(Editor's Note: This article was first published in January, 2012. It is being re-published today as part of National Autism Awareness Day.) When Jennifer Tortolano and Julann Briggs opened Live Life Fitness and Wellness in January of 2011, they knew they wanted it to be a different kind of health club. From the very beginning their goal was to create a welcoming atmosphere where families could spend time and experience wellness together. Not always certain what direction that goal would take them in, Tortolano and Briggs have spent the past 12 months meeting new clients and helping them find…

On January 9, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino declared a public health emergency because of the flu outbreak that was quickly overtaking the city. At that point the state of Massachusetts had already suffered 18 flu related deaths and Menino was encouraging residents who had not already received a flu shot to get one. While the official health emergency was declared in Boston, that didn’tmean that cities and towns throughout the state were not entering into the same dangerous situation. The 2013 flu season is well underway and, by all accounts, it’s going to be memorable one. Not all individuals …

When lifelong Wilmington resident George Bradley lost his home in a devastating fire on December 6, his friends and neighbors all around town were, in a word, shocked. All over town residents who had come to respect George for his kindness and generosity were devastated to learn of his loss and determined to find a way to help him out. A member of the Wilmington High School class of 1974, Bradley is best known around town for having spent more than 20 years managing the Shell Station on Route 62 in North Wilmington. If you ever owned a hot rod, a custom van or simply needed your truck fixed, …

When Stacie Murphy reached out to the local community last week for support planning a candlelight vigil in memory of the lives lost at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, she had high hopes.  She knew that Wilmington residents were touched by the tragedy and anticipated that they would appreciate an opportunity to come together to support the Newtown, Conn., community. What she didn’t expect, however, was the overwhelming number of responses she received from organizations and individuals throughout the town. As a result, the vigil will take place on Saturday at 6 p.m. on Town Common. “From …

Since the news of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School broke last week, it seems like people everywhere are searching for a way to make a difference. Not since the September 11th attacks has it seemed so important for people to seek comfort and, at the same time, comfort those around them. In Wilmington, one of those people is Stacie Murphy. A lifetime resident, Murphy is an active member of the local community as well as the chairman of the Housing Authority. She knows what it’s like to be a part of the Wilmington community. She also knows how many people in Wilmington have been …

On Thursday, December 6, George Bradley’s world changed forever when a fire broke out at his North Street home. Despite a quick response from the Wilmington Fire Department, the flames were fast moving and the home was left in ruins. One firefighter suffered an ankle sprain but amazingly in spite of the heavy damage no one, including the family cats, was seriously injured. For Bradley’s neighbors the damage was almost incomprehensible. “It is absolutely heartbreaking to look out my window and see nothing but the pile of rubble left behind,” said North Street resident Lilia Maselli Seeing the …

When the Pop Warner season officially began on August 1, everyone involved had high hopes that it was going to be a terrific one. Today, almost four months later, it’s clear that those expectations were right on track. Players, cheerleaders, families, coaches and board members all enjoyed an incredible season with plenty to be happy about. “This has been, by far, the most successful season we have had in a decade,” Pop Warner president Deb Smith said. Of course, the cheer season is still in full gear and two teams, the B team (junior midget) and A team (midget) are heading to Florida next …

Do you ever wonder what your neighbors are thinking? Well, here at Patch we love to hear what people in Wilmington are thinking. Today, in honor of Thanksgiving, we thought it would be fun to talk to a few residents and share what, exactly, they are thankful for this year. For many people here in town, family tops the list when it comes to Thanksgiving. Eileen Mota sums it up in one sentence, “I am thankful for my beautiful daughter's and my amazing husband.” Former resident Patty Buckley Hersey added, “I am thankful for my two children. They are the two best things that ever happened to me…

Let’s face it. Sometimes you just need a little sunshine to get you through the day. For so many victims of Hurricane Sandy, that sunshine comes to them in the form of the donations that, right now, help get them through the day. Recently, an e-mail was sent to many Wilmington families from Wilmington Public Schools Superintendent Joanne Benton regarding a charitable organization called Sending Sunshine. The group, which is based in Andover, was formed, as they explain on their Facebook page, “To Shine with Kindness for Hurricane Sandy Families.” Once that e-mail went out it didn’t take long …

Sandy has come and gone and, while New England was spared much of the catastrophic damage that New Jersey and New York experienced, that doesn’t mean that we didn’t have our share of drama. I’ll be the first to admit that I was pretty nonchalant about the storm. I grabbed some batteries, put gas in my car and assumed that the whole event would simply blow over. What I didn’t expect, however, was that two very tall pine trees would actually end up being what blew over. A lot of large trees in town came crashing down and a lot of households, like mine, were left with a very dangerous situation …

As Halloween approaches and you prepare for the scariest night of the year there is one simple question to be answered. Have you been Boo-ed? Obviously if you have been hanging out at karaoke lately this might be a bit of a touchy question. If, however, you’ve had your doorbell ring only to find nothing but a Halloween surprise waiting for you when you answered, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Not your usual game of “ding, dong, ditch,” this new “trick” that’s taking place in neighborhoods all over town is all about having fun and spreading a little Halloween cheer. Earlier this week…

Twenty Five years ago when Wilmington’s former “good guy” Judy DiPalma founded Angels in Motion she knew from personal experience how important it was for handicapped individuals as well as their caregivers to have a strong support system.  Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis herself, DiPalma started A.I.M. because, as she explained, “I wanted people to be able to drop off a loved one at A.I.M. so that they could both spend time meeting new people.”  Today, as A.I.M. prepares to celebrate its silver anniversary it is clear that DiPalma succeeded in reaching her goal and, at the same time, far …

In New England, we all know that there is plenty of fall fun to be had. Fairs, farms and harvest celebrations abound offer families a chance to get out spend time together. Sometimes, however, avoiding the traffic, parking and crowds and staying right here in Wilmington can be just as fun and a whole lot easier.  Without a doubt the best known fall even here in Wilmington is the annual Horribles Parade hosted by the Wilmington Recreation Department.  Sunday, October 28, will mark the 45th year of this much loved event. The parade leaves the public safety building at 4:30 p.m. and costumed …

For as long as any of us can remember Wilmington has always had a certain sense of pride. Wilmington residents are well known for taking pride in the community, caring for our neighbors and, of course, supporting thier Wildcat teams. Youth sports are a huge part of the culture here in Wilmington and we, as fans, have been known to support our teams very seriously. Recently, a new addition to the Wildcat pride collection appeared here in town.  All you have to do is take a quick trip to the Town Hall, glance over to the field and look up and this new landmark is hard to miss. Perched high atop…

When Live Life Fitness opened its doors in January 2011, owner Jennifer Stacey knew that the business was destined to be more than simply a fitness center. Years ago, when she began her career in fitness, Stacey’s priority was to help and to give back to people. A mother of two, she was well aware of what it meant to juggle family and career and knew that, for many people, fitness just wasn’t always a top priority. Stacey knew that Live Life was going to be a “positive, non-judgmental, inspiring atmosphere” where her clients could not only exercise but learn to love fitness and, at the same …

When Tracy Botelho and Mary Buscone opened Fro-Yo To Go three weeks ago they knew that they wanted it to become a part of the local community. As longtime Wilmington residents and volunteers in the community they knew that they wanted to open an establishment that both welcomed and supported people throughout the town. From the beginning both Buscone and Botelho committed themselves to providing a safe, healthy environment that would, “give business back to Wilmington.” With a staff filled with employees from both Wilmington and Shawsheen Valley technical High, Fro-Yo is the place to be here …

Last year when Andre Vega started riding his bicycle to work in Boston he had a lot of very good reasons for doing so. Most of all he wanted to get into better shape. The father of three kids - Mason, Randall and Sydney - Vega didn’t exactly have a lot of extra time to spend at the gym.  An active member of the community and a well known volunteer in a number of Wilmington Youth Sports including travel basketball and lacrosse, Vega found himself spending more and more time coaching others and less time actually exercising himself. Like so many parents, Vega decided that multitasking was his …

When Cardsmart opened in the new Wilmington Plaza in November 2009, owner Richard Pignone Jr. knew that his business was exactly where it needed to be.  In many ways he knew that, before it even started, Wilmington Cardsmart had truly come full circle. After three years in town, Pignone knows that he made a great decision and looks forward to quite a few more years here in town.  The Cardsmart story is a long one which began a half century ago when Richard “Dick” Pignone Sr. opened his first “Merrilane” store in Stoneham. Little did he know in 1953 that his family would continue to keep his …

Family comes in number of different ways. Sometimes family means that people only share the same genetics and, sometimes, it simply means that people truly care about and love one another. For the owners and employees of Elias Country Store “family” often centers around the store and all those who work and shop there. A family owned and operated business with a long history here in town, Elias is well known for its commitment to both the town and its employees. This week, Elias Country Store more than earned and lived up to that very reputation. When one employee of Elias, Gail Daukantis, …

For Wilmington Pop Warner participants and their families all around town, August 1 has a lot of different meanings. Yes, it marks the last month of the New England summer, the final weeks of school vacation and even back to school shopping. Most important, however, is that August 1 means the start of the Pop Warner season. For players, cheerleaders and their families, August 1 really is the start of the most exciting season of all and this year is no exception. Teams have been gathering at the Glen Road Field and, as usual, giving each and every practice their best. Practice is, of course, …