My Backyard

From left: Jake Johnson, Brodie Jacques, Mayor Dumas, Oliver Carr, Eryk Berwick, Den Leader Mike Carr

 The Tigers met on Wednesday March 10, 2010 at City Hall with Mayor Dumas. 

Mayor Dumas helped these Rehoboth Tiger Scouts accomplish their “Government Topic” for the month.  Thank you to Mayor Dumas for all his help.  The Tiger Scouts had a great time.

The Rhode Island Post Card Club holds its next meeting on Sunday March 28th from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Knights of Columbus, 1 Volturno Street in North Providence. The hall is easily accessible from Route 95 by taking the Branch Ave. exit and heading west. Turn right at the third traffic light onto Charles St. and then left onto Volturno. Post cards of all descriptions including town views and holiday greetings will be available. This month check out the antique Easter cards, which you could send to special friends and relatives for about the same cost as a new card. There is no admission charge

S.A.G.R.A Athletics Registration Time

The South Attleboro Girl’s Recreation Association (SAGRA) has been serving the Attleboro community for over 30 years.  We provide girls aged 6-16+ the opportunity to play softball, basketball and field hockey at a recreation as well as competitive (travel) level.   All Attleboro-area girls are welcome! Please visit our website www.sagra.org for more information.

We are currently accepting registrations for the 2010 Softball Season beginning April 1st.

*Coming soon- FIELD HOCKEY Registrations*

Dayspring Christian Academy Inducts 11 New Members

Into School’s Chapter of National Junior Honor Society

These nine middle-school students at Dayspring Christian Academy of Attleboro are second-year members of the school’s chapter of the National Junior Honor Society and recently participated in a formal induction ceremony honoring this year’s new inductees. Shown here, from left, are: 1^st row, Cherubin Manokaran, Marissa Machado, Tiffany Tong, Natalie Sorial and Josiah Boirard; and 2^nd row, Nicole Fontaine, Brandon Clark, Kearsten Lambert and Susie Udall. 

            ATTLEBORO – Dayspring Christian Academy recently inducted 11 new members into its fledgling chapter of the National Junior Honor Society during a formal ceremony at the adjacent South Attleboro Assembly of God.

            In front of a large gathering of family members and friends – as well as school faculty, administrators and staff members – the 11 sixth-grade, seventh-grade and eighth-grade students received certificates and pins indicting their inductions and endorsed a chapter registry signifying their status as new members. They joined the 16 charter members of the chapter who were inducted last year.

            The 11 new inductees included Ashwini Asirwatham, Victoria Iannelli, Olivia Phillips, Cassidy Theroux, Jordan Breen, Jacob Clark, Kristen Petagna and Dante Pires of Grade 6; Samantha Fayard of Grade 7; and Delia Calderon and Nicolette Nicholas of Grade 8.

            Joining the 11 new inductees at the recent installation were nine seventh- and eighth-graders who were charter members of the chapter one year ago and who read brief passages during a candle-lighting ceremony describing the five pillars of the NJHS – scholarship, leadership, citizenship, service and character – as well as performing musical solos. These included Josiah Boirard, Nicole Fontaine, Marissa Machado, Cherubin Manokaran, Natalie Sorial and Tiffany Tong of Grade 7; and Brandon Clark, Kearsten Lambert and Susie Udall of Grade 8. 

These 11 middle-school students at Dayspring Christian Academy of Attleboro were recently inducted into the school’s chapter of the National Junior Honor Society during a formal ceremony at the adjacent South Attleboro Assembly of God. Shown here, from left, are: 1^st row, Victoria Iannelli, Cassidy Theroux, Olivia Phillips and Ashwini Asirwatham; 2^nd row, Jordan Breen, Nicolette Nicholas, Jacob Clark and Dante Pires; and 3^rd row, Kristen Petagna, Delia Calderon and Samantha Fayard. (Photo courtesy of Dayspring Christian Academy)

Faculty Advisor Kimberly Theroux provided background information about the NJHS to the gathering and praised this year’s inductees for their personal and academic achievements.

“We at Dayspring are very excited to be here tonight to induct 11 new students into its chapter of the National Junior Honor Society,” Theroux said. “It is a special moment for all these students and one for which they have worked very hard to achieve.”

DCA Administrator Frank Rydwansky similarly lauded the contributions of this year’s induction class.

“In just our second year as part of the National Junior Honor Society program, we now have approximately one-third of our middle school students as members of our chapter,” Rydwansky said. “We are truly blessed to be able to recognize these students for their achievements both in and out of the classroom.”

Middle school teacher Meredith Gilbert – who has taught at DCA for 26 years – was extended an honorary member in the chapter for her contributions to the school. Introduced by a former student, Beth Binkiwitz, who is now also a teacher at the school, Gilbert was extolled as a “gifted genius as a teacher” and for possessing “the same admirable qualities today as a teacher as when I was her student.”

Gilbert, who has taught all of this year’s and last year’s NJHS inductees, said she was “humbled” by Binkiwitz’s acclaims. “I’m just so proud to receive this honor and just as proud of all these students and what they have achieved,” Gilbert said.

After reciting the NJHS pledge, this year’s inductees received their certificates and were pinned individually by their parents. DCA Spiritual Advisor Robert Lavallee concluded the one-hour ceremony with brief remarks and a closing prayer.

The National Junior Honor Society bills itself as “the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding middle-level students.” The society has honored thousands of students since its creation in 1929 and DCA officially earned its chapter status in 2009.

            To procure membership in a NJHS chapter, students must establish and maintain academic proficiency; make voluntary contributions to schools and/or communities; exhibit in-school leadership and problem-solving abilities; promote civic involvement and pride with their schools; and uphold principles of morality and ethics. NJHS chapters operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, several United States territories and Canada, and an estimated 1 million students annual participate in its activities and those of its high school counterpart, the National Honor Society.

Come enjoy a day of arts and crafts on Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 10am – 4pm in the beautiful atrium at Briggs Nursery located at 295 Kelly Boulevard in North Attleboro. 

The Village Artisans Collaborative sponsored show features many works by local artists including painting,  photography, jewelry, fiber arts and more. The collaborative and retail store, featuring thirty-two artists, located at 21 N. Washington Street, downtown North Attleboro, is an “Art Community for Community” dedicated to promoting local arts. Hours are Wed 10-6, Thu and Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5 and Sun 11-2. Mon and Tue closed.

Call 508-695-1010. Please be sure to support the arts by stopping by.

Come join Selena of Selena’s Interior Design on Wednesdays at 6:30pm as she teaches you about great design.

            On March 17 she will be talking about using color and design elements to Beautify your home. She’ll show you how to use color to create flow from one room to another . She will also show you how to evaluate products for durability, price and style, so that you don’t ruin you budget.

            On April 21 she’ll discuss Kitchen and Bath remodeling. She’ll show you how to find the best contractors to do the job right and design elements for your kitchen or bath to make it a fabulous finished room you’ll love. See what environmentally friendly products you can use in your renovation to help save water and energy.

            On May 19, when it’s finally time to get outside and start working on your lawn, Selena will show you how to landscape your home for greater curb appeal. Bring a picture of the front of your home to the class and she will help you choose the right mix of plants and shrubs to get the most of you curb appeal.  And you will even plant some seeds to take home to give color to you garden

All programs will be held at the Plainville Public Library at 198 South St (Route 1A) at 6:30pm and are free and open to the public. Questions can be directed to  the Plainville Library at 508-695-1784

The Plainville PTO invites you to their annual Fun Fair!

The Plainville PTO invites you to join the festivities at their annual Fun Fair.  The Fun Fair will be held on Saturday, March 27 from 9:30am to 2:30pm at the Jackson School on Messenger Street.  Proceeds go to The Plainville PTO in order to support the Anna Ware Jackson and Beatrice H. Wood Elementary Schools, Grades K – 6. 

The Fun Fair is open to all area communities.  Invite your friends and family to join you in a fun filled day.  Check out the cake walk.  Preview and bid on auction items and raffle baskets.  Children can have their face painted and play carnival games.  There will be crafts to purchase and crafts for the children to make.  It is an excellent family event with something for everyone!

The Hour Glass, long a landmark in the village of Wickford, is closing after 24 years, Karen Lucas, original owner and proprietor, has announced.  A storewide liquidation sale will begin March 12, “marking the end of an era,” Ms. Lucas added.  This weekend, the clocks will be set one hour ahead for the final time – the store will close for good next month.

“Everything will be at least 50% off, with some items selling for pennies on the dollar,” she said.  “There will be buys-of-a-lifetime on clocks made by Chelsea, Comitti, Seth Thomas, Howard Miller, and many, many more.  We are also selling the store fixtures,” Ms. Lucas added…

Ms. Lucas thanks all of southern New England for their patronage over the years, and feels remarkably fortunate to have had 24 years of working in the idyllic setting of Wickford, Rhode Island.  She is now eagerly moving on to other pursuits – for the past 15 months, Ms. Lucas has been attending the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy, and will graduate this summer.

The Hour Glass, located at 15 West Main Street, Wickford, in the town of North Kingstown, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 – 6, and Sunday 12 -5.  The toll free phone number is 800-585-8724.

Bishop Feehan High School

Granted 10 Year Accreditation Renewal by

The New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Accreditation team:  front row from left, Assistant to Chair of Steering Committee Jackie Briant, Steering Committee Member Steve Newman, Student Council President, Mark Legare, Steering Committee Member Linda Tyler.  Back row, Principal Bill Runey, President Chris Servant, V.P. Student Life, Kate Brandley, Chair of Steering Committee and V.P. Academic Affairs, Ann Perry.    

Bishop Feehan High School’s President Christopher Servant has been informed by William M. Bennett, Director of the Independent School Division of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges that Bishop Feehan High School has earned continued accreditation for the next 10 years.

Beginning in the fall of 2007, Bishop Feehan undertook a voluntary, intensive, two year self-study that culminated in an intensive three day visitation and review by a 12 member committee this past October.

The Commission specifically commended the school for its “frankness and seriousness” in the accreditation process, its “nurturing, positive, and friendly school community,” and its “commitment to…safeguard the school’s mission, Catholic identity, and rigorous academic standards.”

In addition the commission further commended Bishop Feehan’s “commitment to development,” the vibrancy of the Campus Ministry and Service program “that engage the students to put into action the Christian values they learn,” and the school’s “commitment to developing the whole person-spiritually, intellectually and socially.”

The school must now file a traditional 2 and 5 year interim evaluation report and  respond to the commission’s recommendations  “to evaluate  and implement the school’s Technology Plan,” to “fulfill its strategic goals of improving its facilities,” and to continue to “implement common, longitudinal assessments in all courses.”

Feehan President Christopher Servant was delighted to hear the news and said “our recent accreditation, the fourth since the school’s opening in 1961, is a testament to the quality of our faculty, the strength of our curriculum and our commitment to our mission.”

Committee to Re-Elect Sam Sutter

 Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter will formally announce his candidacy for re-election on Monday, March 15th at 1:15 p.m. at the historic Wamsutta Club, located at 427 County Street in New Bedford.

District Attorney Sutter will be delivering a major address, which will review the work his office has done to enhance public safety in Bristol County during his first three-plus years in office and will preview a number of new initiatives he plans to unveil if elected to a second term.

The public and media are invited to attend.

www.samsutter.com