by fpz95 in Contests
Posted on May 7, 2011 at 9:48 pm
Last Modified on May 12, 2011 at 11:58 am
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This happened in Somerville
Crumble! Crackle! Slam! Bam! Walls falling apart, the floor’s ready to break; it’s disastrous! Imagine, you’re dancing on stage, smiling at the audience as the light is gleaming on your face and all of a sudden you trip. You fall straight to the ground as time seems slower the moment you fall and a giant piece of wood is sticking out of the stage ready to stab you in the face. You think to yourself, “This would have never happened if they fixed this terribly old stage.” You’re practically risking your life just standing on the Somerville High School auditorium. It’s falling to bits and pieces and ready to hurt you.
This auditorium goes all the way back to 1872. It was once a beautiful stage for people all over the city to perform on. Harry Ellis Dickson, a famous violinist performed on this very stage. Daniel Bernard Roumain, another famous violinist and Keith Lockheart, a pianist had also performed at the Somerville High School in 2010 for more than 700 people. The Somerville High stage is about 120 years old- unbelievable right? It’s now 2011 and it’s nothing but rubbish and a danger zone, It practically screams “DANGER!” But does that stop us from performing on it knowing the risks? No.
This stage has been open to actors, band performers, dancers, singers, musicals, concerts, speakers, and more! And now, it’s just falling apart. Every time the floor squeaks it sounds as if it was crying do to the damage it has been in. When I first got to see more than just the auditorium (like the side wings and backstage area) I saw walls crumbling, the floor breaking and pieces of dust and plaster everywhere.
Can you imagine practicing on stage for the Drama Club and all of a sudden you smell something so repulsive like something died? It’s so bad to the point where it triggers your gag reflex and you want to vomit due to the revolting smell that has to go through your nose. This year, the cast of Willy Wonka was practicing in January as two men were cleaning under the stage. That nasty foul smell of death turned out to be a decomposed pigeon, but of course it was just a carcass now. During the second night of the Willy Wonka my cast mate Patrick and I were sitting in the left wing and out of nowhere. “CRASH!” We looked around and wondered if anyone else had heard it besides us. I started to see a bunch of dust flying out of the small room and a huge chunk of plaster lying on the floor.
Next, as Dance Club started up, it was getting close to the Spring Concert. Practicing the choreography my teacher Karen Woods was giving us, I ducked down and my finger got stabbed by a huge piece of wood just sticking straight up from the stage; I started to bleed and it stung for a good 5 minutes. It’s wasn’t too serious, but what if it was? As Karen Woods taught us some more moves, she was close to stepping on a nail popping out of the stage and she wasn’t wearing any shoes. I’ve noticed bits and pieces of wood tearing off the stage floor, and the stage is practically starting to rot. What if all of a sudden someone is dancing on stage and all you hear is the wood crackling then SNAP! Someone end up falling through the floor into a gapping black hole and never to return like they never existed in the first place, but of course that won’t literally happy. It’s terrifying just too even think about what’s been under there for the past 100 years. The Somerville High auditorium officially belongs to the City of Somerville, so why haven’t they done anything to fix it?
People that have performed on that stage multiple times want to fix this stage. They all think that it’s un-safe, gross and hazardous, and that the City should help fix it so there are not risks of performers getting hurt. The auditorium shouldn’t just be fixed because the students want it to be, but out of respect for the different groups and departments that work on that stage. Other departments are respected and get the things they need to keep the department running so why shouldn’t we the people who love the arts or the people who are on that stage get the one and only thing they request? I’ve heard ideas from students like sending pictures of the broken stage, crumbling walls, and damaged equipment to the city or writing letters about their concerns toward the auditorium. I took the time to interview three teachers at the Somerville High School to get there opinion and what they have to say about this situation.
Romanoff (Band Teacher and Musical Director).
Curtis Eames (Drama Teacher and Actor) and
Rick Saunders (Music Director, jazz and rock musician and Music Teacher).
I have concluded that the Somerville High School auditorium should be fixed. Things that need to be fixed are ventilation, the walls, the stage, the electrical system, the chairs, curtains, graffiti, and the fly. Just imagine as someone tries to pull up the fly and ties it, and as one person is standing under it the fly snaps and crushes that person almost killing them because it was unevenly balanced. Or working the lights and you get electrocuted because the electrical system was never fixed. The auditorium is one giant safety hazard and health issue. There is the problem of lack of funding and there is not enough money for professionals to fix it, but it’s still an embarrassment to have not only important people, but people in general to walk into that auditorium and end up sitting in a broken chair, and have to look at how un-safe and awful our stage is.
Does the City of Somerville care? There is no exact answer, but I know most people DO care. I’ve learned at the High School about a thing called OSHA. It stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration. They should do something about our stage because there is no way that it’s safe with no health problems. In my opinion, I care about this auditorium. An idea I even have is to get former students from the Somerville High School that worked in the trades we have to help fix it over the summer. We already have the tools and material, and maybe it won’t be as much of a huge cost as it would for professionals. If you care about the Somerville High School auditorium and feel someone should do something about it, don’t be afraid to speak up and find ways to get it fixed. Everyone has a right to shine on that stage without the thought of risk happening. Just imagine how much longer it can last once it has been fixed and looks beautiful as it was once before. Image, the stage is fixed and brand new, the stage floors are shiny and clean, the walls are smooth and freshly painted. No more problems with the electrical system and the fly is easy to work with; The chairs are fixed and ready to be sat on and the minute you walk into the auditorium there’s a smile on your face as you look at the newly improved stage and the first thing you say to yourself is “Beautiful, just beautiful.”
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I mistakenly clicked the thumbs down (because of my phone). I ment to click thumbs up because I find this story interesting. I really enjoyed reading it. Don’t give up on the things you really believe in. I myself have seen that stage, not very attractive. I would love to see it be fixed.
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I just Tweeted your post to the City. Will let you know if I get a response.
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Thank you. It’s nice to know that I have help.
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This article introduces readers to an important issue at SHS with relevant information and engaging anecdotes. The author’s voice shines through as she presents a well-developed argument.
Well done!
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I called 311 to report these problems. I left my name and number, but I told them to have the Building and Grounds people contact Mr Romanoff or Mr Saunders to be shown the various problems and their location in the auditorium.
The confirmation # is 203995 if anyone wants to check up on this.
Good luck!
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That skeleton looks more like an eagle than a pigeon! I hear the skeleton was found when they went to extract the dead pigeon. Yuck!
Thanks so much for this report! Maybe it will make something good happen in Somerville! If some of those janitors the city fired last year have any plastering or floor re-finishing skills, well, maybe they are still looking for work and maybe the city could give them a job in the auditorium.
Kids in Somerville need to know that the community does care what sort of environment they spend their days in. It reminds me of when my son’s youth soccer team went to the Tournament of Champions in Amherst some years ago now. We were waiting by the pool in a nice hotel near the fields when we found out our hotel was actually a sleazy motel in the hills about a half hour away. When we arrived, one of the kids said, “We be the ghetto team, man.” I don’t want Somerville High to be the ghetto team. I hope they can think of themselves as the worldly wise and classy city team. If their surroundings were less dejected, it might help!
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I’m pretty sure the two men didn’t know there was a pigeon under the stage. It was when I was at my Willy Wonka practice and everyone was gathering up looking at it. It was really gross and must have been there for years if it decayed straight down to the skeleton. I just put up some new pictures that I took today if you check out the photo link again.
P.S. I’m really glad to see people helping and share the same concern as I do. I do know the City of Somerville cares, but if they saw how much people wanted to get it fixed why haven’t they done anything? People have had this concern for years.
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oh yea also in one of the side the fly are not attached at all! x.X that means the fly can just fall on our heads one day
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Really :O I never knew that! All I know is one is off balanced. It must be attached to SOMETHING It can’t stay up there by itself.
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My name is Mr. Saunders and I am the Music Director for the Somerville Public Schools. I was interviewed by Francesca in regards to the historical talents that have shared the stage at Somerville High School.
I want to remind the community that the city has made improvements to this auditorum. The school department purchased a state of the art sound system that ensures every speaker, actor and musician is heard clearly.
I can also assure you that the DPW has taken care of any safety concerns I have had in regards to the auditorium.
Mayor Curtatone and Superintendent Pierantozzi have been extremely supportive of the Arts and we will find a way to make the cosmetic and structural repairs needed.
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Thanks, Rick!
As the poster asked, why haven’t these seemingly serious issues been addressed yet given that they’ve been around for years (at least according to her)?
Is there any way that she and her friends or anyone can help advocate for the repairs?
By the way, I got some responses on Twitter from the Somerville Public Schools here.
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Thanks for the info Mr. Saunders. You could have told me that haha.
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I seem to remember that the curtains are pretty new. Are those rips in your photo?
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Yeah there are rips in the curtains of the windows and stains on the stage curtains.
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actually, because of my story I got an inbox on facebook from someone who works at city hall asking to see me and to use my brain gettin SHS students interested on taking care of the city and getting the stage fixed. I’m going to take 2-3 friends with me next Thursday and I’m realy excited.
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Wonderful! Please let us know how the meeting goes.
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I most definitely will
even though it’s not till next Thursday, but I’m still very excited.
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wow! This is such an important story, with fabulous photo documentation! thanks so much, fpz95.
I hope noone wants to exploit your talent and smarts for free-maybe the city can offer you a paid summer internship to develop the annual Capital Improvement Plan for Somerville Schools!
Speaking of which, the 2009 Somerville Schools capital needs plan, at http://tinyurl.com/5r7nd5m,
listed, for SHS auditorium: “Repair or replace stage floor. Stage floor is uneven and worn. Water leaks from ceiling onto stage. ” (page 5), and called a “number 2 priority,” whatever that means.
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Honestly I looked at what needs to be done for SHS and the number 1 priorities are not even close to important as the stage. People in all different shaped and sized perform on that stage (No Offense) and the stage floor is chipping, rotting, and weak. So I’m PRETTY SURE the stage is more important and it’s only number 2 because they don’t find it that importaint (Probably because they are not the ones performing on that stage). I honestly don’t find any of the main priorities (1) are that important what so ever.
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Thank you so much for posting this! Here we are bonding away our future at Assembly Sq. ($25 million on top of the $14+/- million already on the tab for the Argenziano over run) because the developer after agreeing in a covenant to build the infrastructure, suddenly can’t and now we have to pick up the tab. If we have such a huge credit card, how about borrowing a little for things that matter – like our children? How can we call ourselves one of America’s best anythings for anybody, if we can’t adequately maintain our high school?
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Exactly.
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Honestly. Middle schools get EVERYTHING. I would know because Kennedy was kind of spoiled, but we only have ONE High School. And it’s not even close to being as nice and spoiled like the middle schools we have.
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S.O.S. – Save Our Stage!
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I just wanted to let you all know the meeting is now next Wed. The two people I was going to see, one was sent on a business meeting. Also I felt like I should just say this story wasn’t meant to make Somerville look bad in any way. My only purpose is to try and get the Auditorium fixed.
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Please don’t feel bad! There is a big difference from appearing to be a ‘best’ city and being a ‘best’ city and that difference resides in thoughtful young (or any age!) people like yourself who are willing to point out what is wrong and then work with others to fix it or make it better. Pretending everything is hunky-dory (to date myself) is something we’re always tempted to do – and it’s a sure sign that things are not as they should be. Keep up the good work! Looking forward to the next thing you turn your attention to.
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Thanks. When I have that meeting I’ll be glad to write about it and inform people who are interested to hear what happened and what’s going to happen.
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The City of Somerville and the School Department has taken measures to remediate this situatuion. The speed in which this has happened is a testimony to their commitment to the students of Somerville! It also is a great example of how important student voices are!!! You have been heard.
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Yay! I really hope they are going through with fixing the chairs, stage, walls, and other things that need fixing. I can’t wait to see how beautiful it could come out too, but of course it takes time and patients for reconstruction. (Took a little TOO much time and patients for them to even think about the auditorium and its condition in my opinion.)
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Thanks for the news, Mr. Saunders.
Would you please tell us what measures the city has taken so speedily?
Looks to me like this is, first and foremost, an example of the fresh skills and journalistic talents of fpz95.
As for the “commitment” of the city and school department to the students, it will take more than a sanding and a paint-over of the auditorium to prove that the deciders are genuinely respectful to somerville’s student voices!
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Thanks
and they deff cannot sand the stage. It has been done multiple times. Its thin as it is. Anymore sanding and it could possible collapse.
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Two thinks you should think about:
1) Having impact is the best possible kind of outcome for a news story, and you’ve achieved, through some good luck and really good reporting, more than most achieve as professional adults. Following up is a different level of reporting, however, and you should use your advisers – here, in school, and eventually in the media – to explore how different “follow up” journalism is from catching the problem in the first place.
2) There are other problems in the city where your passion, your skill in focusing on a story and documenting its impact, and your ability to organize personal, professional, and different voices and experiences can make changes at least as dramatic as the ones you’ve mobilized for the auditorium. Again, there are helpers for you (not guides, not directives, but helpers) in many settings. Now you should explore some of those settings.
One of them might be the team who plans Somerville Voices. You’ve heard from them on this thread of comments: join them, since they can help you “voice” the words of change.
Good luck and great work.
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