ST. PAUL’S INVITES ALL TO “BLUE CHRISTMAS” SERVICE DECEMBER 21

HOPKINTON, MASS. (December 11, 2013) –  Do you need some comfort and fellowship during this holiday season? St. Paul’s Episcopal Church invites you to a non-denominational "Blue Christmas" service on December 20 at 6:30 p.m. This is a special reflective service to acknowledge the blue in our Christmas. It will be a service of readings, music, candle lighting, and silence and will take place in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s, which is located at 61 Wood Street (Rte. 135) in Hopkinton.  All are welcome.

Senator Spilka Honored as Champion for Change

Spilka will be recognized for her leadership in juvenile justice reform at annual Models for Change conference in D.C.

BOSTON (December 11, 2013) – State Senator Karen Spilka has been named a Champion for Change in juvenile justice reform by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative. She will be recognized as a Champion for Change in State Leadership at the 8^th annual Models for Change national conference on Monday, December 16^th, 2013 in Washington, D.C. for her leadership on a broad range of juvenile justice reforms in Massachusetts.

The Models for Change Executive Committee selected Senator Spilka from 16 nominees from across the country in the Champion for Change in State Leadership category. Senator Spilka was nominated for the award by a group of Massachusetts advocates, researchers and organizations representing a wide array of stakeholders in the juvenile justice system. In nominating Senator Spilka, they praised her willingness to take on controversial issues to significantly improve the lives of children and families and her ability to work collaboratively with other elected officials and stakeholders.

“We join together because we think Senator Spilka’s extraordinary leadership on a broad array of progressive juvenile justice reforms in Massachusetts has resulted in demonstrable and meaningful impact on the lives of children and families across the Commonwealth, and because she serves as a model to others on how to build consensus and support for these issues,” the nominating organizations and individuals wrote.

“Senator Spilka stands out for both her approach and her effectiveness. In our eyes, she would be a champion just for having the heart, vision and courage to take on these issues and for seeing the societal value of promoting a fairer, more developmentally appropriate, and more effective juvenile justice system. But, in fact, she is astoundingly effective and she has taken us from dreaming about a better juvenile justice system to experiencing massive improvements.”

Senator Spilka’s nomination was based on four specific examples of her leadership in progressive juvenile justice reform in Massachusetts over the past several years:

• Senator Spilka led the recent bipartisan effort in the Massachusetts legislature to raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction from 17 to 18 years old, bringing 17-year-olds into the juvenile justice court and support services systems;

• Senator Spilka led a major overhaul of the Child in Need of Services (CHINS) system to create a statewide network of community resource centers for families seeking assistance, significantly reforming the previous court-based system;

• Senator Spilka is a primary author and sponsor of a Juvenile Life Without Parole sentencing reform bill that takes into account the developmental differences between youth and adults, as well as young people’s capacity to change and grow, in setting sentencing options; and

• Senator Spilka has been a leader in the Models for Change Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network (JIDAN), which has successfully developed more effective and fair juvenile defense and advocacy divisions in the state’s public defender agency.

“I am so honored to be recognized by the MacArthur Foundation and the Models for Change coalition,” Senator Spilka said. “There’s always more we can do to better serve our children here in Massachusetts, and nationwide, but I hope that these important reforms will make positive differences in the lives of our children, families, friends and communities. I’m grateful for the support of the Models for Change network and my colleagues in the legislature that helped make such critical changes possible.”

The Models for Change initiative is a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation national effort to reform juvenile justice systems across the country to make them more effective, fair, rational and developmentally appropriate. The annual conference brings together nearly 400 state and local officials, advocates and community organizations to network, share information and learn from leaders in juvenile justice reform efforts. Each year at the conference, the MacArthur Foundation and the Coalition for Juvenile Justice honor Champions for Change, individuals who are responsible for promoting progress in juvenile justice systems and are positively impacting the lives of court-involved youth, their families and communities. These leaders act to create pathways from delinquency and re-offending that increase the potential of young people to succeed in school and in family, peer and community relationships.

Get Free Tips and Tricks From the Experts

at Water Fresh Farm

151 Hayden Rowe Street

The holidays are synonymous with baking, and our resident experts will be holding fort this Saturday morning from 10am – noon.  If you have always wondered how to make the perfect pie crust, craft delicious holiday cookies, fashion a fabulous fruitcake or just look for fun family baking ideas, you won't want to miss this event.  Bring a favorite recipe to share and come armed with your questions. 

Sponsor of Best Buddies Marathon Team

“Pain will pass, pride will last.” This motto inspired me to run the 2012 Boston Marathon as a senior at Hopkinton High School. When I declared Communication Sciences & Disorders at The University of New Hampshire, I went the extra mile towards both my passions, and fundraised to receive a bib to run the 2013 Boston Marathon with Best Buddies team.

A week before the marathon I started limping and unfortunately this time pain meant problem, but there was no turning back. After all the hard work and time that I devoted, I refused to let the injury stop me. I made it 9 miles on my right leg until I reached my family who brought me to the hospital. The doctors treated my “quadriceps muscle strain” and sent me back to UNH.  After two months on crutches I was still limping and unable to run but I finished the semester.

After my spring semester ended, I started a full-time internship at Integrated Learning Academy (ILAN) for children and adults with Autism. That same week, I received an MRI which indicated a stress fracture in my left hip and the doctor told me I would need to be on crutches until June 27th. I was distraught by the news - all I wanted was immediacy in the treatment and a quick recovery, but work at ILAN put my injury into a new perspective.

I channeled my energy towards the internship and developed relationships with students, parents, and a team of experts in the clinical practices of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). I recognized the needs of each student and made necessary accommodations to help them enhance their lives. The crutches made the transitions between activities challenging at first, but the students and staff made each day an enjoyable experience.

Working with these students strengthened my passion for accepting others with different abilities. These students taught me that patience and persistence is the key to overcoming some of the difficulties in life, and I applied this philosophy to my own experience to help me overcome my injury. I’ve continued my work at school by mentoring adolescents with disabilities and doing research on autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This is my second year of involvement with the Best Buddies chapter at UNH, and as a proud sponsor of Best Buddies Boston Marathon team.

Please consider supporting my efforts to go all in for Boston and to make Massachusetts more inclusive for people of all abilities. To learn more about Best Buddies team please visit my page http://www.bestbuddiesmassachusetts.org/bostonmarathon/brookemcmullen

With lead gift by Sandra and Kevin Delbridge, 50 Families Contribute $175,000.00

to the Renovation and Expansion of Hopkinton Public Library

Hopkinton, Mass. – In the first month of the “1000 Homes for Hopkinton Library” Challenge,  50 families, individuals, businesses and organizations have pledged or given $1,000 or more to the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation (HPLF) for the renovation and expansion of Hopkinton Library.   With a generous lead gift of $100,000 by Sandra and Kevin Delbridge, our community has contributed $175,000 toward HPLF’s $1,000,000 goal for 1000 Homes for Hopkinton Library!  These funds will build a state-of-the-art library that honors our past, serves our present, and builds a stronger future for our community. 

1000 Homes for Hopkinton Library echoes a challenge by former Hopkinton resident John Quincy Adams in 1893:  If the citizens of Hopkinton raised $10,000 and built a library within two years, he pledged to give $4,000 to fund the building.  Remarkably, with an average gift of little more than $900, fifteen members of the community collectively funded the entire cost of the library – $14,000.  On January 1, 1895, the Hopkinton Public Library at 13 Main Street opened its doors.  

Today, almost 120 years later, Hopkinton again has the unique opportunity to ensure that our Library continues to serve our growing community of 15,000 residents for generations to come.  Hopkinton has exciting plans for the renovation and expansion of the Library.  The 22,000 square foot building will be state-of-the-art, accessible, and environmentally friendly; yet maintain the character of the original, historic library.  It will provide space for community gatherings, a technology classroom for adults and students, and spacious, age appropriate Children’s and Young Adult sections.  The total cost of the project is $10.2 million.  Hopkinton has been awarded a $4.5 million state grant that will reduce the Town’s cost of this much-needed renovation and expansion to $5.7 million.    If this grant is funded in 2014, the new library will open in 2017. 

To further reduce the Town’s cost, Hopkinton Public Library Foundation is raising funds to offset the Town’s cost through events, partnerships, and most recently has put forth its own challenge - 1000 Homes for Hopkinton Library.  By pledging $1,000, Hopkinton residents will become a part of Hopkinton history, much like those 15 remarkable people who founded Hopkinton Public Library.  With 1000 homes willing to make this gift, together our community can contribute $1,000,000 to further reduce the remaining cost of restoring, renovating and expanding our most inclusive community asset.

Hopkinton Public Library Foundation also held several successful fundraisers throughout 2013. These fundraisers – the 2012 Annual Appeal and other gifts ($10,000), Mother-Daughter Princess Tea ($7,500), 2013 Boston Marathon ($6,000), Pink Pint Night ($14,000), Touch a Truck ($3,000), Hoptoberfest ($18,000), and the Library Heritage Quilt ($6,000) – have collectively raised almost $65,000.   In total, Hopkinton Public Library Foundation has raised $240,000 for the new library in the past year. 

MILFORD REGIONAL’S TREE OF LIFE RAISES OVER $14,000

Pauline Welsh and her family participate in the Tree of Life event in memory of her husband Doug Welsh.  Pictured left to right:  Pauline, Joey Esposito, Mindy Esposito, and Joshua Esposito (in front).

Milford Regional Medical Center’s cafeteria was full of family and friends attending the recent Tree of Life event held on Monday, December 9.  This annual event is a celebration of life and a tribute for those who have survived cancer, who have battled the disease or who have been touched by cancer. 

Comments were made by Frank Saba, Milford Regional CEO; Ed Kelly, Milford Regional president; and medical oncologists Michael Constantine, MD, and Mona Kaddis, MD, with Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center (DFBWCC) at Milford Regional. Members of the community enjoyed entertainment provided by The Claflin Hill Symphony String Trio, and sang holiday carols before moving outside for the tree lighting ceremony. Each light on the tree is a symbol to honor or remember a loved one affected by cancer.  The tree will remain lit during the holiday season as a reminder of hope in the fight against cancer.

This year’s event raised over $14,000 to benefit the Oliva Fund for Cancer Care at the Medical Center.  This fund assists in the purchase of items and/or services which provide comfort to oncology patients during their treatment here at DFBWCC.  

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New School Committee Office Hours Initiative

As part of a new office hour initiative, I would like to announce office hours for the school committee at 7 PM on December 10 at Cornell's, 229 Hayden Rowe Street. The intention will be to have one per month, at different locations. I hope to work with the committee to set a schedule, so the notice isn't so last minute.

~ Committee Member Ellen Scordino