HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-12-03-TCC-minTOWN CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE
MINUTES (virtual)
December 3, 2025
Revised December 17, 2025
Full Committee Members Present: 7
We have 12 full members and 1 vacancies -total 13 full members
QUORUM: 7 full members
David Grabel, Co-chair
Sudha Balasuryan, Co-chair ABSENT
Cerise Jalelian
Lorain Marquis
Susan Stering ABSENT
Sandy Podgorski
Linda Dixon
Sondra Lucente
Mary Hutton
Geetha Padaki ABSENT
E. Ashley Rooney
Honorary: Robert Tracey
Vacancy: Ix
Subcommittee Members Present: 2
We have 10 members and 5 vacancies=total 15 sub -committee members
Elizabeth Elsie Xu
ABSENT
Simon Rubenstein
Sharon Spaulding
Pam Winters
ABSENT
Jamie Lee
ABSENT
Hong Xie
ABSENT
Seema Badaya
ABSENT
Bill Kelm
ABSENT
Bonnie Karshbaum (sub)
ABSENT
Brianna Bennett-Karshbaum
ABSENT
Vacancy: 5x
LIASONS:
Karen Tyler, Veterans Liaison absent
Douglas Lucente, liaison to the Select Board
GUESTS:
Jake Bucchiere, college student at Dean College; course requirement to attend public meetings and to take
notes and write up a brief paper on the meeting.
7:11 PM: per the Meeting Agenda. Dave called the meeting to order and recited the zoom introduction.
Dave welcomed everyone, established a quorum and pulled up the Minutes of November 5, 2025. The
motion to approve was seconded. Votes were unanimously approved. Dave instructed Cerise to send the
minutes to Sudha to send to the town.
VETERANS DAY BREAKFAST EVENT
Presenter: Lorain Marquis
Veterans Day planning sub -group is working on:
November 1, 2025 at Knights of Columbus Hall
Wrap up was held on November 19, 2025.
ANTIQUE CAR RALLY WRAP UP
Lorain reported on the success of the event on November 11, 2025 (� 11AM-1PM at Church of Our
Redeemer parking lot. Lorain reported that next year we will ask the entire TCC to participate and we will
assign tasks. The event was held in bad weather but the event was under budget and served lots of donuts.
Simon reported the success of the event from the drivers' points of view. The drivers were shocked at the
success of the turnout. Ashley asked for photos from TCC members for publicity for next year. Dave
mentioned that volunteers at the wrap up meeting offered to conduct a survey of veterans to get their input
on whether TCC consolidates or separates the breakfast from the car rally. This will allow TCC to make
an informed decision in the future.
MEMORIAL DAY 2026 PLANNING
Ashley inquired if TCC is considering a Memorial Day breakfast per a calendar submitted by Barry
Cunha for Lex250. Ashley wants to work on publicity and the Memorial Day agenda, script and music at
the next meeting.
PATRIOTS DAY PLANNING -April 18, 2026
Cerise reported that the initial stakeholders meeting was held on December 2, 2025. TCC will be
responsible for the Reenactment bleachers, LMM friends and family area, the Awards Ceremonies and
the Parade. Ashley and Cerise attended the Lex250 meeting today at which the town was clear that there
are financial limitations for 2026. The parade invitation letter went out on 12.2.25. We have received
approximately 20 applications in 2 days. Lorain and Dave will work on a sponsorship letter in early
January to raise funds. Ashley inquired whether the sponsorships include individuals. 2 Lexington
families sponsored the Ken Burns series. Dave explained that we will limit the parade to 90 units this
year. Dave shared a summary of draft schedule of potential events on Patriots Day weekend and walked
through the details of the draft plan for Patriots Day weekend. Doug clarified that TCC usually manages
stakeholders, that other events are being spearheaded by other groups and that the Town is in charge of
security. Doug is on many working groups which are crossing over. Dave clarified that there is no
"weekend czar" who owns the whole weekend. There are many questions about expenses for jumbotrons
and AV systems for visitors. Dave asked us to consider having a meeting with DPW in early January to
review our list of requests for set up on Patriots Day weekend. After we finalize the plan, we will forward
the schedule to the Select Board for the vote. Dave asked Lorain to project a budget for the awards
ceremony and a contractor for event planning assistance with security and step off and security during and
after the parade.
REVIEW STAND on PATRIOTS' DAY:
Sharon Spaulding shared some ideas about improving the review stand and welcoming guests. Sharon
expressed interest in setting up the review stand in front of the visitors center which makes it more visible
and appealing to spectators. Sharon asked if anyone was interested in participating in the idea of
upgrading the review stand. She asked TCC to consider making a list of invitees for actual invitations the
review stand, including Gold Star Mothers, National Park, Hanscom, local dignitaries and to have local
celebrities escorted back to the review stand. She has ideas about taking a review stand photo and having
certificates to attendees. Doug encouraged Sharon's ideas and will meet with Captain Mazarall to explore
the possibility of moving the review stand back to the Visitors Center.
We will get started on planning including: Registration, Publicity, Sponsorship, Technology.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
HOLIDAYPARTY.•
Sondra has offered to host the TCC holiday parry on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at her home.
Sondra asked everyone to RSVP to Sandy P. to collect information for the potluck dinner and menu.
Linda will organize the gift swap.
ADJOURNMENT
8:03 PM: Meeting Adjourned by unanimous vote by hand after motion by Lorain and seconded by Linda.
NEXT MEETING: December 17, 2025.
Respectfully submitted on December 5, 2025
Cerise Jalelian, Secretary for this meeting and
Ad Hoc in September, October, November Meetings 2025