field EMS education through teaching materials and a professional staff. With locations in Marshfield, Quincy and Woburn, EMS Academy is headquartered at 864 Plain street Suite 4, Marshfield.
Ninety-Nine Auction benefits Boys & Girls Club By Krystal Grow Marshfield Mariner Marshfield - It’s impossible to walk into the 99 Restaurant in Pembroke and not notice the various decorations that adorn the walls. The design scheme ranges from retro to rustic, and each item that hangs from the wall or sits on a shelf makes perfect conversation pieces for the customers who frequent the franchise. But the 99 is getting a total makeover, and all those posters and statues that are staples of the restaurant’s hodgepodge atmosphere could be your new centerpiece. The restaurant is holding a silent auction that began on Monday, Oct. 8, and will continue through Oct. 21 to make room for a new look. In the process, the money raised during the silent auction will go to a few local organizations, including the Marshfield Boys & Girls Club, and Silver Lake and Pembroke Public Schools Tom Cattaneo, manager at the Pembroke 99, said he always wanted the restaurant to be a part of the community and this is a way to give back to the town. “Part of our success is from giving back to the community. We’re all local people, and we want to keep that feel,” he said, standing under a weathered wooden sign with “Little Sandy Pond” painted on it. Cattaneo has been managing the Pembroke eatery since it opened four years ago and said he’s excited about the auction and the changes going on throughout the company. “Every plaque and ornament is coming down, and the whole place is going to be brighter and more family oriented,” he said. “We talked to customers and they said it was too dark in here. We’re trying to get away from the pub atmosphere. We’re going for a polished, casual look.” The current color scheme of dark browns and reds will be livened up with yellows and greens, and Cattaneo said the cathedral ceilings will be filled in to reduce some of the noise during busy times of the day. “The founding family of the restaurants really stressed the importance of community involvement, and we want to make this a more family oriented place,” said Cattaneo. “Reaching out to the community will bring more people in,” Cattaneo said he and the restaurant have donated to the Marshfield Boys & Girls Club in the past, and is happy to continue supporting the organization through the silent auction. So far, Cattaneo said some items, such as a bank vault replica with a golden eagle statue on top, have received bids of more than $1,000. Other items, including two fully functional canoes that currently hang from the ceiling, could bring a good sum of money into the restaurant, part of which will put directly into the Pembroke school system. “We don’t get a dime, but any way we can give back to the community, we want to do it,” Cattaneo said.
	GIRLS RULE -Patriot Ledger Staff It was Girls Night Out at the Marshfield Boys and Girls Club, where more than 30 girls 6 and older gathered to eat pizza, have their hair and makeup done, and dance the night away. The event was held Saturday at the club's space in Library plaza. Girls Night Out is held about twice a year. The offerings Saturday went beyond food and cosmetics; stations where the girls could make bead and key chains were set up. The Marshfield Boys and Girls Club offers enrichment and recreation programs for local children. It's programs include Boys Night Out and Go Girl Go!, a program meant to boost self-esteem and make girls more aware of themselves, said Melissa Latta, a Marshfield parent. Latta came to Girls Night Out with her two daughters, Sydney and Shelby.
'Tis Better To Give By Kathryn Koch Marshfield Mariner Marshfield - Pat Roche said he doesn’t understand people who have the means to do the right thing but don’t. The $1 million donation he and wife Barbara are making to the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield’s “Build the Future” campaign for a new $8 million facility demonstrates that he’s not one of those people. “For me, it’s the thing to do,” Roche said. “If you can afford to do it and take care of someone else, you should do it.” Roche drops by Library Plaza from time to time, and has seen how the youths have to make do with limited space and more than 900 members. “I came in here one day six months ago, looked at the kids, and said, ‘They’ll break the walls down here,’” he said. When Roche’s boys, Rick and Ed, were growing up in Marshfield, there was nothing in town like the Marshfield club that will celebrate its first three years in operation in February. Roche was very familiar with what a Boys & Girls club could offer when he signed on to help support plans for its opening a year before it opened. The Saturday basketball leagues were always full at the Parkway Boys & Girls Club in West Roxbury years ago when he supported that organization. The club has since been renamed the Roche Family Community Center. Teens aren’t at the club as much as the younger children are because there’s not much for them to do, Roche said, but that will change with a new 34,000-square-foot clubhouse behind the Roche Bros. supermarket on Proprietors Drive. The new facility will include a teen center along with a learning center, gymnasium, fitness area, game room and multipurpose space. Roche said a great organization, an enthusiastic board of directors and obvious space issues add up to a cause worth supporting. “I can’t say enough about the board here,” he said. “They are great.” The Roches announced that they were contributing the $1 million during a campaign dinner they hosted at the Marshfield Country Club, where they reached out to 80 guests with pledge cards to join them in their charitable efforts. While repeating his now-familiar joke that he’s spending Barbara’s inheritance, Pat surprised his audience with the announcement. Club president Dan Burke said all Pat Roche told him at the start of the evening was that he wanted to speak at the end of the dinner. The announcement floored everyone. “We had no idea what it was, no idea how much it was,” he said. “We were shocked, overwhelmed and thrilled.” Burke said Pat Roche has shown great leadership and a willingness to support the club in every way possible. Realistically, board members hope to raise the rest of the $8 million in three years, but Burke said he hopes the Roche donation will spur others to contribute so they can meet their goal sooner. The formula for success, he said, has been making sure all donors know exactly what they are contributing their money towards. Burke said club officials are in the process of finalizing a lease with the town for the nine acres of town land that Town Meeting voters approved for construction of the clubhouse. Pat Roche was a regular visitor to the construction site for the Marshfield store, and expects to be a regular during construction of the new clubhouse behind the store Pat and Barbara, who have been married 55 years, moved to Marshfield from Jamaica Plain in 1964 when their boys were 5 and 3 years old. Their sons don’t live in Marshfield, but opened the company’s 17th Roche Bros. or Sudbury Farms, store on Proprietors Drive in July 2005. Rick is now the vice chairman and chief executive officer of Roche Bros., and Ed is president and chief operating officer. Roche and Sean Morey, the special teams captain for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Marshfield native, are the honorary campaign chairmen for the fundraising drive. Like the Roche brothers, Morey and his sister Erin, his brothers Dean and Mark, and their friends didn’t have a place like the Boys & Girls Club to go when they were growing up. At a golf tournament in July, Morey said there was talk of some kind of place for youths being built, but the years passed without one. Both Pat and Barbara Roche were raised in Roslindale, where they attended the Sacred Heart grammar school, and have contributed “Barbara’s inheritance” to that school as well as Boston Latin School and Boston College, where Pat went to school. Pat Roche said he’s a fortunate guy to be able to give money away for a good cause. “It’s fun doing that, too,” he said.
Boys and Girls Club Patrons Challenge New Donors By SYDNEY SCHWARTZ The Patriot Ledger Three years ago, Marshfield accountants John Topham and Michael Damon challenged other businessmen to match a donation. The accountants, of Damon, Topham and Co., planned to give $1,000 to the new Boys and Girls Club in Library Plaza. But they wanted to do more for the fledgling club, they said, so they created a friendly, charitable competition. ‘‘We started talking about it. ‘How can we get them more money?’’’ said Topham, who is on the club’s audit committee. ‘‘We decided to challenge the businesses in Marshfield ... see if they would put the money where their mouths are.’’ Damon and Topham have donated $1,000 to the club each year. In the three years, their challenge has raised more than $30,000. The first year, Topham said, the Damon Topham Challenge brought in more than $3,000. Last year, it was about $8,000. This year, the challenge has netted $25,000. ‘‘We’ve been very fortunate to have great support from a number of businesses in Marshfield,’’ said Dan Burke, president of the Boys and Girls Club. Topham said he raises money using connections from his clients and from the Marshfield Chamber of Commerce. He also sends out letters, and ‘‘for people I know personally, I’ll get on the phone and do a little arm-twisting,’’ he said. He reminds donors that to meet the challenge costs only $2.75 a day. Contributions vary from $50 to several thousand, and contributors include banks, local media, construction groups and other certified public accountants. Eastern Bank, for instance, recently donated $1,000. Gregory Jackson, executive director of the club, said this support helps the club in its daily mission of offering a positive recreational environment for children ages 6 to 18. ‘‘Support from local businesses such as Eastern Bank reinforces what we teach club kids about giving back to the community in which you live and work,’’ he said. The club charges dues of $50 per membership or $100 per family, but no children are turned away because of an inability to pay. Because dues do not cover the basic expenses of the club’s operation, the club relies on support from individuals and corporations. The club moved into its Library Plaza clubhouse in 2004. But the number of children who want to use the clubhouse is already more than triple the 300-person capacity of the space. This month, the club signed a 40-year lease with selectmen for 9.3 acres of town land, moving the group a step closer to building a new $9 million clubhouse. Topham said he got involved in the club when it was still an idea, and both he and his three boys remain active. ‘‘It seemed like it was an untapped resource or need of the town,’’ he said. He said when his youngest son was 5, he couldn’t wait to turn 6 so he could join his brothers as club members. Now he’s 7. Topham is also looking forward to the new facility and its teenager area, where his oldest son, who is 13, will be able to spend time. ‘‘As a local business, I probably get hit up (for a donation) once a week,’’ he said. ‘‘We try to give something to everybody, but this is kind of a special project for us.’’ For more information about the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, call 781-834-CLUB or visit MarshfieldBoysAndGirlsClub.com. Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 311, Marshfield 02050. Damon Topham Challengers Gold -Eastern Bank -Rockland Federal Credit -One Life at a Time -Rockland Trust -TCH Resource Inc. -Damon, Topham and Company, LLC -WATD -Marshfield Mariner -Don Martin Corp. Silver -Burke Group Bronze -Bizchecks -David Cleary, CPA, MST -Harris Rebar -Keville Enterprises Friends -Academy of Esthetics -David Pinkham, CPA -Graeber, Davis and Cantwell Sydney Schwartz may be reached at sschwartz@ledger.com . Copyright 2007 The Patriot Ledger Transmitted Friday, March 30, 2007
Youths gather around the computers being used in the new Club Tech program at the Boys & Girls Club of Marsfield. Technology is newest Boys & Girls offering By Kathryn Koch Tuesday, April 03, 2007 - Updated: 01:43 PM EDT Fliers promoting safe and responsible driving and bicycling hang outside the technology room at the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield. They weren’t made by law enforcement professionals or employees of any nonprofit group. They were made by a group of youths in the club’s new Club Tech program. Seven 10 to 12-year-olds sat at the club’s new computers at the start of the second week of the program in late March, researching the rules of the road before typing up several questions on which to quiz each other. With each right answer, they earned a Ringpop as a prize, and they learned more and more about the importance of car and bicycle safety as they worked on fliers in a Word program to get their point across. Nick Marshalsea, 12, used crash photos from the Internet and phrases like “This Could Be You” to get his point across. He’s thinking more about bicycle safety after reading some of the research. “I learned I should wear my helmet,” he said. Kathleen Newcomb, the club’s activities director, told the story of a serious accident that had turned the car she was riding in upside down and how she had been protected by wearing a seat belt. She said the pain of the seat belt digging into her stomach was worth it. Two of the girls in the program also shared personal stories. A youth works on a project. The lesson, titled “You’re in the Drivers Seat,” focused on just one of many lessons that the Boys & Girls Club of America wants club members to learn through the use of technology, said Newcomb, who doubles as technology director. Health and life skills, character and leadership are the focus of some of the lessons. “Kids are doing so much with games, but here they are learning the importance of educational programs,” she said. Eight new computers in the technology room are the result of a joint venture between Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Microsoft. More than 3,000 clubs across the country are benefiting from this partnership as part of a comprehensive national technology plan called “Operation Connect.” There have been delays in getting the program started due to some software problems, but Newcomb said she hopes to expand on the one-hour program on Tuesdays as time goes on. The technology tools the youths used for the safety message were Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer and the Paint program. More advanced programs the older children will use are Power Point presentations and Excel, Newcomb said. The message on the flier 10-year-old Carolyn Betters was creating was “Always Wear a Seatbelt,” based on her research on the importance of wearing seat belts and helmets. She has been a club member for about two years and likes Club Tech because she’s getting to know the other kids in the program better. She learned more about them and they about her by designing coats of arms using the Paint program the first week of Club Tech. Each coat of arms reflected their goals and their interests through the use of visual symbols. Betters used the image of a peace sign to remind her not to fight with her older brother, the letter “A” to do better in school, fruit to encourage eating healthy and a picture of a girl with a bat to encourage good softball play. Marshalsea used graphics on his coat of arms to show that he likes to hang out at the beach, wants to join the Army, wants people to stop smoking, respects his country, that he would like to get better grades, eat healthier and play better football and to show his interest in football and cars. The next program was an all-ages program looking critically at the definition of a hero, starting with the children researching athletes they consider to be a hero.
’Tis better to give By Kathryn Koch Friday, December 08, 2006 - Updated: 13:02 PM EST Pat Roche said he doesn’t understand people who have the means to do the right thing but don’t. The $1 million donation he and wife Barbara are making to the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield’s “Build the Future” campaign for a new $8 million facility demonstrates that he’s not one of those people. “For me, it’s the thing to do,” Roche said. “If you can afford to do it and take care of someone else, you should do it.” Roche drops by Library Plaza from time to time, and has seen how the youths have to make do with limited space and more than 900 members. “I came in here one day six months ago, looked at the kids, and said, ‘They’ll break the walls down here,’” he said. When Roche’s boys, Rick and Ed, were growing up in Marshfield, there was nothing in town like the Marshfield club that will celebrate its first three years in operation in February. Roche was very familiar with what a Boys & Girls club could offer when he signed on to help support plans for its opening a year before it opened. The Saturday basketball leagues were always full at the Parkway Boys & Girls Club in West Roxbury years ago when he supported that organization. The club has since been renamed the Roche Family Community Center. Teens aren’t at the club as much as the younger children are because there’s not much for them to do, Roche said, but that will change with a new 34,000-square-foot clubhouse behind the Roche Bros. supermarket on Proprietors Drive. The new facility will include a teen center along with a learning center, gymnasium, fitness area, game room and multipurpose space. Roche said a great organization, an enthusiastic board of directors and obvious space issues add up to a cause worth supporting. “I can’t say enough about the board here,” he said. “They are great.” The Roches announced that they were contributing the $1 million during a campaign dinner they hosted at the Marshfield Country Club, where they reached out to 80 guests with pledge cards to join them in their charitable efforts. While repeating his now-familiar joke that he’s spending Barbara’s inheritance, Pat surprised his audience with the announcement. Club president Dan Burke said all Pat Roche told him at the start of the evening was that he wanted to speak at the end of the dinner. The announcement floored everyone. “We had no idea what it was, no idea how much it was,” he said. “We were shocked, overwhelmed and thrilled.” Burke said Pat Roche has shown great leadership and a willingness to support the club in every way possible. Realistically, board members hope to raise the rest of the $8 million in three years, but Burke said he hopes the Roche donation will spur others to contribute so they can meet their goal sooner. The formula for success, he said, has been making sure all donors know exactly what they are contributing their money towards. Burke said club officials are in the process of finalizing a lease with the town for the nine acres of town land that Town Meeting voters approved for construction of the clubhouse. Pat Roche was a regular visitor to the construction site for the Marshfield store, and expects to be a regular during construction of the new clubhouse behind the store Pat and Barbara, who have been married 55 years, moved to Marshfield from Jamaica Plain in 1964 when their boys were 5 and 3 years old. Their sons don’t live in Marshfield, but opened the company’s 17th Roche Bros. or Sudbury Farms, store on Proprietors Drive in July 2005. Rick is now the vice chairman and chief executive officer of Roche Bros., and Ed is president and chief operating officer. Roche and Sean Morey, the special teams captain for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Marshfield native, are the honorary campaign chairmen for the fundraising drive. Like the Roche brothers, Morey and his sister Erin, his brothers Dean and Mark, and their friends didn’t have a place like the Boys & Girls Club to go when they were growing up. At a golf tournament in July, Morey said there was talk of some kind of place for youths being built, but the years passed without one. Both Pat and Barbara Roche were raised in Roslindale, where they attended the Sacred Heart grammar school, and have contributed “Barbara’s inheritance” to that school as well as Boston Latin School and Boston College, where Pat went to school. Pat Roche said he’s a fortunate guy to be able to give money away for a good cause. “It’s fun doing that, too,” he said. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield "One Year / One Mission" Campaign A Success! The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield capped off 2005 with another successful fundraising campaign. The "One Year / One Mission" Campaign celebrated the Club's first full year of operation and reached its goal of $125,000 as the year closed. Honorary Chair and board member, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz, attributed the success of the campaign to "the community's acceptance and endorsement of the Boys & Girls Club and the positive impact the Club has on the youth population." Greg Jackson, Executive Director of the Club, credits the hard work of the organization's Development Committee and particularly the contributions from the Damon/Topham Challenge to the fund's bottom line. The challenge was issued by local resident and CPA, John Topham - founding member of Damon, Topham & Company, LLC to other area businesses to match his firm's $1,000 pledge to the Boys & Girls Club. "John really stepped up and personally prodded the business community to push the fund over the top," Jackson stated. The Club only charges dues of $50 per membership with a maximum of $100 per family and no child is ever turned away based on financial need. Obviously, the revenue generated from these dues does not cover the basic expenses of the Club's operation. It is necessary to rely on the generosity of individuals and corporations to make up the shortfall. Therefore, the annual appeal coupled with special events (Annual Gala and Haunted House) and foundation grants are critical to the Club's continued success and prosperity. The Club does not rely on any municipal funding. "We are extremely grateful to everyone who shared and continues to share our vision to provide quality after school programming for our kids" said Jackson. "District Attorney Cruz and his committee met the challenges of another aggressive goal and made it look easy, which it most certainly is not." The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield is located at 1837 Ocean Street in Library Plaza, Marshfield. The Club now boasts a membership of over 780 children and continues to grow weekly. It is an IRS qualified 501(c)3 corporation, organized under the auspices of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Financial contributions are 100% tax deductible. For more information on how you can get involved with the Club, please call Greg Jackson at 781-834-CLUB (2582)
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Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield Executive Director Plunges Into His Role At the Club On January 1, 2006, the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, Executive Director, Gregory Jackson, plunged into the icy waters of Rexhame Beach to fulfill a challenge presented by the kids at the Club. The Club kids challenged Greg to take the plunge, just for the sake of doing it. Greg, not liking icy water, told the kids he would do it if they raised $1,000.00 for the Club. In true Boys and Girls Club fashion, the kids united together, pooled their allowances, emptied their piggy banks and raised $1200. Greg, who teaches the kids to honor commitments, arrived at Rexhame Beach on New Years Day (his day off) outfitted in a Braveheart costume symbolizing his bravery for taking on such a challenge. He joined the Rexhame Rangers and plunged into the icy water and emerged a hero in true Brave Heart fashion. I think we can file this under "Above and Beyond the Call of Duty" for an Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club.

Marshfield Mariner Front Page, Wednesday, August 11, 2004

Boys & Girls Club a Success
by: Elizabeth Malloy

When the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield signed the lease for their Library Plaza location, it was for three years, with an optional two year extension. Selectmen Chairman Jim Fitzgerald said the option was in case the club failed and the town wanted to :exit gracefully" from the project.

But at their meeting Monday, Selectmen not only unanimously voted to extend the club's lease, they also entertained discussion of the club's expansion, saying it had succeeded beyond anyone's expectations.

"When we originally entered into the lease here, we took you on your word in terms of being able to achieve the goals that were set out, and we all thought they were ambitious." Fitzgerald told Boys & Girls Club representatives at the meeting. "You can succeeded beyond all expectations. Financially, membership wise, I really commend you all for doing what you've done. It is far and away beyond anything I ever thought you would do."

According to Bill Bowers, the clubs' chief volunteer officer, in the five months since the opening, membership has gone from 125 kids to 390, with an averaging of 3- to 40 youngsters using the facility each day. The club has also done a great deal of fund raising. A year ago, they set a two-year fundraising goal of $550,000. They have already raised $538,000. Last year the club awarded two $1,000 scholarships to college-bound Marshfield students.

"The bottom line is it's a place where kids belong. It's a place where kids feel welcome," Bowers said. "It's all about fun, it's all about the kids, it's all about them being able to come here and enjoy themselves.

Despite the recent success, Bowers said the Boys & Girls Club is not about to rest on its laurels. The club is holding a fundraising gala, which Bowers predicted will be the "social event of the season," at the Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston Sept. 10. On Halloween weekend, the club will host the fourth annual Haunted House at the Marshfield Fair Grounds. Last year that event attracted more than 2,600 people.

Aside from its fundraising work, the club is also looking towards its future, which, with its current growth will most likely involve expansion.

Bowers said that for now, the club was most interested in moving into a space directly next to where they are located. The space is currently used by the Marshfield Department of Recreation, but it will eventually be moving into their new offices on Coast Guard Hill. Bowers said this move would be less costly than building a new facility elsewhere in Library Plaza or in the planned mixed use development off Route 139 near Marshfield High School, and it would also allow the club to stay in downtown Marshfield.

While the selectmen listened to the club's suggestions, Fitzgerald said it was premature to discuss expansion at this point because Ventress Memorial Library is also looking into renovating and expanding as well.

"I think it's going to be premature for us to discuss this for another six months to a year until we really get some recommendations back from the Library Building Committee," Fitzgerald said. "Certainly it (the space) is available, we should talk."

Bower said another goal of the Boys & Girls Club is to attract more teenagers. The club currently services mostly 11 and 12 year olds, but he said they are hopeful that as that group of kids gets older, they will stay with the club.

Selectmen Michael Maresco said in addition to the work of the Marshfield Police Department, organizations like the Boys & Girls Club contribute greatly to keeping Marshfield safe.

"We have a safe community because we have places like the library where kids can go, places like the Rec. Department and the Boys & Girls Club," he said.

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Club comes alive
Grand opening for Boys & Girls Club set for Saturday
by Amanda Gontarz

Left: Kieran Foley, 6, enjoys a bit of bumper pool insode the spacious new Boys & Girls Club. The club will hold its grand opening this Saturday, Feb 28.

Marshfield Mariner Front Page Wednesday, August 20, 2003

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Marshfield Mariner
June 18, 2003

The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield announces that the following people have joined their Board of Directors: Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz; Honorable Representative Frank Hynes; Mr. Patrick Roche, Chairman and Co-founder of Roche Brothers Supermarkets; Chrissy Kelleher, Educator and Program Director of the B&G Club Youth Advisory Group; Pam Snell owner of American Computers; Paul Vercolone of Verc Enterprises; Grace Alvey of Jack Conway & Co.; Betsy Hines, Betsy Hines Realty. In addition to these new members, the following Board Members renewed their board terms for another three years: Dan Burke, Rev. Ginger Brasher Cunningham, Sean Kelly, Debi Leahy, Diane Looney, Cheryl Morrison, Paul Nichols, Ross Troiano and Joe Weinman. New members of the Corporation include: Mark Logan, child advocate and Scituate resident; and Ed O'Connell-former Trustee of Ventress Memorial Library.

Elected as officers of the Corporation and Board of Directors were: Bill Bowers-President; Patti Epstein, Beverly Johnston and John Valianti-Vice Presidents; Lisa Seyffert-Treasurer and Deirdre Fleming-Secretary/Clerk. These members were inducted at the Boys & Girls Club Annual Meeting that was held at the Bridgewaye Inn on Wednesday, May 21. The Club bylaws were amended to allow up to 45 Board Members. For more information on the Boys & Girls Club, contact 781-834-CLUB or visit www.BoysAndGirlsClubOfMarshfeld.com.

Boston Globe/South
June 15, 2003

DONATION FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB- The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, scheduled to open in the fall has received $100,000 donation from Majestic Sales, a wholesale grocer in Marshfield. Beth and Jack Griffin, owners of Majestic Sales, presented the gift at a recent Boys and Girls Club meeting. The money will be used to open the club and to refurbish the building where it will be located, a 4,000 square foot space in Marshfield Center's Library Plaza. The club, which was suppose to tke five years to open, is at the three-year mark in its fund-raising drive and is running ahead of schedule, said Jean Saawtelle, the club's public relations coordinator.

Marshfield Mariner
June 11,2003

The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield held its Annual Meeting of the Corporation at the Bridgewaye Inn last week. This meeting is a business event at which new members join the Corporation and Club business is discussed. Club President, Bill Bowers, announced the commencement of the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield- Founder's Campaign to raise $550,000 over the next four to five years to enable the establishment of the club and its operation in the coming years.

Jack and Beth Griffin, owners of Majestic Sales of Marshfield, brought them much closer to that goal by presenting the Club with a $10,000 check and a pledge of $100,000 to the Club over the next 10 years. The Griffin's waited until the sizable crowd had left before they presented the check to the Board of Directors.

This is not the first time Majestic Sales and the Griffins have given to the Club. Before presenting the check last night, the Griffins were the single largest contributors to the Boys & Girls Club since its inception (second highest being Blue Cross & Blue Shield with a $10K donation). The Griffins were last year's recipients of the Boys & Girls Club's Benefactor of the Year Award which goes to the person or organization that raises the most money for the Club. Majestic Sales holds a company outing every year with a live auction and donates the proceeds to the Boys & Girls Club. Beth Griffin also orchestrates the Annual Haunted House at the Marshfield Fairgrounds that raises between 8-10K each year for the Club. Their fundraising efforts both Corporate and personally are to be commended. Bowers stated that "the Griffins contribution helps to set the tone of the Founder's Campaign. Not only have they been more than generous from a financial standpoint, they have been tremendous friends to the Club by donating their time and talents also."

Majestic Sales Corporation just celebrated its tenth year of operation in March of 2003. Initially selling closeouts, Majestic has blossomed to a full-scale wholesaler, servicing smaller drug and mass merchandiser chains as well as neighborhood stores located in larger urban settings. Headquartered in Marshfield, Massachusetts, Majestic currently services retail customers through their distribution centers in Massachusetts, Ohio, Maryland, California, Texas, Connecticut and Florida. Plans are currently unfolding for their eighth distribution center in the Seattle area and once national coverage is achieved, Majestic will explore the international marketplace. You can find out more about Majestic Sales by viewing their website at www.majesticsales.com.

For more information on the Boys & Girls Club contact 781-834-CLUB or view their Website at www.BoysandGirlsClubOfMarshfield. com

Marshfield Mariner
May 7, 2003

The Marshfield Mariner put a full page ad in the paper that generously offered $5 of every subscription will be donated to the Marshfield Boys and Girls Club! Click HERE for a look at the whole ad and a printable version so you can subscribe to the paper and donate $5 to the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield! Or, call 1-888-343-1954 to subscribe and be sure to mention the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield!

Marshfield Mariner
March 26, 2003

Jack Conway & Co., the state's largest independent real estate brokerage has joined forces with the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield to create a Boys & Girls Club at Library Plaza in downtown Marshfield.

"Marshfield is a great community with lots of wonderful projects, I thought about it and decided that the Boys & Girls Club was in the best position to serve most children in Marshfield," said Marshfield resident Jack Conway, founder and chairman of the realty company. "Our gift recognizes their professional effort and our commitment to the future success of this program."

Conway said, "They have their act together. They have a plan and will open this fall. What a great opportunity for the kids of Marshfield. The children will be the boss. The children of Marshfield will mold this club and create their future as the leader of tomorrow.

The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield will open its club in Library Plaza in the fall of 2003. The town has granted the organization a 3-5 year lease with 4,000 square feet of space dedicated to and for the children of Marshfield.

Club President, Bill Bowers says, "I could not be happier. Partnering with Jack Conway gives us the chance to show what we know to be true. Give the children of our town support from adults to define what they want and we will have a successful program. We have always believed that this program will be for and led by the kids of Marshfield. Jack Conway's support solidifies our conviction."

Grace Alvey, a Marshfield resident who manages Conway's office on Route 139, grew up attending a Boys & Girls Club and attributes her club experience to her success today.

"I was an only child," Alvey said. "The club allowed me to interact with other kids and provided me with the chance to work with other people outside my immediate family. I am forever grateful for the leadership skills I learned at the Boys & Girls Club."

Founded in l957, Norwell-based Jack Conway & Co. has 41 sales offices and more than 650 sales agents working in local communities from Boston to Cape Cod.

If you want to know more or learn how you can help this effort to serve Marshfield's children please contact the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield at 781-834-CLUB or visit their Web site www.BoysandGirlsClubOfMarshfield.com. You can mail your tax deductible donation to Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield, P.O.Box 311, Marshfield, Ma. 02050

Marshfield Mariner
March 5, 2003

Club closer to reality

By Seth Jacobson
SJACOBSO@CNC.COM

It's been three-and-a-half years since the project began, but organizers are confident a Boys and Girls Club will soon become a reality in Marshfield.

Right now, the main issue is collecting funds to build the new club. Officials say the target goal is $500,000, with $100,000 already donated.

"That's what we're up against but we're committed to doing this," said Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield Board of Directors Vice-President John Valianti. "It's well-worth doing, but it's a challenge. We need folks to help us with individual donations." He added donations would be accepted from local business as well.

Valianti said the project is pretty much where it should be right now.

"The hope when we started this was that it would take about four years to open," he said. "We're on schedule right now. I always knew it would happen, it was just a matter of when."

Valianti said the club's location will be at Library Plaza, located directly next to the Ventress Library. The building the club will be in is roomy, measuring 4,000 square-feet. Club officials sealed up the location about six months ago.

"We're moving forward, we're starting to renovate (the building) and we hope to be open by next fall," Valianti said. He added the new heating and air-conditioning system for the building is in the process of being worked on, as that was one of the curcial aspects of the project which needed to be addressed.

Another thing the board of directors took care of recently was hiring the new director of developement for the Boys & Girls Club, Bill Stanton, the former director of the North and South Rivers Watershed Association.

Other aspects of the project which will eventually need to be addressed include painting, sheet-rocking, building new bathrooms, putting in some new doors and hiring the staff for the place.

On Saturday, the Boys & Girls Club youth advisory group, along with some parents and Marshfield Selectmen Michael Maresco traveled to the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton in order to get an idea what a good club should look like when it's done.

"Most of the kids had never seen one," said another Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield vice-president, Beverly Johnston. She explained the youth advisory group is made up of kids who live in town. The group's job is to identify things it would like to see in the forthcoming Marshfield club.

"About two years ago, we realized we needed a group of kids to tell us what they wanted in the club," Johnston said. "The advisory group meets on a monthly basis."

"I think it was important for us that we did that," Valianti added.

However, Valianti stressed the most important thing to worry about now is funding. He said the board of directors will pursue local fundraising events and certain state grants that could help, but he emphasized the fact that individual donations from the community will be needed. Both Johnston and Valianti say they realize that with the shape the economy is in, getting individual donations could be a tough task but they remain optimistic.

"I think we're in a similar situation as post-Sept. 11," Johnston said. "After that tragedy, charities thought they would be getting less contributions. But in very short order, people back then felt charitable giving was more important than ever. Our current project is so compelling that when people understand what it does for children, they'll realize the importance of helping."

"Obviously it might affect our fundraising but people can see that this is for the children and their future," Valianti added. He explained that he was once a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Marlboro and noted that experience helped him build a lot of character while he was growing up. He said many celebrities and sports stars started out at given Boys & Girls Clubs.

"It was always just a place for me to go to and I spent a lot of time there," Valianti said of his Boys & Girls Club experience. "It was a place I could go after school to stay out of trouble," He added the Marshfield club will be able to provide all the same opportunities that he had while he was growing up.

"There's about 4,500 kids from ages 6-18 in this town," he said. "Sure there are all kinds of programs in this town but there's no formal after-school thing kids can call their own.

Valianti and Johnston said the club will feature an array of activities. According to a draft of the architectural plans for the club, it will feature spaces like a hobby and craft room, a game room, a quiet room, a computer room, a teen room, staff offices and bathrooms. Valianti said eventually, a gym could potentially be installed in the building.

"This will be something new to Marshfield," Johnston said. "We really had to keep pushing it, keep selling it all along. Marshfield is such a cross-section of different people and we're really trying to relay the idea that no matter what, the kids all need a place where they can develop themselves to be influential and effective."

To make a donation, send checks to the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield, P.O.Box 311, Marshfield, MA., 02050 or call (781) 834-CLUB. People can learn more about the project online at www.marshfieldboysandgirlsclub.org.

November 22, 2002

To The Editor: The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield would like to thank all of the local businesses and families for their generous donations of time, energy and supplies for our Third Annual Haunted House at the Marshfield Fairgrounds. The event was a huge success and a great time was had by all who attended. The volunteers who played character roles for the haunted movie sets were incredible. Thank you to all who helped with the overall operations and to everyone who baked the deliciously spooky confections which were a big hit. We would like to express enormous gratitude to Beth Griffin, the mastermind behind the entire operation and her husband Jack, both of Magestic Sales of Marshfield. The Griffins have stood with us since our inception to promote our cause and help make our Club for the children of Marshfield a reality. Without the impressive professional work of Katie Garcia, the talented make-up artist we were so furtunate to have, this might have been just your ordinary event. She made it very fun to be a character. Maybe you'd like to try out for next year!

We would like to express our appreciation to the following businesses for their support and generous donations: Adam's Home Woodworking, American Computer Technology, ABC Equipment, BJ's Wholesale Club, Dunkin Donuts, Brant Rock Market, Back Side Bistro, Brady Hauling, Capone's Prohibition Pub, Coastal Gas Station and the Frasca Family, Family Costume Kloset of Plymouth, Famous Pizza, Home Depot, Hub Formalwear of Braintree, Itz a Party, Jack Murphy, John Foster Lumber, Leo's Bakery, Nessralla Farm, Ocean Spray, Plymouth County Sheriff's Department, Sandi Murphy, Seaview Pizza and Subs, Shaws, Star Market, Stop & Shop, Taylor Lumber, The Gridiron Club, Victory Supermarket, South Shore Signs, South Shore Wireless, Steve's Dogs, Stacey & Lyle Bristol, Ruthanne Despier, Tom Kelley, Pricilla McGilvrey, Mr. & Mrs. Geoffrey Taylor and WATD.

Jean Sawtelle

July 17, 2002

New lease on life for club

Boys & Girls Club will set up shop in Library Plaza

By Dan Gravel
DGRAVEL@CNC.COM

Representatives of the proposed Marshfield Boys and Girls Club have reached an agreement with the town to lease space in an unoccupied Library Plaza storefront for three years with a two-year 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 time, the library wants to use the space for a much-needed expansion.

"It's fair to all parties," said club president Bill Bowers. "It's not exactly what the library was looking for, but it's a fair compromise. Now we're going to get in and open and the kids of Marshfield are going to benefit.

Bowers said the 4,000-square-foot storefront at the end of Library Plaza is attractive because of its central location, adequate size and close proximity to the library and recreation department. The storefront will house an education room, game room, television room and snack room.

But before it can be opened to Marshfield youths it will have to undergo renovations, including the construction of parititions and electrical work. The club will also continue its $500,000 capital campaign, which thus far has netted two $10,000 donations. Bowers said a groundbreaking ceremony will be held in September and he is eyeing an opening in the first quarter of next year.

Selectmen have said all along a temporary lease would allow the club to get on its feet and guage the town's interest.

"We're all very excited: I think this is very positive for the children of Marshfield," said Selectmen Michael Maresco.

Town Administrator John Clifford, who was instrumental in working out the lease agreement, said the situation will be reevaluated when the lease expires.

"At the end of three years the selectmen are going to take a big picture look at how the club is doing and what other town needs need to be addressed," he said. Bowers said with more than 4,600 kids in Marshfield between the ages of six and 18, he sees no reason why the club will not succeed.

"We don't have a big contingency plan for that because I don't think it will fail," he said. "We're not going to invest that kind of time and other people's money to see it fail.

"We're looking forward to executing the lease and getting this moving forward.

May 23, 2002

Boys and Girls need help
Capital campaign kicks off

By Colleen J. Joyce
MPG Newspapers

Marshfield - The Boys and Girls Club could open its doors as early as this fall.

The opening date will depend on how successful the just-launched capital campaign is, said committee vice president Patti Epstein.

The committee is in lease negotiations with the town for property in the Library Plaza currently being use as storage. Finalization of the lease is expected this week. The library had its eye on the same property, which could mean the club might have to move, but that won't happen for a few years, said Epstein.

"We'll do what we have to do," she said about the risk the club is taking by building on the site. Epstein said she hopes as long as the club is successful, it will remain in the building.

No one from the library or the library board of trustees returned calls for comment.

Renovation and building costs are expected to be $250,000, according to Epstein, and will be raised entirely through corporate and private donations and from annual membership fees of 25 dollars or less.

At their annual meeting lst Wednesday, the committee marked a long year of planning and fundraising, and looked ahead to the next step.

"The focus is shifting to collecting revenue, and there is a lot of work ahead of us," committee president William Bowers, Jr. said.

Beth and Jack Griffin of Majestic Sales Wholesale Grocer contributed $10,000 to the cause, and Damon and Topham Company donated $1,000.

The donations officially kicked off the capital campaign to raise enough money to open the doors of the club.

John Topham and Mike Damon of Damon and Topham challenged other local businesses to match their donation.

In November l999, John Valanti founded the committee dedicated to creating the club.

"There aren't a lot of places for the children to go," said public relations chair Jean Sawtelle.

Boys and girls themselves have been involved in the creation of the club. A Youth Advisory Committee was formed in 2001 to give children and teens a chance to provide ideas geared toward their own needs.

"It gives children a sense of what it feels to be a part of something bigger than yourself," said Epstein.

The club will be targeted towards children and teens between the ages of 6 and 18, giving them "a safe place to call their own," said Bowers.

The club is expected to be open everyday except Sundays, with a trained staff to help with a variety of activities.

Road to Responsibility and the Boys and Girls Club have been working together, and Road to Responsibility will build a gymnasium for the club said Epstein.

March 27, 2002
Boys and Girls Club secures three-year site lease

by Sarah Coffey
The Patriot Ledger

The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield has been given a three-year lease to accupy a vacant town-owned building behind the Ventress Library.

Selectmen unanimously approved the lease Monday night. They also approved the option of two one-year lease extensions.

The lease will be for a nominal fee, which is to be worked out in the next couple of weeks.

It will enable the club to move forward but at the same time preserve the town's option to use the space in the future, Selectmen Peter Mullen said.

"We're keeping our options open that there may be a need for library expansion at that spot," he said.

The 3,840 square-foot building is one of two spaces abutting the library in the rear. The recreation department occupies the other space.

Club President William Bowers said his group will move ahead with the hiring of an executive director to run the facility.

"We're very moved with the community's support," he said. "Bottom line, we look forward to opening this fall."

Selectmen had delayed approving the lease because the library trustees were concerned that letting the club use the space would hinder library expansion plans.

Last week, the trustees said they would not object to the club leasing the building for two or three years, during that time, an expansion feasibility study would be conducted and plans formulated.

Bowers said the club does snot consider the site permanent, but if the library decides it does not need the space for expansion, the club would be happy to stay there.

Next up for the club is an aggessive fund-raising campaign. It hopes to obtain $500,000 from businesses and residents by the fall.

The club needs $100,000 to refurbish, finish and equip the site, $200,000 for a yearly operating budget and $200,000 as a reserve fund, Bowers said.

The club may open even if the $500,000 goal is not reached, he said.

"At this point, it's premature to assume we're not going to make it. It's a question of momentum....If we feel we're going to be able to build the fund base, it's reasonable to expect that we'll open.

The club would have pool and ping-pong tables and a room where children could do their homework. It also would offer computer classes.

Club members have been seeking a location for the club for two years and have held numerous fund-raisers.

Last April, town meeting approved a resolution that asked selectmen to find a suitable town-owned site for the club.

Because of spetic-system concerns, selectmen had been hesitant to let the club lease the space behind the library, but the board of health approved the building's spetic system early this year.

The club may enter into a partnership with the non-profit Road to Responsibility social services agency next to the library.

Road to Responsibility President Rick Walker has said he has future plans to build a gym and recreational facility on land the organization owns between its current facility and the library.

Club members say the town has 4,300 children between the ages of 6 and 18.

Sarah Coffey may be reached at scoffey@ledger.com

March 27, 2002
From the Marshfield Mariner
Roll out the welcome mat
Boys & Girls Club finds a home in Library Plaza

By DAN GRAVEL
DGRAVEL@CNC.COM

The Boys & Girls Club will now be on the fast track to open in Marshfield after selectmen granted proponents a five-year lease for an unoccupied Library Plaza storefront. Terms of the agreement will need to be ironed out but that seems to be a formality.

While the lease will be fixed at no more than five years, selectmen will be able to opt out after three years if the club struggles with membership or fundraising, which is not anticipated. If certain criteria are met the lease will be automatically extended two years.

" I think this would be a great way to use an under-utilized town building at least for a period of time, " said selectmen chairman Jim Fitzgerald. " It makes sense for a new organization in town for us to get a pulse on them. "

The lease is a compromise between the ambitions of the club and the library. The club wanted to inhabit the site on a permanent basis, while the library is eyeing the space for a much-needed expansion. Both sides made presentations to selectmen during the past month.

Fitzgerald said the lease will allow the club enough time to establish itself in town and raise enough funds for a future permanent location.

Bill Bowers, president of the Boys & Girls Club, said the 4,000-square-foot storefront at the end of Library Plaza is attractive because of its central location, adequate size and close proximity to the library and recreation department. The storefront will house an education room, game room, television room and snack room. It will first need to be renovated.

The temporary nature of the deal seems to have sunken plans the club had with the Road to Responsibility organization, which had proposed developing an adjacent site and building a gym, fitness area and kitchen that could be leased by the club.

The library trustees have long viewed the adjacent town-owned building in Library Plaza for expansion. In 1991 selectmen voted to stop leasing out the building and use it for town purposes. The recreation department currently occupies one storefront but is working on plans to move to the old Coast Guard Station.

The library, which opened at its current location in 1984, has 17,500 square feet. By comparison, surrounding towns with smaller populations, such as Duxbury, Scituate and Carver, have larger libraries. The state- recommended size for a Marshfield library is 28,000 to 32,000 square feet. The trustees will sponsor a Town Meeting article in April asking voters to commission a feasibility study for expansion.

" I see this as a very good opportunity for the library and Boys & Girls Club as well as the whole revitalization of the downtown, " said selectman Peter Mullen. " I absolutely see the need for the library to expand. There’s no question about it. "

Although neither side got exactly what they wanted from selectmen, both are pleased with the results.

" Speaking as someone who has been there since the beginning, this is an amazing night for us, " said Boys & Girls Club proponent John Valianti.

Bowers said the club will embark on a $500,000 capital campaign in hopes of trying to open next fall.

February 10, 2002

Retreat becoming a reality
Marshfield youth advance in goal for club center

By Emily Shartin
Globe Staff Correspondent

Seated around a table at Jan's Ocean Village Ice Cream, a group of students conjured up the ideal after-school retreat for local youths.

Their wish list included everything from a basketball court to an arcade to a swimming pool. But the basic philosophy behind their vision was somewhat less elaborate.

"Somewhere we can basically hang out and have some fun," said Chauntel Burns, a sophomore at Marshfield High School.

"There's really no place for kids to hang out" in Marshfield, agreed Shannon Webb, who graduated from the high school last year.

Burns and Webb are members of the youth adivsory committee for the Marshfield Boys and Girls Club, an organization that several students and parents have been building locally over the past two years. The goal is to offer local children of all ages a place where they can meet for community service activities, recreation, or just to do homework with friends.

Marshfield's fledgling club, which so far has existed largely in name only, is preparing to take a major step toward that goal. Organizers are to meet with the Board of Health on Monday to discuss plans to renovate an empty Library Plaza storefront for use as the club's center. Because the septic system at that site is faltering, the Boys and Girls Club must present plans to keep it running until the downtown area is connected to municipal sewer lines.

Peter Falabella, Marshfield's director of public health, was unsure whether the board would be ready to grant the Boys and Girls Club access to the Library Plaza building at its next meeting, saying "It'll depend on what information is presented."

Bill Bowers, president of the club's board, said the group is willing to do what is necessary. If they are allowed to use the site, he said, the new facility could open as soon as the fall.

The Marshfield club - which would serve the town's 4,600 residents between 6 and 18 - is one of roughly 40 Boys and Girls Clubs in Massachusetts. In Southeastern Massachusetts, there are clubs in Brockton, Taunton, New Bedford, Fall River, Mashpee, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard. Plymouth broke ground on a new facility last year.

Although the clubs are often in urban settings and stress services for disadvantaged youths. Joanne Hoops, a Boys and Girls Club regional services director, said, the programs they offer benefit any community.

"There's a thought process out there that they are strickly for urban communities." Bowers said. "Frankly, I think we can fill a need."

"No matter if it's the city or the suburbs, all kids need a place," said Allison Foley, who grew up attending a Boys and Girls Club in Boston and advises Marshfield's youth advisory committee.

Bowers estimated that the Marshfield Boys and Girls Club, which has already drawn about 15 students and 25 adult board members, will need to raise about $500,000 to renovate the building and establish it's first year of programs. Although the group has not yet spent much time fund-raising, it has been involved in several community activities, including the creation of a haunted house for Halloween and a project to memorialize victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

During a recent youth advisory committee meeting, students spoke about organizing a tutoring program, and said they looked forward to working with younger students once the club facility opens. They discussed electing officers for their group at their next meeting.

Patti Epstein, a member of the club's board, said transporation to the club on weekday afternoons will be a part of the program. With more parents working full-time, she said, fewer children have access to after-school programs and social activities, and are often stuck at home.

"If you don't have a parent to drive you to a friend's house, you're on your own," Epstein said.

Amanda Asvestas, a Marshfield resident who attends Sacred Heart High School in Weymouth agreed that a club would help students overcome isolation by offering them new people to meet and new activities to try.

"I think it gets the kids in the town more involved," she said.

Emily Shartin can be reached by e-mail at eshartin@globe.com

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Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield, Inc.
PO Box 311
Marshfield, MA 02050

Phone: (781) 834-CLUB
Fax: (781) 834-2589
Email

The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield is a qualified 501c(3) corporation,
organized under the auspices of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America