Letter: A Successful Cereal Drive

Letters to the Editor can be sent to andrew.sylvia@patch.com. Submitted letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Patch or its advertisers.

Dear friends, Well, another cereal drive has been successfully completed. Thank you so much to all of you for your help in feeding the hungry this year, and for remembering the victims of September 11th and their families. With your help, we raised more than 650 boxes of cereal, which were delivered in 5 vans to the Open Pantry of Greater Lowell on Saturday, September 17th. It always amazes us how willing groups of people can be to come together to support each other. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. The cereal drive has grown so much this year. We expanded not only into the high school, but into two other towns as well. There are now people helping in Groton and Chelmsford, in addition to everyone who steps up to …

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VIDEO: Westford Firefighters Pipes & Drums Perform at the Acton 9/11 Memorial Ceremony

Two members from the Westford Firefighters Pipes & Drums share their story about why they like playing the pipes.

William Cashman and Troy Saunders, from the Westford Firefighters Pipes & Drums, talk with Acton Patch about how they came to play the pipes. The Westford Firefighters Pipes & Drums performed at the Acton 9/11 Memorial ceremony this past Sunday. Saunders was a volunteer firefighter in Queens New York for many years and shares his story with Patch about how he was taking a firefighters test in New Hampshire when 9/11 happened.

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Photo of the Day: A Corporate 9/11 Memorial

Co-workers of two 9/11 victims with ties to Westford were honored by Framingham-based TJX recently.

Westford resident Susan McKay, Westford 9/11 Cereal Drive inspiration Christine Barbuto, and five other TJX employees that lost their lives on 9/11 were honored recently in a ceremony at the company's headquarters in Framingham, Massachusetts.  Along with our own lost colleagues, we honor the thousands of lives lost, innocent people from every walk of life and background,” said TJX chief executive officer Carol Meyrowitz.  In addition to the ceremony marking the tenth anniversary of the tragic day, TJX also made a $50,000 donation to the FealGood Foundation, an organization assisting first responders injured during selfless acts on 9/11. 

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VIDEO: Planning A Westford 9/11 Memorial

Local volunteers and businesses came together to build a 9/11 memorial bench to commemorate event. The bench will be unveiled on the tenth anniversary of the tragic day.

Local volunteers such as Nancy Cook came together to help fundraise for a bench on Westford Common that they hope can help commemorate the 9/11 tragedy as they unveil it on the tenth anniversary of the event. Following the ceremony, the Westford Museum will be open for Special 9/11 Exhibit from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. More information on how to donate toward fundraising efforts for the bench can be found at westford.com/911 .

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VIDEO: Thoughts of Westford Residents Ten Years After 9/11

We talked to people outside of the J.V Fletcher Library and asked them what was on their minds as the tenth anniversary of 9/11 draws near.

On a rainy day earlier this week, we talked to several local residents walking into the J.V Fletcher Library on their thoughts as the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approaches. Here are some of the highlights from what we found.

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9/11 Bench Coming To Town Common

The Bench was approved unanimously by the Board of Selectmen last week.

During last week’s meeting, the Board of Selectmen laid the groundwork for a group of local citizens looking to install a 9/11 memorial bench near the time capsule on the Common in advance of date’s tenth anniversary. The bench, which was paid for through donations into the Westford Remembers 9/11 Memorial Fund at Northern Bank, was approved unanimously. The only concerns stemming from the bench’s potential affect on decorations on the Common for the holidays, which were quickly allayed after testimony after a brief discussion. Additionally, the Selectmen also approved the closure of Lincoln Street from 8:00 a.m to 10:30 a.m on Sunday, September 11 for a memorial being held on the common.  

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: May 3

Election day; start of a long rainy spell.

Before you head out and start your Tuesday, here are five things you need to know: 1. CLOUDY, RAINY. It will be cloudy today, with a chance of showers late tonight. It will rain most of tomorrow and the rest of the week. 2. ELECTION DAY. Polls will be open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. for the uncontested municipal election. There are seven races. Click here to see a list of polling places and candidates appearing on the ballot. Westford Patch will post vote totals tonight as soon as they come in. 3. BIN LADEN REACTION. Some Westford residents expressed relief Monday over the news of Osama bin Laden's death. The 9/11 attacks he masterminded killed two Westford residents. You can add your reaction on our website or on Facebook. 4. DID YOU KNOW? There were …

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Osama bin Laden is Dead

President Obama announced bin Laden's death in an address to the nation Sunday.

Osama bin Laden is dead, President Obama announced Sunday night. "Justice is done," Obama said in a televised national address. “For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda. “The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores, and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war." The 9/11 attacks bin Laden masterminded killed Westford residents Susan MacKay and James Hayden. MacKay was aboard American Airlines …

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