|
A Fair day at the Decas School By Andrea Smith
Correspondent Anticipation permeated the Decas School last Saturday as children waited for Santa Claus to appear.
"It feels great when you see the kids getting excited about Santa," Barbara Marcosa said.
Marcosa, a parent of two Decas students and a member of the PTA, served as committee chair for the school’s second annual Christmas Fair on Saturday. It was Marcosa’s second year as chair person.
Designed to raise funds for school activities, give children a fun day and provide an opportunity for children to do Christmas shopping at an affordable cost, the day was a great success.
"We were nervous because of the weather and the economy but once things got going we were all thrilled with the result," Marcosa said. "It’s a nice feeling. It’s a happy day all around."
Guided by Mrs. Claus (who bore a striking resemblance to Decas special education teacher Michelle Skolnik) and Santa’s helper (who could have been mistaken for Principal Ana Miranda dressed in a red and green elf suit) children sat on Santa’s lap and shared their Christmas wishes. Cameras were working overtime.
For those who wanted the added assurance of sending Santa a reminder letter, there was a place set aside for them to do so. Near the letter- writing area a sign pointed to affordably priced packets of reindeer food designed to sprinkle on front yards on Christmas Eve. A sign pointing to the reindeer food assured customers "all proceeds go to help feed the reindeer (and the PTA.)"
Other activities included a craft center, an indoor moonwalk, face painting, and Evergreen Village where Christmas shopping and then gift wrapping could be done for prices that fit child-size budgets. Crafters and a scattering of small business owners filled one half of the Decas gym, offering adults an opportunity also to do some early Christmas shopping. For everyone, there was food to enjoy, along with an opportunity to take chances on some coveted items, among them a Webkinz.
Marcosa said more than two dozen volunteers helped with the fair, many of them pouring their efforts into the event since school opened in September. Proceeds will go toward school activities and needs not funded by the school budget such as field trips, playground activities, and Scholastic News fees.
"It’s kind of like we are one big family," Marcosa said of the volunteers. "We came together to raise funds for the PTA. We definitely got to know each other. We spent a lot of time together. I couldn’t have done it without everyone who helped." |
|   | |  | |  | | | |
|
|
| 
Wareham considers homeless shelter By Elizabeth Pezzoli
warehamobserver@aol.com The homeless in Wareham might soon have a place to come in out of the cold, if an arrangement between local churches and the town can be reached.
Interim Town Administrator John Sanguinet advised selectmen of his recent discussions with members of the Wareham Area Clergy Association, which is concerned about bringing in people from the cold.
Sanguinet said there is "no census" data as to the number of homeless here, but that it’s "a significant problem in town." He said it was the local clergy which asked if there was something the town could do. Sanguinet met with the clergy last Wednesday.
The shelter would only be open on extremely cold nights, below 20 degrees, Sanguinet said.
Sanguinet noted that besides his concerns about the town’s insurance coverage and liability, if a town building is utilized he will also "be talking to department heads."
Rev. Robert Richardson of the First Congregational Church on Gibbs Avenue said he doesn’t believe more than 10 homeless people would take advantage and come in from the cold.
Richardson said the deal is in no way sealed, that a lot of particulars need to be worked out. He and Sanguinet said that the churches would be responsible for providing volunteers. Richardson said they would also have to be able to provide breakfasts for those who spent the night.
While discussions between the two entities revolved around the use of the gymnasium in the Multi-Service Center, it appears that the cafeteria on the lower floor of Town Hall might be a better location. Selectman Brenda Eckstrom broached the possibility of the Town Hall venue to Sanguinet on Tuesday night. She reminded him that the Meals on Wheels delivery people gather early in order to get meals out to an average of 100 persons per day.
Richardson said a needs assessment must be done before any joint venture commences. Rev. David Shaw of the Church of the Nazarene on Rogers Avenue serves as secretary/treasurer of WACA. He said that its practically impossible to get an actual head count on the homeless. He said the overnight sanctuary would also be available to "someone who might have temporarily run out of fuel, who may be waiting for a check, or to sign up for fuel assistance. It’s not just for the homeless."
Several of the area churches offer what has become commonly known as soup kitchens. Richardson says that many of the five to 12 people who come to the Congregational Church’s once a week Tuesday morning breakfasts are not necessarily-homeless. Some come more out of loneliness. There is a plate for donations.
Sanguinet said that having a central location for the homeless to come in out of the cold would be a better choice than to have "homeless wondering where a shelter might be open on any given night."
In Plymouth shelters vary from church to church for six nights, and at a synagogue on the seventh, on a rotating basis, Shaw said. Hyannis reportedly has some sort of a system for getting the homeless inside on cold nights.
Breakfasts would come from a food bank, Richardson said. The Church of the Good Shepherd provides meals on Thursday evenings, and the food reportedly comes from a combination of donations and a food bank.
| | 
| | | | | | |
|
|
