September 1. 2011
Local Town Pages www.millismedwaynews.com
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MERIT – Supporting Millis Garden Club Reconvenes Innovative Programs & September 14, Features Dahlias Excellence since 1991 Webster defines "merit" as "superior quality or worth; excellence; demonstrated ability or achievement." This is what the Millis Educational Resource Initiatives Team (MERIT) hopes for in the Millis Public Schools and students. The Millis Educational Resource Initiatives Team is a non-profit, state chartered local education fund. Founded in 1991 and run by volunteers (Millis residents), MERIT solicits funds for innovative, curriculum based programs not typically funded within the regular school budgets. Nearly a quarter of a million dollars has been granted to enhance the Millis School System curriculum since 1991. MERIT’s mission is two-fold: • Encourage innovative approaches to teaching the approved Millis Public School curricula. • Provide funds to help implement the most promising approaches. The support MERIT has provided is highly valued by teachers and principals, and greatly benefits the school system and community. Examples of some of the grants MERIT has awarded include:: Collins Writing Program materials,
I-Pad for Special Ed Programs, Smart Boards, Force for Physics, Nature's Classroom Scholarship, Digital Portfolios in the Art Studio and more. MERIT raises funds through donations by the community as well as through fundraising events. Have you been to the Haunted Hay Ride at Tangerini’s Farm in the past? Well, that is a MERIT fundraising event! On that note, save the date for this year’s Haunted Hay Ride at Tangerini’s Farm on Saturday, October 29, 2011. MERIT is always looking for new members. Any member of the community interested in fostering excellence in the Millis Public Schools can become a member of MERIT. If interested in learning more about being a MERIT member, please contact Jen MacAskill at (508) 376-4959. MERIT counts on the generosity of our community. Please consider supporting MERIT by making a tax-deductible contribution. You can mail your contribution to MERIT, P.O. Box 86, Millis, MA 02054. Please be sure to include your name and address. MERIT thanks you!
Local Author to Visit Millis Library October 27th Local author, Tom MacDonald will be at the Millis Public Library on Thursday evening, October 27th at 7 p.m. for a book reading and signing. The Charlestown Connection, Tom's debut novel, is receiving outstanding reviews and his writing is being compared
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to Dennis Lehane, Robert Parker and Ross MacDonald. All are welcome to attend! This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Millis Public Library. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.
The Millis Garden Club is happy to announce that the first meeting of our fall and winter schedule is to be held on Wednesday, September 14th - DAHLIAS! with Donna Lane, Master Gardener, Member of the Norwood Evening Garden Club and the Beth Shaloam Garden Club of Needham, also member of the Dahlia Society and the Hosta Society. This meeting will be held at the Norfolk Community Room, Norfolk Library. Millis Garden Club and Norfolk Garden Club Members - Free: Guests $5 donation at the door. Consider joining the Millis Garden Club and be a part of our civic involvement by helping to plant flowers to beautify our town, support Millis students by offering scholarships and becoming part of a vibrant, enthusiastic group. Join us at our first meeting of the 2011-2012 season. Millis Garden Club was founded in 2004 and became a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. in October of 2005. If you look around Millis, you will find evidence of their work, from The Children's Garden at Oak Grove Farm, the Welcome to Millis Sign planting on the intersection of
Rte. 109 and Village St., and the many container gardens and planting around town. Through your support, The Garden Club is able to offer scholarships to young Millis residents and to continue to beautify our town with plantings. Visit us www.millisgardenclub.org or contact any member for membership information. MGC Fall Schedule Programs - Special Events Save the Dates Now! 1. Wed, Sept 14, 7 p.m., Dahlias with Donna Lane at the Norfolk Public Library - Community Room, Norfolk, MA. Hospitality begins at 6:30 p.m. MGC Members are requested to bring a savory or a sweet for the table. The program flyer is attached. Please forward to others who may be interested in the subject, or joining the Millis Garden Club This is a shared program with Norfolk. Guests are most welcome for a $5 donation at the door. 2. Sat, Sept 10,. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Church of Christ Family Day, Millis, MA. MGC will participate with Raffle Items, Educational Demo and Membership Outreach. Thank you in advance
for supporting this Outreach and Fundraising opportunity! 3. Wed, October 19, 7-8 p.m. Propagation with Carrie Waterman. Complementary Hospitality from 6:30 – 7 p.m. Veteran's Memorial Building, Millis. Members are requested to bring a savory, sweet and beverages. Guests welcome with a $5 donation at the door. MGC Business Meeting to follow. Fundraising Scholarship Fund MGC has purchased two tickets for the Boston Pops Christmas Concert for Thursday December 22, at 4 pm. Two lucky winners will be sitting in First Balcony Center left Row A seats 11&12, singing Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer with Keith Lockhart! The drawing will take place at the MGC Greens Sale at Church of Christ on Saturday, December 3, 2 p.m. Tickets will be sold in advance and during the day of the Greens Sale (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.). Proceeds (less ticket cost) will go directly to the MGC Scholarship Fund for 2012. Civic Fund 1. MGC Annual Greens Sale. Mark your calendar now for our Annual Green Sale on Saturday, December 3, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Deadline for Medway Cultural Council Grants October 15th Submitted by Audrey Ritter, Chair, MCC
As of the first week of September 2011, the Medway Cultural Council has been accepting applications for grants from local organizations to support events & programs in the arts, sciences & humanities. Applications are available at the town library & on our website, www. medwayculturalcouncil.org. This year, the forms have been changed, as have our guidelines. We urge applicants to check both the new form
& the guidelines so as to expedite the processing of their application, six copies much appreciated. Midnight October 15 is the postmarked deadline for receipt of all grant proposals. This past year the Cultural Council has supported the Medway library's summer programs- a crowd of 80 people turning out for the live animal show! Examples of recipients were Choate Park Summer concerts & the Medway Senior Center which
hosted painting classes for the community. These events are just a fraction of the sixteen grants, which we committed to in December of 2010. Last year, the State Legislature, through the Massachusetts Cultural Council awarded our Medway Cultural Council just over $3,800, which is being spent locally, so read the information on the website and have your organization apply for their favorite project.
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