Norwood 150 Sponsors Two Marquee Events In Feb. For Anniversary
NORWOOD, MA - Norwood residents have two big reasons to celebrate next month, when two major events will be held to honor the town's 150th anniversary of incorporation.
Ernie Paciorkowski, vice chair of the Planning Board and member of the Norwood 150 committee, announced at recent School Committee and Board of Selectmen's meetings that the Skating Club of Boston will host a family-friendly skating exhibition on Feb. 26 from 6-8:30 p.m. for $10 a ticket to benefit future Norwood 150 events. Gates will open at 4 p.m., and masks will be required.
"Celebration on Ice" will feature several Olympic-caliber competitors, including Maxim Naumov, Audrey Lu and Misha, Jimmy Ma, and pairs skaters Emily Chan and Spenser Howe. It will be an opportunity to showcase the Olympic class facility - one of only three Olympic training sites in the country - which became fully operation in September after construction delays due to COVID-19.
Paciorkowski said he attended the recent grand opening celebration featuring renowned Olympian Scott Hamilton, where he said Hamilton made a comment about the caliber of the new skating complex.
"[Hamilton]said that the Boston Skating Club here in Norwood could be the finest skating figure skating facility in the world," according to Paciorkowski. "Here it is, right here in our backyard."
He added that the ticket prices were kept low to "make it a really family-friendly event." All proceeds will go toward funding furure Norwood 150 events throughout the year. They are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
"You're going to see Olympic caliber skaters that you're really gonna see on TV unless you go to an event like this," Paciorkowski continued. "To see the athleticism, the skill and the grace is just unbelievable."
In addition, members of the Norwood High School Class of 1972 hockey team will be honored for winning the state championship. Also, the Norwood Nuggets feeder program will be celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Tickets currently are available at Town Hall, the Civic Center, the Morrill Library, and the senior center. They also are available online at this link.
Fellow committee member Gerry Miller complimented the leadership of the Boston Skating Club for their help and offering the use of the ffacility for free.
He added that a new event proposed for Father's Day weekend is an antique car show.
Selectman William Plasko worked to bring the Skating Club of Boston to Norwood over the past seven years, noted Selectman Helen Donahue.
Donahue announced a banquet will be held at the Four Points Sheraton Norwood on Feb.23, the actual anniversary date.
Tickets cost $75 and are available at the Assessor's and General Manager's office. A social hour will be held at 6 p.m., with the dinner commencing at 7 p.m.
All the proceeds will go toward future Norwood 150 events and to hold in an account for the 175th anniversary celebration. Previously, there was $60,000 made available as "seed money" for this year's celebration from the 125th anniversary committee.
"We're celebrating the history of our town, and we're putting a lot of historical aspects into the dinner," she said.
This article originally appeared on the Norwood Patch
