Northbridge High Drama Brings “Mamma Mia!” to the Stage
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Free by request to residents of Douglas, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Linwood, Whitinsville and North Uxbridge SEND YOUR NEWS AND PICS TO [email protected] Friday, February 15, 2019 Information sought on local man killed at Pearl Harbor BY KIMBERLY PALMUCCI him,” Rondeau said. “I’d like to see TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT Stanley’s story told and the only way WHITINSVILLE — Stanley Horace I can make headway is the help of Thomas grew up in Whitinsville and Whitinsville.” was killed in action at Pearl Harbor on Rondeau and his daughter, Linda, the U.S.S. Arizona. Beyond his name, reached out to Buel asking how they rank, and hometown, his story mostly can help. Linda said that for the proj- remains lost to time. But one man is ect, Buel is specifically looking for any determined to share Thomas’ story, information pertaining to Thomas that and to do so, is enlisting the help of his includes basic facts, the name of the hometown. high school Thomas attended, what WWII veteran and Whitinsville year he graduated, any activities in native Raymond Rondeau, who now which he participated in school, or any lives in Chandler, Az., was reading anecdotes or stories that help describe Erica Chick Photo his local newspaper one day when he his personality, goals, or childhood. came across an article that immediate- “Anybody that has any connection to The cast of Northbridge High’s “Mamma Mia!” during a recent rehearsal. ly sparked his interest. A local Tucson any of these fellas—she wants to hear woman, Bobbi Jo Buel, had begun the it,” Rondeau said. “I want to see if any- ambitious project of gathering infor- body has any connections to Stanley mation and telling the stories of each Thomas growing up in Whitinsville, of the 1,177 lives lost aboard the U.S.S. any anecdotes they’d like to share, Northbridge High Arizona in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on anything that relates to him person- Pearl Harbor. ally.” Rondeau recalled a childhood friend, Rondeau said if anyone has any Stanley Thomas, who was also from information at all that could assist, Drama brings Whitinsville and was killed in action they may contact him at 480-961-3511 on the ship, and was resolute to con- and he will send it to Buel. tact Buel and ensure Thomas’ story When asked why he is working so was included in the project. hard to get Thomas’ story told, his “Mamma Mia!” “I’m not going to forget about him. response was simple: “It is the right I knew him; I didn’t live too far from thing to do.” to the stage BY ERICA CHICK Senior Ayden Pilon, who plays Bill TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT Austin, said, “Drama has a family WINTRY WONDERS NORTHBRIDGE — Ask just about atmosphere. I’ve been a part of it since any member of the Northbridge High Sophmore year. It’s helped me to grow Drama Club what their favorite thing into the man I am today.” about being a part of the drama club Senior Collin Davis who is a part of is, and they’ll most likely answer “fam- production in Sound said, “My sister ily.” did drama before I did and said that I’d Senior Hailey Carter, who plays like it. I can’t sing or dance, so I figured Donna Sheridan in this year’s pro- I’d try sound. The people are really duction of “Mamma Mia!” said, “It’s who make drama what it is. They’re the family of drama. All of my wick- family. We support each other. We love ed close friends are from drama. If it each other.” wasn’t for this [drama club] I wouldn’t This is the kind of community that have this family.” NHS Drama Director Rebecca Wright Senior Jordan Harris, who plays has strived to create over the past Tanya, said, “I’ve been in a lot of seven years. Wright, a mother of four, clubs...singing at church, A Capella, treats the kids like she would her own, talent shows… nothing has had the aiming to make kindness and courage the main goal. After that, everything same connections as drama. We treat John Kloczkowski — Courtesy Photo one another as we would family. If I’m falls into place. having a bad day this is where I come. “The past seven years as the NHS Reader John Kloczkowski captured this image of ice slabs on the Whitins I come here to destress and really feel Reservation while hiking in the Douglas State Forest recently. loved.” Please Read MAMMA MIA, page A5 Northbridge educators nominated for national award BY KIMBERLY PALMUCCI Lisa Gogolinski and Betsy district. This outside-the-box Travers several years ago, ask- year. Currently, they are work- TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT Wermuth have been nominat- thinking can be most clearly ing her to help with a fundrais- ing toward their dream of NORTHBRIDGE — Three ed for the award as teachers seen in her Systems Dynamics er,” said Kane. “She invited me building a sustainability cen- Northbridge educators have making a difference in the lives class, which challenges stu- to her Systems Dynamics class, ter to extend the short New been nominated for the 2018- of students by exemplifying dents to solve complex prob- who took on food insecurity England growing season by 19 national LifeChanger of the excellence, positive influence, lems facing society. Over the within the town of Northbridge housing hydro- and aquapon- Year award, which recognizes and leadership. years, students in her Systems as their curriculum for the ics watering systems. and rewards the best K-12 edu- Travers was nominated by Dynamics class have developed year.” Gogolinski and Wermuth cators across the country. her friend, Kathy Kane, for a local skate park, produced Today, Travers oversees were both nominated by their Northbridge High School fostering an environment that videos that helped raise $9,000 operations of a Community colleague, Laura Capistran, English and System Dynamics encourages students to think for autism, and established a Garden to benefit Northbridge for their work to enhance stu- Teacher Sherri Travers and critically and develop creative memorial at Lasell Field for residents in need. Her stu- dents’ experiences at the mid- Northbridge Middle School solutions to problems, accord- victims of the Holocaust. dents have grown more than Technology/STEM Teachers ing to a statement from the “I reached out to Mrs. 2,000 pounds of produce each Please Read AWARD, page A3 ‘Nero’s Bill’ would allow for care of injured police dogs BY KIMBERLY PALMUCCI ported by emergency personnel, said TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT Crocker. Instead, Nero had to wait UXBRIDGE — Emergency person- until a retired K9 officer arrived to nel would be able to treat and trans- help with his injuries and drive him port injured police dogs under the to an emergency veterinary hospital. recently filed “Nero’s Bill.” According to Crocker, this legisla- Sponsored by State Rep. William tion would allow emergency person- Crocker, the bill was established in nel to treat injured working police honor of Yarmouth Police Sgt. Sean canines, allow emergency personnel Gannon and his K9, Nero, who was to transport injured working police injured in the 2018 shooting that canines, and require any emergency killed Gannon. personnel that would render care “I am proud to announce that I to a working police canine to have recently filed ‘Nero’s Bill,’ An completed training consistent with Act Providing for the Care and standards approved by the Office of Transportation of Police Dogs Emergency Medical Services. Injured in the Line of Duty,” said In Uxbridge, the current K9 unit Crocker in a statement. is the first in the department’s his- Nero suffered life-threatening inju- tory. There is currently one handler, ries but was unable to be rescued Officer Thomas Stockwell, Jr., and Courtesy Photo and treated by Emergency Medical one K9, Bear. Officer Thomas Stockwell, Jr., and his K9 partner, Bear, hope to benefit from proposed Service workers due to an existing legislation that would permit emergency personnel to treat animals injured in the line state law that prohibits working ani- of duty. mals from being treated or trans- Please Read NERO’S BILL, page A5 2 • Friday, February 15, 2019 BLACKSTONE VALLEY TRIBUNE Blackstone Valley news & views Photos by Blackstone citizens It works! We asked local citizens to share their photos of the Blackstone Valley with readers and look at the results! We are so glad we have such talented readers and appreciate the time taken to send us their work. Please continue, we welcome more. Send JPEG attachments please, do not embed your photos, to: news@stonebridge- press.news. Uxbridge Public Schools receive STEM grant BY KIMBERLY PALMUCCI programs,” said Dr. Frank Tiano, to expand its engineering course offer- TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT TRIBUNE Superintendent of Schools. “We are ings and provide high quality teacher UXBRIDGE — The Uxbridge Public proud to partner with [Project Lead The training. Over the past three years, the Schools recently announced that it has Way] and are grateful for the opportuni- Uxbridge Public Schools have earned received a STEM career pathway capac- ty to apply for and receive this grant.” more than $250,000 in grant money to ALMANAC ity grant to offer high-quality science, Uxbridge High School is one of 58 support district goals and program- technology, engineering, and math schools across the commonwealth to ming. REAL ESTATE (STEM) programs to students from receive the grant, which is supported “Engaging our students throughout Project Lead The Way, a leading pro- by the Administration of Massachusetts K-12 school years with hands-on lessons vider of STEM curricula to middle and Gov.