Hello,

I would like to remind you that you are invited to attend an adult only presentation on Bullying, Cyberbullying and Teen Depression at the Mill Pond School, 6 Olde Hickory Path, on Wednesday, June 2nd at 7:00 PM.  This is a 60 minute presentation with a question and answer period following.

John Halligan is a national speaker who lost his son to suicide in 2003 as a result of being cyberbullied. 

Parents will be provided with strategies to take preventative action.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thank you. Kathy Martin (508-836-7724, kmartin@westborough.k12.ma.us)

[A message from Westborough Public Schools, received 7:02 pm Tue Jun 1, 2010, with the subject "John Halligan Presentation June 2".  Additional formatting and phone number added.  Here is a flyer with additional information, from the school site. -- webmaster]

Having faced the challenge of cartilage operations on both knees and living in a town with no affiliation to the sport, Westborough HS junior Sarah Hart is heading to Cincinnati OH to compete in the US Rowing Youth Nationals in early June. Sarah Hart is a member of the highly successful Community Rowing Inc. (CRI) competitive youth squad, currently holding a seat in their girls’ top Varsity 8 boat which medaled silver at the May regional heats held recently on the Merrimack River in Lowell.

Alongside her commitment to school activities, including playing/singing in Band and Chorus and also being treasurer of the Model United Nations club, Hart travels six days a week after school into Brighton, MA to train and practice on the Charles - requiring her to dedicate considerable time and energy to a sport she was first introduced to at the home of rowing, Henley on Thames in the UK. "I'd suffered a torn meniscus in my right knee" said Hart "and I needed a sport where I could regain the strength in my leg without making things worse. I was lucky that Debbie Flood - herself a GB Olympic medalist in the sport - was a member of our then local Church and introduced me to rowing. The initial development I received has proved tremendously important in ensuring not just my fitness but also technique in a sport that requires both intense power and stamina".

Two years ago, having moved to the US in 2006, Sarah suffered a further setback when she required a similar operation on her other knee and it was only in the fall of last year that she really got into competitive rowing through CRI. "I truly did not believe I could or would have advanced so far in such a short time. With crew, I constantly have to challenge myself to get past that point of feeling like I can’t do it anymore. But then I pull harder and (hopefully) we go faster,” Hart said.

As a club, CRI qualified ten boats overall for nationals but not all of them are looking to medal. "For instance, our boat is in transition, losing some seniors to other commitments. It may not be reasonable to expect a top three finish at national level", said Hart "but the opportunity to bring in fresh faces from the boats below and to develop a team for the future - which will include getting ready to compete in the famous Head of the Charles race in the Fall - is one of the things I relish about being part of the squad. We will certainly be going for it, taking part is a tremendous honor and will undoubtedly be a great experience".

The Youth Nationals take place 10 - 13 June, followed by US Club Nationals in TN in mid-July.

Any Westborough student interested in taking up rowing as a sport is welcome to contact Hart at hart.westborough@charter.net.

A final word from Sarah Hart. "In recent times CRI has twice been voted rowing Club of the Year and has some great programs, none more so than those for a growing group of novices. I'd be happy to introduce anyone to the sport and who knows, maybe one day we could get enough interest locally to put the town of Westborough on the rowing map. Why not go for it?"

Here's the schedule for what we believe to be the 2010 Memorial Day Ceremonies in Westborough, Massachusetts.

It'll be great weather!  Please come out with your fellow townsfolk to show your civic pride and to remember and honor those who sacrificed for our country.

Here's a schedule as gleaned from the local paper, and past experience:

8:00 am - Participants meet at the VFW hall on Milk Street for doughnuts & coffee.  Everyone will then board a bus to St. Luke's Cemetery.
8:30 am - Ceremony at St. Luke's Cemetery, 30 Hopkinton Rd.  (School and group parade participants typically assemble at Baxter St. at 8:30am.)
9:00 am - Ceremony at Pine Grove Cemetery, 106 South St.  Parade proceeds down South Street from Pine Grove to Midland Cemetery.
9:50 am - Ceremony at Midland Cemetery, (approx. 55 South St.).  Parade continues to rotary, and then Forbes building.
10:15/10:30 am - Main ceremony and speeches at Forbes Municipal building, 45 W. Main St. 

Local clergy from the community will speak at the cemetery services.

Bands from the Westborough High School and Gibbons Middle School will march and play selections.  Also participating will be the Boy and Girl Scout groups in town.

Speeches will be delivered by Grand Marshals Louise V. Brown and Robert P. McGoldrick.

GIRL SCOUT COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE A SUCCESS

The Westborough Girl Scouts held a very successful food drive resulting in one thousand three hundred fifty two pounds of food donated to the Westborough Food Pantry.Community members dropped off items during the day, and in the evening girls brought donations as part of their annual Girl Scout dance.

In addition, three hundred forty five dollars in donations and grocery gift cards were accepted that day. Members of troop 30629, 30633 and 30859 organized the food drive, make fliers and posters for the day. After the food donations were collected the girls sorted the products and checked for expiration dates on all items. The donations are a welcome addition to the food pantry at this time of year. Many of the holiday donations are getting depleted. On an average of one hundred bags of groceries each week is distributed to families in town. In addition, other organizations have held food drives to help keep the shelves stocked. Food donations are accepted year round at the Westborough fire station. Westborough Girl Scouts has over 325 girl members and 148 adult members in twenty nine troops. For more information on Girl Scouts call Judy at 508-870-1895.