Energy-Efficient Lights Installed at Sabourin Field in Time for Flag Football and Varsity Home Openers

The new lights illuminated the final huddle at Saturday's Flag Football opener - Image (c) JMcCT, 2015 all rights reserved — The new lights illuminated the final huddle at Saturday’s Flag Football opener – Image (c) JMcCT, 2015 all rights reserved

Compiled by The Bedford Citizen
With the assistance of the Bedford DPW, the Recreation Department, and the BHS Athletic Department

The lights began to glow at dusk - Image (c) JMcCT, 2015 all rights reserved — The lights began to glow at dusk

Teams have played under the lights at Sabourin Field since 1986 when a group of residents including Betty Mulligan (mother of current Recreation Commissioner Tom Mulligan), Buzz McArdle and Jim O’Neil worked to secure a $150,000 grant from the Raytheon Corporation to fund half the expense of the original lights.

The Department of Public Works finished wiring the new lights late last week, just in time for the Rec Department’s first Flag Football event on Saturday, and for tomorrow’s home opener for the BHS Buccaneer varsity football squad.

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About the new, energy-efficient lights.

One of the old, cracked wooden light poles - Courtesy image (c) Bedford DPW — One of the old, cracked wooden light poles – Courtesy image (c) Bedford DPW

The old lights which were set on wooden poles were approximately 30 years old and finding energy efficient replacement bulbs was becoming more difficult. DPW was also concerned with safety due to the cracks in the old wooden poles. The new galvanized poles are 70 feet high and have 48 lights for game time use and 8 lights to illuminate the track for night time walking/running. The light poles were set with assistance from McDonough Tree Removal of Bedford who supplied the 40 ton crane to lift the poles and set them on the pre-stressed concrete bases.

The lighting system was manufactured by Musco Lighting and similar to the old lights, can be turned on and off remotely with a phone call or email to the manufacturer. Musco’s control and monitoring system will also notify the Town when a lamp is burnt out and for 25 years will replace any bulb as part of the contract. The DPW electrician wired the new lighting system, and provided a permanent electric service for the new press box. All the work will be complete in time for the Buccaneer’s first home football game on September 25^t against Holy Name Central Catholic.

The DPW is also assisting the Bedford Facilities Department with construction of a concrete pad for the new visitors’ bleachers on the north side of the field. Kel-Scot Corp, Bedford, will form and pour the pad in anticipation of the bleachers being delivered later this year.

Inaugurating the lights: Recreation Department’s Bucs Flag Football League

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As the excitement of Bedford Day began to ebb at dusk on Saturday, September 19, another kind of excitement began to glow on Sabourin Field. The Recreation Department’s Saturday Night Under the Lights program, pairing Flag Football players in grades 1 to 6 with members of the BHS Varsity Football Bucs, took to the turf at Sabourin Field for drills and scrimmages under the newly installed lights.

Recreation Department head Amy Hamilton was there to watch and said that both groups of young people enjoyed their time together. The youngest bask in the attention of the varsity players, and the varsity players seemed to love showing their moves to the kids in the program. Revenue from the activity supports the Bedford Football Club and the middle school and high school teams.

Over the several weeks of the program, according to BHS Assistant Defensive Coach Vincent McGrath, all of the varsity players will help at one time or another.

BHS Buccaneer Football’s First Home Game — Friday, September 25!

Bedford’s varsity football team will play their first home game under the new lights at 6:30 pm on Friday, September 25, in a non-conference game against Holy Name Central Catholic.

This year’s Bucs boast five Co-Captains: Tyler Billouin, Jake Eliason, Thomas Greaney , Pete Richards and Matt Timperio. Team members include Brandon Baez, Jackson Collins, Aaron Cook, Josh Fournier, Tyler Fournier, Kieran Garrity, Daniel Greaney , Toby Hart, Tristan Hart, Will Hegarty, Max Hughes, Martin Kimaczynski, Corey Kahn, Pete Kapanides, Felix Koetting, Shane Meyer, Khani Ogletree, Jared Patterson, Rodney Payton, Matt Peroni, Timothy Regan, Cam Shelmire, Ben Stacey, Jarrod Sullivan, Chris Taggart, John Thompson, Dave Timperio, Jason Voong, Andrew Williams, Chauncey Williams, Owen Williams, Tur Woods, and Aaron Xavier.