From Joe Piantedosi, Chair – Depot Park Advisory Committee
The old VFW building has been torn down under budget, and the town will apply loam and grass seed to the site to stabilize everything until the construction phase takes place for the new park.
A civil engineer was hired and completed the site survey and topo drawings, which we needed for the design phase.
At our recent meeting last week, our committee voted to hire a design firm for the actual park design. The first phase will be to define the scope of the project design work. This will be followed by developing a couple of design schematic drawings of the proposed park. When this is completed, we will hold a public meeting and invite members of the public to view these schematics and solicit input before a final design schematic is approved by our committee to present to the Select Board for final approval.
We are excited to share that eight students have been selected to attend this year’s RYLA program, generously sponsored by the Bedford Rotary Foundation. In addition, four alternate students have also been identified. The Foundation has committed $2,800 total ($350 × 8 students) to ensure these students can participate in this impactful leadership experience. A sincere thank you to the Rotarians who volunteered their time to interview candidates, including Christine, Tom, and Kate Pinney, Diane Ryan, and Al Roscoe.
Sze-Wen and Victor are heading to Kenya to visit the sites of the Global Grant water project that has already touched many lives. This trip isn’t just about visiting—it’s about continuing a meaningful partnership. Over time, 16 sites in Kenya have been supported through the construction of rainwater catchment tanks, providing cleaner, more reliable water access for local communities. On this visit, Sze-Wen and Victor will be traveling to many of these sites, seeing firsthand how these systems are working and connecting with the people whose lives have been improved.
A meaningful milestone has been reached in the effort to expand opportunity through data-driven policy and education. The first recipient of the Tom & Kuo MIT Scholarship—an endowed fellowship created to support students in MIT’s Master’s program in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP)—has officially been nominated by MIT.
Another incredible day of service and community spirit marked the latest Hope for the Hungry meal packing event on Saturday, March 21. With more than 120 dedicated volunteers, joined by over 20 enthusiastic Rotarians, the event was a resounding success, resulting in over 27,000 meals packed for distribution through the Merrimack Valley Food Bank.
Rotary Club of Bedford’s Community Dinner on Wednesday, February 25 proved once again that sharing a meal can be a powerful way to build connection and strengthen community. Held in the welcoming Upper Fellowship Hall at the First Church of Christ, Congregational, the evening embodied the spirit captured so simply in the dinner’s tagline: “Sharing a meal, building community.” More than 60 residents—families with young children, teenagers, older adults, and longtime Bedford neighbors—gathered around tables to enjoy a hearty meal and lively conversation. The dinners, offered free of charge, reflect Rotary’s commitment to fostering inclusion and belonging in Bedford.
Bedford, MA 01730
United States of America