The towns of Bolton, Lancaster and Stow celebrated the graduation of their high school seniors at Nashoba Regional High School today on June 7, 2009. This "best of" slideshow chronicles the entire event. If you are searching for more images, please visit the full NRHS 2009 Graduation Gallery. All images are available for purchase with proceeds going to Stow's Community Chest.

Every year at this time, just a few short weeks before summer break, our elementary school's PTO hosts the Pompo/Center School Picnic. It's always a wonderful event and, for the kids, it's pretty much the social event of the year. Practically everyone shows up. There's plenty to eat, lots of field games, and fire and police activities. The most popular event, of course, is the dunking booth, where the kids get back at their favorite, or not so favorite, teachers. The parents sit around and commiserate about all the time they'll have with their kids in a short while, wondering how they will fill the long summer days.

Stow has the wonderful tradition of celebrating Memorial Day with a parade and ceremony. The parade begins at Center School and winds its way down to Brookside Cemetery. Every year, the names of all of Stow's fallen veterans are read as well as a reading of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, laying of the wreaths, playing of Taps, and volley by the Stow Minutemen. But perhaps most moving is when the first graders lay marigolds they have grown at the graves of veterans. After the ceremony at the cemetery, we all march to the Randall Library for the National Moment of Silence at 3PM and an address by our State Representative, Kate Hogan. It's gratifying to see so many come out to honor our veterans; brave men and women who fought to defend our liberty.

If you live around here and have yet to take a trip over to Acton Arboretum, you really owe it to yourself to do so. My wife and I were there last weekend and it was quite a sight to behold. There are blossoms everywhere, including from the new lilacs planted last year. But also there were many flowering trees, from Eastern Redbuds to the familiar apple trees, tulips and daffodils. The arboretum is completely free, with picnic tables and open lawns for you and your family to spread out and enjoy nature.

Related Post:

• Acton Arboretum (5/31/2008)

The abuse scandal which rocked our community nearly 1.5 years ago may have died down almost completely here in Stow, but the case goes on in court. The trial has kept getting pushed back for various reasons, but on Monday Middlesex Superior Court Judge Maureen Hogan made it clear that this could not happen indefinitely. It was revealed that there are 15 boxes of evidence being held by Acton Police. The defense was claiming they thought there would be only 4 boxes of evidence and therefore requested more time for review. The motion to suppress (where the defense asks for certain evidence to not be considered) is May 19, 2009 and the trial date is now set for September 21, 2009. As of today, Infante and DiTullio are being tried together even though there are separate charges against each of them. It appears that defense attorney Kevin Reddington, representing DiTullio, may ask to decouple the cases.

Steve DiTullio, former owner of Five Star Gymnastics in Stow now named 10.0 Academy, is formally accused of perjury. His associate, Steve Infante, is charged with far greater crimes including child rape. The details of the case have been widely reported here and elsewhere (see related posts below). Among the allegations are that both DiTullio and Infante gave alcohol to minors, that DiTullio allowed Infante to participate in programs despite his lifetime ban by USA Gymnastics, and that that both men participated in inappropriate sexual activity with minors.

Related Posts:

• Five Star Gymnastics Renamed to 10.0 Academy (2/8/2008)
• Explanation for Pictures Emerges (11/30/2007)
• The Role of the Media in Abuse Scandals (11/29/2007)
• Gymnastics Abuse Scandal Unfolds (11/28/2007)
• Sad News Comes to Stow (11/26/2007)

Spring soccer has arrived, along with seasonable weather, and parents all over are rejoicing. Stow's program starts with munchkins (as young as 4.5 year olds) and goes up to U16 and U18 and the highly competitive Nashoba United teams. Soccer was never my favorite personal sport to play or to watch. But I do think soccer is a great sport to get involved for an initial foray into sports. There's a lot less to learn than, say, baseball. Stow has made great strides in its younger leagues over the past few years by involving the Play Soccer program. The program is quite popular in New England and they send us real UK coaches to help the kids learn skills. I'm still not quite sure if they are authentically British, they could just have really good accent training. Maybe I'll place a pint of Samuel Smith's near a goal and see if they go for it. Image: Players get ready for a kick-in during the today's first U7 game at the Pompositticut School fields.

For elementary school children, one of the major social events of the year is the Stow Arts Buffet Festival. Held at Center School and sponsored by the Stow PTO, upwards of 200 kids engaged in numerous arts and crafts projects in the school's gymnasium. T-shirt decorating and clay modeling were probably the favorites. The time capsule will be the most enduring. Kids answered some questions about themselves and put the paper inside a plastic tennis ball can which is only to be opened upon graduation from high school! The recycled art section challenged kids to be creative and many unique pieces of art were made. In addition to the art, music teacher Judy Dyer coordinated a musical talent show with acts student acts including guitar, flute, trumpet, saxophone, piano and violin performances. On stage was the Art Show, displaying kids' framed art.

To view a larger set of images, visit: Arts Buffet Slideshow.

Art teacher Marion Rayner loves art and her enthusiasm is a gift to the children she teaches. Tomorrow there will be hundreds of framed art pieces at Center School in Stow for the annual Arts Buffet. This year, the school is trying to raise funds to replace the broken kiln. Framed art can be purchased for $29.95 plus tax, with 20% of the sales going directly to the "Kiln Fund." If you would prefer to donate directly to the fund, you can make out a check to "Stow PTO" and write "Kiln Fund" in the memo line.

Even though a snowstorm is theoretically possible, twelve years ago we were socked with 25.4 inches from the famous April Fools' Day Blizzard, the fact that Erikson's Dairy opens today at noon bodes well for those of us who are tired of Winter. Erikson's is by no means the only spot around for the traditional warm weather treat. Dairy Joy in nearby Hudson and Weston as well as Kimball Farm in Westford and Carlisle are also worth exploring.