May 2 surrounded by the love of his family Bob was born on August 9,1952 in New Britain Bob went on to attend the University of Connecticut where he met his beloved wife Sandy and became a lifelong fan of UCONN basketball (Go Huskies!) Bob channeled his passion for cars into a successful career as the owner of a wholesale tire business in Vermont He was a talented and respected businessman known especially for his public speaking prowess Bob and Sandy raised their daughters Erica and Megan in Milton where Bob was famous for attending all of his daughters’ sporting and other activities no matter how far the drive Bob’s greatest joy was being “Boppy” to his three grandchildren MA so he could be an active presence in their lives When not spending time with his grandchildren and visiting museums and historical sites (favorites included Gettysburg and the American Heritage Museum) He took pride in cooking Thanksgiving dinner for his large extended family every year From the moment of his cancer diagnosis until his passing He valued family and friends above all else always willing to drop everything to lend a hand to those in need Bob is survived by his wife Sandra (Calandrelli) Hepp of Medway MA and her husband Young and daughters Mika and Jorie and Ronald Hepp and wife Patti of Southington CT He is predeceased by his parents Richard Hepp and Olga (Keiko) Hepp and brother Richard Hepp A celebration of life will be held at a date to be announced Arrangements are under the care of the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home (ginleyfuneralhomes.com) Medway the family requests donations to the American Heritage Museum or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (links below) https://75700a.blackbaudhosting.com/75700a/Honored-Donations---American… https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2100&mfc_pref=T&2… MEDWAY – The idea is to turn this week into anything but a vacation No longer wanting to turn the April break into malaise the Medway softball program created its own tournament gave it a bland name and invited top competition The Mustangs apparently started their funk two weeks earlier this year falling to Norton via the mercy rule by 15 runs on April 8 a day when many games were postponed due to a chilly rain and temperatures in the low 40s Medway emerged from the doldrums with its top performance of the spring “That felt sooo good,” the senior catcher said after Ally Fagan finished off her complete-game victory with a called third strike to strand the tying run at the plate who were outscored by Norton and Nipmuc 29-5 during a four-day span earlier this month became the first team to defeat Apponequet after a 3-1 victory on a warm Tuesday afternoon  The Lakers entered the game with an 8-0 record and defeated West Bridgewater 20-2 the day before and had outscored opponents 92-10 before Tuesday “It’s in the back of my head still,” Medway coach Chris Reding said of the loss to Tri-Valley League Small leader Norton Freshman Bryanna Frauton’s fourth-inning leadoff at bat displayed Medway’s grit She fouled off six pitches – five with two strikes – and drew a walk before hustling to third base on Audrey Durgin’s sacrifice bunt Frauton scored on Alessandra Cautilli's run-scoring single to put her team ahead 3-0 The Mustangs were also buoyed by captain Katie Anderson, whose catches in centerfield halted two Apponequet rallies when Medway emerged from the April break with losses Assistant coach Greg Bedard came up with the idea of turning the third week of the month into something meaningful The inaugural Medway Vacation Tournament includes not only Apponequet – a Division 3 Final Four team from a year ago – but St “Our plan was to come out this tournament, play some tough teams and really improve ourselves so we could get better after April break,” said captain Olivia Klaus, who had two hits and drove in a run “So that’s our goal: come out of April break a lot better.”  Medway (4-3) stopped a three-game losing streak and will face Foxborough (4-4) Thursday at 3 p.m for the chance to win the tournament title “In the past we never played during April vacation,” Reding said and then we’d come out of that week and struggle It would take us three games to get back into it.”  The Mustangs scored two runs in the first inning Tuesday when Klaus knocked in Priya Bedard with a single and Gracie DeLucia singled in Klaus The Lakers had two runners on in the fourth and fifth innings And when a miscommunication caused a flyball to turn into an outfield collision and a leadoff triple in the sixth this was the best game that we’ve played,” Reding said Three times they had runners in scoring position and we held them the Nipmuc game – we crumbled in those situations.”  They will play for a championship on Thursday and will get another crack at Norton Safe to say that Wednesday game will have a circle around it “We knew coming out today that we need to show who we are and we need to show Norton that all those games before April break were not who we are,” Priya Bedard said Tim Dumas is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News He can be reached attdumas@wickedlocal.com she is survived by her older sister Denise (Patrician) Jameson Dani was a loving aunt to Nicole (Jameson) Fornaro Dani grew up in Brighton with her loving parents Alice Patrician (Manning) and Patrick Patrician Dani’s career path unexpectedly led her to the medical field where she served as a research project director for two decades for Marcus Institute for Aging Research in Roslindale She worked extensively at the Framingham Heart Study during these years specifically Israel and Europe internationally which she lived in for eight years during her younger years a timid tuxedo kitty named Samantha and a rambunctious grey kitty named Sonny they brought her so many laughs and much joy She was an avid follower of the Christian faith with many great accomplishments especially within the Victory Church from 2009-2014 She helped found The Heart of Ruth Ministry exceeding expectations of its magnitude by drawing in others to serve which concentrated on ministering to the elderly and infirm Dani planned a variety of events and outings with a strong love for creating theatrical performances She moved the hearts of many with all her hard work ambitious spirit and dedication to helping countless follow the light of God Dani will be profoundly missed by her family We will keep her memory and legacy alive in our hearts We take comfort in knowing that Dani is safely home with Her Lord and Savior and colleagues will take place on Tuesday May 6th at 11 am at Roberts and Sons Funeral Home 30 South Street donations can be made to Bay Path Animal Shelter Members of the Medway High School Best Buddies Club joined others from Hopkinton Best Buddies for the Best Buddies Prom held at Hopkinton High School Medway Superintendent Armand Pires and MHS Principal John Murray are pleased to share that the Medway High School Best Buddies Club attended the annual Best Buddies Prom at Hopkinton High School on Friday The annual Best Buddies Prom featured a country western theme providing a unique experience for Best Buddies Club members was held in addition to the upcoming Medway High School prom This year's Best Buddies Prom repeated the success of the inaugural event Hopkinton High School Best Buddies co-advisor Chip Collins extended event invitations to all Medway Best Buddies Club members ACCEPT members and other students 18 to 22 years old who were in Best Buddies or are in out-of-district placements The event featured two special celebrity guests Medway’s Olympic luge athlete Zack Digregorio and fellow Olympian team member Emily Sweeney Digregorio competed in the doubles and team relay events in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing Sweeney is a 2019 and 2025 World Championship bronze medalist “Zack and Emily’s generous and caring nature and their country dancing expertise truly enhanced the fun of the evening” Principal John Murray congratulated organizers of the Best Buddies Prom for a successful event that brought many people together for a night of fun in line with the mission of Best Buddies International the world's largest organization dedicated to ending the social physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and development disabilities "Thank you to our partners at Hopkinton High School for holding this unique event providing a chance for our Best Buddies Club members to dance the night away and have a lot of fun," said Principal Murray "Medway High School is a proud supporter of Best Buddies International We wholeheartedly embrace its mission and are grateful to all of our Best Buddies Club advisors who help make events like this possible." MEDWAY — The town is promoting from within to get a new fire chief “I’ve been watching Mike in action for 10-plus years now and I’ve been very impressed with his leadership talent,” Boynton told the Daily News on Tuesday “Chief Lynch has a lot of intangibles that are hard to replace but Mike has been able to watch and learn for many years.” Lynch has served as Medway's fire chief since July 2012 “I’ve seen this department evolve from an all-call fire department to a call fire department supplemented by a few full-time firefighters to a full-time fire department supplemented by call firefighters,” he said Top of the class: Medway Superintendent of Schools Armand Pires named best in the state joined the department in 1989 as a call firefighter He became a full-time member of the department in 2013 was promoted to assistant chief in 2016 and then deputy chief in 2018 He has also completed the Massachusetts Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program and has been the town’s emergency management director since 2022 He is working to earn a master’s degree in public administration growing the departmentFasolino said he hopes to use the lessons he learned from Lynch as well as past fire chiefs Paul Trufant and Wayne Vinton Fasolino said he hopes to grow the department to meet the increased call volume “I want to see this department continue to grow,” he said energetic group of people who have high ambitions.” Fasolino will take over for Lynch as part of a formal change of leadership ceremony in September “It (the promotion) is very well deserved and I’m looking forward to seeing him as head of the department,” the town manager said Fasolino said he looks forward leading an organization that has been a part of his life since he was a teenager "I’m looking forward to being the chief in the town I grew up in," he said Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime Join Medway Parks and Recreation for the 2025 Summer Concert Series Please note that the concerts are scheduled for various locations June 30: Southeastern MA Community Band - Oakland Park the town is gearing up for the `Sanford Mill Pond Dam Alternatives Analysis Meeting' which will look at options including removing the dam a step favored by the politically powerfully and well-funded Charles River Watershed Association With the elimination of the Caryville Dam on the Charles River in Bellingham several years ago the mill and the surrounding village structures there  were permanently altered or eliminated and a vibrant ecosystem at Roaring Brook Pond was completely destroyed The process also eliminated a waterfront or at least a water view that many home owners had long taken for granted CRWA began laying the ground work to do the same thing to the Sanford Mill Dam which sits at the northern end of Lincoln Street in Franklin The Medway Project Team invites members of the public to an introductory meeting on the Sanford Mill Pond Dam Alternative Analysis Project This meeting will be held in person at the Medway Middle School will present an overview of the current conditions of the dam outline the planned tasks and data collection efforts and provide technical assistance during the question-and-answer session Please visit Sanford Dam Website for more project information or email the town at dpw@townofmedway.org. died February 7 at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester Coakley of Medway and Virginia (Burns) Hudson of West Barnet Jimmy was a 1988 graduate of Medway High School Jimmy was the owner of Coakley Plumbing and Heating of Medway He had been the Chief Plumbing and Gas Inspector for the Town of Medway and the Deputy Plumbing and Gas Inspector for the towns of Franklin and playing pinball in the basement with friends and family Jimmy was the brother of the late Stefanie Grace Coakley Jimmy is survived by his brother-in-law John Parker Jermiah Lynch and Jacob Lynch; and his many aunts A celebration of Jimmy’s life will be held on Monday February 17 in the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home ginleyfuneralhomes.com 3 Barber Street In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to the National Brain Tumor Society https://braintumor.org/ or The Oliva Family Cancer Comfort Fund c/o The Milford Regional Healthcare Foundation Medway High School seniors recently participated in a self-defense workshop presented by the Vanessa T Medway Superintendent Armand Pires and Principal John Murray said that Medway High School (MHS) recently hosted a self-defense workshop for graduating seniors It was open to all graduating MHS Class of 2025 female and female-identifying seniors Thirty-five seniors participated in the event and teaching real-world self-defense skills “It was an incredible experience,” said Class of 2025 participant Riley Ashok “It was lighthearted yet practical — teaching you the skills you need to keep yourself safe.” The VTMF is known for partnering with organizations to deliver educational programs and mentorship opportunities that promote female empowerment and gender equality The Foundation’s mission is to empower women to live boldly and fearlessly through engaging instruction and hands-on learning was for participants to leave feeling more confident in their ability to advocate for their safety and well-being “Providing our students with tools to navigate the world safely and confidently is a priority for us,” said Principal Murray “We are proud to partner with organizations like the Vanessa T Marcotte Foundation that share our commitment to empowering young people through education and action.” Thirty-five Medway High School graduating seniors recently participated in a self-defense workshop presented by the Vanessa T she was the daughter of the late Paul and Jacquelyn (Turnbull) Gallagher Joyce was a resident of Mendon for the past year and formerly resided in Bellingham and Medway graduated from Norwood High School in 1971 and was one of the most selfless people you would ever meet Her desire to serve and care for the people around her led her to pursue a Nursing Degree later in life She worked as a registered nurse at Vantage Health and Rehab of Milford and had previously worked at the Medway Country Manor for many years After being blessed with a new chance at love Joyce and her husband Lou joined their families together and for the last 24 years Joyce enjoyed summer vacations in Falmouth and Winter vacations in Naples Florida She is survived by her children; Jamie Fernandes and her husband Rich of Mendon Jonathan Jacques and his wife Andrea of Bellingham and Sarah Hamilton and her husband Brent of Milford Joyce also leaves her loving sister Patricia Cleary and husband James of Weymouth and was the sister of the late Chris and Michael Gallagher Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Mass on Thursday Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, April 30 from 4 – 7 p.m. in the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home, 3 Barber St. in Medway ginleyfuneralhomes.com In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Joyce’s memory to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 https://www.dana-farber.org/ on March 21st 2025 at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington He was the husband of Lura (Fay) Bomfim for 23 years.Born October 27th Brazil the son of the late Afrânio and Irenice (Paula Dias) Bomfim Marconi was raised in Brazil before coming to the United States at the age of 18.He lived in West Roxbury MA for many years prior to moving to Medway in 2014.Marconi had been the Director of Technology for Cambridge Savings Bank and previously worked for Eaton Vance Corporation.Marconi enjoyed movies and was an avid follower of his children’s sports teams over the years.In addition to his wife and Owen Bomfim.He is also survived by his many siblings and was also the brother of the late Marcus Vinicius & Marcelo Bomfim.Calling hours will be held on Thursday March 27th at the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home (ginleyfuneralhomes.com) located at 3 Barber Street MA from 4:00-7:00 PM.His funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday donations may be made in his name to the Bomfim Children’s Education Fund c/o Charles River Bank Members of the Medway Police Department initiated a search for a reported missing person in a wooded area off Choate Park Medway today at approximately 10:50 a.m The officers determined that the deceased man was the individual who had been reported missing it is under investigation by Medway detectives State Police assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s office and the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner All inquiries regarding this case should be referred to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office The incident was widely reported by television news died peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday she was the daughter of the late Hugh and Elizabeth McCormack Annie grew up in Drumshanbo and came to the United States at the age of 16 She worked at the telephone company in New York where she met her husband finally settling in Medway in 1971 where she raised her three children Annie was a homemaker for most of her life and enjoyed ceramics and day trips with family and friends She was always so welcoming and lived a happy and joyful life She is survived by her son Kevin Anderson and his wife Debbie her daughter Nuala Wenzel and her husband Jeff Annie was the mother of the late Sean Anderson Annie also leaves her brother Hubert McCormack of Ireland and her sister Mary Foley of Chicago She was the sister of the late Peggie Moran and Thomas McCormack Annie will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her She will forever be remembered for her beautiful smile and welcoming hello to all she met Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Mass on Friday expressions of sympathy may be made in Annie’s memory to Cornerstone at Milford He died peacefully at home surrounded by his family Joe grew up and lived in Medway most of his life he and his family lived on a farm and he helped his father work the farm for many years into his adult life Joe served in the Army during the Korean War Upon his return he married and raised his family still working on the farm and teaching riding lesson’s part time Joe and his family moved to his childhood farm and established Saddle Rowe where he was a trainer and riding instructor Joe became the Master of Tanheath Hunt Club and raised/trained the hounds to fox hunt He also judged horse shows and held many clinics along the East Coast His life then took him in another direction and he eventually opened Corinthian Insurance Joe continued to work and stay actively involved in the horse industry until he was almost 90 years old Cyndy and Tina) and five grandchildren (Joseph Joe will always be remembered for his youthfulness and affable nature… he loved telling his life’s stories and sharing his personal experiences positive energy and infinite wisdom will forever remain in many hearts April 22nd at Ginley Crowley Funeral Home from 4 to 7pm in Medway The funeral service will be held Wednesday April 23rd in the Bethany Community Church (Spinney) Higgins of Medway passed away on April 14 MA to the late Wylie and Ethel Jean (Sanford) Spinney she was a devoted mother of Kimberlee Dumas and her late husband Peter of Franklin Raymond Curtis Higgins and his wife Susan of Franklin Scott Higgins and his wife Stephanie of West Newbury Loving grandmother of Megan Kantzer and her husband Jake Great grandmother of Charlottle and Emma Kam Sister of the late Diane Stingley and the late Maxine Westcott Sandy graduated from Natick High School in 1955 and was married to Raymond June 2,1956 Sandy and Ray enjoyed many family camping trips on the weekends and taking vacations in their tent trailer They were members of the Natick Square Riggers and enjoyed square dancing for many years she moved with Raymond to Bellingham and resided there for 18 years she and Raymond enjoyed traveling and the occasional trip to the local casinos They also loved visiting their children and grandchildren Sandy had been a longtime resident at Medway Country Manor where she was loved by both staff and residents Visiting Hours in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home A Funeral Service will follow in the funeral home at 3:30pm Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Sandra may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association: “We definitely felt we left a lot of meat on the bone,” Medway coach Jeff Drake said Medway was a young team then with just three seniors The players that returned remember the feeling but try not to dwell “We all still have that in the back of our minds that we want to win when it comes to March,” Medway senior captain Jason Bedard said Medway stayed in touch and built bonds off the ice that transferred once they laced up their skates after Thanksgiving “We want to bring on that resemblance of being community and playing for everything we have not giving up,” Medway senior captain Colin Towle said POLL: Vote for the Daily News High School Hockey Player of the Week (Jan. 27- Feb. 2) Their five losses are more than they’re proud of They’ve mounted comebacks where last year’s team may have folded It doesn’t make perfect in the coaching staff’s minds – it makes permanent They're smart on and off the ice,” Drake said The Mustangs rely on their speed and depth They roll three full lines and try to involve as many players as prudent 'We're both competitive': Medway's Bedard twins play alike on baseball, softball fields “That’s really what our job is as captains They always have one to point to if anyone needs a reminder Contact Kyle Grabowski at kgrabowski@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk Jordan Sousa skated down the right side and bared down on the net. Just as he did an hour earlier. The first time, he picked the far post the Hudson sophomore went top shelf to the glove side to set off a wild celebration with a bare-chested student section Sousa’s 31st goal of the season and second of the game propelled the Hawks to a 3-2 victory over Medway on Saturday night and moved the red and white into the Division 4 Elite 8 Sousa headed straight for his schoolmates as a stampede developed on either side of the boards Hudson senior Sean Foley ended up on top of the dasher to celebrate over the glass with the shirtless scrum “That was great,” Sousa said of the postgame pandemonium “A lot of people texted me before the game Everybody else for Hudson sports is out (of the playoffs) right now so I’m just doing it for them at this point.”  taking an outlet pass from Owen Nanartowich at his own blue line in the second period to put the 10th-seeded Hawks up 2-0 before the No 7 Mustangs came back and valiantly tied the game late in regulation He described his thinking on his two tallies I always look for short side high,” Sousa said also played for head coach Mike Nanartowich who breathed a sigh of relief just outside the locker room at Pirelli Veterans Arena “My blood pressure’s coming down now,” he said Hudson defeated Medway 7-1 behind Sousa’s three goals (Mike Nanartowich) told us in the locker room – he gives us a quote every day: don’t live in the past.”  The Mustangs (11-10-1) entered the final period down a pair of goals, but Michael Cortis deflected in a goal with nine minutes remaining to give his team life. Medway then killed off a 5-on-3 situation and tied the game when on the power play when Jason Drake found the top corner past an otherwise brilliant Brandon Garzia with 3 minutes After a scoreless first overtime with players skating 4-on-4 new ice was made and Sousa quickly put an end to the game “I think both teams were physically exhausted,” Mike Nanartowich said “They don’t play a ton of guys; we don’t play a ton of guys Hudson sophomore Thomas Chamberlain did indeed delve into the past referring to Hudson’s 0-16 season in 2021-22 Not-so-good times: After going 0-16 and 3-16, Hudson hockey team last undefeated team in CMass we were struggling to win hockey games,” he said to have the ability to come out to the playoffs and win it The Hawks scored first against Medway, with Brayden Diodato netting his 19th of the season in the opening period And it was the eighth-grader who had the inspirational words in the locker room before the second overtime ‘(seniors) Owen and Sean (Foley) and Brad (Deleskey) – they deserve this,” Owen Nanartowich said “It was just really finding strength for them It’s just incredible that I get to share this moment with all of them.”  He can be reached at tdumas@wickedlocal.com MEDWAY — Olivia Melanson tracked her missed layup as it bounced off the front of the rim Millis’ defenders relaxed for a moment as it headed toward the end line Melanson measured her steps against the familiar Medway blue paint keeping her shoes out of it as she turned her back to the wall and corralled the ball with one hand she whipped a bounce pass to freshman Alessandra Cautilli waiting in the corner for a wide open 3-pointer It was part of a second-half burst in a 51-28 Mustangs win It looked comfortable and precise all at once “She’s a great natural athlete,” Medway coach Joe Iannone said “She’s the type of kid that can play any sport and be great at it.” Melanson has 100 career points on the lacrosse field and led Medway to the Division 3 field hockey Final Four this fall Basketball presents a different challenge in tighter quarters It requires a different kind of hand-eye coordination and muscle memory but basketball is where I over think the most,” Melanson said Her love language for the sport is quality time Melanson tightens her handles or refines her shooting form before and after practice “She doesn’t waste a second when she’s in the gym,” Iannone said “It shows when the player is that dedicated On the grind: 1,000th point just the beginning for Andrew Rivera and Milford boys basketball this season Nerves envelop her before every game whether it’s basketball “My biggest struggle as an athlete is myself.” Her coaches and teammates want her to shoot more They know she can change a game with her scoring if she’s willing to be a little more selfish and understand her potential “She needs to shoot more and be more confident,” fellow senior captain Victoria Bullard said “She needs to just know herself so she can do it.” The Melanson they see on and off the court is intelligent a super competitive athlete’ because she is so nice and super smart as well 'A sanctuary': Joe Iannone's path to 200 wins with Medway girls basketball “You can’t be nice on the court,” she said she knows who she is and what she needs to do Maine (WGME) -- The East Millinocket Police Department says they responded to a fatal crash on Main Street on Friday afternoon a sedan was heading east when they reportedly crossed the center line into the path of an oncoming service truck Police say the truck tried to avoid colliding with the sedan by turning into the opposite lane when the sedan swerved back into its lane and hit the truck Police say it was driven by a 66-year-old woman from Medway The truck was reportedly driven by a 35-year-old man from Millinocket Police say everyone in the sedan was taken to Millinocket Regional Hospital with the driver and one of the children then being taken by LifeFlight to Northern Light EMMC The Medway woman reportedly died of her injuries The child who has taken by LifeFlight has serious injuries but is considered stable The road was reportedly closed for several hours due to the crash The East Millinocket Police Department say they were helped by the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office MEDWAY — The state's school superintendents association may have just named him Superintendent of the Year but Armand Pires insists the award doesn't just recognize him Instead, Pires told the Daily News Thursday, the award, which was issued earlier this month during the national conference of AASA, The School Superintendents Association, in New Orleans, is for everyone who works in Medway Public Schools this is a testament of the amazing work our faculty and staff do for our students every day," Pires said Pires was nominated by a fellow member of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents for which Pires is serving a one-year term as president Pires has worked in education for nearly 30 years, and has been with Medway since 2010. He started as principal at Medway Middle School and became superintendent in 2015 after serving as assistant superintendent and interim superintendent Work-based learning: Medway High School to add 32 students to Innovation Careers Pathway program In being selected for the award, Pires was recognized for helping to strengthen core programs at Medway Public Schools, including tuition-free full-day kindergarten, embracing “best practices” in literacy and science education and gaining designation from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for three Innovative Pathways Pires was also recognized for managing budget challenges and creating several programs to deal with students' mental health "The result has been a comprehensive and innovative approach to student programing," according to AASA in a press release announcing each state’s winners "He is recognized as a leader among his peers."  'So happy that I did': Medway High junior sings national anthem before Revolution soccer match In a release, Medway School Committee Chairwoman Cindy Sullivan said the honor is “well deserved." “It's a testament to his hard work and passion for education,” she said of Pires We look forward to continuing to build on the progress made under his leadership." said he's committed to staying in Medway for the rest of his career He said he will continue until he feels like he is no longer helping improve the schools for the staff and students “This job is still super-interesting to me,” he said “I want to do this job as long as I’m having a positive impact on the students and staff in Medway.” the son of Christopher Russo and Phyllis Conte for more than 60 years until her passing in 2023 for over 50 years and enjoyed wintering in Melbourne he and Elaine were the center of most family gatherings whether it was the summer family cookout or the annual Christmas party where the toast "Buon Natale" rang throughout the evening Chris and Elaine cherished the company of family and friends hosting many Superbowl parties and making unforgettable memories Chris’s creativity and entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish Russo Insurance Agency a successful business that he built with dedication and passion Working alongside Elaine and their son Chris His intellectual curiosity was evident in his voracious reading and passion for keeping up with current events and sports and weekly trips to the Victory Casino boat with friends where he reveled in the thrill of gambling and camaraderie dedicating his time to various organizations he joined with teenagers and young adults on mission trips to repair homes and build handicap access ramps for those in need Chris's jokes—whether appropriate or not—brought joy to everyone around him He took immense pride in his family’s accomplishments Chris will be fondly remembered for his generosity Chris’s greatest purpose in life was to provide for his family who resides with his wife Nahla Azmy and their two children who resides with his wife Jacquelyn Russo and their three daughters He was predeceased by his wife Elaine and their son who resides with his wife Lillian in Brentwood He was predeceased by three additional siblings Funeral services will take place in Massachusetts in the spring Posted originally by Beckman-Williamson Funeral Homes & Crematory who represents Medway's Precinct 1 witihin the 8th Worcester District recently supported a $1.3 billion supplemental budget that allocates surplus revenues to a series of education and transportation-related initiatives special education reimbursements for cities and towns and MBTA infrastructure and safety upgrades which is funded primarily through the use of above-cap Fair Share surtax revenues available from fiscal years 2023 and 2024 was initially released from House Ways and Means on April 7 as House Bill 4005 The bill was subsequently amended and engrossed by the House of Representatives on April 9 by a vote of 140-14 Representative Soter noted the initial supplemental budget allocated $828 million for transportation and $353.5 million for education investments including $190 million for Special Education Circuit Breaker reimbursements in Fiscal Year 2026 for costs school districts incurred in Fiscal Year 2025 Another $58 million has been allocated from the Student Opportunity Investment Fund to provide for additional Special Education Circuit Breaker reimbursements for the current fiscal year the House adopted dozens of amendments to fund various local education and transportation projects across the state adding $28.8 million in additional transportation funding and another $46.2 million in education funding including a $15 million reserve for regional school transportation costs offered as an amendment by Assistant Minority Leader Kimberly N Representative Soter was successful in securing funding for the school districts of the 8th Worcester District through the amendment process Representative Soter also supported an amendment to redirect $50 million set aside in the supplemental budget for the MBTA to instead provide additional funding for the Chapter 90 road and bridge program using a formula based strictly on each municipality’s local road mileage rather than the traditional three-pronged formula that also takes into account a community’s population and employment numbers Using this approach would provide for more regional equity in the distribution of funding for road maintenance The amendment was defeated along a party line vote of 25-129 Transportation-related initiatives funded in the supplemental budget include: $400 million for the MBTA Workforce and Safety Reserve; $300 million to replenish the MBTA Deficiency Fund; $600 million for MBTA physical infrastructure work; $20 million for the MBTA low-income fare relief program; $13 million for mitigation support to the MBTA during the Sumner Tunnel closure; and $10 million for an Unpaved Roads pilot program In addition to the $248 million in Special Education Circuit Breaker reimbursement funding the supplemental budget includes the following education-related initiatives: $50 million for Career Technical/Vocational School improvements; $40 million for Early Education and Care workforce and operational improvements; $25 million for early literacy high-dosage tutoring; $10 million to support the Universal School Meals program; $10 million for the Green SchoolWorks clean energy program; $10 million for a Department of Higher Education Endowment Match; $8.5 million for English for Speakers of Other Languages services; and $5 million for the Holocaust Legacy Foundation now moves to the Senate for its consideration Three league titles and college scholarships bridged the 1960s and ‘70s Medway is running it all back this weekend The school’s football program is hosting a reunion on Friday at the Thayer Homestead with a focus on the teams that played from 1973-77 The ‘74 team will be in the spotlight now that 50 years have passed since those Mustangs won the Tri-Valley League title boosters and friends of Mustang football from that era,” are invited to the event McCausland and Conena will be on the minds of many later that evening when a presentation is held before Medway’s 6 p.m Safety Steve Robinson played on the ‘74 team that went 8-2 and “We should have been undefeated and we should have beaten Westwood,” Robinson said from Arkansas last month where he runs his own information technology business Medway’s class of seniors began their careers with a winless freshman season early in ‘74 before winning three straight The 14-12 loss to Westwood put them in a hole but because Holliston later defeated Westwood and Medway took down Holliston the Mustangs’ win over Millis on Thanksgiving gave them a share of the crown “The most memorable thing was beating Holliston because we hadn’t beaten them in a long time,” said Robinson who noted that Medway's cheerleading team also won the TVL title that fall David Cassidy played with Howie Long at Villanova and Jim Cassidy went to Maine Mike Conena and quarterback Dennis Shafto also played at Maine The late Michael Boczanowski played at Holy Cross Medway began the season with a 20-0 defeat of Holbrook before Medfield blanked the Mustangs a week later Medway broke out with a 33-6 win over Bellingham behind Robinson’s three interceptions and long punt returns for touchdowns by John Cassidy and Billy Dacier before falling to Westwood and defeating Hopkinton The only points in the 6-0 victory over Holliston came when Shafto connected with Steve Vaughn for a late touchdown Medway ran for 249 yards – 130 by Bob Belland – and defeated Millis 34-14 Robinson scored the game’s first touchdown and Belland had two TDs Not until 34 years later did the Mustangs win another TVL title. The 2008 Medway team finished 10-1, sharing first place with Norton, and won 42-20 on Thanksgiving morning thanks to three touchdowns by Tyler Iarussi The Mustangs of 2018 finished tied with Dedham atop the TVL Small and went 9-4 falling to Ashland in the South sectional semifinals before defeating Millis on Thanksgiving Belland and John Cassidy served as captains (McCausland died in 2017; he had just retired after 37 years as a teacher in Hartford) Cataldo took over for Bill O’Donnell - whose teams lost just five games in three seasons and won the league title in 1970 - just days before the ‘73 season started. Cataldo had come over from Bellingham and coached the Mustangs until 1978, when he joined Jack Bicknell’s staff at Maine Cataldo won a state championship at Franklin High as a two-way lineman in ‘67 and played at Rhode Island, where he is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame He said coaching at Medway “was like nirvana classy and they just wanted to play football.”  Robinson said he didn’t realize how special that ‘74 season was at the time “It’s not just about the football,” he said “It’s probably taken me 50 years to realize it; it’s really about the experience and the memories and the lessons from it John Cassidy (508-930-8916) Mike Flaherty (508-577-5040) or Bill Dacier (508-667-7409) of Medway died peacefully April 13 at her home with her family at her bedside Doris was raised in Everett until the age of 11 She met her husband soon after moving to Plaistow where they lived for many years before retiring to Florida before moving to Medway Ma 6 years ago.Doris was a graduate of Haverhill High School and worked as a Nurse’s Aide at the Nevin’s Nursing Home in Methuen Ma for many years She loved her residents and enjoyed training new nurse’s aides to give the best care possible.Doris’s greatest joy was her family and friends She loved to organize get-togethers for which she would cook and bake She made friends wherever she was and considered everyone she met including her doctors as family or friends At Exeter Hospital she was fondly referred to as the “coffee cake lady” because she never visited there without bringing two or three of her famous coffee cakes for the staff She continued the tradition when she moved to Medway.She is survived by her children Carla Tucker and her husband Bob of Medway and Glenn Nelson and his wife Joyce of Spencer.She is also survived by her grandchildren Erica Adix and her husband Michael and Elias Nelson and his partner Alex Hodge .She is also survived by her ten great-grandchildren Poppi and Alexia.A graveside service will be held at a later date at the Plaistow Cemetery in Plaistow donations may be made in her memory to the Old Colony Hospice MA 02379.Arrangements are under the care of the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home MEDWAY — Voters participating in Town Meeting on Tuesday overwhelming supported a proposal to borrow $7.9 million to design a new public safety building and town hall Voters approved the warrant article by a vote of 278-68 They also supported a second article to transfer $1.25 million in free cash to use for phase one of environmental cleanup and site preparation work at 120 Main St. "It was a fantastic outpouring from the community to support a truly needed project, and something — if we do it right — will positively shape the town for the next half-century," Town Manager Michael Boynton told the Daily News on Wednesday In addition to approving the $7.9 million for the design of the new public safety/town hall complex as well as any incidental costs connected to the project voters also OK'd the town applying for county state and federal grants to offset those costs Earlier: Medway proposes borrowing nearly $8M to design new town hall, public safety complex Police Chief William Kingsbury we are fortunate to have the level of support we do from our community," he said "They demand the highest level of service from us and they work hard to give us the tools needed to make that happen This was an important step toward setting up Medway for decades of quality policing regardless of the changes and challenges the future will bring Even those who were opposed to this project at this time were and are supportive of our mission We believe in partnership with our community Fire Chief Jeffrey Lynch could not be reached for comment on Wednesday The location of the proposed new complex is 120 Main St. That parcel formerly housed Medway Block Company, which closed in December 2022 The town purchased the property for $4.5 million 'Decided to give it a try': Dispatch job inspired Medway Chief Kingsbury to pursue policing The new public safety building would be about 58,000 square feet and would house both the fire and police departments The new town hall would be about 18,000 square feet Boynton said the next step is for the Select Board to appoint a building committee which would then work to hire a project manager and to find an architect firm He said that would take three to four months The entire design phase of the project is estimated to take 18 to 24 months Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com she was the daughter of the late Richard L and graduated from Sayville High School in 1989 where she was a talented softball player and made many of her lifelong friends Jane’s childhood was filled with summers in upstate New York with her family and beloved cousins Jane always considered New York her home and never wavered in her love for the Yankees she met an amazing community of people who supported her and ultimately helped her reach her 8-year anniversary of sobriety in January 2025 Jane dedicated her life to helping others on their recovery journey while giving back to those who had helped her She worked as a counselor at the Clearhaven Recovery Center a job she loved and that brought her much joy Her family and friends will forever be so proud of her she resided in Quincy for many of those years with her beloved dog (and baby) Ruby Ruby was with her through the move from Long Island and every moment over the last 15 years She is survived by her sister Barbara Walter and her husband Richard of Bohemia Richard Simmons and his wife Denise of Medway and John Simmons and his wife Winnie of Charlotte She is also survived by her nieces and nephews two great-nephews JJ & Nolan and her great- niece Phoebe Calling hours will be held on Thursday, February 6th from 4 – 8 p.m. in the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home, 3 Barber St. in Medway, ginleyfuneralhomes.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jane’s memory to the H.O.W House, checks payable to The H.O.W. House, 41 Van Winkle Street, Dorchester, MA 02124 or online: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/HOWHouseThis is a wonderful establishment that helped Jane in her recovery 2025 after a long and courageous battle with Schizophrenia Jay was predeceased by his yellow lab Lucky He is survived by his parents Marie and Joseph Bastarache and his yellow lab Cesar MA; his brother Jake Bastarache and his wife Brittney his Mémère Jeanette Bastarache and Pépère Thomas Bastarache of New Brunswick Jay found his love for hockey at a young age He spent much of his time in and out of rinks and became an advent hockey player He continued his passion for sports once moving to the states where he played hockey and football for Medway and Holliston High school in addition to playing club hockey for the Worcester Crusaders Jay’s personality shined through his love for sports and the friendships he made Jay rose to be a captain of the Medway varsity hockey team all the while getting to play alongside his younger brother Jake He was admired by coaches and teammates alike leaving a lasting impression on everyone that had the privilege to play with and coach him Jay loved spending time with his dog Cesar He found joy in taking him on walks and car rides while listening to his favorite music He was smart and eager to learn and managed to keep busy while working construction much of his adult life He took pride in work because he loved helping others and valued his independence but above all else he loved spending time with his Family His compassion and kind heart touched everyone that knew him Jay lived with Schizophrenia most of his life and he had learned how to hide his true emotional pain and challenges very well In spite of him having his own suffering he always put others first and was always there to give a helping hand There is some peace in knowing he no longer has to suffer Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Sunday 3 Barber Street in Medway ginleyfuneralhomes.com followed by a prayer service at 5 p.m Following the services in the funeral home family and friends are invited to attend a reception at Restaurant 45 please consider donating in memory of Jayson Bastarache to the National Alliance on Mental Illness https://donate.nami.org/fundraiser/6039076 of Medway died suddenly February 7th at his home the son of the late Robert and Joan (Lonergan) Lindsey Gerry was raised and had lived in Medway for most of his life He was a 1978 graduate of Medway High School and a 1980 graduate of Wentworth Institute Gerry had worked on the “Big Dig” and the Central Artery projects in Boston Gerry was an Eagle Scout and an avid scouter He helped start Post 367 in Medway and was very involved in numerous improvements at Camp Squanto in Plymouth and was always willing to help anyone he could In addition to his wife he is survived by his children Shawn Lindsey and his wife Brittainy (Knight) Lindsey of Northbridge Zachary Lindsey and his wife Megan (Antoniazzi) Lindsey of Medway and Brian Lindsey of Bridgewater Gerry is also survived by his granddaughter Abigail Lindsey His funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday Calling hours will be from 4-7 on Thursday February 13 in the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home (ginleyfuneralhomes.com) 3 Barber Street “Each awardee is a testament to Massachusetts as a place to live “We are proud to honor their success and commitment to Massachusetts.” Approximately 350 business leaders from across the Commonwealth gathered at UMass Boston to celebrate these growing Massachusetts companies and hear live remarks from Governor Maura Healey and Yvonne Hao The winning companies (listed below) were selected after site visits and a Finalists Showcase when they delivered a 90 second “pitch” on why they should receive a Gold The company expansion projects represent a financial investment of $280 million expanded their facilities by 1.152 million square feet and added 822 jobs added to the state’s economy we are thrilled to congratulate all of the Gold Silver and Bronze award winners,” said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey “Your commitment to enhancing our economy and providing opportunity is an asset to Massachusetts and we are grateful for all that you do.”Werfen received its second Economic Impact Award (received the award as Instrumentation Laboratories in 2017) and Moderna received its second Economic Impact Award for regional expansion in Massachusetts Moderna also received the Summit Achievement Award for continued expansion and investment throughout Massachusetts for 15 years The Innovation Excellence Award was also presented for a second time This award recognizes the Berkshire Innovation Center’s role in driving innovation and sustainable growth of the technology-focused economy of the Berkshires “This year’s award winners have made significant impact to the Massachusetts economy and demonstrate the range of industries that can grow and thrive here in the Commonwealth,” said Dave Bugbee “Citizens is proud to support MassEcon and companies that make Massachusetts a top destination for business and innovation.” Karl Storz is an internationally operating family-owned company headquartered in Germany The company  specializes in the production and distribution of medical instruments and devices Aclarity's proprietary technology and commercialized solution break the current PFAS cycle the current way to "remediate" PFAS has been a dangerous cycle of removal and disposal either by putting the PFAS back into landfills after removal or by burning the removed PFAS and releasing toxic aerosols into the air Aclarity's technology utilizes electricity to break the carbon and fluorine bonds that make PFAS compounds so robust Charlotte Richmond finished in the top five in both the slalom and giant slalom as the Mustangs’ girls team placed third at the MIAA Alpine ski championships on Tuesday at Berkshire East Richmond placed fourth in the slalom (50.04 seconds) and fifth in the GS (52.90) as the Mustangs finished a little more than a minute ahead of fourth-place Newburyport Mohawk Trail won the title with Newton South second Wellesley placed ninth and Dover-Sherborn 11th Ashland’s Jillian Magill finished third in the giant slalom and eighth in the slalom and Wellesley’s Charlotte Kelley was 10th in the GS Medway’s Elle Heiden ended up 26th in the GS and 32nd in the slalom Kara Lapointe of Lincoln-Sudbury was 29th in the GS and 46th in the slalom Dover-Sherborn's Ema Claire Luczkow placed 28th in the slalom Dover-Sherborn's Grant Mayer finished 13th in the slalom and 15th in the GS Ashland’s Zach Kondrat placed 28th in the slalom and 38th in the GS while Hopkinton’s Patrick Meehan was 37th in the GS and 57th in the slalom Will Gabel of Lincoln-Sudbury was 33rd in the slalom John’s Prep won the team title with Concord-Carlisle second MEDWAY — Medway High School senior Nora Keavany has been selected to perform in the National Association for Music Education's All-Eastern Treble Choir school officials announced in a press release The choir is part of the Eastern Division Honor Ensembles which convene every two years and include student musicians from 11 northeastern states and Washington Medway school officials said Keavany will join 127 other vocalists at the NAfME Eastern Division Conference and Honors Ensemble Festival, scheduled for April 24-27 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. The Treble Choir will perform at 11 a.m. on April 27 at The Bushnell Performing Arts Center To qualify for the Eastern Division Honor Ensembles students must first earn (through auditions) a place in their state’s district and all-state ensembles Highest-scoring performers are nominated and selected to represent their schools and states at the All-Eastern level where they collaborate and perform with accomplished peers the 2025 NAfME Eastern Division Honor Ensembles feature a diverse range of ensembles including a 199-member mixed chorus; a 146-person concert band; a 19-player jazz band; a 14-person modern band; and a 104-musician orchestra Keavany is active in both the performing arts and athletics She has the lead role of Jack Kelly in the school’s production of the Broadway musical “Newsies” in March She also plays on the school’s lacrosse team “Nora embodies the spirit of a scholar-athlete and artist,” said Medway High Principal John Murray Amanda Webster, performing arts coordinator for Medway Public Schools praised Keavany's dedication and achievements in music “Nora’s selection is a reflection of her exceptional dedication hard work and achievements in music,” Webster said in a statement “She has been a dedicated member of the Medway High School music program contributing to multiple ensembles and consistently demonstrating excellence in her work.” For more information about the 2025 NAfME Eastern Division Conference and Honor Ensembles, visit nafme-eastern.org This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more New solution simplifies practice management and preserves autonomy for healthcare providers SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent practices now have a powerful ally in overcoming the challenges of modern healthcare management: MedWay – a comprehensive and tailored administrative solution designed to help practices thrive without sacrificing autonomy This new service is being launched by CMA Physician Services a subsidiary of the California Medical Association (CMA) "Independent practices are navigating unprecedented challenges that threaten their sustainability," said David Ford "MedWay will further empower these practices with expert support that ensures they can focus on what matters most – delivering exceptional patient care." MedWay officially launched in April 2025 and is available to all physician-led practices and health centers in California MedWay plans to grow its offerings over time with a focus on alleviating independent practices' administrative burdens Comprehensive Services Tailored to Independent Practices MedWay offers a robust suite of administrative services designed to meet the unique needs of healthcare providers: Its unwavering focus on empowering independent practices with: Discover how MedWay can transform your practice today. Schedule a demo at MedWayDocs.com or call (916) 775-0175 About CMA Physician ServicesCMA Physician Services is a subsidiary of the California Medical Association the nation's leading state-based physician association CMA Physician Services is dedicated to supporting independent practices with tailored administrative solutions that enhance efficiency and uphold the autonomy of healthcare providers Molina Healthcare of California (Molina) and the California Medical Association's Physician Services Organization (CMA PSO) today announced the.. Health Care & Hospitals Human Resource & Workforce Management Computer & Electronics New Products & Services Do not sell or share my personal information: was awarded a ribbon at the recent Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild (RNQG) quilt show for Barn Quilt shown above teased her husband that when crafting in his woodworking shop he is “quilting with wood” He lived up to that statement by creating a beautiful Barn Quilt to adorn their home Brad Steinka was awarded a Second Place Ribbon for “He Made It For Me” Barn Quilt in the Other category Medway's Anh Fahey won a Second Place Ribbon in the Hand Pieced Quilt category for her “Woven Star” Quilt She learned that stitching a swirl is difficult to start because she couldn’t see under thesewing foot and it was best to keep going in the same direction RNQG celebrated their 40th Anniversary at the “A Ruby Celebration” show RNQG is grateful for financial support for the show from Canton Reference rnqg.org for more specifics about the show and the guild and great-grandmother (affectionately known as Nonna) passed away peacefully at her home on Monday She lived a remarkable life spanning 105 years Millie was one of ten siblings raised in the city Millie was renowned for her expert cooking (family and friends miss her homemade pizza chicken and rice dinner and fried cauliflower) She maintained an active lifestyle and was an avid walker through most of her life; having never learned to drive never stopped Millie and she could be seen walking all over the NY borough to the grocery store or to visit her many family and friends Millie was honored as Medway's oldest living citizen and received the prestigious Boston Post Cane award a distinction that brought immense pride to her and her family Her feisty determination and remarkable strength were an inspiration to all who knew her Millie was predeceased by her beloved husband a World War II veteran who passed away in 1980 Their love story began with their marriage in 1941 but then Peter received his military deployment notice to go overseas during their honeymoon he returned home to a wonderful surprise – Millie had purchased their family home on East 98th Street in Canarsie She was predeceased by her seven siblings: Katie Pandolfino She is survived by her daughter Catherine Velardi of Medway; younger brother Franklin D Marino of Florida; younger sister Pauline Moakley of New York; grandson Andrew Velardi and his wife Nicole of Medway; granddaughter Laura Manchester of Canton and her two sons James and Michael Manchester; as well as many cherished nieces January 17th from 4-7 p.m at the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home (ginleyfuneralhomes.com) In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html) or to the St. Joseph’s Food Pantry in Medway (https://saintjosephmedway.org/medway-food-pantry) Milford Regional Physician Group (MRPG) has announced that two of its practices have received awards from Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (MHQP) for patient experience in adult primary care Awards were given to top overall performers in a variety of categories Following are the MRPG practices highlighted in this year’s program and categories in which they won: - Franklin-Wrentham Family Medicine (440 E Franklin): Patient-Provider Communications - Family Medicine Associates (68A Main Street “I am incredibly proud of our providers and staff for this recognition It is a direct reflection of our team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in patient care and reaffirms our commitment to putting our patients first in everything we do,” said Patrick McSweeney The “MHQP Patient Experience Awards” is an annual program introduced in 2018 by MHQP a non-profit measurement and reporting organization that works to improve the quality of patient care experiences in Massachusetts MHQP conducts the only statewide survey of patient experience in primary care in Massachusetts we are thrilled to congratulate the winners of the MHQP Patient Experience Awards,” said Barbra Rabson “Despite the many challenges primary care is currently facing these practices found a way to provide best-in-class experiences for their patients We are pleased to congratulate each of them on behalf of their patients for their exceptional commitment to excellence.” MEDWAY – A win on Thanksgiving caps the team’s most successful season of the decade But what they pulled off last month deserves to be in ALL CAPS The Medway High football team needed just 48 hours to raise $2,000 in addition to the four carts of groceries they collected as part of a food drive at the school The money and food were split between the town’s two pantries just in time for the start of the holiday season The plunder comes as the Mustangs are enjoying a resurgence after two seasons that yielded a total of three wins The play on the field is only surpassed by the impact the team has in the community Medway senior lineman and captain Ryan Hoye began paving the way for a food drive over the summer when he volunteered with his mother at the Medway Food Pantry at Mahan Circle “We started to notice how much of an impact it could have,” Hoye said before Monday’s practice “and we saw that I could use football as a way to impact more people.”  Hoye approached the pantry’s longtime director with not only a willingness to donate his time but an idea to update his business cards with information to ease the process of receiving donations Medway displayed information on how to donate at its Homecoming game and had boxes of business cards available at the gate the Medway Mustangs Gridiron Club donated $500 “This is one of the better food drives that any of the teams have ever done,” said Galante who noted that many other Mustang squads – plus the National Honor Society 351 Club and Girl Scouts – have held similar events Galante says he happily shares donations with Medway Village Food Pantry The Pantry at Mahan Circle serves 180 Seniors The Village Food Pantry mostly assists families Galante said 52% of his clients are from Medway – the others are from 32 area towns – and that he gave away 170 turkeys this week seven Medway football players rolled carts of food into the pantry and helped stock shelves “Just to be able to give back to the community and the people that need it feels good,” said senior captain Ryan Applebaum too: the team’s coming together to help a family or an individual every day.”  you talk about the brotherhood and the family and that’s how it (usually) is but we overlook the community a lot,” said Garrett O’Mara it was really great because it brought our team together but is also helped a lot of people that needed it.”  matching their win total from the previous two seasons combined Ted Rigney, who was hired in January The Mustangs are 7-3 heading into Thursday’s 94th meeting with Millis A win gives Medway its most wins since 2018 Each captain had a quick answer to the reason for Medway’s quick turnaround “Huge shout-out to coach Rigney,” Applebaum said One hundred percent,” O’Mara said of the staff that also includes Bill Noyes “They changed everything for us from day one.”  “None of them quit on us,” said Evan Sklar “They rode through the whole way and I cannot be happier about that.”  “He really brought a new era to this football team,” Hoye said of Rigney “We haven’t had the best experiences the past two years I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for this team and what he’ll do for the next generation.”  included a playoff victory and a Thanksgiving win over Millis Liam Hoye was captain and the team’s defensive MVP as a senior before playing at Union College Ryan knows Thursday is his last crack at the Mohawks A win on Thanksgiving might make that afternoon’s meal taste much sweeter But Ryan Hoye can put his head on the pillow that night knowing his heart is full “Not just giving people money but actually helping them I think is a whole separate thing,” he said MEDWAY - Ella Taylor’s scoring barrage had her teammates slap happy When the Medway senior captain knocked in the rebound of a Bella Cortis blast Ciara Maloney walked over while slapping the top of her head Sydney Coyle joined the scrum of celebrating Mustangs and playfully slapped the top of Taylor’s head As the jubilant group trotted back toward the center of the field Taylor turned toward her teammates and patted the top of her ponytail Taylor netted three goals to turn a close game into a rout as No on Monday afternoon in the MIAA Division 3 Round of 32 The ‘hatty’ was Taylor’s first of the season “It definitely feels really good,” she said It’s my last season playing and just leaving it all on the field.”  but never the three,” Medway coach Brenda Talamini said The Mustangs will meet a familiar foe in the Sweet 16: Fellow Tri-Valley League opponent Dedham Wednesday (6 p.m.) on the road Dedham ended Medway’s season a year ago in the opening round “It’s a little bit of a redemption game for us Medway controlled most of Monday’s game, but Nipmuc held the hosts off the board in the opening quarter thanks to goalie Riley Collura who kicked out several attempts from in close Two quick goals on penalty corners – one each by Maloney and Cortis – had the Mustangs in front 2-0 at the intermission Taylor took care of the rest of the scoring Olivia Melanson and Cortis each had a pair of assists “We played the way we have been practicing,” Talamini said The coach made sure to help the team erase the memory of a difficult October After the Mustangs won three straight to end September “We have a visualization and a refocus before every single game,” Talamini said “I talk them through how to let go of the bad feelings how to focus on the positive in what we can accomplish and how strong they are.”  “Letting everything over the past weeks,” Taylor said “Letting it all go – keeping it off the field and showing up and ready to focus on field hockey.”  a team the Mustangs did defeat in last season’s regular season Tuesday’s practice will not be on Hanlon Field Medway will instead work out at Lamson Field because it more simulates Dedham’s turf so the ball moves faster,” Talamini said of Hanlon so it moves slower because it’s still fluffy Our other turf (field) is newer than this one so the ball moves similar to what it will in Dedham “Practicing on our other field is an advantage for us.”  We just have to show up and put that all on the field and just put our minds into it This is a game we can definitely take on.”  MEDWAY – The turnaround took a bit of a detour A sequence of plays nearly kept this revitalized program on track A forced fumble at the goal line had Medway on course for a statement victory but when Westwood later intercepted a pass and took the next play 73 yards for the put-away score the Mustangs’ construction project hit a road block Medway has as many victories this season (3) as it earned over the previous two but after Friday night’s 24-13 Tri-Valley League crossover loss to Westwood The Mustangs (3-1) forced four turnovers in the first half and used a fourth-down stop to begin the second that led to Garrett O’Mara’s 37-yard touchdown pass to John Farrell for a 13-0 lead Westwood (3-1) responded with four touchdown passes from quarterback John Holland and a key interception and long scoring reception by Jaedyn Drayton in the fourth quarter to pull away we’re still learning how to deal with things,” said Medway first-year coach Ted Rigney “One of them is how to play with the lead and how to keep it going Every week it’s just learning something new.”  50 years ago: Medway's 1974 team reunites at Thayer Homestead, Westwood game to mark TVL title Aidan Tkowski picked off a pair of passes in the first half and after the Wolverines drove 84 yards to the Medway 1-yard line, Dylan Costa forced a fumble near the goal line that Justin Pillard pounced on in the end zone late in the second quarter The play was a big momentum boost for the Mustangs After a halftime ceremony honoring the 1974 Medway Tri-Valley League championship team, Evan Sklar and Bennett Defoyd teamed up to stop Westwood on a fourth-down play O’Mara then found a wide-open Farrell for a two-score lead I thought that was going to flip the game to our favor,” Rigney said Drayton’s interception on fourth down preceded his 73-yard touchdown reception for the final points. Donegan’s second pick Medway’s offensive struggles in the second half were a mystery to Rigney “I’m not really sure; that’s been our Achilles heel all year,” he said We as coaches have to figure that out: how do we match the second half to the first half.”  Medway scored the only points of the first half when O’Mara hit Logan Keaney on a slant for a 53-yard touchdown But after a 2-win season in 2022 and a 1-10 mark last fall “The kids have bought in; they’re doing everything we ask Being in a game like this is huge for them.”  Ellis Early Learning has announced the appointment of Medway's Rosa Guzman Turco as its first Director of Evaluation and Educational Excellence a role created to further the organization’s mission of advancing teacher quality and child outcomes “An education researcher with a doctorate in human development and teaching from the Harvard Graduate School of Education Rosa brings a valuable skillset to our team,” said Ellis Early Learning CEO Lauren Cook “Rosa has a track record of developing programs and tools that foster inclusive environments and drive measurable growth in children’s learning We are thrilled to welcome Rosa into this new role during a period of growth at Ellis.” Turco will drive the creation of a measurement evaluation and learning system to measure the impact of Ellis’s new Center of Excellence ensuring continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making She will develop systems and processes that assess teacher quality child outcomes and the broader classroom environment recognizing that early learning is shaped by multiple By integrating diverse data sources – ranging from child assessments to observations of instructional practices family engagement and social-emotional supports – Turco will create a sustainable framework that not only measures growth but also helps educators families and policymakers understand the everyday impact of early childhood education This work will be deeply aligned with Ellis's mission of helping all children develop the social emotional and academic skills they need to thrive in school and in life Turco brings over a decade of experience as an education researcher specializing in early childhood education and literacy she was the Director of Research at National University and Director of Research and Evaluation at a software development organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for underserved communities Turco was also a teaching fellow at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education for nearly five years she spearheaded the development of a bilingual e-reading platform and designed and evaluated language and social-emotional learning programs Turco’s research spans executive function and theory of mind in bilingual preschoolers infants’ early numerical intuitions and the impact of digital media on early language and literacy development her work seeks to identify the optimal ways to support young children and to capture the key features of learning environments that best foster growth for children from diverse backgrounds and needs Turco also holds a master’s degree in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wellesley College Rosa is immersed in early childhood at Ellis and at home which she shares with her husband and two young children Ellis Early Learning partners with families to provide high-quality early childhood education programs in a warm, nurturing environment. A recognized leader in its field, Ellis supports children across the socio-economic spectrum, treasures diversity in all forms and celebrates the joy of childhood. For more information, visit www.EllisEarlyLearning.org BELLINGHAM — Craig “Dog” Spencer loved to pull up a stool at the bar, enjoy a few beers and share stories with his “family” at Liz’s Tavern on North Main Street "He said he wasn’t feeling good so he was going to go home early,” said Megan Araujo “He was going to pick up food at Famous House of Pizza died after he was struck by a car at about 9:42 p.m on North Main Street after leaving the bar Spencer grew up in Medway, one of three children. While at Medway High School Earlier: Bellingham man, 57, dies after being struck by car while crossing North Main Street very diligent about never missing practice or a game,” she said Friends old and new weigh in on Spencer's deathLiz’s Tavern posted an announcement on its Facebook page The post drew dozens of comments from friends “I haven't seen you in many years but the memories of you are still in my heart especially the times at Roger Williams and our drives home to Medway.” Spencer attended Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island where he was a member of the baseball team Another commenter said: “Great man always helped me get whatever I needed at the HD Had more than a few buckets with him you will be missed buddy.” Araujo said Spencer would come in and drink his favorite Budweisers and watch sports such as when he worked as a bartender in Las Vegas or his dreams to go to Bora Bora if he ever won the lottery super smart,” who often had a sharp tongue and was “rough around the edges,” but said he loved to cook and share with friends “I think that’s how he showed people he loved them because he wasn’t the kind of guy who would say it,” O’Leary said “He was rough around the edges but on the inside he really cared for people and would do things for them if he could.” Obituary: Craig M. "Dog" Spencer, 57, had passion for sports, cooking Araujo said Spencer recently had a get-together to show his friends how to make porchetta; he liked to share recipes for some of his favorite dishes “He really liked cooking and sharing the food,” she said Bellingham police said Friday that although the crash remains under investigation they do not expect the driver of the car that struck Spencer to be charged Police said the crash happened in an area with poor lighting and there was no crosswalk The family will hold a private family gathering for Spencer later Liz’s Tavern will host a celebration of Spencer’s life to share stories and a drink in his honor “I’m really looking forward to hearing some good stories about Craig,” O’Leary said The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced that more than 300 Massachusetts fire departments will receive over $3 million dollars in grants to support safety equipment for firefighters and life safety education for kids and older adults “Massachusetts firefighters do much more than fight fires – they’re our first line of defense in any emergency,” said Governor Maura Healey “These grants will help firefighters protect themselves from injury and illness and keep our most vulnerable residents safe from fires and other hazards at home We are proud to be able to support these vital first responders who never hesitate to answer a call for help.” The awards are drawn from three grant programs coordinated by the Department of Fire Services The total funds awarded to Franklin came to $8,995.00 and to Medway The Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program reimburses local fire departments for purchases of turnout gear This round of grants will provide $1.63 million in funding to fire departments in 266 communities the reimbursed purchases will help them attain compliance with Occupational Safety & Health Administration or National Fire Protection Association safety standards “Firefighters train tirelessly for every conceivable emergency so that they can be prepared to help those in need,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll we acknowledge that tremendous commitment by investing in the equipment they need to be safe in any situation.” The Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) Grant Program funds firefighter-educators who deliver age-appropriate fire and life safety education to school-age children the number of Massachusetts children who die in fires has dropped to historically low levels from two dozen or more per year to zero for nearly three consecutive years This year’s awards will deliver more than $1.1 million to 204 local fire departments the SAFE grants have delivered life-saving lessons to Massachusetts’ kids and teens through our local firefighters,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy “This is just one of the powerful local-state partnerships that make Massachusetts one of the safest places in the nation to live DFS launched the Senior SAFE Grant Program which is geared toward another vulnerable population – older adults who face a disproportionate risk of death or serious injury in a fire Nearly $485,000 will support alarm installation and other resources delivered by 203 local fire departments in partnership with local senior centers “People aged 65 and older are at greatest risk of death or serious injury in a fire at home,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M “The Senior SAFE grants make a difference by sending trained firefighters to conduct home safety assessments install or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and help our seniors age in place safely and independently.”