Published by The Boston Globe
First Lieutenant Scott Milley of Sudbury was captain of his high school ice hockey team and a cum laude graduate from college, but since the age of 3 his ultimate goal was to join the US Army.
Milley, 23, was killed Tuesday in Afghanistan’s Logar Province when insurgents attacked his unit, according to the Department of Defense.
Milley, a 2005 graduate of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, was the first person from Sudbury to die in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Sudbury’s director of veterans services, Brian Stearns. News of Milley’s death rocked the community.
“He was the most lovable kid I ever coached,’’ Peter Elenbaas, one of Milley’s hockey coaches, said in an e-mail to Lincoln-Sudbury staff. “He combined the toughness of a prize-fighter with the effervescent joy and energy of a teenage boy. Truly, a treasure of this high school.’’
Milley’s father, Steve, said yesterday that the family was devastated.
“From the time he was 3 years old, that was his absolute dream, to be an Army man,’’ Steve Milley said. “His dream has now become the family nightmare. The family’s heart has been broken. Our baby son has gone.’’
Scott Milley was caught in a firefight outside Baraki Barak, his father said. Milley was an Army Ranger in the 10th Mountain Division and had been in Afghanistan for only a month.
“He was the happiest, most joyful person without a care in the world,’’ his father said. “His first e-mail home was, ‘Boy, this country’s beautiful.’ ’’
The family was flying to Washington, D.C., yesterday to meet Milley’s body, his father said.
Milley was captain of the ice hockey team at Lincoln-Sudbury and a Dual County League All-Star. He joined ROTC at the University of New Hampshire, from which he graduated cum laude in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
“Scott was an exceptional young man,’’ said Lieutenant Colonel Paul Webber, professor of military science at UNH, in a statement. “He was everything we could have asked for in a cadet, and his death is such a loss. Scott was the best that our organization represents.’’
Milley was a member of the Second Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based in Fort Polk, La., the defense department said.
His goal after serving in the military was to join the FBI or the CIA, his father said.
Lincoln-Sudbury’s superintendent, Scott Carpenter, said Milley was popular in school and a prominent student athlete. “The type of scholar he was here and the type of leader he was amongst his peers would have prepared him well for anything,’’ said Carpenter, who was Milley’s house master.
Visitors streamed in and out of the Milleys’ home to comfort the family yesterday, said Alison Corwin, who lives next door.
“It’s such a quiet little town; you don’t expect anything to happen,’’ she said. “It’s definitely a shock to the community.’’
Town officials released a statement yesterday afternoon extending condolences to the family and said they would wait to hear from the family before planning a memorial.
Martin Finucane of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
‘Buy local’ movement aims at holiday shoppers
Published by The Boston Globe
Karen Masterson has been knitting for most of her life, but there are times when she needs help with a project like crafting an afghan for a family friend.
So she is glad that there is a nearby place like the Iron Horse, a yarn store in Natick Center where she can talk to its owner, fellow Sherborn resident Deborah Smith, whenever her knitting projects need untangling.
“Nothing compares,’’ said Masterson. “You don’t get this kind of knowledge anywhere else. You’re in a relationship, you’re not just shopping.’’
This holiday season, Natick is among a number of area communities joining a nation-wide “buy local’’ movement, encouraging consumers to get their holiday gifts in their local downtowns instead of at the mall or online.
Masterson, however, said she has been a longtime supporter of local businesses because as the owner of an independent restaurant in Lexington, she understands the importance of cultivating relationships within a community.
She turned to the Five Crows gallery in downtown Natick for the stained-glass windows decorating her Massachusetts Avenue restaurant, Nourish. “The competitive business model is so destructive,’’ she said. “We’re supporting each other with a cooperative business model.’’
Smith said she has been running her yarn store for 12 years, first from her Sherborn farm and within the last year from the Pond Street store in Natick, where she moved to get more space. Her shop offers yarn spun from animal wool at Smith’s farm, along with knitting lessons and handmade gifts.
Smith said her customers are loyal because even though the high-quality yarn is slightly more expensive, patrons receive attention they won’t get from a chain.
“A lot of people do want to buy and support local,’’ said Smith. “After 9/11, a lot of people wanted to get back to creating basic things for their families and loved ones.’’
Though small businesses have struggled during the economic recession, Natick Center hasn’t lost any storefronts and has welcomed a couple of new businesses to its community, said Margaret Sleeper, administrative assistant at the Natick Center Associates.
The nonprofit community organization is helping promote local holiday shopping by providing free, two-hour parking downtown during December, encouraging shops to stay open later, and helping businesses decorate for the holidays, said Sleeper.
“We want to help our own,’’ she said. “There’s no reason to go to China or somewhere else to get these beautiful gifts.’’
The Natick Merchants Council voted last week to launch a new campaign, “Discover Natick Center,’’ as part of an effort to attract customers, Sleeper said.
Some stores have been successful in the center for years, however, like Five Crows on Court Street. The shop started eight years ago with works from five local artists, and now features 145 from across the area, said Ginger McEachern, one of its owners.
“We could send you out of here with a beautiful holiday gift for $25,’’ said McEachern. “In this day and age, that appeals to people.’’
Natick Center is also hosting a Holiday on the Common event Dec. 5 to bring shoppers downtown, with a tree-lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. Many other communities are hosting similar events, including Holliston, Hudson, Lexington, and Needham.
Mary Jo Bohart, executive director of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, said her group has arranged for the Lexington Symphony to perform two holiday concerts on Dec. 3, at 4 and 8 p.m., to draw people to shops in the center of town.
Buying local “is certainly something everyone’s focusing on more,’’ said Bohart. “What better time to put it into action other than holiday season?’’
Bohart said the chamber is also promoting “Small Business Saturday,’’ an American Express-organized campaign for this weekend.
American Express Open, which provides credit cards to small-business owners, has designated the day on the biggest shopping weekend of the year, between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as a way to boost its member stores, said senior vice president Rosa Sabater.
American Express Open is offering $100 worth of free advertising on Facebook to the first 10,000 small-business owners who sign up. The company is also giving a $25 statement credit to the first 100,000 cardholders who register their card and use it at a local business on Saturday.
“Our customers say, ‘We need more people walking in the door,’ ’’ said Sabater. “The only way to have the confidence to hire that new employee and invest in infrastructure is to see a demand turnaround.’’
Sabater said she thinks people are increasingly shopping local as a way to support job creation. Small businesses account for 60 to 80 percent of new jobs, and for every dollar spent in local stores, 68 cents goes back into the local economy, she said.
The Hudson Business Association is trying to get people to do more shopping downtown with a Buy Local campaign, said D.J. Collins, an administrator with the association. The town has gained 10 new businesses in the past year, but a misconception that small businesses have higher prices than chains has been a challenge to overcome in attracting customers, she said.
Still, many people have responded positively to the campaign, said Collins. Hudson’s annual Holiday Stroll to showcase its downtown will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4, instead of the Friday night schedule of previous years, to accommodate the festival’s growing size, she said.
Holliston is hosting its annual Holiday Stroll this weekend, from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Last year, about 1,400 people took part in the event, said John Drohan, president of the Holliston Business Association. Residents are trying to support the local stores to mitigate effects of the recession, he said, and keep businesses in the downtown area.
“Everyone is aware that everything’s not just perpetually going to stick around forever,’’ said Drohan.
A few stores in Wellesley, however, have had to close recently, said Demian Wendrow, director and cofounder of the Wellesley Center Merchants Association. He said local stores have had to intensify promotions and work together to keep up with growing competition.
Still, many customers appreciate local stores and prefer to shop in town centers.
“The mall doesn’t offer me anything,’’ said Marie Caradonna, who lives in Ashland and works in Natick. “I don’t like cookie cutter stuff . . . there’s a moral component to this, too.’’
Caradonna said she is planning to do her holiday shopping at Iron Horse and Five Crows because she thinks the handmade crafts offered there make better gifts than anything she could find at a mall.
“It all looks the same,’’ said Erica Dinerman, a Belmont resident who also works in Natick. “I pride myself on being able to get through the holidays without going to the mall.’’
Karen Masterson has been knitting for most of her life, but there are times when she needs help with a project like crafting an afghan for a family friend.
So she is glad that there is a nearby place like the Iron Horse, a yarn store in Natick Center where she can talk to its owner, fellow Sherborn resident Deborah Smith, whenever her knitting projects need untangling.
“Nothing compares,’’ said Masterson. “You don’t get this kind of knowledge anywhere else. You’re in a relationship, you’re not just shopping.’’
This holiday season, Natick is among a number of area communities joining a nation-wide “buy local’’ movement, encouraging consumers to get their holiday gifts in their local downtowns instead of at the mall or online.
Masterson, however, said she has been a longtime supporter of local businesses because as the owner of an independent restaurant in Lexington, she understands the importance of cultivating relationships within a community.
She turned to the Five Crows gallery in downtown Natick for the stained-glass windows decorating her Massachusetts Avenue restaurant, Nourish. “The competitive business model is so destructive,’’ she said. “We’re supporting each other with a cooperative business model.’’
Smith said she has been running her yarn store for 12 years, first from her Sherborn farm and within the last year from the Pond Street store in Natick, where she moved to get more space. Her shop offers yarn spun from animal wool at Smith’s farm, along with knitting lessons and handmade gifts.
Smith said her customers are loyal because even though the high-quality yarn is slightly more expensive, patrons receive attention they won’t get from a chain.
“A lot of people do want to buy and support local,’’ said Smith. “After 9/11, a lot of people wanted to get back to creating basic things for their families and loved ones.’’
Though small businesses have struggled during the economic recession, Natick Center hasn’t lost any storefronts and has welcomed a couple of new businesses to its community, said Margaret Sleeper, administrative assistant at the Natick Center Associates.
The nonprofit community organization is helping promote local holiday shopping by providing free, two-hour parking downtown during December, encouraging shops to stay open later, and helping businesses decorate for the holidays, said Sleeper.
“We want to help our own,’’ she said. “There’s no reason to go to China or somewhere else to get these beautiful gifts.’’
The Natick Merchants Council voted last week to launch a new campaign, “Discover Natick Center,’’ as part of an effort to attract customers, Sleeper said.
Some stores have been successful in the center for years, however, like Five Crows on Court Street. The shop started eight years ago with works from five local artists, and now features 145 from across the area, said Ginger McEachern, one of its owners.
“We could send you out of here with a beautiful holiday gift for $25,’’ said McEachern. “In this day and age, that appeals to people.’’
Natick Center is also hosting a Holiday on the Common event Dec. 5 to bring shoppers downtown, with a tree-lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. Many other communities are hosting similar events, including Holliston, Hudson, Lexington, and Needham.
Mary Jo Bohart, executive director of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, said her group has arranged for the Lexington Symphony to perform two holiday concerts on Dec. 3, at 4 and 8 p.m., to draw people to shops in the center of town.
Buying local “is certainly something everyone’s focusing on more,’’ said Bohart. “What better time to put it into action other than holiday season?’’
Bohart said the chamber is also promoting “Small Business Saturday,’’ an American Express-organized campaign for this weekend.
American Express Open, which provides credit cards to small-business owners, has designated the day on the biggest shopping weekend of the year, between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as a way to boost its member stores, said senior vice president Rosa Sabater.
American Express Open is offering $100 worth of free advertising on Facebook to the first 10,000 small-business owners who sign up. The company is also giving a $25 statement credit to the first 100,000 cardholders who register their card and use it at a local business on Saturday.
“Our customers say, ‘We need more people walking in the door,’ ’’ said Sabater. “The only way to have the confidence to hire that new employee and invest in infrastructure is to see a demand turnaround.’’
Sabater said she thinks people are increasingly shopping local as a way to support job creation. Small businesses account for 60 to 80 percent of new jobs, and for every dollar spent in local stores, 68 cents goes back into the local economy, she said.
The Hudson Business Association is trying to get people to do more shopping downtown with a Buy Local campaign, said D.J. Collins, an administrator with the association. The town has gained 10 new businesses in the past year, but a misconception that small businesses have higher prices than chains has been a challenge to overcome in attracting customers, she said.
Still, many people have responded positively to the campaign, said Collins. Hudson’s annual Holiday Stroll to showcase its downtown will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4, instead of the Friday night schedule of previous years, to accommodate the festival’s growing size, she said.
Holliston is hosting its annual Holiday Stroll this weekend, from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Last year, about 1,400 people took part in the event, said John Drohan, president of the Holliston Business Association. Residents are trying to support the local stores to mitigate effects of the recession, he said, and keep businesses in the downtown area.
“Everyone is aware that everything’s not just perpetually going to stick around forever,’’ said Drohan.
A few stores in Wellesley, however, have had to close recently, said Demian Wendrow, director and cofounder of the Wellesley Center Merchants Association. He said local stores have had to intensify promotions and work together to keep up with growing competition.
Still, many customers appreciate local stores and prefer to shop in town centers.
“The mall doesn’t offer me anything,’’ said Marie Caradonna, who lives in Ashland and works in Natick. “I don’t like cookie cutter stuff . . . there’s a moral component to this, too.’’
Caradonna said she is planning to do her holiday shopping at Iron Horse and Five Crows because she thinks the handmade crafts offered there make better gifts than anything she could find at a mall.
“It all looks the same,’’ said Erica Dinerman, a Belmont resident who also works in Natick. “I pride myself on being able to get through the holidays without going to the mall.’’
Powder puff game lives up to towns’ rivalry
Published by The Boston Globe
WELLESLEY — Clad in blue shirts, goldenrod shorts, and black leggings, the Needham girls powder puff football team stood along the sideline yesterday, hopping up and down, as much from adrenaline as from the chilly weather.
“I’ve been waiting all four years of high school for this,’’ said Courtney Steeves, 18, staring across the field at the rival Wellesley High team.
The Wellesley girls, wearing red shirts and black pants, were screaming so loudly they drowned out the Needham players across the field. They had nothing to lose. Needham had beaten them three years in a row, hanging on to a powder puff trophy Wellesley was determined to win back.
“We’re really competitive,’’ said Erin Baker, 18, of Wellesley. The Needham-Wellesley powder puff football game has been held the day before the boys’ Thanksgiving Day matchup since the 1980s, a boys’ rivalry that the towns contend is the nation’s oldest public-school sports rivalry.
Until the past decade, however, the powder puff games were secretly held by students in the woods and would attract underage drinking and violence between the schools.
“It was very unorganized and wasn’t very safe,’’ said Officer Tim Barrows of the Wellesley police. “It got pretty carried away to the point where police were called every time the game was played to break up fights.’’
It got so bad that the towns’ police departments volunteered to take over the tradition and coach the senior girls to compete for a trophy each year. Now the game is quite a bit more peaceful, but no less passionate.
At yesterday’s game, a group of shirtless boys with blue paint on their faces and chests spelling “NHS!’’ cheered on the sidelines, blowing blue plastic horns. “I love this,’’ said Tyler Reilly, 17, a Needham High senior.
Said Christina Gagosian, 17, “It’s a women-bonding thing, a rite of passage’’
Wellesley played Needham to a 6-6 tie in regulation time, with Needham’s Katherine Rayner scoring a touchdown with only 20 seconds remaining. Then, the two teams had a sudden-death “kick-off,’’ won by Wellesley.
“There was so much more community as a group,’’ said Leah Dowd, 17, who scored Wellesley’s touchdown. “We got really good at our positions and were really able to excel.’’
The Wellesley team, with about 30 girls, was smaller than usual this year. Needham’s team had about 50 girls.
The Wellesley girls will take a victory lap with the trophy at Needham High School’s Memorial Field during the football game today.
Yesterday’s game was a far cry from the pranks of years ago.
In 1991, some Needham students planted a rocket on the Wellesley field to show support for their mascot (the Needham Rockets), but officials at first thought the device was a bomb and the Thanksgiving game was delayed a day.
The Globe reported the rocket incident at the time, along with fans’ concerns that the prank and the powder puff “rumbles’’ were taking the rivalry too far. The Globe quoted one graduate as saying that students looked forward to the powder puff fight more than the game.
“We were chasing them through the woods,’’ said Officer Mike Schlittler, who coaches the Needham team. “The kids were put into a situation where they were going to get injured.’’
Now-retired Holliston Police Chief Tom Lambert, who was a sergeant in Needham at the time, led the effort to get the police involved with the game in 2000, said Schlittler. The first couple of years had a low turnout, but participation has grown ever since, he said.
The organized games now attract family, friends, and even teachers in the stands, although the event is still not school-sanctioned and the football team is not supposed to attend, said Barrows.
“They’ve really taken what could’ve been a bad experience for many people and turned it into something great and positive,’’ said Diana Parkhurst, a wellness teacher at Needham High.
WELLESLEY — Clad in blue shirts, goldenrod shorts, and black leggings, the Needham girls powder puff football team stood along the sideline yesterday, hopping up and down, as much from adrenaline as from the chilly weather.
“I’ve been waiting all four years of high school for this,’’ said Courtney Steeves, 18, staring across the field at the rival Wellesley High team.
The Wellesley girls, wearing red shirts and black pants, were screaming so loudly they drowned out the Needham players across the field. They had nothing to lose. Needham had beaten them three years in a row, hanging on to a powder puff trophy Wellesley was determined to win back.
“We’re really competitive,’’ said Erin Baker, 18, of Wellesley. The Needham-Wellesley powder puff football game has been held the day before the boys’ Thanksgiving Day matchup since the 1980s, a boys’ rivalry that the towns contend is the nation’s oldest public-school sports rivalry.
Until the past decade, however, the powder puff games were secretly held by students in the woods and would attract underage drinking and violence between the schools.
“It was very unorganized and wasn’t very safe,’’ said Officer Tim Barrows of the Wellesley police. “It got pretty carried away to the point where police were called every time the game was played to break up fights.’’
It got so bad that the towns’ police departments volunteered to take over the tradition and coach the senior girls to compete for a trophy each year. Now the game is quite a bit more peaceful, but no less passionate.
At yesterday’s game, a group of shirtless boys with blue paint on their faces and chests spelling “NHS!’’ cheered on the sidelines, blowing blue plastic horns. “I love this,’’ said Tyler Reilly, 17, a Needham High senior.
Said Christina Gagosian, 17, “It’s a women-bonding thing, a rite of passage’’
Wellesley played Needham to a 6-6 tie in regulation time, with Needham’s Katherine Rayner scoring a touchdown with only 20 seconds remaining. Then, the two teams had a sudden-death “kick-off,’’ won by Wellesley.
“There was so much more community as a group,’’ said Leah Dowd, 17, who scored Wellesley’s touchdown. “We got really good at our positions and were really able to excel.’’
The Wellesley team, with about 30 girls, was smaller than usual this year. Needham’s team had about 50 girls.
The Wellesley girls will take a victory lap with the trophy at Needham High School’s Memorial Field during the football game today.
Yesterday’s game was a far cry from the pranks of years ago.
In 1991, some Needham students planted a rocket on the Wellesley field to show support for their mascot (the Needham Rockets), but officials at first thought the device was a bomb and the Thanksgiving game was delayed a day.
The Globe reported the rocket incident at the time, along with fans’ concerns that the prank and the powder puff “rumbles’’ were taking the rivalry too far. The Globe quoted one graduate as saying that students looked forward to the powder puff fight more than the game.
“We were chasing them through the woods,’’ said Officer Mike Schlittler, who coaches the Needham team. “The kids were put into a situation where they were going to get injured.’’
Now-retired Holliston Police Chief Tom Lambert, who was a sergeant in Needham at the time, led the effort to get the police involved with the game in 2000, said Schlittler. The first couple of years had a low turnout, but participation has grown ever since, he said.
The organized games now attract family, friends, and even teachers in the stands, although the event is still not school-sanctioned and the football team is not supposed to attend, said Barrows.
“They’ve really taken what could’ve been a bad experience for many people and turned it into something great and positive,’’ said Diana Parkhurst, a wellness teacher at Needham High.
A prosperous turkey day for other local purveyors
Published by The Boston Globe
While some family-owned turkey purveyors are struggling this Thanksgiving season, others are still booming with business.
“We sell out every year,” said Don Owen, who runs Owen’s Poultry Farm in Needham. “We’ve actually done a little better because of the recession. People aren’t going out as much and are entertaining at home more.”
Owen’s, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, sells about 4,000 local turkeys strictly by order every Thanksgiving, he said. The company has two turkey farms in the state, and they expect to attract more customers next year with other nearby farms closing down.
“We’ll pick them up, too, because they’re used to the same type of quality,” said Owen. “During the holidays, people tend to splurge on food.”
Owen said his turkeys taste better than store-bought birds because they are killed the week before they’re delivered, and Owen’s local poultry carries more fat for the cold New England climate than Southern birds sold at grocery stores.
A couple of towns over, Natick Organic Community Farm raises its own turkeys from spring to October and has so far sold about 180 birds, said Trish Wesley Umbrell, farm administrator. Most customers ordered their turkeys in October, which are transported to another site to be slaughtered and frozen, but the farm had a little over a dozen left for sale last week.
Local meat is more expensive—the Natick farm sells turkeys for $4.50 a pound—but customers are happy to pay the price because they taste better and they know where the food is coming from, said Umbrell.
“They see the birds in June and the care and love that go into them,” she said. “It makes you appreciate every bite.”
The farm is certified to sell organic vegetables, but the turkeys aren’t officially organic, said Umbrell. The birds are, however, raised humanely, roam free and are fed organic grain, she said.
“It’s a better flavor because of the meatier texture. They’re naturally moist; our birds don’t have to be brined to be delicious,” said Umbrell.
Lynda Simkins, the farm’s executive director, said she knows families may find local meat expensive in the current economy, but she is encouraging customers to put at least one local product on their Thanksgiving table this year.
“We’re a cranberry state—you don’t have to import those,” she said. “But farms are shutting their doors.”
Indeed, this Thanksgiving season has been a long, tearful goodbye for Gerard Farms Kitchen and Deli as the 80-year-old Framingham institution prepares to close for good.
Though the restaurant’s owner, Michael Gerard, said financial woes have forced him to close the kitchen, customers expressed sadness to hear they can no longer get their Thanksgiving turkeys and favorite sandwiches at Gerard’s.
While some family-owned turkey purveyors are struggling this Thanksgiving season, others are still booming with business.
“We sell out every year,” said Don Owen, who runs Owen’s Poultry Farm in Needham. “We’ve actually done a little better because of the recession. People aren’t going out as much and are entertaining at home more.”
Owen’s, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, sells about 4,000 local turkeys strictly by order every Thanksgiving, he said. The company has two turkey farms in the state, and they expect to attract more customers next year with other nearby farms closing down.
“We’ll pick them up, too, because they’re used to the same type of quality,” said Owen. “During the holidays, people tend to splurge on food.”
Owen said his turkeys taste better than store-bought birds because they are killed the week before they’re delivered, and Owen’s local poultry carries more fat for the cold New England climate than Southern birds sold at grocery stores.
A couple of towns over, Natick Organic Community Farm raises its own turkeys from spring to October and has so far sold about 180 birds, said Trish Wesley Umbrell, farm administrator. Most customers ordered their turkeys in October, which are transported to another site to be slaughtered and frozen, but the farm had a little over a dozen left for sale last week.
Local meat is more expensive—the Natick farm sells turkeys for $4.50 a pound—but customers are happy to pay the price because they taste better and they know where the food is coming from, said Umbrell.
“They see the birds in June and the care and love that go into them,” she said. “It makes you appreciate every bite.”
The farm is certified to sell organic vegetables, but the turkeys aren’t officially organic, said Umbrell. The birds are, however, raised humanely, roam free and are fed organic grain, she said.
“It’s a better flavor because of the meatier texture. They’re naturally moist; our birds don’t have to be brined to be delicious,” said Umbrell.
Lynda Simkins, the farm’s executive director, said she knows families may find local meat expensive in the current economy, but she is encouraging customers to put at least one local product on their Thanksgiving table this year.
“We’re a cranberry state—you don’t have to import those,” she said. “But farms are shutting their doors.”
Indeed, this Thanksgiving season has been a long, tearful goodbye for Gerard Farms Kitchen and Deli as the 80-year-old Framingham institution prepares to close for good.
Though the restaurant’s owner, Michael Gerard, said financial woes have forced him to close the kitchen, customers expressed sadness to hear they can no longer get their Thanksgiving turkeys and favorite sandwiches at Gerard’s.
Last Thanksgiving for Framingham's Gerard Farms
Published by The Boston Globe
This Thanksgiving season has been a long, tearful goodbye for Gerard Farms Kitchen and Deli as the 80-year-old Framingham institution prepares to close for good.
Though the restaurant’s owner, Michael Gerard, said financial woes have forced him to close the kitchen, customers expressed sadness to hear they can no longer get their Thanksgiving turkeys and favorite sandwiches at Gerard’s. Here are photos of of the store's final days.
“The outpouring has just been so sad, people come in not even to buy something, just to say goodbye,” said Gerard. “I’ll maybe make it into the second week of December until they shut my power off.”
Gerard took over the business after his father died 15 years ago, and giving up the store feels like his father’s wake all over again, he said. His uncle, however, will continue to run the Marshfield store, said Gerard.
Jean Teague said Gerard’s has been a family tradition since she was young. Her family lived in Framingham and would visit once a week. She has since moved to Maine, but every time she comes back to visit friends, she always makes a stop at Gerard Farms.
"We’re losing a part of our town’s history," she said. "They’ve been a wonderful family of people."
Dale Gudejko of Framingham said she has been coming to Gerard Farm for 30 years. She said she loves to buy Gerard’s sandwiches for lunch.
"I don’t make turkey gravy all year because of this," said Gudejko after buying a big bag of gravy. "[Gerard Farms] is an icon."
Gerard Farms sells turkeys from a farm in New Oxford, Penn., though when Gerard’s grandparents first opened in 1931, the farm raised its own birds. The deli is also stocked with prepared Thanksgiving favorites like macaroni and cheese, potatoes, pies and even homemade dressing.
The turkey sandwiches are a favorite with customers, and Gerard’s usually sells about 200 a day, said Teri Amle, who has been working for Gerard for four months.
Bruce Stone of Framingham said he discovered Gerard Farms more recently. He visits family in New York for Thanksgiving, and he first brought a turkey from Gerard’s two years ago.
"Everybody loved it," he said. "I’m going to miss it terribly."
Nancy and Bill Koerner of Carlisle and Bill Brown of Chelmsford said they are regulars at the store. Gerard’s special turkey sandwiches are Nancy’s favorite, she said.
"This is a real Mom and Pop organization, and I hate to see it go," she said. "It’s a shame."
This Thanksgiving season has been a long, tearful goodbye for Gerard Farms Kitchen and Deli as the 80-year-old Framingham institution prepares to close for good.
Though the restaurant’s owner, Michael Gerard, said financial woes have forced him to close the kitchen, customers expressed sadness to hear they can no longer get their Thanksgiving turkeys and favorite sandwiches at Gerard’s. Here are photos of of the store's final days.
“The outpouring has just been so sad, people come in not even to buy something, just to say goodbye,” said Gerard. “I’ll maybe make it into the second week of December until they shut my power off.”
Gerard took over the business after his father died 15 years ago, and giving up the store feels like his father’s wake all over again, he said. His uncle, however, will continue to run the Marshfield store, said Gerard.
Jean Teague said Gerard’s has been a family tradition since she was young. Her family lived in Framingham and would visit once a week. She has since moved to Maine, but every time she comes back to visit friends, she always makes a stop at Gerard Farms.
"We’re losing a part of our town’s history," she said. "They’ve been a wonderful family of people."
Dale Gudejko of Framingham said she has been coming to Gerard Farm for 30 years. She said she loves to buy Gerard’s sandwiches for lunch.
"I don’t make turkey gravy all year because of this," said Gudejko after buying a big bag of gravy. "[Gerard Farms] is an icon."
Gerard Farms sells turkeys from a farm in New Oxford, Penn., though when Gerard’s grandparents first opened in 1931, the farm raised its own birds. The deli is also stocked with prepared Thanksgiving favorites like macaroni and cheese, potatoes, pies and even homemade dressing.
The turkey sandwiches are a favorite with customers, and Gerard’s usually sells about 200 a day, said Teri Amle, who has been working for Gerard for four months.
Bruce Stone of Framingham said he discovered Gerard Farms more recently. He visits family in New York for Thanksgiving, and he first brought a turkey from Gerard’s two years ago.
"Everybody loved it," he said. "I’m going to miss it terribly."
Nancy and Bill Koerner of Carlisle and Bill Brown of Chelmsford said they are regulars at the store. Gerard’s special turkey sandwiches are Nancy’s favorite, she said.
"This is a real Mom and Pop organization, and I hate to see it go," she said. "It’s a shame."
Monday, November 22, 2010
Needham High parents want to address school committee about hazing controversy
Published by The Boston Globe
A parent of a sophomore on the Needham High girls’ soccer team tonight asked to address the town's school committee about the hazing controversy that led to the suspension of several girls earlier this month.
Mary Ellen Dunn, a parent of a girl on the team that was allegedly involved in hazing incidents last month, said she was speaking on behalf of the team when she addressed the committee during the public comment period of the meeting tonight. She said the group would like to make a presentation when the school committee meets again on Dec. 7.
Dunn, echoing other parents' comments on the matter over the last several days, said the hazing occurred on Oct. 29 outside of school and was resolved among the girls involved before the next school day.
The decision by the school administration to suspend senior girls involved was “a misjudgement,” she said.
“There was no intention to harm, nor was any harm perceived by our children,” said Dunn. “The school has come to a hasty, erroneous interpretation of the event.”
Dunn said the parents have unsuccessfully tried to give the administration information about the incident, and they would like to present an account of what happened to the committee at their next meeting.
In an interview after the public comments, Dunn said the administration has jumped to conclusions without knowing all the facts of the incident.
Another parent, Todd White, said the parents have been meeting since the incident occurred, and they all disagree with the way the administration has handled the situation, even the parents of underclassmen. White said his daughter, who is an underclassman, never received a copy of the anti-hazing policy from her coach.
“If our children were aggrieved, we wouldn’t be all taking this position,” he said.
Another Needham resident, J.P. Pages, spoke during the comment period about the incident. He said the school suspended the girls under a statue forbidding hazing, but the same statue requires the school to give copies of the hazing policy to all coaches. The coaches, in turn, are supposed to relay the policy to each athlete, he said.
Pages said his two children who have attended Needham High never received the policy, and he has spoken with other parents who have said their children never received it, either.
“It seems to me an adult in charge of educating children can not hold them liable or responsible for conduct under law that they themselves violate,” he said. “[The administration] are the ones that failed students.”
Connie Barr, chair of the school committee, said that the committee does not respond to public comments, but the administration has made an effort to handle the situation in a way that is best for everyone involved.
Barr did not give any details of the hazing, and Superintendent Dan Gutenkanst did not mention the incident in his comments.
The Globe reported last week that two other parents said 10 girls on the team were suspended from school and 12 or 13 were prevented from playing in a district tournament game against Brockton.
Three parents, providing new details in separate interviews, said the seniors drove the girls around for a short time until they arrived at a field off school grounds where the team practices. They said the girls were told to remove their blindfolds on the field and were taunted. At least one was told to wear a dog collar and two were hit in the face with whipped cream pies. Others were made to sing songs or sing the praises of the seniors.
But each of the parents interviewed insisted that the episode was all in fun, a team-building exercise that might have gone too far but didn’t leave any of their girls harmed.
Late last week, Needham High School's principal said the students' actions "were not in keeping with the school's core values, mission, or code of conduct.''
A parent of a sophomore on the Needham High girls’ soccer team tonight asked to address the town's school committee about the hazing controversy that led to the suspension of several girls earlier this month.
Mary Ellen Dunn, a parent of a girl on the team that was allegedly involved in hazing incidents last month, said she was speaking on behalf of the team when she addressed the committee during the public comment period of the meeting tonight. She said the group would like to make a presentation when the school committee meets again on Dec. 7.
Dunn, echoing other parents' comments on the matter over the last several days, said the hazing occurred on Oct. 29 outside of school and was resolved among the girls involved before the next school day.
The decision by the school administration to suspend senior girls involved was “a misjudgement,” she said.
“There was no intention to harm, nor was any harm perceived by our children,” said Dunn. “The school has come to a hasty, erroneous interpretation of the event.”
Dunn said the parents have unsuccessfully tried to give the administration information about the incident, and they would like to present an account of what happened to the committee at their next meeting.
In an interview after the public comments, Dunn said the administration has jumped to conclusions without knowing all the facts of the incident.
Another parent, Todd White, said the parents have been meeting since the incident occurred, and they all disagree with the way the administration has handled the situation, even the parents of underclassmen. White said his daughter, who is an underclassman, never received a copy of the anti-hazing policy from her coach.
“If our children were aggrieved, we wouldn’t be all taking this position,” he said.
Another Needham resident, J.P. Pages, spoke during the comment period about the incident. He said the school suspended the girls under a statue forbidding hazing, but the same statue requires the school to give copies of the hazing policy to all coaches. The coaches, in turn, are supposed to relay the policy to each athlete, he said.
Pages said his two children who have attended Needham High never received the policy, and he has spoken with other parents who have said their children never received it, either.
“It seems to me an adult in charge of educating children can not hold them liable or responsible for conduct under law that they themselves violate,” he said. “[The administration] are the ones that failed students.”
Connie Barr, chair of the school committee, said that the committee does not respond to public comments, but the administration has made an effort to handle the situation in a way that is best for everyone involved.
Barr did not give any details of the hazing, and Superintendent Dan Gutenkanst did not mention the incident in his comments.
The Globe reported last week that two other parents said 10 girls on the team were suspended from school and 12 or 13 were prevented from playing in a district tournament game against Brockton.
Three parents, providing new details in separate interviews, said the seniors drove the girls around for a short time until they arrived at a field off school grounds where the team practices. They said the girls were told to remove their blindfolds on the field and were taunted. At least one was told to wear a dog collar and two were hit in the face with whipped cream pies. Others were made to sing songs or sing the praises of the seniors.
But each of the parents interviewed insisted that the episode was all in fun, a team-building exercise that might have gone too far but didn’t leave any of their girls harmed.
Late last week, Needham High School's principal said the students' actions "were not in keeping with the school's core values, mission, or code of conduct.''
Class turns social consciousness into business plan
Published by The Boston Globe
For 19 global marketing students at Wellesley High School, getting their homework done means more than just maintaining a good grade-point average. Since September, they have become one of the largest employers for a neighborhood in Haiti.
Their class has gone beyond its usual curriculum to form a nonprofit organization, the Cite Soleil Opportunity Council, to help impoverished artisans in Haiti sell their wares in Wellesley and raise money for medical care in the troubled country.
“It’s unbelievable how much we’re helping,’’ said Mark Mulligan, a 16-year-old junior. “It’s not about the grades.’’
Their products will be among the items for sale at the annual Wellesley Marketplace, taking place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wellesley Middle School, 50 Kingsbury St.
The class has made $1,000 selling colorful tin sculptures, said Dr. Lawrence R. Kaplan, who purchases the art while on medical relief trips to Haiti and delivers it to Wellesley for the students to sell. The profits go to Haiti Clinic, a nonprofit group in Port-au-Prince’s Cite Soleil neighborhood.
“It motivates me a lot more to know we have an impact,’’ said junior Tim Hill, 17.
“We have to be creative, because selling is always a challenge. We can’t just sell in the school, we have to get out into the town and raise awareness.’’
Kaplan, a physician who traveled to Haiti days after the devastating earthquake in January, visits the class every week to talk about what he has seen in the country and why helping the artists there is important.
The class is supporting 12 artists, but about 140 members of their extended families depend on their income, said Kaplan. All of the artists are men in their 20s and 30s, but soon the students will start selling weavings from Haitian women, he said.
Blake Dowling, a senior, said he had been planning to study business in college next year, and this project has reinforced that goal. Dowling, 17, also said helping the artists is more important to him than scoring straight As, but his focus on making the project a success has boosted his grades.
“It makes the class more interesting . . . learning hands on,’’ he said. “This class does take priority. People are surprised at the nature of what we’re doing; you wouldn’t expect high school kids to be doing something this substantial.’’
Dowling and several of his classmates want to continue working on the Cite Soleil Opportunity Council for their senior projects, expanding the marketing and sales elements, he said.
The students had their first big successful sale in September at the high school, they said, and are also selling the pieces in a seasonal holiday shop at 102 Central St.
Kaplan pays the artists half the price upfront so they can purchase supplies, then he buys the finished product for the class to sell. The system provides a fair price for the artists and still leaves room for donations to the Haiti Clinic, he said.
The students said a little bit of help can go a long way in Haiti.
“One person there is sometimes all it takes,’’ Mulligan said of Kaplan’s role. “It shows how much they need our help.’’
The class has started deciding on what to order and how much to charge for the art, comparing the offerings of other companies that sell Haitian goods.
“It’s important they’re taking on those responsibilities,’’ said Kaplan. “They’re learning about the problems of the country and how they affect international trade.’’
Kaplan said he has offered to take any of the students in the class along on one of his trips to Haiti.
“It would be an incredible experience for these kids,’’ he said. “Wellesley kids have been to much different places than Haiti. The French they speak in Haiti is much different than the French they speak in France.’’
Gerry Murphy, a retired Wellesley history teacher, is helping to advise the class. He said that since September, he has increasingly seen the students interact with each other and take initiative.
“They are becoming more articulate, involved, and confident,’’ said Murphy. “Students who seldom spoke are now speaking. They’re feeling better about themselves, and it shows in their work.’’
Wellesley High business teacher Jane Lord, who leads the class, said when Kaplan and Murphy approached her with the idea, she realized the project was a “perfect match’’ for her students. It is the first time she has integrated a real product into the global marketing course, Lord said, and she would love to start the project from the ground up again next year.
The class combines lectures on business with time to work on the project, Lord said. The students chose which part of the operation to join, from production and finance to human resources and communications, she said.
“That helps us as teachers. The advertising people, for example, are extremely artistic, and that comes out again and again,’’ said Lord. “You hear all their voices. Because they’ve had success, they feel good.’’
For 19 global marketing students at Wellesley High School, getting their homework done means more than just maintaining a good grade-point average. Since September, they have become one of the largest employers for a neighborhood in Haiti.
Their class has gone beyond its usual curriculum to form a nonprofit organization, the Cite Soleil Opportunity Council, to help impoverished artisans in Haiti sell their wares in Wellesley and raise money for medical care in the troubled country.
“It’s unbelievable how much we’re helping,’’ said Mark Mulligan, a 16-year-old junior. “It’s not about the grades.’’
Their products will be among the items for sale at the annual Wellesley Marketplace, taking place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wellesley Middle School, 50 Kingsbury St.
The class has made $1,000 selling colorful tin sculptures, said Dr. Lawrence R. Kaplan, who purchases the art while on medical relief trips to Haiti and delivers it to Wellesley for the students to sell. The profits go to Haiti Clinic, a nonprofit group in Port-au-Prince’s Cite Soleil neighborhood.
“It motivates me a lot more to know we have an impact,’’ said junior Tim Hill, 17.
“We have to be creative, because selling is always a challenge. We can’t just sell in the school, we have to get out into the town and raise awareness.’’
Kaplan, a physician who traveled to Haiti days after the devastating earthquake in January, visits the class every week to talk about what he has seen in the country and why helping the artists there is important.
The class is supporting 12 artists, but about 140 members of their extended families depend on their income, said Kaplan. All of the artists are men in their 20s and 30s, but soon the students will start selling weavings from Haitian women, he said.
Blake Dowling, a senior, said he had been planning to study business in college next year, and this project has reinforced that goal. Dowling, 17, also said helping the artists is more important to him than scoring straight As, but his focus on making the project a success has boosted his grades.
“It makes the class more interesting . . . learning hands on,’’ he said. “This class does take priority. People are surprised at the nature of what we’re doing; you wouldn’t expect high school kids to be doing something this substantial.’’
Dowling and several of his classmates want to continue working on the Cite Soleil Opportunity Council for their senior projects, expanding the marketing and sales elements, he said.
The students had their first big successful sale in September at the high school, they said, and are also selling the pieces in a seasonal holiday shop at 102 Central St.
Kaplan pays the artists half the price upfront so they can purchase supplies, then he buys the finished product for the class to sell. The system provides a fair price for the artists and still leaves room for donations to the Haiti Clinic, he said.
The students said a little bit of help can go a long way in Haiti.
“One person there is sometimes all it takes,’’ Mulligan said of Kaplan’s role. “It shows how much they need our help.’’
The class has started deciding on what to order and how much to charge for the art, comparing the offerings of other companies that sell Haitian goods.
“It’s important they’re taking on those responsibilities,’’ said Kaplan. “They’re learning about the problems of the country and how they affect international trade.’’
Kaplan said he has offered to take any of the students in the class along on one of his trips to Haiti.
“It would be an incredible experience for these kids,’’ he said. “Wellesley kids have been to much different places than Haiti. The French they speak in Haiti is much different than the French they speak in France.’’
Gerry Murphy, a retired Wellesley history teacher, is helping to advise the class. He said that since September, he has increasingly seen the students interact with each other and take initiative.
“They are becoming more articulate, involved, and confident,’’ said Murphy. “Students who seldom spoke are now speaking. They’re feeling better about themselves, and it shows in their work.’’
Wellesley High business teacher Jane Lord, who leads the class, said when Kaplan and Murphy approached her with the idea, she realized the project was a “perfect match’’ for her students. It is the first time she has integrated a real product into the global marketing course, Lord said, and she would love to start the project from the ground up again next year.
The class combines lectures on business with time to work on the project, Lord said. The students chose which part of the operation to join, from production and finance to human resources and communications, she said.
“That helps us as teachers. The advertising people, for example, are extremely artistic, and that comes out again and again,’’ said Lord. “You hear all their voices. Because they’ve had success, they feel good.’’
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