By Bonnie Adams, Government Editor
Westborough – The Westborough Cultural Council (WCC) formally awarded 2012 grants to 13 local organizations from Westborough and surrounding towns Jan. 18 in a ceremony held at the Central One Federal Credit Union.
WCC Chair Bethda Schuman said the group was able to fully fund the grants thanks to monies from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the town of Westborough and proceeds from the WCC's popular annual event “Arts in Common.”
“These [recipients] help to encourage and promote new and cultural events,” she added.
Leah Robins, a legislative aide for state Rep. Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston, acknowledged each grantee with a certificate signed by Dykema and the town's two other state representatives, George Peterson, R-Grafton, and Matthew Beaton, R-Shrewsbury. Also on hand to congratulate the recipients were Westborough selectmen Tim Dodd and Ian Johnson.
Mill Pond School Principal Irene Hatherley and fourth-grade teacher Laurie Woodward accepted two grants on behalf of the school. One grant will be used to paint murals on the walls of one of the school's corridors.
The second grant, Woodward said, will be used to take students to the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston.
“It's a great way to let nature be the classroom,” she said. “100 students will be able to attend a two-hour program there, and then tour the grounds. They will also bring their sketch pads with them to draw what they see.”
John Metzger, the president of the Westborough Community Land Trust, said the grant his group had been awarded will also be used for an educational program – one that involves snakes. The program, “Live Animals: Snakes of New England and the World,” will be held Saturday, March 31, at 10 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 17 Willow St., Westborough.
Steve Hilton of the Westborough Community Band said the grant his organization won will help to fund the band's fourth season of summer concerts.
“This gives kids who are active in the school band during the year a way to stay active [musically] during the summer months,” he said. “But we have all different age groups, too. It's serendipitous.”
Other 2012 recipients include – Assabet Valley Mastersingers, Hastings Elementary School Council, Northboro Area Community Chorus, Vivaldi Cello Festival Orchestra, Symphony Pro Musica, Westborough Community Chorus, Westborough Historical Society, Westborough Players Club and Westborough Public Library.
The 2012 Westborough Cultural Council grantees and their projects include:
Assabet Valley Mastersingers – Messiah Sing 2011
Hastings Elementary School Council – Hastings School Cultural Fair
Irene Hatherley Performance on Parade – a mural of silhouettes
Laurie Woodward -Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, MA
Maryan Maclelland Pietropaolo – Vivaldi Cello Concerto Orchestra Festival
Northboro Area Community Chorus (NACC) – 40th Anniversary Spring Concert
Symphony Pro Musica (SPM) Musical Tales – Family Concert
Westborough Community Band – Westborough Community Band Summer Concert Season
Westborough Community Chorus – Support of chorus show production
Westborough Community Land Trust- Snakes of New England and the World
Westborough Historical Society – The Haunted History of New England
Westborough Player's Club – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Westborough Public Library- Songs, Tunes and Stories from Ireland and America