Politics & Government

Get Your Car Washed — And Help The JHS Band

The Valero gas station at 135 Putnam Pike is set to host a car wash — with hand-drying by local officials.

On July 2, the Valero gas station on Putnam Pike is scheduled to host a car wash to benefit the music programs at — and local officials from the town and school department will be wiping cars dry.

The car wash is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. According to the National Weather Service, Saturday's forecast is for mostly sunny skies with a high temp near 84 degrees.

Mayor Joseph Polisena announced the event during an interview at town hall on June 27, and explained that Bassam Naiefah, the owner of the station, will be donating the entire charge for car washes — $10 per vehicle — to the school. The station will also be selling coupon books for future car washes, with $10 from each sale going to the school, as well.

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"We know that money's tight at the school department, so I'm hoping this helps," Polisena said. "I'm hoping there's a line (of cars) on Route 44, because if there's a line, there's money."

(If there is a lot of traffic on the road that day, Polisena added, he plans to call the police department to help cars get in and out of the station.)

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School Asst. Supt. Dr. Arthur Petrosinelli explained that the event serves a dual purpose: "Yes, it helps (the school music program), but it also actually builds the community — this brings everybody out, and hopefully we have a great day."

Petrosinelli also noted that local officials from the town and schools — including the mayor, town council, and school committee — are expected to be on hand wiping cars dry after they emerge from the station's automatic car wash.

"When do you see a mayor cleaning a car?" Petrosinelli asked.

The money will help the high school band with maintenance of their instruments and travel expenses, Petrosinelli said.

"It's not just taking care of the instruments, but the band travels, and those costs add up," he explained.

Polisena said the elected officials' participation — which he jokingly hinted was forced on them — shows that they care about the children in local schools.

"Some elected officials only care about their parents' vote — we care about the kids," Polisena explained.

"It shows that everybody's on the same page for the students," Petrosinelli added. "It shows them that you don't have to vote to know that 'You know what? They care about me.'"


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