Hannah Williams
Playground Is Open -- Enjoy!
NEWS -- Week of Oct. 16-22, 2000
(all items in reverse chronological order)
Sunday, Oct. 22, 11:00 PM -- MORE EXHAUSTED.
So much accomplished, some much to do... We had an extraordinary weekend. The stories are numerous and exciting. From the little 3-year old wearing a tool belt to the middleschooler who helped us put tools away Sunday at 5:50 pm to the local contractors who "busted butt" on their day off to the guy wearing an ankle brace who did more than he should have for a few hours. To the dozens of local food purveyors who donated so much good grub to the kids who raked every last wood chip. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU for making so much progress. More tomorrow...
Check this out! (About 3 mb and 2 mb respectively)
CLIFF KOLOVSON COMMENTS ON SUNDAY
Saturday, Oct. 21, 9:40 PM -- EXHAUSTED.
That's the news... exhausted. So tired I can hardly type... 12 hour day at the playground, diner with family, although NOT with kiddo...but nice with wife... exhausted... pick up kiddo at neighbors... it IS late... facing 7 am tomorrow... was up at 5:30 this am... exhausted...
huge progress today... big BIG pile of dirt which we hope the town will take away...
thankx to all volunteers who moved tons of dirt, stone, etc.
food providers Main St. Coffee, Liberty's Pizza, Mel's Restaurant, Lavin's Liquors, Donelan's Market...
thanks to dozens who showed up unexpectedly
Tomorrow, we have lots to do... move a mountain of wood chips... several carpentry projects... hang chain, replace boards with TREX.... Be there!!!
Friday, Oct. 20, 6:30 AM -- With the weather cooperating, we've made extraordinary progress on the site Thursday... Thank you to the 40 middle-schoolers who showed up with Mr. Conaway, Mr. Reddington, and Vice Principal Kavalesky, to put in 2+ hours of digging.. ..that's at least 80 man hours contributed, WITH the three men shoveling! We could have used even more wheelbarrows..
The kids were great.. the teachers said several kids came because they had played on the playground when they were younger, and wanted to participate in repairing it now.
We're nearly ready for the big work weekend... we thank everyone in advance for their support and energy.... and we have a few special requests....
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SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY -- the playground is now a construction site... we will control access for safety. We also will have one person roaming simply as a safety officer... please pay attention.
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Watch out for big equipment Saturday morning
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Bring tools (shovels, saws, power screw drivers, etc.) -- and put your name on them somehow. Also, we need folding tables.
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Do NOT park in front of neighboring businesses... find a street space, even if it's a hike.
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We will have a portable toilet on site ... do NOT ask the local businesses for toilet use... the facilities at the Cochituate Ball Field WILL be open too.
- Bring GLOVES!
Thursday, Oct. 19 PM -- It's dried up, looking good. Ted and crew did amazing things Wednesday --- even into the night, in the rain. This AM wood fiber chips were delivered, much of the substrate was pulled away in preparation for conditioning the ground. More and more.... see a special photo spread!
Thursday, Oct. 19 AM -- Rain, rain, go-away... well, it's supposed to! And it looks like sunshine right thru our big WORK WEEKEND! Join Us!
Meanwhile.... watch the papers today for this news:
Generous
Matching Challenge Cast
To Kick Off Fundraising
for Hannah Williams Playground
WAYLAND, MA, Oct. 19 — A matching funds challenge has been pledged to The Friends of Hannah Williams Playground by the Haney family here. Anne and Bill Haney have offered to match all contributions for the playground up to a total of $9,000 which is half the estimated costs for the three phases of repair to the playground structures.
See full text of release . . .
We've had an extraordinary launch of our fundraising efforts from direct donations, and as soon as we announce the brick and Tshirt sales, requests for those have poured in! We thank all!
And, of course, we thank the Haney family for their generosity!
Wednesday, Oct. 18 -- We need all the help we can get both Saturday and Sunday this weekend... please sign up. Volunteers are needed also Thursday and Friday to prep the site for work on the weekend. Supplies and materials are arriving! We need help bringing tools and things to the site. And, we'll need help early on Saturday and Sunday to bring food from donors to the site. We may even need help serving!
Project director Ted Fiust was busy between rains yesterday rototilling the ground around and under the structures preparing for a crew to rake the pebbles back and prepare for a new subsurface. Trees have been trimmed (and the branches need to be removed.) And weeds have been pulled all over. Key parts of the structures that are going have been removed in many cases also.
Help is pouring in from all corners... food is being lined up from local restaurants including Mel's, Main St. Coffee, Einsteins, Liberty Pizza and more... for the weekend workers!
Cochituate Motors, Inc. today volunteered electrical power and water and use of their power washer when we need it. (NOTE: Please... don't park in their lot when you come to work, and please don't ask to use their restroom... we are to use the facilities at the Cochituate Ballfield or portable toilets that we hope to have donated!)
We also learned a bit more history about the playground ... see the story on our History page.
Tuesday, Oct. 17 -- Please volunteer for the big work days this weekend! Supplies are arriving, volunteers are signing up, and fundraising has kicked into gear. NOTE: Volunteers--here's some special information just for you!
You might even end up on TV -- we've submitted press releases and photo op ideas to all the local TV outlets. And it's quite the good visual story, so who knows!!!!!
Please sign up to help... work on the structures, babysit, sell bricks and T-shirts handle food, coordinate schedules, etc. All help is appreciated.
Monday, Oct. 16 -- Here we go! Getting ready for the big work weekend! Supplies have been ordered, calls to vols have been started, fundraising has produced nearly $2,000 in new funds! NOTE: Volunteers--here's some special information just for you!
Please sign up to help... work, babysit, sell bricks and T-shirts handle food, coordinate schedules, etc. All help is appreciated.
The fundraising part is key... we need people to call on local businesses (we need local businesses to volunteer to donate or buy a brick) or talk to neighbors. We are selling both engraved brick pavers (Buy-A-Brick, download PDF form)and long-sleeve t-shirts (short sleeve maybe for kids). . Next week we'll announce the T-shirt (long sleeve) program. Please help!
Watch this space... right below here.... for the art on the T-shirts. We have a wonderful design by a local HS grad who grew up playing on this playground!
(T-shirt art here soon!)
Plus, you should consider signing up for one of NINE portrait sittings with the Robbs of Wayland Portrait Photographers -- click here for details -- family portraits guaranteed to be ready for the holidays.
Remember: all donations to Friends of Hannah Williams Playground are tax deductible!
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- We continue to accept donations for the long-term maintenance of the play structure -- make checks payable to Friends of the Hannah Williams Playground; mail to 26 Garden Path, Wayland, MA 01778.
- Buy a T-shirt -- both long-sleeve and short-sleeve now available