Applause for 'Triton is Haunted' and volunteers

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November 20, 2012

Applause for 'Triton is Haunted' and volunteers

Anonymous Newburyport Daily News The Daily News of Newburyport Tue Nov 20, 2012, 02:00 AM EST

To the editor:

I went with my family to the ‘Triton is Haunted’ event and I wanted to take a minute to applaud all of the folks who worked so hard to make it a success. I can report that fun was had by one and all! The folks who organized this Triton Stadium fundraising event and, most important, the students who staged it, did such a great job of making sure that my 3-year-old was enchanted, my 10-year-old was thrilled, and their dad was quite frankly a little chilled.

It was great to see Glinda the Good Witch, a golden cat-like creature and some crazy Triton Viking wielding Thor’s hammer. Someone should sign that guy up to be the permanent mascot. Below is a list of the groups who warrant special mention. But mostly the thanks go out to the collected efforts of all — Team Triton.

This event proved that the effort to build the new stadium is about much more than just building a new stadium. It’s about more than just sports too! Team Triton worked with folks and organizations from across the district: sports, music, honor students, parents and student organizations. All came together to welcome the hundreds of families to the grounds of Triton. Triton itself was transformed into a carnival of fun with bouncy houses, pie-in-the-face throwing, football and soccer games, and even a mechanical bull, and that was just the outside on the field!

Mostly this event showcased what a fine group of students we have at Triton. These students designed and staged one the finest haunted houses I’ve seen in a while. So much so that I ran out of one of the rooms screaming like a host of ghouls were after me. There I said it, and when I inadvertently entered that room again, I started laughing nervously and ran out as fast as I could! Yikes!

My daughter Ava, who is 3, was made an official princess by the nicest bunch of girls. She’s still glowing. My son Andrew, who is 10, had a blast. Later my wife said, “I see these wonderful kids at Triton every time I come to one of these events and it makes me really proud.”

Thanks to everyone who came together as part of Team Triton. This successful fundraising event brings us closer to the goal of paying for the stadium with donations and fundraising — not through funding from Triton or its three towns. Here is a list of the groups that contributed to the success of the event:

The Triton Regional School PTA, Newbury Elementary PTA; Pine Grove PTA; Salisbury PTA; Triton Boosters; Triton teachers, staff and students; Triton Marching Band; Triton Athletics: cheering, cross-country, field hockey, football, soccer; the graduating class of 2013; Gradventure; So Said the Sun, a Triton student-led band.

Haunted House Rooms were created by: members of the senior, junior, sophomore and freshman classes, middle school students, the REACH TLC Team, drama students, the Community Service Club, girls soccer, girls and boys cross-country/track, girls field hockey and cheerleaders.

Tremendous thanks to the generous businesses throughout the Triton Community that donated products and services:

Applecrest Farm Orchards, Avery Woodworth Ponies, Colby Farms, Mammoth Media, Paul Clemence Masonry, Perfect Pear Catering, Plum Island Surf Co., Mike O’Keefe of ReMax on the River, Starboard Galley, Sullivan Studios, Sullivan Tutoring, Tracey Smith Graphics, White Farms.

Team Triton thanks one and all as we come together to build a stadium, and a community.

Dan Valianti (and family)

Chairperson, Triton Education Foundation Stadium Capital Fund