Just a day after noting that the Gloucester Fishermen's Athletic Association is stepping up its schedule and fundraising push to meet a key spring deadline for the Newell Stadium "Renewal" project, a local business has given the drive another major boost.
Cape Ann Savings Bank Thursday officially presented an oversized check with the amount pegged at $50,000 for the project, with bank President Bucky Rogers, Vice President Bob Gillis and assistant Treasurer Jane Pallazola doing the honors in a brief ceremony with fundraising chief Dick Wilson and others from the GFAA.
The gift is the second $50,000 donation received by the GFAA for the $3.3 million stadium reconstruction effort, which actually began with soil testing earlier this month and is set to be completed in time for the 2013 fall season.
Gorton's of Gloucester has also contributed $50,000 to the Newell Renewal campaign, which has drawn a $500,000 pledge over 10 years from New Balance and a $100,000 matching grant from the Boston-based Dusky Foundation.
The project is due to go out to bid beginning in April, GFAA officials have said, so organizers have to have the money in hand by that date.
In addition to the private fund-raising, the city of Gloucester is also bonding $1.5 million for the project, and is expected to extend funds to complete the project with reimbursement due from the GFAA through its long-term pledges.
A special Endicott homecoming
When Dr. Richard Wylie, president of Endicott College, and David Vigneron, Endicott's director of institutional advancement, paid a visit to GAP Promotions headquarters of Gloucester's Eastern Avenue last week, they may well have thought they walked into an Endicott homecoming.
Not only is GAP Promotions President Gayle Piraino an Endicott graduate, but seven of the company's 12 employees are as well.
Piraino founded her company in 2006 after a successful 21-year retail career which emanated from her Endicott Internship years ago. And three of the seven current Endicott grads employed at GAP had served as interns there, too.
"Because the company culture is so important to our success, the internships give us an opportunity to assess the fit of a potential new team member before we make an offer," Piraino said. "And it allows the interns opportunities to assess whether this is the kind of environment in which they will be happy."
GAP also engages Endicott faculty members as consultants on various issues such as strategy and operations.
Piraino invited Dr. Wylie to express her appreciation and esteem for all that the college has contributed to the success of her business."
"Dr. Wylie is an amazing leader, and the growth of Endicott College, the strength of its internship program, and the caliber of the graduates are all testaments to that," Piraino said. "I wanted Dr. Wylie to have an opportunity to see what his graduates have achieved, what we have built together, and to thank him and the college for helping to prepare us all for success in the business world."
Honored veteran
The flag at the Veterans' Center will fly this week in honor of World War II veteran Joseph Peter Sutherland. Born Nov. 4, 1918, he entered the U.S. Navy on Aug. 21, 1942, and was discharged Dec. 4, 1945.
The quarter master second class served with Ocean Rescue Tug USS ATR-66, Class Fleet Oiler Atascosa AO-66, Submarine Chaser USS SC-1333, and Destroyer Escort USS Strickland (DE-333).
Sutherland was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal, and the American Area Medal.
He died Jan. 7, 2000.
The flag was requested to fly in his honor by his daughter, Rebecca Sutherland-Sharp. Anyone wishing to fly a flag in honor of a deceased veteran can call the Office of Veterans' Services at 978-281-9740.
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