Itaminas inaugurates, together with the Sarzedo City Hall, the Antônio Faustino dos Santos Square (Lampinha)
The city of Sarzedo (MG) received a valuable gift from Itaminas, long awaited by the community. At the end of April, the Antônio Faustino dos Santos Square, “Lampinha,” was inaugurated, located at the intersection of Rua Engenho Seco and the MG 040 highway, in the Santa Rosa neighborhood.
Built at a very important and strategic point, in the area that connects the municipality to other cities in the metropolitan region, such as Mário Campos, Ibirité, and Belo Horizonte, the Square directly reflects Itaminas’s concern for the well-being of the population. After all, in addition to the mining company’s investments, the efforts to complete the project received the collaboration of the Sarzedo City Hall and the City Council.
As part of its design, the Square gained raised crosswalks for pedestrian traffic, safety railings to preserve the space, and several benches so that as many people as possible could enjoy it. In addition, all the lighting was upgraded, bringing more safety and comfort to the population, who use the location as a leisure option and for sports at night.
Antônio Faustino dos Santos Square, “Lampinha,” has light landscaping, designed by the late Pedro Nehring, who was also responsible for the landscape design of Inhotim, and it was conceived to be a postcard image of Sarzedo, in addition to being part of the city’s Parque Ambiental Cachoeira project.
During the inauguration ceremony, Itaminas president Cristiano de Mello Paz and Sarzedo mayor Marcelo Pinheiro unveiled the plaque. The Square’s name is a tribute to Antônio Faustino dos Santos, “Lampinha,” who worked at Itaminas for 44 long years and was a beloved member of the community.
In his speech, Cristiano de Mello Paz highlighted the importance of the Sarzedo community to the mining company. “Itaminas is honored to stand together with the population, with the City Hall, with the City Council, with this administration and all the previous ones, and, God willing, we will always continue together and united for the development of this city,” he stated.
Several attractions marked the inauguration ceremony of Lampinha Square, especially for children, with games, music, and free hot dogs, popcorn, and cotton candy. The Sarzedo Municipal Band was also present with an eclectic and lively repertoire.
Gislane Faustino, daughter of “Lampinha,” expressed her gratitude and emotion for the well-deserved tribute to her father. “I thank everyone involved from the bottom of my heart. My father, my idol, the most precious stone, who now shines in the shape of a star. It was all so, so beautiful and moving. Gratitude is the word that sums it up,” she wrote in a post on our social media.
One of our followers, Leonardo Macedo, wrote: “Dearly missed Lampinha, an example of professionalism, a beautiful and well-deserved tribute,” echoing the positive comments from local residents and shop owners on our page.
The account “Suculentas Fonseca” noted in its comment: “More than well deserved and beautiful, this tribute to Lampinha, a man who taught me so much in such a short time, a longing that never ends. Congratulations to Lampinha’s daughters, who should and can feel very proud of their father.”
Antônio Faustino dos Santos always loved studying, but since he had to work from a young age to help his family, he persisted through difficulties in this pursuit throughout his life.
He worked at Itaminas for 44 years, and to keep up with his studies, he relied on an oil lamp during breaks from work at the local mine. Using water from the mine, he created a lighting system so he could see his books at night.
However, this system meant the lights didn’t last very long, which led him to buy a new lamp almost every day. It was the lamp seller, Mr. Tozinho, who nicknamed Antônio “Lampinha,” a name the honoree adopted with great honor and joy.
At Itaminas, Lampinha is always remembered as a dedicated and exemplary professional, as well as an extraordinary human being. So much so that, at the mining company’s headquarters, the main employee cafeteria was named after him.
For Itaminas president Cristiano de Mello Paz, the tribute to Lampinha, such an important figure in the history of the company and of Sarzedo, reflects an example of the strong bond that unites the company with the municipality. After all, many residents work, or know someone who works, at the mining company.
“Itaminas is committed to making its best efforts to reduce the impact of its activities on the community. We understand that it is part of our commitment and our desire to stand together with the population, without restriction, to make Sarzedo more humane, happy, pleasant, and cultured,” stated Cristiano Paz.
On social media, many people praised the Institute’s initiative. That’s the case of social media user Joaquim Neto, who wrote: “@itaminasoficial always improving our city and valuing its employees, everyone in Sarzedo is connected to at least one person who works at this great Company.”
Lampinha Square Inauguration – Sarzedo Interchange
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