The whole silly story broke in the middle of November.
A middle school in Winchester planned a December 19 field trip to Stoneham Theatre where 7th graders would be treated to a professional theatrical performance of the Christmas classic, Miracle on 34th Street. But then the principal abruptly cancelled the school trip after receiving complaints from parents.
In an email to parents, McCall Middle School Principal Evander French, Jr. cited “the objectionable nature of the content,” according to published reports. Exactly what part of the content was objectionable? Hint: he has a white beard and wears a red suit.
Continue reading ‘NO ‘MIRACLE’ TRIP FOR WINCHESTER STUDENTS’
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Tags: Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, Christmas, Daily Item, Evander French, holidays, Kris Kringle, McCall Middle School, Miracle on 34th Street, North Pole, play, Santa, Santa Claus, stage, Stoneham MA, Stoneham Massachusetts, Stoneham Theatre, theater, theatre, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Item, Wakefield news, Wakefield newspaper, Wakefield newspapers, Winchester, Winchester MA, Winchester Massachusetts
Classic Christmas tale at Stoneham Theatre
The historic Stoneham Theatre re-opened as a professional regional theater in December, 2000 with A Christmas Carol as its very first production. After bringing Dickens’ classic back for the next several seasons, in 2005 and 2006 Stoneham Theatre staged adaptations of a more modern classic, A Christmas Story.
Whatever the show, Stoneham Theatre has established a tradition of providing high caliber, wholesome family entertainment at Christmas time. This year is no exception, as another American holiday classic now graces the Stoneham stage.
Miracle on 34th Street tells the story of a cheerful old man with a trim white beard named Kris Kringle (played by William Gardiner). He is forced to give up his room at the Maplewood Home in New York City because the board of directors believes he is mentally unstable. Kris, it seems, believes that he really is Santa Claus.
Continue reading ‘MIRACLE ON 34th STREET HIGHLIGHTS MAGIC OF BELIEVING’
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Then and now…
I have several boxes of old family photos, from both sides of the family. A few date to the late 19th century, but most of the photos that interest me now are from the first half of the 20th century.
In a sense, we all think that the world began around the time when we became aware of it. Of course, we know that isn’t literally true. But subjectively, what’s real to us is what we can remember. Everything that pre-dates our own memory is just history.
Lately, I’ve been most interested in the years just before I was born and the generation that has been called “The Greatest Generation.” As years go on and this generation slips away, I find myself more and more intrigued by their world, the one that gave birth to the world as I have known it.
Old photos provide a window into their world.
Continue reading ‘Then and now…’
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Tags: 1930s, 1937, Chestnut Street, Daily Item, Italian-Americans, Italians, Joe Laurino, Steve Sardella, Wakefield, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Item, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Massachusetts, Wakefield news, Wakefield newspaper, Wakefield newspapers
November 11 is Veterans’ Day, an opportunity for Americans who support our troops, past and present, to gather together and champion the men and women in uniform who serve and defend the United States.
Wakefield’s 2007 Veterans’ Day ceremonies will take place on Sunday, November 11 at 11 a.m. in the Galvin Middle School Auditorium.
Attendance at last year’s local Veterans’ Day exercises was sparse at best, and some observed that Wakefield can and should do better when it comes to honoring veterans, especially at a time when the country is at war.
It’s true. Veterans’ Day is not about “other people.” Every one of us has a family member or relative who served or is currently serving in the armed forces. They are our brothers, sisters, parents and grandparents. We should all be willing to give one hour a year to honor them.
Continue reading ‘VETERANS DESERVE BIG TURNOUT ON NOV. 11’
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QUANNAPOWITT CASINO REVISITED
I am nothing if not ahead of my time.
On April 1, 1999, I wrote a column about filling in the Lake and building the “Quannapowitt Casino.” In spite of the date on the newspaper, some people in town actually thought it was a serious proposal.
Back then, the state’s economy was booming, cities and towns were flush with money, and it was easy to make jokes about casino gambling in Massachusetts.
But it’s 2007, and everything has changed. State aid has dried up, and cities and towns are struggling, to put in mildly. It’s gotten to the point where Massachusetts Governor Deval “Slots” Patrick has agreed to support the idea of three resort style casinos in the state in order to generate needed revenue.
Continue reading ‘QUANNAPOWITT CASINO REVISITED’
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Mark Sardella 