Pres-Elect Rona Mann and Westerly Superintendent of Schools Mark Garceau.

 

Mark opened with a congratulations to Lisa Yuen - telling the membership that she had interviewed him last week for a video project she is producing - and to Coach Miranda, one of our guests, for his big win against Woonsocket.  Then he went on to speak about the state of our schools.  He said that the high school building was in great shape as is the middle school.  However, he said that the middle school is at capacity; so, as the "Phase 3 Plan" for the elementary schools moves forward, it will include a plan to move Grade 5 out of the middle school.  The building subcommittee along with the consultant have selected a plan to renovate Springbrook and Dunns Corners schools for the up to grade 2 students with a focus on early literacy.  State Street School will be torn down and a new state-of-the-art green facility built in its place for grades 3 - 5.  While it seems like the neighborhood school is disappearing, instead the focus will be on educating by level.  Dr. Garceau said that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is coming with a State Bond that might provide up to 50% reimbursement for the school building improvements.  The goal is to start by 2020.

It was our great pleasure to greet Ryan Saunders, Executive Director of the Chorus of Westerly, Monday evening.  He thanked the Club and some members individually for our support over the past years.  This season will celebrate SIXTY years of providing great music to the community - Ryan's tenth year serving as Executive Director.  With all humility he reminded everyone how both he and Andrew Howell, the second Chorus Music Director, first joined the chorus as young boys (Trebles) - singing under Maestro George Kent.  Some statistics he offered as the season begins with 211 adults, 98 children, music training now provided in elementary schools, more teenage boys retained even after voice change, members come from 30 cities and towns.

 

A new HVAC system has finally been installed in a very unique fashion in order to preserve the historic building guidelines; the roof has been repaired and replaced; the front stairway has been replaced.  The exterior painting is on hold due to various issues.

 

Ryan shared wonderful news regarding two other former trebles.  John Tafone's Count of Monte Cristo is moving forward with an Actors' reading at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC recently and Andrew Burnap is starring in The Inheritance at the Young Vic in London.

 

To get more information or to purchase tickets to any of the upcoming "Blockbuster 60th Season" performances, go to www.chorusofwesterly.org or call the Box Office at 401.596.8663.