Do you love classical music?  Former radio station WCRB, now part of WGBH at 99.5 FM, is holding a one-day fundraiser today.  Did you know they've shifted to a non-commercial, listener supported public radio format, after having been bought by WGBH last year?

Please help keep this wonderful programming alternative on the air.  They're all classical, all the time. And, I must say, the programming has really gotten much fresher, too!  I'm constantly discovering new pieces, in addition to hearing the great favorites.

Plus, it's such a terrific feeling when your child hears something on the radio and goes, "Hey!  I know that -- we're playing it in school!"

So, Westborough, let's support the arts this way, as well.  Any contribution is welcome and will help.  Today only, March 18th, 2010.

You may call 888-995-9279 (888-995-WCRB), or go to http://www.995allclassical.org.

And, do take a listen at 99.5 -- on your radio, streaming from their web site, and also simulcast on WGBH 89.7's HD2 channel.

Michael Hyde
Westborough

Great news!  The JCC and its preschool will continue to reside in town after all.  Their future had been up in the air due to the ending of their current lease.  This is welcome news to parents looking for preschool options, especially in a time where some of our day care centers in Westborough have been closing.

Below is a letter from the Board of Directors of the soon-to-be new "Boroughs Area JCC".

March 17, 2010

Dear JCC Community and Preschool Parents:

The Board of Directors of the new Boroughs Area JCC is pleased to announce that working with our current landlord, we have reached an agreement to remain at our current location. Confirming his support of our efforts to create an independent and vibrant Jewish Community Center (“JCC”), Arthur Chase has offered us space at costs that fit with our current enrollment and financial situation.

Our intention and plan is to build a full service JCC, with a variety of cultural and educational programs and social services for the Jewish community and the communities in which we live and work. As the new stewards of the JCC Preschool, we look forward to continuing and improving the preschool program. We are actively seeking your ideas and feedback.

As part of this transition, please note that …

• The Westboro Area JCC, operating as a department of the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts, will transition to a new, locally managed, independent Boroughs Area JCC on July 1, 2010. The new JCC will, in effect, take over the operations of the pre-school at that time.
• The new Boroughs Area JCC already exists as a Massachusetts Nonprofit Corporation, and we are starting the process of applying to the IRS for our 501(c)3 charitable organization status.
• Your preschool deposits will transfer and apply to the new JCC preschool
• Memberships for the Boroughs Area JCC will run from July 1 to June 30. Your will receive a discount on your first year membership pro-rated to your current renewal date.

We will be scheduling another community meeting to present our plans and answer questions shortly. Please watch for emails and signs at the JCC announcing the date and time.

This is an exciting time and an incredible opportunity.

Please join us in thanking the JCC staff and faculty, the members and leadership of Beth Tikvah and Congregation B’nai Shalom, the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts, and all of the members of our community that have stepped forward with support, ideas, and assistance.

Best Regards,

The Board of Directors
Dave Crandall, Allen Edinberg, Ted Gowdy, Brian Lasoff,  Jeff Narod, Melissa Mahr, Stephen Marmor

[Please note: the original letter was signed with email addresses and phone numbers of the Directors.  These have been removed from this article to protect their privacy and prevent email spam.   They will, however, be made available on reasonable request as needed -- webmaster]

Westborough Community Land Trust Scholarship Offered

Each year the Westborough Community Land Trust (WCLT) awards a $500 scholarship to a graduating Westborough High School senior. The scholarship goes to the winner of WCLT's annual Earth Day Essay Contest.

Any graduating senior may enter the contest, reflecting the WCLT view that awareness and appreciation of the natural environment are important for everyone. It is not necessary for a senior to be planning an environmental focus in further studies or a career. In fact, the contest and scholarship are open to all graduating seniors, whether or not they plan to attend college.

The scholarship, which was inaugurated in 2006, recognizes a young person's sensitivity toward the environment and environmental concerns, as evidenced by the essay.

"Nurturing connections with the natural world provides us all with opportunities for lifelong learning and satisfaction," according to Allison Gergely, past WCLT Scholarship Committee chair.

To enter the contest in 2010, applicants should submit their Earth Day essay to the WHS Guidance Office anytime between March 1 and Wednesday, April 28, 2010. The WCLT Scholarship Committee will announce the winning essay and the scholarship recipient at the Westborough High School graduation.

Essays should be 500-750 words and should address one of these three topics:

1. An environmental issue in Westborough

   Describe an environmental issue that affects a natural resource in Westborough. Propose a solution that would address this issue and/or describe activities in which you have been involved that have worked towards solving this particular problem.

2. Sustainable living in Westborough and beyond

   Discuss ways that you and others of your generation could live more sustainably on Earth. If applicable, include a description of changes you have made in your own life that have enabled you or your family to live more sustainably.

3. Protection of Westborough's natural heritage and special places

   Describe a place in Westborough that you think is especially important to protect, and explain why. Discuss what you have done or propose ways that you could help to protect Westborough's natural heritage.

The scholarship forms are available in the WHS Guidance Office.

The deadline for applicants to deliver essays and signed application forms to the Guidance Office is Wednesday, April 28, 2010.

WCLT members are encouraged to spread word of the essay contest and scholarship among friends and neighbors.

"The Earth Day Essay Contest is a great opportunity for graduating seniors to take a few minutes to think about the natural environment that surrounds them here in Westborough and to put their thoughts down on paper – and perhaps win the scholarship as a result," says Annie Reid of the WCLT Scholarship Committee.

Please note: Senator James Eldridge and Representatives Karyn Polito, Carolyn Dykema and George Peterson Jr. are expected to attend the meeting.

The public is welcome; this should also be broadcast on Community Access (WestboroughTV).

Legislative Liaison Committee Agenda

March 16, 2009-Selectmen’s Room

Town Hall, 34 West Main Street

6:00p.m.

TOPICS

• Health Insurance
• Quinn Bill
• Telecommunications Property Loop Hole
• Charter School Funding
• SPED Funding
• Pension Funding
• Special Commission on the Re-Use of the WSH-request status
• Casino Gambling- request status
• Timing of Budget Information Release
• Driving and Cell Phone Restrictions
• Lyman School and Westborough State Hospital (WSH) disposition