Photo by Brenda Maguire

By Brenda Maguire
BrendaMaguire12@gmail.com
For Journal Register News Service

I woke up early on April 15, 2013. I turned on the T.V. to check on the progress of the Boston Marathon. I watched with a friend as the wheelchair race winners crossed the line. Just before noon we started walking towards the race to cheer them along. We settled in on the corner of Massachusetts Ave. and Commonwealth Ave. The sun was shining and we joked about how lazy we felt standing around drinking Dunkin Donuts while the runners were on mile 25.

After standing there for a while, we made our way to the finish line. I texted friends and family telling them I was at the Marathon, partaking in the greatest annual event in Boston. The crowd was too big, and we were stuck about half of a block away from the finish line. Then, just before 2 p.m. we left the Marathon and made our way back to my friend’s apartment in Cambridge.

It was five years ago that I came to Boston to attend Northeastern University. Over the last five years Boston has become my second city and my second home. I have cheered my lungs out at Red Sox games and have attended the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Southie. I’ve been known to throw the Boston-stylized version of the word “wicked” into conversation here and there and I have cheered on the runners on Marathon Monday. Although I will always be a Philly girl, Boston has become a huge part of me.

At 2:50 p.m. on April 15, 2013 something happened that would change my second city forever.

I first saw the news of the explosions on Twitter. I grabbed my phone right away, which had been in my purse since we left the Marathon. I was greeted by 10 texts, two missed calls and a voicemail from my sister practically in tears, thinking I was still at the Marathon. I quickly assured all that I was okay, but the calls and texts never stopped. The rest of the day was spent watching the news and responding to at least 40 texts and calls from my family and friends.

Where the bombs exploded is about a mile from my dorm. When I finally mustered up the courage to come back to campus it was devastating. There were military men with huge guns lined on the streets I walk every single day. I couldn’t walk ten yards without encountering a big group of policemen. This was not the Boston I’ve lived in. This was not the Boston I’ve loved.

On Wednesday afternoon I decided to walk around the perimeter where the police had blocked off. As I walked past my grocery store, I saw the first blocked off area. Walking closer, I saw the Marathon tents were still set up. Any other year, those would have been taken down by Monday afternoon, but not this year.

At each end of the perimeter there were makeshift memorials set up. People left flowers, notes, stuffed animals, Red Sox hats and various other mementos to honor those who were lost or injured. I’ve visited these three times now. Each time the memorial has grown bigger and bigger, showing the love in this city.

Thursday night I received a similar text to those on Monday: “Please tell me you’re not at MIT right now” with a screenshot of the report there was a live shooter on campus. The text came from my sister, who knows I spend a lot of time with friends at MIT. Thursday night I was up until 3 a.m. watching the situation in Watertown unfold. I woke up at 6:30 a.m. on Friday to learn school had been closed, so I put the coverage right back on.

Gov. Deval Patrick urged all Boston residents to stay inside, so that is what I did. The day was spent glued to the television just waiting for the second suspect to be caught. It will easily go down as one of the longest days of my life.

Finally, while hiding in a boat, just seven miles from my apartment, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was taken into custody. And then, we celebrated.

Hundreds from my campus gathered. I dressed in my green Boston t-shirt and my Red Sox hat. We chanted “USA! USA! USA!” Students thanked Boston Police, asked for pictures with them and cheered loudly anytime a police car would drive by.

April 15 through April 19 was only five days. Five days of fright, of love and of strength.

Looking back, I couldn’t be happier with the city that adopted me back when I was an 18-year-old, wide-eyed freshman. Over the past week, this city has shown togetherness and a compassion I have never seen before. The way everyone has pulled together, within my school and the city as a whole, is something I’ve found to be nothing short of amazing.

I could not be prouder of this city and can say, with no doubt in my mind, that I will forever be Boston Strong.

Brenda Maguire is a senior journalism major at Northeastern University. She is currently working as the Web Editor of The Huntington News and as a freelance correspondent for the Tri County Record. She is currently living in Boston, MA and is originally from Bucks County, PA.

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The thought of a Japanese samurai may bring many images to mind. Some of these might include samurai wielding swords in one-on-one combat or in battle.

But as art? That is a new one.

The Museum of Fine Arts’ new exhibit “Samurai! Armor from the Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection” opened April 14 and showcases 140 works from the Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection of Dallas. Gabriel Barbier-Mueller had an interest in samurai armor from a young age, which inspired him to start collecting pieces, which ultimately led to his creation of the the Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum: The Samurai Collection in Dallas with his wife, Ann.

“This exhibition superbly complements the museum’s own collection of works from Japan, which was first assembled in the late 19th century and since then has become internationally renowned,” Malcolm Rogers, Ann and Graham Gund Director of the MFA, said in a statement.

This is the United States debut of “Samurai!” and it will travel across the country after its stay at the MFA, which ends Aug. 4.

When entering the exhibit, 16 flat screen TVs showing images of the pieces greet visitors as a preview for what is coming next. Upon entering the dimly lit first room of the exhibit, visitors will have the chance to view three samurai suited ceremonial armor. The armor is intricate and colorful, leaving very little exposure to the body of the samurai. Much of the armor is made up of small rectangular plates that are connected with leather or silk.

Moving away from the body armor, the exhibit also features a chronological display of helmets to show the evolution of the headpiece. The display starts with a riveted helmet that would have been worn during the Kamakura period, from 1185 to 1333. Visitors will see the masks evolve to be more detailed and colorful. Some of the masks shown are only half masks and one is made to look like a human head, although the ears are not properly placed.

On the decorated helmets, spectators can see various elements including animal images and mustaches made of horsehair, which are placed on the helmet where the person’s upper lip would be.

Alaric Wrasman, a sophomore digital art and interactive media major, attended the exhibit on the opening day and said that although the exhibit was very crowded, he enjoyed taking in the different forms of art.

“I think it says something interesting about their culture and our culture because the mustaches were meant to be intimidating but I find them endearing,” he said.

Historically, constructing samurai armor was considered an art form and required a full team of workers. Blacksmiths, soft metal craftsmen, leather workers, braid makers, dyers, painters and other artisans all worked together to create armor that not only protected the wearer, but also incorporated motifs reflecting samurai spirituality, folklore and nature. Samurai armor was often showcased for guests to see when it was not in use, according the the exhibit’s press release.

Further along in the exhibit, guests can see five samurai standing, dressed in full uniform. Right across from them are three samurai sitting on horses, which, in addition to the samurai on top of them, are also dressed in armor.

“Arts of the samurai have long attracted audiences here at the Museum and this exhibition provides an unparalleled opportunity for our visitors to experience striking works of tremendous artistry,” Anne Nishimura Morse, the MFA’s William and Helen Pounds senior curator of Japanese art, said in a release.

Throughout the exhibit, visitors can learn more about samurai history and bushido, which translates to the “way of the warrior” through panel descriptions on the wall. Bushido encompasses both martial and ethical traditions, which include honesty, courage and loyalty. It also includes a warrior’s acceptance of death, whether it be in battle or ritual suicide, which was often performed if the warrior broke the code of conduct.

In addition to the armor on display, multiple paintings of samurai at war decorate the walls.

“I liked the long panel painting,” Wrasman said. “It was majestic and it put a perspective on the size of story telling art.”

“Samurai!” concludes with a showcase of three suits of armor that show how the decorative nature of the outfits increased during the 250 years of peace, which ended the dominance of the samurai. This evolution will be obvious to visitors due to the increase of decorative elements as the exhibit goes on. This includes the addition of animal or spiritual symbols on the helmets and armor.

The museum is also offering a Samurai Saturdays program, which will feature samurai-inspired activities, such as performances and art making, for children and adults. The exhibit also features an interactive online game for children, which can be accessed on the MFA’s website. The game, which was created through a partnership with Stan Sakai and video game company HappyGiant, pins the main character Usagi Yojimbo in battles against anthropomorphic animals representing ninjas, demonic samurai, evil spirits and monsters.

“Usagi Yojimbo gives us a fun way to engage young people and attract families to the MFA’s exciting new exhibition,” said Malcolm Rogers, Ann and Graham Gund director of the MFA, in a statement. “This playful game offers a window into feudal Japan and showcases the impressive armor on view in Samurai!”

Although some of the armor and masks had a scary appearance and were used in battle, it is obvious that there was great focus put on the appearance and presentation of the pieces in the “Samurai!” exhibit.

Wrasman said he would urge any of his fellow students to explore the “Samurai!” exhibit because, “You get to take a walk through a different and exciting world.”

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Check out what students had to say about this year’s Springfest concert featuring Cults, Cage the Elephant and Kid Cudi.

Growing up, children are told to “reach for the stars.”

And as it turns out, Downingtown STEM Academy Sophomore Eric Wan might already be half way there.

Wan, a 16-year-old Chester Springs resident, was awarded a scholarship to the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy (HCLA).

The scholarship, which was awarded to 227 students across the world, made it possible for Wan to attend two programs, each a week long, from February 23 to March 8 at the United States Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

“I was really excited,” Wan said, reminiscing on when he learned he would be attending HLCA. “I didn’t know what to say.”

Wan’s mom, Yonghong Chen, added, “I think it’s wonderful and he got an experience he never got before.”

HLCA, which is a part of Honeywell Hometown Solutions’ corporate citizenship initiative, was open to the children of Honeywell’s employees so when Wan’s mom asked him if he wanted like to put in an application to the program he said yes.

The program gave students an opportunity to engage in sessions addressing current issues in science, technology and engineering. HLCA offered interactive activities including, simulating jet-fighter pilot training and scenario-based space missions, to develop students’ capacities and build leadership skills.

“The program was solely based on learning to work with people around the globe,” Wan said, adding that they focused on not just being a team member but a team leader as well.

Wan noted that his favorite part was working as a team with the space simulators. Wan was acting in the role of the mission controller for his team and said he learned the functions of “a lot of buttons” and “what to do when things went wrong.”

HLCA also gave students the chance to meet with top scientists, engineers and former astronauts who provided first-hand accounts of their professional experience.

The speaker that resonated the most with Wan was a space shuttle pilot who he, incidentally, did not remember the name of.

“It was interesting to see him because he wanted to be a pilot when he was a kid,” Wan said. He added that the speaker spoke of his interest in science and aviation that started when he was a kid and it was interesting to see how that interest led him to a career.

“I enjoyed hearing his experience and story,” Wan said.

ELVERSON, PA – For many, the feat would sound impossible: run a full marathon just six months after having open-heart surgery.

But this was not the case for Elverson resident Jeff McBride, who completed the challenge on March 17 while raising $3,835 for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

McBride, 27, had open-heart surgery to replace his aortic valve and aorta after he was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve with severe regurgitation and stenosis, a condition which caused his heart to enlarge to the point where medical action was necessary on September 17.

Inspired by the birth of his son, McBride ran this marathon to raise money for CHOP.

Before the run McBride raised $2,335 and because he was able to finish, additional sponsors matched his original fundraising goal of $1,500, bringing him to a total of $3,835 for CHOP.

“Seeing how my original goal was $1,500 total – I’m quite happy with out it turned out,” he said via e-mail.

McBride exceeded the traditional marathon distance of 26.2 miles and ran a total of 27.67 miles in 7 hours, 13 minutes. He started in Oaks, PA and ended at CHOP, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA.

McBride said he started the first six or so miles off strong, feeling physically fit while running outside for the first time since his surgery and feeling emotionally strong because of what he was accomplishing.

“As the miles built up my lower body started to lock up completely, muscles cramps all the time and my knees felt like they were two bricks smashing into each other with ever step. I also ran out of water in my camelback when I got near Norristown and didn’t find any shop or drinkable water source until I reached Manyunk where I took a one-block detour from the trail to buy ten bottles of water from a cafe,” he recalled.

Although McBride experienced his body shutting down after mile six, he still kept going, saying it was as if his body was on auto-pilot.

He did note that there was one fun part of the run. In true Philadelphia fashion, when McBride reached the Art Museum, he ran up the iconic stairs just like Sylvester Stallone did in “Rocky”.

“I always wanted to do that but never (had),” he said.

Right before finishing the run, McBride ran right by the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, the same hospital where his surgery was performed. In fact, he even noticed the window to the room he was in just six months ago.

“I had a bit of nostalgia set in since I remember standing on the inside of the window, still having chest tubes and all in me, telling myself I would be fine, fit and healthy again and run past here one day,” McBride said.

Visit McBride’s fundraising website, Motivated Heart, to learn more about his journey at http://www.motivatedheart.com.

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For most people, the idea of running a marathon is too much. For Elverson resident Jeff McBride, who will be running a benefit marathon just six months after heart surgery, running a marathon is the first step in returning to life as he knows it.

On September 17, 2012 McBride, 27, had open-heart surgery to replace his aortic valve and aorta after he was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve with severe regurgitation and stenosis, a condition which caused his heart to enlarge to the point where medical action was necessary.

On March 17, 2013, exactly six months to the day after his surgery, McBride will be running the 26.2 miles that make up a marathon as a fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

“I needed something to help motivate me after surgery,” McBride stated in correspondence.

The first few days after his surgery, McBride could not get out of bed without being in pain, which gave him time to think about what he wanted to do when he could start moving again.

“Running was always an activity I could do to get away from it all, let off any stress, clear my head. So I decided a while ago that I wanted to run another long distance (run) just to do it,” he said.

He was inspired to raise money for CHOP after the birth of his first child, Mason, on Christmas Day 2012.

“(After) reading a few other stories online I felt I could actually do it for a better cause and to help others,” he stated. “I never thought I would be an emotional or over-caring type of guy but about five seconds after my son was born… I completely changed… …I instantly felt a type of love I never thought possible.”

Through online forums, McBride read the stories of parents whose newborns had a wide array of health issues.

“Ever since I became a father, these stories of new parents just like me would bring me to tears to even think how I would feel in their situation,” he explained. “Due to this I thought anything I might be able to do in order to help those would be the least that I could do.”

So far, he has raised over $1,500 for CHOP, which was his original fundraising goal. Now he has a reset his target to $2,500.

Additionally, McBride has a pair of anonymous donors to keep him motivated to finish the run. Whatever percentage of the race McBride finishes, his mystery donors will match that number as a percentage of his initial $1,500 goal (i.e. – if Jeff finishes the full race each donor gives $1,500 to CHOP, if Jeff finishes half of the race each donor gives $750 to CHOP).

“So, when I complete the 26.2 miles, they’ll donate an additional $1,500,” McBride said with confidence.

McBride will begin his run in Oaks, PA and will finish at CHOP.

Family and friends had their reservations at first about McBride’s desire to run a marathon so quickly after surgery, but once the professionals who monitored his health gave him the go ahead the consensus came.

“After I was cleared by my surgeon and his team, my cardiologist and my general doctor they all happily jumped on board with the idea and have been extremely supportive,” he said.

McBride admits he was nervous he would not be able to return to his active lifestyle after his surgery. He said he “didn’t hear many stories about anyone being nearly as active as I wanted to be” following open-heart surgery.

McBride, who joined the Army after high school, is no stranger to marathons. His first marathon was influenced by pure curiosity. On a whim on Christmas Eve 2011, McBride Googled a 26.5 mile route, starting in Elverson and ending in Frazier, and set out on his run, which he completed in about six hours.

“Little did I know on that day that exactly one year later I’d be in the hospital with my wife while she’d be in labor with our first son,” McBride noted.

Last June, McBride participated in the Spartan Death Race, a 48-hour long mud run with obstacles, trail racing and mental challenges that lasts for over 48 hours. The obstacles change every year, so runners do not know what to expect. Due to dehydration, however, McBride had to drop out at the 24-hour mark.

“The last thing I expected was that I wouldn’t get any water refills other than the camelback (a backpack that has a special bag for carrying water) I had on,” he said. “Luckily for this run, I verified there are many places I can refill my camelback so won’t have any issues.”

McBride is pleased to be getting his running shoes back on and to have another chance to challenge himself.

“Being able to do this run only after six months will help let anyone else who goes through the same process as I know that it won’t cripple you for life,” McBride said. “It won’t take forever to begin to live a normal life again.”

To visit Jeff McBride’s fundraising website, Motivated Heart, for updates and information on making donations to the cause, go to http://www.motivatedheart.com.

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While Nemo hit Boston, the Northeastern University community took to Twitter and Instagram. See select tweets and photos below:

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Pregame:

First Period:

Second Period:

Third Period:

To make sure you’re prepared for the storm and have the most up-to-date information, check this page as it is updated and be sure to follow The Huntington News on Twitter @HuntNewsNU.

Sunday, February 10:

6:28 p.m.

A NU Alert e-mail was sent out to the Northeastern community announcing that the university is fully operational and will be open on Monday. However, there is still much to be done across the city, specifically with the MBTA services.

Students who may have difficulty getting to classes or work on Monday should notify their professors and supervisors.

For students who would like to drive to campus tomorrow, the Columbus Garage and the Columbus Lot will be open to students who do not have parking permits.

Saturday, February 9:

3:56 p.m.

NU Dining confirms hours on twitter page:

3:44 p.m.

Northeastern’s Housing & Residential Life sent out an e-mail with the following reminders for students:

• We would like to urge you to remain indoors while the clean up operation continues.  The MBTA is still closed, as are most businesses in Boston and the Boston area.
• We’d like to remind you to adhere to university policies for alcohol and other behavior, because our emergency personnel needs to continue managing storm related issues and emergencies.
• Our dining service operation is open, and is updating their website with current hours of operation.  Please take caution when using your kitchen, stoves, ovens, microwaves, etc.

1:30 p.m.

Gov. Deval Patrick gave the following updates on the storm in a press conference Saturday afternoon:

• There were 413,000 power outages as of noon on Saturday
• MBTA will not run at all today and it is unclear whether services can be restored Sunday.
• As mentioned before, the driving ban will be lifted state wide by 4 p.m. The Governor encourages pedestrians to exercise extreme caution and urges them to just stay home.

12:59 p.m.

Gov. Deval Patrick has lifted the driving ban for Nantucket and all communities west of I-91. The driving ban will be lifted statewide as of 4 p.m.

12:19 p.m.

According to Gov. Deval Patrick’s twitter account the travel ban is still in effect.

12:02 p.m.

Mayor Menino tweets updates on the storm:

Friday, February 8:

10:03 p.m.

Gov. Deval Patrick shares updates about the conditions of the storm in an interview with 7News.

WHDH-TV –

And you can keep track of power outages in the area with Boston.com’s map.

1:08 p.m.

• Gov. Deval Patrick announced that he signed an executive order banning vehicle traffic after 4 p.m.
• The Whole Foods on Symphony will be closing at 2 p.m. today.

11:28 a.m.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino, at a press conference, reminded residents, “we are here if you need us.” Any resident can call 617-635-4500 with questions about the snow emergency or to get assistance if needed.

The city office of emergency management is monitoring the storm and relaying updated forecasts to the mayor and other city agencies, the mayor said.

Police Commissioner Ed Davis said at the press conference that over 150 BPD officers are dealing with the traffic concerns and will assist in towing any cars that remain on essential snow arteries after noon today. “Stay off the street,” Davis said. “Stay in your house until the storm is over.”

A spokesman for the Boston Fire Department said that the department has added firefighters to each fire company in the city and has organized extra companies to respond to calls for downed power lines.

11:11 a.m.

The snow has begun! Stay safe Huskies and check back for more updates throughout the day.

Thursday, February 7:

6:45 p.m.

The MBTA will suspend all service at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Prior to 3:30, regular service will be in effect but the T advised riders to “anticipate delays as conditions worsen throughout the day.”

6:15 p.m.

The parking office has sent out an e-mail alerting all students parked in all overnight surface lots (Columbus and North Lots) to move their vehicles to the Renaissance Parking Garage by noon on Friday. Vehicles not removed will be towed at owners expense.

4:50 p.m.

An NU Alert e-mail has been sent out announcing that classes will be cancelled this Friday and the University will be closed on Friday and Saturday. The e-mail included the following updated hours for services on campus:

Friday hours
Snell – OPEN to NU card holders only. Reference and other staffed services will not be available.
Stetson East – OPEN – 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Stetson West – OPEN – 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
International Village – OPEN – 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Curry – OPEN – 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Marino – OPEN – 5 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Squashbusters – CLOSED

Saturday / Sunday hours
Snell – OPEN to NU card holders only until Saturday afternoon. Reference and other staffed services will not be available. The library will reopen on Sunday at 10 a.m. with services and operations as usual.
Stetson East – OPEN – 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
International Village – OPEN – 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Curry – OPEN – 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. (Sunday – OPEN – 10 a.m. – 12 midnight)
Marino – OPEN – 12 noon – 1 a.m. (Sunday – OPEN – 5 a.m. – 1 a.m.)
Squashbusters – CLOSED (Sunday – OPEN – 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.)

3:15 p.m.

As a blizzard bears down on the Northeast, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino has announced a number of preparedness measures. In an NU Alert email to the student body on Thursday morning, Northeastern University said it is closely monitoring the storm and will announce any important developments or cancellations through various channels.

“This is going to be a very serious storm,” Menino said in a statement. “Safety is our number one priority, I want to stress that the best thing everyone can do Friday and Saturday is to stay home. Stay off the roads, stay safe and let our public works crews work.”

• A snow emergency and parking ban will be in effect starting at noon on Friday. During a snow emergency, parking is prohibited on all major arteries in Boston. These streets are posted with “Tow Zone – No Parking During Snow Emergency” signs. You can find a full listing of these streets at www.cityofboston.gov/snow/parking/. All traffic laws and parking meter fees will remain in effect.
• Mayor Menino has asked commuters not to drive into the city on Friday unless absolutely necessary.
• Trash and recycling collection will begin at 6 a.m. on Friday and will continue as normal until the roads are no longer safe for trash collection trucks.
• A number of Northeastern athletic events have been postponed from this weekend. For a full listing, please visit www.GoNU.com.
• Menino has activated the City of Boston Storm Center to provide information and service to Boston residents for all storm-related issues. Residents with storm-related questions or concerns should call the Mayor’s 24-Hour Hotline at 617-635-4500 which will have extra staff on hand to field any possible increase in calls due to the storm.

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