LETTER: Murder Mystery Fundraiser in Stoughton a "Huge Success"

The Great Hall at Stoughton's Town Hall was packed Friday night, Jan. 18 for a sellout performance of the "Murder at the Library" production, a fundraiser for Stoughton's Support Our Library Association (SOLA). The following is a letter of thanks from Pat Basler, Director, Stoughton Public Library (click here to view a photo gallery of the production):  

To the Editor:  

The Stoughton Public Library Board of Trustees and I would like to thank the many people and groups that participated in the first "Murder Mystery at the Library" fundraiser last Friday night. 

This murder mystery spoof was a huge success on many levels. 

It brought over 200 people out on a Friday night in January to enjoy amateur comedy in the beautiful Great Hall of Town Hall.  You could feel the enthusiasm and excitement in the room.  Folks who work for, and represent the Town, showed they have a humorous side.  And, of course, money was raised for future Library programs. 

But what made this event even more special was that so many people volunteered their time and talents with no expectation of personal gain (only possible public humiliation). Special thanks to Selectman Cynthia Walsh, Police Chief Paul Shastany and Detectives O'Connor and McNamara, Insurance Agent Carlos Vargas, Journalist & Radio Host Mark Snyder, School Principal Faye Polillio, Superintendent Maggie Rizzi, Town Clerk staff member Stephanie Cararra, Town Meeting Representative John Morton, and Co-Directors Fred Yaitanes and Jan Jones.  We are still not sure how they got us all to perform in just 3 weeks! 

But this would not have occurred without the tenacious work of Dori Frankel, President of SOLA (Support Our Library Association) and her committee: Sharon Fradkin, Dolores Cummings, Marylou Giordano, Melinda Rios, Ann MacDonald, Leo & Jean Mellyn and others.  They have been working behind the scenes for more than a year to create SOLA and we are very grateful to them for their generosity of time and efforts. 

Finally, thanks to Steve Innis of SMAC who will put the play on cable in a week or so; Jeffrey Pickette of Stoughton Patch who took wonderful photos; Stop & Shop for their donation of delicious appetizers; the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce and Southeastern Regional Technical School for an enormous and delicious cake, and the Stoughton Board of Selectmen for allowing this event to take place in Town Hall. 

It was a very special evening for everyone involved.  

Pat Basler