{"id":41147,"date":"2017-02-05T10:09:24","date_gmt":"2017-02-05T15:09:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/?page_id=41147"},"modified":"2018-08-17T23:26:47","modified_gmt":"2018-08-18T03:26:47","slug":"2017-news-stories","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/?page_id=41147","title":{"rendered":"2017 News Stories"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Note: All content on this page remains the intellectual property and copyright of the original authors and photographers of the Foxboro Reporter, Sun Chronicle, Patch, WickedLocal, Boston.com, and other News Organizations who contributed to these news stories specifically on this page.    No copyright infringement is intended and these stories are displayed here to celebrate the works of the Jaycees in the community and we are grateful to the news organizations who covered these events.   <\/em>\r\n<hr>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"attachment_41148\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/csuncronimage.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-41148\" class=\"size-full wp-image-41148\" src=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/csuncronimage.jpg\" alt=\"Several hundred Foxboro residents and Patriots fans congregate on Foxboro Common Saturday for a day-before-Super Bowl LI rally. (Mark Stockwell \/ Sun Chronicle staff.)\" height=\"456\" width=\"620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/csuncronimage.jpg 620w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/csuncronimage-300x221.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-41148\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Several hundred Foxboro residents and Patriots fans congregate on Foxboro Common Saturday for a day-before-Super Bowl LI rally. (Mark Stockwell \/ Sun Chronicle staff.)<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/suncron.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-41149\" src=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/suncron.png\" alt=\"\" height=\"97\" width=\"250\"><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">In team&#8217;s hometown, Patriots fans rally on the Foxboro Common<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>BY JUDEE COSENTINO \/ FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE Feb 4, 2017 FOXBORO &#8211; With the clock ticking to Super Bowl, New England Patriots fans gathered for a rally on the Foxboro Common on Saturday, their spirits hot enough to melt the snow-covered ground under their feet.<\/p>\n<p>The hour-long rally, presented by the Foxboro Jaycees, also held a surprise for the 300 or so fans, as Chris Mitchell, vice chairman of the board of selectman, read a proclamation that designated Feb. 5 as New England Patriots Day in Foxboro, in honor of their seventh trip to the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Finally!&#8221; one woman exclaimed as Mitchell read the proclamation.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the temperature standing at only 34 degrees, those who attended the rally were more than happy to show their spirit as they created hand-lettered signs encouraging their favorite team and danced to the music from deejay Paul Feeney. Foxboro High School cheerleaders, as well as members of Elite Dance Center, were also on hand to pump up the crowd&#8217;s spirit. There were even a few family pets in Patriots gear.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Decorate the flagpole, decorate everything in this town, because we&#8217;re getting ready for one more win!&#8221; Feeney encouraged the crowd. &#8220;Make as much noise as you can so they can hear us down in Houston&#8230;we are the real city of champions!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Among the signs&#8217; slogans were &#8220;Do Your Job,&#8221; &#8220;Drive For Five,&#8221; and &#8220;Go Pats #5.&#8221; Before the rally, Maureen Sergei of Foxboro had already made her sign: a cutout of a photo of quarterback Tom Brady&#8217;s head under a painstakingly written &#8220;In Tom We Trust.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Sergei&#8217;s husband Richard predicted a win by the Patriots in Sunday night&#8217;s game with a score of 31-24.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Patriots, all the way,&#8221; Richard Sergei said.<\/p>\n<p>Paul and Michelle Brevett, also of Foxboro, wore paper hats in the shape of the team logo, which a friend from the Boston Globe had given them. The Brevetts were out to lunch at Subway when they were attracted by the activity on the Common.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s great for the town to feel connected as Foxboro residents,&#8221; Michelle Brevett said.<\/p>\n<p>Although Boston is the major city, the epicenter of Patriots pride is undoubtably in Foxboro, as Lynda Walsh, the Jaycees vice president, pointed out.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;All the publicity goes to Boston, because we are a New England team,&#8221; Walsh said, &#8220;but this is their hometown, and we should be proud.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It was Walsh who brought the idea of a rally to the Jaycees board, and it was apparent the first-time event was a success.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a good way to get people together in a happy way to celebrate,&#8221; Walsh said. &#8220;It shows the team and the Krafts that we&#8217;re behind them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Wickdlocal.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-41152\" src=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Wickdlocal.png\" alt=\"\" height=\"158\" width=\"344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Wickdlocal.png 344w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Wickdlocal-300x138.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 344px) 100vw, 344px\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Residents gather to support the Patriots on Foxborough common<\/span><\/p>\n<p>By Heather Gillis\/HGillis@wickedlocal.com<\/p>\n<p>FOXBOROUGH&#8211;Hundreds of fans turned out for one last Super Bowl LI rally on the Foxborough Common Saturday afternoon, letting their hometown New England Patriots know that they are behind them and want just &#8220;one more&#8221; win in tomorrow&#8217;s matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.<\/p>\n<p>Fans, and even some family pets, were decked out in their red, white and blue Patriots Pride colors. Some sported their &#8220;Gronk&#8221; and &#8220;Brady&#8221; shirts while other carried signs, &#8220;Belichick for President&#8221; and &#8220;They Hate Us Cuz They Ain&#8217;t Us&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>The Foxboro Jaycees organized the rally that included a poster making table, face painting, and DJ Paul Feeney.<\/p>\n<p>Feeney got the crowd fired up and dancing with the help of the Foxborough High School cheerleaders, the Foxborough Pop Warner Cheerleaders, and performers from the Foxborough Elite Dance Center.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Lynda Walsh, (the Ways and Means Jaycee Vice President) presented the idea and we wanted to show our pride in town for our team,&#8221; said Jaycee Membership Vice President Laureen House. &#8220;We wanted to bring the town together to cheer together.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Food donations were also collected during the event that benefitted the Foxborough Discretionary Food Pantry.<\/p>\n<p>Andrea Murphy and her son Joey, 3, traveled from Wrentham to attend the rally.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I wanted to expose him to the festivities,&#8221; Murphy said. &#8220;Foxborough does a lot of great things on the common that are family friendly. We met up with our friends who live here and wanted to cheer for the Patriots! This is a fun, feel-good break.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Murphy&#8217;s friend Heather Bearce, who brought her two children, Mallory, 4 and Zealand, 3, said she moved to Foxborough four years ago because of it&#8217;s reputation for having a good school system.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s amazing to be here today and part of it. We bump into (Patriot players) around town and they are always great, even calling me &#8216;ma&#8217;am&#8217;. We love living here,&#8221; Bearce said.<\/p>\n<p>On hand at the rally was Town Administrator Bill Keegan and selectmen Chris Mitchell and James DeVellis.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s freezing, but I&#8217;m feeling the love,&#8221; Keegan said.<\/p>\n<p>Keegan read a citation from State Rep Jay Barrows (R-Mansfield) that recognized the town for being the official home of the New England Patriots and wished the team and town good luck.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s awesome seeing everyone out here today,&#8221; Mitchell said. &#8220;We are real lucky to have the Patriots right down the street.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Mitchell also made a special announcement that caused the crowd to cheer.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Sunday, Feb. 5 (2017) is designated as New England Patriots day here in Foxborough,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Congressman Joe Kennedy III sent a letter that Feeney read out loud, thanking Foxborough for being the face of Patriots nation.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Thank you for graciously housing us in your town and playing a key role in their success,&#8221; Kennedy wrote.<\/p>\n<p>At the conclusion of the event, with sirens blaring, police and fire paraded their cruisers and trucks around the common. Foxboro Cable Access then asked the crowd to come together to create one final message for the Pats.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;They will be sending this to the Patriots tonight so they know that we are behind them,&#8221; Feeney said.<\/p>\n<p>With the sirens blaring and music playing, fans enthusiastically raised their hands, holding up decorated signs and, like the New England Patriots, came together for one final battle call, &#8220;ONE MORE!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/WickedLocalPhoto.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-41153\" src=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/WickedLocalPhoto.jpg\" alt=\"\" height=\"648\" width=\"886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/WickedLocalPhoto.jpg 886w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/WickedLocalPhoto-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/WickedLocalPhoto-768x562.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/103069d4-d1db-11e6-9d04-83c746232825.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-41178\" src=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/103069d4-d1db-11e6-9d04-83c746232825.jpg\" alt=\"\" height=\"149\" width=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/103069d4-d1db-11e6-9d04-83c746232825.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/103069d4-d1db-11e6-9d04-83c746232825-300x75.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Celebrate one more time: Pats fans stage rally, skip school, win bets<\/span><\/p>\n<p>By Bera Dunau The Foxboro Reporter Feb 9, 2017 Updated Feb 9, 2017<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_41176\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/PatriotsRally.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-41176\" class=\"size-large wp-image-41176\" src=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/PatriotsRally-1024x439.jpg\" alt=\"Patriots fans hold up their signs for the camera during rally on the Common Saturday afternoon. Photo by Robert Gillis\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/PatriotsRally-1024x439.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/PatriotsRally-300x129.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/PatriotsRally-768x330.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/PatriotsRally.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-41176\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Patriots fans hold up their signs for the camera during rally on the Common Saturday afternoon. Photo by Robert Gillis<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The hometown of the New England Patriots celebrated before and after the team\u2019s historic, 34-28 overtime victory in Super Bowl LI.<\/p>\n<p>Fans turned out for a pre-game rally on the Common Saturday and many went to greet the team when their buses returned to Gillette Stadium on Monday evening. Some even skipped school or work to be at the victory parade Tuesday in downtown Boston.<\/p>\n<p>It should come as no surprise that Foxboro High School is full of New England Patriots fans, and that some students were so dedicated to the team they decided to skip out on school entirely for the fifth Patriots duck boat parade.<\/p>\n<p>And it wasn\u2019t a small number.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA little over 300 is safe to say,\u201d said Foxboro Schools Superintendent Debbie Spinelli.<\/p>\n<p>Spinelli said that this mass, Patriots-inspired absences have happened before in Foxboro, but there would be no special penalties for those diehard fans who were out Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThings like that happen,\u201d she said. \u201cParents make the decision every day whether to send their kids to school or not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She also said that she could understand why parents would be OK with letting their kids miss school in order to watch the parade.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNevertheless it still counts as a student absence,\u201d said Spinelli.<\/p>\n<p>Those students who skipped on Tuesday were not allowed to attend after-school or evening school activities, including sports practices and games, as per the usual policy on being absent.<\/p>\n<p>A good bet<\/p>\n<p>The Patriots\u2019 stunning comeback against the Atlanta Falcons will surely go down as one of the greatest games in all of sports. And perhaps few Foxboro residents were more nervous about the outcome of the game than Foxboro Board of Selectmen Chairman David Feldman.<\/p>\n<p>Feldman entered into a wager with the mayor of Flowery Branch, Georgia, on the outcome of the game that involved the key clause that the loser of the bet would have to wear the winning team\u2019s jersey at his next public meeting. And with the Patriots down 28-3 in the third quarter, things were looking bleak for Feldman.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThrough the first half I was pretty nervous,\u201d said Feldman.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, it wasn\u2019t until overtime, after the Patriots had tied the game 28-28, that Feldman said that he became confident that the Pats would indeed win.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Mayor of Flowery Branch Georgia received a Tom Brady authentic Patriots jersey,\u201d said Feldman, at the end of this Tuesday\u2019s meeting of the board. \u201cHe will wear that at a city council meeting on Feb. 16, and he will get to feel what it\u2019s like to be a champion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Flowery Branch is the city that officially headquarters the Atlanta Falcons, and Feldman confirmed that pictures of the mayor in the jersey of the Patriots\u2019 star quarterback will indeed be taken.<\/p>\n<p>Happy birthday indeed<\/p>\n<p>Another person who was especially happy to see the Patriots win was Boyden Library Director Manny Leite. The Super Bowl was on Leite\u2019s birthday, and the last time the Patriots played on his birthday they lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI 21-17.<\/p>\n<p>So, it should come as no surprise that Leite appreciated this year\u2019s victory for his team.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a very nice birthday present,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>After the Patriots\u2019 discouraging early performance, Leite said that he began to just have the game on in the background. However, as the comeback swung into full force, Leite\u2019s hope returned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI just had this suspicion,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re going to come back. They\u2019re going to tie this game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Leite had also performed a bit of magic himself the week before, predicting in The Foxboro Reporter that the Falcons would beat The Patriots. He said that he had done this as a way to jinx the Falcons, and it appears to have worked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m happy for the players. I\u2019m happy for the town of Foxboro,\u201d said Leite.<\/p>\n<p>Tough to predict<\/p>\n<p>As fate would have it, no one asked to predict the final score of Super Bowl LI by The Foxboro Reporter accurately prognosticated the ultimate result of what turned out to be a thriller for the ages. But one person came very very close.<\/p>\n<p>Tammy Young, an employee of Eurest, the company that runs the Schneider Electric commissary; predicted that the New England Patriots would beat the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 34-27, one point shy of the Patriots\u2019 34-28 overtime victory, achieved after being down 28-3.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was awesome,\u201d said Young, when asked what it felt like to be so close in her prediction.<\/p>\n<p>She also said that she never lost faith in the team.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe always know our team\u2019s gonna come back,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re a comeback team.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She said that the two point conversion that tied the game 28-28 was her favorite part of the game.<\/p>\n<p>Young also said that during the Patriots\u2019 final drive she\u2019d said repeatedly, \u201cWe\u2019re doing this for (Tom) Brady\u2019s mom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The New England Patriots quarterback\u2019s mother has been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer.<\/p>\n<p>Proclamations, celebration<\/p>\n<p>At a pre-Super Bowl rally on the common on Saturday, <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">sponsored by the Jaycees<\/span>, two proclamations were read: One, from the town of Foxboro, designated Feb. 5, 2017 to be New England Patriots Day in town; The other, from the state house of representatives, recognized Foxboro as the home of the Patriots. A statement from Congressman Joe Kennedy was also read.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe rally went really well actually,\u201d said Foxboro Town Manager Bill Keegan.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, both proclamations were read out at Tuesday\u2019s board of selectmen meeting.<\/p>\n<p>Foxboro Cable Access recorded the rally, which also featured two firetrucks on the Common for kids, DJ Paul Feeney blasting out some pump-up tunes and a sign-making table. In addition to signs made by Paul Farmer around the Common, the fences were also decorated with homemade signs and balloons donated by Judy\u2019s Village Flowers downtown.<\/p>\n<p>Lynda Walsh, who was the key organizer of the event, made sure that the Patriots received a video Saturday of their hometown fans, who all gathered in front of the bandstand and shouted GO PATRIOTS WIN ONE MORE!<\/p>\n<p>Keegan was also enthusiastic about the game, characterizing it as having had the best fourth quarter of football he\u2019s ever seen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will never forget that performance,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was one for the ages.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/103069d4-d1db-11e6-9d04-83c746232825.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-41178\" src=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/103069d4-d1db-11e6-9d04-83c746232825.jpg\" alt=\"\" height=\"149\" width=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/103069d4-d1db-11e6-9d04-83c746232825.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/103069d4-d1db-11e6-9d04-83c746232825-300x75.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">\u2018Night out\u2019 a first for new chief <\/span><\/p>\n<p>By Bera Dunau The Foxboro Reporter Aug 3, 2017<\/p>\n<p>National Night Out Against Crime and Drugs may look like a kid-friendly party on the Foxboro Common, but it actually serves a deeper purpose.<\/p>\n<p>National Night Out is celebrated in thousands of communities in the United States and Canada as an evening where community policing is highlighted and people get to learn about various public safety programs. It is held on the first Tuesday in August annually, and in Foxboro has been observed since 1992.<\/p>\n<p>Locally, the event is organized by the Jaycees in collaboration with Foxboro police.<\/p>\n<p>This year, police chief William Baker attended his first Foxboro National Night Out celebration. Baker became a police officer in 1974, but Foxboro is the first community he has served that participated while he was chief.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of the places have sort of let the tradition go,\u201d said Baker. \u201cFoxboro is leading the league in keeping a great tradition alive.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_43376\" style=\"width: 319px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxbororeporter.com\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43376\" class=\" wp-image-43376\" src=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/59822314de5c7.image_-720x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Junior firefighter Colby Dacosta with fellow junior firefighter Griffin Walsh, who donned the new Sparky the Fire Dog costume. - Copyright - Foxboro Reporter Photo\" height=\"440\" width=\"309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/59822314de5c7.image_-720x1024.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/59822314de5c7.image_-211x300.jpg 211w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/59822314de5c7.image_-768x1092.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/59822314de5c7.image_.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 309px) 100vw, 309px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-43376\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Junior firefighter Colby Dacosta with fellow junior firefighter Griffin Walsh, who donned the new Sparky the Fire Dog costume. &#8211; Copyright &#8211; Foxboro Reporter Photo<\/p><\/div>\n<p>As in previous years, the Foxboro Fire Dept. participated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s kind of turned into a little bit more of a public safety day (in Foxboro),\u201d said fire chief Roger Hatfield, noting the close connections between police and fire personnel.<\/p>\n<p>A bounce house, fire and police coloring cards, and face painting were available for the children in attendance, and a deejay played music throughout the event, which ran from around 6 to 8 p.m.<\/p>\n<p>A police canine demonstration was held and a glowstick parade around the Common concluded the event. The fire department also got to show off their new Sparky the Fire Dog costume.<\/p>\n<p>These kid-focused activities weren\u2019t just for youngsters, however.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe keep the kids occupied so that the adults can go to the information tables,\u201d said Lynda Walsh, who organized the event on the Jaycees side.<\/p>\n<p>Walsh said that the event creates an environment where adults can be comfortable talking with police.<\/p>\n<p>Others on hand included Learning To Cope, which helps those whose loved ones are struggling with addiction; H.U.G.S Foxboro, which seeks to combat domestic violence; the Foxboro Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Committee; the Foxboro Citizens Corps, which helps with community disaster preparedness; the Hockomock Area YMCA, the Norfolk County Sheriff\u2019s office, the Norfolk County District Attorney\u2019s Office and the Norfolk County YMCA, in addition to the Jaycees themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Bill McLaughlin, communications director for the Foxboro Citizens Corps, said that tabling at National Night Out helped to raise awareness of the grass-roots organization.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re a national program in every town,\u201d McLaughlin said, noting that while the organization provides material support during disasters, it does not seek to replace the fire and police departments in those situations.<\/p>\n<p>Erin Clancy, who is interning for Learning to Cope, said that many people show interest in the organization when it tables.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s been going really well,\u201d said Clancy, when asked how tabling is going today. \u201cI talked to a bunch of people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Maura Schaeffer, one of the founders of H.U.G.S Foxboro, said that tabling at the event helped to raise awareness and educate the public.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI talked to some parents tonight, and a couple of kids,\u201d said Schaeffer.<\/p>\n<p>Weather at the event was good, and Walsh noted that it did not have to be called off because of thunderstorm and tornado warnings, as it had in a previous year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s not going to happen this year,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/suncron.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-41149 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/suncron.png\" alt=\"\" height=\"97\" width=\"250\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Foxboro residents stand together against hate<\/span><br \/>\nBy Rick Foster<br \/>\n8\/25\/2017<br \/>\nThe Sun Chronicle<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_43662\" style=\"width: 556px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Joan.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43662\" class=\" wp-image-43662\" src=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Joan-764x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Joan Goodwin, right, hugs Angela Logan who she just met during the Jaycee\u2019s \u201cStand Together Against Hate\u201d gathering on Foxboro Common Thursday, in Foxboro. Photo copyrigtht Paul Connors, The Sun Chronicle\" height=\"731\" width=\"546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Joan-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Joan-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Joan-768x1030.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Joan.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 546px) 100vw, 546px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-43662\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Joan Goodwin, right, hugs Angela Logan who she just met during the Jaycee\u2019s \u201cStand Together Against Hate\u201d gathering on Foxboro Common Thursday, in Foxboro. Photo copyright Paul Connors, The Sun Chronicle<\/p><\/div>\n<p>FOXBORO \u2014 About 200 local residents came together for a night of singing, games and socializing on the town common Thursday night in what was billed as a gathering to \u201cstand united against hate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Local Jaycees sponsored the event, which included inspirational speeches, music and group singing with songs promoting messages of peace and togetherness. Organizers said they hoped the evening would serve as an antidote to counter tension and prejudice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful night for people to get together on the common,\u201d said Jaycees Vice President Linda Walsh. \u201cI hope that in the future if someone\u2019s tempted to say something negative towards another person, they\u2019ll think back on tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The event, which was not referred to as a rally, was organized in the aftermath of recent violence in Charlottesville, Va. and a highly-publicized incident in Foxboro in which a black mother reported that she and her two young children were the subjects of racial taunts by a passing driver.<\/p>\n<p>The Rev. Ed Cardoza of St. Mark\u2019s Church, addressing the crowd, said those who oppose hatred and racial prejudice cannot remain silent in the face of hateful rhetoric.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWords matter,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen we hear words that go against the values of our community, we need to publicly state that those words are not acceptable. Let us say very strongly that hate has no place in this town.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On a balmy evening, children and adults milled about the common chatting and listening to music from a disc jockey. Attendees were offered the opportunity to sign pledge cards against hatred. A \u201cspeed friendship\u201d game similar to musical chairs was played in which players were told introduce themselves and chat with their neighbors whenever the music stopped.<\/p>\n<p>The gathering also attracted local politicians including state senate candidates Ted Phillips and Paul Feeney, who spent time conversing with bystanders.<\/p>\n<p>The Jaycees\u2019 Meg Nelson read a statement from U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III who also urged those who oppose racism and hate to speak their minds.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn moments of deep division and distrust, we draw strength not from those who choose silence but those who refuse to be silenced,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause the leaders of our march towards equality and tolerance have always taught us that we are a nation that is strong because of its diversity. To all of those standing united against racism, anti-Semitism and hatred in any form, please know that you are seen, you are heard and you count. America belongs to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_43663\" style=\"width: 518px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Ryder.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43663\" class=\" wp-image-43663\" src=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Ryder-1024x774.jpg\" alt=\"Foxboro Police Sgt. Dave Foscaldo, left, and Lt. Mike Grace are thanked by Ryder Bishop, 8, who presents the officers with a ball representing a good deed. Photo copyright Paul Connors, The Sun Chronicle\" height=\"384\" width=\"508\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Ryder-1024x774.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Ryder-300x227.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Ryder-768x580.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Ryder.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 508px) 100vw, 508px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-43663\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Foxboro Police Sgt. Dave Foscaldo, left, and Lt. Mike Grace are thanked by Ryder Bishop, 8, who presents the officers with a ball representing a good deed.<br \/>Photo copyright Paul Connors, The Sun Chronicle<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Debbie Stuart said she hopes Thursday\u2019s event promotes awareness that racism and intolerance can be a danger in any community.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a good thing to do,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople have rose-colored glasses on. If you can\u2019t see it, it\u2019s on you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Doug and Christine Thayer said they were glad Foxboro had an event to let them and others express their feelings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople here are united against hate,\u201d said Doug. \u201cI\u2019m glad there\u2019s someplace local we can go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kevin Mack said he doesn\u2019t understand the mentality that allows some people to consider themselves superior to others merely on the basis of religion or skin color.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo degrade someone because they are different than you makes no sense,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have to step up and say \u2018I won\u2019t accept it,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><em><strong>Note: These stories [ABOVE] were taken from the news web sites on which they appeared and all content in this post is copyright by the original writers and photographers and no copyright in infringement is intended.&nbsp; We thank them for being able to use them here.<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">July , 2017: Foxboro Jaycee web site counter hits\u2026 THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>By Robert Gillis, Foxboro Jaycees &#8212; The Foxboro Jaycees web site was launched in late 1997, and around May 1998 there had been about 1100 visitors. While various site counters have been used since (most notably stat counter for the past 15 years or so), every effort has been made to ensure the count is accurate.<\/p>\n<p>Adjustments were made a few times when the site had run without a counter for a month or so (and was bumped up by about 1000), and also dialed back a few times when testing was needed and repeat reloads were \u201cfaking out\u201d the numbers (the count was reduced about five years ago).&nbsp;&nbsp; There has not been a reset of the counter in nearly five years.<\/p>\n<p>In general, repeat refresh of the pages won\u2019t increment counters any more.<\/p>\n<p>So, with the caveat that no site counter is perfect, and also that count has been adjusted on occasion, it\u2019s been mostly \u201cleft alone\u201d these past years and the fact remains that on March 26, 2014, we hit 250,000, and as of July 2017 we are now at 300,000 unique visitors to the site since its inception. That is AWESOME.<\/p>\n<p>We are grateful to everyone who uses the site, are always looking for ways to improve it, and hope you\u2019ll keep coming back for more Foxboro Jaycee news!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43082\" src=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/300000.jpg\" alt=\"\" height=\"391\" width=\"547\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/300000.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/300000-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 547px) 100vw, 547px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">September, 2017: Foxboro Jaycees and Jaycee Senators enjoyed a cookout<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The Foxboro Jaycees and Jaycee Senators enjoyed a cookout before their respective meetings, 9\/13\/2016. The senators often stop in to say hello and we value their support, friendship and mentoring so much. Jaycees are family!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/21743878_10213967893180579_5406480291537012715_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-43733\" src=\"http:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/21743878_10213967893180579_5406480291537012715_o-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" height=\"600\" width=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/21743878_10213967893180579_5406480291537012715_o-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/21743878_10213967893180579_5406480291537012715_o-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/21743878_10213967893180579_5406480291537012715_o-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/21743878_10213967893180579_5406480291537012715_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In team&#8217;s hometown, Patriots fans rally on the Foxboro Common BY JUDEE COSENTINO \/ FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE Feb 4, 2017 FOXBORO &#8211; With the clock ticking to Super Bowl, New England Patriots fans gathered for a rally on the Foxboro Common on Saturday, their spirits hot enough to melt the snow-covered ground under their [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":43149,"menu_order":8,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-41147","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41147"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41147\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foxborojaycees.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}