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MA Senate Passes Safe School Package

Politics - Jamie Eldridge - State Senator Written by Webmaster

Thursday, 11 March 2010 17:18

Senate Passes Safe School Package

Bills Ban Bullying, Promote Healthy Foods in Schools

BOSTON – The Senate on Thursday advanced measures to ban bullying and update nutritional standards in schools with a pair of bills aimed at promoting a safe, healthy and productive learning environment for all students. The anti-bullying legislation was based on a bill originally filed last year by State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton), who voted in favor of both the bullying bill and the school nutrition bill today.

Senate anti-bullying legislation prohibits physical, verbal and written acts that threaten or cause harm to another student, including Internet “cyber-bullying,” while a separate school nutrition bill establishes new standards for fresh food options in school cafeterias and vending machines.

“These two bills working together will make a dramatic difference in our school environment,” Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) said. “We all know there’s a strong connection between health and safety and learning. By striking out fear and improving nutrition, we’re going to provide students with a more valuable and rewarding educational experience.”

“This is comprehensive, prevention-oriented legislation that will work to end the persistent cycle of bullying we’ve seen in the Commonwealth’s schools for years, leading to tragedies like those in South Hadley, Springfield and too many other communities. Every student deserves to feel safe in their own schools, and this bill is a strong step in that direction,” said Eldridge.

Super Cool Google Project Opportunity! Fiber for the Community

Westborough Today - General Town News Written by Webmaster

Wednesday, 10 March 2010 23:21

Want to get involved? There's a very cool project being proposed by Google:

Google Fiber for Communities

Google is planning to launch an experiment that we hope will make Internet access better and faster for everyone. We plan to test ultra-high speed broadband networks in one or more trial locations across the country. Our networks will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today, over 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. We'll offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.

From now until March 26th, we're asking interested municipalities to provide us with information about their communities through a Request for information (RFI), which we'll use to determine where to build our network.

This week, led by Selectman Tim Dodd, our Town's Board of Selectmen agreed to pursue submitting a response.

Let's help Tim and his group. For more details, see Google's project page and, if you wish check out the RFI itself: Download PDF.

The following is the formal request from the Town web site. Reply by THIS FRIDAY if interested!

REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS

The Board of Selectmen has approved the completion of a Request for Information (RFI) for Google's contest to build a high speed fiber optics network. Google is looking to choose a municipality, or municipalities, in which to build and test a high speed fiber optics network, that would have benefits for residents, businesses, government, and education. The application deadline is March 26, 2010, and the Board of Selectmen is currently looking for volunteers who would be interested in helping fill out the RFI. Most likely, the group of volunteers would meet once next week and possibly at the beginning of the following week. Additionally, the goal would be for each volunteer to take on one portion of the application, which would most likely require 2-4 hours of outside work. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please email Nidia Ruberti, Administrative Assistant, at nruberti@town.westborough.ma.us by FRIDAY, MARCH 12. If you are interested, you will be contacted by Monday, March 15th to set up an initial meeting.

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2010-03-10 17:52:43 Westborough News article

A Farmer's Market in Westborough? Tell us more!

Westborough Today - General Town News Written by Webmaster

Monday, 08 March 2010 20:51

We've been hearing interest in the idea of having a Farmer's Market this summer in Westborough -- maybe even at Bay State Green.

Anyone know about this and can offer more information? Or whom we should contact to get involved? Thanks!

Please reply with comments below for a public response, or use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page.

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2010-03-10 11:58:48 Fantastic Idea.

2010-03-08 16:45:10 Grafton started one last year

Rep. Peterson reports House amendment regarding online communications of harmful material to minors

Politics - George Peterson - Precincts 3 and 5 Written by Webmaster

Monday, 08 March 2010 00:00

House Unanimously Adopts Amendment to Protect Minors;

Peterson Pleased with Bipartisan Support

Boston – Representative George Peterson is pleased the Massachusetts House of Representatives today unanimously adopted a bipartisan amendment that if signed into law would provide greater protection to minors.

While taking up An Act Punishing Assault and Battery by Means of a Bodily Substance upon Correction Facility Employees, Representative Peterson was one of the dozens of co-sponsors who supported the amendment. It was offered in response to the Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling made on February 5th. The SJC ruled in favor of a child predator that had been sending sexually explicit content through online communications.

The amendment will expand the statute by prohibiting the dissemination of harmful material to a minor via instant messaging or other online communications.

The Grafton lawmaker supported legislation a couple weeks ago because he was concerned that the state’s statute under which the defendant was convicted had not been updated to reflect society’s current electronic age.

After an examination of the statute and its legislative history, the Court stated that the Legislature must take action if it wanted to ensure that our children are protected from predators seeking to electronically disseminate obscene material to minors.

“With the Supreme Court saying that the Legislature needed to be more specific with our protection of minors, it is great to see that we could act so quickly,” stated Representative Peterson. “It is great to know that our minors have an added level of protection now through this amendment.”

The bill now heads to the Senate for approval.

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Westborough Little League Baseball and Softball tryouts Mar 13, 14 at Mill Pond

Sports - LittleLeague Written by Webmaster

Sunday, 07 March 2010 18:41

TRYOUTS ARE NEXT WEEKEND

ARE YOU READY?

Westborough Little League Baseball and Girls Softball

Westborough Little League's 2010 Baseball and Softball tryouts are coming up on March 13^th & 14^th at Mill Pond.

Little League Baseball Tryouts

Saturday-March 13, 2010

Mill Pond Gym

9:00 AM                  9 Year Olds A-H
9:30 AM                  9 Year Olds I-Q
10:00 AM                9 Year Olds R-Z
10:30 AM                10 Year Olds A-F
11:00 AM                10 Year Olds G-N
11:30 AM                10 Year Olds O-Z
Noon                       11 Year Olds A-M
12:30 PM                11 Year Olds N-Z
1:00 PM                  12 Year Olds

Little League Girls Softball Tryouts

Sunday-March 14, 2010

Mill Pond Gym

10:00 AM                3^rd & 4^th Grade
11:30 AM                5^th & 6^th Grade
1:00 PM                  7^th & 8^th Grade