The Wrentham Times

Hazardous Waste Day & Donation Event

Wrentham Bobcat Caught on Video

It is no secret that bobcats call Wrentham home but most avoid populated areas and often disappear before a cell phone can capture a picture of the mysterious animal. This video of a Wrentham bobcat is courtesy of Paul Trapani's trail cam. The wild cat was in the wooded areas near the Fox Run neighborhood off Park St last week. The video is a good reminder that we have a diverse wildlife population in Wrentham and, while bobcats typically avoid populated areas, they can prey on small animals including pets.

 

S.A.F.E Coalition and Sacred Tree Yoga Studio & Wellness Center Coming together to make a difference

Coming together to make a difference is the purposeful mission of S.A.F.E. Coalition and Sacred Tree Yoga Studio and Wellness Center. S.A.F.E. is a coalition of community partners who have come together to provide support, education, treatment options and coping mechanisms for those affected by the affliction of drugs and alcohol. By empowering those affected, including families and loved ones, with tools necessary to succeed on the journey for recovery.

S.A.F.E. is sponsoring Yoga classes at Sacred Tree Yoga Studio located at 65 Holbrook St. Suite 110 in Norfolk. The classes are designed specially to those in recovery as well as a specialized class for family and loved ones.

Yoga for Recovery is offered every Friday at 7-8pm. This practice explores the parallels between yoga and the twelve-step path weaving together a tool for enhanced healing. This integrative practice offers breathing, stretching, inspiration, relaxation, and meditation while offering support for self-forgiveness, self-love, and self-care on the road of recovery. Absolutely no yoga experience is required. Dress comfortably. All props are provided. Come with an open mind and open heart for an opportunity that can improve the moment with a supportive community where people help people.

Heart with Hope Restorative Yoga is offered every Friday at 5:30-6:30pm. This practice is for parents and loved ones of those suffering from the disease of addiction. This practices slows down the body and mind through passive movement while using props for support. Receive nurturing, comfort, inspirations, insights, and tools for daily living during a series of restorative poses that are supported with bolsters, blocks, straps, sandbags, blankets, and pillows. All props are provided. Honor yourself by allowing the physical, mental, and spiritual body to integrate and heal through relaxation and restoration.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the start time. This provides sufficient time to get settled in prior to class. Class starts promptly and there is no late admittance. Note that Smoking is not permitted on the grounds.

A community that grows together, builds strength together. Share this information with those that could utilize the tools of yoga to enhance and heal through tools for daily life.

Dancing with the Wrentham Stars Returns with a New Group of Local Celebrities

 

Top row left to right: Jennifer Millet, Jennifer Moon, and Sara Marks.

Bottom row left to right: Mike Constantine, Mark Kitsis, and Mark “Tito” Convertito.

Wrentham Community Events, Inc. is very pleased to announce the Stars participating in the 2018 Dancing with the Wrentham Stars fundraising event taking place on March 23, 2018 at Lake Pearl Wrentham. 

The 3 female stars are Sara Marks, Jennifer Millet and Jennifer Moon.

Marks grew up in Michigan but has lived in Wrentham for the past 34 years. Sara is a retired nurse, mother of 3 children and grandmother to 3 grandchildren. She and her husband Hedley Marks, a local Veterinarian, now enjoy “lake life” on the shores of Lake Pearl. Sara will be teaming up with the 4Paws Animal Shelter, an organization with the primary goal of building and operating a local animal shelter. In addition, the volunteers at 4Paws seek to provide local residents in need with pet food and supplies as well as assist in covering the cost of vet bills so pets can remain at home with their owners. 

Millet was born and raised in Wrentham and currently resides in North Attleboro with her husband Todd and daughter Mikayla. Jen works as a cosmetologist at The Hairsmith Salon in Wrentham and will be working alongside members of The Holly Club as they raise money in support of many worthy causes. College scholarships for KP High School students, the Summer Reading Program at the Fiske Library and support of local veterans are a few of the many ways the Holly Club makes a positive impact on the community.

Moon is a well-known technology teacher at the Delaney Elementary School. She has lived in Wrentham for the past 2 years with her husband Adam (a former DWTWS Champion) and their 3 sons. Jenn will be working with volunteers from the WEST organization. WEST was formed in order to provide additional funding to Wrentham Elementary school educators in support of innovative curriculum enrichment programs that fall outside of the school budget. Volunteers work closely with the Superintendent to ensure that grants are aligned with the educational goals of the elementary school.

The 3 male stars are Mike Constantine, Mark “Tito” Convertito and Mark Kitsis.

Constantine has lived in Wrentham for the past 20 years with his wife Tricia and their 2 sons. Mike works as a Financial Advisor at 1776 Financial Services, Raymond James in Franklin. In addition, Mike has coached for the Superbowl Champions King Philip High School Warrior Football Team in various capacities for the past 8 years. Mike will be raising funds for the King Philip Sports Booster Club. The organization was formed to foster, encourage, promote and maintain interest in the athletic programs at the King Philip Regional High School. The Club plays an integral role in fundraising efforts for all sports teams and provides athletic scholarships as well.

Convertito has lived in Wrentham for the past 30 years and works as a Manager and bartender at The Eagle Brook Saloon. Tito will be raising funds for The Friends of Wrentham, an organization devoted to enriching the lives of the residents of the Wrentham Developmental Center. Funds raised will help to provide equipment and enrichment programs for the residents of The Center. Tito and The Friends of Wrentham have worked together on previous fundraising events and they look forward to working together once again this year.                      

Kitsis has lived in Wrentham with his wife Jackie and their son Russell for the past 18 years. For the past ten years Mark has worked as a Manager at Bertuccis restaurant. As a cancer survivor and graduate of the LIVESTRONG Program offered through the Hockomock YMCA, Mark has a very personal connection to the organization he will be representing in this year’s event. The LIVESTRONG Program lasts 12 weeks and offers adults affected by cancer a safe, supportive environment to participate in physical and social activities focused on strengthening the whole person.

The 6 Stars will soon begin their fundraising efforts as well as start their dance lessons. They are competing for two awards: People's Choice Award and Judge's Choice Award. The star who raises the most funds for their charity will win the People's Choice Award and the star who receives the highest marks from the judges will win the Judge's Choice Award. Both awards will be presented the night of the event - March 23, 2018.

The Board of Directors of Wrentham Community Events (WCE) is extremely grateful to all the dancing stars and they look forward to supporting their fundraising efforts in the coming weeks and months.

WCE encourages all readers to visit their website www.wce02093.org for more information on the Stars, the event itself and to make a tax-deductible donation in support of the many worthy charities represented in this year's event. Also, be sure to like and visit the DWTWS Facebook page www.facebook.com/DancingwiththeWrenthamStars to keep up to date on all the latest DWTWS news.       

Nomination Papers for Town Election are Available

Nomination Papers for Wrentham’s Annual Town Election scheduled for April 2, 2018 are now available at the Town Clerk's Office.

Open Positions include:

• Assessor - 1 Opening - 3 Year Term
• Board of Health - 1 Opening - 3 Year Term
• Board of Selectmen - 2 Openings - 3 Year Terms
• Fiske Library Trustees - 2 Openings - 3 Year Terms
• King Philip Regional High School Committee - 1 Opening - 3 Year Term
• Moderator - 1 Opening - 1 Year Term
• Planning Board - 3 Openings - 3 Year Terms
• Wrentham Housing Authority - 1 Opening - 5 Year Term
• Wrentham Elementary School Committee - 2 Openings - 3 Year Terms

If you are interested in being a candidate on the April 2, 2018 Ballot, stop by the Town Clerk's Office, 79 South St., to pick up your Election Packet along with Nomination Papers.

 

**This post was corrected. The term for moderator was listed incorrectly. It is just a one year term.

Stormy Night Does Damage

High winds and rain swept through Wrentham leaving behind debris, damage to personal property, and over 1,200 homes and businesses without power. "We have trees down and power outages on Myrtle Street, Sheldon Road and Chestnut Streets," explained Wrentham Fire Chief James McMorrow.

National Grid has assigned a liaison to Wrentham to assist with the response efforts, and the Department of Public Works is out clearing the roads of debris.

Wrentham Highway Department started responding to problems around 11 p.m. Sunday and remained busy the entire night. Multiple streets were blocked from falling trees included Hancock, Cherry, Winter, Taunton, Burnt Swamp, Lake, Lakeside, Sheldon Road and Chestnut St. "We would recommend caution when driving on Sheldon, Chestnut or any of our back roads as minor tree debris may pose an obstruction," says Michael Lavin, superintendent of Wrentham Public Works. "Public Works is focusing on cleaning the debris from the storm and will then focus on roadway clean up.'

A tree did fall on a home on Philip Lane and Wrentham Building Commissioner Nicholas Riccio was working with the owner on removing it. Several windows were broken and the chimney also suffered heavy damage, but the house is deemed "habitable for the short term," McMorrow said.

Wrentham did not have to cancel or delay school like some towns in the regions. According to Wrentham Public Schools superintendent Allan Cameron, there was a power outage that affected some of the Roderick classrooms, but the building was functioning well enough to hold class. "The fire alarm and other emergency systems are working and enough classrooms have power to make it work," Cameron said. "The power company said that we should be fully restored soon, but we're making it work until then."

Cameron added, "There were a few leaks in the Janelli Annex. Overall, we're smiling and making the best of it."

Lavin asks residents to call Public works if they have concerns. "We ask that if people have any questions or need Public Works support to contact us and we will place them on our response list. If it is an immediate hazard to life or property they should call 911," he says.

Wrentham Public Works phone number is 508-384-5477.

(Photos provided courtesy of Wrentham Fire Department.)

Sohoanno Garden Club brings to life the movies through tablescapes

As part of its mission to invite and encourage new membership, The Sohoanno Garden Club of Wrentham hosted an evening of movie-themed Tablescapes on Tuesday, September 19th. Member teams comprised of a mix of both old and new members worked together to create garden/floral designs to represent assorted movie such as Fried Green Tomatoes and The Secret Garden. The club's overarching mission is to foster ecological education and beautification of the town through sponsored events, and through maintaining a membership that works on the public gardens of Wrentham. Town residents who are interested in learning more about joining the club can access details through the club's Face Book page at Wrentham's Sohoanno Garden Club.

Guilty Verdicts in 2013 Dragging Death

A Norwood man was convicted Tuesday of running over a Wrentham hotel employee in 2013, dragging her body more than 3 miles up Rte. 1, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey.

Moses Acloque, 25, was found guilty following a 5-day jury-waived trial in front of Norfolk Superior Court Judge Gregg J. Pasquale. He was convicted of Leaving the Scene of a Collision Causing Death, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 1 year, Motor Vehicle Homicide, which carries a mandatory 15-year loss of license, Larceny of Property Valued at Under $250 and Use of a Motor Vehicle without Authority.

According to the Norfolk District Attorney's office, the incident began with a confrontation in the parking lot of the Arbor Inn on Rte. 1 in Wrentham, Mass., where Acloque had apparently been squatting in a vacant room at the inn. When confronted by inn management, Acloque climbed in a truck and tried to flee – striking 58-year-old Kanchanben Patel. Patel became stuck under the vehicle, which Acloque proceeded to drive up Rte. 1 into Foxboro, pulling into the parking lot behind a restaurant just south of Gillette stadium, DA Morrissey said.

Behind the restaurant, Acloque put the truck in reverse until the victim’s body was dislodged. He then attempted to flee the scene. A driver who had been following Acloque during the incident notified State Police and troopers arrested him in the vicinity.

“This was a shocking crime,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “The victim was run over standing next to her husband of 40-years. A terrible way for her to die and a terrible thing for him to witness.”

Acloque was acquitted of a single count of Leaving the Scene of a Collision Causing Personal Injury for allegedly striking another person while recklessly fleeing the parking lot of the inn.

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Greg Connor working with Victim/Witness Advocate Steve Nelson. “ADA Connor and Steve Nelson did strong work with the evidence and the witnesses in this case,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “This involved two primary crime scenes, three miles of secondary crime scene, numerous witnesses and a clearly emotional situation for the witnesses. The result of their work is convictions on multiple counts.”

Sentencing will be before Judge Pasquale on March 14, 2017, Morrissey said.