 |
|
| Home » Strawberry Fields » Wishing Bridge |
| The
Boston Globe Will wishes come true in Millis? By Aaron Gouveia / News Staff Writer Tuesday, November 18, 2003 MILLIS -- A group of special needs students from a Millis alternative school asked for selectmen's help so the new Plain Street Bridge could be renamed. The group of students and teachers from Strawberry Fields School, a school for children with learning challenges, told selectmen they want to rename the Plain Street Bridge "The Wishing Bridge," so whenever people travel across it, they can make a wish and raise their spirits. Cal Hottelet, 21, and Filly Mastrangelo, 18, are students at the school and said they came up with the idea on Veterans Day. The pair, along with peers and teachers, walked to the bridge on Nov. 11 and placed a pink carnation on the bridge to signify their "wish" that America's servicemen and women return home safely. Hottelet and Mastrangelo spoke at last night's meeting and tried to persuade selectmen to get behind their idea. "Wishing on a star and wishing wells is fun, like believing in magic," Hottelet said. "We all need reasons to have hope in our hearts and we believe making wishes can help make our dreams come true." Mastrangelo agreed with her classmate. "I think the bridge does look kind of like a wishing well," Mastrangelo said. "When the bridge is completed it would be wonderful to have a ceremony." In a letter from students to selectmen, they suggested putting a bronze plaque on either side of the bridge that would read, "The Wishing Bridge, Millis, MA. Where wishes come true, 2003." Lewis Randa, director of Strawberry Fields, which is housed in the old train station on Exchange Street, said the school would even pick up the cost of the plaque. Randa said the project has special meaning to his students. "Some groups of people wish more than others and our students are constantly hoping and wishing things will fall into place for them," Randa said. Chairman of Selectmen Jeffrey Hardin said the students were very brave for presenting in front of the board members and the people watching at home on cable television. However, he said the bridge belongs to the state so it would be up to legislators to take action. But Hardin said he was pleased the group came forward with such an optimistic idea. "I think this is a positive idea that can raise the spirits of everyone in town," Hardin said. Selectman Paul Jacobsen agreed with Hardin, but also stressed the importance of getting other ideas from the public concerning the naming of the bridge. "There may be many other good ideas out there so I think we'd need to have a discussion," Jacobsen said. "And in the meantime, nothing stops us from using the idea of a wishing bridge even if the name doesn't change." Selectmen said they will check with state legislators on how to proceed. The Plain Street Bridge was supposed to be opened last week, but Town Administrator Charles Aspinwall said there was a delay concerning traffic line painting. The work is scheduled to be completed tomorrow and the bridge should be open for good shortly thereafter, he said. |