Community Corner

5 Things for Nov. 15: How Selectmen Voted at Tuesday's Meeting, Jeff Parker Foundation, Jaycees' Holiday Schedule and More

Here's five things you need to know in Foxborough for today, Nov. 15.

Editor's note: Five Things You Need To Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. If you know of something happening in town that did not make our list, please add it in the comment section!

1. Expect a Mostly Sunny Thursday with a High Near 44 in Foxborough

Today’s weather in Foxborough, according to the National Weather Service based in Taunton, calls for mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Light north wind.

Find out what's happening in Foxboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

2. Foxborough’s Board of Selectmen Lower Town’s Split Tax Rate, Waive MIAA Ticket Fee for 2012 Super Bowls at Gillette Stadium

The Foxborough Board of Selectmen met Tuesday to discuss, review and vote on the following town business. Here’s a look at the results from those discussions:

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  • Selectmen voted 4-1 (Virginia Coppola opposed) to maintain a split tax rate in town for a second consecutive year but reduced the rate from 2.08 percent to 1.04 percent. Split tax rate means there is one rate for residential and a different rate for business. Foxborough Patch will provide more on this story.
  • After a spirited debate, selectmen voted 3-2 to approve the MIAA’s request to waive the town’s ticket user fee for the six high school Super Bowls to be held at Gillette Stadium in December for a sixth straight season. Selectmen have approved the waiver request every year high school Super Bowls have been played at Gillette Stadium. Selectmen Virginia Coppola and Lorraine Brue opposed the MIAA’s request because they said the money being waived belongs to the town’s taxpayers. It was estimated at Tuesday’s meeting that the event generates approximately $50,000 in user ticket fees. The user fee gives the town $2.47 per ticket sold at Gillette Stadium. Log on to Foxborough Patch Friday for more on this issue.
  • Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the Oct. 16 meeting minutes.
  • Selectmen approved the Foxboro Jaycees’ request to decorate the Foxborough Common on Dec. 1.
  • Selectmen issued new Hackie licenses to Barry Kriegsman and Jason Lees. These licenses are valid for two years.
  • Selectmen unanimously approved Waxy O’Connor’s request to continue its liquor license violation public hearing from Nov. 20 to Jan. 8, 2013. Log on to Foxborough Patch Friday for more on this story.
  • Selectmen approved Toby Keith’s Bar and Grill’s request to open at 11 a.m. for the Dec. 30 New England Patriots game. Such requests, according to selectmen, are only approved for Patriots games that kick-of at 1 p.m.
  • Selectmen approved Toby Keith’s Bar and Grill’s request to for an extension of operating hours to 2 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. This request does not extend Toby Keith’s serving hours, according to selectmen.
  • Selectmen approve the Jeff Parker Charitable Fund’s request for a one-day auctioneer’s license for its second annual Cherish the Champions Benefit Gala on Friday, Nov. 16.
  • Selectmen approve Wampanoag Road Runners’ request to hold its annual 3.1-mile road race through Foxborough on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013.
  • Selectmen approved the Foxboro Jaycees’ request to hang holiday banners around Foxborough Common.

3. Jeff Parker Foundation to Hold 2nd Annual Cherish the Champions Benefit Gala

On Friday, Nov. 16 at the Putnam Club of Gillette Stadium, The Jeff Parker Foundation will be holding its second annual Cherish the Champions Benefit Gala to raise funds for and awareness to the Jeff Parker Charitable Fund.

The foundation is named after Foxborough High School graduate Jeff Parker, who lost his battle with melanoma in May 2010 at the age of 25.

“This is our biggest event to raise funds and last year we raised about $45,000,” said Jeff Parker’s mother, Roberta Parker. “This year we are hoping a little more than that. This is not only to raise funds but it is also to raise awareness. One of our speakers was diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 20. She is 28 now and is trying to make kids aware of some of the symptoms and some of the signs [of melanoma] as well as skin checks and staying out of tanning beds.”

The event will include a dinner buffet, live and silent auctions featuring tickets to Patriots, Celtics and Red Sox games, an autographed Rob Gronkowski Patriots jersey and autographed footballs among other items. There will also be raffle baskets and dancing to music from DJ Steve Bishop. The event lasts until midnight and tickets are $60 per person and can be purchased here: http://jeffparkerfoundation.org/gala-2.html

The money earned from Friday’s Gala will go to scholarships awarded to Franklin and Foxborough High School students in Jeff’s name, Sherry’s House in Worcester and families in need of financial help that are affected by cancer.

4. Foxboro Jaycees Announce Holiday Season Schedule

The Foxboro Jaycees, active in the community since 1961, has announced its holiday 2012 season schedule:

  •  Decorating of the Common & Nativity Scene Setup - Saturday, Dec. 1st, 9 a.m. on the Foxborough Common: Lights, garlands, bows, wreaths, and the Nativity Scene make the Foxborough Common ready for the holiday season. You are invited to come out for a few hours and join the Jaycees for this family event of decorating the Common. Everyone is welcome, and students can count this work towards National Honor Society or other community service credit.
  • Caroling on the Common - Thursday, Dec. 20th, 6 p.m. on the Foxborough Common: The Jaycees partner with the Foxborough High School Jazz Ensemble to provide this free sing-a-long event on the Foxborough Common along with hot chocolate and cookies to the public, before heading over to the Doolittle Home to provide holiday cheer to the seniors there.
  • Sand For Seniors – ongoing throughout winter season: A community development project by the Foxboro Jaycees to help senior citizens needing sand or salt during the winter season. If you are a Foxborough senior citizen who needs sand or salt for winter, the Jaycees can deliver a bucketful to your door. Call Mohsen at (508) 203-1670 and leave a message. You can also e-mail him at mohsenkh53@hotmail.com.

In addition to these events, at this time of year the Jaycees send presents to a needy child, assemble 250 fruit baskets for the Foxborough Discretionary Food baskets and enjoy its own formal holiday dinner, Yankee swap, and other events.

5. Patriot Place Events:

  • Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops: Enjoy a free photo with Santa, games crafts and more at Santa’s Wonderland.
  • 7 to 10 p.m. - Live Music at Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro: Welcome Bill McGoldrick Duo to Tastings' Music Series’ stage.
  • 11:45 a.m. - Twilight Saga Marathon at Showcase Cinema de Lux: The Twilight Saga Marathon is a complete showing of Twilight. Come see all the movies starting at 11:45 a.m.
  • 6 to 7 p.m. - "Fun" Raiser at Fanautical: Join Fanautical for a Fun-Raiser from 6 to 7 p.m. – 10 percent of all “SAILS” go to the Franklin Food Pantry.
  • 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. - Julian Edelman speaks at The Hall: The Hall at Patriot Place Presented by Raytheon’s popular Speaker Series continues on Thursday with Julian Edelman appearing in the Raytheon Theater. Admission is $25 and includes an autograph.


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