Sweetheart Dinner Dance
The Eighth Annual Sweetheart Dinner Dance was held on Thursday, February 16th at the Billerica Lodge of Elks. This event has become one of the signatures of this organization and is something that truly embodies our community commitment.
To see a photo montage of the event, see Curtis Knight Entertainment's You Tube Slideshow: Sweetheart Dance Slide Show !
The Sweetheart Dinner Dance is is a free event for couples married for 50 years or more. It includes dinner, live music, commemorative photographs and a group renewal of vows. This year seventy-six Billerica couples participated in the event.
The evening featured a full dinner catered by Buffets Inc and served by volunteers. Musical entertainment is provided by Curtis and Anna of Curtis Knight Entertainment. Two soloists who performed during the evening, Alison Burns of Enterprise Bank who also performs with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and Billerica native Pat Friberg.
A brief homily and a group renewal of vows was conducted by Reverend Matthew Vixie of the Billerica Seventh Day Adventist Church and Reverend Ed Bacon of the North Billerica Baptist Church. Nineteen couples who attended the event for the first time recieved proclamations recognizing their years of marriage from State Representative Marc Lombardo and the Billerica Board of Selectmen who were represented by Selectmen Bob Correnti, Mike Rosa and Dave Gagliardi.
We also recognized those couples in attendance who had been married the longest.. This year that honor went to Fred and Margaret Pais (at left) who married in 1942 and wil celebrate their seventieth wedding anniversary in November.
In addition to dinner and dancing, each couple recieved corsages and boutonnieres along with a commemorative 4 x 6 framed photo. For those couples who needed it, transportation was provided by Sweeney Funeral Home.
We are pleased to a large number of sponsors, including our major sponsor, FLIR Systems. In addition to our major sponsor, FLIR Systems, our other sponsors included:
Table Sponsors:
- Billerica Access TV
- Billerica Lions Club
- Billerica Rotary Club
- Brightview Concord River
- Cabot Corporation
- Dr Scott Goldberg
- Enterprise Bank
- Fred Ciampa, CPA
- Friends of the Billerica Council on Aging
- Guardian Angel Senior Services
- LPL Financial
- Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley
- Marshall's Auto Body / Carstar
- Northern Bank & Trust
- Right At Home Senior Services
- Stoneham Bank
Half Table Sponsors:
- American Dream Homes
- Billerica Sons of Italy
- Frank Hynes & Associates
- Home Instead Senior Services
- O'Connor True Value Hardware
- Parent, McLaughlin & Nangle
Couple Sponsors:
- Hoban Renovation
- Integrated Financial Partners
- Noonan & McDowell
- Printing & Graphic Services
- Brett Beaurivage of MTM Brainerd Insurance
Services and Donations
In addition, we have a number of businesses who are providing a service for the event:
- Centerpieces provided by Billerica Crossings
- Corsages & Boutonnieres provided by the Billerica Garden Club
- Desserts provided by Lantheus Medical Imaging
- Pre-Dinner Refreshments and Catering by Buffets Inc
- Table Linens provided by Courtyard by Marriott - Billerica
- Photo Equipment provided by Billerica Recreation Department
- Entertainment provided by Curtis Knight Entertainment
- Transportation provided by Sweeney Funeral Home
- Bridal Mannequins provided by Paul DeStefano of DeStefano Store Fixtures
Lsstly, we thank those committee who planned the event and served as well as the volunteers. We appreciate all of their help.
- Bill Haddad - Committee Chair
- Brian Friberg - Committee
- Carla Trottier
- Claire Tracey
- Colleen Sgroi
- Dawn Marshall - Committee
- Dick Tracey
- Donna Popkin - Committee
- Jan Haddad - Committee
- Jennifer St Onge
- Jim Marshall - Committee
- Kris Frazee - Committee
- Liana Measmer
- Marilyn Keating
- Melanie Leiws
- Mary Coakley
- Pam Anastasi - Committee
- Paul Zapert
- Ron Bazza
- Sandy Wilson - Committee
Major Sponsor
FLIR Systems Inc 25 Esquire Rd, North Billerica
1-877-773-3547
FLIR Systems, located at 25 Esquire Rd in North Billerica, is a leading manufacturer of innovative imaging systems that include infrared cameras, aerial broadcast cameras and machine vision systems. FLIR's products play pivotal roles in a wide range of industrial, commercial and government activities in more than 60 countries.
Pioneers in the commercial infrared camera industry, the company has been supplying thermography and night vision equipment to science, industry, law enforcement and the military for over 30 years. From predictive maintenance, condition monitoring, non-destructive testing, R&D, medical science, temperature measurement and thermal testing to law enforcement, surveillance, security and manufacturing process control, FLIR offers the widest selection of infrared cameras for beginners to pros.
For more information about FLIR Systems Inc, see their website at .