Tom and Bridie's Dad, Sheils' husband, Lifestyle Enhancer. Midwesterner turned Los Angeleno turned Bostonian, Sports and Mariachi fanatic who can't spend enough time on the Cape.
The Inside Scoop on Melrose, MA
Mayor Robert J. Dolan and the Melrose Memorial Day Parade Committee invite everyone in Melrose to attend this year’s Memorial Day parade, which will be held on Sunday, May 29 at 1:30 p.m. The parade will travel down Main Street from Memorial Hall to Wyoming Cemetery on Sylvan Street.
“This will be our biggest and best Memorial Day parade yet,” said Dolan. “It will be a very special day, and I hope everyone in Melrose will come out to celebrate our veterans and members of the active military. Most important, we will remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”
This year’s grand marshal is D-Day veteran and longtime Melrose resident Irving Smolens. Featured bands include the Melrose High School Marching Band, the Kevin Barry Irish Band, the Bunker Hill Pipe Band (the official pipe band of the Dropkick Murphys), the Middlesex Volunteer Fife and Drum Corps, the Mexico Lindo Mariachi Band, and the Philadelphie Lions drum corps. The bands will be accompanied by an array of antique cars, vehicles from the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department, and marchers and floats from Melrose schools and civic organizations.
Anyone wishing to drive an antique car in the parade should arrive at the intersection of Main and West Emerson streets at 12:45 p.m., and should call the mayor’s office in advance to register their name.
For more information, call Brigid Alverson in Mayor Dolan’s office, 781-979-4440, or email balverson@cityofmelrose.org.
Memorial Day events 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 5 p.m.
“Honoring our Veteran’s” Dinner at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall building, 590 Main St. Veterans can call 781-979- 4186 to make a reservation (limited to 100)
Friday, May 27, 8 a.m.
Memorial Day assembly at the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School, beginning with breakfast at 8 a.m. Assembly begins at 9 a.m. Veterans wishing to attend are encouraged to call Tom Brow at 781-979-2100 with their names, branch, and dates of service.
Saturday, May 28
- “Decoration of the Graves” at Wyoming Cemetery, Sylvan Street. Members of Girl and Boy Scout troops will place new flags on the graves of deceased veterans, but all are invited to help.
- Flag Retirement Ceremony at Wyoming Cemetery, Sylvan Street (in the back near the Ripley School). Officials will properly dispose of any retired flags. All are welcome to attend.
- Breakfast for Veterans at VFW Post 2394, 14 Chipman Ave.
Sunday, May 29
- 10 a.m. WWII and Korean War Memorial Ceremony on Main Street, across from the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall, 590 Main St.
- 10:15 a.m. Vietnam War Memorial Ceremony on Main Street at Ell Pond
- 10:30 a.m. WWI Memorial Ceremony at the Memorial Knoll on the Lynn Fells Parkway across from the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School
- Noon Memorial Day Religious Service, GAR Room, Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall, 590 Main St.
- 12:30 p.m. Parade Muster for participating vehicles. Floats, antique cars, and other mechanized vehicles will assemble on Main Street at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall, 590 Main St.
- 12:40 p.m. Melrose Elks Memorial Day Ceremony at 75 Myrtle St.
- 1 p.m. Parade Muster for participating marchers. All participants who’ll be marching/walking (i.e. nothing motorized) assemble behind the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall, 590 Main. St.
- 1:30 p.m. Melrose Memorial Day Parade steps out, traveling down Main Street to Wyoming Cemetery, Sylvan Street. All veterans are invited to march or ride the trolley.
- 2:30 p.m. Memorial Day Closing Ceremonies at Wyoming Cemetery, Sylvan Street, at the Civil War Memorial and the veterans section.
- 4 p.m. Collation for Veterans at VFW Post 2394, 14 Chipman Ave. Sandwiches, beverages, and camaraderie will be served.
Looking forward to a fun weekend with the family in Melrose!
Epic weather tomorrow for a great event!
With all of the showings at homes for sale and open house attendance, it's...'Showmageddon'...for real estate in Melrose and the Metro North area of Boston. Click below for the latest in this exceptionally active market.
This 3br on Gould has a nice open floor plan with high ceilings in the kitchen and dining area. Big back yard to boot. Should go quickly!
Bill Butler
RE/MAX Heritage
617.771.9376
Bbutler57@gmail.com
By Erica Christoffer, multimedia Web producer, REALTOR® Magazine
Looking for quick, easy ideas to bring a home to life, add value, or prep for sale without spending a lot? Learn from the pros! Designers who presented at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando last week had a plethora low-cost, chic ideas to make to most of an interior space.
1. Transform closets: Your clients might consider turning a smaller, awkward closet into a built-in with cabinetry and shelving, or if there’s enough space, even a desk nook. Add dramatic dimension with disc lighting on each shelf. Buyers are looking to maximize every inch of a home with workspaces and storage solutions they’ll actually use. (Jerry Collin, Kay Green Design) [Here are some great before and after closet transformations from Real Simple.]
2. Create a ‘Garage Mahal’: Make the garage an attractive space with a dedicated recycling area, wall mounted shop-vacuum, and maybe a mini (or big) refrigerator for adult beverages. When in doubt, hang it up – provide hanging areas for bikes, tools, equipment, etc. Consider installing a workbench and storage. (Jillian Prichard Cooke, DES-SYN)
3. Avoid seasonal colors: Greys and stone colors are the new neutrals. Accent them with bursts of bright blues, oranges or reds. (Marc Thee, Marc-Michaels Interior Design)
4. Provide simple luxury: A foldout cabana, two outdoor lounge chairs, and a small table is an inexpensive way to give a backyard living space a sense of luxury. Stage it with candles, flowers or cool drinks (iced tea, lemonade, water, etc.) that you can serve during an open house. (Jillian Prichard Cooke, DES-SYN)
5. Set the mood: Do you have a listing that flushed in harsh light throughout the house? Try halogen narrow spot bulbs to create warm, pooled light for romantic shadows and definition. (Marc Thee, Marc-Michaels Interior Design)
6. Faux wood: Textured wall finishes add weight to a space, which can provide warmth and richness to great rooms. Wood mimicking wallpaper is a great way to get the look of wood paneling without big cost or long-term commitment. (Marc Thee, Marc-Michaels Interior Design)
7. Inexpensive creativity: Molding brings depth and clever detail to a space a low-cost: for example, use molding assembled as a square over a bed with two smaller pictures hung side-by-side within the square. (Jillian Prichard Cooke, DES-SYN)
8. Give them room for thought: Create computer-generated room layout boards to help buyers envision various uses for flex space, such as a family room, office, kids’ play area, library, etc. Consider matting the floor plan ideas for a professional presentation. Works well for new- and existing-home sales alike. (Jerry Collin, Kay Green Design)