FY 2011 - Town of Uxbridge

Cultural Council
The Local Cultural Council (LCC)
Program is the largest grassroots cultural
funding network in the nation supporting
thousands of community based projects
in the arts, humanities, and sciences
annually.
The program promotes the
availability of rich cultural experiences for
every Massachusetts citizen.
Administered by 2,400 municipally
appointed volunteers, the LCC network
consists of 329 councils serving all 351
Massachusetts cities and towns. Each
year, local councils award more than $2
million in grants to more than 5,000
cultural programs statewide. These
include school field trips, afterschool
programs, concerts, festivals, lectures,
theater, dance, music and film. LCC
projects take place in schools,
community centers, libraries, elder care
facilities, town halls, parks, and wherever
communities come together.
This year the LCC disbursed
$3,870 in grant money. Recipients
included Uxbridge First Holiday Night,
Uxbridge Night, Close-up & Stage,
Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming
Inc., Blackstone Valley Community
Chorus, Fiddilin Around with Hunter,
Pied Potter Magical Potter’s Wheel and
the Shane Wood Jazz Trio.
Individuals, schools, and cultural
organizations are eligible to apply for
project support from their local council.
Funding for cultural field trips is also
available. Applicants should contact their
LCC before completing an application.
Exemplary LCC projects are eligible to
be further recognized by the Gold Star
Program.
Please note grants from LCC are
reimbursement based. The applicant
expends their own money, and if
approved for a grant, then submits the
paperwork for reimbursement.
Respectfully submitted,
Dierdra Cahill, Chair
Tracey M. Ante, Vice Chair
Stephen O’Connell, Clerk
June Bangma, Member
Judi Lanoue, Member
Uxbridge Historic
Cemetery Committee
“To know the character of a
community I need only visit its
cemeteries”
Benjamin Franklin
The Uxbridge Historic Cemetery
Committee (U.H.C.C.), appointed by the
Selectman in May 1996, is charged with
fostering the protection, preservation and
appreciation of the community’s historic
burying grounds. There are thirty-five
cemeteries in the town of Uxbridge. Four
cemeteries (Prospect Hill, St. Mary’s,
Friends and Simon Richardson) are
privately owned and maintained. The
remaining thirty-one cemeteries are
abandoned and neglected as defined
under MGL c.114, §1 - 2 and §18. These
cemeteries are the focus of our restoration
and preservation efforts.
The U.H.C.C. receives no state or
local tax dollars and works solely from the
limited interest income from five trust
funds and donations. This was the third
year of our annual appeal letter campaign
to increase our general donations toward
cemetery summer maintenance. The
additional donations allow us to rely less
on the interest earned from the trust
funds, so the funds can grow to provide
more stability for future cemetery
restoration and caretaking responsibilities.
We are most grateful for the generous
donations to support our work.
Twenty of our thirty-one cemeteries
receive seasonal care. The committee
currently oversees the summer
maintenance of fifteen cemeteries through
the lawn mowing services of Chris Cota.
His professionalism, generosity and
commitment to the care of our cemeteries
is vital to our success in managing these
historic properties.
On Armed Service Day in May,
committee members placed almost 1400
American flags were on veterans’ graves
in the 35 cemeteries. Town residents
Frank Kenrick and Fred Butler helped us
with this project.
The Uxbridge Historic Cemetery
Committee is fortunate to have many
friends, volunteers and abutters who
assist us in the care and maintenance of
cemeteries, including:
Albee Cemetery: Jill and Frank Kenrick
Aldrich - Buxton Cemetery: B. J.’s
Buffum Cemetery: Mary Brundage and
Cody Brundage
George Aldrich Cemetery: Cove
Insurance Agency
Royal Farnum Cemetery: Domingos
and Donna Sanchez;
Hannah Seagrave Cemetery: Thomas
and Janet Patnode
Tucker Cemetery: Uxbridge Rod and
Gun Club
Donations to the Cemetery
Committee are always welcome and can
be made at anytime. Please send
donations to Uxbridge Historic Cemetery
Committee, 21 South Main Street,
Uxbridge, MA 01569.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheryl Romasco, Chairman
Jill Kenrick, Secretary
Mary Brundage
Beth Butler
Dierdra Cahill
Roy Henry
Shelly Merriam
Historic District
Commission
The Uxbridge Historic District
Commission was established in 2004.
The goal of the Commission is the
preservation and protection of the
distinctive characteristics and architecture
of buildings and places significant in the
history of the Town by means of
maintenance and improvement of their
settings and encouragement of new
building designs and modifications
compatible with the existing architecture
within the designated area.
The designated area includes the
first two properties on the south side of
Douglas Street at the junction of Douglas
and North Main and extends to the three
surrounding hills on North Main Street,
South Main Street, and Mendon Street;
the crests of these hills serve as entry
points to the District and thus it’s
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FY 2011 :: Town of Uxbridge Annual Report