Weekly 5: Bus Crash, Jake n JOES Opening, Patriots Cheerleader Auditions & More

Miss anything in Foxborough this week? Here's your chance to sit back and catch up on some Patch. Below is a recap of this week’s top five most-read stories on Foxborough Patch:

1. 2 Children Injured After Minivan Crashes into Bus Near Ahern Middle School 

It was a scary scene outside Ahern Middle School on Mechanic Street Tuesday morning after a minivan carrying two children collided with a Foxborough school bus transporting four children.

The two children in the minivan were transported to area hospitals while the four school children were reported, OK and brought to the Ahern Middle School office.

“All four school children on the bus were fine, thank God, and thank God the injured children [from the van] are going to be OK as well,” said Foxborough police officer Dave Foscaldo.

The children from the minivan suffered “serious injuries” but none are life threatening, according to Foscaldo. One child was transported to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Rhode Island and the other was sent to Norwood Hospital. 

Foscaldo, the investigating officer on scene, says it “appears the vehicle crossed the doubled line” and struck the bus.

“[Van] was travelling in opposite direction,” Foscaldo said. “Witness stated the van entered the bus’ lane of travel on Mechanic Street. Van collided with the bus and spun around.”

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2. 21-Year-Old Foxborough Resident Dies Unexpectedly

Foxborough resident Brendan Joseph Kelly, 21, died unexpectedly on Thursday, March 21.

Kelly graduated from Foxborough High School in 2010 and was currently attending Framingham State University. FSU president Timothy J. Flanagan informed campus of the news Friday through an e-mail to students, faculty and staff.

"Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
 
I write with a heavy heart to inform you of the death of former Framingham State student Brendan Kelly. Brendan had many friends on campus and will be missed. Please join me in extending our community’s sincere condolences to Brendan’s family and friends.
 
The Counseling Center will be open on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m., and during the week between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. for anyone seeking emotional support during this difficult time.

Sincerely,
 
Timothy J. Flanagan
President"

Brendan was the son of Brian and Beverly Kelly.

Brendan was born on Nov. 3, 1991 and was an outdoorsman who enjoyed kayaking and hiking. He enjoyed history and hanging out with friends. He was a former member of Boy Scout Troop 7 of Foxborough. He also taught Sunday School at Bethany Church.

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3. Foxborough Resident Lauren Morahan is a Finalist for 2013 New England Patriots Cheerleader Squad

The New England Patriots Cheerleaders kicked off the annual Patriots Cheerleaders Boot Camp Wednesday night, the final step in the month-long process to select the 2013 squad, with one of Foxborough's own.

Foxborough resident Lauren Morahan, 25, is among the 36 finalists participating in the annual Patriots Cheerleaders Boot Camp. Morahan graduated from Foxborough High School in 2005 and has worked as a Boston Bruins Ice Girl.

Morahan made it through the preliminary auditions earlier this month .

Morahan was one of 57 candidates who were invited back for final auditions last Saturday and made the cut down to 36. Now, entering its final stages, Morahan and the 35 other contestants will compete in the annual boot camp portion, which consists of four sessions.

At the end of the fourth session on March 30, 24 of the most talented, fit and qualified women will be selected for the 2013 Patriots Cheerleaders.

Morahan and the other finalists will run through intensive training sessions consisting of elements of standard Patriots Cheerleader practices. The sessions will involve rigorous fitness and physical training, choreography, public speaking exercises and promotional appearance training drills.

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4. UPDATE: Foxborough Man Suffers 'Health Episode' Behind the Wheel; Crashes into Utility Pole

A 70-year-old Foxborough resident was taken to an area hospital after experiencing a "health episode" that appears to have caused him to crash into a utility pole on South Street Tuesday afternoon, according to Foxborough Police Chief Edward O'Leary.

"[He] was driving up South Street towards the center of town and had some type of health episode that caused him to lose control of the [vehicle]," O'Leary said. "Paramedics did initiate CPR and brought him to the hospital and I do not know his status as of right now."

The accident occurred just after 2 p.m. Tuesday on South Street - right outside of Town Hall - the same street the elderly man lives on. O'Leary said the man's H2 Hummer was the only vehicle involved in the accident and the driver was the lone occupant of the vehicle.

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5. Jake n JOES to Open Foxborough Location on March 26

It may have took longer than many expected but Jake n JOES Sports Grille is finally set to open its doors in Foxborough.

Amy S. Riordan, director of sales & marketing for Chateau Restaurants, told Foxborough Patch Thursday morning the sports grille will open for dinner only on Tuesday, March 26 at 4:30 p.m. before expanding its service to lunch (11 a.m. opening) and dinner on Tuesday, April 2.

“We like a soft opening so that we may work the kinks out,” Riordan said in an earlier interview.

The sports grille had targeted opening by the end of January but renovations moved that date into February. However, significant changes to the floor plan that was submitted with the restaurant’s liquor license and permits forced Jake n JOES to further delay its opening while ownership got the paperwork in order with both the town and state.

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