Region – Today is April 16, the 107th day of the year. Thousands of runners will descend upon Hopkinton this morning to run in the 116th Boston Marathon.
Today is also a Massachusetts state holiday, Patriots Day. It is always observed on the third Monday in April to commemorate the opening battle of the American Revolutionary War. It is also commemorated in Maine.
And luckily for residents of those two states, because today is a state holiday, they have an extra day to submit their taxes to the IRS.
Today's birthdays include – Jon Cryer, co-star of sitcom “Two and a Half Men” (1965); basketball superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1947); the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict (1927); silent film star Charlie Chaplin, (1889); and Wilbur Wright, who, with his brother Orville, invented the first airplane (1867).
Here are six tips for the day –
1. The Northborough Free Library has some great events, Tuesday, April 17, for kids of all ages.
http://communityadvocate.com/2012/03/30/northborough-drop-in-craft-at-library/
http://communityadvocate.com/2012/04/06/northborough-science-experiments-at-free-library-2/
2. Everyone loves spaghetti! Here is a great fundraiser (with very reasonable prices) that the Men's Fellowship of the First Church in Marlborough, Congregational, will be holding Tuesday night, April 17.
http://communityadvocate.com/2012/04/06/marlborough-mens-fellowship-spaghetti-supper-2/
3. Even though it's vacation week, many local schools” teams will still be playing their respective sports. Check out the schedules online at www.highschoolsports.net.
Here's the link for Marlborough's schedule this week –
http://www.highschoolsports.net/school/Marlborough-High-School-Marlborough-MA/
4. There will be a free showing of “Princess Mononoke” at the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson on Wednesday night, April 18. The movie is described as an “epic Japanese animated historical fantasy that concentrates on involvement of the outsider Ashitaka in the struggle between the supernatural guardians of a forest and the humans of the Iron Town, who consume its resources.”
http://communityadvocate.com/2012/04/06/hudson-film-series-to-feature-princess-mononoke/
5. The Boston Marathon is, of course, the granddaddy of all local road races. But there are many other great ones that help raise funds for different causes as well. Here's a story about one that honors a late Southborough woman –
http://communityadvocate.com/2012/04/14/2nd-annual-bosom-or-bust-5k-in-memory-of-gail-rowe/
6. Here's a terrific story about a Shrewsbury woman who co-chaired an oral history that documents the roles of women in Worcester and their impact on society through the years.
http://communityadvocate.com/2012/04/13/book-chronicles-local-history-through-womens-voices/
