WrenthamTimes.com

Local Musicians Audition For Music Festival

Elementary school students from Wrentham, Norfolk, and Plainville auditioned for the solo and ensemble music festival Saturday morning. Sponsored by the King Philip Regional music program, over 220 young musicians auditioned for a place in a district wide honors band and to have an opportunity to perform as a soloist or in a duet, trio, or quartet this spring.

Peter Tileston, director of music at KP, started the program 23 years ago and says this is an opportunity for young musicians to play in a big band with high school students.  "This was something I experienced in elementary school," he said. "It kept me excited about music."

The excitement comes from the opportunity to perform. Tileston says students are competing against sports where practices are followed by games. With music, there are more practices and not many occasions to actually play before a crowd. The music festival gives students "more performance opportunities.”

2010 Continues to be an Election Year

Several key elected positions are up for grabs this April. In fact, there will be two separate election days in April, followed by one in May. The first on April 5th is when the town elections will be held. Then on April 13th, there will be party primaries for the state senate seat vacated by Scott Brown’s election to U.S. Senate. The special election to fill the state senate seat will be held on May 11th.

The ballot for the town election is taking shape, but several positions are still lacking candidates. Currently, there are more open seats than candidates for Board of Selectmen, Constable, Fiske Library Trustee and King Philip School Committee (1 year position).

Candidates vying for the state senate race are currently democrats Peter Smulowitz and Lida Harkins both of Needham. At the present time, Ricard Ross is the only republican candidate to have entered the race.

The town ballot currently looks like this, but this may change since there is still time between now and the February 16th deadline for submitting papers.

Moderator: Keith S. Billian
Selectman: Joseph F. Botaish
Assessor: Joan Dooley
Assessor: Maggie E. Leavitt
Town Clerk: Carol A. Mollica
Planning Board: Thomas P. Wrynn
Planning Board: Bob J. Cohen
Constable: Stephen R. Hamlin
Constable: Richard J. Gillespie
Board of Health: Dr. Ravindra M. Nadkamrni
Housing Authority: Marjorie V. Hooper
Wrentham Sch. Eric A. Greenberg (3 yr)
Wrentham Sch. Kim E. Carr (1 yr)

Fire off South Street

Armitage Auto Parts on  South St. near the  Outlets was the scene of a major fire this afternoon. Reportedly, around 1 p.m., one of the owners was cutting metal and a spark ignited debris. Here's video and a more information from WickedLocal.

Video of Swearing in Ceremony for Senator Brown

Papa Gino’s Fundraiser for KP Dare

For three days this month, a slice of Rustic Pizza will support KP Dare Program. In fact, if you present the attached flyer linked here, 20% of the proceeds from all day-lunch and dinner will go towards the program dedicated to keeping KP students aware of the dangers of drugs. The days of the fundraiser are Tuesday, February 9th through Thursday, February 11^th.

Download KP

Christmas Tree Pick-Up A Success

The Boy Scouts of Wrentham Troop 131 collected 189 trees and raised almost $2,000 with their annual Christmas tree pickup program. The tree collection capped off a successful holiday season for the troop which sold nearly 700 wreaths between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Download Press Release Thank you Christmas 09.

Former Wrentham Judge Looks to Replace Ross

Now that Richard Ross has announced his intention to run for State Senate and not run for reelection as state representative, Norfolk republican Dan Winslow has tossed his hat in the ring to replace him. Winslow currently serves as the Town Moderator in Norfolk and previously served as the Presiding Justice of the Wrentham District Court. He also worked for former Governor Mitt Romney and Chief Legal Counsel to the Scott Brown for US Senate campaign.

In a prepared statement Winslow stated, “I will work hard to earn voters’ support as State Representative so we can get people working again, bring fiscal stability to local core services, and improve the quality of life for all our communities.”

Students Help Haiti

The idea started from a classroom discussion on current events and blossomed into an extremely successful fundraiser to help with the relief efforts in Haiti. The students in Ms. Wasdo’s 5th grade class raised $4,369 by raffling off tickets for gift baskets to the entire Wrentham Elementary School population. With prizes that included trips to Tootsie’s Ice Cream with a teacher and friend, or a special meal with the principal, the response was extremely positive and generous. The money will be donated to The Boston Foundation and be specifically put into the The Haiti Fund. This fund will match the money raised for a total of $8,600. A quarter of the funds will go immediately to disaster relief and the remainder will be spent down over the course of five years to help with the long term reconstruction efforts.

Ross Running for State Senate

Wrentham’s Richard Ross made his run for the State Senate official Wednesday night before a packed room of supporters, friends, and family. In the community room within the North Attleboro Police Station, State Representative Ross ended speculation on a possible run to replace current State Senator, and now Washington D.C. bound, U.S. Senator Elect Scott Brown.

 

“This opportunity is far too great to pass," Ross said. "So I am here tonight to proudly announce that I am running to be your next senator.” He referred to the encouragement Brown gave him six years ago to run for State Representative and promised "to make myself available. To always be accessible. To do the best possible job for the Commonwealth and my constituents."

Ross explained that his perspective as a business owner gives him a unique "camera shot" to address the issues facing the Commonwealth. The biggest challenges he feels are jobs, the economy, and health care. Furthermore, he stated that the state's business model has to change to generate revenue and it is necessary to find a way to encourage businesses to stay in the state. He said the health care program Massachusetts currently operates is a good model for other states, but work has to be done to lower its cost.

 

Ross is a Wrentham native and has been the 9th Norfolk District Representative since 2004. He has served in various positions within the town government including Board of Selectman, Historical Commission, the Public School Building Commission, and Wrentham Board of Health. He’s also the president of the RJ Ross Funeral Home. You can usually catch him walking his dog on South Street, and he too drives a truck but it only has just over 99,000 miles.

 

Ross becomes the first republican to toss his hat in the ring for the state senate seat. State Rep. Lida Harkins, a Democrat from Needham, has said she is running. Other names being mentioned include Sherborn Selectman Paul DeRensis, Peter Smulowtiz, an emergency room physician, and Plainville Selectman Robert Fennessy, all Democrats.

Boston Globe's coverage here.

Sun Chronicle's coverage here.

Wrentham Angels Accepting Volunteers

Right in our community is a network of selfless volunteers seeking to help members of our communities dealing with short-term crisis such as an illness, accident, house fire, or even death of a family member. Called the Wrentham Angels, the group’s volunteers lend a helping hand to friends and neighbors as they face an unexpected tragedy. Volunteers deliver meals, run errands, drive patients to appointments, and other non-medical services.  To become a volunteer angel, you must fill out a short application here. There is no cost to join nor minimum requirement or obligation on how much time or effort you need to commit. “It is important to spread the word among the Wrentham community about the Wrentham Angels,” says Wrentham Angel’s Michelle Rouse. “We need to inform our neighbors, friends, various organizations, churches, doctor's offices etc. about the program.” If you’re interested or have questions, feel free to contact Rouse by email at Wrenthamangels@comcast.net or at 508-561-7659.

Also, anyone in the community in need of assistance should send an email to Wrenthamangels@comcast.net or call 508-561-7659. Wrentham Angels will be as discrete as possible and will respect the confidentiality of all those requesting assistance.