HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-20-TCC-minTOWN CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING
May 20, 2026, via Zoom Teleconference
Full Committee Members Present (quorum -7)
David Grabel and Sudha Balasuryan, Co -Chairs; Cerise Jalelian, Sandy Podgorski, Linda Dixon, Lorain
Marquis, Pam Winters, Sue Stering, Sondra Lucente, Mary Hutton, Ashley Rooney (@ 8:08PM).
Full Committee Members Absent: Geetha Padaki.
Subcommittee Members Present: Simon Rubenstein, Barry Cunha, Jamie Lee, Sub Datta, Sam Ang,
Hong Xie. Elizabeth Hsu, Bonnie Karshbaum
Subcommittee Members Absent: Seema Badaya, Brianna Karshbaum, Sharon Spaulding, Bill Keim.
Guests: Michael Tymm and Guy Jarvis, considering their interest in whether to apply for membership
MEETING OPENED
Co -Chair Sudha Balasuryan officially opened the meeting at 7:00 PM and recited the Zoom introduction
and instructions. The meeting began with the approval of minutes of May 6, 2026 which were to be
forwarded to the town office for posting.
MEMORIAL DAY -on Monday, May 25, 2026
Working Group Leaders: Linda Sudha and Jamie
Tiime: 8-9AM-DPW delivery of 200 chairs, podium, microphones
11AM Ceremony at Emery Square
No rain date.
For Memorial Day, the committee reviewed the planned schedule including wreath -laying ceremonies,
cemetery visits, and a gazebo ceremony at Emory Park, with discussions about program materials, music
arrangements, and potential speakers from Hanscom Air Force Base.
Jamie reported on the detailed logistics for the parade and cemetery ceremonies. He is working closely
with the Lexington Minute Men. Barry Cunha will be this year's narrator. Linda is working on the script.
Jamie is in touch with Scout leaders to organize Scouts for wreath laying and carnations on the
memorials. Linda and Sandy will coordinate purchase and delivery of the carnations. Jamie located
wreaths from last year and will coordinate placing the wreath stands in advance of the ceremonies. Lorain
will carry Barry's microphone. The group discussed the route, script and plans. Dave sent a request to
Lexington Police Department for the cruiser. LMM will volley at multiple locations along the route.
Linda was explicit about the need for TCC members to participate and get involved with logistics for
arrival at Emery Square. She will prepare the draft script and will provide binders to the narrators. She
specified the timing and location for each wreath, as well as the reading of the poem, In Flanders Field,
which Pam Winters will read. For the program, we do not yet have a Select Board representative or
clergy member. Dave and Linda discussed the budget for having two honor guards, piano player, chair
rental company and the bus with the $2500.00 budget allocation. Linda made sure to provide a list of
tasks for the TCC members who will be at Emery Square to greet guests and prepare for arrival of the
parade participants. Sub requested the list of DPW deliverables and Linda offered to meet with Sub. Elsie
offered to assist and requested a list of tasks to be accomplished. Dave Grabel will be the host at Emery
Park ceremonies. Linda will email the script to Dave for rehearsal. Dave reported on possible rain date
and the need for paper towels in case we need to wipe off wet seats.
ELECTIONS (next meeting):
Nominations: There are three official positions which require votes Co-chairs and secretary positions for
election; and an appointed treasurer. Dave asked for any nominees for the co-chair position. Sudha and
Dave are willing to continue as co-chairs and invites anyone to be nominated. Lorain suggested that Mike
Tymm will be a good sub -committee photographer and we encouraged Mike to apply. Secretary position
is open and Lorain is willing to self -nominate and Cerise will be the back-up nominee in case Lorain is
unavailable anytime. We will discuss treasurer position at a future meeting.
SUMMER SOCIAL POTLUCK Thursday, August 6, 2026 @ 6pm
Historically we have held a summer social event. Pam Winters may be able to hold the event at her
backyard this summer if it is held outdoors on a nice evening. Possible dates June -early August. Sudha
offered to be the back up if it does not work for Pam.
WHO AM I
At Sharon Spaulding's suggestion, Dave asked each TCC member to prepare 1-2 paragraphs brief bio to
share "who we are" with each other. He will provide instructions for how to prepare and share these bios.
PHOTO COLLECTION
Dave asked Sue Stering to share the request for photo collection for the Illumination event on May 30.
Wei Ding is preparing the event and would like some photos to include TCC in the presentation. Mike
Tymm will put together some of his photos to share. Dave asked for a working group to assemble photos
over the years to identify a single accessible location.
OTHER BUSINESS
Sandy talked about having a working group to bake cookies to assemble for members to bake cookies for
some of the groups who are helping us for DPW, LFD, LPD and any organizations who have helped us.
Linda said we have lovely cookie boxes. Lorain and Brianna expressed concerns about making and
delivering food without oversight. Dave expressed appreciation for volunteers informally doing good
deeds.
Simon Rubenstein is working with Lex250 Events Committee and Mona Roy for events surrounding
Lexington Art Appreciation on June 6, 2026 @ Depot Square. If anyone knows artists who want to have
booths, to let Simon know.
Motion to Adjourn @ 8:15PM.
Next full TCC Meeting, June 10, 2026 starting at 7:00 PM via Zoom.
Submitted by Cerise Jalelian
TCC Full Committee Member