New league, new hope

One year ago, Tewksbury Youth Baseball president, Frank Flanagan, announced plans to create a "Challenger Division" in Tewksbury.

Challenger Divisions are a part of Little League Baseball, they are for kids of all ages whose disabilities prevent them from joining other baseball leagues.

"It's an opportunity to get the kids away from the parents," says Flanagan, "and let someone else show them a little fun with the game of baseball."

The league's first game was May 8, 2011, Mother's Day. They started with about 10 players, but after two weeks, the league has doubled in size. Parents like Shane Nevins whose six year-old son Christopher is autistic, says the league means a lot.

"It's amazing," says Nevins," to see him out there, I just can't say enough, it's awesome."

The league has recieved tremendous support including volunteer "buddies" from Tewksbury High School's Baseball and Softball teams.

"It feels great," says "buddy" John Saunders, "even though their disabled to see them come out and play with such heart and determination. It's great."

The challenger league plans to continue its season through June. Organizers say new players are welcome anytime. Contact Deb Rocco for more information.

It's raining...golf balls?

It was just a normal Saturday afternoon in Tewksbury, until hundreds of golf balls fell from the sky!

In an effort to raise money, T.H.E. (Tewksbury Hospital Equestrian) Farm held their first ever golf ball drop. Each golf ball cost 20 dollars, and the three closest golf balls to the hole would win a prize, the top prize set at 1,500 dollars.

A crowd of just over 50 watched as a helicopter circled a field on East Street before dumping its payload. The winners were Lorna McElaney, of Tacoma, Washington, Joyce Morency, of Lawrence, and Emily Bersin, of Tewksbury.

Susan Lorenti, T.H.E. Farm's president, says the golf ball drop is now their second biggest fundraising event and hopes to hold it again next year.

One of the things that kept me busy this February!

Okay, so most of you noticed I've posted only one day this month. Along with 24 hour theater, RA duty, and more work than expected, it has been a busy month. I was working on several side projects. Below is one of them. It's a promotional video for a really outstanding organization called Citizen Schools. They are located above the Boston Children's Museum, and bring in professionals to teach classes in their field along with mentoring eighth grade students.

If you're interested in education or working with youth, you should definitely check them out.




On January 19, 2009, 75 students and 75 mentors got together to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of service and how they can play a role in helping to solve America's problems through service. Our students and mentors wrote joint letters to President Obama, not to ask what he would do, but to tell him what they will do.

This video was made as a promotional video for the non-profit Citizen Schools organization.