Archived Page 118

August 9, - August 15, 2009

The Rural Boros

August 15, 2009 - The "Boro" towns still have several operating farms within their town bounds. This morning on the way to buy hay I encountered this Westborough Hereford herd crossing route 30. The connection between land and farms and the need they provide us with - fruits, meats and vegetables sometimes gets lost when we just go to the market to pick up our groceries. Unfortunately, farming is also one of the top ten dangerous jobs in America as attested by the recent farming accident that killed Mr. Charles Hanson.

Charles D. Hanson
FRAMINGHAM Charles D. Hanson, age 76, a lifelong resident of Framingham, died Tuesday August 11, 2009 at UMASS Medical Center in Worcester. He was the husband of 52 years to Patricia (Tirrell) Hanson. Born in Framingham on the family farm, he is the son of the late Carl and Dorothy (Sullivan) Hanson. He was a graduate of Framingham High School class of 1952 where he played hockey and baseball. During the Korean War he served in the US Army and played on the Fort Carson US Army Hockey Team in Colorado Springs. Mr. Hanson graduated from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture in 1958 and upon graduation went to work for Weston Nurseries in 1959. He then began work on the family farm with his father in 1960. Mr. Hanson was a member of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau for over 40 years, serving on the County Committee at various times. He also served on the Farm Service Agency, Board of Directors, and was currently the Chairman of Framingham Agriculture Committee. He was also a member of the Framingham Heart Study. He was an active member of the Phil Ernst Sr. Golf League at Millwood Golf Course and was an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman. He also enjoyed spending time at Squaw Village on Moosehead Lake in Greenville, Maine and his yearly hunting trips to Big Indian Pond. In addition to his wife Patricia, he is survived by his children; Michael Hanson, Tom and his wife Martha Hanson, Karen and her husband Kevin Hagerty; his grandchildren; Kristi and her husband Mark Daley, Matthew and Elizabeth Hanson, Kevin C. and Katelyn Hagerty and step granddaughter Kelly Hagerty and her daughter Briana Hagerty all of Framingham. He is also survived by his brothers James and his wife Kathleen Hanson of OH, Daniel and his wife Nancy of ME and George and his wife Mary of Framingham. He was the brother of the late Gordon and Kenneth and brother in law of the late Patricia Hanson. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his memorial service on Sunday August 16, at 2 PM in the Plymouth Congregational Church, U.C.C., 87 Edgell Road, at Framingham Center. Burial will be private. Services are under the care of the Norton Funeral Home, Framingham, www.nortonfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to Framingham Heart Study, 75 Mt. Wayte Ave., Framingham, MA 01702.

Cicada

August 15, 2009 - A cicada emerges from its exoskeleton.

Conservation District Fall Bulb Sale

2009 Fall Bulb and Perennial Sale

Friday September 25, 3-6 pm
Saturday September 26, 8am-noon

4H Fairgrounds, 51 S. Chelmsford Rd, Westford, MA

Click on the links below to view our selections and download an order form; then mail/fax in with payment by September 4.

(Correction to our mailed brochures: Iris 'English Charm' is not available and has been substituted with 'Istanbul')

Download Brochure in PDF Format

Meadow Magic at Garden in the Woods

Come to Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA, Sat. and Sun., Aug.15 and 16, to experience Meadow Magic. This summer weekend is usually the peak of meadow bloom. At Garden in the Woods, this can mean native plant species in bloom up to 7 or 8 feet tall. Beside these "giant sized" plants are others that are quite small and delicate. The meadow offers visitors of all ages an opportunity to learn about plants and pollinators. Search for butterflies, bees, ladybugs, and more as they fly from flower to flower collecting and spreading pollen.
Special events are scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. The Bugmobile brings craft projects and live bugs to the meadow. Play games while learning about bees, butterflies, and other insects. Enjoy a scavenger hunt in the Garden too. A beekeeper will join us to explain how bees work in the web of life. Discover what a bee hive is all about, how bees make honey, and which bees make honey. Meet some fun, costumed characters who explain their roles in our ecosystems.
Visit the Garden Shop and its nursery to find which plants could bring beautiful insects and wildlife to your garden. The Shop’s knowledgeable staff will assist you in a butterfly garden design, birdhouse selection, or plant combo for a great container garden. Books and eco-friendly gifts are also for sale. The Garden Shop offers a 10% discount on purchases of merchandise during Meadow Magic Weekend, Aug. 15 and 16, 2009.

Run or walk for Lab Rescue

If you like to run or walk in road races, here’s an opportunity to have fun while helping Lab Rescue: Register for the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce's annual 5K Road Race, to be held Saturday, October 3, 2009, in West Acton, MA. Mail in a registration form preprinted with our name or register online (click on the Calendar menu at the Chamber's website and scroll down to the Race information). On the online entry form, in the designated space, put "Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc." as the charity you are supporting. The Chamber of Commerce will then donate a portion of your registration fee to Lab Rescue.

Please spread the word to all runners, joggers, and walkers you know!

The SPECIAL TOWN MEETING on September 29, 2009

2009 will ask residents to consider the following matters:

• Purchase of a new ladder truck for the Fire Dept

• Conservation Commission fees

• Increasing the dollar limit for the tax work-off program

• Adoption of MGL Ch. 32B § 18A for Medicare eligible retirees

• Greater enforcement abilities for the Building Inspector

• Undergrounding of private utilities on Main Street

• Increasing fees pertaining to the duties of the Dog Officer

• Amending the Door to Door Solicitation by-law

• Adopting a new by-law regarding the public consumption of marijuana

• Moving the annual town meeting to the second Saturday in April, and other administrative town meeting procedures

Town Committee Vacancies

The Board of Selectmen & Town Moderator seek volunteers to staff the following boards & committees:

Fence Viewer
Field Driver

Historical Commission

Library Trustee

Open Space Preservation

Phase II Stormwater

Recycling Committee

SHOPC [Housing Partnership]

Scholarship Committee

Stewardship Committee

Youth Commission

Zoning Advisory Committee

Capital Budget Planning Committee

If you are civic minded, we urge you to contact the Selectmen’s Office at 508- 485-0710 or complete & return a volunteer form with a resume [also available at www.southboroughma.com under Boards & Committees].

Fee-Free Weekends in Your National Parks

America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better this summer with three fee-free weekends at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees*.

Mark your calendars for fee-free weekends this summer:

June 20-21, 2009 (Father’s Day weekend)
July 18-19, 2009
August 15-16, 2009

And to make the fun even more affordable, many national park concessioners are joining the National Park Service in welcoming visitors on this summer’s fee free weekends with the their own special offers.

Here’s a tip – many national parks never charge an entrance fee, so you can plan inexpensive visits year round!

For a list of family fun activities this summer, visit National Parks: The Place to Be for Family Fun.

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

Assabet Valley Regional High School

Teachers start Wed Aug 26th. Freshman start Thur Aug 27th. All other students start Mon Aug 31st.

Assabet Valley Post Grad Technical Training info meeting.

The next information session for the Assabet Valley Post Graduate Technical Training program will be held on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 9 a.m. The session will be held in the auditorium at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, 215 Fitchburg St., Marlborough. This is the perfect opportunity to learn how training for a new career can help you past this recession.

All applicants must attend an information session prior to applying. Serious applicants will bring proof of high school diploma or GED, their current medical records indicating two doses of MMR vaccine and a recent tetanus shot, and be prepared to schedule a personal interview with the Admissions representative. Once accepted into a program, the Hepatitis B Series of shots will be required and a CORI background check will be done.

Reservations are not required for the Information Session. For more details about the programs being offered, contact Cindy Zomar, 508-485-9430, or check the Assabet Valley Web site, www.assabettech.com, under the Post Graduate tab.

Cummings School to Host Open House September 12, 2009

Animal Demos, Hospital Tours and Free Admission

Raptors will take flight in the new Agnes Varis Auditorium and an expected crowd of thousands will gather to learn about all the furry, galloping and ruminating animals at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine's annual Open House, September 12 from 11am to 3pm. The event is free and open to the public, rain or shine.

Canines of all types will demonstrate their prowess in working dog demonstrations. The animals of the Cummings School's working farm will also be available to meet and greet visitors and kids of all ages are welcomed to bring their beloved but bedraggled stuffed animals to be stitched or bandaged at the Teddy Bear Clinic. Admissions counselors will also be on-hand to answer questions about veterinary school, along with our programs in Adventures in Veterinary Medicine for those who want to learn firsthand about being a veterinarian.

In addition, self-guided tours of the school's Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals, Hospital for Large Animals and campus farm will show visitors how the Cummings School teaches students and cares for more than 28,000 animals per year. What's more, the school will also be bringing back hay rides—a wonderful way to enjoy a tour of the school's 600-acre campus without “hoofing” along the sidewalks.

Handicapped parking is available on-campus with free parking for everyone.

For the protection of sick animals in our hospitals, and for everyone's safety, pets will not be allowed on campus for Open House.

For more information, call (508) 839-5395 or visit the Open House web page.

The Caitlin Raymond International Registry

Help Save A Life – Become A Registered Marrow or Stem Cell Donor

You may be a perfect match for a patient with a disease like leukemia or lymphoma. A simple mouth swab could be all it takes to find out if you may someday be able to save a life.

The Algonquin Regional HS Interact Club (affiliated with the Northborough/Southborough Rotary Clubs) will be hosting a marrow donor registration drive with The Caitlin Raymond International Registry on Monday, August 31, 2009 from 3 PM to 7 PM at the Trinity Church, 23 Main St., Northborough, MA.

Generally, healthy donors between the ages of 16 and 60 are invited to join. For donors residing or employed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island medical insurance may cover the cost of registration testing, but all eligible donors are invited to join. There are some medical conditions that may disqualify you as a potential donor and these include a history of most cancers, heart disease, insulin dependent diabetes and autoimmune diseases. If you would like to discuss a medical condition before registering please call the Registry at 800-726-2824 and ask to speak with a donor recruiter.

The Caitlin Raymond International Registry (CRIR), a pioneer in the establishment of procedures and practices for stem cell donor search, is the oldest coordinating center for bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cell and placental cord unit search in the United States. Affiliations with more than 90 international registries and cord blood banks in 43 countries enables us to access nearly 6,400,000 donors and more than 200,000 cord blood units. But for thousands of patients in need of a donor there is still no match available.

CRIR is a non profit organization of UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. In 1986 CRIR was established as a coordinating center for conducting national and international searches for unrelated donors. Today, up to 650 patients each month are submitted for search by physicians from all over the world.

Please visit www.crir.org for more information about CRIR and how easy it is to register as a volunteer marrow donor.

Fire Log

Monday 8/10/09

13:30 COMMERCIAL INSPECTION ST MARTIN DR

C27 CAPT MAURO

14:15 SITE PLAN REVIEW MAIN ST

C27 CAPT MAURO

14:33 VEH ACCIDENT W/INJURIES TURNPIKE RD and WHITE BAGLEY RD

A29 FF GOODSPEED FF NEAL

E21 CAPT HUBLEY FF ROACH

15:19 UNITENTIONAL TRANMISSION OF ALARM NORTH ST

A29 FF GOODSPEED FF NEAL

C27 CAPT MAURO

E22 CAPT HUBLEY FF ROACH

15:55 EMS CALL WEST FARM POND RD FRA

A29 FF GOODSPEED FF NEAL

19:22 CARBON MONOXIDE INCIDENT SEARS RD

A29 CAPT MAURO FF GOODSPEED

E22 CAPT HUBLEY FF NEAL

23:14 VEH ACCIDENT W/INJURIES WOODLAND RD and BREAKNECK HILL RD

A29 FF GOODSPEED FF NEAL

E21 CAPT HUBLEY FF ROACH

More Fire Log

Model-A Car Show and Family Barbeque

August 16, 2009

Sunday, 12pm to 3pm

Dozens of Ford Model-A cars will be displayed, rain or shine, near the Wayside Inn's dramatic canopy tent on. Many of the automobiles' owners will be costumed and ready to tell the stories of these fabulous vehicles. During the event, the Model-A Ford Club of America is sponsoring a special concert featuring a fully restored 1897 Carousel Organ from 1pm to 3pm. Delicious barbeque will be available throughout the event, featuring a variety of family favorites cooked by Wayside Inn kitchen staff for a small fee. Cash bar available. Admission to the event is free and reservations are not required.

Wayside Inn Sudbury

SCHEDULE FOR CABLECAST OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETINGS

Charter - Channel 12

Verizon – Channel 37

Thursday - 7:00 P.M.

Friday - 5:00 P.M.

Saturday - 12:00 P.M.

Sunday - 9:00 A.M.

Monday - 1.00 P.M.

Tuesday - 2:30 P.M.

Wednesday - 9:00 A.M.

The July 28, 2009 meeting will air until a new BOS meeting has taken place.

EREMICH, PAULINE V., 89
Ocala - Pauline V. Eremich, 89, passed away during the early morning hours of August 11, 2009 at the Ocala Legacy Hospice House after a short illness. She was born January 13, 1920 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and graduated from Cambridge High & Latin and Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School. In August 1941 she married her best friend Walter with whom she spent 67 wonderful years. She spent her time as a dedicated homemaker and mother raising four children while living in both Dedham and Southborough, MA. Pauline and Walter moved to On Top of the World in February 1987. With a heart of gold and remarkable spirit Pauline became a matriarchal wonder to her family while still finding time to dabble in activities and travel to exciting areas. She enjoyed playing cards with a knack for cribbage and hand & foot canasta. Pauline was an active member of numerous clubs at OTOW including the Shuffleboard, New England, Cribbage and Friendship Clubs. Pauline was a site to see even in her older years. If she wasn't found in the kitchen preparing something special for her family it was easy to predict she was walking the bustling streets of an amusement park with her grandchildren or roughing it at the campground in her motorhome. Pauline is predeceased by her loving husband Walter and will be greatly missed by her children Pauline Kalen of Ocala, FL, Walter Eremich Jr. of Midlothian, VA, Susan Nugent of Waldorf, MD, Carol Remillard of Whitinsville, MA, six grandchildren and ten great- grandchildren. A funeral mass will be held at the Queen of Peace Church, SR 200 at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 14, 2009. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice of Marion County c/o Legacy House, P.O. Box 4860, Ocala, FL 34478-4860.

“Damn Yankees” is the long-running Broadway hit/musical comedy about the eternal struggle between love and baseball. Beating the Yankees is a premise bound to stir the hearts of Red Sox Nation. The plot is based on Douglas Wallop’s book, “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant.” The story revolves around an ardent fan’s vow to do anything to help his favorite team win the pennant. This funny show won 8 Tony awards including Best Musical.

The public is invited to enjoy this community theater production performed by our own River’s Edge Players and directed by Sarah Worrest in the air-conditioned, wheelchair-accessible Hudson High School, 69 Brigham Street on Friday, August 14th and Saturday, August 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15; $13 for seniors and students. Save $1 by ordering seats in advance. Special discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

Jeff Kempskie is music director. Amanda Ventura is choreographer. Come watch your friends, neighbors and family members perform a great show right here in the community! With ample free parking and easy wheelchair access to a lovely air-conditioned auditorium, it’s a win-win to support local theater and be thoroughly entertained on a warm summer night.

Order tickets in advance by calling the office at 978-562-1646 or by downloading the ticket form at the left and mailing it to Arts Alliance, 155 Apsley street, Hudson, MA 01749.

Race of the Century
August 22nd and 23rd
Stow, MA
Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

An extraordinary event that pits some of the greatest technological advancements in air and ground transportation against each other in a series of "races"

Exhibits and displays throughout the event. The entire Collings Foundation collection will be open for viewing. Races start around 1:00 PM.

Entire Facility Open Daily: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Gate Fee: $15 Adults / $10 Children
This is a public event. No reservations are needed.
(Line up of events subject to change)

With today's gas prices approaching $5.00 a gallon, many are praising the latest advances in new transportation technologies. Hybrids, electric cars, vehicles powered by water, all poised to solve the energy crisis. - Well, this phenomenon is not new! The search for reliable fuels and transportation has been ongoing since the invention of the first automobiles and aircraft. To highlight the significance of how history can repeat, the Collings Foundation will host an extraordinary event that pits some of the greatest technological advancements in human transportation against each other in: "Race of the Century"

Algonquin Regional High School Schedule

8/24 - 8/28 Guidance Councilors return

8/24 8:00 AM Sports Physicals due

8/24 8:00 AM Football Tryouts

8/24, 25, 27 Band Camp

8/26 9:00 AM Freshman Orientation Class of 2013

8/26 10 - 11:30 New student orientation

8/26 7 - 9 PM Freshman ice cream social

8/26 7-9 PM Freshman parent meeting

8/27 8 AM fall sports tryouts

8/27 8 AM physicals due

8/27 9 AM New Teacher Orientation @ Melican Middle School

8/31 Teachers return

9/1 Teachers professional development

9/2 all students return

9/7 No school Labor Day

9/8 Underclassmen photos

9/16 7 PM ARHS school committee

9/17 & 18 Trottier 8^th grade tours @ ARHS

9/24 7 PM Seniors parent college night

9/28 No School Yom Kippur

Brighten the Day

August 12, 2009 - A bright spot in the fog and gloom today.

465.5 Years

August 12, 2009 - That is what the men and women of the Southborough Fire Department have given in time to the town. Of those years, 227+ are represented by six firefighters: Lieutenant James Colleary, Captain/EMT-I Joseph Hubley, Lieutenant/EMT George A. Hubley, Jr., Captain/EMT Joseph C. Mauro, Chief/EMT John D. Mauro Jr. and Lieutenant John D. Mauro Sr.

The New England Dental Group of 661 C Boston Post Road East

can take care of all your dental needs. The caring staff at New England Dental's office offer cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, periodontics, dental implants, inlays and onlays, veneers, bonding, sealants, crowns, bridges, root canal therapy, oral surgery, prosthodontics, TMJ Disorders, Endodontics, Maintenance, invisalign and whitening. New England Dental Group offers CEREC. CEREC offers a beautiful crown in just one visit. CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. The dentists at New England Dental Group offer you chairside service, scanning your tooth into a computer and then the crown through digital technology is designed to your tooth's specific dimensions. For more information on CEREC click here. To book an appointment click here.

Introduction

Say a “virtual hello” to your team of professionals. Better yet, call and arrange a tour so that you can meet them. To learn more about the doctors and staff at the New England Dental Group, please select a link of interest from the menu below:

The Perseid meteor shower is about to peak. The show begins after sunset on Tuesday, August 11th, and continues until the sun rises on Wednesday, August 12th. A time of particular interest is 0800-0900 GMT (1-2 a.m. PDT) on the 12th. That's when Earth is expected to pass through a denser-than-usual filament of dust from Perseid parent Comet Swift-Tuttle. Forecasters are unsure what will happen, but some have speculated that meteor rates could surge as high as 200 per hour. Bright moonlight will blot out many of those Perseids, but even a fraction of 200 is a good show.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for full coverage of the Perseids.

If it's dark where you live, go outside and look for meteors. Earth is still inside the debris stream of Comet Swift-Tuttle and, as a result, the Perseid meteor shower is still active. Worldwide meteor counts raise the possibility that the show could be better tonight, Aug. 12th, than it was last night, Aug. 11th. Be alert for meteors after sunset.

Photos and updates are available at http://spaceweather.com .

Tall Clock, 1860-1920. Lenzkirch, Germany. Gift of Mrs. Willis R. Michael

New Show!
For All Time: Clocks and Watches from the National Heritage Museum
August 15, 2009 through February 21, 2010

From waking to the rooster’s crow to catching the 8 am train, how Americans judge and value time has changed over the centuries. “For All Time: Clocks and Watches from the National Heritage Museum” is a new exhibition, opening August 15, 2009, that explores the story of timekeeping through spectacular objects drawn from the Museum’s own collection. The Museum is pleased to present a focused look at this part of our holdings, which has long been popular with visitors. The 95 clocks and 22 watches in the exhibition—including some clocks that chime and tick—range in dates from the 1500s to the early 1900s. Every clock in the exhibition is a complicated machine with its own story to tell about who used, made or marketed it and, most interestingly, how it fit into Americans’ relationship with time. The exhibition is on view through February 21, 2010. Visit our web site for more information.

National Heritage Museum
33 Marrett Road
Lexington, MA 02421
781-861-6559
www.nationalheritagemuseum.org
Free admission and parking
Closed Mondays, except for Monday holidays
Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am-4:30 pm
Sunday, noon-4:30 pm
Heritage Shop and Courtyard Café on site

The Museum was founded by and is supported by the Scottish Rite Masons.

Visit our web site for details on how to become a member!

Business News:

PROTONEX AND ULTRACELL

PARTNER TO DEVELOP AND MARKET NEW PORTABLE POWER SOLUTIONS

DATELINE: SOUTHBOROUGH, MA; Protonex Technology Corporation (LSE: AIM: PTX and PTXU), a

leading provider of advanced fuel cell power systems, today announces that it has partnered with

UltraCell Corporation, a producer of portable fuel cell products, to cooperate in the development,

marketing, demonstration, commercialization, and sale of advanced fuel cell power solutions and fuels for

the U.S. Military.

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies plan to focus on three distinct types of cooperative

efforts: 1) collaboration on existing military hardware, 2) development of a common fuel, and 3) joint sales

and marketing efforts. On the hardware side, the companies will integrate and test power solutions using

UltraCell’s XX25 and XX55 fuel cell power sources with Protonex’ Soldier Power Manager (SPM) and

Battlefield Power Manager (BPM) products. Both companies will further develop and promote a new

portable power plug-and-play standard for the U.S. Military. The resulting power solutions are anticipated

to add significant customer advantages to deliver specific portable power capabilities that are currently

unavailable to the market.

On the fuel side, Protonex and UltraCell share a common methanol/water fuel mixture in their portable

power systems as both systems are based on Reformed Methanol Fuel Cell (RMFC) technology. A joint

goal for both companies, and one of significant value to military customers, will be to achieve a truly

universal fuel for both Protonex and UltraCell portable power systems through common specifications,

packaging/interconnections, extensive testing, and supplier qualification.

Finally, both companies intend to support each other in joint marketing and sales for these specific power

solutions. UltraCell’s fuel cell products currently provide power below the 100 watt range while Protonex’

series of products output between 100 to 1,000 watts of power, making UltraCell’s XX25 and XX55 watt

products fully complementary with Protonex’ M250-CX fuel cell system operating at 250 watts and above.

Protonex’ SPM and BPM series of power managers are compatible with a wide range of fuel cells and

military hardware above and below 100 watts. These Protonex power management products dramatically

reduce a soldier’s logistics burden by minimizing the number and type of batteries and other power

sources a soldier must carry. Both Protonex and UltraCell offer advanced power solutions that are

designed to meet the stringent, rugged power needs of demanding military and commercial applications.

“We are very pleased to be partnering with UltraCell to combine our robust power solutions and to

accelerate our sales and marketing efforts,” stated Greg Cipriano, Vice President, Military Development &

Marketing for Protonex. “We expect that our combined complementary product platforms to result in

portable power solutions that offer significantly enhanced capabilities for our military customers. The U.S.

Military has been searching for a universal portable power solution and fuel for a long time, and we now

have the combined team and work effort that can deliver on that vision.”

In July and in partial support of this effort, the United States Army awarded Protonex an additional

$345,000 contract. The purpose of this contract is to continue work on advanced intelligent soldier

portable power solutions, including extensive interoperability testing between the UltraCell XX25 fuel cell

and the Protonex SPM and BPM power managers for a wide variety of field applications.

SOUTHBOROUGH, MA., - Averion International Corp. (OTC BB: AVRO), a fullservice

international clinical research organization (CRO) specializing in oncology, cardiovascular

diseases and medical devices, today appointed Peter Gonze as President and announced the appointment

of James McGuire as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dr. Markus Weissbach, who has been the CEO

of Averion since the Hesperion acquisition in October 2007, moves to the position of Executive

Chairman, reporting directly to Mr. McGuire, His responsibilities will include strategy and planning for

Averion. Dr. Weissbach will also continue to provide support for key client activities, including the

expansion of the cardiovascular practice. Dr. Philip Lavin, formerly Executive Chairman, also reports

directly to Mr. McGuire with the title of Founder and Vice Chairman of the Board; he will continue to

focus on client support inclusive of medical devices and regulatory interactions.

Mr. Gonze, who joined the Company as Executive Vice President, Global Business Development in

August 2008, will be responsible for global operations and business development activities of the

Company. Mr. McGuire, who has extensive experience assisting high growth organizations over the last

thirty years, will oversee the strategic direction of the Company. Mr. McGuire was formerly the president

of private equity investor NJK Holding Corporation, which is an affiliate of Cumulus Investors, LLC, the

second largest stakeholder in Averion.

Averion has reached an agreement in principle with its senior debt holders to modify the terms of certain

interest payments that are due in order to preserve working capital for the growth of the business and

strengthen the long term growth prospects of the Company. Averion has no bank debt and its senior note

holders own a majority of the Company’s common stock. The senior debt holders include ComVest

Investment Partners II, LLC, Cumulus, Dr. Philip Lavin, and Dr. Gene Resnick, a founder of the one the

Averion’s predecessor companies.

The Company expects to announce its second quarter earnings during the week of August 10th. On a

preliminary basis, subject to review by the Company’s outside auditors, the Company expects to report

continued growth in several key business metrics including new business signings, cash flow from

operations, and net operating income despite the inclusion of certain non-cash charges in these financial

results.

Dr. Philip Lavin commented, “Averion made a strategic decision several years ago to align its interests

with several strategic private equity investors with a long term focus in building a high quality global

CRO focused on specialized therapeutic sectors. We are pleased to have the continued support of our

original and current investors as we execute the next phase in the emergence of Averion as a key player in

providing customized product development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical

device industries”.

Southborough Medical

Please Join Us in Welcoming Adult Medicine Resident, Dr. Frank Zhou

Southboro Medical Group is very pleased to announce the addition of a new adult medicine resident from the University of Massachusetts, Frank Zhou, MD. Dr. Zhou received his Doctor of Medicine from the Medical Center of Fudan University, China, and is currently in his 2nd year of residency at the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Zhou’s supervising physician is Dr. Frank Chau.

Southboro Medical Group has been selected by the University of Massachusetts to be a teaching practice, where residents work side by side with experienced physicians. Residents have already graduated from medical school and accordingly, have earned the title of “doctor”. Through UMass and the residency program at Southboro Medical Group, residents train to become adult medicine providers and typically work in our office setting one day a week for three years. Residents are available to see their own patients while being closely supervised by experienced adult medicine physicians.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Frank Zhou to the Adult Medicine Department of Southboro Medical Group.

Please Join Us in Welcoming Pediatric Resident, Heidi Currier, MD

Southboro Medical Group is very pleased to announce the addition of a new pediatric resident from the University of Massachusetts, Heidi Currier, MD. Dr. Currier received her Doctor of Medicine from Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Currier’s supervising physicians are Dr. Sarah Bechta and Dr. Lisa Hassler.

Southboro Medical Group has been selected by the University of Massachusetts to be a teaching practice, where residents work side by side with experienced physicians. Residents have already graduated from medical school and accordingly, have earned the title of “doctor”. Through UMass and the residency program at Southboro Medical Group, residents train to become pediatricians and typically work in our office setting one day a week for three years. Residents are available to see their own patients while being closely supervised by experienced pediatricians. This experience allows them the opportunity to get to know you and your family, and to follow your children over a three year period.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Heidi Currier to the Pediatric Department of Southboro Medical Group.

VHB Participates in Leadership Initiatives for Teaching and Technology

Watertown, Mass - Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) recently participated in the Leadership Initiatives for Teaching and Technology (LIFT²) program for the third consecutive year. The LIFT² program offers middle school and high school science, math, and technology teachers an opportunity to participate in a professional development program that combines graduate-level course work with a relevant, technology-based externship. This summer, VHB welcomed our third extern, Carol Miller, a Physics and AP Physics teacher at St. Mark’s College Prepatory School in Southborough, Mass.

LIFT² is designed to raise student awareness and interest in science, technology, engineering, and math, in an effort to increase the pipeline of students motivated to pursue these college majors and careers. The externship provides teachers with the opportunity to meet with various professionals and learn ways to effectively bring real world experience into their math and science classes.

“From the moment I decided to become a teacher I became dedicated to not only teaching my students physics but showing them how physics directly relates to their lives,” says Miller. “I’m very excited to have this opportunity at VHB to reconnect with engineers and scientists and gather new and exciting information to bring back to the classroom.”

By hosting science and math teachers VHB is sharing valuable information about the engineering profession, and in turn, the teachers increase student awareness and interest in science, technology, engineering and math. Carol met with VHB staff in offices throughout New England.

WANNON WATER SELECTS VIRYANET'S FIELD SERVICE MANAGEMENT PRODUCT TO AUTOMATE ACTIVITIES OF FIELD CREWS AND CALL CENTRE STAFF

Australian Water Utility decides that working with ViryaNet will provide extensive benefits to their operations, and facilitate improvements in customer service.

Southborough, MA - August 11, 2009 - ViryaNet Limited (VRYAF.PK), a leading provider of software applications that optimize business processes for field service management, today announced that Wannon Water has selected the ViryaNet product for call taking, dispatch, and case management in its systems maintenance branch.

Wannon Water selected the ViryaNet product to facilitate their strategic plan to achieve operational excellence by improving customer service, accuracy of reporting, and improvements in data collection. The project, as a whole, will benefit field crews by providing access to corporate systems and information as well as improve safety, while crew managers will benefit from the ability to schedule and track work progress.

Another important benefit of ViryaNet's solution to Wannon Water will be the ability to capture asset related data which will inform the asset management system, allowing better planning for maintenance and replacement programs.

The ViryaNet solution is a holistic, integrated, and customer-focused solution for optimizing field service operations. The solution consists of several components, including call center functions, work order management, scheduling and dispatch functionality, workflow, mobility, real-time monitoring capabilities, a full suite of business intelligence tools, and powerful integration capabilities. The solution's value is the agility it has to manage business process exceptions, in addition to the routine processes that are experienced by most companies.

Wannon Water will roll the initial implementation out to field crews and call centre staff. The initial implementation will focus on the Wannon Water systems maintenance branch. These crews are primarily involved with sewer and water network maintenance, responding to customer enquiries and performing programmed maintenance on Wannon Water network assets.

At Wannon Water, the ViryaNet solution will be interfaced to their existing Customer Relationship Management system, asset management system, Geographic Information System, and SCADA telemetry systems.

"Wannon Water is pleased to be working with ViryaNet to provide mobile information systems to its asset maintenance crews. The crews are looking forward to having access to up to date information in the field which will assist Wannon Water in providing excellent service to its customers," stated Andrew Jeffers, General Manager Service Delivery at Wannon Water. "The ViryaNet product is widely used in the Victorian water industry and has brought many benefits to its users. It closely matches our requirements for call taking, dispatch and case management. It also has a flexible and customizable interface which is intuitive to use and will easily allow for expansion as we identify further opportunities for its use."

"We are pleased to welcome Wannon Water into the ViryaNet family," stated Memy Ish-Shalom, President & Chief Executive Officer, ViryaNet. "We look forward to a successful implementation and to supporting Wannon Water in its pursuit of service excellence to their customers."

Southborough Firefighters and EMT's Awarded Service Pins

August 11, 2009 - Southborough Firefighters and EMTs received service award pins for their years of service to the Town of Southborough. Lieutenant John Mauro, Sr was awarded a pin for fifty years of service. LT. Mauro retired this year.

Retired After Fifty Years of Service

Southborough Rotary Club Recognizes Graduating Algonquin Senior

SOUTHBOROUGH, MA- Aug 11, 2009- Each year the Southborough Rotary club awards the Annie Lori Satterfield Scholarship to the graduating Algonquin applicant with the highest academic record. This year the club was honored to welcome Sadhna Gupta and awarded her the $1,000.00 scholarship. Sadhna was third in her graduating class. In the fall, she will be attending Duke University where she will be studying both Economics and Public Policy. In the future she intends to attend Law School.

The Southborough Rotary club is part of Rotary International: a world wide service organization. For additional information go to www.southboroughrotary.org or follow us on twitter at 01772_Rotary.

Sadhna Gupta (Left) receiving a scholarship check presented by Southborough Rotary Club Past-President Christine Narcisse (Right).

Representative Dykema to Hold Office Hours

Boston- Representative Carolyn C. Dykema will hold her third round of quarterly office hours in September. Any resident who would like to speak with Representative Dykema and is unable to attend office hours should contact her office at (617) 722-2210 or at leah.robins@state.ma.us to set up a personal appointment.

Holliston
September 28, 8:30-9:30 am
Coffee Haven
76 Railroad Street
Holliston, MA 01746

Hopkinton
September 28, 10:00-11:00 am
Hopkinton Gourmet
43 Main Street
Hopkinton, MA 01748

Medway
September 21, 8:30-9:30 am
Coffee Sensations
116 Main Street
Medway, MA 02053

Southborough
September 18, 8:30-9:30am
Red Barn Coffee Roasters
205 Turnpike Road
Southborough, MA 01772

Westborough
September 18, 10:00-11:00am
Harry’s Restaurant
149 Turnpike Road

Westborough, MA 01581

Governor Patrick Declares August Beetle Awareness Month

Click here for Vermont Restrictions Click here for New Hampshire Restrictions

Click here for Maine Restrictions USDA Asian Long Horned Beetle site

Massachusetts Asian Long Horned Beetle info National Forest Service

Another Massachusetts site Printable Pest Alert poster Lookalikes

Below photos from Worcester, Massachusetts 2009 Beetle eradication program.

New RMV Fees Summer 2009

Friday, July 31 at 5pm

License & ID Fees

Description	Current Fee	New Fee
Amend License	$15	$25
Duplicate License	$20	$25
Amend ID	$10	$25
Duplicate ID	$15	$25
Class D License Issue/Renew	$40	$50
Class M License Issue/Renew	$40	$50
Class D or M Out-of-state Conversion	$90	$100

"ID" refers to either the Mass ID or the Liquor ID

Registration & Renewals

Description	Current Fee	New Fee
All new passenger plates	$36	$50
Passenger registration renewals	$41	$50

Sales Tax

A sales tax of 6.25% takes effect on August 1, 2009. Vehicles purchased prior to August 1st will be taxed at the former rate of 5%.

It's Sunny Out and time to Clean that car

Visit Southborough News advertiser Choice Car Wash today and get the car washed by using either the Touch Free System or the Rite Touch System. Easy to use and very convenient right here in town. While there drive on over to Southborough Auto Tech and have your car fluids checked or make an appointment for that loud muffler. Fill up the car's fuel tank for that long weekend trip. It's all here right in Southborough on Route 30/Boston Road.

Beading Workshop at Southborough Public Library, Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

The Southborough Library will hold a Beading Workshop on Tuesday, August 25,
from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Library, 25 Main Street, Southborough. Pat Ellis will teach basic beading techniques and some wire wrapping for ages 14 and up. There will be an $8.00 fee for materials, and payments are to be made to the Friends of the Library. If you own beading tools, you will want to bring them to the workshop – but, the library will provide some tools to share. Refreshments will be available. Please call the library (508-485-5031) to register.

For more information, or to register for the Beading Workshop, call the Library at 508-485-5031. Plan to join us on August 25!

Tennis

August 10, 2009 - Youngsters ready to volley with instructor Pat Richardson at the Richardson Tennis courts in Southborough.

Re-Connect with Friends at Summer Nights, August 30

Southborough – Due to the popularity and success of last year’s August date, Summer Nights 2009 will again be held at the summer’s end. Last year’s festival was held on its rain date in August and was the largest turn out yet. The Southborough Summer Nights Committee estimates that over 2000 residents and friends came out to enjoy the free entertainment and fireworks, and to catch up with friends. It was decided that it is better to hold the event just before school is about to start rather than try to squeeze in one more end of the year party in June. “Last year people really seemed to enjoy themselves and the chance to visit with friends and neighbors after the summer vacation. Rather than a kick-off for summer it was really more like a celebration to the end of summer, and a kick off for the upcoming school year.” said Doreen Ferguson, Director of Recreation.

The festival is a partnership between the Summer Nights volunteer committee and the Southborough Recreation Department and begins Sunday, August 30^th at 5:30 pm at the Neary School on Parkerville Road. Fireworks will be set off around 8:15pm. Admission is free and parking is available at the Neary School parking lot with overflow parking available at Trottier Middle School via the Deerfoot Road entrance. A rain date of Monday, August 31^st has been set.

Activities for children include the popular fire truck slide and “Bubble Romp”, pony rides, moonwalk, obstacle course and rock climbing wall. Back this year by popular demand is the dunk tank, where folks can attempt to dunk their friends and family members into a 500 gallon tank of water. It is recommended that parents pack towels or a change of clothes for children who want to go in the Bubble Romp or for anyone being dunked in the dunk tank. All areas will be blocked off from traffic so that people and children can roam safely from one activity to the next.

The Infractions will provide live entertainment. Their repertoire includes a variety of popular hits from the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s and is enjoyed by all age groups. The live music is being sponsored by Walgreen’s Pharmacy of Southborough. A varied menu of finger foods and treats will be available for purchase from local establishments including pizza from Domino’s, sandwiches from Quizno’s, ice cream from The Creamery and sushi and chicken wings fromYama Zakura of Northboro.

As in years past, the evening will end with a spectacular fireworks display over the Neary Field at dusk. Again this year, Bill Depietri of Capitol Group Properties will co-sponsor the fireworks display along with a new sponsor; the non-profit organization Friends of Southborough Recreation. Other new Southborough sponsors include Choice Car Wash and Long Cadillac Hummer Saab. Annual supporters of the event include Southborough House of Pizza, Tomasso Trattoria and Italian Market, The Fay School, Brendon Properties, Yama Zakura, Middlesex Saving Bank, Wellen Construction and St. Mary’s Credit Union.

To make a donation or to sponsor an event, contact Robin Martin at 508-333-1221. For all other information about the event contact Southborough Recreation at 508-229-4452.

Ride for the Chief

August 10, 2009 - Kevin, Kathy Webber, and Laurie - Kevin's girlfriend. They biked the Pan Mass Challenge to raise funds for the charity as Webber's Wheels in honor of the late Southborough Police Chief Billy Webber. Photos by Kathy Laflash.

Chapel of the Cross

A Free Premiere of the newest Veggietale movie: Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah's Umbrella. A tale of a hired cuke in search for Noah's Ark learns of a powerful umbrella. When he comes across a villain he is faced with giving up the search or going on to protect the umbrella and find the ark. The movie is a Lesson in Confidence that will be fun for all ages. There will be a free movie giveaway to one lucky viewer.
The showing will be held at Chapel of the Cross ,160 Flanders Road, Westborough, MA on Saturday, August 15 at 10:00 a.m.

MEMA ADVISES CAUTION DURING EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER

FRAMINGHAM, MA – With the extremely hot weather the Commonwealth is presently experiencing, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is advising people to be cautious during this period of extreme heat, and is offering some tips to help keep cool and safe.

“A few common sense measures can reduce heat-related problems, especially for the elderly, the very young and people with respiratory ailments, who are more susceptible to the effects of high temperatures,” said MEMA Director Don Boyce. “As this extreme weather continues, many communities are setting up cooling centers to assist those seeking relief from the oppressive heat.”

Here are some tips to follow during hot, humid weather:

· Slow down, avoid strenuous activity. Do not try to do too much on a hot day.

· Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect heat and sunlight and help maintain normal body temperature. Protect your face with a wide-brimmed hat.

· Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty.

· Limit intake of alcoholic beverages. They can actually dehydrate your body.

· Eat well-balanced, light, regular meals. Avoid high protein foods that increase metabolic heat.

· Stay indoors as much as possible.

· If you do not have air conditioning, stay on your lowest floor, out of the sun. Electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help evaporate perspiration, which cools your body.

· Go to a place where you can get relief from the heat, such as air conditioned schools, libraries, theaters and other community facilities that may offer refuge during the warmest times of the day.

· Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings or louvers. Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80%.

· Avoid too much sunshine. Sunburn slows the skin’s ability to cool itself. If you are outside, use sunscreen lotion with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) rating.

· Never leave children or pets alone in a closed vehicle.

· Check on family, friends and neighbors.

In normal weather, the body’s internal thermostat produces perspiration that evaporates and cools the body. However, in extreme heat and high humidity, evaporation is slowed and the body must work extra hard to maintain normal temperature. Following these recommendations can prevent heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

· Heat Cramps are muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. They usually involve the abdominal muscles or legs and are caused by loss of water due to heavy sweating. Treatment includes getting the person to a cooler place to rest in a comfortable position. Give the person a half glass of cool water every fifteen minutes.

· Heat Exhaustion typically occurs when people over-exert themselves in a warm, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to vital organs to decrease, resulting in a form of mild shock. The skin will be cool and moist, appearing either pale or flushed. The victim may have headache and/or experience nausea. There may also be dizziness. It is important to treat the victim promptly, so the condition does not intensify into Heat Stroke. Get the person to a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, supply a half glass of cool water every fifteen minutes, making sure the person drinks slowly. Let the person rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his or her condition.

· Heat Stroke is the most serious heat emergency. It is life threatening. The victim’s temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, shuts down. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. The victim will have hot, red skin, with changes of consciousness. Their pulse will be rapid, but weak and they will experience rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can rise to 105F. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise it will feel dry. A person suffering from Heat Stroke needs immediate assistance. Call 911 and move the person to a cooler place. Immerse in a cool bath or wrap in wet sheets. Watch for breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water, is vomiting, or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA go to www.mass.gov/mema.

Balloons over Hudson

August 10, 2009 - The annual balloon festival in Hudson was held this weekend. Thanks to Chris Wraight for sharing his photos with the Southborough News.

Summer Stars and Meteors Spectacular
Sponsored by Broadmoor
Wed, Aug 12, 2009 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm

Instructor: Ed Jameson - Astronomer
Audience: All (suitable for children ages 12 & up)
Fee: Adults $12.00m/ $15.00nm,

Join us for a evening with the Perseids meteor shower and summer star constellations. With a mostly dark sky, Broadmoor will be a fantastic place to view this summer astronomical event!
For adults and children 12 and up.

Registration is required.

Register by mail: program registration form. (PDF 66K)
Register by phone: with a credit card by calling 508-655-2296.
For your own security, DO NOT send credit card information via email.

For more information, contact:

Broadmoor
280 Eliot Street
Natick, MA 01760
broadmoor@massaudubon.org

2nd Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival

Girl with a butterfly at Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook Butterfly Festivel Saturday, August 15, 10am-4pm
(Raindate: Sunday, August 16)

Admission $5 per person (ages 3 and above); $20 maximum per family

A full day to celebrate the 78 species of butterflies at Broad Meadow Brook's urban wildlife sanctuary! Join us for butterfly walks and talks, butterfly crafts, kids' activities, tours of the butterfly garden, a butterfly costume contest, and more!

Scheduled events include:

Butterfly Talks
Guided Tours of the Butterfly Garden
Butterfly Art - Featured Artist: Samuel Jaffe, "The Caterpillars of Eastern Massachusetts" & more

View the complete schedule (PDF 220KB) or call Broad Meadow Brook at 508-753-6087

Southwick Zoo

2 Southwick Street, Mendon, MA

August 15
Summer Slam Safari Scavenger Hunt
Zoo-wide scavenger hunt (All Ages)

August 23
Families with Multiples Day
1/2 price admission for families with twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc!

Time to Roll

August 9, 2009 - Officer Lobur sets out on patrol on Southborough's motorcycle.

Southborough meetings

August 10- August 14, 2009

Meeting	Date	Time	Where
PLANNING BOARD Agenda	Aug 10	7:00 PM	Hearing room town house
BOARD OF SELECTMEN Agenda	Aug 11	6:30 PM	Hearing room town house
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE	Aug 13	7:00 PM	Community House

Monday 10	Tuesday 11	Wednesday 12	Thursday 13	Friday 14
8:30 Health Clinic	8:30 walking group	9:30 Pool	8:30 Health Clinic	10:00 Tina Bemis succulent arrangement
	10:00 Bocci
9:30 Cribbage		2:00 PM Fitness
	12:00 Pitch		10:00 Bocci
2:00 Fitness	12:00 Ping Pong		12:30 Pitch
			1:00 PM bridge

Falconi Golf Tournament:

Anyone interested in volunteering for the Falconi Golf Tournament subcommittee should see Mary or Alice at the front office or call (508) 229-4453. Anyone wishing to donate items to the Falconi Golf Tournament Silent Auction (i.e. major sports tickets, timeshare rentals, etc.) should submit their name and donation description to Mary or Alice at the front office or call (508) 229-4453.

Alice’s Gift Shop:

Please stop by and see what Alice has in the gift shop this summer. There are some really pretty items. If you would like to make a donation, please drop them off at the front desk.

Computers:

We now have two computers in the hall before you enter our main room that are now hooked up to the internet. You will be able to read e-mail and look up information as well as play some fun card games. Feel free to sit down and use the computers. Let us know if you would like any help.

WII Fitness

Drop in Wii Fitness Come play the Nintendo Wii Fit Program! Playing the Wii can improve balance, build strength and improve

breathing through aerobic exercise. It’s really a lot of fun playing the different games, like

bowling, tennis and carnival games to name a few. Friday’s at 10:00 to 11:00 August 21, 28

(There will not be a Wii session on August 14th)

Rockport, MA

Friday, August 28th Bus leaves at 9:00 from the Senior Center Suggested Donation is $5.00

Lunch on your own Come on a Mini-Bus Trip to Rockport, MA. Enjoy the lovely shopping

experience along Bearskin Neck. Visit dozens of little shops with clothes, gifts, toys, jewelry, souvenirs, novelties, handmade crafts

and paintings. Also, enjoy a pleasant stroll along Main and Mount Pleasant streets. There are many little cafés and restaurants along

your walk for lunch. George, our wonderful bus driver, will have lunch suggestions for you. I heard that Tuck’s Candy Factory is a must!

Senior Center open 9:00 AM - 12 noon Saturdays

Tomato and Potato problem

August 9, 2009 - An Tomato blight disease which is a relative of the 1800's potato famine has affected several tomato plants around town. The state of MA Department of Agriculture has issued the following information.

Late blight, a destructive disease caused by Phytophthora infestans, is a pathogen of tomato and potato plants that has recently been found in several states in the Northeast, including Maine, New York and Pennsylvania. The late blight has been identified on tomato transplants sold in big box stores and other garden centers under the brand name Bonnie Plants, and has also been found in a potato field in Pennsylvania. Because a few instances of late blight have now been detected on tomato plants in our state, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is asking anyone growing tomatoes or potatoes to monitor them for signs of the disease, in order to prevent its further spread.

Late blight, the disease that was responsible for the Irish potato famine in the mid-19th century, is caused by a fungus-like pathogen that spreads through splashing rain or wind currents. Spores can disperse from one to several miles from the point of origin, with the infection spreading most efficiently in conditions of high moisture and temperatures ranging from 60° to 80°F.

Symptoms of late blight include small olive green or brown lesions on the upper surface of the foliage or the stems. Under moist conditions, there is a white, fuzzy growth on the underside of the leaves where the lesions occur, but the absence of this growth does not rule out late blight. Eventually the lesions turn black, leaves start to die, and then the entire plant dies.

This is a serious, destructive disease that can spread quite rapidly when conditions are right, infecting an entire field within days. Any gardeners who suspect they have tomato or potato plants infected with late blight should dig them up, place them in plastic bags, and dispose of them in the trash. Commercial growers wishing to control late blight should begin spraying fungicide immediately, even before symptoms are spotted. Spraying must continue regularly, using a product containing chlorothalonil, a state restricted fungicide which requires certification to use. Growers should be prepared to destroy the plants if the late blight starts to become severe.

For more information about late blight of potato and tomato, including diagnostic images, see the following websites:

If you are a commercial grower with a suspected late blight infestation, you can report it on our website or contact UMass Extension. UMass Extension also provides advice for home gardeners who may be dealing with late blight.

To sign up for pest and pathogen alerts from the Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project, visit this page.

The Marlboro Senior Softball team traveled to Wayland to take on the “A” Team and took both ends of the doubleheader while the Friends of the Marlboro Seniors traveled to Scituate and dropped both ends of their doubleheader.

The Iron Workers Local #7 won both games against the Wayland “A” Team taking the 1^st 13 – 7 and the 2^nd 13 – 10. The Iron Workers offenses was led by Peter Mirabella and Kevin Burns both going 6 for 7.

The Friends of the Marlboro Seniors traveled to Scituate short handed and dropped two the Scituate Seniors 17 – 3 and 16 – 11. Marlboro’s offense was led by Paul Wright and Fred Scerra both going 4 for 6.

Mgr Fred Scerra said that many of our players are starting to get ready for the Annual Cape Cod Classic Tournament in Sep. We will have players playing in the 60, 65, 70 and 75 Division with the EMASS Senior Softball teams. He also stated that there is extra excitement this year as some of our players will be going to Cuba in November to play with their EMASS teams.