The Wrentham Times

Special Night at the P-Bruins for Local Hockey Team

By Jeffrey Schweitzer

It was a regular Friday night in October, and for a family with kids who play ice hockey, it would be expected to be on the ice for either a practice or a game. But it is really a treat when your ice time is on the same sheet that professionals played on 30 seconds before it was your time.

This past Friday, October 24th, was the 5 Annual "Pink In The Rink" hosted by the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin Donuts Center Ice Arena, Providence. The Bruins took on the Norfolk Admirals and beat them in a 4-0 shutout. The Bruins donned their special pink accented jerseys in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Fans were greeted with pink rally towels. Attendees were encouraged to wear pink to the game and the stands became a sea of pink, black and gold. During the game the Bruins honored breast cancer survivors on the ice before the game in a ceremony. They also honored those who's lives were taken by the terrible disease, including Wrentham's Cheryl Maduskie, who lost her battle recently.

Not only did the professionals skate to the puck on Friday, but so did the youngsters on the King Philip Walpole Girls U10 team. During the first intermission, the KPW girls battled the Milton U10 girls in a six minute scrimmage that they will remember for a long time to come. With a bus ride to and from the game provided by Holmes Bus Company, the girls had a chance to bond as a team on this special night. Before the game, the girls all got fresh pink tape wrapped sticks and pre-game bonding continued in one of the many locker rooms at the Dunk. "Ladies, enjoy every moment of this night" said head coach Kevin Birch while the girls got ready to skate. "This night is going to be one you will remember for a long time to come!" added Assistant Coach Steve Hearon.

Coach Hearon, a police officer in Wrentham, was especially responsible for helping the girls to remember this night. He worked with the Wrentham Police Association to provide the team with special pink jerseys, complete with name and number, just for this special night.

The KPW U10 girls brought their own "Pink in the Rink" for this special Friday Night and will use these new jerseys as alternate jerseys for the remainder of their season as they skate in the South Shore Conference.

In related news King Philip Walpole Hockey is holding a Try Hockey for Free Day. Boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 9 are invited to Norfolk Arena on Saturday, Nov. 8, for a Try Hockey for Free clinic to experience ice hockey for the first time. To learn more visit the King Philip Walpole Youth Hockey web site, www.kpwhockey.org. 

 

Election Day Food Drive

Wrentham Public Schools will collect food for the Wrentham Food Pantry during the November 4th election. Wrentham School Chair Ed Goddard and Superintendent Allan Cameron announced that collection bins will be set up at the polls. Voting will take place at the elementary school in the Gibbons Gym which is located in the Janelli Annex, 120 Taunton St.

This month the Wrentham Food Pantry is in need of peanut butter, jelly, Fluff, tuna, mayo, canned meats, hot and cold boxed cereals and hearty soups.

Letter to the Editor: No Vote Urged on Wrentham Charter

Wrentham voters have an opportunity to vote on November 4, 2014 on a ballot question to approve, or not, the Wrentham Town Charter. One of the implications of the town charter for Wrentham is that the boards will work together. We have been told there is a need for efficiency, cohesiveness and modernization. The boards work independently now, as it should be. The boards should be able to function on their own. Each board has a role to play. They are not identical. It is most important they fulfill their intended function. Putting pressure on the boards so that work will proceed quickly in the town is not right.

The board of selectmen formed the Wrentham Town Government Study Committee in the spring of 2012 to study the effectiveness of the town’s structure. The time it has been studied is not very long. The average amount of time to approve a charter is 5 years.

The Charter will be easier to implement than to remove. It takes a fifty percent simple majority to pass. It will take a 2/3 majority to amend or revoke it.

The town administrator’s position will change to a “strong” town administrator. This gives the administrator more power and authority. Now, the administrator can be removed by a simple majority vote of selectmen. The change to a “strong” administrator would require a 4 out of 5 selectmen vote to remove the administrator. He will be able to select department heads. Why should we put more power in a single person that does not directly report to us?

Vote no on the Charter. The bylaw and open town meeting has worked for 300 years. Wrentham deserves our time and attention in this matter. Let’s wait for a reform that works for Wrentham.

Margaret Thompson
Wrentham

Ross Announces Wrentham Meeting Opportunities

Senator Richard Ross will hold morning meeting hours in Wrentham on Wednesday, November 12th from 7:30 8:30 a.m. at Nicky’s, 460 Franklin St. The morning meetings will provide constituents with an opportunity to meet with Senator Ross and discuss any matters of importance to them. To register for a meeting, please call the office of Senator Ross at (617) 722-1555 with a preferred time and a brief description of the topics you would like to discuss with Senator Ross.

In other related Ross news he was appointed to serve on a special commission on substance abuse by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr. The commission is tasked with investigating the criteria for the treatment and monitoring of nonviolent offenders with substance addictions, and to further expand effective evidence based treatment programs.

“As a member of the Senate Special Committee on Drug Abuse and Treatment Options in the Commonwealth, I have spent the greater part of this year hearing about the devastating effects this disease has had on countless families across Massachusetts,” said Senator Ross. “What we need is effective methods of treatment for these individuals, and I am proud to be able to work with this commission to make this a reality for them.”

The commission was established in the substance abuse recovery bill, signed into law in August. The law was built off of recommendations by the Senate Special Committee on Drug Abuse and Treatment Options, which Senator Ross was appointed to in January. Senator Ross also serves on the Joint Committees on the Judiciary, Public Safety, and Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

Ross, a republican, is running for re-election against Natick lawyer and Democrat Dylan Hayre.

Try Hockey for Free Day

King Philip Walpole Youth Hockey invites boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 9 to Norfolk Arena on Saturday, Nov. 8, for a Try Hockey for Free clinic to experience ice hockey for the first time.

New players will be introduced to hockey in a fun, positive and safe environment. Previous ice skating experience is necessary, and the first 40 players to register will receive a free USA Hockey goodie bag and more. Full equipment is highly recommended, and KPW will supply a limited amount of equipment for new players to borrow. At the very least, players must have a helmet and gloves.

King Philip Walpole Youth Hockey is a non-profit community hockey organization for boys and girls from Norfolk, Plainville, Walpole and Wrentham. Players learn from USA Hockey-certified volunteer coaches who help new players build confidence and develop fundamentals through a focus on small-area games, skating skills and fun.

The Try Hockey for Free Day will begin with registration at 5 p.m., and include an hour of hockey at 6 p.m. and then a pizza party before Norfolk Arena’s open skate at 7 p.m. Norfolk Arena, 1 Dean St., Norfolk. 

Interested players must register prior to the event. More details and registration information can be found at www.kpwhockey.org or by contacting KPW president Randy Yanoshak at 571-215-7729.

Successful Weekend for Marching Band

King Philip Regional High School Music Program had another busy and long weekend. The marching band and color guard traveled down to New Britain CT, on Saturday evening to compete in the US Bands Northeast Regional Marching Band Competition. The marching band’s performance of “On the Town” earned, Best Color Guard, Best Percussion, Best Visual, Best Music and Overall Effect and with a score of 89.788 winning the Class III Open competition. On Sunday the band was off to the Massachusetts Instrumental Choral and Conductors Associations completion in Lowell , MA where the group’s performance earned five stars for Music, Color Guard, Percussion and Overall Effect and a gold medal for performance.

Voter Registration

A voter registration will take place on Friday, October 31, 2014 for the Town Meeting of Monday, November 10, 2014. The registration will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Town Clerk’s office, and from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Public Safety Building located at 89 South St. Any Wrentham resident who is not registered or will become 18 years of age on or before November 10, 2014 may register to vote. Please call the Town Clerk’s office at 508-384-5415 for questions.

Holly Club Seeks Residents Serving in the Military

The Holly Club is seeking the names of residents who are active members of the military and are currently serving overseas in hardship areas. To recognize and support the military men and women from the community, the club plans to send care packages to as many service members from Wrentham as possible. They ask families of Wrentham service members to reach out to Chairperson Shila Duffy at 508-384-5826 or email thehollyclub@gmail.com.

The Holly Club of Wrentham was organized in 1898 and is open to all women regardless of race, color or creed. It is committed to social services, civic activities and a fellowship among women. To learn more, visit wrentham.ma.us/wrentham-ma-holly-club-gfwc, or follow club activities on facebook at www.facebook.com/wrenthamhollyclub.