Norton Resident Named Athena Award Recipient

United Regional Chamber of Commerce names Valerie Zagami awarded for excellence.

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce has named Valerie Zagami, of Norton, as its 2011 Athena Award recipient. The International Athena Award is presented annually to individuals who have achieved a high degree of professional excellence, have assisted women to develop their full potential by opening up leadership opportunities, and whose body of work has made a national or international impact. Zagami has devoted much of her life to helping improve the lives of people who are most in need. For the past 10 years, she has served in a wide array of volunteer capacities with The Arc of Northern Bristol County, a non-profit organization providing support and services to over 2,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities …

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AN INSIDE LOOK

Looking For Some More Good Women

Norton has had few female selectmen - why?

The late comedian George Carlin used to wonder why there was no blue food. I don't have that answer, but I'm also puzzled over another strange phenomenon: Why is it Norton has had so few female selectmen? Women certainly make up at least 50 percent of Norton's population, yet only one sits on our current Board of Selectmen. In fact, unless memory fails me, Norton has never had more than one woman on its five-member board since it was expanded in the 1970s. Prior to that, there had never been a woman on the three-member committee. Since Norton is about to celebrate its 300th birthday, and women only acquired the right to vote 90 years ago, it is easy to understand why there were no women selectmen for the first couple hundred years. But …

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Bill Gouveia

4:03 pm on Friday, January 14, 2011

Thanks Tanya - I'm with you on a lot of that! And we definitely need more of a mix!   more ›

Wheaton Lyons Narrowly Defeat Rivier While Supporting Girl Up

The Wheaton women basketball plays for foundation that supports women in impoverished countries.

Wheaton College women's basketball coach Melissa Hodgdon, along with help from the team and Wheaton College, organized a fundraiser to help kick off their season this year featuring a game against Rivier College of New Hampshire.  The foundation known as Girl Up is one which strives to empower women from impoverished and underpriveledged nations. "I read about the foundation in August and wanted to get involved as I feel our program and team can help the cause," Hodgdon said. And help they did, as those who came to view the game readily donated to Girl Up, and accepted flyers and brochures learning about the program. "I have encouraged one of our players, [forward] Gabbie DePalo, to do an internship with Girl Up in New York this …

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