A Gold Star to Our Teacher of the Year

After poring over the nominations, Northborough Patch grants Teacher of the Year, 2011, to a Zeh teacher.

Northborough has no shortage of wonderful teachers. For the second year, Northborough Patch ran its Teacher of the Year contest, and attracted many touching, thoughtful and inspirational nominations. Ah, but we must pick but one. This year, our Teacher of the Year award goes to Stephanie Dennington, a second grade teacher at the Zeh Elemenary School. Her seventh year at the Zeh School, she taught first grade for six years and then "looped" with her class this year, traveling to second grade together. She was lucky enough, she said, to be hired right out of graduate school with a degree in elementary education from Lesley Unversity. Prior to that, she attended Skidmore College as an undergraduate majoring in psychology and minoring in early…

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So, Who's Got the Best Looking Tree?

Let's see your trees!

Here at Northborough Patch, we'd like to see your Christmas trees. Got the biggest one around? Smallest one? Prettiest? Best decorated? Funniest shape? We'd like to get a gallery of Christmas trees going. Just click and upload a shot of your Christmas tree. There might even be a Patch water bottle in it for you.

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: Dec. 19

Monday's upon us. Christmas is near. Spending is up this year, and the date for dropping off your yard debris is fast approaching.

Our morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. According to comscore.com, holiday spending is approaching $25 billion this year, up 15 percent as compared to last year. Are you helping the trend? 2. It's game show night at the Celtic Tavern. 3.The Exchange is still collecting wigs, hats and scarves for patients undergoing chemotherapy at UMass. Donate items, or money. 4. Time is running out to enter the $100,000 contest for decorating your house. Submit a photo to our Deck the House contest. 5. The last day for brush drop-off ends in days. Make sure you've got your yard-stuffs dropped off in time.

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Viewfinder

IMAGE GALLERY: Patch the Reindeer and his Fans

Patch the Reindeer (PTR) met some fans this weekend as he hopped the Holiday Trolley.

Patch the Reindeer had never been to Northborough before. And he'd never ridden a trolley. Not one to be fearful, folks were more than helpful with Patch, helping him find his way around. He made a lot of friends along the way. Check out the Patch Reindeer photo gallery. Have shots you want to add to our Holiday Trolley gallery? Please do!

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Patch the Reindeer Hops the Trolley

Patch is in high demand, but is choosing Northborough's Holiday Trolley as his stop this week.

Patch the Reindeer (PTR) is all over the place this season, hitting supermarkets, Christmas tree lightings, sporting events and even finding time to do yoga and walk the dog. This week, PTR is gracing Northborough with his presence, riding the Holiday Trolley in Northborough on Saturday, Dec. 10, and handing out treats to fans. We hope you'll say hello to Patch, have your picture taken with him, and share with him your favorite holiday traditions. In the off-season, Patch the Reindeer is a freelance journalist and is always looking for the next story. In lieu of carrots, please give him news tips and anecdotes. See you at the Trolley stops!

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Who Is Northborough's Athlete of the Year? [Video]

We want your input, and what you say has an impact. Who's the best in sports in our town?

Northborough Patch is looking to crown a sporty guy or gal in town as the Athlete of the Year, and we want your help. In the comments section below, please tell us who you think should be the Athlete of the Year and why. If you do not feel comfortable putting your nomination below, email charlene.arsenault@patch.com with your thoughts. Anyone in town can win this one. This athlete can be male or female, any age, any sport, from a school team, a private club or just happens to be living here in town. For inspiration, we've provided a slide show video of some of this year's Athletes of the Week, as well as sporting events from town. Take a look. And keep in mind, the Athlete of the Year contest is not limited to people we've featured in …

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Holiday Dates You Need to Know About the Post Office

Christmas cards, packages and gift returns—it's all about the timing of the mail during the holidays. Whether you're mailing to Africa, Santa Claus or someone in the military, you'd better get it stamped and sent on time.

Letters to Santa, gift orders and Christmas cards. They all depend on the mail, and timing, to make the holidays grand. Here are some things to know about the Post Office this holiday season. Known as the "official shipper of the holidays," the United States Postal Service released suggested mail-by dates to ensure packages, cards and letters reach their intended destinations on time for the holiday. For Domestic Mail: First-Class: Dec. 20 Priority Mail: Dec. 21 Express Mail: Dec. 22 Parcel Post: Dec. 15 DNDC Drop Ship: Dec. 19 DDU Drop Ship: Dec. 22 For International Mail: Global Express Guaranteed: Dec. 19 for Asia/Pacific Rim, Australia/New Zealand; Dec. 20 for Africa, Central and South America, Caribbean, Europe, Middle East; Dec. 21 …

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Small Biz Support: The Purple Rose

As part of Small Business Saturday, the Purple Rose offers some discounts to Patch readers. Must mention what we say here!

As Liz Nolan reported in our Patch Passport series this summer, the Purple Rose is one of the more unique shops to explore when shopping in Northborough. A resident of Northborough for 36 years, Vicki Martelli has been the owner of The Purple Rose for 15 of those years. She had visions of opening a tea room in town, but her plans were changed due to the site not having town sewer. That change of plans has worked out very well, as The Purple Rose continues to grow since it opened. The eight-room, two-story gift shop carries just about anything you can think of, including dinnerware, bedding, bath and body products, items for the baby’s room, a card line, candles, Spartina pocketbooks, and Dash & Albert rugs. The Purple Rose has managed to …

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A Case of Arson: Three Years Later

It's been more than three years since the most infamous Northborough arson case occurred, and some still feel its effects.

A row of antique radios that date back to the '20s sits along the wall inside Brown's TV and Appliance, above the latest models of flatscreen TVs. It's a gorgeous collection of 10 to 15 models, and an eyepiece for the store. Owner Dave Brown says it represents only a fraction of his father's original collection, lost in the infamous fire that ripped through a section of a strip mall in Northborough three years ago. "We had a much bigger and better collection," said Brown. "When it happened, my father called at three in the morning and I woke up and it was on TV and my father said, 'It doesn't like we're going to work.'" The blaze, set by arsonists who first stole scratch tickets from O'Brien's 5&10, wiped out five businesses that made up a…

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How a Cow Helped This Farmer Escape from the Germans [Video]

Kachadore Berberian, owner of Berberian Farm in Northborough, recalls the incredible journey out of war.

A cow turned out to be the lucky token by which one Northborough resident and two other men hinged an escape from a German prisoner camp during WWII. He's a farmer in real life, but in Germany, 1945, Kachadore "Kachie" Berberian pretended to be one to escape prison and slip out of enemy territory. It was 1945, the war neared its end, and the Germans were close to surrender. But Berberian, weak and starving, got out amidst the bombing of the city of Dresden. The journey depicts winding, aimless months of scrounging, bartering, walking, ingenuity and luck that surely brought Berberian closer to death than he ever knew. Berberian, a well-known and likable character in Northborough as the longtime owner of Berberian Farms, said he rarely …

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