Greetings Front Porch friends!

Oh those Sox! Oh That Josh Beckett! Back we go to Fenway!

What was up with that Lofton-Beckett bench-clearing verbal exhcange?

Congratulations to Jeannette Misuraca, the newest local Athena! I heard from Joan Swain that the ceremony held Wednesday night at Venice was lovely and that all the Athena nominees looked stunning and that Pat Murphy looked especially beautiful. As you may recall, the Athena Awards are a presentation of the Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce. Congrats Jeannette!

GOOD NEWS!!! Westerly Council President Mary Jane DiMaio is a grandmother for the fourth time! Di Maio's daughter Mary Jane Caraway gave birth to Danica Jane Caraway (six pounds, 13 ounces) Wednesday  morning at The Westerly Hospital. Welcome to the world little Danica and congratulations to the new mom and daddy Travis, and we won't forget you Grandpa Tony! Best wishes to you all.

In a bit of sad news, I just learned that Ernestine Nardone passed away last night. Ernestine is the mother of Barbara Nardone and Joy Sacco and the sister-in-law of Henry Nardone.

The WARM shelter is sponsoring a Family Breakfast on Sunday to support Harvest Homes (the only family shelter program in Washington County)  at the Calabrese Club from 9 am to 12 pm.  The Warm Board invited me to help serve breakfast from 10:30 a.m. to noon. I, in turn, invite you to drop by for breakfast and allow me to serve you!!!

After breakfast you can pop over to Central Baptist Church! Faithful Front Porch reader Andrea Silverstri dropped a line to share the news about the "Basket Raffle" planned for Sunday (Oct. 21) from 1 to 4 p.m. at Central Baptist on 16 Elm Street, Westerly.

"Come support Miss Pat, of the Children's Room at the Westerly Public Library.  She has touched so many families in our community through the years.  It's time for us to come together and support her and her family through a difficult time," Andrea said, "as Pat's husband is battling cancer."

Silvestri says that there will be many "amazing baskets to raffle including those with the following themes; Halloween, Baking Cookies, Rainy Day, Winter Wonderland, Movies, Sweet Treats, Twists $50 gift card, Home Depot, Kidz In The Kitchen, Reading, Family Entertainment and Cooking. Coffee, tea and desserts will also be served."

Well, another tough outcome for Sox fans. To cheer us up a little, let me share a poem by Mary Oliver . Actually, I will share the first few lines and then give you a link to click to read the rest of it. I am going to put the link at the very end of the column.

In the language of baseball, I am 3 and 2, and not so nimble as I was once......

(Click way below for the rest!)

 Well then, what can I say? The Colorado Rockies are the National League champs and the Sox....well...there's always Friday night!

I suppose we could send some greeting cards to one another to cheer ourselves up - to encourage us to stay the course and continue to support our team. Perhaps we could visit Taj Tunes and send a singing greeting card! No kidding, check out the latest in "outsourcing" that I heard about yesterday on the "Here and Now" on the radio. Click:

tajtunes.com/

Speaking of tunes and music, the co-ed acapella  singing sensation "Fools on the Hill" led by Holy Cross senior Fran Rogers of Westerly and Whethersfield, Conn., won, the annual two-day college acapella competition at Boston's historic Fanueil Hall marketplace for the second year in succession, beating a number of prominent Boston-area colleges.  Bravo kids!

Mark down next Thursday, Oct. 25 for  the “Brews and Blues” Beer Tasting from 6 to 9 p.m. at Stonington Meadows, 769 Stonington Road, Rt.1 in Stonington. I spoke with Front Porch friend Wendy Carr who is so excited abut the event that she hopes everyone will pop over to sample the treats (from more than 20 local eateries!!) listen to the blues from the Karl Kelly Band. Proceeds will support Chamber programs including Santa's Arrival, Holiday Stroll and Luminaria, Easter Egg Hunt, River Glow, Virtu Art Show and Student Government Day. Tickets are now on sale for $30 and can be purchased at Prime Time Café and The Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce.  Buy your tickets today! or call Wendy Carr at (860) 460-5593 or The Chamber at (401) 596-7761.

Now, how does this sound?

Front Porch Favorite Emma Palzere-Rae has announced that  The Chorus of Westerly will hold auditions for A Celebration of Twelfth Night on Saturday on Nov. 10 and Sunday, Nov.  11 at the Chorus of Westerly Performance Hall, 119 High Street, Westerly. Children of all ages and adults are encouraged to audition as dancers, gymnasts, and actors or for walk-on parts.  For more information call (401) 596-8663.

I just learned about the new Rhode Island license plates! The Audubon Society of Rhode Island and Save the Bay unveiled the plate at a ceremony at the Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket earlier this week. Money collected from the sale of the plates will support environmental education in schools. They are handsome too! I will try to find a photo to show you the new design which features a nesting osprey and the words "Conservation Through Education." I just spoke with a very sweet woman named Dot at the Audubon Society in Smithfield who told me that they have to wait for a total of 900 orders before they actually begin production of the plates. (Meanwhile, when you call the Society and are put on hold, you get to listen to birds chirping away! It is such fun!!! tweet tweet!) As soon as they receive the 900 orders they will decide where the pick-up spots will be. Call (401) 949-5454 or send email to audubon@asri.org or visit the web site at www.asri.org

Click below for more information:

01f0689.netsolhost.com/Joomla/images/PDFs/osprey%20plate%20order%20form.pdf

Did you hear the country's very first Baby Boomer applied for Social Security benefits on Monday? I've heard all sort of jokes about that little tid-bit!

Saturday night will be busy in our neighborhoods for sure with so many things going on! The WEEF fundraiser with John Roarke is taking place at the Cooked Goose and then my colleague Mark Dullea and his band (including his big brother) Fat Betty will be at CeCe's.

This just in from my TRUE Front Porch pal Joe Iacoi that three local clubs The Westerly Lions, the Westerly Rotary and the Westerly Elks are mighty busy these days  planning for a BIG collaboration. The three civic organizations are planning a "BIG BIG Pasta Supper"to benefit the Bradford Johnnycake Center on Sunday Nov. 11 at Elk’s Club. Save the date!

Last Saturday was an exceptionally beautiful day at the Avondale preserve when the Westerly land Trust hosted a day full of activities to highlight the property, all Land Trust properties and the  work of this top-notch organization.  See the photo of the cute little owl! You can barely make it out on the arm of the volunteer.

Meanwhile, how about that Al Gore winning the Nobel??? Say what you want about the former VEEP, but he got us all talking about global warming. So, as we all make attempts to become more environmentally responsible, check out the Daily Green for tips and suggestions. Click below:

 www.thedailygreen.com

 Front Porch friend Jane Holredge invites folks to join her (and Charlie of course!) for an evening of fun at Avondale's fabulous hot spot, the Cooked Goose on Saturday, Oct. 20. The evening will include appetizers, dinner, dessert and the "side-splitting comedy of Charlie Hall’s Comedy Caravan." The 90-minute show will features three of New England's top stand-ups, who have appeared on Letterman, Leno, Conan, Carson, HBO and is guaranteed to leave you laughing. Actually, I just heard that my pal - the VERY funny John Roarke - is one of those comedians! Ohhhh...I can't wait! And yes, I plan on attending.

Jane says that 100% of the proceeds benefit the Westerly Education Endowment Fund. There are only a few tickets left so dash to your phone and call Jane (596-5866) or wait till tomorrow and call Margaret Pagliuso at 348-2715 or e-mail mpagliuso@westerly.k12.ri.us

    Long ago Ocean House friend, Frank DiScala, who used to visit the old place (OH) every summer along with his folks and siblings. I have a great photo I hope I can share...as soon as I get his permission, I'll post it. Meanwhile, his brother Johnny has a wonderful and very fun travel site (the link is below) that has all sorts of excellent tips and tales about traveling. I love reading Johnny's stories....so often they include stories of his family and are so heartwarming. When you visit johnnyjet, explore and find the story about his mom...a woman I knew and admired immensely. You will understand why I am partial to the DiScalas and to cute Johnny!

www.johnnyjet.com/home.asp

 Remember dear readers, You are truly what makes the Porch so much fun! Truly! It is thanks to your kind words and suggestions that I am inspired. Right Linda, Lorraine and Frank and Rob? So, enough said...I look forward to hearing from you! Enjoy this overcast October day and keep your kind thoughts coming my way, please? Please send me email by clicking below. Remember, I really DO want to hear from you - and I am just a click away!

nbfusaro@thewesterlysun.com

 Ciao bella! :)

Link to Oliver poem:

www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/10/13/the_poet_goes_to_fenway