I would like to add my voice to those who have said they would like to keep the new Belmont skating rink in Skip Viglirolo’s name. There’s a reason why the rink was named after Skip. It’s because of the many contributions he made to the town’s athletic program, particularly hockey, over his many years of dedicated service to the town.
The Belmont Voice article regarding the naming of the new rink in the April 25, 2025 issue states Select Board Chair Elizabeth Dionne sees issues with naming an asset for a person and as being concerned that only one capital asset in town, the library’s Jane Gray Dusan Children’s Room, is named for a woman. I would like to remind her of the Mary Lee Burbank School. It was named for Ms. Burbank because of her many years of dedicated service to children in the Belmont school system. Other town buildings named after people are the Daniel Butler School, the Chenery School and the Wellington School. Also, I don’t agree the names of town buildings should be “time constrained” as the Voice article states Dionne believes.
I agree with Dionne that sponsorships of certain facilities at the new rink could be an effective method of generating revenue to cover costs of running the new rink.
Let’s continue to publicly respect the many years of dedication Skip Viglirolo gave to the youth of the town. I and others urge the members of the select board to keep the rink in his name.
Dick Madden, Pleasant Street