UPDATED: Barbieri is Holliston Lion of the Year

A humble and gracious Peter Barbieri was named the Holliston Lion of the Year for 2010-2011.

Former Lions President Karen McManamon presented Barbieri with a plaque recognizing the honor at the club’s dinner meeting Wednesday night, the first of their new year.  “This doesn’t happen without all your help” stated Barbieri, who served as club president last year and introduced a number of initiatives for the 70 year old club, which experienced one of its most successful years.

In related news, incoming club President Andy Porter proudly announced that the Holliston club had been named Best Extra Large Club of the year for Division 4, District 33K for last year. 

A tremendous honor, the award recognizes the numerous
contributions made by the Holliston Lions throughout the year.

Membership in the Holliston Lions Club is by invitation
only, yet the club is always seeking new members interested in serving the community. 

Those with similar interest are advised to contact club Membership Chair Mark Ahronian at 429-8784.

DIETZ DELIVERS FOR HUSKIES

A week ago, the Huskies left the field the victims of a twin drubbing that might have permanently crippled a lesser team. 

This past Sunday, with an impressive 12-2 victory over the Crimson under their belt, they crawled out of the Hollisto Super Senior Softball League cellar and announced to the rest of the league that they had arrived.

Denis Dietz had also arrived.  A member of the Long Distance Tire team in the spring, Dietz is a HSSSL rookie who was making his fall debut for the Huskies on Sunday. 

With a strong 3-4 performance at the plate, and by making at least eight putouts in the outfield, Dietz helped propel the Huskies to victory, and earns Holliston Patch Player of the Week honors.

In other action, Keith Buday, coach of the Terriers, continues to perform his finest John McGraw imitation. 

Buday, likely the league’s all-time leader in coaching victories, guided
his club over Sano Obid’s hungry Minutemen 6-5 in the evening’s second game, before concluding the night with a 9-7 victory over Bryan Sweeney’s Eagles. 

The Standings:                

           W   L    GB

Terriors          3   0     -

Eagles            1   1   1.5

Minutemen    1   1   1.5

Huskies          1   2    2

Crimson         0   2    2.5

VFW WELCOMES HOME WAR VETS

The  wants to be among the first to welcome home a family member of any Holliston resident who is returning from active duty in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Post 8507 Commander Bob Lindsey has announced the “Welcome
Home” program, by which the Post has committed to provide their newly renovated function hall free of charge for such occasions.  The Post is also offering one year free dues to returning veterans seeking to become members of the Post.

Function Manager Dan Wetherbee should be contacted at
508-429-5272 by those wishing to take advantage of the offer. 

The rental form is available at http://hollistonvfw.com/halls.html    

A NEW SEASON FOR MAULDIN AND GRIER

The National Hockey League returned to the ice this past weekend, as training camps for the 2011-12 season opened throughout the United States and Canada. 

For two Holliston natives, the new season presents entirely different situations.

Greg Mauldin, a 2001 graduate of Holliston High School, is in camp fighting for a spot with the Colorado Avalanche.  Mauldin played 29 games for Colorado last year, scoring five goals and five assists, before completing the season with the AHL’s Lake Eire Monsters.  Now 29 years old, time is growing short for the former Panther in his quest to establish himself as an NHL regular.

In Buffalo, Mike Grier can look back on a long and impressive NHL career.  Grier grew up in Holliston, attending St. Sebastian’s High School and Boston University.  He made his NHL debut in the 1996-97 season with the Edmonton Oilers, and now with 14 seasons behind him, the possibility of retirement as a player is very real. 

Grier, an unrestricted free agent, reportedly has had conversations with Sabre’s management about a possible return, but salary cap limitations may prevent that occurrence.

Holliston hockey fans were thrilled last January when Buffalo travelled to Colorado and , a 4-3 overtime win for the Avalanche. 

The Avalanche graciously responded to a request by the Holliston Patch, and brought Holliston’s two hockey stars together for the accompanying photo.

HOLLISTON WOMEN VISIT CANCER CENTERS

n anticipation of the Holliston Walk Against Breast Cancer, a group of local women recently visited the Milford Regional Medical Center Breast Center and Dana Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center. 

Ellen Freedman organized the visit, which included an impressive tour of both facilities.

This year’s five mile walk is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 16.

Last year, over 400 people participated in the annual event which has raised over $360,000 for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute since its inception in 2003.

Additional information on the walk can be found online at www.HollistonWalks.org or by calling 508-893-9927.