The Wrentham Times

Annual Spring Plant Sale

The SohoannoGarden Club will hold its annual Spring Plan Sale this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Fiske Public Library. All plants are labeled with names and growing conditions. Sale will be held rain or shine in conjunction with Friends of the Fiske Book Sale. All proceeds go towards future community  and beautification projects within the town of Wrentham.

Memorial Day 2013

The annual Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 27th starting at 10:30 a.m. Marching units will assemble on Randall Rd at 10 a.m. All veterans are encouraged to march in the parade whether or not in uniform. The parade will step off from Randall Rd and proceed to the Center Cemetery where ceremonies will be held to honor all who have made the ultimate sacrifice in order that freedom may be preserved. The parade will conclude at the Common with observances at the war monuments. Also, at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, May 27th members of the American Legion Post 225 Rifle Squad and Color Guard will pay tribute to the deceased veterans at memorial sites throughout the town.

All veterans and members of American Legion Post 225 are invited to attend Sunday Worship Services at 10 a.m. on May 26th at the Original Congregational Church, 1 East St.

Just as in previous years, members of the local Scouting organizations will place flags on veterans’ graves at the various cemeteries on Saturday morning, May 25th at 9 a.m.

Any questions, please call the Veterans Service Officer at 508-384-8333.

Walk of Tears

Franklin and King Philip's Annual Walk of Tears will take place at King Philip Regional High School onSunday, May 19. The event is in loving memory of Maura Howard, a graduate of King Philip High School and Amy Callaghan of Franklin High School, both victims of drunk driving.

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. with an 11 a.m.start in front of the main entrance. There is a minimum donation of $20 and t-shirts are available first come, first serve. All proceeds will fund SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) scholarships at both King Philip and Franklin High Schools.

The walk is approximately three miles and refreshments and water will be available. The event will take place rain or shine.

Towns Stand Together

Heartfelt applause poured out of the stands at King Philip High School's football field Sunday night. The show of admiration and gratitude wasn't for a sports team, but instead was for emergency responders taking the first lap around the track as part of a three town Boston Strong Tribute. The run/walk event brought together over 250 members of Plainville, Norfolk and Wrentham to remember all those affected by the April 15th bombings and raised more than $3,500 for The One Fund. "Tonight our three towns, stand together," said the event's master of ceremonies, Wrentham selectman Joe Botaish. "We stand for each other and our neighbors in Boston and all our friends across the Commonwealth."

The evening was filled with emotional speeches from Botaish, State Senator Richard Ross, and State Representative Dan Winslow. Those in attendance took tribute laps around the high school's track, with the first one walked by emergency responders including Sgt. Dave O'Connor from the MIT Police Department. The second lap was in memory of Lu Lingzi, Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, the three victims of the bombing and for MIT Officer Sean Collier who was killed in the days following the attack. The third lap was for the runners that never had a chance to finish the marathon. "This was very moving for me," said O'Connor whose daughter attends King Philip -- the emotion of the tragedy still in his voice. "I needed this right now. I'm really glad I'm here. It has been a long two weeks."

O'Connor was in uniform and brought an MIT cruiser to the event. He said the outpouring of support his department has received from the community, especially the Cambridge Police Department has kept them going. Events like Sunday night's Boston Strong Tribute gives him strength. "Just the overall kindness of total strangers. That's really the only true thing that is helping us carry through," he explained.

Event organizer Donna Morin marveled at how the community came together. "This is so inspiring," Morin said as she watched children, families and seniors travel lap after lap around the track.

Morin got the idea for the event shortly after the bombings when she heard of a similar run/walk in another town. The plans for the evening took shape after she spoke to Paul Schaefer, Director of Finance and Operations of KP High School, who suggested students get involved. KP High School's Principal Lisa Oliveira along with staff and students from both the high school and middle school also jumped in.

KP Freshman Connor Zimmerman said it was important that the students help out. "We felt if we could make a difference, we should," he said as he sold blue and yellow ribbons the KP Student Council made and #BOSTONSTRONG bracelets.

"Everybody at KP is thinking about those affected by what happened in Boston," said Paige Kucy, president of the student council. She worked a table where people wrote messages for those affected by the tragedy. "This shows our support."

Louise Mason, a Wrentham resident for over 30 years said she had to be part of the community event. "It's nice that people can get together and think good thoughts...positive things," she said.

Many families came to show their support. Wrentham's Bryan Aaron attended with his wife Erin and two children, Caroline and Katie. "I felt like I had to be here," he said as he walked around the track.

Mary Regnier also wanted to attend. She wore her blue and yellow Boston Marathon jacket that she received for completing the race before the bombs went off. She said the speeches and show of community was helpful. "They did a beautiful job," she said in regards to Sunday's event organizers. "It makes it easier and seeing everyone together is just amazing...strength in numbers."

Before people took to the track, both Ross and Winslow spoke of their admiration of the American people. Ross found pride in the kindness and caring that occurred after the tragedy. "Lives have been changed forever. Lives have been lost and the world will never be the same," he said. "I've been inspired by who we are as Americans...who we are as people. It is a great testament to the way Americans pull together in times of difficult."

Winslow spoke of the failure terrorists have in understanding the reactions of Americans. "People who would try to use violence or intimidation or threats against a democracy such as ours, fundamentally fail to understand the American spirit," he said. "Behind every American, are more Americans. When people try to intimidate or scare or frighten or use violence against us in a democracy, that doesn't make us back down that makes us stand up."

Music played throughout the tribute thanks to Botaish's son Joseph. Shaw's of Franklin also donated five cases of water bottles and the Wrentham Lions were on hand to help with parking and show support. "We're happy to be part of this," said Steve Langley, Wrentham Lions President and a Wrentham Board of Selectman.

The Boston Strong Tribute started at 6 p.m. and people still walked and ran the track past 7:30. The donations collected for The One Fund will be sent to the charity this week. The suggested donation was $10 per family but most gave more. The One Fund was launched by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino to help the people most affected by the tragic events that occurred in Boston on April 15, 2013. As of today, just under $29 million has been raised.

To see more photos visit Boston Strong Tribute. 

(All photos by Christina Allan)

Towns Come Together for Boston Tonight

Tonight, Plainville, Norfolk and Wrentham will come together for a Run/Walk Boston Strong Tribute Event. The community gathering is set for 6 p.m. at King Philip Regional High School track and will also serve as a fundraiser for The One Fund. 

The One Fund was launched by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino to help the people most affected by the tragic events that occurred in Boston on April 15, 2013. Over $28 million has been raised to date. The suggested donation is $10 per family. 

Event Details

Where: King Philip Regional High School Track, 201 Franklin St., Wrentham

When: Sunday, May 5, 6 p.m.

Get Ready for Resue Day

Start saving your old sneakers and rubber soled shoes, plastic lawn furniture, kids toys, laundry baskets, flowerpots, large buckets, cat litter buckets and other rigid plastics, your bikes, your unneeded household items, clothes, furniture, and bring them to the Wrentham Donate Reuse and Reduce section of the Household Hazardous Waste Day on May 11, 2013 at the Senior Center Parking lot on Taunton St.

Bikes not Bombs, the Salvation Army, Nike and Boston Building Resources will all be there to accept your items. Bikes not Bombs repairs bikes for reuse at home and abroad and asks a $10.00 donation to assist in theveffort.

Rigid plastics cannot be recycled curbside, but can be recycled separately, so don’t trash it, bring the items to be recycled. It is a good chance to get rid of those large old kids play sets, slides, broken bins, old buckets, plastic chairs and tables. Help reduce our trash. Nike recycles all sneakers and rubber soled shoes into materials for running tracks and other uses.

Replacing your bath fixtures, re-doing your kitchen? Boston Building Materials takes building materials such as plumbing fixtures, cabinets, doors, etc. in very good condition for reuse. The Salvation Army will take all any and all clean and dry fabric, shoes, belts, pocketbooks, linens, stuffed toys and other items. It doesn’t matter if they are torn and worn. In addition, they take household items, furniture in good condition, toys and games.

The 4 Paws Animal Shelter will also be present to accept donations.

The PTO will be collecting cell phones and other small electronics. Donation, Reuse and Reduce Day on May 11 offers an excellent opportunity to get rid of many unwanted items that will be reused or recycled and help many charities.

Boston Strong Event Planned for Sunday

On Sunday, Plainville, Norfolk and Wrentham will come together for a Run/Walk Boston Strong Tribute Event. The community gathering is set for 6 p.m. at King Philip Regional High School track and will also serve as a fundraiser for The One Fund. "There is strength in numbers when something like this occurs," says event organizer Donna Morin. "For most of us, we don't want to be alone. We need to grieve and feel supported."

The idea for the event came to Morin shortly after the April 15th Boston Marathon bombings when she heard of a similar run/walk in another town. She thought that was a great response to the tragedy and went right to work.

The event evolved as she reached out to different community leaders. Eventually she got in touch with Paul Schaefer, Director of Finance & Operations for KP High School, and he helped secure the track and KP principal Lisa Oliveria jumped on board too. Morin recruited Wrentham selectman Joe Botaish who, along with his son Joseph, will provide a sound system and music. Teachers, administrators and students from both the high school and middle school are working on the event. "It's a beautiful thing," Morin says.

Right now the event will include brief remarks to explain the event. Scheduled to speak are Botaish and State Senator Richard Ross. Participants will then have a chance to run or walk around the track as a show of support for all those affected by the tragedy. It's also a chance to honor the first responders and law enforcement who came to the rescue. "When I hear all the stories of how people helped other people, it makes me feel so inspired," Morin says. "This will be our chance to help. And this will be our chance to begin the healing."

Donations for The One Fund are being collected. The suggested donation is $10 per family. The One Fund was launched by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino to help the people most affected by the tragic events that occurred in Boston on April 15, 2013. Over $27 million has been raised to date.

Event Details

Where: King Philip Regional High School Track, 201 Franklin St., Wrentham

When: Sunday, May 5, 6 p.m.

Wheaton College President to Speak at Men's Breakfast

The monthly Men’s Breakfast Group of the Original Congregational Church in Wrentham will be hosting a talk on Saturday morning, May 4, by Dr. Ronald A. Crutcher, President of Wheaton College. 

A free hot buffet breakfast will be available at 8 a.m. (donations accepted), followed by the presentation at about 8:30.  The presentation will take place at the Original Congregational Church in the center of Wrentham, at the corner of Routes 1A and 140.  Park in the lot behind the church and enter through the back door. 

Crutcher will be talking about Wheaton College, its history, its interactions with area communities, and its future, as well as sharing stories of his musical career.  Crutcher is a national leader in higher education and an active scholar and musician. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Miami University in Ohio, he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Yale. The recipient of a Fulbright Award, he is fluent in German and studied at the University of Bonn and the Frankfurt State Academy of Music. He became the seventh president of Wheaton on July 1, 2004; he was inaugurated on April 16, 2005. Crutcher holds a faculty appointment in music at the college and is a member of the Klemperer Trio, which performs regularly in this country and in Europe.

 Although Wheaton College, located in Norton, MA, celebrated its 100th anniversary as a 4-year college in 2012, it has been in existence for 179 years.  In fact, it was one of the first women's higher education institutions in the United States.  It will celebrate 25 years of co-education in 2013-2014.  The first men arrived on the Wheaton campus in September 1988.  Under President Crutcher’s leadership, Wheaton has undertaken the largest capital project in its history, a $45 million science center, which was designed to promote science education and interdisciplinary scholarship.

There will be plenty of opportunity for questions during and after the presentation.  Men of all ages are invited to attend.  

If you don’t normally attend, and expect to be there for breakfast, please let us know so we can plan for enough food.  For additional information, contact Ken Graves at 508-384-8084 or occmensgroup@gmail.com.

Shakespeare Post Card Deadline Extended

Boston Strong Tribute Event

On Sunday, May 5, 6 to 7:30 P.M. at King Philip High School Track the community is invited to take part in a Boston Strong Tribute Event. The Run/walk rally will show support for the victims of the Boston marathon, and to honor first responders and other law enforcement. All are welcome especially residents from Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham. 

Let's show we are truly Boston Strong!

$10 suggested donation per family for OneFundBoston.org, which provides funds to aid victims through recovery process.