Taunton, Massachusetts News & Information - Taunton, MA - Bristol County

2009 MIAA Baseball & Softball Tournament Roundup

Baseball

Softball

Semi-Finals
South Division 1
at Braintree High School
Bridgewater-Raynham 4, Catholic Memorial 6
Mansfield 10, BC High 13

South Division 2
at Taunton High School
Bishop Feehan 0, Plymouth North 12

South Division 3
at Natick High School - Mahan Field
Norton 3, Westwood 5

Quarter Finals
South Division 1
Bridgewater-Raynham 4, Brookline 1
Mansfield 4 , Framingham 3

South Division 2
Bishop Feehan 7, Hanover 0

South Division 3
Norton 11, West Bridgewater 4

First Round
South Division 1
Bridgewater-Raynham 5, New Bedford 1
Mansfield 13, Brockton 2

South Division 2
Bishop Feehan 13, Dennis Yarmouth 5

South Division 3
Norton 21, Mashpee 10

Preliminary Round
South Division 1
Bridgewater-Raynham - BYE
Mansfield - BYE

South Division 2
Bishop Feehan - BYE
Southeastern Regional 2, Dennis Yarmouth 9
Coyle & Cassidy 1, Foxboro 2

South Division 3
Norton - BYE
Bristol-Plymouth 2, Mashpee 5

Finals
South Division 2
at Taunton High School
Coyle & Cassidy 1, Ashland 2

Semi-Finals
South Division 2
at Taunton High School
Coyle & Cassidy 8, Bellingham 0

Quarter Finals
South Division 1
Taunton 2, Dighton-Rehoboth 3 (9 innings)
Bishop Feehan 0, Braintree 2

South Division 2
Coyle & Cassidy 6, Bishop Stang 1

First Round
South Division 1
Taunton 6, Wellesley 1
Bishop Feehan 12, Notre Dame Academy 0

South Division 2
Coyle & Cassidy 8, Hopkinton 0

Preliminary Round
South Division 1
Taunton 19, Attleboro 3
Bishop Feehan 3, Oliver Ames 0
Mansfield 0, Milton 7
Bridgewater-Raynham 1, Somerset 4

South Division 2
Coyle & Cassidy - BYE

Sen. Pacheco Announces the 25th Heritage Day of Portugal at the State House

May 29, 2009 - Boston, MA - State Sen. Marc R. Pacheco, D-Taunton, is pleased to announce that the 25th Annual Heritage Day of Portugal will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at the State House in Boston.

Grupo Folclórico, Madeiran folk dancers from New Bedford will perform at the 25th Heritage Day of Portugal at the State House on Tuesday, June 2.

"After 25 years, this celebration of Portuguese heritage in Massachusetts is going stronger than ever," said Pacheco, who is event chairman and Senate chairman for this silver anniversary celebration. "This year's program is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of members of the Portuguese community, as well as to introduce people to the richness of Portuguese culture in the state."

A ceremony will be held in the House Chamber at 10 a.m. to honor influential leaders of Portuguese descent from throughout the Commonwealth. Honorees will be awarded a Heritage Day of Portugal medallion in recognition of their contributions to the state's Portuguese communities.

This year's guest of honor is Dr. Jaime Gama, president of the Portuguese parliament - the second highest ranking office in Portugal. The Select Chorus from Taunton High School, under the direction of Steven Lagarto, will perform the national anthems of the United States and Portugal.

After the ceremony, a celebration will be held in the Great Hall, where Portuguese restaurants as well as culinary students will have authentic Portuguese dishes for sampling. There will be an exhibit of arts and crafts from Lagoa, Azores, along with entertainment provided by the Grupo Folclórico, Madeiran folk dancers from New Bedford.

The event is free and open to the public. In keeping with tradition, Senator Pacheco will sponsor a free bus ride from Taunton to the State House. The bus departs from the district office at 7:30 am, and leaves Boston at 2 p.m. Reserve your seat by calling Traci at the district office at (508) 822-3000.

Sheep Shearing at Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary

May 29, 2009 - Norton, MA - Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary will hold it's annual Sheep Shearing on Saturday, May 30 at 9:30am sharp. The shearing will be done by John Buffington of North Dighton.

Admission to Winslow Farm is $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for children and kids under 2 are free.

Visit winslowfarm.com for directions and more information.

Morton Hospital Continues Community Education Lecture Series

May 29, 2009 - Taunton, MA - Morton Hospital and Medical Center will continue its Spring/Summer Community Education Lecture Series with four new programs this month. The series consists of monthly lectures, seminars and special events that provide important information on a variety of health and wellness topics and promote new services offered at Hospital.

On Tuesday, June 2, Mohammad Arshad, DO, Adult Family Medicine, will host "Management of Hyperlipidemia," at 5:30 p.m. in the Silver City Galleria Community Room.

In addition, on Thursday, June 11, Michael A. Reilly, Cardiovascular Services, will host "Cardiac Disease and Testing Options," at 6 p.m. in Morton Hospital’s Margaret Stone Conference Room.

The Community Education Lectures and free and open to the public, however, pre-registration is required. To register for either of these programs, call the Morton Hospital Health Services Referral Line at (508) 828-7777.

For more information on these lectures, or to learn about upcoming programs, call the Public Affairs Office at (508) 828-7015.

Taunton HS Softball Earns 6th Seed in Tourney, Plays Today

May 28, 2009 - Taunton, MA - Taunton High School Softball earned the sixth seed in the 2009 MIAA Softball South Division 1 Tournament.

The Tigers went 17-3 this season and will play at home in a preliminary round game today at 3:30pm against 27th seed Attleboro (8-12).

*** UPDATE - TAUNTON WINS 19-3 *** - Taunton will host 11th seed Wellesley (13-7) in the first round on Saturday, May 30 at 7pm after defeating Attleboro 19-3. Wellesley beat North Quincy 2-0 in their preliminary round game.

Click here to see the 2009 MIAA Softball South Division 1 bracket.

Karsner Named "Woman of Achievement"

May 28, 2009 - Taunton, MA - Taunton Attorney Colleen Karsner has been recognized for her personal, professional and community contributions by Girls, Inc. of Taunton.

Eva T. Gaffney, Bridgewater State College, Attorney Colleen Karsner, honoree, Donna Colajezzi, Emcee and Mary Gallant, executive director, Girls, Inc., talking about the upcoming summer programs at Girls, Inc.

Ms. Karsner, who has been practicing law in Taunton since 1988 and was selected the organization’s Woman of Achievement. The mother of three was presented the award at the organization’s Third Annual Luncheon on Sunday, May 17^th at the Columbia Cultural Center in Taunton.

More than 100 turned out for the event. In presenting the honor, Mary Gallant, executive director of Girls, Inc., told the audience that Colleen Karsner is an inspiration for all girls to be "bold, smart and bold."

Mayor Charles Crowley, Attorney Colleen Karsner, honoree (center) and Nancy Stokes, senior vice president, Mechanics Cooperative Bank take a moment to pose for the camera.

Taunton's New Wave of National Merit Scholarship Qualifiers

May 28, 2009 - Taunton, MA - Four Taunton sophomores may be named either National Merit "Semi-Finalists" or "Commended Students" based upon their 2008 PSAT scores. One or two of these students could be named "Semi-Finalists" based upon how their PSAT scores compare to others across the state and country. Only a few students reach this level of achievement, although over the last four years there has been a new wave of high achieving students in Taunton.

These high achieving students are: Chloe Blethen, Kevin Campbell, Andrew Logan and Nicholas Roberts.

"These four students are the latest in the new wave of potentially even more National Merit honor students based upon the revitalized middle school curriculum and instruction, as well as the high school," stated Superintendent Arthur Stellar. "The results speak for themselves."

Over the last three years, Taunton has placed more emphasis on the PSAT which is the preliminary (P) to the college admission test, the SAT. The PSAT determines those students who qualify for National Merit Scholarship Programs. All four Taunton students named above are eligible for participation in the National Merit Scholarship Program, although only two are possible for "Semi-Finalist" status. The Semi-Finalists continue in competition for the 2010 National Merit Scholarships.

"Being considered for National Merit Commended Students" is quite an honor for these four students and a testimony to their work ethic and the value their families place on education," commented Superintendent Arthur Stellar. He added: "Reaching this level of achievement means that these students have had some very good teachers – from elementary school to high school."

Room to Grow

Mayor Crowley Gives Historical Presentation at Morton Hospital

May 27, 2009 – Taunton, MA – Taunton Mayor Charles Crowley recently visited Morton Hospital during its 2009 "National Hospital Week" celebration. The Mayor gave a special proclamation to Thomas Porter, president of Morton Hospital, and presented "A History of Morton Hospital and the City of Taunton."

Mayor Charles Crowley, right, presents a proclamation to Morton Hospital President Thomas Porter, left, during National Hospital Week 2009.

Crowley, a noted local historian and long-time Tauntonian, discussed the evolution of the city of Taunton, recognizing several well-known historical landmarks including the Star Theater, the giant Hood Milk Bottle and the Taunton Daily Gazette. He spoke of the once booming downtown area of Taunton, and said, "There’s no reason why downtown can’t come back again."

The presentation, which was attended by Morton Hospital staff members and volunteers, brought back memories for a number of local residents. Employees were also reminded of Governor Marcus Morton, after whom Morton Hospital was named, and Dr. Silas Presbrey, one of the first physicians and original founders of the Hospital.

The Mayor’s visit was one of several National Hospital Week events hosted by the Hospital, but most would agree it was the highlight of the week. The audience left with a great sense of pride in Morton Hospital, as well as a wealth of knowledge about the city of Taunton. "There’s so much to be proud of about this city," said Mayor Crowley. "The more you know about it, the more you love it."

Martin Middle School Wins Lowe’s Foundation Grant

May 26, 2009 - Taunton, MA - The Taunton Public Schools is proud to announce that the Joseph H. Martin Middle School has been awarded a $2,000 Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant from the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF). The grant funds the "Growing a Love for Science" project that will create an outdoor classroom at the school.

Taunton’s Science Coordinator, Ron Griffin expressed his excitement about the project: "I’m thrilled that Lowes has sponsored this grant. It gives our students the opportunity to do hands on science as well as take an active role in making Martin Middle School a greener place to learn and work."

The Growing a Love for Science project will renovate the area into a multifunctional outdoor classroom with an 8 x 10 greenhouse as its centerpiece. The mission of this project is to enhance the science curriculum for all of the students in grades 5-8 by developing new hands-on projects that engage students. Through the generosity of Lowe's, students will be able to work year round on plant projects that the harsh New England Climate would otherwise prevent. Specific examples include plant physiology based labs for grades 5-6 and science fair projects for grades 7-8. In addition to the greenhouse, the outdoor classroom will include gardens suited for the local climate, weather instruments to support the fifth grade meteorology studies and science fair projects, and benches for student discussions.

Joseph H. Martin Middle School

Superintendent Arthur Stellar stated, "We have very dedicated staff who are applying for these kinds of grants which help our budget situation. This is a great environmental project for students."

An additional component of the project is the purchase of compost bins, so that students can create natural fertilizer for all of the plants and flowers in the garden while supporting the school-wide recycling program.

First year Principal Michael Byron says about the grant project, "This outdoor classroom will result in many important curriculum enhancements for the Martin Middle School, but it will be just as meaningful to the surrounding community. The playground that previously inhabited the proposed renovation sight had been funded completely on donations from the community and had been built solely by local volunteers. When it was torn down, the neighborhood that had taken such pride in this accomplishment was left with an unsightly vacant lot. They had given what they could to improve their school and had nothing to show for it. Having an outdoor classroom filled with gardens and various creative and engaging learning areas will restore that pride."

Mr. Byron also states "that the project should be up and running for the opening of the 2009-2010 school year and he hopes to expand on the classroom each year."

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Mayors to Make Radio Appearance Today

May 26, 2009 - The mayors of Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton will make a special combined appearance on WSAR/1480 AM for a live, two hour call-in show.

Mayor Robert Correia of Fall River, Mayor Scott Lang of New Bedford and Mayor Charles Crowley of Taunton will be guests on Bristol County Tuesday, May 26 from 10:00 a.m. – Noon.

“All three mayors in all three cities are facing the same problems,” explained George Colajezzi, who came up with the idea for the program. “Talk radio is the perfect venue for these leaders to talk about their problems, share their ideas and take questions from their constituents in an intimate yet public forum.”

“This is what talk radio is all about and what we do best,” said Doug Tweedy, WSAR/1480 AM general manager. “All three mayors have been on various WSAR shows, but we’ve never had all three on the same show at the same time.”

Colajezzi says he hopes reporters from area newspapers will want to participate in the forum.

Listen Live Online!

Is it Summer Yet?

May 22, 2009 - N. Dighton, MA – After what many agree was a very tough winter, one of the most popular events in the area brings in summer with plenty of food, fun and good music. Once gain this year, CO-OP welcomes the summer season with its sixth annual "Is it Summer Yet?" event. The summer happening will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2009 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at The Chateu Restaurant, 48 Bay Road, Norton.

Since it began in June 2003, the "Is it Summer Yet?" fundraiser has become CO-OP’s major fundraiser. "One of the reasons this is so successful for us," said Bill Corbett, CO-OP president and C.E.O., "is that it’s just so much fun!"

Bristol County Savings Bank, Codman & Shurtleff, Inc., Insurance Professionals of New England, Mechanics Cooperative Bank and Partners Benefit Group are Platinum Sponsors of the event. "All four of these businesses really stepped up to the plate this year, especially in light of a weak economy," added Mr. Corbett, "We are so appreciate of their continued support of the work we do."

Tickets are still only $15.00 per person and are available from CO-OP at 508.824.1717. For additional information visit CO-OP’s website at www.co-op.cc.

CO-OP’s annual fundraiser, "Is it Summer Yet?" is not only a great way to get an early jump on summer,
but have a great time as the folks in this photo can attest.

WSAR 1480 AM Launches "Mid Morning Bristol County"

May 20, 2009 - Somerset, MA - Where can you hear about what's going on in Bristol County? Only one place!

Join George Colajezzi from 10am to Noon weekdays for a closer look at the things that directly affect your life and the life of your family.

George thinks that there is a lot to talk about in Bristol County - subjects that can help you through these difficult times. It's a talk show that offers something to all of us in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Mid Morning Bristol County with George Colajezzi
Weekdays 10a - Noon
Only on WSAR 1480AM or online at www.wsar.com.

George Colajezzi

Old Colony Historical Society to Discuss Local Furniture on Thursday

May 18, 2009 - Taunton, MA - Furniture of southeastern Massachusetts will be the topic of the May meeting of the Old Colony Historical Society, 66 Church Green in Taunton. On Thursday, May 21st at 7:00 p.m., Society President, Dr. Cynthia Booth Ricciardi, will present an illustrated lecture, All Roads Lead to Taunton, Part I: Furniture.

This program, part one of a series which will place the collections of the Old Colony Historical Society into context with those of other museums, will be an entertaining, as well as informative, study of the contributions of artisans and craftsman from our region to the broader field of decorative arts.

Recently, Dr. Ricciardi had the opportunity to visit Winterthur Museum and Gardens in Delaware, the country's premier decorative arts museum, for the opening of the exhibit Harbor & Home: Furniture of Southeastern Massachusetts, 1710-1850.  The research for this exhibit has taken place over the past four years and has provided new insights into the styles, makers, and owners of our regional furnishings.  Four of Old Colony Historical Society's objects were loaned for this exhibit, including its famous "Taunton Chest" made by Robert Crossman in 1729.

As always, this meeting is open to the public free of charge, with light refreshments to be served immediately following. For more information, please contact the Society at 508-822-1622 or visit our website, www.oldcolonyhistoricalsociety.org.

"Taunton Chest" made by Robert Crossman in 1729

Taunton Man Killed in Shooting on Route 24

May 18, 2009 - Taunton, MA - A 29-year-old Taunton man was the victim of a fatal gunshot wound early Sunday morning on Route 24 in between Taunton and Fall River.

Troy Pina was in the passenger seat of a vehicle being driven south on Route 24 around 1:45 a.m. Sunday.  Preliminary investigation has revealed the vehicle Mr. Pina was riding in was shot at by an individual or individuals in another vehicle. The incident is believed to have occurred in the Taunton/Freetown area of Route 24. Mr. Pina was taken to St. Anne's Hospital in Fall River, where he was pronounced dead at 2:15 a.m.

District Attorney Sam Sutter asked for the help of any citizen who may have been in the area of the incident. District Attorney Sutter said citizen information has been extremely helpful in solving many of the county's homicides during the first 28 months of his administration.

Anyone who was traveling along Route 24 in between Taunton and Fall River between 1:30 and 2 a.m. Sunday morning is urged to contact State Police at either 508-993-8373 or 508-997-0711.

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Listing and selling in her home town as well as its surrounding communities for the past several years, Kathy come with excellent references, a professional work ethic and takes a personal interest in each and every transaction.

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508-543-3922 x374
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