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... provide support for Milano Lounge expansion
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The Community Associates of Melrose, after over 100 years of philanthropic service to the Melrose community, disbanded in 2005. The end came when the organization lost its lease on its Main Street thrift shop, which was the organization's main source of funding. From the right are Betty Crane and President Peggy Kenny, presenting a $25,000 check to Rita Quinn Dietrich, president of the Melrose Friends of the Aging and Eileen Olsen, chair of the Melrose Council on Aging. The Council on Aging took time to pose for a picture in the new computer classroom. Left to right are Jim Driscoll, Kay McCarte, Bill Ahern, Eileen Olsen, George Nelson Torrey, Peggy Kenny and Rosemary Behrle. At an early fund raiser, describing the Carriage House Lounge renovation is Joe Rizza of Courtstreet Architects of Newton. In 1994 Courtstreet designed the original 1.2 million dollar renovation, transforming the victorian-era school maintenance building into the Milano Senior Center. Funding for the original renovation came from a state community development grant and $350,000 in privately raised funding. The Friday morning aerobics class led by Kay Danieli lets out a cheer after learning that the $200,000 fund raising goal had been reached and construction was set to start in January, 2005. Gathered in the new Carriage House Lounge are members of the Grand Opening Committee -- set for September 30. Pictured are, from the left, standing: Bill Ahern, George Nelson Torrey, Georgie Lewis, Eileen Olsen. Seated are Ann Volpe, Mary Beth Calnan, Rita Quinn Dietrich, Jim Driscoll and Jean Gorman. The Wednesday morning bridge group helped Melrose win the $800,000 community development grant, written by city planner Jeffery Luxenberg, by showing support for the project at public hearings in 1993. They were quick to help out again in the current renovation. From the right are bridge members Ellen Durant and Roxie Ananian handing a $500 check to Rita Quinn Dietrich and Eileen Olsen. Key people during the construction phase are, from the left, Dan Riordan, Melrose resident and project manager for the general contractor of Langton & Douglas Contracting; Architect Joe Rizza of Courtstreet Architects; Jack Beckley, executive director of the Council on Aging; and Georgie Lewis, coordinator of the Milano Senior Center. The Melrose Cooperative Bank was among the early supporters of the fund-raising program, which was initiated at an open meeting held at Pauli's Restaurant. At the right, representing the bank, are President Jeffrey Jones and Vice President Jim Oosterman. At the left are Rita Quinn Dietrich, president of the Melrose Friends of the Aging, and Jim Driscoll, principal fund raiser and member of the Melrose Council on Aging. In May, 2003, the Melrose Friends of the Aging kicked off its $200,000 "Completing the Journey" capital campaign to finish the lower level of the Milano Senior Center. When the center was initially renovated in 1994, design plans called for completing the lower level but funding was not available. Therefore the fund raising theme for the new expansion was "Completing the Journey" by finishing the what had been started a decade ago. Subsequently the Melrose Friends of the Aging made a $10,000 contribution to initiate the capital campaign. From the left are Eileen Olsen, Jim Driscoll, Rita Quinn Dietrich, Ed Wright and Carolyn Norton. Knight Harrison Fuel jumped at the opportunity to give back to the senior citizens, many of whom have been customers for many years. Shown here making a $5,000 pledge is Terry Knight (at right), with Jim Driscoll, principal fund raiser and Rita Quinn Dietrich, president of the Melrose Friends of the Aging. October 7. 2005
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