Related posts:

• Sudbury July 4th Parade (July 2009)
• Independence Day (July 2008)
• Sudbury July 4th Parade (July 2008)
• Images: Harvard's July 4th Parade (July 2007)

An important milestone in the Town of Stow was celebrated last Thursday at the groundbreaking ceremony for our town's elementary school. A project that has been decades in the making, the new school will be an addition and renovation to Center School which currently houses third through fifth grade. The new school will house all Pre-K through 5 students and abandon Pompositticut School. The project would not have been possible without the support of the Massachusetts School Building Authority support, which contributed $18M.

For the full gallery with 52 images, please visit Stow Elementary School Groundbreaking Gallery. All proceeds from sales of images will go to RECESS, the fundraising group aimed at defraying costs of the building for taxpayers.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature was not terribly cooperative this past weekend and the high school graduation was held indoors. It was still a lot of fun, just different, and harder to photograph. While there was plenty of joy and laughter, there was also sadness. Just a couple of months ago, senior Alex Doucette passed away on the track. The speeches all remembered him, and in a touching moment, his parents were given his diploma. Class President Brad Lewis added a fun twist to the normal speeches by donning green face paint and a kilt and treated everyone to William Wallace from Braveheart.

For the full gallery with 87 images, please visit 2010 NRHS Graduation.

As reported in several news sources, on May 26, 2010, Steve Infante, close associate of Steve DiTullio from the former Five Star Gymnastics in Stow, now named 10.0 Academy, was found guilty of child rape and molestation charges and sentenced to 8-10 years in prison. See: Lowell Sun article from 5/26/10.

For those who do not know, this case unfolded in November 2007 here in Stow. The criminal allegations brought forth showed that there were very close ties between "the two Steves," including that several of the indecent assaults occurred in the Littleton home of Steve DiTullio. DiTullio was charged with perjury as a result of the investigation. However, there were some disturbing allegations concerning DiTullio, and additional well-documented incidents involving children, all of which were reported in the press.

These "two Steves" ran a summer camp together for many years out in Springfield which several Stow children were required to attend. At one of them, from just a few years ago, photographs circulated the Internet at the time of the scandal, showing DiTullio handcuffing a teenage girl; images which were supplied to the Middlesex District Attorney. Additionally, it is public knowledge that DiTullio also tapped several girls mouths in the gym in Stow back in 2007 in an apparent display of discipline.

Parents should know that while Five Star Gymnastics had its name changed to 10.0 Academy a few months after the scandal broke, it may have been not that much more than a public relations move. Steve DiTullio was sole owner of Five Star Gymnastics at the time the scandal broke.  The company has done business as "The Gym Nest, Inc." since 1980, despite whatever name is on the gym; and appeared prominently in the Infante trial.  Public records show that the business is now owned by Steve's wife Suzie DiTullio. 

Parents also should make sure the gym is standing by its 2007 statement that DiTullio "has removed himself from his coaching position and will not be present in any capacity".

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)

In Stow, one of the surest signs of Spring is the annual Arts Buffet. With dozens of arts and crafts tables, hundreds of excited kids made everything from sailboats to modge podge light switch plates to ceramic tile sculptures. As usual, on stage art teacher Marion Rayner displayed art from all K-5 kids, including gargoyles fired in the new kiln, Sculpey owls, and several other kinds of art showing using all sorts of techniques. We were also treated to musical performances on piano, violin, saxophone and electric guitar as well as several vocal acts.

For last year's images see: Stow's Arts Buffet Festival (April 4, 2009) and Center School Art Show (April 3, 2009).

Maynard just seems to do it differently from everyone else! Who else has October fireworks? And a Christmas parade?

It's been a tough year for Verrill Farm, but the fun was back this year as they celebrated their annual Corn and Tomato Festival. Last year this event was unfortunately cancelled due to rain and then shortly thereafter they had a devastating fire. But, alas, according to Mr. Verrill, they are five weeks from opening their rebuilt farm stand.

The fun was the same as we remembered, with music under the big tent by Monadnock Bluegrass, pony rides, and hayrides. But the corn and tomatos are what makes this festival so special and they did not disappoint. There were more tomato dishes than we remembered with a tomato risotto and tomato and mozzarella being the tastiest (to me). I could have stayed all day for the corn, which was cooked in large iron kettles fired by wood.

Their next event will be September 13, 2009 for their Pig Roast and BBQ. For more information visit their website at: Verrill Farm.

Related post:

• Verrill Farm Destroyed but to be Rebuilt (September 21, 2008)

Sudbury held its annual July 4th celebration in typical all-American style. The parade was led by fire and police from near and faraway towns. There were bands, including the always entertaining Liberty Jazz Band, minutemen, political activists, and antique cars. As always, there was lots of candy to be had, thrown from floats. This year, my children were smart enough to bring little bags with them.

Related posts:

• Independence Day (July 4, 2008)
• Sudbury July 4th Parade (July 4, 2008)

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.