PATCH FACTS

5 Things Dec. 18: End of the World Party, Employment Support Group and More

Your Patch Facts for the day.

Things You Need to Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the feature in the comments section. 1. End of the World Party and Writer’s Group Norton Public Library will hold an End of the World Party 2:30 p.m. Watch the movie “2012,” share snacks and have fun in the community room. Then at 6 p.m. the Writer’s Group will meet to share, get feedback, and discuss the joys and challenges of writing. All writers are welcome. 2. Employment Support Group of Norton This group is for people seeking employment. Get help with resume design, networking skills, interviewing skills and mentor support. The group meets on the first and …

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Women's Basketball Continues Tradition of Service in Norton

Outreach to middle schoolers is latest in a series of community projects.

The Wheaton College women's basketball team has earned a reputation for being as active in the community as they are on the court, engaging in service projects that range from food drives to coaching and mentoring the Heller's Angels Special Olympics basketball team. The latter effort has put them in the running for an award from the NCAA. Most recently, the Wheaton women worked this semester with the eighth grade girls' basketball team from Norton Middle School, helping them grow athletically and personally. The Lyons began their collaboration with the middle school team by hosting weekly basketball clinics throughout September. Beyond sharpening the girls' skills on the court, the clinics were also designed as a sisterly mentoring …

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Thanksgiving Means Sharing at Elisabeth Amen Nursery School

Kids donate candy, food and toys for charity.

The children at the Elisabeth Amen Nursery School are sharing food, toys and even their own candy as they learn about caring for others this Thanksgiving.  A parent organized the Halloween candy effort in conjunction with Operation Gratitude. Operation Gratitude sends care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation to individually named U.S. Service Members, their children, Wounded Warriors, Veterans, and First Responders. The children included some letters and pictures with their candy.  "The response was astounding," said Marie O'Malley, the nursery school coordinator in a press release. Food will go to local pantries and toys will go to Headstart Holiday Parties.     "It is heartwarming to see …

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Bishop Named Mayor of Norton

Man of Many Hats adds Mayor to repertoire.

The race for the unofficial Mayor of Norton has ended, with Steven Bishop coming out on top. Bishop raised $1,276, which was matched by Teachers Driving Academy, totaling $2,552. His opponent, Meg Fox, raised $630. Together, they raised $3,182, half of which went towards Norton Parks and Recreation Department. The rest went towards the charities of Bishop's choice. In honor of his opponent, Bishop wrote a check from his business for $250 to give to Little Wiffles, a wiffle and kickball league for disabled children ages 4 and older. Fox and her family founded the organization three years ago. Working with Project Early at L. G. Nourse, a young boy asked her why he couldn’t play baseball with the other kids. That is when Fox knew she had to …

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Mayor of Norton Fundraiser Moves Forward

Steve Bishop and Meg Fox will campaign to become the next Mayor of Norton.

Two Mayor of Dedham candidates have emerged: Steve Bishop and Meg Fox. Each candidate will now hit the campaign trail over the next month to raise money for local charities. Each vote will cost $1 and there isn't a limit to the number of votes a person can cast. Cash raised between now and Aug. 20, the end to the campaign season, will be split between Parks and Recreation and the charities of the winner's choice. Fox would like to split the money she raises with Susan G. Komen-Breast Cancer and Autism Speaks. "These two are very dear to me, I know too many woman with breast cancer, my mom and grandmother, and I work with too many children that are under the autism umbrella. I will try my hardest to collect as much as I can; to me it is all…

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Racing for a Cure

Police officer, Norton residents race in memory of Leah Fernandes.

Leah Fernandes was a 5-year-old girl who lost a hard-fought battle with an aggressive form of cancer called medulloblastoma. Though she passed away July 26 with her parents Peter and Rhiannon by her side, the community has continued to show the Fernandes family support.  Bryan C. King of Norton Police Department, along with a group of friends, raced in honor of Leah at Seekonk Speedway Sept. 3. Their group, named Team Masse Militia, also included Norton residents Jason Masse (#05), Jamie Masse (#07), Bob Tower (#03), Rob Hain (#555), Josh Oliveria (#93), Attleboro resident Kevin Slattery (#70), N. Attleboro resident Nick Casale (#508) and Mansfield residents Kristen Anderson (#10), Lisa Butler (#177) and Ronnie Stanovitch (#509).   “We are…

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Town Gathers to Commemorate Special Girl

Leah Fernandes Family Fun Day raises close to 1k.

It’s always heartwarming to see a community get together to support each other. A gathering of that kind happened two weeks ago at Everett Leonard Park to honor the memory of 5-year-old Leah Fernandes, who passed away last month from brain cancer.  Autumn Lincoln, who organized the Leah Fernandes Family Fun Day, is a family friend.  “Knowing Peter (Leah’s dad), I wanted to do what I could to help,” Lincoln said. “It was a day of celebration.”  The family fun day raised $960. Events included a barbeque, swimming, a raffle table and a dj spinning tunes. Some of the donated raffles came from Kidz Wurld, Monkey Joe’s, Toby Keith Restaurant, Bill’s Bait and Tackle, Uncle Ed’s, MacMahon's Countryside Grille and Briggs Nursery. Gift baskets were …

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State Street, Stop & Shop/Giant Family Foundation and PGA Tour Wives Association Announce 2011 “Healthy Packs” Initiative at Deutsche Bank Championship

Program returns for third year to deliver 2,000 bags filled with healthy food options to children in need in Greater Boston area.

State Street Corporation, representatives of the Stop & Shop/Giant Family Foundation and the PGA TOUR Wives Association announced their “Healthy Packs” initiative, which will provide approximately 2,000 pre-packed reusable bags of healthy snack options to children in need throughout the South Boston, Brockton and Dorchester communities of Massachusetts.  On Thursday, Sept. 1, as part of the Deutsche Bank Championship in cooperation with EMC, State Street and Stop & Shop employee volunteers will team up alongside members of the PGA TOUR Wives Association and PGA TOUR players to assemble snack packages in Kids Village at TPC Boston in Norton. The snack packages will be delivered to children in the Greater Boston area who do not always have …

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Whiz Kids

Whiz Kid of the Week: Emma Daly

A champion in every sense of the word.

Emma Daly, a sixth grade student at Norton Middle School, is a champion in every sense of the word.  “She is committed to excellence in everything she does and yet expects no accolades to follow. For that reason alone, I admire her personal dedication to making the world a better place,” said advisor to NMS’s Community Service Club and sixth grade English teacher Kendra Hart, who nominated Emma as a Norton Patch Whiz Kid of the Week.  Emma was one of three NMS students to be presented with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum’s Make A Difference Award. According to the museum's website, 100 Massachusetts students received the award, which is given to students who are nominated by teachers, principals, and other community …

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AN INSIDE LOOK

It's Time To Step Up and Help Leah

Leah Fernandes and her family need our support as little girl fights aggressive cancer.

For many years now, Peter Fernandes and his family have been helping Norton residents at their Chartley Country Store here in town and in Rehoboth.  Now his family needs our help, and I know Norton is going to step up to aid a family that truly needs it. Peter and his wife Rhiannon (who went to Norton High with my son) have two children, a son Lukas and a 5-year-old daughter named Leah.  Recently the absolutely unthinkable happened, and beautiful little Leah was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, an incredibly aggressive form of cancer.  Doctors removed a tumor from the back of her brain, but the cancer has continued to spread and is requiring constant treatment as Leah battles for her life, and her family does everything within their power …

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Bill Gouveia

12:37 pm on Friday, April 29, 2011

Thanks Merry! And please give my regards to your folks! You have two great sisters. I hope we can generate a lot of help for Leah and her family. There are two long-time Norton families involved in this tough situation, and I think in this case we all become one big family!   more ›