Pasta! Pasta! Pasta! Orlo Ave School Playground Nears

East Providence is no stranger to delicious ethnic cuisine and many residents love their Italian food. Orlo Avenue School volunteers are hoping that area residents will be in the mood for a full course pasta dinner at East Providence High School’s ‘Kanelos Dining Hall’ on Friday, May 18th from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M. Orlo is just a meatball’s throw from the once famous ‘Asquino’s Italian Restaurant’ (now the Riviera Inn). In addition to enjoying a home cooked pasta dinner with salad, deserts and more, area residents can help Orlo complete their dream of building an outside playground. “We need $40,000 to complete this project,” said parent volunteer Debbie Palumbo. Palumbo, Izilda Teves and other volunteers recently gave The Reporter an updated tour of the project. “For many years the entire Orlo Avenue School Community has dreamed of having a playground for students to enjoy,” said Palumbo. Orlo Avenue School is the only school in East Providence without an outside playground area. The school is mostly bordered by concrete and busy side streets with cars constantly approaching from highway ramps to and from Providence. The parents, staff and volunteers crafted a three-phase construction project at the start of the 2011-12 school year. As they raised enough money, each phase has been completed. Phase 1 was the construction of a small children’s playground on the front corner of Blanche and Orlo Avenue. Phase 1 was completed on April 15th with the help of many volunteers. In addition to parents and some staff, elected officials Representative Bob DaSilva, School Committee Chair Charlie Tsonos and Mayor Bruce Rogers pushed wheelbarrows and raked mulch. “Ed Catelli (school and city maintenance director) has been a major help to us in planning and doing a lot of the physical work,” added Palumbo and Teves.

Phase 2 consisted of installing a basketball court in a section of the large asphalt covered rear of the school. Two poles with hoops have been installed and the area will be seal coated at the project’s total conclusion. “The transformation is beginning, things are shaping up and we have the last phase to go,” said a hopeful Palumbo.

The final and largest phase of the playground project is Phase 3. This phase will install a grassy play area and large playground consisting of play structures, swings, slides, monkey bars and rock climbing. “We need $40,000 to finish everything,” said volunteer and retired teacher Stephanie Vinhateiro. “We’re so glad to have Stephanie’s help. She is a great organizer,” said Teves. The volunteers are pinning their hopes on the big pasta dinner. “We will have raffles, a silent auction, prizes and surprise guests. Without a big night, this can’t happen for this school,” the volunteers agreed. “I have so many to thank so far. Thanks to ‘Ulti-Play’, the company who will help us manage and organize the installation of all the equipment. We need to follow all the safety guidelines, etc.,” added Palumbo. Additionally the school is planning a Red Sox night at McCoy Stadium on June 25th. “You can buy 1 ticket for $21. and take 6 people to the game. We will get half of those proceeds,” said Palumbo and Teves. But for now the group’s focus is on the May 18th pasta dinner at the high school cafeteria. Tickets are $10 per adult and $5 for children ages 6-12. Those under age 5 are free. Tickets are available at the school at 25 Orlo Avenue or by calling 401-654-8722. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Checks should be made out to: Orlo Avenue School PTA-Playground Fund. Donations can be sent or brought to the school office. See before and after pictures in this issue and at reportertoday.com.