Instead of looking at an agenda, those who serve on town boards socialized with one another at the annual Town House potluck holiday gathering held at the Marion Music Hall on Tuesday evening.
“We have this event, in the spirit of the season, to thank everyone who volunteers to come out, often in the evening, away from their families at the dinner hour, to serve on committees in our town,” said Paul Dawson, Town Administrator. “We appreciate their service.”
The venue was decorated in festive holiday decor by Steve Gonsalves, a member of the Marion Planning Board and the owner of a local landscape and garden business. Truman Terrell, a member of the Marion Music Hall Committee played the piano, providing an upbeat holiday feeling to the event.
Select Board Chairman Jonathan Henry spoke to the crowd and said that back in 1852, when the Marion Music Hall was built, it was a time of great discussion about taxation. “Taxation was an issue then and is still the issue… look at Congress,” said Selectman Henry.
“We have jobs to do, to deliver services to the citizens of Marion. But we have a higher purpose of what is behind what we do… to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and instruct the ignorant,” he said.
Selectman Henry spoke about the past year and the retirement of Helene Craver and the memories he felt after looking at the photo taken on the Town House steps on her last day in office. “Let’s also think about those no longer with us, who served on the town’s behalf,” said Selectman Henry.
“We want to say thank you, from the Town of Marion, to all of you for your commitment and service to the town,” he said.
Over 60 people attended the event, including board members from the Council on Aging, Conservation Commission, Cultural Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Selectmen, Board of Health, Marion School Committee, Alternative Energy, Recreation Board, Pathways Committee, Cemetery Commission, Elizabeth Taber Library Board members and many others.
Each year, an invitation is sent to the committee chair of each town committee, who then invites the board members who served on the committee during the prior year.
“It’s fun to gather in a non-working environment to socialize,” said Susan Schwager, Director of the Council on Aging, “usually we only see each other at board meetings where we work together to tackle the business issues of the COA.”
According to Deb Paiva, organizer of the annual event, planning starts in November with the date selected for the potluck supper. “It’s been a great evening for us all,” said Ms. Paiva.
By Joan Hartnett-Barry