Pizza Chef in Milford invited children, teens and staff from the Milford Youth Center for a pizza party Friday, providing about 20 pizzas for the large, boisterous group. The children opened gifts contributed by donors through the United Way of Tri Counties, including sets of boxing gloves, punching bags, a pogo-stick, teen cosmetics, and other items on their wish lists. Each child submitted a list of three items they hoped to receive, said Jen Ward, program director for the town-run Milford Youth Center, which receives most of its funding from the United Way. In previous years, children …
The 25th annual Welcome Santa Parade thrilled young and old, as always, featuring floats, costumed characters, fire trucks and, of course, Santa Claus. The parade is organized by the Milford firefighters' union and proceeds down East Main and Main streets on the first Sunday of each December.
What happens when a notable work of public art turns 100? In Milford, this was cause for celebration. The Milford Historical Commission organized a big party to mark the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Gen. William F. Draper statue, which sits at center of what is now Draper Memorial Park. It features Gen. William F. Draper, who commanded the Massachusetts 25th Regiment in the Civil War, through a series of southern campaigns. The statue, in bronze, sits on a base of granite from a Milford quarry. It was given 100 years ago to the town of Milford as a gift, from his wife, Susan …
Sikhs, Muslims, Christians and Hindus came to Milford from across Massachusetts Monday, to pray together for the victims of a gunman who opened fire Sunday in a Sikh temple in Wisconsin. The prayer service and candlelight vigil drew nearly 200 people to Milford Gurduara Sahib. The temple's leaders said they had been receiving flowers all day. People from other faiths said they wanted to join together to show support for the Sikhs. Nearly 30 Muslims from the Worcester area attended the services, breaking from the fast required during Ramadan by participating in the community meal that followed…
Nearly 200 motorcyclists turned out Saturday for a benefit motorcycle ride in memory of fallen Marine Gunnery Sgt. Elia Fontecchio. Fontecchio, a 1992 graduate of Milford High School, was killed in Iraq in August 2004, while serving his second tour of duty. The memorial run started and ended at T.D.'s Pub in Milford, with music and food. Proceeds will benefit scholarships for graduating Milford High seniors.
Carrying umbrellas along with their small candles, a large crowd of customers at Royal Buddha Restaurant turned out Saturday night for a candlelight vigil to honor the late restaurant owner, Tony Eng. Eng, who died of cancer this month, founded the Chinese restaurant in Milford 27 years ago. Many of the people attending the vigil had been customers for decades. The funeral services for Eng were held in Boston, which prompted a customer, Domingos DeCastro, to arrange the local vigil for people who could not travel to the services. The Eng family attended the vigil, including his three sons and…
The Portuguese Parade and Picnic drew an estimated 15,000 people to Milford over the weekend. Several hundred people lined the streets of Main and Water streets to watch the annual Portuguese Parade.
It was hard to find any relief in Milford Monday from the heat, but people did their best. A steady stream of customers came into the newly opened 7-Eleven on Main Street, to try out the Slurpee flavors. And the parking lot was filling up by 2 p.m. at the Fino Memorial Pool. At Milford High School, work went on as scheduled to paint lane stripes on the new track surface. Ryan Pierce, owner of New England Track and Field Striping, said he would continue working despite the heat. He and a co-worker were just taking steps to stay hydrated. "we're used to it," he said.
Just in time for the heat wave of early summer, the state-run Sen. P. Eugene Casey Memorial Pool and the town-run Fino Memorial Pool have opened for the season.
If you didn't see them running away from the buildings, giving eachother hugs, you might have guessed that Monday was the final day of the 2011-12 school year. Middle School East held its promotion ceremony early Monday morning, formally transferring 300 former middle school students to the high school. And everyone else let out early.
The Milford Boys' Varsity Baseball team ended its season Tuesday, falling to St. Peter-Marian, 10-4. The boys claimed the Mid-Wach League title last week.
Milford firefighters held a brief ceremony Sunday, noting several of the lives lost in the profession this year in Massachusetts, and taking stock of their own practices to keep themselves safe. The Firefighters Memorial Sunday ceremony drew several political figures, including state Sen. Richard Moore, as well as about two dozen family members. In his address, Brian Murray, chairman of the Milford Board of Selectmen, said firefighters and their families know all too well what might happen in the course of a work day, but go to work anyway."I don't know that many of the Sept. 11 firefighers, …
Milford residents paid tribute to America's veterans, and the ones in their town, with a parade and speaking program Monday. The highlight of the program was the return of the "dog tags" worn by PFC Wayne D. Hamel, of Milford, killed at 20 in 1968, during the Vietnam War. The metal tags were returned by an organization, based in Connecticut, that purchases dog tags being sold on the internet and tries to identify their rightful owners. In cases where the veteran is no longer living, the organization, Cana Mission, tries to identify the surving family. Hamel, a graduate of Milford High School…
Nearly 500 people participated overnight Friday in the Relay for Life of Greater Milford, raising money to combat all forms of cancer. The amount raised was estimated at $75,000, and was expected to grow through Saturday, as people contributed at the event. The 15-hour event, held on the new track at Milford High School, drew families and cancer survivors from eight towns, including Milford. The survivors and their families took the first, ceremonial lap, kicking off the event for everyone. Tom Smith, whose wife, Tracy, died last month of breast cancer, spoke at the opening ceremony for the …
Milford Youth Baseball players, their parents and grandparents, and 21 of the players who represented Milford on the original 1952 team were at Rosenfeld Park Sunday, to kick off the 2012 season. The 60th anniversary event began with the traditional parade down East Main Street, to the ball park, and included about 300 children and families. Of the 1952 players, about 16 were able to attend the event. According to organizers, they included: Fred Oldfield, John Salvia, Peter Costanza, Ernie Richards, Bernie Tessicini, John Cook, Tom Chiccarelli, Charlie DiAntonio, Joe Apicella, John Consoletti…
An evening of Patriots sightings, signings and auctioned items drew a full house to PiNZ Thursday, where fans helped Vince Wilfork raise at least $175,000 for diabetes research and prevention. Accompanied by his wife, Bianca, Wilfork addressed the standing-room crowd, saying he was overwhelmed by the show of support. "Every one of you makes this thing special for me," he said. The cause of diabetes research and treatment is close to him. Ten years ago, his wife said, his father died of complications from the disease. The money raised from the 2012 NFL Draft Party event will go to Joslin …
Milford parents and children came hungry and curious to the Festival of Cultures Wednesday night, willing to sample pretty much anything that was offered. Several hundred people attended the event at Stacy Middle School, designed to showcase the cultures and heritage of the students who attend the public school system in Milford. Parents of students proudly produced family recipes, and brought in their cultural cuisines. Students worked on the booths, which had cultural information about their countries. The beans and rice didn't last long at the Colombia table, and the savory Kazakh rice was…
The 1873 Steer and Turner pipe organ at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic church has been getting some needed attention this month. A campaign has begun to raise $12,500 to make needed repairs on the instrument, including a re-leathering of its bellows, which holds the air that is blown through the pipes. A benefit concert for the pipe organ repairs was held Sunday at the church, and featured the Choir of St. Mary of the Assumption, cellist Eleanor Blake, and music from the organ itself. A second benefit concert will be held June 23 at Memorial Hall. Donations can be made out to the church…
The Milford Lusitanos Football Club is a newly created Milford-based soccer club for men, which had its first game Saturday against a Waltham team, Sports Identity. The Lusitanos won, 4-0, with goals by players Jason Silva and Matt Morais. The Lusitanos will host a fundraising dinner Saturday night at St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic parish. The club hopes to be able to provide youth soccer fees for children who otherwise could not participate, according to its Facebook page. The Lusitanos club is part of the Bay State Soccer League.
Milford defeated Clinton 18-0 in the opening game of the two-day Charlie Stand Baseball Tournament. The final game is today against a more seasoned team, St. Peter-Marian.
