UTC 15.03.20

Transcription

UTC 15.03.20

TOWN CRIER
UPTON & MENDON, MASSACHUSETTS
March 20, 2015
Vol. 24 No. 5
www.TownCrier.us
Est. 1993 • Mailed FREE to all 5,800 addresses in Upton and Mendon.
Mendon Upton
School Committee
Certifies $31.8M
Budget
By Melissa Orff
Staff Reporter
The Mendon Upton Regional
School Committee certified
a $31.8 million budget for
FY16 for the district during
the March 16 Open Budget
Meeting. The budget is a $1.9
million or 6.39 percent increase
over the current year, FY15.
The certified budget will
mean a projected assessment
to the town of Mendon of $8.5
million, an increase of $1.3
million from FY15, and to the
town of Upton of $10 million,
an increase of $1.4 million from
FY15. To fund these increases,
both towns have stated that
a Prop 2 ½ override will be
required.
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Joseph Maruszczak
presented the proposed FY16
budget to over 100 people in
attendance at the Open Budget
Hearing including teachers,
administrators, community
OPEN BUDGET p 26
By Melissa Orff
Staff Reporter
Students at the Miscoe Hill
School had the chance to
show off their many talents in
early March at the 9th annual
Talent Showcase hosted by the
school’s Student Council.
Hundreds of friends, family
and community members
turned out for an evening
of musical performances,
comedy acts, gymnastics
routines, and much more.
In what has become an
anticipated event each year,
the Talent Showcase affords
students from grades five
through eight the opportunity
to feel like a
MISCOE TALENT SHOW p 23
(Right) Maddie Tremblay and Catherine Doyle
(pictured l-r), along with Amelia Ball and
Lizzie Pontzer (the hands) perform a humorous
“Munchkin Dance” at the March 11 Miscoe Hill
Talent Showcase. Hosted by the Miscoe Student
Council, the show featured 24 acts for over two
hours of entertainment.
POSTAL PATRON
WS CAR-RT-SORT
UPTON, MA 01568
Sports Reporter/Columnist
Kevin Hack left the New Balance Nationals indoor track meet in New York City both
happy and disappointed. The Nipmuc junior high jumper came into the event seeded
17th and placed 13th, outperforming most of his competition from all over the country.
His best leap of 6’5.5” was short of where he wanted to be. “It was a long day, as most
track meets are, and I sat there for awhile,” he said.
KEVIN HACK p 29
Kevin Hack at Nationals
GO
SOX
star on stage for an evening.
The show began with a
lively jump rope routine by
the Miscoe Hill Skippers,
which led into two and a
half hours of singing; piano,
guitar, drum and cello
numbers; a Tae Kwon Do
exhibit; a comedy routine; a
(Top) Miscoe Hill student Benjamin Lee wowed
the audience with his cello playing at the 9th
annual Miscoe Hill Talent Showcase.
Hack Leaps to Strong Finish
at Nationals
By Chris Villani
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT #35
UPTON, MA
01568
The Upton & Mendon Town Crier
Town Crier Publications, Inc.
48 Mechanic Street
Upton, MA 01568
Miscoe’s Got Talent!
Race for Upton Selectman
Write-Ins Needed for Three Offices
By Michelle Sanford
Staff Reporter/Columnist
A race is officially underway in Upton for the Board of
Selectman’s three-year seat. Newcomer Frank Aniello is
running against incumbent Robert Fleming for the office.
Fleming has been a long-time Selectman serving in the
seat for 28 years. Aniello currently serves on the Capital
Budget Committee.
Upton’s Town Election is scheduled for Monday, May 4.
The Selectman’s seat will be the only race on ballot.
However three offices, a one-year term on the Mendon
Upton Regional School Committee, a three-year term as
Assessor and a one year-term as Cemetery Commission
will need write-in candidates and no one filed nominations
for the posts by the March 16 deadline.
Other candidates who will be on the ballot include
Tanna Jango, who turned in her nomination papers for
the Mendon Upton Regional School District School
Committee’s three-year seat; incumbent Chris Russo
did not seek re-election. Jango is the incumbent for the
Regional District School Committee’s one-year seat, which
has no candidate running.
A number of incumbents took out and returned their
nomination papers and are also unchallenged. They are:
Ken Glowacki for the Collector/Treasurer’s three year
seat; Alfred Holman for the Board of Health’s three year
UPTON ELECTION p 11
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Charles River Bank Donates to
Bellingham Senior Center
SAL
March 2E
4
April 5 -
Happy Easter Everyone!
Belvedere Glenfiddich
Vodka
12 year
1.75L
750 ml
Tanqueray
Gin
1.75 L
Camarena
Silver/
Reposado
Tequila
Frangelico
Cruzan
Liqueur
Light/Dark
Rum
$31.99 $29.99
$20.99 $19.99
Dewar’s
White Label
1.75 L
1.75 L
$44.99
$36.99
$32.99
Silver Palm
Cabernet
Sauvignon
Sterling
Vintner’s
Collection
Pinot Noir
Principato
Pinot
Grigio
$15.99
$13.59
$10.39 $10.39
Coors
Banquet/
Light
All 18 pks
Narragansett
Lager
+dep
+dep
750 ml
$12.99
750 ml
18 pk cans
$12.99
1.5 L
Harpoon
All 12pks
$12.99
+dep
Domaine
Talmard
MâconChardonnay
750 ml
Angry
Orchard
Zonin
Proseco
750 ml
$10.39
Stella
Artois
All 12 pks
$12.99
12 pk bottles
$12.49
+dep
750 ml
Dr. Loosen
Riesling
750 ml
$9.59
1.75 ml
Giulio
Straccali
Chianti
750 ml
$8.79
Bud Light
‘Rita’s
All Varieties
12 pk bottles/cans 12 pk cans
Amstel
Light
$11.99 $10.99
+dep
+dep
Old New
England
Chocolate
Egg Nog
1L
$6.99
Lost Angel
Mischief
Red Blend
750 ml
$7.99
Pabst
Blue Ribbon
12 pk
bottles/cans
$7.99
+dep
Charles River Bank is proud to
support the Bellingham Council
on Aging with a $1,000 donation.
The donation will help fund the
cost of the Bellingham Senior
Center handyman, who provides
emergency repairs and services
necessary to enhance safety for
senior homeowners who are
unable to do it themselves. The
donation will also help provide fuel
assistance for Bellingham seniors
in immediate need.
Charles River Bank’s newly
renovated Main Office is located
at 70 Main Street in Medway, and Left to right: Senior Center Assistant Director/Outreach Lisa
Mottola; Charles River Bank Sr. Vice President Ann Sherry;
new state-of-the-art branches
Charles River Bank Assistant Vice President & Bellingham
are located on the Bellingham/
Branch Officer Michael B. Tuite; and Senior Center Director
Franklin town line on Route 140
Laura DeMattia. Contributed photo
and in Mendon at 1 Hastings
Street, at the intersection of Rte.
16 and North Avenue. Charles River Bank also operates a branch in Medway High School that
serves as an educational facility and full-service branch. Charles River Bank has earned the highest
5-Star rating from Bauer Financial, a leading independent bank rating company. Founded in 1915,
Charles River Bank celebrates 100 years of service this year.
Every business needs
a winning team on their side.
Dean Bank Offers
Special Funding
Available for FirstTime Homebuyers
Dean Bank is pleased to announce
it is participating in the Federal Home
Loan Bank Equity Builder Program. This
innovative program is designed to assist
income-eligible prospective first-time
homebuyers. Funds up to $11,000 per
eligible household may be available and
can be used to help with down payment
or closing costs. Borrowers must meet
program guidelines and funds are available
on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dean Bank has several other first-time
homebuyer and special programs available
for low- to moderate-income borrowers
and will help buyers find the right mortgage
to meet their needs. Additional details
are available by contacting Dean Bank
mortgage specialist Sandra DeSousa,
Mortgage Underwriter, NMLS ID #479655
at 508-803-7842.
For more information visit www.
deanbank.com.
Area Residents Urged
to Bring Cancer Stories
to Boston
Milford National Bank Commercial Lending Team from left to right; Kristin Carvalho, Peter Beecher, Shefali Desai, and Fred Odoardi
As one of the area’s leading providers of financial solutions for businesses, The Milford National has
the expertise to fit your business with a custom-tailored financing package to help put your plans into
action. Here’s just some of what we offer:
Commercial Loans Commercial Mortgages SBA Loans
Commercial Online Banking (Cash Management)
To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call us at 508-634-4100 or visit www.milfordnational.com
•
•
•
•
Main Office: 300 East Main Street, Milford, MA 01757 • 508-634-4100
Member FDIC
Equal Housing Lender SBA Preferred Lender
2015MNB019_ComLendingAd_MilfordTownCrier_7_5x10_4c_sc.indd 1
2
3/9/15 10:52 AM
UPTON-MENDON TOWN CRIER
Those in Massachusetts living with cancer
and their families are depending on you.
The 2015 American Cancer Society
Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Day at
the Capitol will take place on Wednesday,
March 25 at the State House in Boston.
Cancer advocates, survivors, and members
of the legislature are invited to attend
starting at 10 a.m. This is an important day for those living
with cancer and their family members and
friends to come to the State House to tell
their personal stories to their legislators.
State leaders must hear these stories so
they can take appropriate action on cancer
related issues and programs. Register now
at http://acscan.org/events/view/event/2348
or call Patricia Mallios at 508-270-4683.
Training will be provided in advance for
advocates.
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan
advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer
Society, supports evidence-based policy
and legislative solutions designed to
eliminate cancer as a major health problem.
For more information, visit www.acscan.
org.
MARCH 20, 2015
You Touched Upon My Life
MUYSA
Mendon Upton Youth Soccer Associa5on
Annual Fundraising Event
April 4th, 2015
Crystal Room -‐ 49 Cedar St. Milford, Ma
At the March 11 Milford Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Scioli’s the 2015
Butch Moore “You Touched Upon My Life” Award was presented to Wendy and Frank Saba.
Frank is retiring as CEO of the Milford Regional Medical Center in December and both were
lauded for their contributions to the community. Butch Moore was a local singing legend that
toured the U.S. and Europe initially with The Capitol Showband and later with his wife Maeve
as the famed singing duo Butch and Maeve. His signature song “You Touched Upon My Life”
spoke volumes about a man who had touched the lives of so many around him with his music,
his smile, his generosity, and his big heart. With his passing away in 2001 WMRC-First Class
Radio created this award in his honor. Pictured from left to right: State Rep. John Fernandes,
D. Milford; Tom McAuliffe II, President, WMRC; Frank & Wendy Saba; Dick Ferrucci, MultiMedia Account Executive WMRC; State Sen. Ryan Fattman, R. Webster. Contributed photo
The Blameless Victim:
A Catastrophic Injury
and a Landmark Legal
Decision
2 Comedy Acts
Silent Auc5on Items
Cash Bar
Doors Open @ 6:30pm
Purchase Your Tickets Now – Before it sells out!!
(pick up your ;ckets at the door the night of the event)
$20 per seat, adults only
Mail a check payable to:
M.U.Y.S.A.
PO BOX 730 Upton, Ma 01568
ATn: Comedy Night
To donate a silent auc;on item of any value, please email:
R Ida at iat
[email protected] ue McKenna t [email protected] OOR
Sue SMcKenna
[email protected]
IdaJeTe Jette
[email protected]
NOW OPEN
IN MILFORD
Milford resident Harold S. Rhodes recently
published his book, The Blameless Victim: A
Catastrophic Injury and Landmark Legal Decision.
The non-fiction work is based on the diary Rhodes
kept after his wife, Marcia, was severely injured on
January 9, 2002, when a forty-ton tractor tanker
crashed into her stopped car. She was left paralyzed
from the waist down with extensive secondary
medical injuries. Rhodes’ diary and his book
chronicles the next 10 years following her care at
UMASS Medical Center in Worcester and Milford Regional Medical Center as well as the
couples’ endless legal battles against two huge insurance companies and a legal system
that all-too-often victimizes innocent victims. The book also tells the story of how the
couple worked to help protect future blameless victims against delaying tactics used by
insurance companies to deny compensation to crash victims whom they are legally and
financially obligated to support.
The book is now on sale at Amazon.com and all proceeds will be donated to Milford
Regional Medical Center.
Milford Rotary Club
9th Annual Wine, Food & Craft Beer Tasting!
Saturday, March 28
The Crystal Room, 49 Cedar St, Milford
7 - 9:30 pm
Wine & Beers Showcased by
Gateway Liquors in Bellingham
Walk-In Medical Care
Our medical team is here to help adults and children with
a wide range of non-emergency medical issues.
Open 7 Days a week 9:00am – 8:00pm
340 East Main Street
Purchase wines & beers at a discount
FOOD TASTING
by Area Caterers and Restaurants
Many Exciting Auction Items
Tickets $35 per person
www.milfordrotary.org
(Route 16)
Check wait times online!
www.readymed.org
Proceeds of this event will support Milford Rotary sponsored Youth Scholarships and
Programs, such as Leadership Academies, Swim Programs, and Career Days.
MARCH 20, 2015
ReadyMED accepts most health insurance plans, cash, personal checks,
VISA® and MasterCard®
15-031 RM Milford Crier quarter.indd 1
2/4/2015 11:04:25 AM
3
Project Smile Bears Traveling from
Hopedale to Alaska
A Fundraising Project by The Salvation Army in Milford, Ma
The Salvation
Salvation Army
Army hashas
a goal
to place
over
10001000
flagsflags
throughout
Milford,
Hopedale
and Mendon
in 2015!
The
a goal
to place
over
throughout
Milford
and Hopedale
in 2015!
The “Fly the Flag” project is presented as an opportunity for communities to show their patriotic spirit as
The “Fly the Flag” project
is presented as an opportunity for communities to show their patriotic
one nation. The flags will be placed out on the following five national patriotic holidays.
spirit as one nation. The flags will be placed out on the following five national patriotic holidays:
MEMORIAL DAY
FLAG DAY
4 th OF JULY
LABOR DAY
VETERAN’S DAY
The Salvation Army of Milford, with the help of many volunteers, will place a flag in your front yard
for each holiday weekend and pick it up the following week. A plastic pipe will be buried in your front
yard permanently, flush with the ground, to hold the flag staff. A plastic cap will cover the pipe when
not in use. A 3’x 5’ flag on a 10’ staff will be placed in the holder.
The cost for this service is a donation of $35.00 per calendar year!!
All proceeds will be used to support the many youth and adult programs and projects, as well as the
social agency assistance programs run by The Salvation Army.
REGISTER NOW
NAME_________________________ADDRESS________________________________________
Home Phone______________________ Cell Phone_________________________
E -Mail: _____________________________________________________________
Order
Individual Flag Order for Home
Please check this box if you wish to sign -up for
an individual flag for your home. $35.00
Make checks payable to: The Salvation Army
Send application with check to:
Fly The Flag Project
c/o The Salvation Army
29 Congress Street
Milford, Ma 01757
OR
Corporate Special
Home owners and companies who wish to
place a line of flags in front of their home or
business can do so at a discount price.
Please check the appropriate box below:
4 Flags - $100
8 Flags - $200
12 Flags - $300
16 Flags - $400
Questions? Call Captains Dave & Jessie Irwin: 508-473-0786
508
-473 -0786
**The flag and staff will remain the property of The Salvation Army in Milford
and will be removed at the end of each holiday.
*Please return the entire application form*
Some of the teddy bears that are making the trip from Hopedale to St. Paul, Alaska to help
public safety personnel comfort traumatized youngsters. The effort is sponsored by Project
Smile, a Hopedale-based non-profit. Contributed photo
Project Smile, the Hopedale based nonprofit organization was recently contacted
by a sergeant from the St. Paul Police
Department in hopes that the organization
could donate stuffed animals to help the
children of St. Paul, Alaska.
Founded by Hopedale resident Catherine
Pisacane in 2003, Project Smile donates
stuffed animals, coloring books/crayons and
reading books for police officers, fire fighters
and paramedics to give to traumatized
children. Project Smile has collected over
36,000 stuffed animals and currently works
with 193 police and fire departments in
New England, including almost all local
departments. Many of the children who
receive these items were involved in car
accidents, witnessed domestic violence,
are victims of child abuse or other violent
crimes, coping with the loss of a loved one,
or sick/injured. Project Smile also partners
with the Department of Children and
Families and homeless shelters and donates
stuffed animals and other items to be given
to children who are entering foster care or
living in shelters. Over 7,000 children enter
foster care annually in Massachusetts and
over 3,000 children are living in homeless
shelters.
St. Paul is an island located 300 miles off
of the coast of Alaska and is the home to
500 residents. According to the sergeant
who reached out to Project Smile, domestic
incidents are frequent on the island and he
felt strongly that the teddy bears donated by
Project Smile could really help in comforting
the children involved in these incidents.
“I am very excited to have our first
donation to a Police Department in Alaska,
and I look forward to more opportunities to
help the children of Alaska,” said Catherine
Pisacane, Executive Director of Project
Smile, “It’s always great to partner with new
police departments and help these children
in need.”
More information on Project Smile can be
found at www.projectsmile.org or 508 634
0203.
Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra Family
Matinee Concert
The Claflin Hill
Symphony Orchestra will
present its annual Family
Matinee Concert on Sunday,
March 22 at 3 p.m. in The
Milford Town Hall Grand
Ballroom, 2 Main St. (Rt.
16). Tickets are $12 and $8
for students and seniors,
and can be purchased on
line at www.claflinhill.
org. For this season’s
Fifteenth Anniversary
Family Symphony Matinee
program, the orchestra will
present a program entitled
“Music of Fire and Ice” –
which will feature music
from inspired by those two
extremes of temperature and
mood. Included on the program
will be “Dance of the
Buffoons” from Nicolai
Rimsky-Korsakov’s ballet,
“The Snow Maiden”; French
composer Charles Gounod’s
finale from his ballet “Faust”;
Igor Stravinsky’s “Firebird”
Finale, and the recent Disney
hit “Frozen” and more.
The CHSO will also
be joined by members
of the Claflin Hill Youth
Symphonies – Claflin Hill’s
Youth Orchestra – for a
“Side by Side” performance
of Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter”
4
from “The Planets”. The
CHYS will also perform
Offenbach’s “Orpheus in
the Underworld,” and the
CHYS Wind Ensemble will
be featured in a medley
of music from “West Side
Story.”
An “Instrument Petting
Zoo” – where audience
members get to try out
the various orchestral
instruments with the
assistance of CHSO
musicians – will precede the
concert at 2:30 p.m.
“Our Annual Family
Symphony Matinee” has
become a favorite feature of
our Symphony season,” said
Paul Surapine, Executive and
Artistic Director of Claflin
Hill. “It is designed to be
about one hour long, and
feature shorter “Pops” type
offerings, giving younger
audience members their
first “Symphony Concert”
experience. We’ve actually
found that is it also popular
with people of all ages – a
wonderful Sunday afternoon
of accessible music at
affordable prices. The added
aspect of having our talented
youth orchestra students
join us for this concert
demonstrates to young
Tristan McWade learns
more about the violin at
the Claflin Hill Symphony
Orchestra Family Matinee
concert and instrument
petting zoo last year. people the opportunities
available to them in the
study of instrumental
music.”
The CHSO Family
Symphony Matinee is
supported through CH
Business Partnership grants
from Bright Insurance,
Gallo Moving & Storage,
The Milford Rotary,
Southwick’s Zoo, Liberty
Bay Credit Union and The
Milford Cultural Council.
For more information,
call Claflin Hill at 508478-5924 or visit www.
clafinhill.org .
MARCH 20, 2015
Fattman Encouraged by Governor’s
FY16 Budget Proposal
UniBank Free Home
Buying Seminars
State Senator Ryan Fattman, R-Webster, applauded the Baker Administration on the release of the
Governor’s budget yesterday.
“In a mere eight weeks, since first taking office, Governor Baker and his cabinet were able to close
a $1.8 billion budget deficit,” Fattman said. “Not only did they balance the budget, but they were also
able to increase funding for education, public safety, and other town services.”
In the Worcester and Norfolk senate district, Governor Baker’s budget proposal allocates a total
of $20,670,172.00 in unrestricted general government aid and $114,413,120.00 in Chapter 70 aid for
public elementary and secondary schools. Aid figures for Hopedale, Mendon and Milford are:
“Governor Baker is following through with the promises he campaigned on,” Fattman said. “It’s
refreshing to see our Governor working hard to put the Commonwealth back on track towards
increased economic growth. I am truly looking forward to working with him this legislative session.”
Primary Care Physician Appointed to
Hospital Staff
Milford Regional is pleased to welcome internal medicine physician, Mary
Medeiros, MD to the active medical staff. She has joined Reliant Medical
Group in Milford.
Dr. Medeiros earned her medical degree from Loma Linda University
School of Medicine in Loma Linda, Calif. in 2004. She performed a residency
in both internal medicine and preventive medicine at UMass Medical Center
in Worcester. She also completed a master’s in public health at the University
Mary Medeiros,
of Massachusetts, Amherst, and she is board certified in internal medicine
MD
and preventive medicine.
Dr. Medeiros is a faculty facilitator at UMass Medical School and she is proficient in Spanish.
“Primary care physicians are critical to maintaining the health of our patients”, states Edward J.
Kelly, President, Milford Regional Medical Center. “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Mary Medeiros
to our medical staff and our community.”
Practicing at Reliant Medical Group at 176 West St. in Milford, Dr. Medeiros is accepting new
patients. She can be reached by calling 508-634-5026.
NOW OPEN
MacKenzie Tax & Financial
10% OFF
ANY SERVICE
508.234.5000
(Exp 4/17/15)
WITH COUPON
Mon-Fri 9am-7pm
Sat 9am-6pm
Sun 10am-4pm
High School Students!
UniBank will be sponsoring
three free home buying seminars.
These educational opportunities
will provide homebuyers with
valuable information about finding
and buying the home of their
dreams. Important discussion
topics include: Negotiating a
Winning Offer, Finding the Right
Mortgage and Pre-Qualifying,
Down Payment Options, the
Importance of Home Inspections,
and more. Refreshments will be
served and door prizes will be
awarded at all events.
The seminars are:
• Tuesday, April 7 from 5:30
p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at UniBank
Worcester branch 24 Gold
Star Boulevard, Worcester.
Presenters include: David
Sampson, UniBank Mortgage
Specialist; Michelle Granger,
Re/Max; and Attorney Thomas
Wickstrom. Contact UniBank’s
Klara Mnacko at 508-756-0807
to register.
• Saturday, April 11 from 12:30
p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at UniBank
Milford branch at 91 Prospect
St., Milford. Presenters
include: Ross Mazzarelli,
UniBank Mortgage Specialist;
Frank Niro, Century 21
Commonwealth; and Attorney
David Bertonazzi. Contact
UniBank’s Vincent Foley at
508-478-5666 to register.
Seminar attendees will receive a
$250 mortgage closing cost coupon
from UniBank.
Darlene MacKenzie
Special
Tax, Accounting &
Financial Services
$3 OFF
GEL DIP (Exp 4/12/15
62 Grove Street
Upton, MA 01568
Email: [email protected]
Specialize in hot stone for all pedicures!
www.facebook.com/D’Pearls • 1 Plummers Corner, Suite 102, Whitinsville
508-653-4542
508-529-4900
FAX: 508-529-4910
7/1 A.R.M. with no P.M.I.
12
5
3.
%
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Rate
3.24
%
Annual*
Percentage Rate
FREE pre-approval
Maximum 90% L-T-V
$150 closing cost credit**
APR fixed for seven years
No points, low closing costs
Purchase or no cash out refinance
Loan Amounts up to $450,000
Loan Serviced by Milford Federal
Pam MacDougall
Mortgage Loan Specialist
NMLS# 485225
508.381.5299
MilfordFederal.com
Member FDIC
Milford • Whitinsville • Woonsocket
*APR based on $100,000 @ 80% LTV. 84 monthly payments of $4.29 per $1,000 borrowed at initial rate on a 30 year term followed by 276 monthly
payments of $4.23 per $1,000 borrowed, not including taxes and insurance. Payments are based on the current one year treasury index and a margin of
2.95%. Loan adjusts annually after 7th year, with 2% cap per adjustment, 6% lifetime cap. Available for 1-2 family owner occupied primary residences.
Offer subject to credit approval and property eligibility. Offering rate subject to change without notice. APR may increase after consummation. **Closing
cost credit for first time home buyers and online purchase applications only. Other conditions affecting APR may apply.
MARCH 20, 2015
The Advertiser’s Club
Directory
These are the businesses that contract to advertise in The Upton and Mendon Town Crier at least
12 times a year. They receive a frequently discount,
feature article about their business (minimum 1/16
page ad) and listing in this directory.
Business Name.............................. Ad on Page
Advantage Siding............................................next
Artful Mix........................................................... next
Artist Pallette..................................................... next
Blackstone Valley Limousine Service............. 26
Boucher Energy Systems.................................. 20
Bright Insurance Agency.................................. 29
C.J. Cilley Construction.................................... 21
Cancun’s Mexican Restaurant.......................... 28
Century 21 Robyn Nasuti................................. 29
CK Smith............................................................ next
Consigli & Ruggiero Funeral Home............... 12
Corinne Ross Massage Therapy....................... next
Cornerstone of Milford....................................... 4
CPR Etc............................................................next
Crystal Industries.............................................. 20
Crystal Room..................................................... 30
Cyr Contracting..............................................next
D’Pearls Nails and Spa............................................ 5
Deane Dance...................................................next
Diane’s Doghouse.................................................. 18
Duraclean Services............................................ 19
Elizabeth Blake Orthodontic........................... 23
ERA Key Realty, Theresa Sannicandro..............next
ET Home Maintenance..................................... 20
Frank's Appliance.............................................. 21
Friendly Discount Liquors............................next
Full Circle Tree Care......................................next
Gibson Natural Pet Resort................................ 18
Gibson Septic Service....................................... next
Dr. Janet Goguen, DMD................................... 12
Golden Pond/Golden Goose.........................next
Goodman Eye Center....................................... 29
Heaven’s Gate Pet Services............................... 18
Heritage Siding & Window...........................next
Hopkinton Physical Therapy.........................next
Hopkinton Eye Associates................................ next
Iadarola Plumbing & Heating.......................... 21
Ideal Pizza........................................................next
Imperial Cars..................................................... 32
J.C. Parmenter.................................................next
J.L. Darling Septic Tank Plumbing Co............ next
Jolicoeur Overhead Door..............................next
Just-A-Wee-Day................................................... 8
LaRose Muscular Therapy................................ 25
Liquor Plus......................................................... 25
Little Coffee Bean.............................................. 28
Lynch Wine and Spirits..................................... next
Maple Farm Dairy............................................... 8
Mazzone Electrician.......................................next
McCormick Properties..................................... next
MCP Mailbox..................................................... next
Medway Oil & Propane Company.................. 19
Mendon Barber Shop.....................................next
Mendon Motors................................................. 22
Mendon Self Storage......................................next
Metrowest Oral Surgical Associates.............next
Milford Hardwood.........................................next
Milford National Bank and Trust.......................... 2
Milford Regional Medical Center................... 19
Mill House Liquors................................................. 2
Nathans’ Jewelers............................................... 22
New England Steak & Seafood..................22, 28
Paul Henning, PhD............................................... 22
Paw Planet.......................................................next
Phipps Insurance Agency................................. 13
Reliable Pet Sitting............................................. 18
Restaurant 45..................................................next
Rita’s Home & Gift Store................................next
Riteway Power Equipment............................... 20
Rose Garden Restaurant & Lounge..............next
Safeside Chimney...........................................next
Salon Richard Anthony.................................next
Scannel Services/Hopkinton Roofing............. next
Second Nature Landscape................................ 21
Simoneau Electric...........................................next
Sky Hook Tree Care.......................................next
Stardust Jewelers................................................ next
Templeman Tree Service.................................. 21
Truck and Trailer World................................next
United Parish Nursery School......................... 29
Upton Foreign Motors...................................next
Upton House of Pizza....................................next
Upton Recreation Commission........................... 13
Upton Self Storage............................................. 20
Wagner Window Service...............................next
Wanokura Japanese Restaurant....................... 28
Wayne Grenier Electric..................................... 21
Webster First...................................................... 31
WestHill Properties, Tina Cote.....................next
Whitcomb House...........................................next
Williams-Pedersen Funeral Home...............next
Wilson’s Tire and Automotive Service.................. 8
Wolf, DDS........................................................next
5
Opinion
A VIEW FROM THE COUNTRY
By Al Holman
The other day my wife and I were driving to a
friend’s house to pick them up to go out to dinner.
We were going to be a bit early, so my wife took out her phone (I
will not tell which model) and enabled speech recognition. She
then proceeded to talk to the phone, asking it to call that friend.
Just think her phone talked back to her! She called her friend and
said we were running early and hung up. Then she wanted to call
her friend back and tell her something else. Well, this time the
phone did not understand what she said. It responded with the
question “I found a lot of matches which, one do you want”. All of
the choices were the wrong choice, but still THE PHONE TALKED BACK TO HER! She then tried to repronounce her friend’s
name and as a result of that pronunciation the phone came back
with a yet difference response. My wife’s voice volume increased
and again she tried. It came back with a response this time that
was not even close to what she had asked for.
It seemed that no matter what she asked or how she asked it,
the answer was never correct. What I thought about this was how
fantastic that she had a phone that could not only lookup information but did it via voice request. How cool is that?
My wife, not be a technologist, was getting very frustrated now.
She now was getting quite agitated and began to use language not
normally used by her. I then suggested that she just type in the
request so the phone would not misinterpret her question. She
then instructed me in how to go to a place not normally visited. I
decided at this point to make no more suggestion in fear of being
told what other action I could take.
After several more tries she finally stopped trying and took a
deep breathe, and looked at the phone in utter disgust and said
“You Stupid ........ Phone” and slammed it back in her purse.
At this point I could not hold back my laughter. It was the funniest thing I ever heard .... telling a phone that it was stupid because
it did not understand what she ask it to find verbally.
It just goes to show that some people are techno-challenged and
even if all you have to do is talk to the phone some people just can’t
get it done. I never thought that being less than technical would
even go to the way you communicate verbally but is seems that the
technology can detect somebody that is techno-challenged and
that describes my wife.
And that’s looking out my window - waiting for the phone to
fly by my head and hoping that it misses me when she reads this.
SUMMER FUN!!!
Advertise YOUR Business!
Call for More Information!
Lori Tate: 508-529-0301
Colette Rooney: 508-922-9674
Susanne Odell: 508-954-8148
Classifieds
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be prepaid and in writing. Email: [email protected] Snailmail:
48 Mechanic Street, Upton, Ma 01568
HW STAFFING SOLUTIONS is now hiring entry level
manufacturing/production and general laborers. 1st, 2nd and
3rd shifts available. Contract to Permanent call Michelle 508581-8855.
LETTERS Letters may be edited for length and clarity and will be published on a space available basis. Maximum 300 words. Must include signature,
address & telephone number.
Opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. Town Crier Publications will
not be responsible for inaccuracies. No Political Endorsements, please!
Thank You to Team Lori
To the Editor,
This thank you has been attempted many times. Do I try to send
thank you notes? What if I miss a loved one or a business who
donated? Not sure I will really ever know who did everything for
all that love and support I received on November 2.
•To my wonderful family and all my amazing friends, I thank
you so much.
•To all the businesses, organizations and personal donations, I
thank you.
Thank you for the meals dropped off, the rides, the cookies and
the gifts.
•I am overwhelmed with emotion. Even though this battle with
my brain cancer isn’t over, I feel strong and determined. Thank
you for all the prayers.
Sincerely,
Lori MacNaughton McGann
Upton
Everyone Has the Right to
Their Own Opinion…
To the Editor
Everyone has a right to their own opinion…but not their own
facts. The increase in the budget to the schools in BOTH Mendon
and Upton has been determined by Mendon over the last several
years. How? By following a policy established by Art Holmes years
ago. That policy is to give the school an increase that is equal to
half of what we, Mendon, estimate for new tax growth (e.g. new
houses) and half of the 2.5 percent increase Proposition 2½ allows
without a ballot vote. Town meeting still approves the budget). This
is because the school is about ½ of Mendon’s budget.
Upton’s contribution must be proportional to Mendon’s based
on the student population (roughly 45 percent Mendon and 55
percent Upton). This policy forces the school into a revenue-based
budget controlled by Mendon. Since I have been on the Finance
Committee, this is what we have done and the school has received
no more, period.
By law, a municipality only has control of the total appropriation
to the school and not how they spend it. However, the Mendon
Finance Committee and Board of Selectman voiced our opinion.
For two years the school maintained a SPED (Special Education)
contingency account in case of a new student. We supported
it because the school was running in the red, their Excess and
Deficiency (E&D) was a large negative number. Once they
turned this around we insisted that they no longer budget a SPED
contingency since E&D should be their protection and they
complied. Also, since you cannot count on E&D every year, using
it should be only on one-time expenses such as to repair a roof.
Again, we voiced our concern as to this practice.
While this practice may end up hurting the schools, it does
not and will not hurt Town side services in any way. Because the
school has voted to not use a Joint Town Meeting, at the behest of
Mendon officials, if one Town votes down the override, the story
is over. If both towns approve, then the money the school needs
comes from new taxes and not from Town departments.
Because of the actions of Mendon officials and wise choices by
the School Committee the override either goes through or it does
not. No matter which way it goes, Town services are not, and will
not, be impacted.
Rich Schofield
Mendon Board of Selectman
HELP WANTED: PCAS, HHAS,CNAS, needed for Milford,
Uxbridge, Sutton, Mendon, Northbridge, Whitinsville and
surrounding area. Applicants must have good work references,
reliable transportation, and at least one year of experience.
Please call Visiting Angels of Milford at 508-473-4300.
ADVERTISING IN THE TOWN CRIERS MAKES
GOOD BUSINESS SENSE ... WE DIRECT MAIL
TO OVER 20,000 ADDRESSES !!!
MENDON MUSINGS
By Kevin Rudden
I have great respect for
the men and women who
volunteer in their town
governments. Yes – like all of
us – I may criticize their actions from time to
time, but I still respect them.
It’s not an easy thing to “put yourself out
there” and expose yourself to criticism.
And, being on an “appointed” committee
is one thing, but running for an “elected”
position takes you to another level: gathering
signatures, standing before strangers, asking
them to vote for you, and knowing that you’ll
be criticized no matter what you do. I know
that the heart of public service is a desire to
make the entire community, or even just a
part of it, a better place.
I find it very hard to respect the people
who seem to make a career out of throwing
rocks at those people who have put
themselves out there. Forget the old line that
“People who live in glass houses shouldn’t
throw stones.” For some today, it’s easier to
throw the stones than it is to take them and
build something useful, something that will
last.
All of us have a right to criticize, but I
don’t think we have the right to condemn. As
former Mendon Town Moderator Rolland
Morin used to say, “You can disagree without
being disagreeable.”
But, public comment seems to be getting
more disagreeable today. A recent social
media post called one of the Mendon
selectmen a “charlatan” and his supporters
as “minions.” Wikipedia defines that word as
follows: “A charlatan (also called swindler or
mountebank) is a person practicing quackery
or some similar confidence trick in order
to obtain money, fame or other advantages
via some form of pretense or deception.”
My online dictionary lists the synonyms for
“minion” as: “underling, henchman, flunky,
lackey, hanger-on, follower, servant, hireling,
vassal, stooge, toady, sycophant.”
Really? It’s one thing to call a selectman
“dumb” – I once jokingly referred to
two of them as “Tweedledumb and
Tweedledumber” – but I would never call
any of them a “swindler” or say that they
were “practicing quackery.” And, just because
someone shares in or supports a selectman’s
point of view doesn’t make them a “flunky.”
I guess my point is that – while we are
all entitled to our opinions and certainly
are welcome to voice them – they can be
done based on facts and without the clearly
derogatory terminology.
You don’t like a selectman? Fine. Can’t you
get that point across without the constant
negativity? Didn’t your mother ever tell you
that “If you can’t say something nice, don’t
say anything at all”?
I like listening to comedians, but far too
many pepper their routines with hundreds of
uses of the “F word.” The result is that I just
tune them out.
When good people hear someone
constantly be derogatory to their town
officials, they should tune that someone out,
too.
TOWN CRIER PUBLICATIONS 48 Mechanic Street, Upton, MA 01568 | 508-529-7791 | TownCrier.us
Publishers of
Upton-Mendon Town Crier
Published the 1st & 3rd Friday and mailed
free to all 5,800 addresses in Upton and
Mendon, MA.
6
PUBLISHER
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Office: 508-529-7791 ext. 222
Cell: 508-889-1067
[email protected]
Milford Town Crier
Published the 2nd & 4th Friday and mailed
free to all 12,800 addresses in Milford, MA.
MANAGER
Marilyn C. Holman
508-529-7791 ext. 221
[email protected]
Town Crier Publications, Inc. reserves the right to reject
material it deems unfit for publication in a family newspaper. We reserve the right to edit any submitted articles as
needed. We regret typographical errors in ads but will not
take financial responsibility for them. We will reprint at no
charge that portion of the ad in which the error appears.
EDITOR
Jane Bigda
Cell: 508-525-1319
[email protected]
ADVERTISING
PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
LORI TATE
508-529-0301
[email protected]
Upton, Mendon, Uxbridge, Northbridge
COLETTE ROONEY
508-922-9674
[email protected]
Milford, Hopedale, Bellingham, Franklin
SUSANNE ODELL
508-954-8148
[email protected]
Hopkinton, Westboro, Holliston,
and Ashland
UPTON-MENDON
March 6 • Deadline February 24
March 20 • Deadline March 10
April 3 •Deadline March 24
April 17 • Deadline April 7
MILFORD
March 13 • Deadline March 3
March 27 •Deadline March 17
April 10 • Deadline March 31
April 24 • Deadline April 14
Graphics: Jodi McGowan
Web Manager: Andy Holman
INDEX
Advertisers Index..........................................5
Births..........................................................22
Classifieds.....................................................6
Community Calendar...............................8-10
DINING GUIDE......................................... 28
Obituaries...................................................22
Opinion.........................................................6
PET PRESS................................................ 18
SPRING SPURCE-UP............................20, 21
IN THIS ISSUE
Senior Living
p 16, 17
MARCH 20, 2015
Sheriff Hosts States’ First Opioid Crisis
Listening Session
As the number of drug overdose
deaths in the Commonwealth
continues to rise, members of the
Opioid Crisis Working Group created
by Governor Charlie Baker gathered
on March 10 at Quinsigamond
Community College, Worcester,
for the first of four public listening
sessions. Hosted by Worcester
County Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis,
over 400 people attended the event,
which was designed to gather
feedback and ideas on the best ways
to halt the current epidemic.
“We heard from many community
members as well as families whose
lives have been impacted in some
way by addiction. I am hopeful
today’s discussion will help to provide
crucial initiatives that will halt this
epidemic.” said Worcester County
Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis.
“In order to formulate solutions, we
need to understand the depth of this
devastating problem that is affecting
families, friends and neighbors across
the Commonwealth,” said Secretary
of Health and Human Services and
Chair of the Working Group Marylou
Sudders. “Today we had a chance to
hear directly from those impacted by
this issue.”
Gov. Baker announced the
17-member Working Group
on February 19. The Group is
comprised of individuals with
diverse backgrounds and experience
related to prevention, intervention,
treatment, recovery and support, and
law enforcement. By the end of May,
the Group will submit a statewide
strategy to combat opioid addiction
and curb overdose deaths.
“This event was yet another
powerful example that the disease
of addiction does not discriminate
– it affects everyone from high
school athletes to successful college
students and mothers with young
children,” AG Maura Healey said.
“There is no one-size-fits-all solution
to this unprecedented public health
epidemic, and we are committed to
working together with partners across
the state to attack this crisis head on.”
Records from the Department of
Public Health show there were 978
opioid-related overdose deaths in
Massachusetts in 2013 – that’s a 46
percent jump from the previous year.
In Worcester County alone, 29 people
have suffered fatal overdoses since
January.
“Sadly, with the current trends
in opioid addiction there will be
few families who are untouched by
this epidemic within five years. As
Sheriff, I see firsthand the devastating
impact these addictions have in our
communities on a daily basis,” said
Evangelidis.
Public dialogues will be held in
various parts of the state –March
26 at Memorial Hall in Plymouth
from 4-6 p.m. and April 2 in Boston
at a time/place to be named soon.
For those who cannot attend, an
email box has been set up to collect
comments at AddictionWorkGroup@
state.ma.us. For more information
about the public dialogues or the
Working Group’s meetings visit www.
mass.gov/opioids.
Home Instead Senior Care Raised Funds for Animal
Rescue League
Hone Instead Senior Care of Greater Worcester County and MetroWest donated $1770 to the Worcester
Animal Rescue League from a Facebook fundraiser. Contributed photo
Home Instead Senior Care of Greater Worcester County and MetroWest held a February Facebook
Fundraiser event that raised $1177 for the Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL).
Home Instead Senior Care, a private-pay agency that has been serving the Worcester County and
Metro West areas since 1997, chooses several non-profit organizations each year to run a Facebook
Fundraiser. For the month of February, Home Instead ran a fundraiser that encouraged readers
to “Like” their Facebook page and in turn, Home Instead would donate to the Worcester Animal
Rescue League. “It’s a win-win situation,” says, Laurie Bender, Owner, of Home Instead. “We are
fortunate that we are able to give back to the community and this year we got the confirmation from
Allie Tellier at the Worcester Animal Rescue League.”
Home Instead Senior Care caregivers will go into a senior’s home providing companionship and
support in all types of household chores and activities of daily living allowing them to safely stay in
their home and remain independent. According to Bender, “It was a natural fit for the organizations
to work together as pets can play an instrumental role in the well-being of a senior. Many times a
senior can benefit by having the companionship and a reason to care about something. What was
unique about WARL was the Senior for Senior program. WARL waived the adoption fee if a Senior
was adopting a “senior” pet.”
2/17/2015
MARCH 20, 2015
7
Calendar
A list of calendar events of community groups, fundraising events of local charities and free
events of local businesses. Maximum150 words. Published the 1st & 3rd Friday of every
month. Deadline 10 days prior to publication date. Email to [email protected]
Assembling Spring Baskets for a
Cause
MILFORD-Please help gather supplies and build
Spring baskets for the families of Voices Against
Violence, a vital program of South Middlesex
Opportunity Council (SMOC) in Framingham.
SMOC is currently accepting donations
of candy, plastic eggs, baskets, shredded
cellophane, ear buds, small denomination gift
cards, stuffed animals or goody bag items to
include in the baskets through Saturday, March
14. It is also looking for volunteers on Saturday,
March 28 afrom 12:30 to 2:30 pmt Milford
High School to help assemble and transport the
baskets.
For more information on how to donate or
to get involved, please contact Pam Berman
at [email protected].
Just-A-Wee-Day
Child Care Center
Established in 1972 by Suzanne Byrne
PRESCHOOL & PRE-K
FALL REGISTRATION
NOW OPEN
New Location!
138 Hartford Ave, Hopedale
508-473-1689
[email protected]
52 weeks a year from
6:30 am - 6 pm
Dannielle Byrne
Providing Quality
Care for Infants
through Age 14.
Director/Owner
TIRE & AUTO SERVICE
Fulfilling all of your automotive
service needs since 1970
We Fix Everything!
Free Pickup/Delivery & Shuttle Service
to Upton and Surrounding Towns!!
90 Main Street, Upton • 508-529-7500
www.wilsonstireandautoservice.com
BETTER MILK
Enjoy
Products
Door to Door Home Delivery
With the Highest Quality Products
Glass bottled milk from Hatchland Dairy,
N. Haverhill, NH. Their milk goes directly
from cow to bottling plant to you.
Also offering full line of Oakhurst
Dairy Products and many other
local premium products.
If this service is of interest to you,
TRY IT FREE!!! We will be glad to drop
off a bole or two for you to try!
Call us OR Text!!!
508-478-MILK(6455)
8
Books Are Fun
MILFORD-On Tuesday, March 31, from 7 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Books Are Fun by Kathy Doane will
be held in the Milford Regional Medical Center
Atrium Café. Included are books for adults and
children. Stationery and CDs will also be sold. A
portion of the sales goes to the Milford Regional
Medical Center Auxiliary, which conducts many
fundraisers throughout the year.
Fundraisers provide support to hospital
departments. Currently, the Auxiliary is also
contributing to the expansion of the Medical
Center. The public is welcome and both men and
women are encouraged to consider joining this
successful organization. For more information,
call 508-422-2099.
Machine Sewing 101
MILFORD-Machine Sewing 101 for Adults
and Students in grades 8 through 12 is offered
through the Milford Community School Use
Program starting Wednesday, March 25, and
running for eight weeks on Wednesdays at
Milford High School. MHS Art and Fashion
Teacher Carolann Tebbetts is the instructor.
Students in grades 8 through 12 will attend from
3 to 4:45 p.m., and adult participants will attend
from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
This course is designed for adults and students
who are interested in learning the basics of
machine sewing. Participants will learn how to
safely operate and troubleshoot an entry-level
sewing machine. Projects will include a decorative
pillow, book bag or overnight bag, and a vintageinspired apron. Building on the basics learned
from these projects, participants will progress to
sewing simple and intermediate home decor and
fashion projects. Machines will be provided.
Registration must be received prior to the
class dates. Forms are available in the Milford
Community Program office or at www.mcs.
milford.ma.us. Adults please use the Adult
Registration Form and students use the Kids
Registration Form. Senior Citizens, 65 and older,
pay 10 percent discount of fee listed. Checks
should be made payable to the MILFORD
COMMUNITY PROGRAM. Mail to: Milford
Community School Use Program, c/o Milford
High School, 31 West Fountain St., Milford, MA
01757.
For further information, please call the office at
508-478-1119 or check our web page at www.mcs.
milford.ma.us.
I Love My Clogs
MILFORD-On Friday, April 3, I Love My Clogs
offered by Darius Filipiak, ABC Board Certified
Pedorthist, will be available for purchase at the
Milford Regional Medical Center, in Conference
Room A, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shoes are fitted
specifically to the client’s foot. Styles include
Dansko, Sanita and Klogs USA.
This is a fundraiser for the Milford Regional
Medical Center Auxiliary which helps support
the Medical Center departments including the
current expansion. The Auxiliary meets on the
second Tuesday monthly at 9:30 AM, except
for July and August. The public is welcome;
men and women are encouraged to consider
joining this successful organization. For more
information, call 508-422-2099.
Man of La Mancha
SHREWSBURY-N.E.T. Works Productions, Inc.
presents Man of La Mancha, a musical by Dale
Wasserman, directed by Holly Dion on March
20, 21, 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. with a 3 p.m.
matinee on March 22 at the Flanagan Theater,
Southgate Retirement Community, 30 Julio
Drive, Shrewsbury. General admission is $17,
seniors/students $15 and matinee $12. Portions
of the proceeds to benefit Meeting The Need,
Ortho camp resort for the disabled in South
Dakota. Tickets and information: 508-842-0867
or e-mail [email protected]
The Franklin Art Association
FRANKLIN-The Franklin Art Association
will meet Wednesday, April, 1, at the Franklin
Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill St.
Refreshments and socialization will begin at
6:30 p.m. The program will feature an oil stick
demonstration presented by artist Carol Letvin.
Meetings are free and opened to the public
For more information, please visit www.
franklinart.org and www.facebook.com/
FranklinArtAssoc
Cornerstone at Milford Events
MILFORD-The following events will take place
on Cornerstone at Milford, 11 Birch St. and are
open to the public.
March 31 - The Irish Boys at 2 p.m. Joan
Brenneke will bring her impressive Irish Boys
poodles to entertain us.
21st Annual Family Fun Fair
MILFORD-MA Department of Developmental
Services, Kennedy-Donovan Family Support
Center and Milford Family & Community
Network will host its free 21st annual Family Fun
Fair on Saturday, March 21 from 11 a.m. to 2
p.m. in the Milford High School cafeteria. Snow
date is March 28. A wide range of exhibitors, who work with
families from the prenatal stage through
adolescence, will be on hand. There will be
entertainment throughout the day. Exhibitors
are also encouraged to include a child-friendly
activity at their table. The Massachusetts Youth
Child Identification Program (MYCHIP) will
be provided again this year by the Montgomery
Lodge of Milford, Ancient Free Accepted
Masons. The program is free to the public, with
all of the identifying items generated during the
event given to the child’s family. In addition, the
Lions Club will host free blood pressure checks. The Fair is a great vehicle for families to learn
about all the community has to offer. For more
information, call Sara Humiston at 508-6342356.
Friends of Adin Ballou Essay Contest
HOPEDALE-The Friends of Adin Ballou are
sponsoring an essay contest for students in 7th
through 12th grade. Contestants must write a
250-word original essay on one of the following
topics:
What does peace mean to me?
How can one person help spread peace?
What I will do for peace!
Entries, which must include the author’s
name, phone number and date of birth, should
be emailed by April 23 to Editor@adinballou.
org. The winning essays will be published on the
Friends of Adin Ballou website
For more information visit AdinBallou.
org,find us on Facebook at Friends of Adin
Ballou or follow us on Twitter@AdinBallou.
3rd Annual Fur Ball
FRAMINGHAM-Baypath Humane Society
of Hopkinton hosts its 3rd Annual Fur Ball
Saturday, March 14 from 6 until 11 p.m. at
Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference
Center, 1657 Worcester Road, Framingham.
Tickets are $50 per person and $55 at the door.
Premium tickets and sponsorships are also
available. Proceeds will be used to assist the
shelter animals.
For tickets and information email Kandice
Glassman at Baypath Humane Society of
Hopkinton, [email protected],
www.BaypathHumane.org/FurBall2015.
Milford Regional Blood Pressure
Clinic
MILFORD-Milford Regional Medical Center is
sponsoring a blood pressure clinic to be held on
Friday, March 20, from 12 Noon to 3 p.m., in
the main building of the hospital in Conference
Room B. This clinic is being held in support of
Milford Regional’s sponsorship of the Central
Massachusetts American Heart Association’s
Heart Walk, in Worcester.
Join us at the blood pressure clinic to get your
blood pressure taken, find out more about the
Heart Walk that will take place on May 2, and/or
sponsor the walk by buying a lapel pin or a heart
to be displayed at the walk. For information or
questions, contact Rick Plante at 508-422-2957
or Ken Fiorelli at 508-422-2130.
Troop 44 Pancake Breakfast with the
Easter Bunny
MENDON-Mendon’s Troop 44 Boy Scouts
will be holding a Pancake Breakfast with the
Easter Bunny from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday,
March 21, at the Unitarian church on Maple
Street. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors,
$3 for children aged 4 to 12 and free for children
under age 3. The Easter Bunny will be available
for pictures throughout the event. Tickets are
available at the door.
Proceeds from both the can and bottle drive
will be used to help fund Troop 44’s activities
throughout the year. Troop 44 would like to
thank everyone for their continuing support of
Scouting in Mendon.
Gary McKinstry, Psychic
UPTON-Gary McKinstry, well-known Medium,
Psychic and Radio Personality, once again
brings his unique talent to Upton’s Memorial
School, 69 Main St. on Friday, May 1 at 7
p.m. Sponsored by the Upton Bloomer Girls, a
charitable organization, the evening will feature
McKinstry sensitively and often humorously
channeling spiritual contact with passed loved
ones. Four lucky ticket holders will have private
10-15 minutes sessions. Everyone will have an
opportunity to win a gift basket. Reserve a seat
for $20 by calling Ida, 508-529-2822, or purchase
at the door for $25.
2nd Annual Hopedale Girls
Basketball Alumni Game HOPEDALE-The 2nd Annual Hopedale Girls
Basketball Alumni game will take place on
Saturday, March 28. Doors open at 4 p.m. with
tip off at 4:30 p.m. Bring a blue and white shirt
so teams can be split accordingly. If you would
like to attend or have any questions please
email [email protected].
Bring your family, kids, and anyone who would
like to watch the game! This is a free event. The Singing Priests
MILFORD-Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish
Council, Milford is sponsoring a trip to the
Hanover Theatre on Friday, March 27 to see a
performance by The Singing Priests. The cost is
$58 per person and a bus is available. Please call
the rectory, 508-634-5435, for reservations. The
public is invited.
Antique Appraisal Program and Open
House
HOPEDALE-The Hopedale Council on Aging
is sponsoring an antique appraisal program and
an open house of the Hopedale Senior Center
on Saturday, April 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the
Hopedale Community House, 43 Hope St.,
Hopedale.
James Johnston, from Johnston Antiques,
Franklin, will offer the appraisals. Johnston is
a well-known appraiser and lecturer as well
as a founding member of the Massachusetts
Suburban Antique Dealers Association,
a member of the American Numismatic
Association, and the American Philatelic
Society.
Admission is $5 per person with a limit of
three items for appraisal. Admission is free
for those who attend but do bring items to be
appraised.
Supporters of this event – Atria Draper
Place, Blair House, Cornerstone at Milford and
Whitcomb House – will provide refreshments
and raffle baskets.
Register by calling 508-634-2208 or visit the
Hopedale Senior Center. Space is limited and is
on a first come basis.
Trinity Church Community Dinners
MILFORD-Trinity Episcopal Church offers free,
nourishing meals to the local community. The
menu consists of an entrée, soup, salad, bread,
dessert, and beverage. All are welcome to come
and enjoy a hot meal. Meals are served from
4:30 to 6 p.m. on the last Wednesday, the last
Thursday, and the last Friday of every month.
For more information, contact the parish office at
508-473-8464 or [email protected].
Thursday meals, hosted at Trinity Episcopal
Church, are sponsored by the volunteers of the
First United Methodist Church in Milford.
Volunteers to help prepare and serve meals are
always needed and most welcome.
Pots with Pizzazz Date Change
MILFORD-The Greenleaf Garden Club of
Milford meeting featuring Pots with Pizzazz has
been changed to March 23 at the Ruth Anne
Bleakney Senior Center, N. Bow St., Milford. The
meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments
and the program will start at 7 p.m. The program
will feature two avid gardeners, Jana Milbocher
and Joan Butler of Enchanted Gardens in
Holliston. Both are designers and writers with a
passion for horticulture. They will show how to
create focal points from whimsical to grand with
colorful containers and will inspire participants
to introduce drama and excitement into their
container gardens.
The Greenleaf Garden Club is a member of
the National Garden Clubs, Inc. and the Garden
Club Federation of MA, Inc. For information,
call Jean DeLuzio at 508-473-7790.
MARCH 20, 2015
Calendar
Best Buddies Sweetheart Pageant
MILFORD-Milford High School Best
Buddies will be hosting a sweetheart pageant
for ladies and gentlemen with intellectual
disabilities from the Milford area. It will be
held on Friday, March 27 from 6-8 pm at
the Milford High School Auditorium. Young
women will participate in an introduction,
eveningwear, and a talent portion of the pageant
and young men will participate as escorts and
in a “Mr. Milford” theme wear portion of the
pageant.
Admission is $3. All proceeds go to the Best
Buddies of Milford Chapter.
DAV Mobile Service Office
NEW ENGLAND-The Disabled American
Veterans Mobile Service Office will visit the
following locations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the
days listed in the next few weeks. Free counseling
and claim filing assistance is available for all
veterans and members of their families.
Monday, March 23-DAV Westcott Houghton
Chapter 56, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 50
Jefferson St., North Attleboro.
Tuesday, March 24-DAV Lawson Raiola Chapter
15, Bristol Veterans Home, 480 Metacom Ave,
Bristol.
Thursday, March 26-Warwick Veterans Center,
2038 Warwick Ave., Warwick.
Friday, March 27-Dennis Police Department,
90 Bob Crowell Road, South Dennis. Monday,
March 30-DAV Joseph Broadfoot Chapter 6,
Veterans of Foreign Wars, 113 Beach St., Westerly.
Tuesday, March 31-Amvets Post 33, 140 South
Bend St., Pawtucket.
Thursday, April 2-New Bedford Veterans Center,
73 Huttleston Avenue, Fairhaven.
Friday, April 3-Knights of Columbus, 1675
Douglas Avenue, North Providence.
For further information regarding these events,
please feel free to contact NSO Michael Zibrida,
401-223-3695.
Have Your Child’s Car Seat Checked
MILFORD-The Milford Police Department will
be offering a free child passenger safety seat
checkup at the Milford Highway Department,
30 Front St. on Saturday, April 11 from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. The event is part of the Massachusetts
Child Passenger Safety Initiative. At the checkup,
nationally certified child passenger safety
technicians will be available to inspect and
properly install child safety seats. The checkups
are made possible by federal grant funding
provided by the Executive Office of Public Safety
and Security (EOPSS).
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of
death among children ages 3 to 14 in the United
States according to the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration. Three out of four child
safety seats are not properly installed and even
a sudden stop can seriously injure a child who
is not properly secured in the right type of child
safety seat.
Questions on this checkup or any aspect
of child passenger safety may be directed to
the EOPSS’ child passenger safety hotline at
1-877-392-5956 or by visiting www.mass.gov/
childsafetyseats.
Free Community Brown Bag Meal
MILFORD-Please join us for a free nutritious
community brown bag lunch / dinner on the
last Saturday of each month from 6 to 7 p.m.
at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Pine St.,
Milford. Please enter by the side door next to the
former Dunkin Donuts. The meal is sponsored
by Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish of Milford. All
are welcome, no questions asked.
Twice Blessed Thrift Shop
HOPEDALE-Twice Blessed Thrift Shop at
Sacred Heart Church of Hopedale will be
offering half off of suits and slacks and jeans for
$1 each during March. Also check out the March
It’s Gotta Go Sale - buy one stuffed animal or
teddy bear and get one free. The shop is open
Thursdays from 9 .m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday
from 9 a.m. to noon.
The Coyote Wars
MILFORD-Author, Michael C. De la peña will
discuss his debut novel, The Coyote Wars as well
as the sequel, The Last Coyote, which will be
released this year at the Milford Town Library on
Wednesday, April 1 at 7 p.m..
The Coyote Wars is an FBI suspense novel
featuring a family of domestic terrorists and the
hunt to capture them by a team of FBI agents.
Assigned as a Special Agent to the New Haven,
San Juan and Boston offices of the Federal
Bureau of Investigations, Mr. De la peña is a
certified Polygraph Examiner and has conducted
approximately 2,000 polygraph exams for the FBI
in the United States, as well as Latin America and
Iraq. He is also an FBI certified undercover agent
and hostage negotiator.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Milford Town
Library, this event is free and open to the public.
Annual Bunny Breakfast HOPEDALE-The Annual Bunny Breakfast at the Hopedale Union Church, 25 Dutcher St., Hopedale
on Saturday, March 28 form 8 to 11 a.m. It features an all-you-can-eat breakfast of pancakes,
sausage, coffee and juice. Tickets are $5 at the door with children age 12 months and under free. Free
picture with the Easter Bunny. Great raffle prizes, crafts and face painting. For tickets information
email or call: [email protected] or 508-473-1476
Alumni Banquet Celebrate
Catholic Education in Milford
MILFORD-An Alumni Banquet celebrating
135 years of Catholic education in Milford
and the 40th anniversary of Milford Catholic
Elementary School will be held April 11 at the
Crystal Room, 49 Cedar Street, Milford at 5:30
p.m. with cocktails followed by dinner at 7 p.m.
Contact Milford Catholic Elementary School for
tickets by calling Milford Catholic Elementary
School at 508-473-7303 or emailing alumni@
milfordcatholic.org. Tickets for a full course
dinner featuring baked stuffed boneless breast of
chicken are $40 and tables may be reserved.
See more Calendar items online at www.TownCrier.us
Send us your calendar event! Email [email protected]:
NEXT ISSUE: April 3 • DEADLINE: March 31
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MARCH 20, 2015
10.25" x 7.5" Mendon Town Crier
9
Calendar
The Milford and Boston Series
Photos
Blackstone Valley Heritage Quilters
Foxwoods Trip
MILFORD-Photos by Town Crier photographer,
Harry Platcow, will be exhibited at the Milford
National Bank main office on East Main St.
during the month of April. The exhibit will
feature many pictures taken locally in Milford
and some from Boston. Stop by anytime the
bank is open to view these always interesting
and often artistic local views.
Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids
MILFORD-The Hearing Loss Association of
America – Central Massachusetts Chapter is
sponsoring a free presentation, How Do I Know
If I Have a Hearing Loss, And, How Do I Buy
a Hearing Aid? on Saturday, March 21 from 2
to 4 p.m. at the Milford Town Library, Milford.
Tina Coderre, M.A. CCC-A, received her B.S. in
Communication Sciences and Disorders from
Worcester State University and her M.A. from
UMass Amherst will be the presenter. She has
been a clinical audiologist in the Worcester area
for over 32 years, evaluating individuals from
pediatrics to geriatrics. She has been involved
with dispensing hearing aids for approximately
25 years.
Please come to this informal but professional
presentation/discussion and bring your
questions and concerns about your own hearing,
or the hearing of a friend or loved one.
Free parking, refreshments and CART
Provided (Computer Aided Real Time
Captioning) will be available. Please bring
a friend. For more information about the
presentation or hearing loss issues visit
HearingLossCentralMa.org.
April Vacation Kids Kamp
MILFORD-Lenny Morcone, Director of the
Milford Community School Use Program,
has announced that the April Vacation Kids
Kamp will be held during the week of April
20-24 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily for youngsters
attending Kindergarten through Grade 7.
The program will be held at Milford High
School. Age-appropriate activities will be
planned each day and will include recreational
swim time, arts and crafts, games, contests,
movies, quiet/story time and sports.
Space is limited. Children will be admitted on
a first-come/first-serve basis. Registrations are
being accepted by mail or in person daily at the
Milford Community Program Office (located at
the Milford High School). All registration forms
and fees must be received by Monday, April 13.
Any parent with a question concerning the
Kids Kamp may call the Community Program
Office at 508-478-1119 or visit our website at
www.mcs.milford.ma.us.
The Easter Bunny Visits UniBank
UXBRIDGE-The Easter Bunny will be hopping
into UniBank’s Uxbridge branch, located at 25
North Main St., on Saturday, April 4 from 9
a.m. to 12 Noon. Children are invited to come
and join the festivities, and can have a free photo
taken with the Easter Bunny.
In addition to photos, the Uxbridge First
Holiday Night Committee will be offering
refreshments.
MILFORD-Valencia Council #80 is sponsoring
a Foxwoods Trip on Friday, April 24 for any
adult over age 21. The bus will leave the Milford
Municipal Parking Lot across from Sacred
Heart Church at 4 p.m. and leave Foxwoods at
11 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person and include
round trip transportation, a $10 food voucher
or free buffet and $10 in slot plays. Reserve a
spot by calling Jim Burke, F.D.D., 508-478-9813
on or before April 17. Proceeds will benefit the
Council’s Scholarship Fund.
Franklin Art Association Spring Show
and Sale FRANKLIN-The Franklin Art Association 2015
Spring Members Show & Sale will be held at the
Black Box Theater 15 West Central St., Franklin
on Saturday, April 18 from 12 to 8 p.m. and
Sunday, April, 19 from 12 to 3 p.m. The exhibit
is free and opened to the public
The event will feature an exhibit of original
works of fine art and photographs, bin sales of
original works of art and prints, complementary
food and beverage and clothes line art sale. The
awards ceremony will be Saturday evening at 7
p.m.
For further information please visit www.
franklinart.org and www.facebook.com/
FranklinArtAssoc
St. Gabriel the Archangel Vacation
Bible School
UPTON-St. Gabriel the Archangel Vacation
Bible School 2015 will be August 3 through
7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Children will have
awesome fun exploring the amazing SonSpark
Labs. They will trace God’s life-changing plan
as it’s revealed from Creation to the present and
on into the future. They’ll find answers to life’s
most important questions. Campers entering
Kindergarten through Grade 5 will love the
high-energy games, create colorful crafts, enjoy
snacks and the best music ever with musician
Ryan Mascilak.
Young teen, teen and adult volunteers are a
welcome and necessary part of Vacation Bible
School. The most important thing you can bring
to camp is energy.
Please plan to join us for a fun filled week of
sharing our Catholic faith.
Registration and volunteer information
will available soon in the vestibule or you
may contact any one of the directors for more
information: Chris at 508-478-8890, Paula at
508-473-3985 or Mary Lee at 508-478-1588.
Milford Regional Medical Center
Auxiliary Meeting
MILFORD-The Milford Regional Medical
Center Auxiliary will meet on April 14 from
9:30 to 11 a.m. in the MRMC Conference
Room A, 14 Prospect St., Milford. The public
is welcome and encouraged to consider joining
this successful organization.
The Auxiliary conducts many fundraisers
throughout the year which provide support
to MRMC departments and the Auxiliary has
also contributed to the expansion of the Medical
Center, which is well underway. If you would
like more information about the Auxiliary,
please call 508-422-2099.
~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s Spring
at the Sassy Foxx!
Spring Items Arriving Daily!
• Women’s Clothing (Plus & Juniors too)
• Household Decor
• Furniture
• Accessories
• Jewelry
~ We Take Consignment Items by Appointment Only ~
508-278-9700
Tues 10-5 • Wed, Thurs 10-7 • Fri, Sat 10-5
Downtown Uxbridge, 31 South Main Street,
10
Next to Fire Station
WHITINSVILLE-Blackstone Valley Heritage
Quilters will meet Wednesday March 25 at 7
p.m. in the basement hall of St. Patrick’s Church,
1 Cross St., Whitinsville. Guest speaker will be
Anthony Ferranti, speaking on sewing machine
maintenance. Scissor sharpening will be
available. New members can join anytime, and
are always welcome.
Blackstone Valley Chamber of
Commerce
AREA-The Blackstone Valley Chamber of
Commerce will be holding the following events.
For more information or to register call 508234-9090, ext. 100, visit BlackstoneValley.org or
email [email protected].
Business After Hours at Homefield Credit
Union, 86 Worcester St., North Grafton, on
March 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Massachusetts Lt. Governor Karyn Polito
will be the keynote speaker at the Business &
Breakfast meeting on Wednesday, April 15 at 7
a.m. at Pleasant Valley Country Club, 95 Armsby
Rd., Sutton.
Unlaunch’d Voices, an Evening with
Walt Whitman
HOPEDALE-Come celebrate National Poetry
Month with The Friends of the Hopedale Library
on Wednesday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. when actor
Stephen Collins presents, Unlaunch’d Voices,
an Evening with Walt Whitman at the Bancroft
Memorial Library, 50 Hopedale St., Hopedale.
Actor Collins transforms into Whitman for this
one-man show, capturing the essence of the poet
as he reflects upon his life on his 70th birthday.
Experience Whitman’s growth as a man and poet
through poetry and readings of actual letters. Registration is recommended. To sign up
please call the library at 508-634-2209 or stop by
the upstairs registration desk by Monday, April 6.
There is no cost for this program.
Thimble Pleasures Quilt Guild
MENDON-Quilt Artist Diane Miller known
for her exquisite needle turn appliqué quilts will
speak at the next meeting of Thimble Pleasures
Quilt Guild, Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m., Goss
Hall Unitarian Church, 13 Maple St., Mendon.
She will also have a trunk show of her very
extensive appliqué quilt collection. Guests are
welcome for a $5 fee.
Alternatives: 3rd Annual Art Palette
Contest
WHITINSVILLE-What do you get when you
give an ordinary wooden artist palette to a group
of creative people of all ages and abilities and ask
them to make some magic? Beautiful and unique
works of art that will be on display until April
23 at an exhibit in Whitinsville at the Spaulding
R. Heritage Gallery, 50 Douglas Road.
These fabulous, whimsical creations are
the work of participants in the 3rd Annual Art
Palette Contest sponsored by Alternatives and
the Artist Palette Studio at the Whitin Mill. The
16 x 20” wooden palettes become the canvas
in this contest where no other rules apply. The
choice of media varies from the expected to the
unconventional, including paint, ink, buttons,
photographs, figurines, electric lighting and
stained glass.
Gallery visitors will be invited to vote for
their favorites, and cash prizes will be awarded
to the top three entries in each age category.
Voting will close on March 31, and with so much
creativity on display, it may prove challenging to
make a selection.
Thanks To Yanks All-You-Can-Eat
Breakfast
MILFORD-An all-you-can-eat breakfast of
eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, coffee, milk
and juice will be held on Saturday, April 11 at
the Italian American Veteran’s Club in Milford
from 7:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Tickets are $6 per person, $4 for children 8
years old and younger, and will be sold at the
door. No reservations are required.
All proceeds will benefit Thanks To Yanks,
Boston Wounded Veteran’s Run, and Operation
Delta Dog. Thanks to Yanks is a Milford
based 501c3 whose mission is to support our
military members, veterans, and their families.
For further information visit our Facebook
page, www.thankstoyanks.org, or email info@
thankstoyanks.org.
Natural Living Expo
UXBRIDGE-The Prayer Shawl Group of the
Uxbridge Congregational Church is sponsoring
a Natural Living Expo on March 28 from
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Church Community
House, 8 Court St., Uxbridge, behind the Town
Common. Free admission.
Featured will be several presenters from
various fields including Leslie Reichert, the
Martha Stewart of Green Cleaning, Laura
Parker-Roerden from Ocean Matters, Mary
Beauchamp for Gardens by Mary, Ron Allen will
give a Tai Chi demonstration and Joe St. Denis
from Solar City. Also included this year will be a
Kids Recycle Craft Table.
Local vendors and businesses will be present
to promote healthier, greener, organic and
natural products and living ideas plus creative
way to Reuse, Recycle and Repurpose every
day items. A raffle table will be available with
proceeds to benefit the Church’s ongoing
mission work and other projects.
Milford Area Chamber of Commerce
MILFORD-The Milford Area Chamber of
Commerce (MACC) will host the following
events. To reserve your place at any of these
events call 508-473-6700 or email chamber@
milfordchamber.org. For more information
about the chamber visit www.milfordchamber.
org.
Boot Camp for Small Businesses-Bookkeeping
Basics, an introduction to QuickBooks by Pat
Fleming of Custom Business Solution, Inc, on
Wednesday, March 25 at 8 a.m. at the Chamber
Office, 258 Main St., Milford.
Home and Business Expo 2015 on Saturday,
March 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Valley Tech,
Pleasant St., Upton, will feature a Mac & Cheese
Competition, free kids activities include photos
with the Easter Bunny and Balloon Creations
by Bobo the Clown, raffles, door prizes free
samples, specials, appliance recycling and more.
Free admission and free parking. Vendor spaces
still available.
Boot Camp for Small Businesses-How
Important is Social Media Today, presented by
Chiderah Okoye, State Director & Community
Connection Campaign Lead Venly OpCenter,
on Wednesday, April 8 at 8 a.m. in the Chamber
Offices, 258 Main St., Milford.
Beth Tikvah Synagogue Open House
WESTBOROUGH-Beth Tivkah Synagogue,
45 Oak St., Westborough, will hold an Open
House on Sunday, March 29 from 9 to 11 a.m.
Meet Rabbi Michael Swarttz, Cindy Avergon,
Religious School Coordinator, and EJ Dotts,
President, as well as other members of the board
and the congregation. Enjoy bagels and coffee
while you tour the facility and see the dynamic
religious school in action. Please RSVP to Benita
Amsden at [email protected]. Children
invited to sit in on our classes. More information
about Beth Tikvah and its religious school can
be found at www.bethtikvahsynagogue.org.
Beth Tikvah Synagogue Trivia Night
WESTBOROUGH-Beth Tikvah Synagogue
is holding its annual Trivia Night and Silent
Auction fundraiser on Saturday, March 21 at 45
Oak St. Westborough beginning at 6 p.m. The
first hour will be a time for socializing, enjoying
baked goods and appetizers and bidding on
Silent Auction items. Stump Trivia, the nation’s
second largest trivia company, will be running
the game. There is room for 10 teams of eight
players and everyone from the community is
welcome to put together a team. Individuals
are also welcome. There will be trophies for the
top three teams. The entry fee for this event is
$18 per person with advance registration by
March 18. Registration forms are available in the
lobby of Beth Tikvah Synagogue, the Boroughs
JCC, and on-line at www.bethtikvahsynagogue.
org. Tickets can be purchased at the door for
$25. More information is available at www.
bethtikvahsynagogue.org.
The Town Criers Are
Direct Mailed to Over
20,000 Doorsteps!
MARCH 20, 2015
Upton News
◆ UPTON ELECTION from front page
seat; David Loeper for Moderator for
one year; Richard LaCross for Recreation
Commission for three years; John
Robertson, Joe McMahon, and Laurie
Wodin for the three Library Trustees’
seats for three years; Thomas Davidson
for Planning Board for five years; Rena
Richard for Housing Authority for five
years; and Kenneth Glowacki for Board
of Commissioner of Trust Funds for three
years.
Robert Richard is running for the
Cemetery Commission’s three year
seat; Glenn Fowler was the incumbent.
However, Fowler is now running for one
of two open Cemetery Commission seats
both of which have a term length of one
year; Robert Richard was an incumbent.
Edwin McKinney took out papers for the
Commission’s other one year seat, however,
his nomination papers were not returned.
Newcomer Stephen Matellian submitted
his nomination papers for the vacant
Finance Committee’s two year seat.
The three year seat for the Assessor
of Taxes seat has no candidate; Charles
Marsden is the incumbent but chose not to
run again.
Objections to and withdrawal of
nominations should be filed through the
Town Clerk by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April
1.
The Town Election polls will be open
from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Nipmuc Regional
High School. Residents are also reminded
that the Annual Town Meeting is scheduled
to take place on Thursday, May 7 at Nipmuc
Regional High School and begin at 7 p.m.
The deadline to register to vote in the
Town Election or Annual Town Meeting is
Tuesday, April 14. The Town Clerk’s office
will open that day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Residents who have questions concerning
their voter registration status should
contact the Town Clerk’s office at 508-5293565 or email [email protected].
Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and
Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday
from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday from
8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Upton Bloomer Girl
Scholarships
Upton Veterans Invited to
Purple Heart Event
The Upton Bloomer Girls 2015 College
Scholarship Applications are now available
at Nipmuc Regional High School,
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational
Technical High School, and the Upton
Town Library. Applicants must be either an
Upton resident graduating from high school
or the child or grandchild of a current
Bloomer Girls member and attending
college in the fall. Applications are due
April 17. For more information contact JoAnn O’Brien at 508-603-1548.
Upton veterans are invited to attend a
special event hosted by the Board of
Selectmen on Tuesday April 7 at 6 p.m.
in Room 203 of Town Hall. Leo Agnew,
Commander of the Massachusetts division
of the Military Order of the Purple Heart
will formally designate Upton as a Purple
Heart Community. Selectmen at the
January 6 meeting proclaimed Upton a
Purple Heart Community as a way to honor
military personnel wounded or killed in
combat.
Upton Men’s Club
Scholarships
The Upton Men’s Club announces their
Scholarship Award Program for 2015.
Awards totaling over $5,000 will be given to
graduating High School level seniors.
Applications for the 2015 scholarships
are available from Meredith Hefez at
Nipmuc Regional High School, Beth
Hennessy at Blackstone Valley Regional
Vocational Technical High School, and on
the Upton Men’s Club website at: www.
uptonmensclub.org. Criteria includes being
an Upton resident, a graduating senior
from any high school who is pursuing
higher education at an accredited school.
Applicants will be evaluated primarily on
their contributions to Upton.
Applications must be received no later
than April 17, 2015.
The Upton Men’s Club Scholarships and
other projects and programs are made
possible by the community support of
events such as golf tournaments, raffles and
other fund raising activities spearheaded by
the club.
Upton Political Ads
& Articles
The Upton Mendon Town Crier offers
each candidate running for office
in the May 4 Upton Town Election
the opportunity to submit one press
release in an upcoming issue. The
press release must be NO MORE THAN
300 words, submitted as a Microsoft
Word document and sent as an
attachment to the Editor, Jane Bigda,
at [email protected]. The
deadline for submission is April 7.
Political ads may be purchased by
contacting Lori Tate at
508-529-0301 or email
[email protected]
Deadlines are:
March 24 for the April 3 issue
April 7 for the April 17 issue
April 21 for the May 1 issue
Keep Your Brain Sharp
Join Pat Read, Case Manager for NeuroRehab Management and Support Group
Leader for The Brain Injury Association,
to learn about strategies to keep your brain
happy and healthy on Tuesday, March
31 at 1 p.m. at the Upton Center. Light
refreshments will be served. Please call the
Center. 508-529-4558 to register.
Visit us at TownCrier.us
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Home Equity Line of Credit
.99%
APR*
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variable at Prime for the
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www.deanbank.com • (508) 528-0088
FRANKLIN BELLINGHAM BLACKSTONE MENDON
Member FDIC Member SIF
* 6 month introductory rate of 1.99% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) effective 3/1/2015. After 6 months from closing the APR becomes variable at the Prime Rate published in the Wall Street Journal for the life of the loan, currently 3.25% APR. Maximum rate is 18%. Minimum rate is 3.25% APR. Minimum
line amount is $10,000. Introductory rate requires automatic payment made from a Dean Bank checking account. Maximum loan amount cannot exceed 80% of the home’s current appraised value less any existing mortgage liens. Offer applies to new lines only and is valid on owner-occupied, 1-2 family
residential properties and 1 unit second homes. Homeowners insurance is required; flood insurance may be required. If the Home Equity Line of Credit is closed within the first three years you will be charged a cost recovery fee of up to $495. $300 closing costs due at closing. Payments will not include
taxes and insurance; these will be the responsibility of the borrower. Subject to our normal credit approval requirements.
MARCH 20, 2015
11
Upton News
Upton Senior Center
Upton Meetings
The Upton Center is open Monday through
Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Staff is available by
phone from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities are
subject to change. Please call 508-529-4558
with any questions.
Friday, March 20
Tax Appointments. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rep. David Muradian Office Hours, 12 to 1 p.m.
Men’s Club Supper, 5:30 p.m.
Monday, March 23
Sen. Michael Moore Office Hours, 9 to 10 a.m.
Wednesday, March 25
Shopping Trip to Walmart, Northbridge, 10 a.m.
Blood Pressure Checks, 12:30 p.m.
Friday, March 27
Shopping Trip to Price Chopper, Shrewsbury
Monday
Tai Chi, 10 a.m.
Chair Exercise, 2 p.m.
Tuesday
Zumba, 9:30 a.m.
Card Players Group, 10 a.m.
Wii Bowling, 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Library Table, 11 a.m.
Canasta, 12:30 p.m.
Movie Day, 12:45 p.m.
Computer Classes, 2:30 p.m.
Thursday
Knit and Crochet, 10 a.m.
Bingo, 1 p.m.
Upton Town government meeting dates, times, and locations for all boards,
committees, and commissions may be found at www.upton.ma.us/pages/
calendar.php.
Upton Community Garden
Upton Community Garden plots are available for the
2015-growing season. Each plot is a 4 by 16-foot raised bed for
growing organic vegetables, flowers and herbs. Plots are available
free of charge to Upton residents and Upton based community
groups. An elevated bed is available for gardeners who may have
difficulty accessing the standard height beds.
While the plots are made available at no cost, gardeners are
expected to contribute approximately two hours to help with the
maintenance and management of the garden.
To sign up for the 2015 season send a note to:
[email protected] by April 15.
Available plots will be assigned by lottery with a number of
plots reserved for disabled individuals, seniors, and community
groups. Please indicate if you fit into one of these categories.
Visit www.towncrier.us for Breaking News,
Ad Club Introduces, Calendar Items, Photo
Galleries, Feature Stories, and more!
Cars at United Parish Nursery School
Painting with cars—car washes and garages;
car music and books; and more cars. These
are just a few of the things local children
said they enjoyed most about a car-themed
Ride Along with Me Night at the United
Parish Christian Nursery School. Children
invited a very special grown up person to
“ride along with them” for an evening of
preschool fun. Participants enjoyed building
their own cars, painting with cars, washing
cars, and using inclined planes and ramps
for car play. Music from The Cars movie
was played in the background as grown-ups
and children enjoyed a night of family fun.
Shown in the photo are Claire Condon and
her dad Chris Condon. For more information
on United Parish Christian Nursery School
or to schedule a tour of the school please
contact Sandy Leacu at 508-529-6382 or visit
unitedparishschool.org. United Parish photo
Janet L. Goguen, DMD
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113 Main St., Upton Plaza • 508-529-4591
Moore Appointed to Opioid Addiction
Prevention Committee and Files Legislation on
Powdered Alcohol
State Senator Michael Moore, D. Millbury, has
been appointed as a member of the newly created
Massachusetts Special Senate Committee on Opioid
Addiction Prevention.
The special committee has been established
to investigate and study of opioid addiction
prevention, treatment, and recovery options along
with reviewing existing state statutes and funding,
as well as implementing and enforcing of recently
enacted substance abuse legislation, and making
recommendations to further strengthen opioid abuse
prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery
options and access to such programs for all residents of
the Commonwealth.
Legislation filed by Moore would ban the sale of
powdered alcohol after the product was approved
for sale by federal regulators in mid-March. While
the freeze-dried alcohol in powdered form known
as ‘Palcohol’ is now eligible for sale under federal
standards, states across the country have moved to
institute their own regulations. Concerns about the
product are largely motivated by fears about its toxicity,
and potential for abuse.
“The federal approval of powdered alcohol has
significant ramifications for Massachusetts. The
prevalence of alcohol related incidents, including drunk
driving and alcohol poisoning, are indicative of the
serious issues raised by this product,” said Moore. “Our
12
first priority when considering this substance must be
the safety of our residents.”
Senator Moore’s legislation, SD.524, an Act regulating
powdered alcohol, would establish the necessary
standards and regulations to protect residents of
the Commonwealth. The bill first defines powdered
alcohol, before prohibiting the sale, possession and
manufacturing of the substance in Massachusetts. The
language does not prevent state institutions, colleges
and universities, and pharmaceutical or biotechnology
companies from using the product for scientific
research.
Wary of the impending federal ruling, Moore
filed the legislation on January 15 as a preemptive
measure, saying, “while other administrative options
exist, a legislative solution is the best way to ensure
sustainable and effective enforcement of the law.
Because the regulations are still unfolding as the
product’s availability grows nearer, I will also pursue
the enactment of this language through the upcoming
Senate budget.”
Moore’s bill is currently awaiting assignment to a
committee where it will have a public hearing before
being considered by the members. To learn more
about the bill, and the advisory on the product’s federal
approval and potential state action, visit the ABCC
website: http://www.mass.gov/abcc/.
MARCH 20, 2015
Upton News
By Michelle Sanford
Upton Historical Commission Concerns over Grove St. Property
thought the purchase had been funded. “As
the building fund comes from Community
Preservation Act funding under the
category of historic preservation, it seems
counterproductive to be buying a property
with the intent to tear down a contributing
property in a historic district to make way
for parking.”
The Board of Selectmen briefly discussed
the letter during a March 3 meeting.
Selectman Ken Picard stated his frustration
with the allegation in the letter that the
intent to purchase the property and then
demo the building was only discussed
in the media. Picard countered stating
there were several public meetings held
concerning the town’s plans. He also
clarified that the purchase was not funded
with community preservation funds but
with general fund monies.
Taylor said the Historical Commission
plans to continue to discuss the topic of
the Grove St. property at its next meeting
scheduled for March 26.
In other Board news Eagle Scout
candidate Mark LeClaire presented his
finished Eagle Scout project to the Board
of Selectmen. LeClaire constructed a kiosk
for Heritage Park. He told the Board it
took more than 250 hours to complete his
project and that a number of individuals
assisted him with the work. The kiosk will
display information about the park near the
entrance for visitors.
Structure at 2 Grove St. dates from 1883.
Members of the Upton Historical
Commission sent the Board of Selectmen a
letter stating their concerns over the town’s
impending plans to demolish a property
they feel has historical value.
During a February Special Town
Meeting, residents voted to support the
purchase of the property located at 2
Grove St. in order to provide much needed
additional parking for the Town Hall. The
building on the property was in foreclosure
and was purchased for $80,000. According
to town officials, tentative plans are to
demolish the building to make room for
parking spaces.
During the February meeting, Historical
Commission members Cathy Taylor and
Joyce Heywood voiced their opposition
to the purchase. According to the
Upton Police Department
Annual Senior Spaghetti
Supper
On April 16 at 5:30 p.m. the Upton Police
Department will be holding its annual
spaghetti supper for the Upton seniors at
the Upton Center. Sign up in advance with
Upton Center Staff at the Upton Center
office in person or by phone at 508-5294559. Space is limited and preference will
be given to Upton Seniors.
Spring Fling at Upton
Center
On Saturday, March 21, Nipmuc
Sophomore Jill Carey is hosting a Spring
Fling for local senior citizens at the
Upton Center on Farm St., as part of her
membership in the Blackstone Valley Youth
Leadership Academy. The event runs from
2 to 4 p.m. and guests are encouraged
to break out their snappy spring attire.
In addition to light refreshments, the
Spring Fling will feature door prizes and
a performance by Nipmuc choral groups.
Local florists will be donating floral
arrangements to be raffled off to lucky
guests. Memorial School students are
working on a special spring contribution
to the event and Jill is appreciative of
donations from various local businesses.
All are welcome and a $2 door donation
is suggested. So if the winter has taken the
spring out of your step join us at the Spring
Fling to get it back! Hope to see you there!
For more information feel free to email
[email protected].
MARCH 20, 2015
Commission, the Grove St. property
was built in 1883 and is the oldest
contributing commercial building in the
town’s center.
Shortly after the Town Meeting was
held, the Commission sent a letter to
the Board of Selectmen expressing their
disappointment concerning the proposed
demolition and the fact they had not been
contacted by town officials for their input
prior to the Town Meeting vote.
The letter stated, “It’s unfortunate that
the Board of Selectmen did not notify
us or ask for our recommendation
concerning this warrant item as our input
could have been part of the Town Meeting
discussion.”
The letter goes on to express
disappointment at how the Commission
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13
Mendon News
Mendon Meetings
Monday, March 23
Board of Health, Public Hearing for Tobacco
Regulations, Town Hall, 7 p.m.
Planning Board, Public Hearing Notice, 7
Harrington St., Town Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24
Cultural Council, Town Hall, 7 p.m.
Monday, March 30
Board of Selectmen, Town Hall, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1
Board of Selectmen to Attend Finance
Committee’s Budget Public Hearing, Town Hall,
7 p.m.
Monday, April 6
Board of Selectmen, Upper Town Hall, 7 p.m.
All meetings are subject to change. For the
most up to date information on Mendon
Meetings, view www.mendonma.gov
Mendon Senior Center
The Mendon Senior Center serves Mendon
residents 60 years of age or older, people with
disabilities, and care givers. Hours of operation
are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m.
to 3:30 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, or
call 508-478-6175.
Saturday, March 21
Boy Scout Troop #44 Pancake Breakfast,
Unitarian Church, 8 a.m. to noon
Tuesday, March 24
Jukebox Memories of the 50’s & 60’s, 11 a.m.
Tri-Valley Baked Potato Bar, 12 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25
Dine-Out, Depot Café, Uxbridge, 11:15 a.m.
Monday
Whole Foods, 9 a.m.
Cribbage and Bridge, 9 a.m.
Chorus, 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Stretch and Flexibility, 9 a.m.
Chair Exercise, 11:15 a.m.
Lunch Club, 12 p.m.
Wii Bowling, 1 p.m.
Wednesday
Shopping Van, 8 a.m. (Alternating Wednesdays)
Panera Bread, 9 a.m.
Gentle Yoga, 9 a.m.
Thursday
Stretch and Flexibility, 9 a.m.
Cribbage, 9 a.m.
Lunch Club, 12 p.m.
Wii Bowling, 1 p.m.
Pitch League, 7 p.m.
Friday
Outreach, 9 a.m. to noon, by appointment
The Friends of the Taft Public Library
The Friends of the Taft Public Library “ are having an Open
House on March 28 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the cafe at the Blessing
Barn on Hastings St., Mendon. Join us for refreshments and to
hear about all the exciting things we have planned for 2015.
Jukebox Memories of the 50’s & 60’s
As winter winds down the Mendon Senior Center will try to
banish those lingering blues with a return performance by Vic
Solo on Tuesday, March 24 at 11 a.m. --this time with a Salute
to the 50’s and 60’s in his Jukebox Memories show.
Following the performance everyone is invited to enjoy a
self-serve Baked Potato Bar supplied by Tri-Valley that will
feature an assortment of toppings including chili, broccoli,
cheese sauce, sour cream, chives and bacon. Also provided are
salad, bread, milk and dessert. Please call 508-478-6175 or stop
by the Mendon Senior Center to register. The musical program
is generously sponsored by the Friends of Mendon Elders and
the cost of the potato bar is $3 per person.
New Members Needed for Mendon
Republican Town Committee
Over the past year, the Mendon Republican Town Committee
(RTC) has worked to re-establish itself. Committee members
have developed a strong foundation to grow the organization
and are now seeking Republicans who are interested in being
active in the political process as well as in their community.
“The current members of the Mendon Republican Town
Committee have established a website and Facebook page where
people now have the ability to interact with the Committee.
We are looking for new members who want to be involved in
the political process,” said Mendon RTC Chairman Mark Reil.
“It may seem like a daunting process to be involved in, but the
current members have many years of experience and are more
than willing to guide newcomers. We plan to be an integral part
in our community in as many ways as possible both politically
and nonpolitically.”
The Mendon Republican Town Committee will be meeting
on March 20 at Willowbrook Restaurant beginning at 7 p.m. to
provide information to potential new members. The committee
encourages interested people to reach out to Reil prior to the
meeting at [email protected] or 774-571-2079.
Census Forms Due Back
Submitted by Margaret Bonderenko,
Mendon Town Clerk
Census forms were mailed in early January. Every household in
Mendon should have received a form. If a form did not come to
your residence, please contact the Town Clerk at 508-473-1085 or
[email protected]. Compliance with this state requirement
provides proof of residency, provides general population and school
population information to state and local officials. Please return
census forms as soon as possible. This form does not register you to
vote, but failure to answer this annual listing may result in removal
from the active voting list.
If the form is printed with your information on it, review the
information, and make any corrections, additions and/or deletions,
sign the form at the bottom, and return immediately.
If a form comes to your address in the name of the former
residents, cross off all names who do not live there and add the names
and information for the current residents. List all persons living in
the household. Also list any member of the family in the military
service, away at school, or confined to a nursing home that uses your
address as their legal address.
Nationality should only be completed for persons who are not
United States citizens. Grade and school information should only be
completed for persons under-21-years-of-age. Please update grade
information for your children.
Dog owners should list the number and type of dogs on the form
that is attached to the bottom of the census form i.e. male, female,
spayed or neutered. Residents may register their dogs by mail if
owners enclose a current rabies certificate, proof of neutering/spaying
and the appropriate payment $6 for a spayed/neutered, $10 for male
or female. New this year, dogs may also be registered online at www.
mendonma.gov, if the dog was previously registered in the Town of
Mendon. Residents, who are registering a newly acquired dog, can
send all of the information to the office or register the dog in person.
When registering by mail, enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.
The Town Clerk’s office will return all documentation. Otherwise the
license and all documents can be picked up at the Town Clerk’s office,
located in the Town Hall.
Please remember to make the changes on the Town Census Form
that apply to your family, sign the form, and return the completed
form to the Town Clerk. Census forms may be mailed to or dropped
off at the Town Clerk’s office any time the Town Hall is open.
DON’T FORGET!
The Town Crier is totally paid for by our advertisers. Please patronize these businesses.
Study Committee Formed to Research Development of Historic District
By Michelle Sanford
During a March 11 meeting, several
members of the Mendon Historical
Commission came before the Board
of Selectmen to request that a Study
Committee be formed in an effort to
possibly develop a Historic District in
town. Historical Commission members
Wayne Wagner, Kathy Schofield, and Jane
Lowell discussed the proposal and the
requirements necessary.
“It’s not easy. The state does not make this
process easy,” said Lowell to the Board.
According to Schofield, the
Massachusetts Historical Commission has
identified 293 homes in Mendon that are
considered historically significant. Through
a study done in 1989, the Downtown
Village Center was also identified as being
an area the town may want to protect
through the establishment of a Historic
District, which would be located in the
triangular section of Main St., Maple St.
and Hastings St.
The first step in establishing the District
is to put together a Study Committee whose
members would, over an approximate 18
month period, study the designated area
and provide feedback from its residents
on whether or not they support the idea to
protect the area.
“The guidelines in terms of protection
are flexible,” explained Schofield. “Each
town can identify what is most important
to them. For the most part, it really is the
facade of the building we want to try to
preserve.”
According to Lowell, there are financial
benefits to establishing a Historic District.
“If businesses see that the town is investing
in itself, they are much more apt to come
into the community and set up a business,”
she said. The preservation work will also
create jobs.
In addition, there are tax incentives for
home and business owners in the District
who chose to fix up their structures. Lowell
added that Community Preservation
funds could be used or borrowed for
some repairs. “The CPC (Community
Preservation Committee) has to agree to
that,” said Lowell. In addition, many times
a home located in the Historic District is
priced at a higher value.
The Massachusetts Historical Committee
recommends the Study Committee be
comprised of three to seven members
and consist of a local realtor, a lawyer,
and a member of the town’s Historical
Commission, among others.
After some more discussion, the Board
unanimously agreed to support the
formation of the Study Committee. “The
thing that struck me is that this potentially
locks in Mendon’s history… it potentially
allows other areas to be developed. This
type of thing probably puts more people
at ease,” said Selectman Chair Michael
Goddard.
Lowell stated there may be some people
who are against the idea of the Historic
District because they fear their rights are
being trampled upon. “We’re not trying to
tell people what to do with their property,”
explained Lowell.
Should town officials decide to move
forward with the establishment of a
Historical District in town, it would need a
2/3 vote approval at a Town Meeting.
Officials are in the process of forming a Study Committee to develop a Historic District in Mendon. One area that would likely be included in such a district would be the triangular section
of Main, Maple and Hastings St. anchored by such buildings at the Unitarian Church, Town Hall and the Taft Public Library.
14
MARCH 20, 2015
Mendon News
Mendon Election: Burke Running for Selectman
By Michelle Sanford
Mendon resident Christopher Burke
has taken out nomination papers for
the Board of Selectmen’s three year
seat. He is currently serving as Chair
of the Finance Committee. Incumbent
Michael Goddard, who has served on
the Board of Selectmen for the past five
years, announced he did not plan to
seek re-election. As of March 12, Burke
had not returned his papers. Mendon’s
Town Election is scheduled to take
place on May 12.
Those who have returned and
certified their nomination papers
include incumbents Jay Byer for Town
Moderator for one year and Barry
Iadarola for the Planning Board’s five
year seat.
Others who have taken out
nomination papers include incumbents
Margaret Bonderenko for the Town
Clerk’s three year seat; Robert Carlson
for the Taft Public Library Trustee’s
three year seat; Leigh Martin for the
Mendon Upton Regional School
District School Committee for three
years; and John Palumbo for the
Housing Authority’s five year seat.
Newcomer Kevin Rudden has also
taken out papers for the Assessor’s three
year vacant seat.
Other offices up for re-election
include Board of Health for three years,
Thomas Fichtner is the incumbent; Taft
Public Library Trustee for three years,
Susan Darnell is the incumbent; Parks
Commissioner for three years, Joseph
Flaherty is the incumbent; and Water
Commissioner for three years, Dean
D’Alessandro is the incumbent.
All candidates must have their
completed nomination papers returned
to the Town Clerk by 5 p.m. on Tuesday,
March 24. Candidates must have 25
signatures from registered Mendon
voters. Residents signing papers
Mendon Lion’s Club Accepting Scholarship
Applications
Members of the Mendon Lions Club are now opening up their annual
scholarship program. Senior students who are residents of Mendon
are eligible to apply, as are senior student members of the Blackstone
Valley Leo’s Club. Students must be planning to further their education
and must meet certain criteria stated on the Scholarship Application
forms. These application forms are available at Nipmuc Regional High
School as well as the Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical
High School. For any Mendon resident senior student attending other
schools, you may request an application by contacting Mendon Lion, Jean
Vendetti at 508-473-4267. Completed applications must be returned to
the Mendon Lions Club no later than April 30.
The Mendon Lions Club has been offering scholarship awards to Mendon
resident students for more than twenty years and more recently has
included members of the Blackstone Valley’s Leo Club. The Leo Club is
a youth group sponsored by and working in close association with the
Mendon Lions Club
must sign in person as registered or
substantially as registered and must
state his or her current address (no P.O.
boxes). Residents may sign more than
one nomination paper for the same
office. The last day a candidate may
withdraw from the election is April 9.
For those residents not registered to
vote in the Town Election or the May
1 Annual Town Meeting, there is still
time. The deadline to register is Friday,
April 10. The Town Clerk’s office will
be open from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. on
that day. Residents may also register
in the Town Clerk’s office during
regular office hours, in any town clerk’s
office in Massachusetts. Residents are
encouraged to call the Town Clerk’s
office at 508-473-1085 or email
[email protected] if they have
questions on their voter status. The
polls for the May 12 Town Election will
be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Miscoe
Hill School.
Free Caregivers Guide
Stop by the Mendon Senior
Center to pick up a free copy of
the user friendly, The Caregivers
Guide, an extensive resource
guide for seniors, caregivers and
professionals who are trying
to navigate the often complex
aging and caregiving networks.
This guide includes; advice,
checklists, tips, specific agency
contact information, etc. The
Caregivers Guide, a publication
of the Central Massachusetts
Agency on Aging along with the
Senior Connection may also be
accessed on line.
Mendon Political Ads &
Articles
The Upton Mendon Town Crier offers each
candidate running for office in the May 12
Mendon Town Election the opportunity to
submit one press release in an upcoming
issue. The press release must be NO
MORE THAN 300 words, submitted as a
Microsoft Word document and sent as an
attachment to the Editor, Jane Bigda, at
[email protected]. The deadline
for submission is April 7.
Political ads may be purchased by
contacting Lori Tate at
508-529-0301 or email
[email protected]
Deadlines are:
April 7 for the April 17 issue
April 21 for the May 1 issue
Mendon Friends Group Holding
7th Annual Book Sale
The Friends of Mendon Elders are asking for donations of books and
more for their popular 7th Annual Used Book Sale to be held for three
days again. The sale begins Friday, April 10, from 3 to 7 p.m.; Saturday,
April 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and again on Sunday, April 12, from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mendon Senior Center, 62 Providence St.
There will be a large assortment of previously read books, nonfiction,
fiction, historical novels, science fiction, children’s books, puzzles,
games, CDs, DVDs and other previously viewed videos and more. All
are unbelievably priced at 50 cents to $1. Raffle tickets for a popular
gift basket filled with $50 worth of scratch off lottery tickets will also be
available. Raffle tickets are $1 each or seven tickets for $5.
All proceeds benefit the Friends of Mendon Elders, Inc to support
activities and program development for the Mendon Senior Center.
For more information contact Sue Carlson at 508-473-6614 or
[email protected].
Board Hopes to Address Residents’ Budget
Questions Before May Meeting
By Michelle Sanford
In an effort to answer questions concerning new budget numbers, the Mendon
Board of Selectmen announced they will make the budget a permanent topic
at their meetings from now until the Annual Town Meeting on May 1. That
statement and a brief discussion took place during a March 11 Selectmen’s
meeting.
“Between now and the [Annual] Town Meeting I’d like to make the budget
a standing topic, specifically what I want to try to do is have us present and
start talking about budget facts, figures, historical views,” said Selectman Chair
Michael Goddard. “I want to make sure individuals at the Town Meeting have
information at their finger tips before they get to the floor.”
As a result, Goddard encouraged any interested residents who could not
attend upcoming Board meetings but had specific questions to email them to
Administrative Assistant Diane Willoughby. “We can address those questions
here, have it recorded, and have it posted,” said Goddard.
The Board plans to begin the open dialogue during an upcoming meeting
with Goddard facilitating. “There will be ground rules because I want it to be
objective. The bottom line is there’s a lot of stuff out in social media; there’s a lot
of email traffic; there’s a lot of information without context from all parties that
I’ve observed. What I want to do is provide common context; objective context,”
explained Goddard.
Goddard added the discussion should not involve resident’s personal opinions
on the budget. “People saying I don’t think the school or public safety should
spend money that way. That’s not a discussion I want to have because that is a
personal preference.”
Resident Mike Watson, who was in attendance at the Board meeting, asked
if there was disagreement on a specific number or policy, saying, “Will there be
a mechanism to clear that up?” Goddard said questions unable to be answered
immediately would be researched and then answered at the next meeting.
“You’ve got to bring closure or there’s going to be more noise out there,” he said.
Selectman Rich Schofield welcomed the dialogue. “I hope people participate,”
he stated. Watson agreed. “It will be great to get the true figures out there.”
The Board is hoping to begin the budget dialogue at their next meeting
by inviting Senator Ryan Fattman, R. Webster, and Mendon Upton Regional
School District Treasurer Jay Byer to listen in and participate. The next meeting
is tentatively scheduled for March 30. Any residents who would like to email
a budget question to the Board of Selectmen should send it to bosadmin@
mendonma.gov.
MARCH 20, 2015
15
Senior
Millbury Health Care Center
Millbury Health Care Center
By Michelle Sanford
“Community.” That’s the word that comes to mind when thinking about Millbury Health Care
Center. That’s because it’s a special community made up of its residents, patients, and a committed
staff whose goal is to make certain those there continue to live and maintain a quality life.
Millbury Health Care Center is a 154 bed accredited facility that offers both long-term nursing
and short-term rehabilitation services.
With its state-of-the-art rehabilitation center, the team at Millbury Health Care Center brings
only the best and progressive therapies to those patients who need assistance recovering from
surgery or an illness. In fact, of the 247 patients admitted to the center in 2013, 70 percent of them
returned home after an average stay of 18 days and 95 percent returned home in less than 25 days. And for those living in the long-term residence, the skilled nursing professionals and loving
staff make certain a homey and safe environment is provided to everyone there. Comforting
for families is knowing their loved ones have access to 24 hour registered nurses, a licensed
nutritionist, social services, and onsite physician care which includes internal medicine, podiatry,
ophthalmology, and dental care. “We can handle almost anything. We’re like a mini hospital,” said
Administrator Trent Guthrie.
In addition, Millbury Health Center provides specialty programs on heart failure, pulmonary
and Parkinson’s disease which are overseen by physician specialists and directors and are offered at
a more progressive level than many skilled nursing centers.
And because staying active is instrumental for those at the facility, a top-notch staff oversees
multiple types of fun activities each day. A wonderful dining area and culinary staff also offers up
fresh, delicious food served a la carte.
According to Guthrie, the Health Care Center also has a vested interest in the community of
Millbury itself, collaborating and partnering with a number of local businesses, organizations, and
programs for the elderly. “That’s very important to us because much of our staff is from Millbury as
well.”
Millbury Health Care Center received a Five Star Rating for health care excellence by the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and was named one of the best long-term nursing
facilities by U.S. News and World Report in 2014. Millbury Health Care Center is located at 312
Millbury Avenue. For more information on the Center or for a tour call 508-793-0088. Also check
out their Facebook Page or view www.healthbridgemanagement.com/millbury.
St. Camillus H
The only Residential Care
Facility in the Greater Milford
Area. Offering Medical and
Social Supports to elders.
289 East Street
Wrentham, MA 02093
508-384-3531
www.pondhome.org
[email protected]
16
An Affordable Option in Long Term Care,
Offering Residential Care &
Supportive Nursing Care since 1902
By Michelle Sanford
For more than 50 years, St. Camillus Health
Center has been providing long and short
term quality and compassionate elder care.
The facility’s motto is “Compassionate Care
Committed to the Dignity of Life”; a motto
the loving staff at St. Camillus is dedicated to
fulfilling every day.
“We’ve been doing this for a long time and
we do it very well,” said Administrator Bill
Graves.
St. Camillus Health Center offers its patients
and residents outstanding care on a number
of levels including short-term rehabilitation,
long-term care, adult day health services, and
a secured memory care neighborhood is also
there. And now with a recent $2.5 million
renovation project recently completed those
services are better than ever. A large part
of the renovations incorporated upgrades
to the short-term rehabilitation unit which
included all new rehab equipment and new
flooring as well as upgrading documentation
electronically.
What makes St. Camillus care unique is
the way it allows residents to feel like they are
home as much as possible. Graves says over the
past several years there’s been a change in the
St. Camillus Health Cente
MARCH 20, 2015
Living
St. Camillus Adult Day
Health Center
Blaire House of Milford
Our Adult Day Health Center is designed to provide a full
day’s worth of meaningful activity for our participants,
while also taking care of each participant’s medical needs.
The Blair House of Milford’s new
assisted living facility and memory care
neighborhood.
Some of the Services Provided:
• Person Centered Activities
• Strength training with Nautilus machines
supervised by a Fitness Coordinator
• Transportation to and from the Adult
Day Health Center is available
• Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack
• Staff assisted showers are available on-site
508-266-2054
670 Linwood Avenue
Whitinsville, MA 01588
NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Call to schedule a tour or
visit us and have lunch!
Compassionate Care Committed to the Dignity of Life
HEALTHCARE
PROFESSIONALS
By Michelle Sanford
The word “transition” is defined as a process or period of changing from one state or
condition to another. And for the elderly community, transitions can be a difficult thing
for themselves and their families to go through. What makes the Blaire House of Milford
so special and comforting is that it is able to provide the same special care to its clients as
they transition through various stages of life.
The family-owned Blaire House is unique in that it offers all different levels of care from
adult day health services, rehabilitation services, and long term skilled nursing care—all
at the same location. According to Director of Community Relations Alissa Suitum, LSW,
that is very reassuring as clients and residents’ care needs change. “It’s hard to go from
place to place as needs change. We offer a continuum of care at the same location,” she
said. “And our members receive first preference in placement of those services,” she said.
And now, a beautiful new, state of the art assisted living facility has been constructed
which offers 42 apartments that includes a 19 apartment memory care neighborhood.
The new assisted living residence allows those seniors the ability to continue on with their
independence while also providing them such things as daily activities, laundry facilities,
a private dining room, as well as 24 hour nursing supervision. Shared, studio, and one
bedroom apartments are available. In addition, a safe and secure new memory care
neighborhood offers the best 24 hour care and specialized treatment programs for those
with dementia related illnesses. Respite care is also available.
Yet, even with all the levels of care provided, the Blaire House staff makes certain each
client or resident feels special and will receive only the best care and services. “We have
people who have been working here for years,” said Suitum. “To our staff, you’re not just a
number; you’re a person. And if there’s something we don’t offer—we will help you find it.
We’re senior advocates.”
The Blaire House has consistently received a five-star rating by the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services and has received a deficiency free rating three years in a row by the
state’s Department of Public Health. The Blair House is located at 20 Claflin St., Milford.
For more information, call Alissa Suitum at 508-958-0301 or visit www.elderservices.com/
blaire-house-of-milford.
er’s new rehab equipment
MARCH 20, 2015
Please contact Andrea at 508 282 5020 or visit us online at:
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Health Center
way long- term care nursing facilities are run
and viewed. He says allowing residents to make
personal choices on their day to day activities
goes a long way; a movement that St. Camillus
BrightStar Care® of Milford-Worcester is a Joint Commission Accredited
provider of Home Care and Medical Staffing services. We have employment
opportunities for home care, clinics and staffing assignments:
> Certified Home Health Aides & CNAs
> LPNs and RNs (Infusion experience a plus)
> Medical Assistants and Phlebotomists
has been at the forefront of. “If they want to
wake up at 9 a.m., then they wake up at 9. They
choose what they want to eat and when. There’s
no regiment here. They are able to make the
same decisions here as they would if they were
home,” said Graves.
And speaking of eating, Graves says the food
served at the facility is truly top notch. “The
food is cooked to order. If it’s supposed to be
hot, then it’s served hot.” In fact, last year, the
culinary staff at St. Camillus took first place in a
local chowder contest beating out multiple area
restaurants.
The staff at St. Camillus is a very dedicated
and loving group who care for those at the
Health Center as if they were part of their own
family. And what’s even more comforting for
residents and their families is the fact that the
same staff members care for their loved ones on
a continual basis.
St. Camillus Health Center is located at 447
Hill St., Whitinsville. For more information,
call 508-234-7306, or log on to www.stcamillus.
com.
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17
Pet Press
Mendon Canine Wins at Prestigious Westminster Dog Show
By Michelle Sanford
Mendon has a celebrity in its midst. However, when you ask,
CH Ciera Homebrewed Born Free, otherwise known as Elsa, for
her autograph, don’t be surprised if all you get is a friendly paw
shake. In February, Elsa competed in and won in the prestigious
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City.
The nationally televised dog show took place February 16 and
17. Elsa, a 17-month-old month Staffordshire Bull Terrier, is
owned by Mendon residents Jodie West and her husband Dion
Berry. She was one of approximately 3,000 dogs competing
in various categories in the dog show. And in her debut at
Westminster, Elsa took home Select Bitch for her breed. “It was
a really nice win,” said a proud West. “I’m still trying to wrap my
head around it.”
In order to compete at Westminster, dogs have to be a qualified
champion or have one major win prior. For the competition, dogs
are judged on each breed’s standards and what is considered an
ideal specimen, which can include height, weight, coat, color, as
well as movement, appearance, and temperament.
According to West, Elsa is fairly new to the show circuit and
began competing only last year. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has
some serious competition genes in her. “She comes from a good
breeding line,” said West. “Her mother was a top show dog who
also competed and won at Westminster in 2012. Elsa has some
heritage there with her mother.”
The Westminster Dog Show is one of the largest
and the most well known dog shows in the country.
West said understanding how it all operates can be
a bit daunting. “When you first start,” she said, “It’s
very overwhelming at the beginning.
West and her husband have owned their dog
since she was a puppy. West is originally from
Australia and came to reside in Mendon as a
result of a work transfer. She said growing up in
Australia, she was always around animals. “I’ve
owned dogs all my life,” she said.
Since the Westminster show, Elsa has not
slowed down one bit. A couple of weeks later, she
competed in and won in another show in New
York. “She won Best of Breed both days and on the
Saturday, we were Owner Handled Group One and
First in Terrier Group. It was her first group win, so
that was a fantastic day,” said West.
Soon Elsa will compete in the National Annual
Club Show in Georgia. “We hope that she can
continue on with her winning streak,” said West.
Elsa, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, with proud owner
Jodie West at the Westminster Dog Show.
Contributed photoi
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18
MARCH 20, 2015
Bringing to Life the
Tragedy of the Bounty
Mendon author, Michael Tougias presented
his newest book, Rescue of the Bounty:
Disaster and Survival in Super Storm
Sandy, which he co-authored with Douglas
A. Campbell at the March 8 meeting of the
Mendon Historical Society. The book centers
on the story of the Bounty, a movie prop ship
built in 1960 and used in the movie Mutiny
on the Bounty and more recently several of
the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, was
a wooden tall ship that could actually sail.
In 2012 the Bounty met disaster with her
captain and 16 crewmembers as they tried to
sail in front of Super Storm Sandy and ended
up caught in the storm. Tougias, shown here
on the right with Robert Carlson, brought to
life the harrowing tale of the shipwreck and
rescue that followed. Harry Platcow photo
MARCH 20, 2015
Milford Community
School Use Adult
Education Class
Openings
The Milford Community School Use
Program has openings in some of our
Adult Education programs offered at
Milford High School.
Arts/Crafts/Hobby Classes: Machine
Sewing for Adults March 25, Evening with
Medium Steven Macek March 26, and
Extreme Couponing April 2
Boating Classes: About Boating Safety
May 2.
Business/Computer Classes:
QuickBooks for Small Business Owners
April 6
Financial Classes: FREE Understanding
Your Personal Auto Policy March 24, FREE
Maximize Your College Financial Aid
March 26.
Fitness Programs: Adult Swim Lessons
March 25, Adult Tennis Lessons March 28.
Please visit www.mcs.milford.ma.us to
see details of these and other programs.
Registration must be received prior to
the class dates. Forms are available in the
Milford Community Program office or
at www.mcs.milford.ma.us. Courses are
open to individuals 18 years of age and
older. Notification of acceptance will not
be sent. A separate registration form and
a separate check are required for each
course. Senior Citizens (65 and older) pay
10 percent discount of fee listed. Checks
should be made payable to the MILFORD
COMMUNITY PROGRAM. Mail to:
Milford Community School Use Program,
c/o Milford High School, 31 West Fountain
St., Milford, MA 01757.
For further information, please call the
office at 508-478-1119 or visit www.mcs.
milford.ma.us.
Spring!
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19
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Spring Spruce Up
Watershed Group Seeking Volunteer
Monitors
The Blackstone River Coalition (BRC) is in need of volunteer waterquality monitors in Massachusetts to collect data at three sites in the
watershed. In the headwaters region, volunteers are needed in Millbury
for Singletary Brook on Sycamore Circle, and in Boylston for Sewall
Brook on School Street off Rt. 140. In the midreach region, a volunteer
is needed in Uxbridge for Bacon Brook off Rt 146A. The BRC is also in
need of trained monitors who can serve as “floaters” to cover sites on an
“as needed” basis.
The BRC recruits and trains citizen volunteers to participate in the
Blackstone River Coalition watershed-wide volunteer water quality
monitoring program. The goal of this long-running program is to gather
information about the current status of, and long-term changes in, the
health of the Blackstone River watershed. This information helps policy
makers, state officials, and concerned citizens in their actions to make
the Blackstone River cleaner.
The BRC has over 70 volunteers sampling 75 sites throughout the
watershed from Worcester to Pawtucket. Volunteers sample their sites
on the second Saturday of the month from April through November.
Volunteers are trained to test for dissolved oxygen at the site, record
physical and aesthetic parameters, and collect a water sample, which
they drop off at a testing lab between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on the Saturday
of testing, to be analyzed for nutrients, conductivity, and turbidity. The headwaters lab is at Broad Meadow Brook Audubon Sanctuary on
Massasoit Rd. in Worcester. The midreach lab is based at the TriRivers
Medical Center on Oak Street in Uxbridge.
To volunteer, contact Susan Thomas, Coordinator, BRC Volunteer
WQM Program at 508-839-9488/ [email protected].
Spring Hikes at West Hill Dam
Insured • Licensed
508-473-2888
www.ethomemaintenance.com
In respect for wildlife, so they and the people taking part are not
injured at night in deep snow, the Flashlight Night Hike at West Hill
Dam, 518 East Hartford Ave., Uxbridge will be held on April 11from
7:30-9:30 p.m. Meet at the dam office.
Also the Annual Vernal Pool migration and night hikes to see the
wonderful reproduction phase in these incredible seasonal wetland
habitats will be held rain or shine on April 11 and 18 from 7:30-9:30
p.m. No nets or moving of animals are allowed. All the hikes are great
for science requirements, Scout badges and for all to learn to protect
these vital habitats and amphibians.
Giatas Landscaping Inc.
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Troop 44 Can and Bottle Drive
MENDON-Mendon’s Troop 44 Boy Scouts will be holding
their next can and bottle drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on
Saturday, April 18, at the Mendon Town Hall parking lot.
Anyone with cans and bottles that they would like to donate,
but is unable to drop them off, can contact the Troop via
e-mail at [email protected] or via phone at
508-478-3124 to arrange a pick-up.
Proceeds from both the can and bottle drive will be used to
help fund Troop 44’s activities throughout the year. Troop 44
would like to thank everyone for their continuing support of
Scouting in Mendon.
Volunteers Needed for Earth Day
Cleanup
In celebration of Earth Day, the Blackstone River
Watershed Association (BRWA) is sponsoring its annual
river cleanup on Sunday, April 19 from 1 to 3 p.m.
The cleanup will take place in conjunction with the
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
(DCR) Park Serve Day being held throughout the state.
The BRWA will work with volunteers in, and along,
waterways in Millbury, Grafton, Upton, Sutton,
Northbridge, Uxbridge, Douglas, Hopedale, Mendon,
Millville, and Blackstone. Have fun outdoors while
protecting your local water resources. You can make a
difference by volunteering just a few hours of your time.
This project also meets community service requirements
for many organizations.
After the cleanup, volunteers will meet at River Bend
Farm Visitor Center in Uxbridge at 3 p.m. for pizza and
drinks.
Alternatives Unlimited, Inc. will be sponsoring it’s
annual Clean and Green Fair from 2:30p.m. - 4:00p.m. at
the Visitor Center with environmental demonstrations and
children’s activities. Events will be held rain or shine.
For more information, to let us know of a local site that
needs cleaning, or to register for the cleanup, contact the
BRWA at 508-278-5200 or [email protected].
Think Spring!
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20
MARCH 20, 2015
Spring Spruce Up
Community-Shared Solar Comes to Area
Broad accessibility and favorable economics, driven
largely by economies of scale and priority treatment
by Massachusetts’s solar renewable energy credit
(SREC) program, have made community-shared solar
an increasingly popular energy solution throughout
the state. To meet demand, leading community
solar developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC)
announced recently that it now has three new solar PV
(photovoltaic) facilities in late stage development in
Uxbridge. The three projects, expected to be completed
this June, will be the latest community solar facilities
slated to serve National Grid (NGRID) customers and
will dramatically increase the availability of renewable
energy for the residential and commercial ratepayers
across the territory.
To date, only those residential ratepayers with
optimally sited roofs could participate in renewable
solar solutions. This meant that the majority of ratepayers - those whose roofs were incompatible with
the installation of solar panels or that didn’t own their
roof - could not benefit from the savings afforded by
solar or support the common wealth’s renewable energy
initiatives. The vast majority of the market was being
left out. Now, through CEC’s SolarPerks™ program
community solar provides equal access to renewable
energy. SolarPerks™ makes solar accessible to every
residential or commercial ratepayer in the National
Grid and former NStar territories of Eversource with no
Maple Sugar Days at
River Bend Farm
Maple Sugar Days at River Bend
Farm, Blackstone River and Canal
Heritage State Park, 287 Oak St.,
Uxbridge will be held on Saturday,
March 28 and Sunday, March 29 from
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The sweet tradition continues on
the last weekend in March when
all ages are invited to learn how
maple syrup is made. Park staff and
volunteers at River
Bend Farm will provide a freeguided tour of the art and science of
tapping maple trees, gathering sap,
and producing maple syrup at 11
a.m., 12 Noon and 1 p.m. The tours,
which are on a first-come, first-serve
basis, will include indoor and outdoor
elements, so dress for the weather
and wear appropriate footwear. For
additional info see www.facebook.
com/BlackstoneHeritageStatePark
To check on event status the day
of event, please call River Bend Farm
Visitor Center at 508-278-7604.
upfront costs, and immediate savings on their electric bill
for the next 20 years.
“Our community-shared solar programming is
exponentially expanding solar access in Massachusetts
providing equal access to all rate-payers,” said Tom
Sweeney, CEC’s chief operating officer. “If you receive an
electric bill, you have the opportunity to participate in,
and benefit from, the installation of a community solar
project”
The three facilities will generate a combined capacity
of 3 megawatts (DC), enough to serve an estimated 400
to 500 residential and commercial customers. These
projects are projected to produce more than 63 million
kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean energy over their lifespan,
and generate over $2 million in savings for program
participants. The environmental benefits equate to a
reduction of 125 million pounds of CO2 emissions - the
equivalent output of driving 142 million car miles - or
the CO2 absorbing power of 193,000 trees.
Reservations in the residential SolarPerks™ program
are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To
learn more, residential customers should visit www.
masscommunitysolar.com, or by calling a solar specialist
at 844-232-7253. Commercial and municipal entities
interested in saving through net metering credits
are encouraged to contact Clean Energy Collective’s
Worcester office at 617-765-7349.
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Systems
Room Re-Design and Home Staging
Classes
The Milford Community School Use Program will be offering two home
design classes, Room Re-Design Wednesday, April 1 and Home Staging
Wednesday, April 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Milford High School, room A-1.
Wendy Ryder, owner and designer of Castle Hill Designs, will be teaching
these two courses.
In Room Re-Design: participants will get tips on how to transform a tired
room by working with color, window treatments, and things you already have
at home. Leave the night inspired with ideas for a low budget renovation,
room by boom. Bring a picture of a problem room and walk away with fresh
ideas.
In Home Staging: learn how to make the your home more appealing
to the potential buyer, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for the
optimum selling price.
For class fees and registration information visit www.mcs.milford.ma.us.
Please use the adult registration form.
Senior Citizens (65 and older) pay 10 percent discount of fee listed.
Checks should be made payable to the MILFORD COMMUNITY
PROGRAM and sent to: Milford Community School Use Program, c/o
Milford High School, 31 West Fountain St., Milford, MA 01757.
For further information,
please call the office at 508478-1119 or check our web
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21
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21 Hastings Street
Mendon, MA 01756
Shirley Smith stands in front of the
Inman Pond on the Meadow Brook
Woods property in Mendon. Some
of her awards include 2009 Mendon
Senior of the Year and 2005 Charles
River Watershed Association Volunteer
of the Year. Contributed photo
Shirley Smith was a force to behold.
When I first met Shirley a decade
ago, she was explaining a project to
protect Mendon’s groundwater. She
was whirlwind of ideas and unbridled
enthusiasm that left my head spinning.
I thought she might be just talk and
bluster, but soon learned she was highly
intelligent, dependable, energetic,
productive and passionate in her drive
to protect the local environment and
history. Her extensive volunteering,
work ethic and humor will be greatly
missed.
In 1960, Shirley and her late husband, Morey, moved to Mendon
and bought 20 acres for $3000.
Shirley could safely ride a horse
down their lightly traveled road,
Providence Street, now a main
thoroughfare. They raised six children, who liked to fish in the Mill
River that ran through the back of
their property. Many years later, her
son, Gary, went down to fish and
said there were no fish. This nagged
at Shirley.
However, she put it to the back of
her mind, because she was too busy
raising an active family, getting an
English Literature degree, substitute
teaching and winning awards across
New England with her two Morgan
horses. In her “free time,” she wrote
a book, The Magic Castle, about raising her adopted son, who had been
born into an abusive family, and
sold the rights to Lifetime Movies.
In 2004, when her children
were grown, she volunteered as
a Mendon Water Commissioner.
She learned her skills “on-the-job.”
Shirley’s trademark was becoming
knowledgeable about her subject
from reading volumes and collecting data. She took water samples
from waterways for the Blackstone
River Watershed Association.
Shirley believed life could not exist without water, so its protection
was a number one priority.
Shirley was instrumental in starting the Lake Nipmuc Association
(LNA). She educated lake residents,
removed invasive weeds and pressured property owners to upgrade
failing septic systems. She also
worked with LNA and Rep. John
OBITUARIES
42 Congress Street, Milford
508-473-5511
In Loving Memory
DORIS QUIRK & CHRISTINE GUIDI
March 24, 1986 - 2015
Dear Mother and Grandmother,
I can’t help thinking about you. It seems you are
always on my mind. I think of you often when I am
at work, hoping that the achievements we’ve made
would please you both. In silence I often think of
you, and speak to you, I speak your names to friends
and family that knew you. Somehow it keeps you
alive in my heart. I often say that you both are my
true north --- a guiding light that keeps me on course,
keeps me striving for all that would make you proud.
I am who I am today because of you. I’m so lucky to
have had you in my life, as short a time as it was. All
I have are memories and pictures. Your memory is
constantly with me ... a keepsake ... from which I’ll
never part. God has you in his arms, I have you
in my heart ...
Sadly Missed
John Quirk, Jr.
James Quirk
22
MENDON-Victor G. Kutkowitz, 63, of
Mendon passed away Sun.day, March 8, 2015
in his home that he shared with his wife of 35
years, Linda S. (Walker) Kutkowitz.
Mr. Kutkowitz had been employed as a
mechanical designer at iRobot, Raytheon, and
Polaroid.
He was born in 1951 in Boston the son of
the late Theodore and Anne (Muscavitch)
Kutkowitz.
In his earlier years, he enjoyed fishing and fly tying, bow
hunting, and a good game of chess. He enjoyed trips to New
Hampshire with his wife, slot car racing with his son, drawing
with his daughters, and watching his granddaughters grow.
In addition to his wife, Linda, he is survived by his daughters,
Robyn E. Kutkowitz of Bellingham, and Ashley C. Kutkowitz of
Milford; his son, Alek J. Kutkowitz of Franklin and two sisters,
Maryanne and Sonia. He also leaves behind and will be dearly
missed by his four granddaughters, Devyn, Leyla, Izzy, and Zoey.
He was predeceased by his younger sister, Paulene.
Funeral services was held Monday, March 16, 2015 at the
Buma-Sargeant Funeral Home Milford followed by a Mass of
Christian Burial at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, 151 Mendon
Street, Upton. UPTON - John J. “Jack” Triggs, 67, of Upton, died early
Wednesday, February 25, 2014 at his home after a 5-year battle
with cancer. He was the husband of Trina (Citro) Triggs and
President of ATC Technologies, Inc. of Haverhill and Wilmington.
Mr. Triggs was born in Boston, a son of the late James and
Rose (Perdicaro) Triggs, and grew up in Hyde Park. An Army
veteran of the Vietnam War, he lived in Waltham before coming
to Upton 30 years ago.
In addition to his wife of almost 33 years, he leaves two
sons, Brian Triggs of Hingham, and David Triggs of Upton;
three brothers, Bob Triggs of Mansfield, Bill Triggs of Taunton,
and Michael Triggs of Sanbornton, NH; a sister, Tricia Magee
of Roan Mountain, TN; several nieces and nephews; and many
close friends.
Following cremation, a memorial service with military
honors was held Wednesday, March 4, in the United Parish
Church. Arrangements by Williams-Pedersen Funeral Home
of Upton (www.uptonfunerals.com).
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P. O. Box 849168, Boston, MA
02284-9168.
Fernandes to get Mass Highway to
install deep sumps preventing toxic
road runoff from Route 16 and
dredge a huge delta of sediment out
of the lake. With lower bacterial
counts, Lake Nipmuc provides a
good habitat for wildlife and swimming for townspeople.
Shirley chaired the Mendon
Bylaw Committee, revamping antiquated zoning bylaws so future
building would protect the environment and Mendon’s rural charm.
She was instrumental is helping to
write the Mendon Master Plan. She
recently wrote a grant and received
funding for trails, signage and archeological studies of the Mendon
Town Forest. Her energy seemed
endless and in her last days, we
worried when she diligently handed-off her work to others.
Jane Lowell summed up Shirley’s
personality well in a story. Shirley
was riding in a horse competition
that involved speed, obstacles and
distance with a horse pulling a carriage. The shaft of her carriage got
caught on a tree. Most people would
have had a groom get out of the
carriage and unhitch the shaft. Not
Shirley. Shirley did not have time to
waste; she was out to win. She pulled
the reigns, reared up her horse on its
hind legs and expertly pivoted to unhitch the carriage and barreled on.
This spilled over into all aspects
of her life. If a person was polluting
a stream or promoting the overuse of toxic chemicals to “control”
mosquitoes, watch out. It did not
matter if the person was influential,
powerful or prominent, if Shirley
thought it was wrong, she worked
hard to make it right. As Jane said,
“She was fearless.”
Births
Gavin Ryan Belcastro
Andrea Sousa Belcastro and Andy Belcastro of Mendon
are please to announce the birth of their son Gavin Ryan
Belcastro on November 3, 2104 at Milford Regional
Medical Center. Maternal grandparents are Steve and
Cindi Sousa of North Attleboro. Paternal grandparents
are Bart and Sonja Belcastro of Bellingham. Gavin was
greeted at home by 7-year-old Braeden and 2-year-old
Tayla.
Wyatt Chandler Neves
Heidi Messom Neves and Wayne Neves of Upton are
please to announce the birth of their son Wyatt Chandler
Neves on January 31, 2015, at Milford Regional Medical
Center. Maternal grandparents are Henry and Lorraine
Messom of Holliston. Paternal grandparents are Luiz
and Ruth Neves of Upton, formerly of Stoughton. Great
Grandmother Nanci Messom lives in Framingham. Wyatt
was greeted at home by 3-year-old Lydia.
Reese Kenneth Mattingly, Jr.
Taylor Sirski Mattingly and Reese Mattingly of Upton
are pleased to announce the birth of their son Reese
Kenneth Mattingly, Jr. on December 25, 2014 at Milford
Regional Medical Center. Maternal grandfather is Ben
Sirski of Haverhill and paternal grandparents are Jeff and
Apryl Mattingly of Upton.
MARCH 20, 2015
School News
School Highlights
Mendon-Upton Regional
Compiled by Melissa Orff
CLOUGH: Representatives from the
Worcester Sharks, including one of the
players and Finz the Mascot, visited
the school on March 16 to present
their “Reading is Cool!” program, a
free literacy program that focuses on
promoting the importance of reading
using interactive experiences and
incentives.
Seven 4th grade girls organized and
led this month’s School Wide Walk on
March 18 to raise money for the Cancer
Survivor Fund. Isabelly DeMesquita,
Zaria Cardoso, Rachael Cavanaugh,
Katelyn Cote, Lucy Michaud, Melannie
Hartle, and Katrina Schmitt have
come together to research a worthy
cause and devote their recess time
into making posters and informing
classmates about their project.
“Together they have displayed a ‘Kind,
Caring and Respectful’ attitude and
request voluntary monetary donations
to support the Cancer Survivor
Fund,” said Clough Principal Janice
Gallagher. The Cancer Survivor Fund
provides scholarships and financial
aid to those who need prosthetics to
continue to grow and have a happy
and productive life. To learn more
about the Cancer Survivor Fund
please visit their website:http://www.
cancersurvivorsfund.org/.
Thanks to the generosity of Clough
PTO, Clough students will be able to
experience Cultural Arts programs this
year that are all focused on STEAM
(Science, Technology, Engineering,
Art and Math) Activities. On March
20, the second grade will see “Physical
Changes of Matter” program; on March
24, Kindergarteners will be seeing a
“mad Science” program; and on April 3,
the first grade students will experience
a cultural arts program on the Water
Cycle/Weather.
MEMORIAL: April 12 will be MendonUpton Schools Day with the Worcester
Sharks. Students from the various
schools will perform patriotic songs
during the game’s opening ceremonies
at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased
through the main office by April 3. This
is the Pucks and Paws game; open to
pet dogs. Additional information will be
sent home via Connect Five.
The Memorial School PTO is
sponsoring a great Family Fun Night,
Friday, April 10 at 5:45 p.m. with a
free Mad Science presentation, Fire
and Ice. The 8th Annual Basket Raffle
will also be held. The themed baskets
created through classroom donations
and valued between $300 and $700,
can be viewed and tickets purchased at
www.memorialpto.org. Themes include:
Come Read with Me; Backyard BBQ;
and iPad Mini Date Night.
Kindergarten screenings will be
conducted on April 29 and 30. If
you have a child who is eligible for
kindergarten and has not yet registered
and/or scheduled a screening, please
contact Carol Gibson at 508-529-1020.
Congratulations to the students from
Memorial School have been chosen
to have their artwork displayed in
Boston or Worcester as part of Youth
Art Month. The multimedia exhibit
is sponsored by the Massachusetts
Art Education Association (MAEA).
Maria Palmer, Jacob McEvoy, Tabitha
Carberry, Owen Kerr, and Connor
Downing will have their work on display
in Boston through April 24. Ashlyn
Seligman, Abigail Hennessy, and Caitlin
MARCH 20, 2015
Walsh will have their
work on display in Worcester through
March 22.
MISCOE: The Miscoe Student Council
is sponsoring a 5th and 6th grade
Summer themed social on Friday,
March 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with
the admission fee of $7 collected at the
door. Some favorite summertime treats
will be sold, beach volleyball will be
held in the gym and DJ Rutowski will
be there to help spread the sunshine.
Throughout March, Friends of Rachel
will be collecting basic items to donate
to the Abby’s House in Worcester,
which provides shelter to women and
children who face homelessness. If
you have any questions please feel free
to contact Jennifer Grant at jgrant@
mursd.org. Thank you for supporting
Rachel’s Challenge in promoting
kindness and compassion by donating
items in the boxes outside the Miscoe
Hill office. Some items in great need
are; paper towels, napkins, paper plates,
toilet paper, plastic utensils, aluminum
foil, paper cups, dish detergent, laundry
detergent, and tissues.
In celebration of Youth Art Month,
art students in grades K through
12 from across Massachusetts have
been selected to display their works
at the State Transportation Building
in Boston. This multimedia exhibit is
sponsored by the Massachusetts Art
Education Association (MAEA) in
conjunction with Youth Art Month, a
national celebration that emphasizes
the value of art education for all
children. The Boston Youth Art Month
Exhibit will be on display and open
free of charge to the public weekdays
through April 24. An artist’s/family
reception will be held on March 22.
The Worcester Youth Art Month
Exhibit will be on display and open free
of charge to the public weekdays from
through March 30.
Miscoe Hill students chosen to have
their art displayed for Youth Art Month
are: from Alice Gentili’s classes-Owen
Brigham (Boston), Grace Bernero
(Boston), Lucie Nicholson (Boston),
Vaishvi Patel (Boston), and Andrew
Murphy (Boston); and from Jonathan
Hansen’s classes-Elise Deschenaux
(Boston), Halle Carson (Worcester),
Michelle Barboza (Boston), Kylie
Jordan (Boston), McKenzie Pilkington
(Boston), Katie Pollen (Worcester),
Noah Stallcup (Worcester), and
Shamus Birdsey (Boston).
On March 27, the Miscoe Hill
Guidance Department will host
a career fair for 7th & 8th grade
students only. Approximately
16 professionals will be available
including a reporter, crime scene
detective, attorney, real estate agent,
band director, project manager, and
pediatrician. Several other disciplines
will also be represented. Students
will attend presentations and have the
opportunity to gather information and
ask questions. The event will begin at
8:45 a.m. in the gymnasium and will
conclude at 11:15 a.m. in the upper
cafeteria.
Join the Technology Department
for a seminar on how to access free
resources for you and your family using
your iPad at Miscoe on April 8 from 10
to 11 a.m. You will need an Apple ID,
a free CWMars library card number,
and free Amazon.com account for this
session.
Four Central Mass Colleges Freeze Cost
of 4-Year Degrees at $30K
In an announcement made March 9 at the
State House, a new collaboration between
Central Massachusetts’ four institutions of
public higher education – Fitchburg State
University, Mount Wachusett Community
College, Quinsigamond Community College
and Worcester State University – will
guarantee qualifying students their associate’s
and bachelor’s degrees in high demand
programs for $30,000 in four years.
The “$30K Commitment,” starting this
fall, is a promise from the institutions to
support the career goals of Massachusetts’
residents; prepare students for high-demand
degrees; and outline clear paths for students to
complete affordable associates’ and bachelor’s
degrees in four years. Tuition and fees will be
frozen for qualifying students.
According to College Board, the average cost
of one year of tuition and fees for a private,
four-year college education is $31,000—more
than the cost of four years outlined in the
$30K Commitment. The average cost of instate tuition and fees for public institutions is
$9,139 a year. The $30K Commitment reduces
the cost of a four-year degree program to
$7,500 a year.
The commitment aligns degree programs
and allows for seamless transfer between
the two-year and four-year institutions for
programs including business administration,
computer science, early childhood education,
biotechnology, criminal justice, biology and
chemistry. Students who wish to continue
their studies beyond the baccalaureate level
will benefit from institutions’ articulation
agreements with other schools. Those
heading straight to their careers will be able
to capitalize on internship opportunities and
professional networks related to the fields of
study included in the $30K program.
Participating students will be expected
to maintain good academic standing with
full-time course loads each semester. In
addition to easy transfer opportunities from
the community colleges, students will be
guaranteed admission to the state university
programs outlined in the agreement.
“The $30K Commitment will allow
motivated students to complete their
associate’s and bachelor’s degrees for the
average cost of a single year of higher
education,” Quinsigamond Community
College President Gail Carberry said.
“We want our students to be so financially
literate when they graduate from this program
that staying in Massachusetts, being part of
the Massachusetts economy, is a no-brainer,”
Carberry said.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker
has identified as a priority for his new
administration working to better align
the curricula and relationships between
community and state colleges with regional
employers. Last month the governor signed
an executive order establishing a “Workforce
Skills Cabinet” to be led by Labor and
Workforce Development Secretary Ron
Walker, Education Secretary Jim Peyser and
Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash.
◆ MISCOE TALENT SHOW from front page
preview of an animation video; a humorous
munchkin dance; a gymnastics routine; and
a performance by a 7th grade all-boy band.
In all, 24 acts performed in this year’s Talent
Showcase.
“The show gives the students a good
place to share their talents with friends and
family,” said Student Council Advisor Heather
McCourt. “We have had some students that
have been performing every year from 5th
through 8th grades,” she said about students
who come back to perform year after year.
Student Council President Caitlyn
Lochhead said that the draw of the Talent
Showcase is that it appeals to both performers
and the audience alike. “It is something that
the whole school can enjoy; you get to see
your friends, and people that you don’t know
very well, perform,” she said. “It really engages
everyone.”
The annual Talent Showcase is an event that
is run by the 7th and 8th grade Miscoe Student
Council, and although they receive assistance
from their advisors McCourt and Meagan
Pike, the two are quick to point out that the
show is student driven. “They hold auditions
and vote who gets to be in the talent show,
they decorate the gym, they sell tickets, they
hold the bake sale,” said McCourt. Members
of the Student Council also played emcee
for the night and set up and break down the
“stage” after each performance.
Money from the $3 admission fee, 50/50
raffle, and concession sales will be used by
the Student Council to continue to support
their school and local community in a variety
of ways. McCourt said some of the money
will be used around the holidays to purchase
meals and presents for families in the district
who are in need. The Student Council has
teamed up for the past few years with Miscoe’s
Friends of Rachel Club to purchase and
deliver holiday meals for families who could
not afford them.
The Talent Showcase is just one of the
events that helps the Student Council work
towards this year’s motto - “Unless someone
like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is
going to get better. It’s not,” from Dr. Seuss’
“The Lorax.”
23
School News
BVT Community
Service Team Launches
Positive Self-Image
Campaign
The Blackstone Valley Tech SkillsUSA
Community Service team announces the
launch of a public awareness campaign to
promote the importance of a positive selfimage. The R.I.S.E. (Respect Individuality &
Self Expression) Above project will promote
the benefits of self-confidence, support
systems, abilities, and positive appearances
to students at Valley Tech and the public via
the distribution of original literature, live
presentations, and visits to local healthcare
facilities and schools. The first stop on the
Community Service team’s campaign was
the recent Student Wellness Conference
organized by Worcester County District
Attorney Joseph Early, Jr., at Anna Maria
College. The BVT SkillsUSA Community
Service Team includes (left to right) Health
Services juniors Hannah Licarie of Millbury,
Samantha Cella of Northbridge, and
Mikayla Corda of Grafton and is seen with
Early. BVT photo
Deans List
The following area residents have
been named to the Dean’s List for the fall
semester at their respective college or
university.
University of Massachusetts, Amherst:
MENDON-Aj Steven Bottoms, Aviva Hope
Luttrell, Danielle Nicole Dubois, Jesse
Taylor Arsenault, Jonathan R Morris,
Katelyn Alyssa Soucey, Lauren Ashley
Soucey, Meaghan Ann Roche, Stephanie
Marie Morrison, Stephen Clark Lukas,
Stephen David Sacco, Theodore Mark
Leone and Zachariah Dirazonian;
UPTON-Alex Rolando Lassalle, Bethany
Michelle Laquidara, Callum John Moore,
David Christopher Atkinson, David Joseph
Lassalle, Douglas Nathaniel Levitt, Emma
Juan Blanchard, Hannah Farrell LinsteadAtkinson, Jacob Arthur Rosen, Jill Rene
Laquidara, Julia Elizabeth Nielsen, Leigh
Catherine Hamlet, Meghan Lorraine
Boulter, Nicholas Herbert Gorius, Samuel
Roberts Chiburis and Sean Murray.
Westfield State University, Westfield:
Gregg LaPlante of Mendon.
Advertising in The
Town Crier makes
Good Business
Sense. How Else will
Everybody Know
Your Name?
24
Mendon Upton School Override Must Go 4-for-4 for Approval
By Melissa Orff
Staff Reporter
In a meeting on March 16, the Mendon
Upton Regional School Committee certified
a $31.8 million budget for FY16, which
will mean an override request for both
towns during the town elections and Town
Meetings.
The certified budget has a projected
assessment to the town of Mendon of $8.5
million, an increase of $1.3 million from
FY15, and to the town of Upton of $10
million, an increase of $1.4 million from
FY15. To fund these increases, both towns
have stated that a Proposition 2½ override
will be required.
Now that the budget has been certified, the
towns will have to decide what percentage
of the assessment they will be able to fund
through their operational budget, and how
much will need to be put through as an
override request.
The override will have to pass by a majority
vote four times in order for it to go through
- at the May 1 Mendon Town Meeting and
the May 12 Mendon Town Election and at
the May 4 Upton Town Election and the
May 7 Upton Town Meeting.
Upton Selectman Robert Fleming stated at
the March 16 Open Budget Hearing that
the town of Upton has not determined yet
if the override request would be put on the
ballot of the May 4 Town Election, or put
on a special ballot after the May 7 Town
Meeting. He stated that it is important
for voters be educated about the override
request before they got to the ballot box.
If the override is not approved at one of the
meetings or elections, then the override
will fail. During a March 2 meeting,
the Mendon Upton Regional School
Committee voted by a 4-2 majority to
refrain from proceeding with a Joint Town
Meeting if an override was not passed. A
Joint Town Meeting, attended by voters
from both towns, would have allowed the
override request to have been put forth
again with the majority vote at that meeting
deciding the issue. If the override had
passed at a Joint Town Meeting, the town
that originally voted “no” would have had
to absorb the cost without the benefit of an
override.
At the Open Budget Hearing, Upton
resident Elizabeth Fournier asked if the
override did not pass during the normal
town election and town meeting process
would the Committee support a level
services budget. Superintendent Dr.
Joseph Maruszczak explained that with
the reduction of state aid and less district
receipts, even a level services budget would
require an override.
Maruszczak has stated in previous budget
presentations that if the district only
received what the towns have funded the
past few years, there would be numerous
cuts to staff and programming, causing
class sizes to go up into the 27-30 student
range.
Several other community members
commented that educating the voters
was imperative, and that the presentation
should include information about how
property values are tied into a town’s school
system.
Upton resident Heather Applegate said that
there is a group of citizens working to help
educate the community on the FY16 budget
and override request and encouraged
people willing to help with the effort to sign
up. “I really feel the best way we can educate
people about the budget and override is
neighbors speaking to neighbors….and
reminding people to come to town meeting
and come out to vote,” she said.
BVT Annual Career Fair Shows Demand for Students
Submitted by Andrew Morrison
Blackstone Valley Tech
Whoever coined the phrase, “Good help is hard to find,” never
attended a career fair at Blackstone Valley Tech.
Held on March 5, the annual BVT career fair packed the school’s
competition center with hundreds of current students and the
nearly 30 regional employers who hope to one day hire them.
That day might come soon for students like Matt Thompson, a
Drafting and Engineering Technology junior from Northbridge.
As a student in good academic standing entering his junior year’s
third trimester, Matt is now eligible for the Valley Tech cooperative
education (co-op) program, which allows upperclassmen to
acquire career vocational technical credits and skills by working
off-campus in their area of training every other week. Touring the
career fair and speaking with potential co-op employers, Matt said
he believes taking on the challenge of the co-op program can pay
big dividends for BVT students.
“It starts us off for the future,” Matt said. “If we stay in that [coop] job, or get another job, we’ll definitely get promoted earlier
because we started working in high school.”
Joining Matt at the career fair was his friend and fellow Drafting
and Engineering Technology junior Connor Belland of Mendon.
In meeting with potential employers, Connor said he was proud to
see such high demand for his skills, despite the fact that he’s barely
old enough to get his Junior Operator License.
“It’s like we already went to college and have a degree,” Connor
said. “But we’re still in high school.”
As Matt and Connor explored possibilities for their co-op
employment, they received a firsthand account of the program’s
impact from 2004 BVT graduate Kenny Giacomuzzi, who attended
the career fair on behalf of medical device manufacturer Tegra
Medical. As the Tool Crib Manager for Tegra Medical, Giacomuzzi
said the company’s future depends on its ability to hire employees
with both sophisticated technical skills and the soft skills necessary
to master new technology over the course of their careers.
“The biggest thing you can come into our facility with is a
willingness to learn,” he told a group of Valley Tech students.
For Old New England Restoration President William Hardiman,
the BVT career fair was an opportunity to let Construction
Technology students know about a rewarding career pathway that
sometimes goes overlooked by seasoned professionals.
“I’m hoping to educate students on the fact that restoration is
an important part of what we do,” Hardiman said. “It can be hard
to find good carpenters who are interested in old houses and
construction methods.”
At his informational table for the Pawsteps Veterinary Center
of Northbridge, Dr. Sean D. Sawyer, V.M.D., encouraged Dental
Assisting and Health Services students to consider their training’s
potential application in the veterinary field. Valley Tech is
currently crafting plans to establish a new program in Veterinary
Assisting, which Dr. Sawyer confirmed would prepare students for
in-demand jobs.
“We need assistants and technicians,” Dr. Sawyer said of the
veterinary field. “We’re desperate for educated support staff right
now. A program here would be very helpful.”
Brian Connearney (far left), Outreach Specialist for the New England
Carpenters Training Fund located in Millbury, spoke with a group of
Construction Technology sophomores about employment opportunities in
carpentry and construction. Students seen here include (left to right) Paul
Facey of Milford, Jake Platt of Millville, Jaden Martinez of Northbridge,
Eric Harris of Douglas, and Allison Perry of Upton. BVT photo
Health Services sophomore Kyle Martell of Mendon (left) spoke
with Dr. Donna Badner, D.V.M., of the Framingham Animal
Hospital. For students like Kyle, the training and skills acquired
at BVT coupled with further training on the post-secondary
level can result in a rewarding career in veterinary science.
BVT photo
MARCH 20, 2015
School News
Students Grab Their Favorite Hats and Books to
Celebrate Dr. Seuss
By Melissa Orff
Staff Reporter
Although outside it was cold and dreary, inside it
was warm and cheery when Clough and Memorial
Elementary School students celebrated the March 2
birthday of the famous rhyming author Dr. Seuss.
At Memorial, the students celebrated Dr. Seuss’
birthday and National Read Across America Day
with a themed “Grab Your Favorite Hat to Read with
the Cat” Day. Students, teachers, and guest readers
were encouraged to wear their favorite hat during the
celebration. Event coordinator and Memorial Librarian
Karlyn Gale, invited guest readers from Upton to meet
with students and explain the position that they held
within the town and to read Dr. Seuss’ “Gerald McBoing
Boing,” a story written originally by De. Seuss for an
animated cartoon.
Guest readers included Superintendent Dr. Joseph
Maruszczak, Town Clerk Kelly McElreath, Children’s
Librarian Nicole Claire, Police Chief Michael Bradley,
Fire Chief Aaron Goodale, EMT Services Captain Brian
Kemp, Finance Committee Member Shawn Craig,
Historical Society Member Russell Wood, Upton Town
Nurse Trish Parent, Recreation Director Bonnie Flink,
Council on Aging Director Janice Nowicki, as well as
several members of the School Committee and school
district staff.
Gale also arranged for The Cat and the Hat and
Thing 1 and Thing 2 to visit the classrooms and
give each student a pencil, a bookmark, and some
entertainment. The day was rounded out with Dr. Seuss
trivia questions, prizes, and a class singing “Dr. Seuss,
We Love You” over the intercom for the whole school.
The event was sponsored by the Memorial PTO and
by the Mendon Upton Regional Teacher’s Association
(MURTA).
At Clough, students also got into the spirit of
celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday by participating in
games such as Dr. Seuss Bingo and Count the Red Fish
contest where prizes of pencils, bookmarks, and books
donated by the Mendon Upton Regional Teachers
Association could be won. Clough Librarian Cathy
Hack coordinated the celebration and again this year
encouraged students and teachers to come into school
dressed as a Dr. Seuss character or as a character in their
favorite book.
Community members were invited to be special
guest readers throughout the day to read their favorite
childhood Dr. Seuss book to classes of students in the
library. Guest readers included Mendon Fire Fighter/
EMT Jim Huth; Clough PTO President Jen O’Donovan,
Owner of Millennium Realty Judy Leonelli; former
Taft Children’s Librarian Lisa Stratton, and several
administrators and staff members of the school district
including Superintendent Maruszczak.
Sharing the celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday with
members of the community has become a longstanding
tradition for both of the elementary schools. “It
helps to create a connection between school and the
community,” said Hack. “We are so lucky to be a part of
a community that is willing to share their own love of
reading, throughout the year, with our students.”
Upton Fire Chief Aaron Goodale poses with Olga Grau’s
Kindergarten class at Memorial Elementary School after reading to
them during their March 2 celebration of Dr. Seuss’ Birthday and
Read Across America Day
Jennifer Hall’s first grade class dresses up as their favorite storybook characters at Clough’s celebration of Dr. Seuss’
Birthday and Read Across America Day on March 2.
Valley Tech Budget Limited to 1.65% Growth
In its version of a fiscal full court press to
assist member communities, the Blackstone
Valley Vocational Regional School District
has approved a budget request containing a
minimal 1.65 percent increase. The proposed
budget totals $21,317,222. The assessment
charged the 13 member towns in the school
district is going up 2.83 percent in the
proposal. Part of the formula for determining
the community assessment is the number
of students attending BVT from the town
according to the official enrollments which are
from the prior school year.
The FY 16 projected assessment for
Mendon is $813,414, based on 77 students,
which includes $13,738 for long-term debt
service. The FY15 assessment for Mendon was
$772,847 for 76 students and included $15,479
for debt service.
The FY16 project assessment for Upton
is $1,228,630, based on 120 students, which
includes $18,494 for long-term debt. Last year
Upton was assessed $1,108,707 for 116 students,
which included $20,837 in debt service.
The operational blueprint for Blackstone
Valley Regional Vocational Technical High
School was unanimously approved by the
District School Committee March 5, a little
more than 24 hours after learning that the state
intends to significantly increase the minimum
contribution rates of Valley Tech towns.
Based on trends over the last several years,
however, the state’s decision to give statewide
communities more responsibility for the
financing of regional school districts did not
catch the School Committee by surprise.
“We knew going into this budget process
that our towns’ minimum contribution rates
were probably going to rise,” explained Budget
Subcommittee Chairman John Lavin, III, of
Douglas. “We know what kind of dire financial
challenges our towns are facing, so we did our
best to further tighten Valley Tech’s belt and see
what we could do to help.”
At Thursday’s meeting, the School
Committee shared a litany of cost containment
strategies used to reach the low increase
of 1.65 percent. By refinancing its existing
debt and earning an improved bond rating
from Moody’s Investment Services, the
District secured an 11.15 percent drop in
debt obligations for FY16. The insurance line
item decrease of 7.37 percent was attributed
to negotiations with healthcare providers, as
well as ongoing efforts to decrease costs by
establishing a culture of health and wellness
among District employees.
Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael
Fitzpatrick said that many cost reductions
were the result of improved efficiencies in
Valley Tech’s facilities, including upgrades to
the building’s boilers, a comprehensive study
of the plumbing system, and the school-wide
consolidation of printers and copiers.
“From our pipes to our purse, the School
Committee left no potential source of cost
reduction unexamined in its development of
the FY2016 budget,” Fitzpatrick commented.
In addition to the creative cost containments
and minimal increase of 1.65 percent, the
District further mitigated the state’s increase in
the minimum contribution rate by authorizing
the use of $250,000 in available reserves funds
and incorporating the projected receipt of
grants, gifts, and additional revenue sources.
“In order to be helpful to our member
communities while protecting the quality
education that led to more than 900 applicants
for enrollment next year, we have removed
the need for additional assessments over and
above the minimum contributions required by
the state,” said School Committee Chairman
Joseph M. Hall of Bellingham. “We hope this
decision is well received.”
Blackstone Valley Tech’s proposed budget
increase of 1.65 percent will now head to
13 town meetings this spring. Traditionally,
the annual budget proposal has received the
unanimous support of Valley Tech’s member
communities.
“We do our best to craft a plan we can justify
and utilize to provide quality opportunities for
our student body,” Superintendent-Director
Fitzpatrick said. “The public has placed their
trust in us. We don’t want to let them down.
Residents may view the entire budget at
http://www.valleytech.k12.ma.us/budget/
FY16%20BVT%20Budget%20-%20
Electronic%20Version.pdf
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25
School News
◆ OPEN BUDGET from front page
members, parents and town officials. “This
is a thoughtful, deliberate budget that will
bring this district forward,” he said.
Maruszczak also stressed that the budget
was built with the idea of sustainability, so
if approved, requests from the district for
the following few years would be “modest”
and would stay within each community’s
Prop 2½ levy limit. “I am very confident
that we have constructed a budget that
can sustain the school district for the next
four to five years,” he said. Maruszczak
noted the reason for sustainability was a
trend of decreasing enrollment leading to
a diminishing staffing need. He added the
FY16 budget also included one-time costs
for instructional materials and supplies.
Some of the factors driving the $1.9
million budget change include increases of
$690,066 in contractual salaries, $122,134
in health care insurance, $114,048 in
transportation expenses, $99,530 for
Worcester County Retirement, and a
$59,000 in electricity costs.
Also included in the FY16 budget
according to Maruszczak, are “smart,
targeted investments” that align with the
5-year Strategic Plan that was created in
2013. Those investments include a $90,000
for the 1:1 learning initiative for “schoolloaner” iPads to be used for the incoming
5th graders at Miscoe and $25,000 for
additional Smartboards in 7th and 8th
grade math classes.
The budget also includes an investment
of $40,000 in the athletics program at
Nipmuc Regional High School to help
defray the cost of athletic fees. Currently
athletic fees are among the highest in
the surrounding towns, with Nipmuc
fees ranging from $325-$425 per sport.
“Athletics is not my number one priority…
teaching and learning is; however it is long
overdue that we address this [high athletic
fees],” said Maruszczak.
At Miscoe Hill School, a proposed
$36,000 investment will help to reduce or
eliminate fees for sports programs, and
extra/co-curricular activities such as Art
Club, Jazz Band and Student Council.
Additional staff is also a part of the
proposed budget for next year, including
two full time elementary reading specialists,
two elementary special education teachers,
an elementary level Spanish teacher, a
middle school library/media specialist, a
middle school world language teacher, and
a school and community coordinator at the
high school.
Revenue to fund the FY16 budget,
Maruszczak admitted, will be “challenging”
with the district receiving $290,000 less in
state aid than in FY15, the current year.
“Governor Baker’s numbers were worse
than our most conservative estimates,”
he said. Maruszczak also explained state
aid will continue to decrease as towns are
forced to pay more for their target local
contribution. Target local contribution is a
formula that states what percentage a town
should be funding their school district
versus the percentage received from the
state. The formula is based on aggregate
property values and personal income levels.
Maruszczak said there is also a decrease
in district receipts from FY15 including less
money coming from revolving accounts
and Excess and Deficiency (E&D) funds.
“The district is very much at a
crossroads,” said Maruszczak. “I don’t want
to see all the gains we have made in the past
three or four years regress.”
Each School Committee member, in turn,
expressed support for the proposed budget.
“I am very proud of this budget…it’s the
right thing to do,” said Committee Member
Chris Russo.
Voters in Mendon and Upton will have
the final say about the proposed budget
at their annual Town Meetings and Town
Elections. Mendon’s meeting is Friday,
May 1 at Miscoe Hill School at 7 p.m. and
Upton will meet on Thursday, May 7 at 7
p.m. at Nipmuc Regional High School. The
Town Elections are scheduled for May 4 for
Upton and May 12 for Mendon.
877-278-4464 • www.bvls.net
26
Persuasive Speech: Effectively Communicating
Ideas with Composure
Eight Miscoe Hill 7th Grade students were chosen to give persuasive speeches on March 12
in front of the entire class as well as teachers, administrators, and parents. The students
were chosen out of 200 of their classmates for their “beautifully crafted” persuasive speeches
by their English Teachers Marney Welch (back row left) and Lori Monterotti (front row
right). The students are front row (l-r) Ian Burke, Miranda dos Santos, Hailey Solano and
Christian Moss; Back row (l-r) Morgan Matellian, Abby Adams, Justine Nicholson, and
Rachel Dunlavey.
By Melissa Orff
Staff Reporter
What makes a speech persuasive to an
audience? Is it the passion of the speaker,
the facts that support the argument, or how
trustworthy the speaker seems? Or is it
something else entirely?
The art of writing and presenting a
persuasive speech has been the subject of
the seventh-grade English classes at Miscoe
Hill School over the past few months, a
lesson that culminated with the 4th Annual
Persuasive Speech Presentation on March
12.
Since January, the seventh-graders have
been working on persuasive writing after
learning about Aristotle’s elements of
persuasion. Over 2,000 years ago the Greek
philosopher Aristotle argued that there were
a few basic ways to persuade an audience of
your position: claim, ethos, logos, pathos,
and kairos. Claim is stating your position,
ethos is making yourself seem trustworthy
and educated; logos is using logic, facts, and
data to support your argument; pathos is
appealing to your audience’s emotions, and
Kairos is building a sense of urgency and
delivering a call to action.
The students used these elements
along with quotes and statistics to build
persuasive essays on a topic that was
important to them. Each student presented
their persuasive speech during their
English classes, and one student from each
of the eight classes was chosen to present
their speech to the entire seventh-grade
along with invited parents, teachers, and
administrators.
Morgan Matellian, spoke about people
being true to themselves. “We as a society
should not be afraid to let our true colors
show,” she said.
Hailey Solano supported being an organ
donor. “When you were younger, did you
ever want to be a hero?” she asked the
audience.
Miranda dos Santos suggested having
Please
patronize our
advertisers.
Tell them you
saw their ad in
The Town
Crier.
school year-round. “I ask you all just to
consider what we can accomplish as a YRE
(year round education) school,” she said.
Ian Burke asserted athletes should not
take steroids. “In this day and age, there is
an issue which is impossible to ignore…
we can’t let our sports become a place of
horrible cheating,” he said.
Christian Moss supported higher pay
and more appreciation for soldiers. “We
as Americans need to think about what
the soldiers are doing for our lives and to
protect our freedom,” he said.
Abby Adams stressed the importance of
encouraging children to read. “Reading can
help kids blossom into a world they may
never have known had existed,” she said.
Rachel Dunlavey discussed banning
puppy mills throughout the country. “I feel
disappointed more hasn’t been done to stop
these places, furious with the mistreatment
of these animals…together we can bring an
end to puppy mills,” she said.
Justine Nicholson asserted people of all
skin types should protect themselves from
the sun. “The sun is responsible for all life
on earth…however, it also brings dangerous
UV rays that can damage our skin and cause
skin cancer,” she said.
The speeches were chosen by seventhgrade English Teachers Lori Monterotti
and Marney Welch, both of whom said it
was a difficult task to choose just eight out
of 200. “The speeches were so wonderful,”
said Welch. “There were very inspiring and
passionate.”
Learning how to craft a persuasive essay
or give a persuasive speech is a lesson that
the teachers said will serve the students
well no matter what career path they
choose. “Persuasion is a skill they will need
throughout their life; it is a skill that is
needed to become an effective leader,” said
Monterotti. “It is important to learn how to
get in front of a room and present yourself
in a composed manner and communicate
ideas effectively.”
St. Gabriel Women’s Club
Scholarships
St. Gabriel Women’s Club is offering four $300
scholarships to graduating seniors planning to
further their education. The applicant must be a
member of St. Gabriel’s Parish. Application forms
are available at St. Gabriel Church, at Nipmuc
Regional High School and at Blackstone Valley
Technical High School. An essay written by the
student on how they live a Christian life in their
community and their service to St. Gabriel’s
Parish will be determining factors in awarding the
scholarships. The application should be submitted
to Pat Ghelli, President of St. Gabriel’s Women’s
Club, by May 1, 2015.
MARCH 20, 2015
School News
Nipmuc Students Honored for their
Commitment to Distinguished Excellence
By Melissa Orff
Staff Reporter
Thirty-two Nipmuc Regional High
School students were honored for their
hard work, dedication, and commitment
to “distinguished excellence” as they were
inducted into the National Honor Society
on March 5.
Nipmuc’s 53rd National Honor Society
Induction Ceremony recognized the
inductees’ work in the areas of leadership,
character, scholarship, and service; the
four pillars of the National Honor Society
(NHS).
The evening began in the auditorium
with a candle-lit procession of the current
NHS members on to the stage and with
the singing of the Star Spangled Banner by
Nipmuc senior and NHS inductee Eoin
O’Connell. Senior and NHS President
Roma Gujarathi welcomed the inductees
and their families and spoke about the
rigorous requirements for induction into
the NHS. “Tonight we celebrate the hard
work, commitment, and accomplishments
of the inductees,” she said.
Gujarathi introduced Superintendent
Dr. Joseph Maruszczak and Principal
John Clements for remarks, with both
men praising the students for their
accomplishments to date and encouraging
them to be confident in their future.
“Continue to do the little things well….
what you put into life, you will get out,” said
Maruszczak.
Clements commented on the impact the
students have made on the community.
“The young people in this room teach us
so much about capacity, optimism, and
confidence in the future,” he said.
Speakers for the evening included Senior
NHS Members Cullen Farragher, Catherine
Hill, and Kurt Robakiewicz. Each read
insightful essays about the importance of
leadership, community service, academics,
and dreams; giving advice to the new
inductees based on their own experiences.
“No thicket is too dense to explore, no
redwood is too high to climb,” advised
Farragher to the new inductees.
NHS Members Julia Sharp, Elizabeth
Nigro, Kelsey Woods, Lindsay Bailey, Kiley
Thirty-two Nipmuc High School students are inducted into the National Honor Society
during a March 5 ceremony. Melissa Orff photo.
Larocque, and Elizabeth Hilton explained
the significance of the pillars and of the
emblem of the NHS before new inductees
were called on to the stage to receive a
certificate.
The ceremony concluded with the group
of current and new members pledging the
NHS oath before joining their families for a
reception in the lobby.
This year’s NHS inductees were: Seniors
Emily Ambrosino, Madison Armstrong,
Eoin O’Connell; Juniors Brooke Bukunt,
Abigail Colombo, Marla DiPoto, Allison
Goddard, Kelly Jionzo, Jake Osgood, Jillian
Penfield, Sarah Plutnicki; Sophomores
Dylan Applegate, Michelle Arsenault, Mary
Berner, Sarah Bloznalis, Mario Cicconi,
Zachary Dawson, Kimberly Frary, Kylie
Gallagher, Viola Hibbitt, Alex Jayyosi,
Hunter Kadra, Sean Kelleher, Colleen
Lavoie, Meaghan MacKay, Rebecca Pfeiffer,
Abigail Rapiejko, Rebecca Rausch, Katie
Sauer, Dean Sheehan, Vanessa Shepherd,
and Bailey Vogt.
Mission Accomplished: BVT Students Put Skills to the Test
Students at Blackstone Valley Tech won 82 medals and
swept eight categories at the recent SkillsUSA Massachusetts
District V competition held on March 11 at Bay Path Regional
Vocational Technical High School, Charlton.
Nearly 800 hundred students from seven schools took
part in the competition. BVT students earned 32 gold, 28
silver and 22 bronze medals, including sweeps of Culinary
Arts, Diesel Equipment Technology, Internetworking,
Medical Terminology, Photography, Restaurant Service,
Telecommunications Cabling, and Welding. In the annual
SkillsUSA student-elections, Valley Tech Health Services
sophomore Stacey Muanya of Milford qualified to run for
State Officer on the SkillsUSA Massachusetts State Executive
Council.
More than 60 Valley Tech students will now advance to the
Massachusetts SkillsUSA Championships being held May 1
at BVT. Gold medals winners at the statewide competition
will move on to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills
Conference Championships, June 22-26 in Louisville. Last
year, 17 Valley Tech students competed nationally earning 11
medals, including four gold, five silver, and two bronze.
The following Valley Tech students were among the school’s
82 medalists at the District V SkillsUSA competition:
MENDON
GOLD: Matt Gormley, Commercial Baking; Eric Peterson,
Mobile Robotics.
SILVER: Jonathan Lynch, Urban Search & Rescue; Francesca
Niro, Basic Health Care Skills.
BRONZE: Julie Cavanaugh, Team Works; Jonathan
Rivernider, Internetworking.
UPTON
GOLD: Anthony Arrigo, Urban Search & Rescue; Alexia
DeDeus, Dental Assisting; Jessica Goyer, Practical Nursing
(post-secondary); Brett May, Diesel Equipment Technology.
SILVER: Parker Grant, Electronics Technology; Kevin
Konieczny, Welding; Josh Renfro, Diesel Equipment
Technology; Tyler Smith, Robotics & Automation Tech.
BRONZE: Bailey Martin, Diesel Equipment Technology;
Taylor Nasuti, Restaurant Service; Gregory Renk, Welding.
Nipmuc Regional High School Second Term Honor Roll
Grade 9
High Honors, Average 90 – 100
Cole Alibozek
Elina Barrows
Megan Baumgarten
Aidan Belleville
Delaney Bolton
Olivia Calnan
Erin Capalucci
Juliette Carreiro
Samantha Chase
Anna Collari
Erika Comfort
Carolyn Coyle
Michael Davidshofer
Sean Downing
Cameron Dunning
Beck DuVall
Lindsay Enos
Davin Fazio
Leah Fitzgerald
Samantha Galicki
Sara Garwood
Kiara Griffith
Donald Halsing
Emily Halsing
Erin Hartwig
Maegan Herd
Andrew Herendeen
Ryan Kelleher
Georgia King
Erin Kossuth
Corey Lazarz
Jonathan Lucier
Owen Lukas
Bailey Lynch
Robert Martyak
Alexandra Materia
Lauren Materia
Victoria McGrath
Conor Morford
Mackenzie Morgan
Callan Moriarty
Maria Muhareb
Kevin Murphy
Sarah Nasif
MARCH 20, 2015
Sheena Nguyen
Cooper Offord
Maya Ostoin
Ariel Ott
Megan Paul
Katherine Plutnicki
Kelsey Rhodes
Max Robakiewicz
Natalie Rodman
Ashley Round
Katherine Ryan
Katherine Salenius
Kira Segenchuk
Lindey Spindel
Rachel Thibodeau
Katherine Vennard
Lauren Vincens
Honors, Average 85 – 89
Cameron Busby
Nicholas Consoletti
Andrew Descheneaux
Olivia Dolbec
Jade Dougherty
Caroline Hebert
Emily MacKay
Elizabeth McManus
Kirollos Morcos
Peter Morelli
Drew Nelson
Lucas Nickelson
Casey Noyes
Kealani Peters
Diana Richard
Christopher SanSoucie
Christian St. Pierre
Grade 10
Megan Agro
Michelle Arsenault
Mary Berner
Jaclyn Bianchi
Sarah Bloznalis
Mackenzie Callahan
Jillian Carey
Zachary Dawson
Patrick Donelan
Kimberly Frary
Kylie Gallagher
Sophia Hegarty
Viola Hibbett
Alex Jayyosi
Hunter Kadra
Sean Kelleher
Zackary Lapointe
Elizabeth Leblanc
Meaghan MacKay
Joanne Michel
Taylor Moore
Trevor Moutinho
Paige Murphy
Logan Pazol
Lea Peterson
Seth Prescott
Noah Puchovsky
Abigail Rapiejko
Kayla Riordan
Meredith Sarah
Katie Sauer
Dean Sheehan
Vanessa Shepherd
Kayma Snook
Bailey Volt
Connor Walz
Erin Wright
Dylan Applegate
Matthew Benoit
Christopher Cannavo
Marco Giannozzi
Annabelle Hentz
Sarah Hetu
Andre’ Kinne
Jillian-Marie Magliano
Ciara Pape-Rasco
Rebecca Rausch
Cameron Robinson
Lucas Vanslette
Grade 11
William Applegate
Hannah Barrows
Brooke Bukunt
Samantha Capalucci
Micaela Clark
Abigail Colombo
Isabel DesRoches
Marla DiPoto
Kristina Dubois
Carly Egan
Taylor Ellero
Austin Franosa
Elizabeth Hilton
Lauren Jordan
Aaron Kearnan
Kristin Krauss
Ciara Larence
Kiley Larocque
Madison Lynnworth
Hannah Martel
Megan Mathieson
Kathryn McManus
Grace Merten
Mary Morcos
Ruari Morrison
Ryan Nelson
Jennifer Oglesby
Olivia Onorato
Jillian Penfield
Karin Plante
Jared Plumb
Sarah Plutnicki
Stephanie Poly
Angelica Puchovsky
Julia Salvaggio
Amanda St. Germain
Carly Thibodeau
Joria Todd
Sarah Tong
Arianna Aniello
Jake Barefoot
Teresa Brossi
Charlotte Burlingame
Samuel Crocker
Megan Davey
Nathan Linnehan
Alexa Mirageas
Ryan Norquist
Jake Osgood
Kayla Peabody
Madison Sauter
Aryane Schiavo
Peter Schiloski
Ashley Sewell
Samantha Taddei
Daniel Whitcomb
William Whitcomb
Steven Wickstrom
Grade 12
Brett Alibozek
Madison Armstrong
Lindsay Bailey
Ateha Bailly
Jillian Bertrand
Kristen Brien
Timothy Brien
Samantha Brower
Daniel Burke Perez
Scott Capuzziello
Chereen Chalak
Jesse Charpentier
Regan Conrad
Tyler Costello
Molly Craft
Madeline Davidshofer
Kristen Denson
Matthew DeVane
Drew DiPoto
Ashley Dodd
Lindsay Doyle
Stephanie Esker
Cullen Farragher
John Gallagher
Kyle Gazoorian
Elizabeth Gilchrist
Chelsea Gorius
Molly Gould
Lauren Guertin
Roma Gujarathi
Justin Hackenson
Robert Herendeen
Molly King
Emily MacDonald
Elizabeth Manser
Alexander McCulloch
Nickole McGrath
Elena Morganelli
Ian Murphy
Nicole Murphy
Madison Neri
Elizabeth Nigro
Eoin O’Connell
Evan Offord
Jay Patel
Devon Poe
Madison Polay
Kurt Robakiewicz
Emily Santos
Allison Shaughnessy
Philip White
Melody Wiklund
Melissa Wojnowski
Patrick Carey
Charles Ciantra
Lillian Gillette
Jeremy Hall
Sabrina Hegarty
Jake LeBow
Savannah Mixay
Emily Paine
Julia Pavlichenko
Hollis Ryder
Jonathan Scanlon
Austin Solano
Sarah Tierney
27
Sports
Swim Team Training and Conditioning
The Milford Community School Use Program is offering Swim
Team Training and Conditioning, an eight-week program for
high school swimmers and members of other recognized swim
teams taught by coaches of the Milford Stingrays Swim Team.
The program helps swimmers perfect their stroke techniques,
body positions, strengthening, endurance and speed through
pool drills and land drills including running, walking, stretching
and strength conditioning.
The program, which begins Monday, March 23, and continues
on Mondays and Wednesdays through May 20, is held from 4
to 6 p.m. at the Milford High School Pool. Space is limited to 45
swimmers. Please refer to www.mcs.milford.ma.us for additional details
and the registration form for the program. Registration is on
a first-come, first-serve basis and refunds are not available.
All registrations and fees must be submitted to the Milford
Community Program office, 31 West Fountain St., Milford MA
01757 prior to the start of the program. Any questions, please call
the office,508-478-1119.
Swim Stroke Development Clinic
The Milford Community School Use Program will soon be
offering sessions of the Swim Stroke Development Clinic at
the Milford High School Pool. Youths aged 6 to 19 years may
participate, as long as they are familiar in swimming the basic
four strokes: freestyle/crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, and
butterfly. Starts and turns will also be covered. This program is a
great conditioning program for the upcoming Summer Stingrays
Swim Team season.
The first session of the clinic will take place on Tuesdays and
Thursdays starting Tuesday, March 24 and ending Thursday, April
16. The second session of the clinic will take place on Tuesdays
and Thursdays starting April 28 and ending May 21, 2015. Times
are 4:15 pm to 5:30 pm on each date. Space is limited to 48
swimmers per session. Please refer to our website at www.mcs.milford.ma.us for
additional details and the registration form for the program.
All registrations and fees must be submitted to the Milford
Community Program office located at 31 West Fountain St.,
Milford MA 01757 prior to the start of the program. Any
questions, please call the office at 508-478-1119.
Visit www.towncrier.us and click on SPORTS to
read about all the sport's teams!
Grafton/BVT Hockey Strong for
the Present & Future
By Chris Villani
The Grafton/BVT hockey team had its season end a
little sooner than head coach Brian Lehtinen had hoped.
The Indians fell to Worcester in the Division 3A Central
quarterfinals 5-1 thanks to an early shorthanded goal and some
crucial defensive mistakes.
“We felt like we had a good chance going in, this is a team we
had beaten earlier in the year,” Lehtinen said. “They played well
and we made some careless mistakes. It was disappointing, this
wasn’t the best game we have played and we just couldn’t put
things together.”
Grafton/BVT finishes its season 10-10-1 overall and 6-4 in
league play despite battling injuries to a couple of key players.
Senior goalie McKay Lewis and junior center Nick Hart each
missed significant time, but Lehtinen was still pleased with the
overall performance of his squad. “I thought we played well as
a team,” he said. “We had confidence in our first, second, and
third lines, the only real downside was the injuries.”
The Indians were lead by a quartet of seniors in the 20142015 season. Lewis, a Grafton High student, posted an .830
save percentage before being sidelined by injury. Grafton’s
Matthew David finished with four goals and 10 assists for 14
points on the year. A pair of Valley Tech seniors, James Moran
and Kevin Koloski, stood out as well.
“Moran was a strong defenseman through this whole year,”
Lehtinen said. “Koloski is a great story. He started out as a JV
guy and moved from the fourth to the top line from last year
to this year.” Koloski scored five goals and added nine assists
this season and tallied the Indians only goal in the quarterfinal
game.
“I thought all of our seniors had a nice year, it’s great to have
seniors who are starters,” Lehtinen said. “They had a good year
and got us to the playoffs.”
The Indians have a number of experienced players coming
back, including good depth at the center position. Tanner
Jelovcich is expected to move to the top and to-be sophomore
Tyler Hart also returns. Grafton’s Kyle Roy and Valley Tech’s
Nathanial Motuzas and Joseph Corsi are all back to the blue
line and Vishall Bajwa returns in net.
“We have some guys back with a ton of experience and great
leadership,” Lehtinen said. “We are bringing back a lot of the
core for next year.”
Third Annual St. Camillus Golf Tournament
UXBRIDGE-Third Annual St. Camillus Golf
Tournament will be held on Tuesday, May 19 at Blissful
Meadows Golf Club, Uxbridge. The fee is $150 per
player. The event begins with registration at 8 a.m.
followed by a Shotgun start at 9 a.m. for the scramble
format golf tournament. The golf is followed at 3 p.m. by
a cocktail hour and then a buffet dinner complete with
an awards presentation and raffles at 4 p.m.
A variety of sponsorships are available. All proceeds
benefit the non-profit nursing home.
For more information or to register contact St.
Camillus Health Center at 508-234-7306 or visit
StCamillus.com.
Water Aerobics
MILFORD-Water Aerobics is one of the best-kept
secrets of the Milford Community Program’s Adult
Recreation program. From 6:15 to 7:15 pm on
Mondays, the Milford High School indoor pool hosts
the hour-long program taught by instructor Susan
Antonellis. In chest-deep water, instructor Susan
Antonellis leads Supported by the chest-deep water
which helps protect joints and offers resistance,
participants go through a series of exercises that are
similar to walking, jogging and cross-country skiing.
This program is ideal for anyone recovering from
injury or surgery. No experience or swimming skills
are needed. All exercises take place in the shallow
end of the pool and a ramp allows for easy access
into and out of the pool.
Start anytime, this is a drop in program that runs
year round. Open to all adults in the greater Milford
area, participants pay $5 at the door.
For more information, please visit www.mcs.
milford.ma.us or call 508-478-1119.
Boston Tune-up 15K
UPTON-The 35th Annual Frank Nealon Boston Tuneup 15K sponsored by the Tri-Valley Runners will be
held on Saturday, April 4 beginning at 10 a.m. at
Nipmuc Regional High School in Upton. The race
is a perfect tune-up for those running in the Boston
Marathon or any runner, who enjoys a scenic road
racecourse. Pre-entry registration is $25 or $20 for
those under 19. Post entry registration begins at 8:30
a.m. the day of the race at Nipmuc and is $30 or $20 for
those under 19. There is no fee for races 70 and older.
To pre-register send a check payable to Tri-Valley Front
Runners to Tri-Valley Front Runners, PO Box 708,
Framingham, MA 01701. For more information visit
Tri-ValleyFrontRunners.com/Tune-Up.
DINING GUIDE
12:00 noon 2:30 pm
12:30 pm 3:00 pm
1:00 pm
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• Arroz con pollo
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Route 140/Route 122
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Try our Award Winning
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Every issue of
The Town Crier
will have a Dining
Guide so readers
can quickly and
easily learn about
the restaurants in
the area and decide
where they would
like to dine out
tonight!
MARCH 20, 2015
Sports
Direct: 774-573-1336
www.RobynSoldMyHouse.com
◆ KEVIN HACK from front page
“Most people would tell me I had a good
day but I was disappointed with the height.
But I was happy with my placement.”
Hack said he hoped to clear 6’7.5” -- one
half inch shy of his personal best -- but
failed in three attempts at that height. “I
was feeling pretty good going into those
jumps, but things fell apart a little there,” he
said.
The performance brings to a close another
dominant season for the high jumping
prodigy. Hack didn’t clear his first bar until
after entering high school, but was able
to successfully defend his championships
at the state and all-state level after an
undefeated run through the dual meet
season. He cleared 6’7” in the New England
regional meet to place second, and set a
new personal best of 6’8” in the all-state
meet.
“It was my ultimate goal to clear 6’8”
because I have been trying to add two
inches per year to my personal best,” he
said. “Anything higher would have been
icing on the cake.”
The 6’2” Hack said staying healthy was also
a vital part of his season, and he was able
to stay that way headed into the spring
season thanks to a vigorous conditioning
program. “I have been working out
every day and hitting the gym to make
sure I do everything I can to be at peak
performance,” he said.
Hack has also become a student of the high
jump. He spends evenings reviewing videos
of Olympians and checking their technique
to compare it to his own, trying to fine tune
his form to mirror what he sees from the
best jumpers in the world. His knowledge
of the sport has also allowed him to take on
more of a coaching role within the Nipmuc
program.
“I want to help everyone who is trying
to become a high jumper and coach has
allowed me to do that,” he said. “I really like
working with the other guys and trying to
help them get better.”
Hack says he wants to hit his current
personal best and then add another two
inches to it during the Spring season, which
would bring him to 6’10”. He is hoping to
peak towards the end of the season during
the state, regional, and national meets. In
an effort to become more of an all-around
track athlete, he says he will also compete
in the long jump, the 200 yard dash, and on
a newly formed 4x100 relay team.
“My goal for the long jump is to make states
and all-states,” he said. “I’d love to get to the
state qualifiers in the running events. High
jump is definitely my specialty, but my goal
is to become more of an overall athlete.”
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Only your doctor can
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We offer extended day classes
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• Warm and loving atmosphere
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• Dept. of Early Ed. & Care qualified staff
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The Victorian
All Things Creative
WATERCOLOR CLASSES
Thursday Mornings 10 - 12
6 week session - begins March 27
$35 per week
Paint Nights
Zentangle Classes
Watercolor & Acrylic Classes
Mixed Media Art Classes
583 Linwood Ave, Whitinsville, MA
774-239-3487
FB @ The Victorian
[email protected]
FIRST PROJECT:
Stargazer Lily
Beginner & Experienced Students Welcome
Teacher Christina Giza
All supplies included
Registration: 774-239-3487
49 Cedar Street, Milford • CrystalRoomMA.com
$14.95 per person
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Easter Sunday
Brunch Buffet
Sunday, April 5
Serving Sunday Brunch Buffet the First Sunday of Every Month
A Premier Venue Specializing in
Weddings, Baptism & First Communion Celebrations,
Sweet 16s, Quinceanaras, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Baby &
Bridal Showers, Corporate Events, Bereavements and more
For more information and to set up a private tour of our venue,
call 508-478-7800 or email [email protected]
Cosmetic & Family Dentistry
Relaxed Friendly Atmosphere
Welcoming New Patients!
Cleaning & Exams
Periodontal Care
Root Canals
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54 Hopedale St., Suite 8, Hopedale
Additional Location in Hopkinton
30
Sports
Upton Women’s Softball Registration
UPTON-The Upton Women’s Softball League is a recreational slow pitch softball league always
looking for new members. Open registration will be held at the Rose Garden, Rt. 140, Upton, on
Monday March 30 and Monday, April 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. The league has 10 teams needing players so
if you are 25 years of age or over and looking for some fun with other women please join up. Teams
play on Monday nights at various fields in Upton and Mendon at 6:30 p.m. from early June through
early August. The non-refundable registration fee is $65.
For more info contact Jean Nealley, 508-341-6963, after 4 p.m.
Nipmuc Baseball
Looks to Tighten D
in 2015
By Chris Villani
Nipmuc baseball coach Steve DellaRovere
hopes the last game of the 2014 season
serves as a reminder for his squad this year
about the importance of being sharp in the
field. The Warriors committed half a dozen
errors in a 5-1 loss in the opening round of
the district tournament, bringing a strong
season to an end at 14-7.
“The last game really summed up what
kind of team we were last season,” he said.
“You make that many errors against a team
like Northbridge and it’s hard to win. If
we didn’t make any errors, it’s maybe a 2-1
game and we are in it at the end. That’s
going to be a point of emphasis this year.”
Nipmuc certainly returns the type of
pitching that will keep runs off the board.
District all-star Tom Sperino returns for his
junior season and his third at the top of the
rotation. The lefthander has emerged as one
of the top pitchers in the area.
“I told him last year, ‘you’re not under
the radar anymore,’ and that definitely
holds true this season as well,” DellaRovere
said. “To make the Super Team last year
was a remarkable accomplishment for a
sophomore and he is surely a guy that you
could say people will look towards to do big
things for us.”
The Warriors also return juniors Kyle
Nocera and Izaiah Wadsworth, both of
whom saw considerable time on the mound
last season.
“Pitching will be a strength, our depth
more than anything,” DellaRovere said. “We
have three guys I would match up against
anyone. If we can stay error free and scrape
together some runs, I think we should be in
every game.”
When it comes to offense, Nipmuc will
be searching for a replacement for Matt
Nichols, who anchored the middle of the
lineup in 2014. Senior Ted Morris is the
most likely candidate to fill the void. “Ted
has been on the team since sophomore
year,” DellaRovere said. “He’s played some
first base for us and been in the middle of
our lineup in the past, he’s going to be a big
key to what we can do offensively.”
The head coach says senior Jason Colwell
will also be counted upon to provide a
spark offensively and can produce from just
about anywhere in the order. In addition to
finding some offense, DellaRovere says he
needs to find a catcher to replace Dan Sarah
who filled the critical role in his senior
season last spring.
Nipmuc finished in a three-way tie with
Sutton and Blackstone-Millville atop the
Dual Valley League standings last season
and DellaRovere expects to be back in
contention for the league title again this
year and expects to see his team back in the
district tournament.
“I think we will be the type of team that
gets contributions from different guys every
game,” he said. “It’s not going to be the same
nine guys in the lineup all the time and we
will depend on different players to step up
and then hand the torch to someone else in
the next game. I don’t know if we are going
to be blowing people out, but we should be
able to win plenty of close games.”
Spring Sports
Teams Battle Record
Snowfall
By Chris Villani
Normally, setting records during the
winter sports season is a welcomed
accomplishment. This winter, however,
the record snowfall means a spring sports
season that starts with fields still covered
and local athletic directors scrambling to
come up with a plan.
“I am lucky to have a great group of
coaches who cooperate and work well
together, so that’s helped,” Nipmuc Athletic
Director (AD) Bill Leaver said. “We met
last week and came up with a schedule on
how to share and utilize the space we have
in the gym. I am hoping we get some rain
this week to melt the snow and get us back
on track in a couple of weeks.”
Blackstone Valley Tech AD Michelle
Denise has her own plan to get her athletes
ready for the season. “We are holding
tryouts this week as we always have, but
we are going to tell the JV and freshman
programs to hold off until we can be
outside,” she said. “We want to focus
on getting the varsity programs ready
to go and we might go a bit later with
the freshman and JV schedules than we
usually do. I think that’s a strategy that will
work. It makes me feel a little better than
trying to put 60 kids in the gym chasing
after one ball.”
The MIAA is expected to vote to extend
the length of the spring season by one
week, meaning teams will have until
May 31 to finish up their regular season
competition before the spring tournaments
begin. Both ADs support the measure.
“I think it will help by freeing up a few
more days, especially around Memorial
Day,” Leaver said. “We have so many days
in May booked up by proms and trips
and senior activities and SATs and getting
ready for graduation, things get pretty
hectic. This would give us a couple more
days.”
Denise added, “I don’t think there is
much of an option, I think we have to
[extend the spring season]. I just wish the
decision was made sooner so we could
have started a week later. In a week, a
lot of us might be looking at a different
situation.”
Denise pointed out that a number of
schools, including both BVT and Nipmuc,
are spending money on indoor facilities
they might have been able to save with
a little more advanced planning and a
later start to the spring season. Leaver
said several of his spring teams, including
lacrosse and softball, will be using The Hab
sports complex in Uxbridge.
“We are doing the best we can, as
everyone is,” he said. “It’s not like the snow
only fell on this side of Pleasant St. It’s
everywhere, everyone is dealing with it.”
When the snow finally does melt, Dense
has one crucial factor for which she is
especially grateful. “Our fields drain really
well,” she said. “At some other schools
the fields are sunken down and they will
struggle maybe to play any home games.
“We will play,” she added. “I just don’t
know when.”
MARCH 20, 2015
Sports
Nipmuc Youth Football and Cheerleading 2015 Registration
SPORTS FLASH
By Chris Villani
Woodworth Takes over BVT Boys LAX
Four years ago, Steve Woodworth didn’t
know much about lacrosse. He had never
coached the sport. In fact, he had never
even played the sport. After four years of
immersing himself in a sport he’s fallen in
love with, he will take the reigns as the head
coach of the Blackstone Valley Tech varsity
program this year.
“I was a teacher at BVT and I was the JV
hockey coach,” Woodworth said. “I had
coached hockey for many years and one
year [Athletic Director] Michelle Dense
didn’t have anyone to coach the JV lacrosse
team and asked if I would. I picked it up
quickly and I really love the sport.”
Woodworth wasn’t about to pursue his
new gig halfheartedly. He studied the game
and relied upon his experience as a teacher
to impart information to his players. He
called his niece, a former lacrosse player at
St. Michael’s College in Vermont and his
brother in law, a lacrosse official who grew
up in a lacrosse hotbed in Connecticut
and picked their brains. He even joined a
recreational lacrosse league to learn the
sport from the perspective of a player.
“I have played hockey for a long time,
including at the high school and college
level, and I never had anyone coach me
that had never played before. There was
some adjustment, but I was able to develop
a great rapport with the kids and it worked
out well.”
So well, in fact, that when the varsity
position opened this season, Dense again
turned to Woodworth. The circumstances
were made even more challenging due to
the fact that Woodworth was laid off as a
teacher at BVT last year through no fault
of his own. He is now teaching at DightonRehoboth and admits coming back to
Valley Tech wasn’t easy.
“I didn’t know how I would feel going
back, and when I went back to the school
to talk to Michelle about the job, it was
hard,” he said. “I don’t blame them for what
happened, they just added an engineering
shop and I teach drafting. It was just tough,
almost like being divorced and seeing your
ex-wife all the time. But once I had a couple
of kids come up and hug me in the hallway,
all that went out the window.”
Woodworth says adjusting to the varsity
level means a different kind of teaching.
Rather than spending time focusing on
developing skills and getting players ready
for the next level, he will be tasked with
marshalling success during the games as
well.
“These kids know the game, it’s not as
much of a focus on the fundamentals,” he
said. “It’ll be a bit of a challenge.”
BVT grad Andrew Barksdale, a lacrosse
player at Nichols College, is going to
take over the junior varsity program and
Woodworth will be looking to him to
pitch in considerably. “He has been playing
the game a long time and he might be
able to catch some of the things I’d miss,”
Woodworth said. “He knows a lot about the
game and when you play at the college level,
you learn the game in a different way.”
Woodworth says his biggest concern
on the field headed into the new year was
in goal, but that fear has been alleviated
somewhat by the fact that several younger
goalies have shown up to try out for the
team. He’s setting a high bar for his team in
his first season at the helm.
“I would like to get to the districts,” he
said. “But most of all, I just would like them
to have fun and have a good season. I think
we will do well.”
Upton Men’s Softball Registration
Nipmuc Youth Football and Cheer (NYFC) will be accepting registrations for
the 2015 season from March 1 through 31. The program serves the towns of
Mendon, Upton and surrounding communities. NYFC is a proud member
of the Central Mass Youth Football & Cheer Conference ((www.cmayfc.com,
which is part of American Youth Football (AYF) (www.americanyouthfootball.
com), the largest, fastest growing youth football and cheer organization in the
United States. NYFC is preparing for its10th season of youth football and cheer
for boys and girls entering grades two through eight in the fall of 2014.
Register at https://nipmucyouthfootball.sportssignup.com/ For more
information or to contact a representative of NYFC visit http://www.eteamz.
com/nipmucyouthfootballandcheer/
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14,577 0 $244/mo.
down
2014 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT
$
$
10,000 miles! Alloy wheels, Navigation,
Rear DVD entertainment. #D6702R
down
2014 CHEVY IMPALA LTD
$
2014 Grand Caravan
List Price:
$26,977
12
R
READY FOY
DELIVER
2014 CHEVY MALIBU LT
SAVE
$
SAVE
$
Cherokees
Malibus
25
R
READY FOY
DELIVER
Brand New
MSRP: $21,885 vs.
REA
DELIVERY
$
MAJESTIC SSX LIMITED SE CONVERSION PACKAGE!
2014 FORD FUSION SE
25 ImDYpalFOasR
Brand New
MSRP: $29,995 vs.
10,977
List Price: $12,944
#D6823R
2014 FORD TAURUS SEL
9,977
10 Darts
6,500!
17,377
READ RY
DELIVE
$
2013 Dodge Dart SE
SAVE
$
Like New
us
40 TaYurFO
R
READY FOR
DELIVERY
BUY
FOR
2014 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN
20 Cruze
$
Aluminum wheels, Full power pkg., #P9137A
R
READY FO
DELIVERY
R
READY FOY
DELIVER
READY FOR
DELIVERY
BUY
FOR
DOOR BUSTERS
9 Fiestas
Sale Ends
3/25/15
Bad credit
don’t sweat it.
We finance your
future not your
past!
$
Like New
18,977
#D7038
2014 Ford Fusion Titanium
List Price:
$29,855
$
Heated leather seats, All wheel drive, Back-up
camera, Remote start, Bluetooth. #P9111
22,477 0 $80/week
down
Ends 3/25/15. Prices valid on vehicles indicated only, see website for details. Not valid with previous sales. Monthly/weekly financing rates based on 72 months, 2.99% APR with credit approval and require dealer source financing. Tax, title, registration and doc. fee not included.
Must present ad, take same day delivery and pay in full to get advertised price. Not responsible for typographical errors.
CHEVROLET
32
IMPERIAL CHEVROLET
RTE 16, MENDON, MA
IMPERIAL FORD
RTE 16, MENDON, MA
IMPERIAL CHRYSLER-DODGE-JEEP
RTE 16, MENDON, MA
MARCH 20, 2015

UTC 15.03.20

Transcription

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