LIONS ALL FIRED UP: The Stoughton Lions Club met Wednesday night, February 8, at Chinatown Restaurant. They welcomed special guest, Fire Chief Mark Dolloff (pictured in our Gallery with King Lion Robert Mullen.)

Mullen tells About Town, "Chief Dolloff is an excellent speaker. He showed us the progression of thermal imaging technology. The newest are hand-held cameras that are only $4,000 each. These are used to find people in fires." 

Two of the "older models," to which the Lions contributed towards, are now in use by the Fire Department. Dolloff said that those cameras—which originally cost up to $20,000 each, have been replaced by a better technology, at lower cost, and are now much smaller and easier to use.

The Lions Club also gave funds for the police department for defibrillators. 

Mullen said, "We invited Chief Dolloff to show us what's going on at the department, and to talk to us about some of the equipment we've donated over the years."    

The Lions Club International and local Lions Club, raises funds for eye research to help prevent blindness.  

Added Mullen, "We're giving $1,000 next week to Lions Club International to help their blindness prevention programs.  There is also a mailbox in front of the Stoughton Post Office to collect used glasses. If anyone has glasses they no longer use, or with an old prescription, they can drop them off in the box.  Lester Davis brings them to a place that re-engineers them to be used in poor areas that cannot afford glasses. So, we're helping to fight world blindness."   

The Lions Club meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Chinatown Restaurant.  For more information, call Bob Mullen at 781-344-8910.

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BEST THEATRE IN TOWN:  Theatre Director A.J. MacQuarrie has come out of "retirement" and is bringing what he terms "Probably the best theatre in this town in a long time."  

He's hoping that people will come. If you do, you'll be entertained by Pulitzer Prize-winning David Lindsay Abaire's play, "Kimberly Akimbo."  The play has strong language and mature themes. 

This Little Theatre of Stoughton production is about a 16-year-old girl who ages four and a half times faster than the average person, dealing with her dysfunctional family, and the end of her life at such a young age. 

Jan Jones, a well-known figure in local theatre, plays Kimberly. Her love interest in played by Stoughton's own Sergey Grabkovsky. Stoughton resident Christine McFadyen plays Debra, Kimberly's aunt.  Chip Winslow plays Pattie, Kimberly's mom. Rich Morton plays "Buddy," Kimberly's father and Pattie's husband.

Tickets for the production are only $17, and include free hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.  Shows will be held on February 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. and on February 12 at 2:30 p.m. The production will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 14 Seaver Street in Stoughton. 

Capacity is only 90 people, so don't miss your chance to see a fun production from local people!  Tickets are available at www.littletheatreofstoughton.org. If seats are still available, they'll be for sale at the door. 

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to: Susan Tsinzo Hardy of Hardy Insurance Agency.  The Stoughton native is married to Stoughton Police Detective Roger Hardy.

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BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAYS to: Realtor Audrey Blanchard of Caldwell Banker, a former Randolph neighbor, who now calls Stoughton home; and Trainer/Massage therapist and owner of Why Weight Fitness Randi Renzi…both celebrated Thursday.

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