June 2, 2001:   Literally hundreds of people contributed much to the planning, support and construction of Mikey's Place. Because winter seemed to arrive a little too early and much work needed to be done later, the early spring, official dedication and opening of Mikey's Place was pushed back to late spring. On an overcast, sometimes rainy Saturday, the sunshine faces of cheerful friends, relatives, neigbors, town employees and other supporters made the morning seem balmy and bright. It was a time to come together. It was a time to remember. It was a time to look ahead.

The cafeteria of hanmer School on francis Street in Old Wethersfield, CT, provided the venue for the dedication ceremonies for the building of Mikey's Place. There was standing room only after all of the seats were filled; more than several hundred friends supporters, and well-wishers of the Daversa - Huffman family packed into the Hanmer School caf'.

Granddad henry Daversa,Jr., was the Captain of the good ship Popcorn during the ceremonies. A seemingly endless line of children (and adults) paraded past him, hands outstretched, for a box of the crunchy, buttered popcorn. His wife (Grandma teresa Daversa) was becoming somewhat frustrated in her efforts to get a good picture of Henry at work at the helm. Grandma Teresa, this one is for you!

"Family / Friends, Goodness / Love, These are The Things, Mikey's Place is Built Of". This icing message graced one of the two large sheet cakes provided for the public after the dedication ceremonies.

Dr.Wayne Sassano, Mayor of the Town of Wethersfield, CT, shared his thoughts with all those attending the dedication ceremonies. He pointed out to all that most of the Town Council was among the audience there in the Hanmer School cafeteria. The willingness and eagerness of the officials of the Town of Wethersfield to urge this project onward was proven by the very significant, encouraged use of town forces too. Many of the unsung contributors to the building of Mikey's Place were those town employees who worked on their OWN time, off the clock, evenings and on weekends.

kathy bagley, who you have already seen a couple time previously in this feature, is the director of the Recreation and parks Department for the Town of Wethersfield, CT. She was given the opportunity to speak everyone about what this project has meant to her and to the town of Wethersfield. Kathy has been one of the most avid supports of the building of Mikey's Place. There was hardly a single facet of Mikey's Place's construction which Kathy was not an integral part of.

Mikey's Mom (right), Mary Huffman Daversa, helped conceive and give birth to the building of Mikey's Place. She had introduced her husband daniel and her daughter danielle (on the dias at the lectern). On this day, though her face belied her fatigue, her eyes shown brightly with the love which she shared with Mikey's father and sister.

....In a display of parental trust and love, the Daversa's allowed Danielle to compose, without any review whatsoever, two poems which she then presented to the community gathered at the dedication ceremonies. The first poem is "Blueberry Eyes".  The second is "Here today". So young, yet so wise! So sensitive, yet so composed.

..In the weeks preceding the opening of Mikey's Place, the classes of Hanmer School practiced a special song about inclusion and friendship. All the children at the dedication ceremonies were invited onto the stage where they presented "Don't Laugh at Me", a song about the harmful effects of prejudice and discrimination, written by Peter Yarrow, of the well-known musical group Peter, Paul & Mary. Also see norma uricchio who lead and accompanied the children's chorus.

 Song master/maven for young children "steve" roslonek, now of Boston area, returned to his home town Wethersfield to help the Daversa - Huffman's help dedicate Mikey's Place. During and after the ceremonies proper, Steve helped lead the children in lively and meaningful songs, something he does very well. Steve's children-centered business is called "Steve's Songs." (See Pg. 20, Resources and Links).

Paul A. Aloi, video-photographer, is a familiar face in his home town of Wethersfield. Paul has produced two extensive video features (for our local cable channel wctv, Channel 14) on the building of Mikey's Place. These have included the original, autumn, Y2k work at Mikey's Place and included the entire dedication ceremonies for Mikey's Place. Aloi has the knack for great footage coupled with a good selection of music.