By Brock Parker, Town Correspondent

Dozens of people attempted to attend a pro-gun rally in Lexington Friday morning despite an emergency moratorium the town placed on gatherings on the Battle Green after the Boston Marathon bombings this week.

Lexington Police Chief Mark Corr said several groups, ranging in size from eight to 10, to as many as 80 people, came to the town Friday morning beginning around 9:30 for a Second Amendment rally that had at one time been permitted for the Battle Green.

But Corr said after the marathon bombings Monday, and based in part on the advice of federal authorities investigating the attack, the town’s Board of Selectmen held an emergency meeting Tuesday to suspend all permits on the Lexington Battle Green temporarily. Corr said the town consulted federal authorities and state police, and they also agreed postponing the rally would be a good decision.

But dozens of people came to Lexington anyway Friday morning for the rally, and when they arrived Corr said police would not let them on the Battle Green. The decision was underscored by the violent manhunt underway for the marathon bombing suspects in nearby Cambridge and Watertown Thursday and Friday.

“In light of what was happening in the Boston area, I don’t know how we could not have made that choice,” Corr said.

Corr said police did allow the rally-goers to briefly assemble on the lawn in front of Lexington’s visitor center, and briefly say their piece before moving on.

Some of the rally-goers came by motorcycle, and were headed to other pro-gun rallies Friday, Corr said. The rally permit had previously been granted to a Stephen Redfern, whom Corr said was affiliated with Gun Rights Across America. Before the rally permit was suspended, Corr said other people were going to hold a counter-protest to the pro-gun groups.

Several people who came for the rally were still lingering near the Battle Green shortly after noon Friday.

Walter Reddy, 61, of Weston, Conn., wore a tri-corner hat and other Colonial-era attire to attend the rally in support of the Second Amendment right to bear arms, he said. Reddy said he thinks the militias need to be revitalized and restored in several states.

Will Harvey, 40, of Andover, said he came to Lexington to rally support for the Constitution, argue that the country needs to get back to its original values, and to urge people to turn off their televisions and care for the people in their communities.

Speaking together to a reporter, Reddy said there is no excuse for the attack in Boston Monday, but Harvey said that does not mean that the rally in Lexington should be canceled.

“When there is some sort of event, are we supposed to put our lives on hold?” Harvey said.

Corr said he also considered that the Boston Marathon bombings occurred on Patriots Day Monday, a holiday in which thousands of people also visit Lexington to remember the first battle of the American Revolutionary War. He said authorities were also weary of having a pro-gun rally on the April 19 anniversaries of the government siege in Waco, Texas, and the Oklahoma City bombing in the 1990s.

Lexington Selectman Norm Cohen said the board’s emergency vote to place a moratorium on all rally permits for the Battle Green was done completely in the interest of public safety.
Cohen said the pro-gun supporters can reapply for another permit once the moratorium is lifted.

--brock.globe@gmail.com

By Kathleen Burge, Globe Staff

The first responders who raced toward the finish line after two bombs exploded at Monday’s Boston Marathon included 151 volunteers from the Massachusetts Region 4A Medical Reserve Corps, doctors and nurses who expected to be helping runners with more typical and minor injuries get medical help.

Instead, the medical personnel who had been stationed a few blocks from the finish line heard the explosions and ran toward smoke and screams, some pushing empty wheelchairs, to help the seriously injured. The volunteers came from communities outside Boston, roughly bounded by interstates 95 and 495.

“They ran up and got the people to the medical tents,” said Liisa Jackson, coordinator for the Region 4A unit. “It was pretty chaotic.”

A total of about 200 volunteers were on the medical sweep team, given the task of sweeping injured or ill runners into the medical tents. Some of the others came from around the country.

“All of us didn’t know whether our lives were at risk as well,” Jackson said. She panicked because her daughter was with the girl’s father, closer to the finish line. Both turned out to be fine.

The Medical Reserve Corps is a national group that was created after another tragedy connected to Boston -- the 9/11 terror attacks – as a way to quickly mobilize public health teams in emergencies. The Region 4A unit was established in 2005.

Now Jackson and her group are working with the Boston Athletic Association and the Mass Support Network to make sure the volunteers who helped injured runners and bystanders Monday get emotional help they may need in the coming weeks.

“This is such a traumatic event and the things the volunteers saw and had to attend to will certainly have some effects on them emotionally,” she said. “I want to make sure they have all of the services needed to cope with what has happened.”

Kathleen Burge can be reached at kburge@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @kathleenburge.

Franco-Togolese singer and performer Brice Kapel will be returning to Lexington to perform songs from his upcoming album, Porto Seguro, on May 10th at 7:30 p.m., according to a press release.

The French Departments at Clarke and Diamond Middle Schools announced that Kapel will lead workshops and perform in concert on May 10th during the school day and will later perform the evening concert for the general public.

The evening concert will be held at Cary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students.

Just as Kapel did in 2009 while on tour in the U.S., he will again entertain audiences as he shares his life and French and Togolese cultures through music. Mixing traditional African sounds and songs, and the works of U2, Sting and Peter Gabriel, Kapel takes audiences on a musical journey in French, English, and his native tongue of Mina.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Clarke and Diamond Middle Schools from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; at the Lexington High School World Language Office Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; or in Lexington Center at Candy Castle or Macaron Sweeterie.

You can find out more information about Brice Kapel at www.bricekapel.com

By Brock Parker, Town Correspondent

The British are still coming to Lexington’s annual Patriots Day celebrations, but thanks to sequestration, the US Army’s “Old Guard” has canceled.

The federal cuts that kicked in at the beginning of March have forced the Third US Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, to cancel its rare visit to the Boston area this April to participate in Patriots Day celebrations in Lexington, surrounding towns, and a visit to Boston Common.

The Old Guard is the Army’s official ceremonial unit and escort to the president and had been penciled in to anchor a weekend of Patriots Day celebrations in Lexington. The cancellation has sent event planners in Lexington scrambling to find a replacement.

“It was quite devastating actually,” said Linda Dixon, a member of the town’s Celebrations Committee. “Fortunately, we coped.”

In addition to celebrating the Battle on the Lexington Green on the first day of the American Revolutionary War, the town is also celebrating its 300th anniversary this year and had moved the traditional Patriots Day parade from its usual time slot on the Monday holiday to an earlier time on Sunday to mark the tercentennial anniversary.

Following the early Monday morning Patriots Day reenactment of the Battle of Lexington between the Minutemen and the British that typically attracts thousands of visitors to the town, the Old Guard was going to step into the afternoon time slot vacated by the parade and carry on the celebrations.

But the trip to the Boston-area was going to cost The Old Guard, the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, about $40,000 in travel expenses, said Major John Miller.

When the federal budget cuts known as sequestration took effect at the beginning of March, Miller said an order came down that all military travel for outreach had been suspended—including the trip to Boston.

The Old Guard is based at Fort Myer in Arlington, Va., and had been planning to visit several other communities, such as Acton and Arlington, as well as march along the Freedom Trail and visit the Boston Common, said Miller.

About 50 members of the regiment’s Fife and Drum Corps was going to make the trip, along with members of the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard, which wears Revolutionary War-era uniforms and demonstrates the weapons and tactics of the era.

Miller said the last time The Old Guard traveled anywhere close to the Boston area was a visit to Newport, R.I., in 2008.

One of the primary duties of the regiment, in addition to attending funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, is conducting outreach to educate people about what the Army does. The regiment wanted to conduct some outreach in the Boston area because there are no active Army units in the vicinity, Miller said.

Dixon said that despite The Old Guard’s late cancellation, planners in Lexington have been able to find substitute entertainment for Patriots Day, including a visit by “The Original Shepherd’s Pie Dixieland Band” and the Norwich University Regimental Band and Drill Team.

She said the average person who didn’t realize The Old Guard had been scheduled for the finale of Patriots Day celebrations will not know the difference and will have a wonderful time.

“And that is what is important,” she said.

--brock.globe@gmail.com

By Rajashree Ghosh, Guest Columnist

As many of my friends and colleagues are celebrating Passover and Easter, I am winding up my celebration of Holi. Depending on the Hindu calendar, this occurs around February of March each year and just the thought of it makes me think of bursts of “gulal” or perfumed colors, food and community.

Several stories accompany this festival and you are free to choose whichever feels comfortable. As far as I am concerned, the more stories there are, the greater the relevance to common life and living. Spring season with the ending of the winter crop in itself calls for celebration in some parts of India and in other parts the harvest comes a month later.

Nevertheless Holi does count as one of those festivals that celebrate the transition of one season to another.

Legend has it that a demon who was granted several wishes including life, created havoc in the human world. He was deemed invincible – he could not be killed by man or animal, at home or outside, neither during the day or at night. He spared no one including his son who was a believer and worshipped the Gods the demon vowed to eliminate. He tried to kill his son several ways – trample him under an elephant, drown him in the ocean but he survived. The demon’s sister Holika who was given the boon that she would not be harmed by fire decided to take the child on her lap and sit on fire. However because the son prayed, he was saved from the fire while Holika perished. And the demon, to complete the story was killed by “Narasimha” an incarnate of the god who was half man, half lion, at dusk on the threshold of the house. So every household today burns scrap paper, wood or waste material a day before Holi - derived from Holika ridding themselves of all evil and purifying the air. The next day – the day of Holi is about exuberant colors, folk music and enhanced interactions in the community celebrating the triumph of good over evil.

Another story is about Krishna who was tired of being asked about his dark complexion when compared to his friends which included Radha. To change things Krishna devised the prank of throwing colors with the intention of changing complexion of his friends, girls included. Folk hymns and songs are composed and sung about Krishana romancing Radha who after initially resisting his advances gives in to his charms. This sounds as harmless and romantic as it can get. Another interpretation is that this story often becomes the sounding off point for what is known as “eve teasing” especially during Holi. Culturally Holi “allows” for what many anthropologists call “anti-structure” that implies role reversals, and the normal is turned on its head. All distinctions of caste, class, creed and gender are thrown to the wayside. Further, approaching another person hitherto unfamiliar and applying color on them is completely permissible during Holi. In an egalitarian world this would have been fine and for the most part it can be. Many incidents have been recorded before and during Holi where women are prone to attacks including groping and smearing colors without their consent. This can be because of ingesting the traditonal “bhang” an intoxicating drink made from cannabis but not necessarily so because offensive behavior is not regulated this day.

Perpetrators get away saying “this is Holi, please don’t take it otherwise.” The fine line between flirtation and sexual abuse diminishes as for many men it provides an easy access to women’s bodies. This behavior takes away from the essence of celebration. In the end many women recede into their homes where they are safer and not partake of the festivities or put up with all the transgressions that tantamount to abuse, which the men can “get away with.”

In the whole scheme of things the divide between women and men celebrating the festival inevitably grows. Nowhere in the texts – religious or otherwise is there mention of limited participation of women during a festival - which is what it has come to in urban India.

Subsequent to the heinous rape and death of a woman in Delhi, a recent survey conducted reveals that 9 out of 10 women feel unsafe in Delhi. The continuing instances of sexual assault on women reflects ingrained patriarchy which is further perpetuated through convenient interpretations of religious texts thus leaving the door wide open for serious lapses. My hope and wish is that the essence of Holi with its vibrant approach envelops everyone irrespective of who or what they are and transition to a more equal and just society.

Rajashree Ghosh is a resident scholar at the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis University in Waltham.

By Brock Parker, Town Correspondent

Lexington officials Tuesday evening announced the town is purchasing the Scottish Rite Masonic headquarters after the fraternal organization accepted the town's offer of almost $11 million.

In a press release after 5 p.m. Tuesday, the town said the Scottish Rite accepted the offer Tuesday.

Selectman Peter Kelley said in the press release that it is a historic moment for Lexington just as the town's 300th anniversary approaches at the end of March.

Lexington Town Meeting voted Monday night to appropriate about $11 million in an effort to buy a Scottish Rite Masonic headquarters the town has discussed using as a community center.

In a roll call vote, Town Meeting voted 173 to 2 in favor of appropriating the money and authorizing the Board of Selectmen to purchase the property.

Selectwoman Deb Mauger told Town Meeting Monday that the the Scottish Rite’s governing body would decide Tuesday on whether to accept the town’s offer of $10,950,000 for the site.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our future,” Mauger said.

The Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite has been attempting to sell its headquarters at 33 Marrett Road and plans to move into space at its neighboring National Heritage Museum, which is not being sold. The Supreme Council based in Lexington governs the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, which covers 15 states from New England to Wisconsin and Delaware.

The 10-acres of property the town is seeking to buy includes the headquarters, which has been in a mansion built in 1905 and a carriage house. Lexington is considering using the land as a community center that would serve senior citizens and young people.

Mauger told Town Meeting members Monday that the town first offered $8 million for the property, but increased the amount twice because of competition from other bidders.

The town will use a combination of Community Preservation Act funds, debt and tax dollars to buy the property. Closing costs will push the price over $11 million for the town.

Mauger said the Scottish Rite will remain in the current headquarters until September or October.

Only Town Meeting member Charles Hornig spoke in opposition to the purchase Monday night. Hornig said he was not convinced the location is in the right place for a community center, and the price tag would leave the town little flexibility in how it could use the property.

“The price is quite high, I think we all can agree with that,” Hornig said.

But Town Meeting member Pam Hoffman voiced support for the purchase, saying that hopefully people of all ages in the town would use a community center on the property, but the purchase would be worth the cost even if senior citizens are the only people to use it.

“If we buy it, they will come,” Hoffman said.

By Laura Gomez, Globe Correspondent

Young Massachusetts artists and writers were honored with national medals— 57 for art and 35 for writing— in the 90th Annual National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, according to a press release.

All the Massachusetts students qualified for this national competition by winning Gold Keys from the Boston Globe Scholastic Art & Writing Awards contest.

With 92 local students honored, Massachusetts was the country’s fourth largest medal winner. These winning students, grades 7-12, represented 58 schools, and 44 cities and towns in the state.

With 10 awards, Buckingham Browne & Nichols in Cambridge ranked first among Massachusetts schools.

Of the Gold Medal winners:

• Victoria White, a junior at Milton Academy, won “Best in Grade” for her poetry


• Lim Chungha from the Walnut Hill School in Natick won an American Vision Award for painting


• Imogene Robinson, from the Governor’s Academy in Byfield, won an American Voices Award for a short story


• Anna Xie, from the O’Bryant School Math/Science in Boston, won a $10,000 scholarship for her writing portfolio. Only five such writing scholarships were awarded nationally.

Winning students from around the country will be honored at a ceremony in Carnegie Hall in New York on May 31, 2013.

Winning artwork will remains on exhibit in the State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, through April 19. It will be open to the public for free weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Saturdays; and open Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Here is a complete list of the Massachusetts winners:

Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, Acton

Amanda Davies, 12th grade, "Lost" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Oakmont Regional High School, Ashburnham

Meghan Garven, 12th grade, (Category- Art Portfolio)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Tanner Gauvin ,11th grade, "Think" (Category- Art, Painting)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Avon Middle High School, Avon

Ivanna Depina, 10th grade, "Pink" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Quabbin Regional High School, Barre

Rachel Perry, 10th grade, "The Piggy Bank" (Category- Art, Ceramics & Glass) Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Allyson St. Pierre, 10th grade, "Take Out" (Category- Art, Ceramics & Glass)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Belmont High School, Belmont

Kimberly Paquette,10th grade, "Reaching" (Category- Art, Painting)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Talin Tahajian, 11th grade, "Chrysanthemums," "Of Blood and Butter," "The time is ticking," "A Beautiful Commotion," "Carrion" (Category- Writing, Poetry)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Amy Wang, 10th grade, "Wang In A Blanket" (Category- Art, Painting)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Samantha Xu, 10th grade, "Royal Flush" (Category- Art, Painting)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Winthrop L Chenery Middle School, Belmont

Hayoung Jo, 8th grade, "Untitled" (Category- Art, Drawing)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Paul Roche, 8th grade, "Six Eye Portrait" (Category- Art, Drawing)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Julia Siegel, 8th grade, "Indigo with Flower Pot" (Category- Art, Drawing)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Boston College High School, Boston

Alexander Bailey, 12th grade, "The Happiness Salesman" (Category- Writing, Short Story)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Boston Latin, Boston

Dara Lin, 8th grade, "Confictura Bella" (Category- Writing, Science Fiction/Fantasy) Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Cole Wennerholm, 7th grade, "Poverty" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Commonwealth School, Boston

Melanie Abrams, 12th grade, "What She Learned" (Category- Writing, Flash Fiction) Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Francesco Drake, 10th grade, "Green Bottle" (Category- Art, Ceramics & Glass)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

International School of Boston, Boston

Louis Block, 12th grade, (Category- Writing Portfolio, Writing Portfolio)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

O'Bryant School Math/Science, Boston

Anna Xie, 12th grade, (Category- Writing Portfolio, Writing Portfolio)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Brockton High School, Brockton

Kevin Francois, 12th grade, "Shock And Awe" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Kate Cutlip, 12th grade, "untitled" (Category- Art, Printmaking)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Southfield School, Brookline

Ji Hyun Yeo, 8th grade, "Reflections Of Twisted Time Phase" (Category- Art, Drawing) Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Home School, Burlington

Jinsung Kim, 8th grade, "My House" (Category- Art, Drawing)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Burlington High School, Burlington

Christopher Coe, 12th grade, (Category- Art Portfolio, Art Portfolio)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal with Distinction

Marshall Simonds Middle School, Burlington

Alyssa Healey, 8th grade, "2 Of A Kind" (Category- Art, Drawing)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

The Governor's Academy, Byfield

Myles Badger, 12th grade, "The Cotton Gin Curse" (Category- Writing, Personal Essay/Memoir)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Imogene Robinson, 12th grade, "The Cookbook" (Category- Writing, Short Story)
Awards: Gold Key American Voices Medal, Gold Medal

Helen Shi, 10th grade, "Clinging On Death" (Category- Art, Ceramics & Glass)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, Cambridge

Alberto Ancona, 11th grade, "True Happiness" (Category- Writing, Science Fiction/Fantasy)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Wenli Bao, 12th grade, "Soundproof" (Category- Writing, Personal Essay/Memoir)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Wenli Bao, 12th grade (Category- Writing Portfolio, Writing Portfolio)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal with Distinction

Harry Bator, 10th grade, "Dimmer;" "How It Was Done;" "Scorn;" "Monument" (Category- Writing, Poetry)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Ami Clifford, 12th grade, "Joy Division" (Category- Writing, Short Story)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Sarah Dahl, 10th grade, "Bus" (Category- Writing, Short Story)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Jake Kuhn, 12th grade, "Holy Cow! A Profile of Dairy Farmer and Cow Caretaker Edgar Pless" (Catergory- Writing, Journalism)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Caitlin McCarey, 12th grade, "The Doctor Of Delight: A Profile Of Jay Stewart" (Catergory- Writing, Journalism)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Margery Tong, 12th grade, (Category- Writing Portfolio, Writing Portfolio)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal with Distinction

Margery Tong, 12th grade, "Mori, The Lefty" (Category- Writing, Journalism)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Carlisle School, Carlisle

Daria Pietropaolo, 8th grade, "Hole In The Blanket," "Leaf," "Fence," "Monster Mud," "Yola's Little Italian Dictionary" (Category- Writing, Poetry)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Concord-Carlisle High School, Concord

Emilie Carr, 12th grade, (Category- Art Portfolio, Art Portfolio)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Hannah Ryde, 12th grade, (Category- Art Portfolio, Art Portfolio)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal with Distinction

Alexandra Mackenzie, 12th grade, "Hydrant" (Category- Art, Painting)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Home School, Concord

Miranda Cashman, 12th grade, (Category- Writing Portfolio, Writing Portfolio)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

St. John's Preparatory School, Danvers

Liam Viles ,11th grade, "Untitled" (Category- Art, Printmaking)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Noble and Greenough School, Dedham

Akshan Dealwis, 11th grade, "When The Gods Leave" (Category- Writing, Personal Essay/Memoir)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Irena Maria Maier11th grade, "Karamazov Shock: My Non-epiphanic Epiphany" (Category- Writing, Personal Essay/Memoir)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Everett High School, Everett

Kevin Angulo, 12th grade, "Boylston Puddle Reflection" (Category- Art, Painting)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Paul Vu, 11th grade, "Racing At The Speed Of Light" (Category- Art, Photography) Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

John F Kennedy Middle School, Florence

Mairead Blatner, 8th grade, "Pro Bono" (Category- Writing, Science Fiction/Fantasy)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Luke Haas, 8th grade, "Stock Of The Season" (Category- Writing, Humor)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Hunakai Studio of Fine Art, Foxborough

Elizabeth Civetti, 9th grade, "Apples" (Category- Art, Drawing)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Georgetown Middle/High School, Georgetown

Hannah Olbash, 12th grade, "Dark Walk" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School, Hamilton

Justin Finkenaur, 12th grade, "Elephant" (Category- Art, Sculpture)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Notre Dame Academy School, Hingham

Anya Petit, 12th grade, (Category- Art Portfolio, Art Portfolio)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Alaina Taylor, 10th grade, "Untitled" (Category, Writing, Flash Fiction)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Performing and Fine Arts High School, Lawrence

Elissa Salas, 11th grade, "Self Portrait" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Jonas Clarke Middle School, Lexington

Eva Kjelsberg, 8th grade, "Alone" (Category: Art, Digital Art)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Lexington Montessori School, Lexington

Alexander Lehr, 8th grade, "The Empty Men" (Category- Writing, Science Fiction/Fantasy)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

William Diamond Middle School, Lexington

Catherine Wang, 8th grade, "Chiesa Farm" (Category- Art, Drawing)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Longmeadow High School, Longmeadow

Kathryn Higham, 12th grade, "Sharpie Dress" (Category- Art, Fashion?
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Brookwood School, Manchester

Elizabeth Irvin, 8th grade, "Permanent" (Category- Writing, Flash Fiction)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Sebastian Carpenter, 8th grade, "Insect I" (Category- Art, Sculpture)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Manchester Essex Regional High School, Manchester

Julia Paccone, 11th grade, "Organic Glamour" (Category- Art, Fashion)
Awards: Gold Key, American Visions Nominee | Silver Medal

Marshfield High School, Marshfield

Lily Celino, 10th grade, "Shoes" (Category- Art, Drawing)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Melrose Middle School, Melrose

Gerard Frasca, 8th grade, "Landscape, Portugal" (Category: Art, Drawing)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Milton Academy, Milton

Olivia Atwood, 12th grade, "The Conservative Synagogue At 11 East 11th Street," "Burglary at 88 Allerton," "Senior Year in Five Haikus," "La Guerra Sucia." (Category- Writing, Poetry)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Jessica Blau, 12th grade, "Tectonics," "The Things I'll Never Tell My Mother," "Mermaids" (Category- Writing, Poetry)
Awards: Gold Key, AVN | Gold Medal

Jonathan Esty, 12th grade, "On the Removal of the Bald Eagle" (Category- Writing, Poetry)
Awards: Gold Key/Silver Medal

Sarah Hombach, 12th grade, "An Agriculture Major" (Category- Writing, Poetry)
Awards: Gold Key/Gold Medal

Victoria White, 11th grade, "Oncology," "Blackberry Winter," "Hardening," "Past Tense" (Category- Writing, Poetry)
Awards: Gold Key | Best in Grade, Gold Medal

Walnut Hill School, Natick

Emily Kessler, 11th grade, "Monopoly" (Category- Writing, Personal Essay/Memoir)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Chungha Lim, 11th grade, "Portrait Of Conveyance" (Category- Art, Painting)
Awards: Gold Key, AVN | American Visions Medal, Silver Medal

Needham High School, Needham

Noah Baker, 12th grade, "Uncle John #11" (Category: Art, Mixed Media)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Newburyport High School, Newburyport

Jillian Conway, 11th grade, "Untitled" (Category: Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Newton North High School, Newton

Audrey Derobert, 12th grade, "1 In 8 Teenagers Have Self Harmed" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Xiang Ding, 12th grade, "Beach" (Category: Art, Painting)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Newton South High School, Newton

Olivia Hamilton, 11th grade, "Tractor" (Category: Art, Sculpture)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Algonquin Regional High School, Northborough

Jessica Sheldon, 12th grade, "Moonlit Adventure" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Landmark School, Pride's Crossing, Beverly

Phoebe Britton, 12th grade, "Self-portrait In White" (Category- Art, Drawing)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Corey Kramer 11th grade, "Red Riding Hood" (Category- Art, Printmaking)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Berkshire School, Sheffield

Kevin Xu, 9th grade, "Self-Portrait" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: GoldKey/Gold Medal

Fay School, Southborough

Soo Hyun Hong, 8th grade, "Three Apples" (Category- Art, Painting)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Coyle & Cassidy High School, Taunton

Mercedes Lamb, 11th grade, "Cuppa Dolphin" (Category- Art, Digital Art)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Masconomet Regional High School, Topsfield

Allin Skiba, 11th grade, "Baseball" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Innovation Academy Charter School, Tyngsborough

Spencer Royston, 8th grade, "The Storm" (Category- Writing, Personal Essay/Memoir)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Wayland High School, Wayland

Jameson Hunt, 10th grade, "Ashen" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Wellesley High School, Wellesley

Anya Pineau, 10th grade, "Dressing Up" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Gold Medal

Wellesley Middle School, Wellesley

Sam Baltrus, 8th grade, "Scream" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Westborough High School, Westborough

Benjamin Li, 10th grade, "Uncertainty" (Category- Art, Painting)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Minnechaug Regional High School, Wilbrham

Emily Zheng, 11th grade, "White Days" (Category- Writing, Personal Essay/Memoir)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

Wilmington High School, Wilmington

Ryan Clark, 11th grade, "Cranes" (Category- Art, Photography)
Awards: Gold Key | Silver Medal

This press release was submitted by the YMCA of Greater Boston.

The Waltham YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of Greater Boston, hosts an open house for returning and new campers on Saturday, March 30, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Families can meet staff, check out the facilities, explore the different camp options available and sign up for camp on-site.

New this year is a two-week Teen Adventure Camp for grades 7 to 12 with a focus on outdoor adventures and activities.

“My goal for this program is to enable kids to challenge themselves in a new setting in order to develop their leadership skills, team work and communication,” said Brian Fendell, Teen Adventure Camp Director. “No prior outdoor experience is necessary and we provide all of the necessary outdoor gear.”

Teens will learn outdoor skills at Waltham Y for one week, and the second week takes them to New Hampshire to engage in the full outdoor camping experience.

Waltham Y offers eight weekly programs for children and teens ages 3 to 17. Extended day is provided for all camps. Activities include creating arts and crafts, exploring science and technology, daily swimming, participating in field trips, exploring nature, learning about many cultures and making new friends and memories.

Summer camp begins Monday, June 24.

For more information on the Waltham YMCA Summer Day Camp experience, visit bostonycamps.org or contact Keri Person at kperson@ymcaboston.org or 781-966-3629.

By Brock Parker, Town Correspondent

For the first time, Lexington officials have disclosed that they are proposing an offer of almost $11 million to purchase the Scottish Rite Mason’s headquarters on Marrett Road.

In a letter to Lexington Town Meeting members Tuesday, the Board of Selectmen team trying to negotiate the purchase of the property, said its final offer of $10,950,000 still needs approval from the full board of selectmen and could be submitted to the Scottish Rite as early as Friday.

The negotiating team said it has taken the unusual step of publicly revealing its offer prior to its acceptance by the board because the team believes it is “crucial to provide this basic information” to Town Meeting members before the upcoming Special Town Meeting Monday, March 18, according to the letter.

If the Scottish Rite agrees to the purchase price, Town Meeting members could vote as soon as Monday on whether to appropriate the sum and authorize selectmen to buy the property.

Prior to the letter issued to Town Meeting members Tuesday, Lexington officials had not publicly disclosed the town’s offer for the property because negotiations were underway.
Selectmen Peter Kelley and Norman Cohen are on the negotiating team, along with Town Manager Carl Valente.

Their letter stated that a bid the town submitted on Feb. 12 was one of five offers for approximately 10 acres of property the Scottish Rite owns at 33 Marrett Road. The town’s bid was substantially less than the offer the Scottish Rite was considering, and the town submitted a revised offer on March 6. The negotiating team learned Tuesday that another bidder had revised their offer and was now the leading contender to buy the property.

As a result, the negotiating team is mulling a final offer of $10,950,000 that would need the approval of Selectmen before it is formally submitted. Selectmen will meet Thursday night at 6 p.m. in the Cary Memorial Building's Battin Hall to discuss the property.

The town would use Community Preservation Act funds and funding from the tax levy to buy the property, according to the letter.

Lexington officials have been considering using the property as a community center.
The Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite Masons is looking to sell its headquarters and move into the organization’s neighboring National Heritage Museum, which is not being sold. A single family residence owned by the Sottish Rite on Marrett Road is also not being included in the property the town is attempting to purchase.

If the Scottish Rite accepts Lexington’s final offer, an open house for Town Meeting members will be held at 33 Marrett Road from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.