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If you've ever been to a Stow SpringFest, you know it usually rains (or snows)! This year we got lucky. It was a very special year for us because our town celebrated its Tercenquarternary. What's that word you say? Well the word was "invented" for this occasion and simply means we celebrated our 325th anniversary. We had a huge parade this year. We had the Stow and Sudbury Minutemen, bagpipers, tractors, trucks, antique cars and fire trucks, a replica of the Stow West School (the 1-room schoolhouse still standing on Harvard Road), and a hayride. We even had ourselves a clown on a bike! The girl scouts carried the flags belonging to Stow over the years and the parade was closed by the famed Belgian horses of Rockbottom Farm.
The parade ended at Center School where the real festivities began. There were huge cakes to celebrate the Stow Community Chest's 25th anniversary, students playing instruments at the Stow Friends of Music booth, encampments of minutemen, animals, an old-fashioned broom maker, a blacksmith, spinning and weaving demonstrations, firemen playing "water polo", 20 information booths, and activities galore.
The afternoon gave us a wonderful children's play at the Old Town Hall. "The Time Trap" was a unique lesson in Stow history from a kids' point of view. The play was inspired by books by Stow's Martha Perkins and chronicled the lives of modern day Stow kids who got caught in a parallel existence with 18th, 19th and 20th century Stow kids. The portal in time was an old outhouse.
For more images, visit: Paul's Apple Country Gallery no. 21 or see a select few in the "Images" post below. Proceeds from print sales will go to support the Stow Community Chest.
For more images, please visit: Paul's Apple Country Living Gallery no. 21. Proceeds from print sales will go to support the Stow Community Chest.
There is nothing that signals spring more than baseball's opening day, whether it's at the professional or tee ball levels. The Assabet Valley Little League serves the towns of Maynard and Stow and draws approximately 600 players on 52 teams. A far off dream for many of these kids is to play Tee Ball at the White House. President Bush, who as you probably know is the first President to have played Little League, has been hosting annual Tee Ball games on the South Lawn of the White House. This year, there will be a Tee Ball "All Star" game with one player selected from each state. A more realistic dream is to just be part of a local All Star team in the regular baseball and softball local and regional tournaments where they can hope, with skill and a little luck, to get to Williamsport, PA. Image: Manager Jeff LaPlante and his Minor League "Reds" team prepare for the first Opening Day exhibition game this past Sunday on DJ's Field in Maynard, MA.
Ten month old Robert Emken strikes the cutest pose at the Stow Area Parents Network's annual Birthday Party at Randall Library for newborns to 1 year olds. The program included short sessions that introduced the children and parents to services and activities available. These included: WeeHands (a baby sign language program), infant massage, Music Together, a lactation consultant, and the Safe Start program (child safety). The group boasts over 100 members and offers its members more than just the playgroups we are all familiar with. Over the past few years, they have added a book club, scrapbooking club, Dad’s poker night, Mom’s night out, and an online message group for parents to share ideas and resources. The three big events are the Halloween Party, Valentine’s Party, and Spring Fling. This year’s Spring Fling will be held at Pine Bluffs on June 14 and will include activities and a barbeque.
Eric Harmon was one of dozens of children who attended Kids Bingo night at St. Isidore's. It was a smash hit last year and we were not let down this year. Girl Scout Troop 2521 sponsored the event (the girls called out the letters and numbers, hosted games, and manned the concession stand). Eric, you may have seen, brought the Pompo Kindergarten mascot with him. Icicles makes the rounds with each child throughout the school year.
Members of the First Parish Church Children’s Choir had the unique opportunity to sing with the American Boychoir at their performance in Stow on Thursday April 3. I could not make the concert, but was treated to some sublime sounds while I took their press images. They even inspired me to join The Sounds of Stow Chorus, which I plan to do in the fall. The 70 year old American Boychoir is regarded as the United States’ premier concert boys’ choir and one of the finest boychoirs in the world. The singers range from 4th through 8th grade and pursue a musical and academic curriculum at the school located in New Jersey. They tour all over the nation and world and record regularly with such artists and ensembles as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, soprano Jessye Norman, pop diva Beyoncé, jazz vocalist and conductor Bobby McFerrin and Sir Paul McCartney.
