Torrential downpours for three days straight have left many Medford residents with flooded basements and other storm-related damage. Above, workers on Tuesday morning try to retrieve pieces of a dock that broke away from a home on South Street by the Mystic River. Courtesy photo.

Local baseball player Bill Monbouquette will be one of the expert instructors for the Mustang Summer Baseball Camp. Monbo is pictured at right speaking to kids at the first camp in 2008. MHS Baseball coaches Nick Tucci, right, and Mike Nestor, left, are also pictured.

3rd Annual Mustang Baseball Summer Camp for Ages 5-14

Playstead Park, Medford, MA
Session #1: June 28-July 1 from 9:00-12:00 (rain date will be July 2nd)
Session #2: July 5-July 8 from 9:00-12:00 (rain date will be July 9th)
Ages: 5-14
Cost: $125 per session

Registration
Click here to download a registration form

Please make your checks payable to:
Friends of Medford Baseball

Please send your checks to:
Nick Tucci, Head Baseball Coach, Medford High School
489 Winthrop Street Medford, MA 02155

The Mustang Baseball Summer Camp’s goal is to provide young baseball players with quality instruction in areas of pitching, hitting, baserunning, catching, and infield/outfield play. Players will be taught the fundamentals, and have an opportunity to play in organized competitions and games each day competing against players in their age group. Campers will receive top-notch instruction from a staff that includes former professional baseball players, current & former Division 1, 2 & 3 college baseball players, & current Medford High School varsity baseball players.

Camp Director:

Nick Tucci
- Head Baseball Coach, Medford HS (3rd season).
- Former player in the San Diego Padres Organization.
- Former player at the University of Connecticut.
- 1st Team All-Big East 2006.
- All-New England 2006.
- Big East Academic All-Star 2004, 2005, 2006.
- 2-time Boston Herald & Boston Globe All-Scholastic.
- 2-time Greater Boston League Most Valuable Player.

Staff:

Bill Monbouquette- Former pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox (1958 -65), Detroit Tigers (1966-67), New York Yankees (1967-68) & San Francisco Giants (1968). A four-time All-Star, he pitched a no-hitter in 1962 against the Chicago White Sox. Inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2000.

Paul Mattatall- Former Medford High School Varsity Baseball Coach (1994-2007). Current Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach at Arlington High School (2008-present)

Vin Macone- JV Baseball Coach at Medford HS (3rd season). Current Head Baseball coach of the 13U New England Wolf Pac AAU team. Former American Legion Post 45 Baseball Coach in Medford.

Mike Nestor- Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach at Medford High School (1998-present). Former Greater Boston League All-Star.

Ben Waldrip- Current player at Jacksonville State University. 2 time NE-10 Freshman of the Week. 2-time Greater Boston League All Star.

Matt Howard- Current player at the University of Maine. Former Dual County League All Star.

Current 2010 Medford High School Varsity Baseball Players.

Please bring your baseball glove, bat (optional) and cleats.

The following is an announcement from the Medford Chamber of Commerce:

Enjoy a fun-filled evening and help the Medford Chamber of Commerce send Medford kids to college!! “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” will be held on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at the Medford Lodge of Elks, 19 Washington Street, Medford, MA at 6 PM. Admission is $15.00 and reservations are strongly recommended.

Come hear Jared Carrabis, Governor of MA’s Red Sox Nation and author of “One Fan’s Story: If this Hat Could Talk.” Founder of SoxSpace, Carrabis has won an award for the Best Red Sox Blog at the New England Sports Blog awards. He is also the host of the TruFan Red Sox Webcast. His book has been placed on many local suggested summer reading lists.

Hank Morse of WROR is the guest auctioneer. Items up for auction include several pairs of Red Sox tickets, a Red Sox bracelet from Roland’s Jewelry, an eight-week training package from Body by Boyle, two five-week training packages from Valdez Baseball Academy, personal training at Fitness Together, an all-inclusive car-care basket from Titan Gas Station and Car Wash and much, much more.

Fenway Food will be served. Dave Valdez is setting up a Fast Pitch Mound and Batter’s Station. Turf will be provided by Crowley’s Concepts. Ballpark music will be provided by local DJ Harry Fullerton. The Chamber thanks the Rotary Club of Medford for their generous use of the Elks Lodge.

Wear your Red Sox gear to be entered in the door prize drawing.

Come on the 24th to give our beloved Red Sox a rousing kick-off for the 2010 baseball season and have a great time while helping the Chamber maintain its Scholarship program.

Click here for more information about how to get tickets.

Nearly ten inches of rain have fallen in this seemingly endless rainstorm. A flood warning is in effect through Monday evening and the rain is expected to taper off sometime overnight. Above, flooding in Winchester submerged a baseball field and a sidewalk. Photos by Medford resident Alyssa Shoop.

Semi-Finals

Junior League

Buckeyes 11, Crush 4 – Rhiannon Arnold led the way with eight points for the Buckeyes, who built a 9-0 lead en-route to a 11-4 victory. Arnold scored four of her points in the opening half, where the Buckeyes held a 5-0 lead, but her biggest bucket came after the Crush had closed the lead to 9-4. After receiving a pass, Arnold took a dribble and then calmly nailed a shot from beyond the three-point arch. Mya Matarazzo finished with one field goal and Emma Czwakiel netted a free throw for the Buckeyes, who started the season on a six game winning streak before going on a five game loosing streak. Samantha Morin player her best game of the year for the Crush, scoring four points and playing well on the defensive end.

Celtics 8, Eagles 5 – The top-seeded Celtics got another strong game from Coleen Hardy and held off the upset-minded Eagles, 8-5. The Eagles, behind three points from Grace Capuccio, took at 3-1 advantage into the second half but could not hold off the Celtics. After tying the score at 3-3, Hardy collected a 3-point play to provide her team with some separation.

On Friday night at 6:30PM, the Celtics will take on the Buckeyes to determine the 2010 champion of the Junior League.

Senior League

Tar Heels 25, Angels 16 – Siobhan Turner and Deanna Hardy helped the Tar Heels pull away from the pesky Angels to advance to the finals. Holding onto a slim 10-9 advantage at halftime, Hardy netted seven of her nine points in the second half while Turner recorded three of her five field goals in the last sixteen minutes. The Tar Heels held a slim lead throughout most of the game and went just 1-for-14 from the foul line. Jessica Brennan and Kelly Foley each finished with six points for the Angels, who played well despite no substitutes.

Nets 20, Dragons 19 – The Nets went without a point over the final 5:55 of the contest but held on for a one point victory. Nicole Regan’s basket with just under six minutes to go gave the Nets a 20-11 lead, their largest lead of the game. Rebecca Pierce scored the first ten points of the game for the Nets, who also got some good contributions from Sophia Zavarelli and Lachae’a Censcak. Nina Parziale scored all seven of her points in the second half, but she would gladly return one of those points. With just 2.2 seconds remaining, Parziale sank a baseline jumper to pull the Dragons to within two points. After calling a pair of time outs, the Dragons hoped to get an offensive rebound to tie the game and send it to overtime but Parziale’s free throw rolled in rather than out. The Nets will now take on the Tar Heels on Friday night at 7:45PM for the championship.

Souls4Soles

St. Francis Girls’ Basketball would like to thank all those that donated shoes to their Barefoot4Haiti collection. As a result of your generosity we were able to collect 325 lbs. of shoes!

- Submitted by Brian Devine

The following is an announcement from organizers of the Doc Kountze Art and Film Festival:

The Doc Kountze Film festival will be held Saturday, March 27th, at the Cohen Auditorium, located at 40 Talbot Avenue at Tufts University from 11AM-7PM. This event is sponsored by the Medford Arts Center, Inc., Massachusetts Cultural Council and Medford Arts Council.

Starting at 11AM Magician and Puppeteer Janine Rogers will perform for children. Janine is a full time professional entertainer with more than twenty years experience and is the winner of three first place awards for excellent performance of magic. Rogers is a graduate of California’s prestigious Chavez School of Magic. Her show promises to be fun for the whole family.

Following Roger’s performance there will be a silent movie on film pioneer Georges Melies. The Melies film will be followed by “Heroic Hero,” a short, silent movie by local filmmaker and Emerson grad Johnathan Carr that pays homage to the “Perils of Pauline.”

“May I be Frank,” a documentary directed by Gregg Marks and Ryland Englhart will air at 2PM. “May I be Frank” is about an ex-addict and alcoholic who undergoes a transformation due to the caring of three young coaches from Café Gratitude. The documentary will be followed by a talk with its subject, Frank Ferranti.

“Neshoba,” a story about a Mississippi town still divided about the meaning of justice 40 years after the murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, will air at 4PM. Although Klansmen bragged openly about what they did in 1964, no one was held accountable until 2005, when the state indicted preacher Edgar Killen, an 80-year-old notorious racist who is an alleged mastermind of the killings. A question and answer session will follow the film.

At 6PM Joel LaRue Smith and his jazz trio, featuring Renato Malavasi on drums and Tai Gamlieli on acoustic guitar, will perform.

For questions on the film festival contact Patty at 978-290-8884 and visit www.medfordarts.org for more information on all of the films and artists.

Medford High School student Lisa DiVirgilio has won a gold medal in a national art competition for “I Take Credit,” a sculptural dress made of photocopied dollar bills.

DiVirgilio also earned a Gold Key in the state section of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for the dress. The work of state Gold Key winners was then juried in New York for national awards.

DiVirgilio’s sculpture will be shipped to Washington, D.C. to be exhibited at the National Gallery of Art.

In an interview with the Mustang News, DiVirgilio said musician Lady Gaga was the inspiration for the dress.

Mustang News: What was your inspiration for the project?

Lisa DiVirgilio: I give all the credit to Lady Gaga. I knew I wanted to make a dress, but I wanted it out of the ordinary. I looked to Lady Gaga as inspiration because her performance costumes are far from normal. I researched her outfits and then sketched one of my own.

MN: What exactly is your project?

LD: My dress represents “the fame,” which is Lady Gaga’s first album. I defined the fame by creating a dress solely out of money to express the desired package of becoming famous. I connected fame with money since that is the main reason people want to be famous.

MN: What exactly is the dress made of?

LD: The structure of the dress is window screen layered with fabric and then I painted the fabric a silver finish. When the dress was done drying, I then started to glaze “mod podge” on money.

- InsideMedford.com

Contact: Stephen Pompeo 781-391-1630 stephen@pompeoinsurance.com

Tryouts/Evaluation for Medford Babe Ruth Baseball Ages 13 - 15

Medford Babe Ruth Baseball will hold player tryout and evaluations on Friday, March 26, 2010 from 5:30pm - 9:00pm at Tufts University’s Cousens Gym, located at 161 College Avenue in Medford.

Players arrive within the following times:

13-year-olds: 5:30pm to 6:30pm

14-year-olds: 7:00pm to 8:00pm

15-year-olds: 8:30pm

Please note age is as of May 1st.

All new and returning players must attend except: 1) those already on an American League team in 2009 or 2) returning National League players that request to remain in the National League. Players must be registered before. There is no walk-in registration. To register go to www.medfordbaberuth.com or contact League President, Stephen Pompeo at 781-391-1630 or stephen@pompeoinsurance.com.

Looking for something to do on St. Patrick’s Day?

Get your Irish on by heading over to John Brewer’s Tavern for what’s sure to be a good time.

Owner and Medford resident Bill Honeycutt has planned a special St. Patty’s Day celebration with a corned beef and cabbage dinner, live Irish music with the Irish Americans, and of course, green beer.

John Brewer’s Tavern is located at 7 Highland Avenue in Malden and 39 Main Street in Waltham.

- InsideMedford.com

K-5 Students Invited to Literacy Event

Patriots Player Sammy Morris to Read to Children

Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn read to children last year during Tufts University’s annual “Read by the River” literacy event. Photo courtesy Steve Eliopoulos.

The following announcement is from Tufts University:

Tufts Hillel will host the 11th annual “Read by the River” literacy fair on Sunday, March 14, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. in the Gantcher Center at Tufts University. New England Patriots running back Sammy Morris will be in attendance to read to the crowd. This is the second year that the event has been expanded to include elementary students from Somerville as well as Medford and organizers expect more than 850 kids.

WHAT:
Designed to promote the importance of early childhood literacy, student volunteers will transform the Gantcher Center at Tufts into a literacy event with the theme “Reading Around the World.” There will be 25 booths set up with games, arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt and bean bag toss. Contests this year will reflect the global theme with international landmarks, activity booths covering international themes and events, and trivia. Students will also have the opportunity to turn in book reports (found at www.readbytheriver.org) to receive free books as well as participate in reading circles.

WHO:
Students from kindergarten to fifth grade (more than 850 expected to attend)
New England Patriots running back Sammy Morris (scheduled to appear at 1:15 p.m.)
200 volunteers from Tufts University, the City of Medford fire and police departments, and the City of Somerville fire and police departments

WHEN:
Sunday, March 14, from 12 noon to 3 p.m.

WHERE:
Tufts University, Gantcher Center, 161 College Avenue, Medford, Mass.

SPONSORS:
Read by the River is a Tufts Hillel initiative that is made possible by many sponsors, including the New England Patriots, National Amusements, Scholastic, City of Medford, Medford fire and police departments, City of Somerville, Somerville fire and police departments, and Boloco Burritos. Local books stores, Scholastic and Tufts students have donated books for the event and National Amusements has donated free movie passes.

This recipe is part of a series of occasional recipes from Medford’s Frankie Imbergamo, a cookbook author whose “gravy and meatballs” recipe won a national contest and was featured on chef Emeril Lagasse’s TV show. Click on Medford Eats to see more recipes.

Frankie’s Italian Boiled Dinner

1 large smoked shoulder
4 heads of escarole
1 large onion
2 sticks of pepperoni, sliced

Place smoke shoulder in a large pot of water 3/4 full. Cook on medium heat for about an hour–add the onion peeled and chopped. Rinse the escarole, cut it up, place in pot and cook for about 45 minutes. Then add the pepperoni slices and cook for another 20 minutes.

Take out the smoked shoulder and let cool. Cut meat into pieces and place them back into pot–discard the bone.

Ladle into bowls and enjoy this wonderful Italian Boiled Dinner with a nice glass of Chianti and some crusty Italian Bread!

Buon appetito!!

Patrick, Reville Hold Q & A with Medford Teachers

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and state Education Secretary Paul Reville visited the Roberts Elementary School on Tuesday afternoon to have a conversation with Medford teachers. Dozens of teachers attended and expressed concern with issues such as testing English Language Learners, teacher certification, the MCAS exam, funding, and challenges with meeting standards while addressing different learning styles, among other issues. The governor, pictured above responding to a question, opened up the question and answer session by stating “Teachers aren’t the problem. Poverty is the problem,” referring to a mass teacher lay-off in Rhode Island that has angered some educators. The governor also said the education reform bill that was recently passed authorized a commission to look at revising the education funding formula in Massachusetts, which Patrick called “broken and messed up.” Education Secretary Reville is also pictured above with Governor Patrick.

The following is an announcement from State Senator Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville, Medford):

Senate Approves Safe Driving Legislation

Bans Texting; Establishes Safe Guidelines for Seniors

The Senate last week passed safe driving legislation that:

- bans texting while driving,

- gives immunity to health care providers and public safety officers who report potentially unsafe drivers,

- requires drivers with three surchargeable accidents within two years to take a driver safety course or have their license suspended,

- and requires drivers over 75 to have a form filled out by their doctor, once before the age of 80, and every three years afterward, in order to renew their licenses.

Senator Pat Jehlen, chair of the Elder Affairs Committee, represents Medford. She said that those provisions would make the roads safer for everyone.

“Immunity for reporting is important,” she said. “When Missouri adopted this provision, there was a steep decline in fatal crashes, and almost all of those who were reported stopped driving. Reporting is very important because no registry test will ever recognize all disabilities, and because drivers may become dangerous between renewals, no matter how frequent.”

Jehlen met with several groups of seniors in her district, including at the Medford Council on Aging, to discuss safe driving legislation. She found that most did not object to reasonable changes, such as in-person renewal over age 75, but they argued that banning texting was at least as important, and they favored consequences for those who had frequent accidents.

A 2009 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that teen drivers are four times more likely than adults to be involved in a crash because of texting, and truck drivers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to have an accident than someone who isn’t distracted. The legislation makes texting a primary offense, which means someone can be pulled over specifically for the act of texting while driving.

The bill also prohibits “junior operators,” those under the age of 18, from both texting and talking on a cell phone while driving; and operators of public transit are prohibited from any use of cell phones, except in the case of an emergency.

The bill requires a person between the ages of 75 and 80 to submit once during those five years an assessment form filled out by the person’s physician or health care provider. Based on that assessment, the registrar would determine if the person can safely operate the vehicle. After a person turns 80, the form would have to be filed on renewal every three years. Those who are denied their license can request a road test in an effort to demonstrate they have the skills necessary to continue driving.

Jehlen said that studies show road tests for seniors don’t reduce accidents, but in-person renewal reduces accidents and fatalities.

The bill now goes back to the House of Representatives for further action.

Editor’s Note: According to Sen. Jehlen, the Senate bill bans texting for everyone and all cell phone use for junior operators. This differs from House bill, and it would have to be discussed in a conference committee unless the House agrees to the provision.

The following Medford High School athletes were selected as Greater Boston League All-Stars for ice hockey:

First Team All-Stars:

Greg Wilson- Forward
Kyle Doran- Defense
Michael Gendreau- Goalie

Second Team All-Stars:

C.J. Bourque- Forward
Guy Leone- Forward
Billy Ivey- Defense
Brian McGoff- Defense

Other GBL All-Stars for the 2009-2010 Winter Season:

Boys Basketball
League Co-MVP- Andrew White
Tevin Moore

Girls Basketball
League Co-MVP- Tania Holmes
Nicole Lopilato

Gymnastics
Desiree Savoia
Stephanie Falasca
Anne Steele

Swimming
Robin Carpenter
Roger Zurawicki
Jaquison Xavier

Girls Ice Hockey
Brittani Lanzilli
Chelsea Hanson
Kristina Bove
Jessyca Jaynes

Indoor Track
DeAundrey Williams
Anya Pierre-Louis

Two Additional ‘Shopping’ Dates Added March 11, 24

The hair, the makeup, the nails, the jewelry…the list of expenses for a high school girl going to the prom is endless and can add up to a small fortune.

The Medford High School PTO tried to help girls out by holding the school’s first ever dress swap. According to PTO member Erin DiBenedetto, the event was a huge success, with about 100 dresses donated.

The first “shopping” day was held on February 27, with MHS PTO officers, grandmothers, mothers, friends and students helping girls find the best dress. DiBenedetto said fourteen girls heading to the junior and senior proms found dresses, and many girls have requested additional opportunities to check out the selection.

Two other shopping dates are planned for Thursday, March 11 and Wednesday, March 24 from 6:00PM-8:00pm in the faculty room off of the MHS library. It’s only $10 for a dress so the PTO can cover its dry-cleaning costs.

Above, a woman browses the selection, and the volunteers pose with the dresses. Photos courtesy Erin DiBenedetto.

Pat Buker, right, has worked for the schools for forty years.

Story Updated 9:41AM, Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Come fall, a new principal will be in charge of the McGlynn Elementary School.

Patricia Buker, a 40-year veteran of the Medfod Public Schools and current McGlynn Elementary School principal, is stepping down at the end of the school year.

“She is deserving of our gratitude and praise for her dedication to the children and families of Medford,” said School Superintendent Roy Belson in a statement.

Buker has served as a teacher, literacy coordinator, assistant principal, and principal throughout her career.

Superintendent Belson has announced a plan for selecting a new principal.

“It is our plan to select a new principal in sufficient time to enable opportunities for a smooth transition and orientation…our screening and selection process require time, and we need to allow for sufficient input by stakeholders prior to a final decision,” said Superintendent Belson.

An Advisory Committee will be created to help select the new principal. The committee will include parents, teachers, staff and administrators who are “representative of the McGlynn Elementary, and the programs and services provided at that school.”

The Advisory Committee will interview semi-finalists by April 30 and the School Committee will conduct interviews during the first week of May.

The position is being advertised through March 26 and candidates to be interviewed will be selected by April 16.

The new principal will likely be selected by May 13.

Buker released the following statement on the school’s website:

To: McGlynn Elementary Families and Citizens of Medford,

Part of me feels as if it was only last year that I walked through the door of the Fulton School and into the first classroom that was truly mine - truly my responsibility. I also found out that at the young age of just 21, I would be responsible for educating 92 four and five year old children who were split into AM and PM Kindergarten sessions. From that first day on, I have loved every minute of my tenure in the Medford Public Schools.

Nevertheless, I will be retiring on June 30thof this year.

It has been my privilege, over the past forty years, to witness and be a part of education in our City. Sometimes shocked, sometimes worried, sometimes amazed, sometimes encouraged, and frequently overjoyed, I have watched and taught and been a part of the lives of over 1,200 children, and if I must make sense of it all — if there must be something I have learned from it – then I have an answer for myself, an answer that will satisfy me as I look back.

In all that time, one thing has been consistent and remains consistent – children respond to love. From the first to the last, from the outgoing to the shy, from the privileged to the less fortunate, children have responded to love, do respond to love, and, I’m certain, will continue to respond to love as long as there are parents and children; as long as there are students and teachers; as long as the human spirit continues to reach out into the world.

In my four decade “stretch” in the elementary school, I have experienced much and learned much. I know I will remember what I have learned, but it will be secondary to the love I have received from the children who shared these premises with me, some of whom have their own children in school even now. That love remembered is what has made my forty years so precious; that love given and received has made them glorious.

It has been superb! Thank you for being a part of it all.

Sincerely,

Patricia Hafner Buker
Principal
John J. McGlynn Elementary