The Westborough Woman's Club is pleased to announce the local winners in the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts short story and poetry contests for students.

Westborough students submitted their entries in the short story and poetry contest which covers all grades. This year Westborough had two winners. Jason Lu, won third place in the grade seven to nine poetry contest. Heidi Mannarino, won second place in the grade four to six poetry contest. The students were recognized at the state meeting in Medway by GFWC of Massachusetts President 2008-2010 Mary Baird. Each student received a certificate, gift card to a book store and other goodies.

Each year Westborough students are invited to submit entries in both the writing contest, photography contest and art contest. The Westborough Woman's Club is pleased to sponsor the local students in the state contest. Westborough Woman's Club is an active organization in town for the past ninety four years. For membership information please call Kathie at 508-366-0902.

Pictured left to right: Jason Lu, Gibbons Middle School, Mary Baird, GFWC of Massachusetts President 2008-2010 and Heidi Mannarino, Mill Pond School

WESTBOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE RECEIVES ARTS ADVOCATE AWARD    

The Westborough public schools has received the Massachusetts School Committee Arts Advocate Award by the Arts/Learning Collaborative.  The award was in recognition of their outstanding support of arts education, and for providing artistic and educational leadership in the commonwealth.    

The honor was given to the school committee for being the Massachusetts nominee for the 2010 Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and National School Boards Association Award.   Citations from the House of Representatives and the State Senate were presented  to David Jost, Coordinator of Fine Arts for Westborough.

In addition the Arts/Learning presented a handcrafted award "Spiritkeeper" urn by artist Judith Motzkin of Cambridge.  Each year the Arts/Learning has a Massachusetts artist  hand craft an award for all recipients to receive.  Executive Director Jonathan C. Rappaport presented the awards at a state house ceremony recently.

Arts|Learning is a member of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network--a consortium of 35 state alliances across the United States dedicated to arts advocacy and quality arts education for the nation's children.

David Jost (Ashland), Coordinator of Fine Arts Westborough receives the Massachusetts School Committee Arts Advocate Award by the Arts/Learning Collaborative Executive Director Jonathan C. Rappaport at the state house award ceremony.

Karyn Polito, Representative for Westborough, David Jost, Coordinator of Fine Arts for Westborough and Judith Wilchynski, Westborough Music Parents Association.

[Note: Thanks to J. Wilchynski of WPMA - the Westborough Music Parents Association - for bringing this to our attention!  -- webmaster]

From the "Ask the MMA" section of the Massachusetts Municipal Assocation web site, here's a question that I've often wondered about:

January 15, 2009

Question: "What constitutes a quorum at a public meeting?"

Answer: A quorum is defined by state law as a simple majority of a governmental body unless otherwise defined by applicable constitution, charter, rule or law. For towns with a three-member board of selectmen, this means that a meeting of two selectmen constitutes a quorum and must adhere to the Open Meeting Law.

Subcommittees are subject to the same standard, even if the quorum for the subcommittee would not constitute a quorum for the parent body. For example, if a school committee appoints a three-member subcommittee to screen superintendent applicants, whenever two members of the subcommittee meet to discuss the matter, the Opening Meeting Law applies.

Source: Open Meeting Law Guidelines, updated by the Attorney General’s office in April 2008

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Now, we know!

Activities include:

$5 admission for each kid (under 16), adults free. All proceeds will be donated to The Jimmy Fund.

Bring your family and friends to help Westborough Little League’s 10-Year Old All-Star team take a swing at cancer!  For more information, please contact Jane Flerra (janeflerra@yahoo.com, 508-898-9962) or Jen McGrath (jmcgrath819@verizon.net, 508-836-3634).