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| By Rick Sobey Staff Intern WILBRAHAM The Minnechaug Booster Club is hoping that an upcoming event on St. Patrick's Day weekend will significantly benefit the football bleacher remodeling project at the high school. The organization will be hosting a fundraiser called "Finnegan's Wake" at Elmcrest Country Club on March 15 to help pay for new bleachers at the football field. The fundraiser "Finnegan's Wake," which is a song from the 19th century celebrating the death and rebirth of Tim Finnegan, is going to consist of dinner, theater and dancing. Actors from Boston will be coming to the event to provide entertainment by performing the song. Tom Moran, vice president of the Minnechaug Booster Club and co-chair of the fundraiser, believes that the bleachers are in need of help and should be replaced as soon as possible. "The stadium seating has been on our capital project list for awhile, but we have never raised money for it," Moran said. "We've renovated the weight room and tennis courts at the high school, but the stadium bleachers have not been touched. Now is the time to finally have a fundraiser for the cause and renovate those stadium bleachers." Debbie O'Brien, secretary of the Minnechaug Booster Club and co-chair of "Finnegan's Wake," agrees with Moran about the plan. She thinks that the project to replace the seats is essential and it won't be a waste of money if there is a new stadium in the near future. "Even if the towns of Wilbraham and Hampden decide to build a new school and sports facility in 2012, the bleachers that we are raising money for will still be used," O'Brien said. "The seats that we are bringing in will be movable seats, and they will be transferred in the case of a new sports facility." In addition, O'Brien believes the projects that have already been accomplished by the Minnechaug Booster Club are incredible. Without the proceeds from the organization, she thinks that there would not be as much success for the sports teams. "It is amazing how much we have done," O'Brien said. "We have paid for half the cost of all major sports' projects at Minnechaug. "The school by itself just does not have enough funds for these projects, and the sports would be at a disadvantage without our organization," she said. The Minnechaug Booster Club is asking for donations (gift certificates for restaurants, free rounds of golf at country clubs, etc.) for a silent auction which will take place during the fundraising event. The money raised at the auction will go toward the new bleachers. The cost to attend "Finnegan's Wake" is $75 per person. Checks should be made out to MRHS Booster Club. Checks and donations for the auction should be sent to the following address Debbie O'Brien, 97 Scantic Rd., Hampden, MA 01036. For more information on the event, contact O'Brien at 204-4950, Moran at 537-3205 or log on to www.chaugboosters.org. |