Seventeen recent graduates returned to their former classroom at the Wilmington Middle School on Tuesday afternoon to open two time capsules they created with their teacher, Michael Mahoney, when they were in fifth and sixth grade.
The time capsule project started 10 years ago when Mahoney was in his first year of teaching in the middle school. Students decorate a cardboard box and put all of their names on it. They then write letters to themselves about their interests, or about classmates they like so they can come back and laugh and enjoy the letters as seniors. Some students even include photos and other memorabilia.
Then, as graduation nears, letters of invitation are mailed to each member of the class. Some are at WMHS, others are at Shawsheen Technical High School and some have moved away or left school.
Tuesday afternoon the latest class returned to Room 125 in the Discovery Building to share their letters and some laughs. There were two boxes to open this year. After teaching fifth grade, Mahoney moved to a self-contained sixth grade classroom, and some of the fifth grade students moved along with Mahoney and participated in the time capsule project in both grades. There were two group photos taken with Mahoney that will hang on a classroom wall next to their fifth and sixth grade class photos.
Returning student Stephanie Knoettner commented, “It’s weird, I haven’t been here since the last day of eighth grade.” In spite of the years between visits, as each student entered the room, Mahoney greeted them by name. “100 percent! I can still remember everyone,” he said proudly. At first the group looked at their old class photos, caught up on who’s going where to college and asked about missing classmates.
Soon it was time to open the green and blue boxes that were their time capsules. Only 2 students in the group thought they might remember something they had written in the capsule, but when they tore into the packages everyone seemed surprised by all of the other treasures they found inside. “They’re like little kids opening presents,” said Mahoney. Some of the treasures inside included a softball, a fuzzy hot pink mirror and brush, some hand-written reports and a contract that the teacher had signed with Tim Kent to ensure that Tim’s schoolwork would be completed. These were more than items saved in a box; they were memories.
There were piles of photos of the very hands-on activities that the classes had done throughout the year. There was also a solo photo of each student on the first day of school. Most students cringed and laughed upon seeing their photos.
Around the room there were random cries of “Oh my God – that’s embarrassing,” Oh, I didn’t remember that!” and “that’s such a funny picture!”
Linda Golden attended the event because her son Michael was unable to be there. She was happy to find several photos of her son and the envelope with his letter that she saved for Michael to open later. Of Mahoney she said, “He’s a phenomenal teacher, he really is.”
Mahoney explained the rewards of the project from a teacher’s perspective: “As a teacher you only get to see a small segment of a child’s school experience. I get to see the completed high school child and to hear their current dreams.”
He emphasized that this day is all about the students and remembering a common past experience. “Every year is a different dynamic,” he said.
One most memorable moment came when a student walked in one year and said ‘guess what, I’m going to give my speech!’ It turned out that she told Mahoney years ago that her goal was to be valedictorian – and she was!
This was the third class to return for a time capsule opening, but Mahoney has a closet with many more time capsules in it and looks forward to sharing them with former students for years to come.
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD. All Rights Reserved.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Room For Improvement, part 3
For the Finn family of Wilmington, the wait is finally over! On last Thursday and Friday, their long-awaited segment of “Room For Improvement” aired on several of the Channel 7 news programs.
Designer Melanie Murphy, of Redecorating By Melanie (www.redesignyourhome.com), said that the family wanted to bring the outdoors in and to have a garden feel. She certainly accomplished her goal. Using three different shades of green in the room, some “pops” of purple in throw pillows and candles, and some fresh flowers and greenery, Murphy was able to emphasize nature throughout the room and use some of the family’s favorite colors at the same time.
Once an unusable space that the family avoided, the room now has two areas that the family can use for different purposes. One end is a reading nook, a great place to curl up with a good book on a rainy day. The other end is an area where the family can sit together and perhaps play games or catch up after a busy day. On the game table Murphy placed a board game, some candles, and some brownies and cookies for the kids.
The family provided a $4000 budget to create a welcoming space in the dilapidated front porch. Designer Murphy, however, only had about half of that to use in the space because the remainder was spent to replace a wood floor that was beyond repair.
When Channel 7 Producer Jennifer Savio asked Murphy [on camera] how she created the window treatments, Murphy giggled, “Oh, you can’t ask me that!” She went on to say modestly that “we were on a very tight budget, so we were creative and took two shower curtains that matched some pillows in the room and created window treatments.”
Murphy was also able to keep the budget in line by re-using some of the homeowners’ old wicker furniture. Once she added a fresh coat of paint of dark paint, the old furniture worked beautifully in the new space. Murphy simply added a cocktail table from the Christmas Tree Shops and assorted accessories from Home Goods and Pier One, Target, Crate and Barrel and Mahoneys to finish off the room.
So would the homeowners like their newly renovated space? It was time to find out. Channel 7 cameraman Kurt Hartwell set up on the front porch and then the homeowners were led out into their new room.
“Oh gosh, oh Mel, this is beautiful, I can’t believe this is my porch! This is amazing! Look at this…this is so unbelievable…this is absolutely gorgeous…I’m in the wrong house,” exclaimed Kristin Finn.
“She’s awesome,” said Finn’s husband Jay [speaking of designer Murphy]. “It was not the type of porch you want to sit in and now it is!”
Kristen continued, “Beyond my expectations! This is where we are spending the rest of the summer and fall!”
Murphy led the couple around the room pointing out some of the various new features, the painting of the furniture, the window treatments, a floral wreath, a planter, and some other greenery in a corner.
She also explained to the family that she had a water feature planned for the room, but it had not worked out as she had hoped. “Here’s your water feature,” she joked as she reached for a pitcher of water with lemons on the table in the reading nook.
It was an afternoon full of interviews and laughter, however it was homeowner Kristin Finn who had the last laugh. When it was time to call it a day, she asked the Channel 7 crew; “Can the kids eat the props now?”
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD All Rights Reserved.
Designer Melanie Murphy, of Redecorating By Melanie (www.redesignyourhome.com), said that the family wanted to bring the outdoors in and to have a garden feel. She certainly accomplished her goal. Using three different shades of green in the room, some “pops” of purple in throw pillows and candles, and some fresh flowers and greenery, Murphy was able to emphasize nature throughout the room and use some of the family’s favorite colors at the same time.
Once an unusable space that the family avoided, the room now has two areas that the family can use for different purposes. One end is a reading nook, a great place to curl up with a good book on a rainy day. The other end is an area where the family can sit together and perhaps play games or catch up after a busy day. On the game table Murphy placed a board game, some candles, and some brownies and cookies for the kids.
The family provided a $4000 budget to create a welcoming space in the dilapidated front porch. Designer Murphy, however, only had about half of that to use in the space because the remainder was spent to replace a wood floor that was beyond repair.
When Channel 7 Producer Jennifer Savio asked Murphy [on camera] how she created the window treatments, Murphy giggled, “Oh, you can’t ask me that!” She went on to say modestly that “we were on a very tight budget, so we were creative and took two shower curtains that matched some pillows in the room and created window treatments.”
Murphy was also able to keep the budget in line by re-using some of the homeowners’ old wicker furniture. Once she added a fresh coat of paint of dark paint, the old furniture worked beautifully in the new space. Murphy simply added a cocktail table from the Christmas Tree Shops and assorted accessories from Home Goods and Pier One, Target, Crate and Barrel and Mahoneys to finish off the room.
So would the homeowners like their newly renovated space? It was time to find out. Channel 7 cameraman Kurt Hartwell set up on the front porch and then the homeowners were led out into their new room.
“Oh gosh, oh Mel, this is beautiful, I can’t believe this is my porch! This is amazing! Look at this…this is so unbelievable…this is absolutely gorgeous…I’m in the wrong house,” exclaimed Kristin Finn.
“She’s awesome,” said Finn’s husband Jay [speaking of designer Murphy]. “It was not the type of porch you want to sit in and now it is!”
Kristen continued, “Beyond my expectations! This is where we are spending the rest of the summer and fall!”
Murphy led the couple around the room pointing out some of the various new features, the painting of the furniture, the window treatments, a floral wreath, a planter, and some other greenery in a corner.
She also explained to the family that she had a water feature planned for the room, but it had not worked out as she had hoped. “Here’s your water feature,” she joked as she reached for a pitcher of water with lemons on the table in the reading nook.
It was an afternoon full of interviews and laughter, however it was homeowner Kristin Finn who had the last laugh. When it was time to call it a day, she asked the Channel 7 crew; “Can the kids eat the props now?”
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD All Rights Reserved.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
K-9 Kimo Wins Competition
WILMINGTON - Kimo and his K-9 unit partner Eric Palmer have had a busy year since a Crier reporter first interviewed Palmer after last year’s competition/certification event.
This year the pair won 1st overall in the Open Class in the United States Police Canine Association’s Region 9 Competition/Certification event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The open class, which is for any dog/handler combination that have more than one year of experience competing together, had about 20 dogs competing in it this year.
Many of the other dogs and handlers that Kimo and Palmer competed against are the same K-9 units that they train with. Palmer said it was great competition and that everyone he trains with did very well in the competition. He modestly said that they are all about the same level and “it can all come down to who’s having a good day.”
Clearly they were having a good day. Kimo did extremely well, winning the first place trophies for agility and obedience and also the trophy for 1st place overall. In these competitions the dogs and the handlers are scored as a team.
Palmer and Kimo scored high enough in the competition to exceed the high standard that qualifies for Nationals which will take place in Florida in October 2007. If the department decides to send them, Kimo will be one of a couple of hundred dogs competing against much larger police departments from across the country.
Palmer credits Kimo with losing very few points for their team. Dog points can be taken for things like not sitting straight or having their nails scratch an obstacle they are going over. Sometimes handlers lose even more points, for things like touching a collar during competition. The handlers have a running joke that “on one end of a leash is a dumb animal and on the other end, a trained police dog,” said Palmer laughing.
It hasn’t been all fun and games for Kimo and Palmer. They are on call 24/7 and in the last few months Kimo has done some great work. On Salem Street, where there are some new units, someone breaking and entering tripped an alarm. The response team found a glass break, knew it was a real alarm and called Palmer. Kimo tracked the suspect through woods, around a neighborhood and deep into the woods where he eventually found him.
On another case, Kimo was called in because there was a case involving youth breaking into a number of cars. A woman heard a break in and in her car she followed the suspect who was on foot. The response team blocked the area with cars and called in Kimo. Everyone was surprised when Kimo took off in the opposite direction than the one indicated by witnesses. He found a second suspect hiding. Then he went the other direction and found the first suspect that witnesses had noticed. Palmer then set Kimo free and he found more of the stuff that the suspects had taken. He found a backpack with cell phones, wallets and other property taken from cars. The next day when people called to report break-ins and missing items they were pleased to hear that Kimo had recovered many of their belongings.
For now Palmer and Kimo remain busy on the job while they wait to see if the Department decides to send them to the National competition in October.
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD. All Rights Reserved.
This year the pair won 1st overall in the Open Class in the United States Police Canine Association’s Region 9 Competition/Certification event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The open class, which is for any dog/handler combination that have more than one year of experience competing together, had about 20 dogs competing in it this year.
Many of the other dogs and handlers that Kimo and Palmer competed against are the same K-9 units that they train with. Palmer said it was great competition and that everyone he trains with did very well in the competition. He modestly said that they are all about the same level and “it can all come down to who’s having a good day.”
Clearly they were having a good day. Kimo did extremely well, winning the first place trophies for agility and obedience and also the trophy for 1st place overall. In these competitions the dogs and the handlers are scored as a team.
Palmer and Kimo scored high enough in the competition to exceed the high standard that qualifies for Nationals which will take place in Florida in October 2007. If the department decides to send them, Kimo will be one of a couple of hundred dogs competing against much larger police departments from across the country.
Palmer credits Kimo with losing very few points for their team. Dog points can be taken for things like not sitting straight or having their nails scratch an obstacle they are going over. Sometimes handlers lose even more points, for things like touching a collar during competition. The handlers have a running joke that “on one end of a leash is a dumb animal and on the other end, a trained police dog,” said Palmer laughing.
It hasn’t been all fun and games for Kimo and Palmer. They are on call 24/7 and in the last few months Kimo has done some great work. On Salem Street, where there are some new units, someone breaking and entering tripped an alarm. The response team found a glass break, knew it was a real alarm and called Palmer. Kimo tracked the suspect through woods, around a neighborhood and deep into the woods where he eventually found him.
On another case, Kimo was called in because there was a case involving youth breaking into a number of cars. A woman heard a break in and in her car she followed the suspect who was on foot. The response team blocked the area with cars and called in Kimo. Everyone was surprised when Kimo took off in the opposite direction than the one indicated by witnesses. He found a second suspect hiding. Then he went the other direction and found the first suspect that witnesses had noticed. Palmer then set Kimo free and he found more of the stuff that the suspects had taken. He found a backpack with cell phones, wallets and other property taken from cars. The next day when people called to report break-ins and missing items they were pleased to hear that Kimo had recovered many of their belongings.
For now Palmer and Kimo remain busy on the job while they wait to see if the Department decides to send them to the National competition in October.
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD. All Rights Reserved.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Local Heroes
Local Heroes, a non-profit organization made up of volunteers who support our troops currently deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan by shipping “care packages”, were recently honored with the presence of two returning local heroes at their regularly scheduled Wednesday evening meeting at the Knights of Columbus in Wilmington. LCPL Doug Hutchison and PFC Daniel J. Bowse stopped by to thank everyone for their work
LCPL Doug Hutchison, of Wilmington, arrived home several weeks ago from his deployment in the Al Anbar province of Iraq where he patrolled the Al Qa’im, on the Syrian border.
After spending much needed time with family and friends, Hutchison returned this week to 29 Palms in California where he will continue training for his second deployment in January of 2008.
Hutchison, who received two purple hearts during his eight months in Iraq, (but in modesty would not talk about them) said, “being back in the states where I’ve lived and where my family lives is outstanding! I definitely have a greater appreciation for everything and everybody, especially all of those people at Local Heroes who are working at sending packages over there.”
Hutchison speaks highly of the Local Heroes Program, “It is a fantastic project and we all appreciate it so much and there are people who don’t receive many packages and we passed their names on and the Local Heroes sent them packages.”
One of the most unique things Hutchison received in a package was also one of the most fun; it was Nerf guns. “We spent the whole day shooting each other with Nerf guns. It was a great workout and a lot of fun.” It was a great stress relief and brought many laughs to the group.
Hutchison wants everyone to know that “sometimes we don’t always get the call and we might be too tired to make the call, but family is always in our hearts and minds.”
PFC Daniel J. Bowse of Tewksbury, age 19, has served 4 months in Afghanistan and is now home with family and friends before returning for the remaining 12 months of his deployment. After serving in Afghanistan and returning to Tewksbury Bowse said, “It definitely makes you appreciate everything a lot more when you are back here.”
Bowse is a Combat Engineer with IED Roadside. The IED (Improvised Explosive Devises) Roadside unit searches for and destroys roadside bombs. There are 28 people in Bowse’s platoon. They are appreciative of the work the group Local Heroes does in shipping care packages. “It boosts morale to know people are thinking about you back home,” said Bowse.
Bowse has received soaps, socks, candies, letters, t-shirts and more, but by far the most meaningful and unique thing Bowse has received inside of a care package was a whiffle ball sent by his 12 year old younger brother with a note that read “keep practicing” so they could play again when he returns home.
If Bowse could tell people anything it would be to “Get to Local Heroes and send more packages.” The packages make a huge difference in troops lives and in their morale.
According to their website, Local Heroes has mailed 3,887 packages as of June 16, 2007.
Many of Local Heroes volunteers are family members of the troops and they use the weekly meetings as a support group. The group meets every Wednesday evening at the Knight of Columbus in Wilmington. If you would like to learn more about this organization please check out the website at www.mass-localheroes.org.
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD All Rights Reserved
LCPL Doug Hutchison, of Wilmington, arrived home several weeks ago from his deployment in the Al Anbar province of Iraq where he patrolled the Al Qa’im, on the Syrian border.
After spending much needed time with family and friends, Hutchison returned this week to 29 Palms in California where he will continue training for his second deployment in January of 2008.
Hutchison, who received two purple hearts during his eight months in Iraq, (but in modesty would not talk about them) said, “being back in the states where I’ve lived and where my family lives is outstanding! I definitely have a greater appreciation for everything and everybody, especially all of those people at Local Heroes who are working at sending packages over there.”
Hutchison speaks highly of the Local Heroes Program, “It is a fantastic project and we all appreciate it so much and there are people who don’t receive many packages and we passed their names on and the Local Heroes sent them packages.”
One of the most unique things Hutchison received in a package was also one of the most fun; it was Nerf guns. “We spent the whole day shooting each other with Nerf guns. It was a great workout and a lot of fun.” It was a great stress relief and brought many laughs to the group.
Hutchison wants everyone to know that “sometimes we don’t always get the call and we might be too tired to make the call, but family is always in our hearts and minds.”
PFC Daniel J. Bowse of Tewksbury, age 19, has served 4 months in Afghanistan and is now home with family and friends before returning for the remaining 12 months of his deployment. After serving in Afghanistan and returning to Tewksbury Bowse said, “It definitely makes you appreciate everything a lot more when you are back here.”
Bowse is a Combat Engineer with IED Roadside. The IED (Improvised Explosive Devises) Roadside unit searches for and destroys roadside bombs. There are 28 people in Bowse’s platoon. They are appreciative of the work the group Local Heroes does in shipping care packages. “It boosts morale to know people are thinking about you back home,” said Bowse.
Bowse has received soaps, socks, candies, letters, t-shirts and more, but by far the most meaningful and unique thing Bowse has received inside of a care package was a whiffle ball sent by his 12 year old younger brother with a note that read “keep practicing” so they could play again when he returns home.
If Bowse could tell people anything it would be to “Get to Local Heroes and send more packages.” The packages make a huge difference in troops lives and in their morale.
According to their website, Local Heroes has mailed 3,887 packages as of June 16, 2007.
Many of Local Heroes volunteers are family members of the troops and they use the weekly meetings as a support group. The group meets every Wednesday evening at the Knight of Columbus in Wilmington. If you would like to learn more about this organization please check out the website at www.mass-localheroes.org.
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD All Rights Reserved
Monday, June 18, 2007
Room For Improvement, part two
Kristen Finn did her homework. When she applied for a “Room For Improvement” makeover last fall, she knew that as of that time there had only been one other front porch done and no makeovers had been done in Wilmington. On Wednesday, June 13th that homework paid off when a Channel 7 news team, spent several hours filming what will be a two-minute television makeover of her front porch at her Wilmington home.
Finn’s husband, Jay, credits her with going with the idea and making it happen. “It’s Kristen’s project. I really look forward to it,” he said.
Channel 7 Producer Jennifer Savio chose the front porch from a pool of applications received at the station. According to Savio, the goal of the segment is to “showcase different rooms, families and designers; to give viewers different ideas, a variety of things they might try at home, so that it benefits viewers as well as homeowners.”
Savio brought her team of Cameraman Kurt Hartwell and Production Intern Kim Beson to the Finn family home at 70 Glen Road to film the most recent segment of “Room For Improvement.”
The transformation of the Finn family’s dilapidated front porch, by designer Melanie Murphy of Redecorating By Melanie (www.redesignyourhome.com), was captured using a series of camera shots taken throughout the day.
Newspaper and a sheet were placed over dining room windows while the design team, aided by the donated services of D&D Electric, transformed the room. Finn and her children Patrick (10) and Ashlyn(6) remained in the back of the house. “It’s not Extreme Makeover, it is just a mini makeover, so I went to Dunkin Donuts” said homeowner Kristen Finn, laughing. Finn’s husband, Jay, returned home from work and slipped in through the back door just in time for the family interviews to begin.
Afternoon shots included an interview with the family before the reveal, one with the designer talking about what she had done, a shot of the family welcoming the designer into their home and of course the reveal and reaction interviews.
“It’s been a good experience for us” said Finn who indicated that everyone who worked with designer Murphy had been so nice.
Producer Savio said that in two hours they had taken about 30 minutes of interview tape that would be edited down into approximately a two-minute segment. Savio watches the tape and her intern, Beson, will transcribe it. After the segment airs, it is archived on the Channel 7 website along with a transcription of the story and a list of everything used in transforming the room.
The Wilmington Room for Improvement segment will air three times next week. On Thursday, June 28th it will be on the The New CW 10:00pm news. On Friday, June 29th it will air during Today New England, which airs from 5:00 to 7:00am (usually near the end of the 5:00 hour). It will also run in the Channel 7 afternoon block between 4:00 and 6:00pm (usually near the end of either the 4:30 or 5:30 show).
Watch for a follow-up story with photos and an inside look at the final reveal and the family’s reaction after the show airs late next week.
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD All Rights Reserved
Finn’s husband, Jay, credits her with going with the idea and making it happen. “It’s Kristen’s project. I really look forward to it,” he said.
Channel 7 Producer Jennifer Savio chose the front porch from a pool of applications received at the station. According to Savio, the goal of the segment is to “showcase different rooms, families and designers; to give viewers different ideas, a variety of things they might try at home, so that it benefits viewers as well as homeowners.”
Savio brought her team of Cameraman Kurt Hartwell and Production Intern Kim Beson to the Finn family home at 70 Glen Road to film the most recent segment of “Room For Improvement.”
The transformation of the Finn family’s dilapidated front porch, by designer Melanie Murphy of Redecorating By Melanie (www.redesignyourhome.com), was captured using a series of camera shots taken throughout the day.
Newspaper and a sheet were placed over dining room windows while the design team, aided by the donated services of D&D Electric, transformed the room. Finn and her children Patrick (10) and Ashlyn(6) remained in the back of the house. “It’s not Extreme Makeover, it is just a mini makeover, so I went to Dunkin Donuts” said homeowner Kristen Finn, laughing. Finn’s husband, Jay, returned home from work and slipped in through the back door just in time for the family interviews to begin.
Afternoon shots included an interview with the family before the reveal, one with the designer talking about what she had done, a shot of the family welcoming the designer into their home and of course the reveal and reaction interviews.
“It’s been a good experience for us” said Finn who indicated that everyone who worked with designer Murphy had been so nice.
Producer Savio said that in two hours they had taken about 30 minutes of interview tape that would be edited down into approximately a two-minute segment. Savio watches the tape and her intern, Beson, will transcribe it. After the segment airs, it is archived on the Channel 7 website along with a transcription of the story and a list of everything used in transforming the room.
The Wilmington Room for Improvement segment will air three times next week. On Thursday, June 28th it will be on the The New CW 10:00pm news. On Friday, June 29th it will air during Today New England, which airs from 5:00 to 7:00am (usually near the end of the 5:00 hour). It will also run in the Channel 7 afternoon block between 4:00 and 6:00pm (usually near the end of either the 4:30 or 5:30 show).
Watch for a follow-up story with photos and an inside look at the final reveal and the family’s reaction after the show airs late next week.
Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD All Rights Reserved
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