LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

From the issue of June 7, 2007.

Festival showed town’s many cultures
To the editor:
   
Hillsborough Middle School held its first "Cultural Connections Festival" on May 24. The event was co-sponsored by two organizations — a student club and a faculty forum.
   The student club, STAND (Students Together for Awareness-N-Diversity), if in its first year at the middle school. The faculty group, the Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity Forum, has been meeting monthly since last spring and includes approximately 30 staff members from a range of cultures and professional disciplines.
   The STAND club originated the idea of the festival as a way to celebrate the many diverse cultural groups in our community.
   The festival far exceeded our expectations with over 200 people attending. They enjoyed a wonderful evening of entertainment, sharing food, customs and ethnic pride from cultures including African-Americans, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Lebanon, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Philippines, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Taiwan.
   Many thanks are in order to those who helped to make the event a success.
   First, kudos to STAND members, especially Stephanie Christian, Seema Doshi, Lauren Fawlkes, Megan Fusco, Deanna Russo, Nora Sbeiti and Taylor Post, along with my STAND co-advisor, Nichelle Taylor.
   Without their support and enthusiasm, the festival would not have become a reality.
   Second, thanks to the Forum members, especially Cindy Roche, Eileen Varia, Michelle Wetzel, Bonnie Stanski, Carol Ann Pennacchio and Melissa Basile, who helped with publicity, refreshments, organization and clean up.
   Thanks also to the HMS World Language, E.S.L. and REACH teachers, who encouraged students to participate in the festival.
   Other staff members who went above and beyond were HMS Principal Joe Trybulski, along with Mia Carella, Barbara Doyle, Pat Gorski and Rafael Martinez, who did a wonderful job as emcee.
   Entertainment for the festival included Peter Vaco from the Indigo Ballroom in Somerville, who performed and gave a group ballroom dance lesson.
   The Qing Yang Dance Troupe, the Samahang Filipino Dancers and the Davis Academy of Irish Dancing all performed amazing dances from China, the Philippines and Ireland. It was a joy to watch these young people proudly celebrate their heritage.
   The festival was funded in part by a Mix It Up grant, a project of the Southern Poverty Law center of Montgomery, Ala. A very special thank you to Lynn Apostolopolous, for taking care of the refreshments and working with Pathmark of Hillsborough, who made a generous contribution to the event.
   Thanks also to Lynn’s sons, Nick and Matthew, who helped out at the event. Additional thanks to Ellen DeStefano and the HMS Home and School Association for contributing refreshments.
   Finally, to all the students and their families from so many cultures who shared their favorite recipes, cultural artifacts, customs, clothing, music and overall pride in their heritage — thank you for joining together and proving that we in Hillsborough are "Many Cultures – One World."
Anna Mahler

Hillsborough Middle School

Bring back students’ move-up day
To the editor:
I am greatly angered at the decision of eliminating move-up day for all elementary students.
   Every year, children look forward to move-up day and anticipate its results. I know several people who would get worried sick over who their teacher was going to be the next year. Only children above the age of 10 should have to deal with that amount of contemplation.
   You should keep the students reaction in mind, what will they think of this decision, how will it change their lives. Do you want these poor children to remember how the Board of Education snatched move-up day out from under their noses?
   Is this how you want this generation to remember Hillsborough?
   Hillsborough is a great town, and don’t get me wrong, but this decision is lowering Hillsborough’s phenomenal education ratings. In Hillsborough we have great teachers and extremely smart students but sometimes we children need a perk or two during the school year.
   Trust me, go up to any second-grader and ask them why move-up day is important to them and you will be blown away with the enthusiasm they have about move-up day.
   Do you really want elementary school students to be pondering the thought of who their teacher is going to be next year? Please, leave that to the more mature students who are going into Auten Road Intermediate School.
   Also, I don’t believe that move-up day was canceled because teachers didn’t have enough time to pick the students teachers for next year.
   Most teachers know who your teacher next year is going to be about a week before move-up day. Some really wonderful teachers will even tell you who your teacher will be next year. Yet some not so benevolent teachers will remind you to be extra good for them because they know whom your teacher is next year.
   Mark my words; taking away move-up day is like taking away kindergartners snack time.
Kathryn Zimmerman

Hickory Hill Road

Thankful for help after father’s death
To the editor:
   
When my father, Alfred C. Matthews, died on Feb. 7, I found several local individuals and groups who provided comfort and service that went beyond my expectations — the Hospice Provider Group, Bridgewater Funeral Home and the Rev. Frank Villerious at the Hospice.
   Hospice stepped into my dad’s life when he was terminally ill. They gave him dignity, grace and respect and called or came in everyday. We all know that it is a sad situation for the elderly, with doctors that don’t have the "time" to even call back the families and some rehabs providing despicable care. Hospice was there with no excuses. When my Dad, Alfred C. Matthews, died I didn’t care about my life anymore and I couldn’t imagine life without him. Hospice once again stepped in and got me involved with an amazing licensed psychotherapist, Fred Mount Joy, who has helped me so much.
   In my eyes, you have to experience a situation before you can help someone else and Fred did. Hospice still calls me, they keep in contact with the family for one year. There is a service next month for the grieving families of loved ones who have passed. Hospice in my eyes need more recognition, without them, I don’t know where I would be.
   Thank you once again, Hospice! Thank you from my dad also, Alfred Claude Matthews, Sept. 22, 1926 to Feb. 7, 2007.
   To the Bridgewater Funeral Home: thank you for such a beautiful funeral. From the planning at the funeral home to the church to the cemetery, you treated him like a king. You made the extra effort with details for me having the U.S. Navy come out to the cemetery to pay their last respects.
   You even tried to get doves for the funeral, but the Humane Society said it was too cold. You took a lot of the stress from me, one of your men even helped me up, for I was to weak to walk. You couldn’t do enough for us at our time of need.
   I felt like my dad was in a home versus a funeral home. Thank you from one family to another.
   The Rev. Frank Villerious was an angel sent down by the Dear Lord. You cared and blessed my dying dad, not once, but several times. You talked to him, you made him feel so unafraid of passing.
   You held his hand, my hand, and were so soft spoken when you spoke. You told me time did not matter, for me to call you at anytime and you would be there for myself, my family and my dad who was loved so very much.
   The Rev. Frank Villerious is a community-care Hospice reverend. Thank you, Rev. Frank, for your love and caring ways to everyone in my house and thank you for being there for my dad before his passing.
   He knew you were there for him.
Jody Blair

Johanson Avenue

Church hoopsters need own gym
To the editor:
   
Have you ever been to a professional basketball game? Those guys are good don’t you think?
   Well, how do you think they made it? We all know they get scouted, but the only way they play so well is because they train at least three times a week and usually have their own gym.
   I think St. Joe’s Church should have their own gym.
   First of all, the children don’t get good practice area. For example, the gym at Woods Road Elementary school has slippery floors. This is a problem because they cannot do plays correctly and might get injured.
   Or, they don’t have a good area or good equipment because it’s not very important and doesn’t get paid much from a school budget. Now the plays will be messed up in the games because of adapting to the strange (cheap) gym in the school.
   The second reason is that kids have to go a long way to get practices or games. The first example is that kids need to get to practice early so they’re not late since it takes a long time to get there. They get lazy for going to games in the morning. They go so long to practices and/or games that they get rusty and/or tired on the way.
   So, now they begin to become active at half-time and try to catch up which will be a very slim chance.
   The most important reason is kids need more practices If kids don’t get enough practices, kids can’t learn plays which mean they have few possibilities of winning.
   Once again, participating St. Joe’s basketball players should have their own gym so they could have more practices. Thank you for considering this suggestion.
Brent Leoni

Amsterdam School