Natick January 2018

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Vol. 3 No. 3 Free to Every Home and Business Every Month January 2018 

Natick Mom Delivers Care 

Packages to 1,200 Marines 

By Amy Mevorach 

Amy Adams is a Natick 

mother with three children, one 

of whom is a Marine deployed 

The Voice of Your Community 

in Afghanistan. As a way to 

offer assistance to her son and 

the deployed service members 

around him, Adams began 

sending care packages. In April, 

Since April, the Natick 

community has come together 

to help Amy Adams, a local 

mother of three (including 

one soldier deployed in 

Afghanistan), in putting 

together care packages for 

G.I.F.T.E.D. (Given Items For The 

Enlisted and Deployed). 

Adams started the G.I.F.T.E.D. 

project to collect, organize, and 

ship care packages to roughly 

NATICK MOM 

continued on page 2 

Looking for a 

Few Good Men 

(to Be Mentors!) 

Confident Male Role Models Needed 

by Big Brothers Big Sisters of 

Central Mass/ Metrowest 

By J.D. O’Gara 

They’re known as “bigs” and 

“littles.” 

The local organization that 

pairs up adult mentors with children 

aged 6-12 who need them 

for 42 towns in Central Mass./ 

Metrowest area, including 

Natick, is known as Big Brothers 

Big Sisters of Central Mass./ 

Metrowest, one of 300 such organizations 

in the country, but 

one of just a handful in the Commonwealth 

of Massachusetts. 

“Our ‘bigs’ (adults) are all 

volunteers, they donate their 

time to become a mentor or 

friend to a local child in their 

area,” says Jackie Lyon, Assistant 

Director of Marketing and 

Postal Customer 

Local 

Special Events for the organization. 

The organization offers 

two different models for its 

mentoring program. Through 

“base mentoring,” Big Brothers 

Big Sisters partners with 

local schools and after-school 

programs that already exist and 

pairs them up with universities 

or corporate groups to match 

bigs and littles by personalities 

and shared interests. Often, she 

says, a teacher will point out a 

need for an extra level of support 

for the student population. 

In its “community-based 

mentoring” model, the one 

Lyon says most people often 

FEW GOOD MEN 

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Page 2 Natick Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com January 2018 

NATICK MOM 

continued from page 1 

1,200 Marines, some as individuals 

and some for groups to share. 

“This is a minuscule amount,” 

Adams said, “when you consider 

the hundreds of thousands serving 

at the moment.” 

G.I.F.T.E.D. stands for Given 

Items For The Enlisted and 

Deployed, and the project has 

steadily grown to serving all 

branches with deployed members. 

“Sending these care packages 

has helped distract me and 

feel like there is something we can 

control. We can help our Service 

Members know that we do think 

of them while they are away and 

that they are appreciated.” 

Adams ships packages for all 

major holidays and as often as 

requests come in. 

“This is where our community 

steps up and helps,” she 

said. “I request mostly easy open 

canned foods, ramen noodles, instant 

foods, coffee and individual 

snacks, but I have a detailed list 

with needs. Depending on where 

the boxes are going, I may need 

more baby wipes for hygiene purposes 

since showering may not always 

be possible.” 

Adams has shipped packages 

to soldiers in the Middle East, 

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Local churches and businesses have helped G.I.F.T.E.D. by hosting 

packing parties. 

Japan, Korea, and other countries. 

The success of each shipping 

mission relies on what is donated 

at the moment. “We ask that the 

community help us support this 

great cause and perhaps share 

what we do with others. It’s usually 

me and my girls packing 

away unless we are lucky enough 

to have packing parties.” 

Adams is connected to a large 

network of military families 

through several online MoMs 

groups (Mothers of Marines) and 

military family groups including 

Operation Sunshine, “whose 

only goal is to ship care packages 

to bring cheer and ‘Sunshine’ to 

a Service Member who is down.” 

Family members of enlisted 

service members who have heard 

of Adams’s project contact her to 

request a care packages. “Some 

families asking for their loved 

ones are unable to ship due to financial 

restraints. Not that I am 

in a far better position, but as a 

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great pastor [Pastor Deryck Frye 

of Connect Community Church 

in Ashland] once said ‘We are just 

here to serve as conduits.’ So we 

are here to do good and help lift 

others however we can. People 

donate items or funds. I have 

names and the access to connect 

the two together.” 

Several local churches and 

businesses have helped with 

packing parties and provided 

space for donation collection and 

bake sales. For Veterans’ Day, the 

Natick VFW sent two decorated 

veterans to Lilja Elementary in 

Natick and the Loker School 

FEW GOOD MEN 


associate with the organization, 

“the big basically decides they 

want to volunteer. We find out 

where they live, who they are, 

what they do, and what they’re 

interested in, and then we match 

them with a child, based on location. 

We do try to make sure our 

bigs are matched with children a 

reasonable distance away.” For 

example, someone quiet, who 

likes to play games would most 

likely not be matched with a little 

who wants to be outside playing 

sports, says Lyons. 

The community based program, 

says Lyons, succeeds best 

with a strong level of parental 

support. 

“Typically, parents hear about 

it through word of mouth,” says 

Lyons. Parents often have been 

served by a program or have 

heard about Big Brothers Big 

Sisters through social service 

agencies and notice their child 

needs extra support, she says. 

“Typically, children come from 

single-family homes, and they 

are at greater risk for many different 

things,” she says. Often, 

she says, these children, with 

great potential, come from lowincome 

families, some with significant 

family members in jail or 

who are “missing some key areas. 

They need a friend, somebody to 

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in Wayland to speak with students, 

who donated items, made 

Thanksgiving cards, and assisted 

in assembling the holiday care 

packages at school. “This in addition 

to the Natick moms who 

have dropped items off at my 

door to help have allowed us to 

ship to the 1,200 Service members 

we have reached.” 

Adams plans to make 

G.I.F.T.E.D. a 501c3, pending 

funds for paperwork. “This is 

truly a soul lifting mission,” she 

said, “and I hope to get enough 

people involved to feel that joy.” 

listen to them, with resources to 

take them out to experiences the 

community – even just the time 

resources.” 

Lyons says bigs are not expected 

to spend a lot of money, 

however. 

“We don’t expect that at all. 

Some will take their little out to 

lunch or something like that, but 

there is no expectation, and we 

do often get a lot of great activity 

options for kids donated. A 

local theatre will donate tickets to 

see their shows or a major sports 

team will donate tickets.” Lyons, 

in fact, says her organization is 

working on offering more opportunities 

for exposure to the arts 

and to STEM activities for their 

matches. “A lot of opportunities 

come for free, which is awesome,” 

she says, “but I think the biggest 

thing is the time resource. If you 

come from a single parent home, 

your parent, as much as they 

want to be able to do all that stuff 

for you, they just don’t have the 

time,” says Lyons. 

Adults who are thinking of 

joining the program are asked to 

commit to being a big for at least 

a year. 

“It’s hard to make a significant 

impact with less than a year,” says 

Lyons. A child, she says, may already 

have experienced relationships 

with people who are in and 

out of their lives. “We do hope 

they stay longer than (a year),” 

she says. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ greatest 

area of need right now is for 

male mentors. 

“In pretty much every community 

we serve, the greatest 

struggle is recruiting men,” says 

Lyons, who says that’s fairly common 

for a lot of nonprofit volunteers 

in general. “A lot of young 

FEW GOOD MEN 

continued on page 3

January 2018 Natick Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com Page 3 

FEW GOOD MEN 


boys can really benefit a confident 

male figure in their lives.” 

What makes a good big? 

“Somebody who is stable in 

their life,” says Lyons. “You don’t 

want a big who is going through 

a lot of changes. (You want someone) 

who is living where they 

live for some foreseeable future, 

committed, who honors commitments, 

cares about children, is 

open-minded to new experiences, 

and non-judgmental.” Bigs, she 

says can be of any adult age. 

In the base mentoring program 

that works with universities 

and companies, she says, bigs are 

often college age, “but we don’t 

take college kids for our community 

based program because of 

the fact that they leave for summers, 

or graduate, or go away.” 

In the community program, she 

says, bigs are anywhere from age 

22 to their late 70s. 

Big Brother Big Sister of 

Central Mass./Metrowest is also 

working on recruiting more bigs 

with various ethnic backgrounds. 

“Most of our children are of 

color, and most of our bigs are 

Caucasian,” says Lyons. “We are 

very interested in showing our littles 

more people as mentors that 

look like them.” 

Parents can be bigs, too, but 

“(parents are) asked not to bring 

their children—so that focus can 

be on the little, but many of our 

bigs are parents,” says Lyon. This 

way, young people in the program 

are never made to feel second 

tier to biological children of 

their mentors. 

If you would like to explore 

being a mentor with Big Brother 

Big Sister of Central Mass./Metrowest, 

visit www.bbbscm.org. 

Potential volunteers, says 

Lyons, “can visit our website and 

fill out a quick list form, and we 

get in touch with them,” she says. 

Big Brother Big Sister of Central 

Mass./Metrowest can also be 

reached at (508) 752-7868. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters Visit Pantry for a 

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On Tuesday, December 

12th, Kelsie Goyette, lead 

line cook at Pantry, the signature 

restaurant located at The 

VERVE – Crowne Plaza Boston-Natick, 

hosted Big Brothers 

Big Sisters of Central 

Mass./MetroWest for an afternoon 

of decorating festive 

cookies to celebrate the holidays. Alongside 

Chef de Cuisine Kevin Gauthier, the chefsin-training 

rolled up their sleeves and suited 

up with their own chef hats and learn how 

to make the perfect batch of sweet treats. 

From traditional holiday-themed sprinkles 

to colorful red and green frosting, the kids 

had all the toppings they need to make their 

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Film Series Opens Dialogue on Health Issues 

By Amy Mevorach 

A film series presented by the 

Metrowest Health Foundation 

in conjunction with the Morse 

Institute Library raises questions 

related to community health concerns 

and offers opportunities for 

community dialogue in response. 

Each film will be screened at the 

Morse Institute Library, Liebowitz 

room, lower level, from 6:15-8 

p.m., with a light catered supper, 

followed by a panel discussion. 

The next showing will be Big 

Pharma, January 8, 2018. 

The first film in the series, 

Resilience: The Biology of Stress and 

the Science of Hope, screened October 

16, 2017. This documentary 

presents a study of adverse childhood 

experiences (ACE) and 

how they impact health and longevity. 

ACE categories include 

emotional, physical, or sexual 

abuse, emotional or physical neglect, 

and specific traumas such 

as having a family member incarcerated 

or parents who divorced. 

The original ACE Study was 

conducted at Kaiser Permanente 

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The film, Big Pharma, will be screened at the Morse Institute Library on 

January 8th. It’s being presented by the Metrowest Health Foundation 

in conjunction with the library. 

from 1995 to 1997, and The 

Center for Disease Control and 

Prevention continues the assessments. 

The results of the study 

revealed that adverse childhood 

experiences or conditions lead to 

markedly higher susceptibility to 

heart disease, liver disease, addiction, 

depression, and risk of sexual 

violence, among many other 

health impediments. In the film, 

various professionals explain and 

demonstrate how they have incorporated 

this awareness into 

their work. A drama therapist, 

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for example, invites kindergarten 

students to write letters about 

their struggles to a story character 

whom they envision as a trustworthy, 

compassionate adult. 

Resilience was followed by a 

panel led by Laurie Burnett, 

Consultant, Dr. Jessica Greenwald 

O’Brien, Licensed Psychologist, 

and Dana Zais, Clinician 

at Wayside Youth and Family 

Services. Community members 

were invited to share their experiences 

and impressions during the 

discussion. 

Rebecca Gallo of the Metrowest 

Health Foundation said 

the panels include at least one 

professional in a field related to 

the film, and if possible, someone 

with personal experience 

in the subject as well. “We want 

to present different angles,” 

she said. For the next film, Big 

2018 Natick Annual Town 

Election March 27, 2018 

Nomination papers are available 

for the Annual Town Election 

Due January 9 

Natick voters will elect the following 

officials: 

• One member to the Board of 

Selectmen for a 3-year term 

• Two members to the School 

Committee for 3-year terms 


Assessors for a 3-year term 

• One member to the Planning 

Board for a 5-year term 


Health for a 3-year term 

• One member to the Recreation 

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Pharma, the panel will consist of 

a researcher in pharmaceuticals, 

a representative of Harvard Pilgrim, 

and another member who 

has not yet confirmed. The purpose 

of the discussion, she said, 

is “getting folks in the same room 

who have an interest in the issue, 

and getting the issue out in the 

open.” 

The series is supported by a 

grant from the Leonard Morse 

grants panel. Next screenings 

will be Big Pharma, January 8, 

2018; Vaccines: Calling the Shots 

March 12, 2018; Here’s to Flint 

April 23, 2018; and Real Boy 

May 14, 2018. 

• Five members to the Morse 

Institute Library Trustees for 

5-year terms 

• One constable for a 1-year term 

• 73 Town Meeting Members 

Nomination papers for town 

wide offices must be returned no 

later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, 

January 9, 2018 with signatures 

from at least 25 registered 

voters. 

Nomination papers for Town 

Meeting members are also available. 

Nomination papers for new 

Town Meeting members are due 

by Tuesday, February 6, 2018. 

Please check the town website at 

www.natickma.gov for listings of 

available offices, the Town Bulletin 

Board in Town Hall or call 

the Town Clerk’s office for more 

information. 

For more information, please 

contact the Town Clerk by phone 

at (508) 647-6430 X4, or stop by 

the Clerk’s office at Town Hall, 

13 East Central Street. The 

Clerk’s office is open Monday 

through Wednesday 8 a.m. to 5 

p.m., Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

and Friday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 

p.m. 

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Downtown Natick Store, Calliope Paperie, 

Wins the ‘Best Holiday Window in 2017’ 

for the 2nd Year in a Row. 

By Athena Pandolf 

Executive Director, Natick 

Center Cultural District 

Winner of last year’s window 

contest, Calliope Paperie, wins 

the ‘Best Holiday Window’ in 

Natick Center for the second year 

in a row. After a rough beginning 

to the year winning seemed the 

last thing on the mind of Kristina 

Burkey, owner of Calliope Paperie, 

after a car crashed through 

the front window of her store 

back in March. After many renovations, 

sifting through broken 

glass and sheer will power, Kristina 

started to rebuild the store 

that houses unique paper goods 

and cards. The Natick Center 

Cultural District hosted an online 

window contest that ran for two 

weeks and after the final count, 

Calliope Paperie was deemed the 

clear winner again by her fans. 

She will receive a ‘Holiday Window 

Contest’ trophy and a free 

2018 membership to the Natick 

Center Cultural District. 

Renew Arts & Industry came 

in second place and in third was 

Orange Theory Fitness in the 

holiday window contest. 

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The VERVE-Crowne Plaza Offers a 

Distinctively Different Hospitality Experience 

By Deborah Burke Henderson, 

Contributing Writer 

From the moment you walk 

in the fully-renovated lobby of 

The VERVE-Crowne Plaza in 

Natick, you notice an intriguing 

décor like none other and meet a 

team of seasoned hospitality staff 

ready to provide the utmost in experience, 

style and service. 

Experienced hotelier and 

owner Lou Carrier has created 

a refreshing atmosphere to peak 

your senses. 

“The word ‘Verve’ speaks to 

enthusiasm, energy and expressiveness, 

and this is the DNA of 

the hotel,” Carrier stated. “Obviously, 

design plays a big part 

in this as does music, technology 

and all the visual treats you’ll find 

around the property. The design 

template highlighting American 

Pop culture focused on the 60s, 

70s and 80s speaks directly to our 

primary clientele who grew up in 

this timeframe. 

We did not want to be a traditional 

suburban, cookie-cutter 

hotel and have gone to great extremes 

to introduce a 4-Diamond 

hotel with a fresh, service-minded 

culture. Nothing works unless the 

team at the property delivers and 

more than anything, we’re proud 

of that. We feel we have the best 

team in any hotel outside of downtown 

Boston,” Carrier added. 

Business guests are the focal 

point mid-week, and the weekends 

flip over to accommodate a 

more social occasion scene. 

“Space at The VERVE is extremely 

versatile,” General Manager 

Lynne Luongo remarked. 

“The lobby and an adjoining 

area can be transformed to house 

a standing concert venue for talent 

such as the alternative rock 

band, Sister Hazel, a recent entertainment 

highlight enjoyed 

by 600 music enthusiasts. This 

great, open space is perfect for 

congregating, whether it’s a 

music fest, holiday party, executive 

or Chamber of Commerce 

networking event.” 

Guests with a taste for American 

comfort food find it at The 

Pantry, set in an unconventional 

yet innovative “kitchen” space à la 

Julia Child. Enjoy old fridge fronts, 

chandelier lighting constructed of 

cutlery balancing overhead and 

built-in shadow-box display areas, 

one of which features the apron 

worn by June Cleaver in the 

iconic 1950s “Leave It to Beaver” 

television series. 

The nearby Violet Thorn offers 

a chic lounge experience. 

Seasoned mixologists create specialty 

craft cocktails and beers for 

guests watching sports, enjoying 

an intimate dining experience or 

soaking in the ambiance. 

“There’s some great culinary 

talent here,” Luongo noted, “Our 

chefs excel at creative local fare, 

small plates and flatbreads.” 

Three ballrooms each offer 

something unique. The classic 

Constellation Ballroom features 

a retractable skylight and wraparound 

outdoor patio space that 

offers an expanded event area. 

Just outside the Apollo Ballroom 

there’s a fun, interactive space 

with three barbershop chairs 

Weddings, 

Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, 

Fundraising Galas. 

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perfect for a photo opportunity. 

Then there’s the vintage motorcycle/telephone 

booth display 

down the hall. 

“A bride and groom can have 

a bit of fun here, too,” Luongo 

said. “Pictures are taken on and 

around the old Honda cycle 

backed by framed prints of famous 

folks on bikes, and inside 

the old red phone booth there’s 

a reel of classic movie scenes like 

Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and 

other clips featuring old-style telephone 

booths.” 

The Phoenix Ballroom, reno- 

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The Constellation Ballroom has a distinctively classic appeal, and its retractable skylight 

and outdoor patio offers a lovely alternate feel. (Photo courtesy of Dom Miguel) 

vated in the fall of 2016, has a soft 

feeling and comfortably handles 

a reception for 125 guests. Other 

ballroom spaces cater to double 

that number. The Gemini Room 

is great for conference planners in 

need of breakout rooms, and the 

Aquarius Boardroom, complete 

with an Asteroids Deluxe video 

game, efficiently serves as an executive 

meeting 

space. 

For hotel 

lodgers, there 

are seven floors 

of 100 percent 

smoke-free accommodations, 

first-floor patios, 

plenty of 

Wi-Fi capability, 

a generous 

fourth floor 

space for socializing 

and 

a brand-new 

fitness club, 

featuring an expansive 

aerial 

view. 

Conveniently 

located 25 miles from 

downtown Boston and Logan 

International Airport at 1360 

Worcester Street in Natick, The 

VERVE-Crowne Plaza is situated 

in the corporate/retail hub 

of MetroWest Boston. Discover 

more at www.vervehotelnatick. 

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Come Out of 

Hibernation for Morse 

Institute Library Book 

& Music Sale 

Volunteers Needed! 

There will be a Book and 

Music Sale at The Morse Institute 

Library, 14 E. Central St., Natick 

on Saturday and Sunday, January 

20 & 21, 2018. 

Sale hours are: Saturday January 

20: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and 

Sunday January 21: 12 – 3 p.m. 

Prices: Softcover books are 50 

cents each, hardcover books are $1 

each and all children’s and young 

adult books are 50 cents each. 

There are some specially priced 

books for sale as well, so please 

come to the sale and check out our 

collection! We have thousands of 

books, lots of music, movies, puzzles 

and a bake sale! 

Students can earn Community 

Service credit for working at our 

sale. We need set up volunteers 

on Thursday, January 18th from 3 

to 9 p.m. and Friday, January 19th 

from 12 to 4 p.m. Volunteers are 

also needed for pack up on Sunday 

January 21st from 3 to 5 p.m. 

Email morsebooksale@gmail. 

com for more details or to sign up 

to volunteer. 

All proceeds benefit the Friends 

of the Morse Institute Library. 

Prescription Drugs… 

Are They Necessary for Acne? 

By Lisa Massimiano, 

Licensed Esthetician, 

Certified Acne Specialist 

Owner Skin Smart Salon 

Going to a dermatologist 

and getting prescription drugs 

is often the first choice for many 

acne sufferers. Patients are usually 

given antibiotics and/or 

a prescription retinoid to use. 

When this approach fails, the 

dermatologist will prescribe a 

new antibiotic to try. Unfortunately, 

prescription drugs often 

fail to clear acne, and they can 

have many dangerous side effects. 

Great Rebates & Financing* 

Call today and beat the rush! 

Gas, Oil and AC Equipment Sales & Service 

888-818-2028 www.coanoil.com 

*Rebates and financing provided by and subject to Mass Save restrictions and limitations 

Antibiotics 

There is a growing concern 

that overuse and inappropriate 

use of antibiotics is causing an 

alarming increase in drug resistant 

bacteria. Using antibiotics 

to treat acne is an example of 

this problem. While antibiotics 

may suppress acne flare ups 

temporarily, they don’t treat the 

root cause of acne. When acne 

sufferers stop the antibiotics the 

acne often returns. So, they go 

back on the drug, creating a 

constant cycle of antibiotic use 

and increasing the risk of becoming 

drug resistant. 

Retin-A 

While there is no reported 

“dangerous” side effects of 

prescription topical retinoid, 

there are problems with using 

it for acne. The cream form of 

Retin-A contains isopropyl myristate, 

a pore clogging ingredient 

which makes acne worse. 

Even if the patient is prescribed 

an appropriate retinoid, the retinoid 

often makes their skin so 

sensitive and irritated that they 

stop using it before it becomes 

effective. 

Isotretinoin 

Accutane is often prescribed 

for acne. This powerful drug is 

linked with many severe side 

effects including depression, 

Crohn’s disease and birth defects. 

Treating acne 

without drugs 

Bacteria is only a symptom 

of acne. The true cause of acne 

is retention hyperkeratosis, an 

inherited tendency of the pores 

to shed skin cells more quickly 

than normal pores. So, when 

acne prone individuals use 

products that keep the pores free 

from excessive cell buildup, their 

skin will clear. 

Exfoliating serums used in 

combination with benzoyl peroxide 

get the job done. Using 

the correct products is vital, 

but just as important, is how 

the products are used. An individual 

with acne needs to start 

slowly then gradually increase 

the strength of the products 

and frequency of use. I treat 

my acne clients using this system 

and find that most people 

achieve clear skin in about four 

to six months. The only potential 

side effect is some temporary 

dryness of the skin. 

Questions about acne? Email me 

at skinsmartsalon@aol.com or call 

(508) 881-1180. Visit the salon 

website skinsmartsalon.com for information 

on Skin Smart’s Acne Clinic 

and other services. 

Achieve Clear Skin 

Retired But Not Ready to 

Stop Working? 

Help a Senior in your Community 

Home Instead Senior Care 

JOB FAIR 

Home Instead Senior Care is looking 

for CAREGivers 

AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 

in the Natick, Framingham, Wellesley, Millis, Medway, Westwood, 

Dedham, Dover, Sherborn, Weston • and CNA’s Sudbury & HHA Expired area to or help Current 

senior citizens stay in their homes. • CAREGiver’s • Companions • Home Makers 

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Before 

after 

ACNE CLINIC - for all ages 

Take control and manage your acne with a customized 

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Education. Coaching. Support 

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Lisa Massimiano - Licensed Aesthetician, Acne Specialist 

Certified by the National Face Reality Acne Clinic 

Call to schedule your acne consultation 

508-881-1180 

44 Front Street, 2nd Floor • Ashland 

www.skinsmartsalon.com


Healing Point Therapeutics 

Tapping Into Your Innate Powers of Transformation 

Are you suffering from anxiety, 

insomnia or depression? If you 

have the motivation to change 

your life, you may well benefit 

from the healing work of Marisa 

Fanelli and her holistic practice, 

Healing Point Therapeutics, 

which serves residents of Natick 

and surrounding areas. Patients 

range from children to seniors. 

“My goal is to be a catalyst for 

positive change in every patient,” 

Marisa explained. 

Some of the tools used are 

acupuncture, hypnosis, cupping, 

moxa and a type of myofascial 

release called gua sha. “I find that 

a multi-dimensional approach 

within sessions can speed up the 

healing process considerably, so 

each treatment plan is individualized.” 

Most people associate the 

ancient art of acupuncture with 

pain relief, but Marisa explains 

this treatment stimulates the 

body’s ability to heal itself, and 

the changes are not limited to just 

the physical. “Once the system is 

brought into a state of balance, 

healing can begin on every level. 

In this medicine, there is no separation 

between the physical, mental, 

and emotional.” 

Her specialization is a unique 

treatment she developed and refers 

to as “hypnoacupuncture.” 

A fusion of hypnotherapy with 

traditional acupuncture, hypnoacupuncture 

has allowed patients 

to tap into their innate powers of 

transformation and healing. 

During a typical hypnoacupuncture 

session, there is an initial 

conversation which includes a 

full health intake for the acupuncture 

component and a discussion 

of what thought or behavior patterns 

the patient would like to 

change. A treatment protocol is 

created along with a script that is 

incorporated during hypnosis. 

The patient is then brought 

into a treatment room, and the 

chosen acupuncture sites are 

needled with sterile, single-use 

needles. A profound sense of 

relaxation sets in. The patient is 

brought into the hypnotic state 

through progressive relaxation 

exercises which allow access to 

the subconscious mind. At this 

point, the patient is given suggestions 

for positive changes that 

will incorporate into the subconscious, 

if the person wishes it to 

be so. 

“Combining the power of 

hypnosis with acupuncture has 

created treatments that patients 

describe as life-altering,” Marisa 

added. “The changes I witness 

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everyday are truly awe-inspiring. 

Helping patients reach their highest 

potential makes me love every 

second of what I do.” 

Marisa’s passion for natural 

health and well-being was triggered 

at age 17 when she witnessed 

her mother’s struggles with 

illness, misdiagnosis and practitioners’ 

lack of treating the whole 

body. Her journey has taken her 

to Japan to study Shakuju (a noninsertive 

acupuncture technique) 

and to the Dominican Republic 

where she worked with community-style 

acupuncture in an 

AIDS clinic. 

A licensed acupuncturist, 

Marisa graduated from the New 

England School of Acupuncture, 

the oldest school of its kind in the 

United States. She is a certified 

hypnotherapist with credentials 

NEW! 

30 Minute 

H.I.I.T. 

WORKOUT 

Lynne Santos | Age 45 

Environmental Engineer 

from the Thomas Institute of 

Hypnosis and the National Guild 

of Hypnotists. She also works as 

a business coach, having trained 

with the Institute of Professional 

Excellence in Coaching. 

She believes in constantly 

learning and growing her skills in 

holistic medicine. 

Marisa’s overarching goal is to 

create a holistic wellness health 

center in this area. It would be a 

practice where Eastern medicine 

would complement traditional 

Western medicine, offering a network 

of practitioners focused on 

an individual’s overall health. 

Discover more about Healing 

Point Therapeutics at www.healingpointtherapeutics.com 

or call 

Marisa Fanelli at (877) 433-1554 

“I feel confident, have higher self-esteem, 

and less stress. I look forward to and 

appreciate the personal attention!” 

to see what services she might recommend. 

If Marisa cannot help 

you, she will happily refer you to 

another provider who might. “I 

want patients to get exactly what 

they need. This is why I am so excited 

about the large network of 

collaborators I have built through 

my practice. There is a practitioner 

out there for everyone, and if 

I am not the right one for you, I 

want to set you up with someone 

who will get you where you want 

to be.” 

Her practice is located at 154 

East Central Street and business 

hours are Sunday (10 a.m. 

- 6 p.m.), Monday and Tuesday 

(noon - 8 p.m.), Thursday (10 

a.m. - 8 p.m.) and Friday (10 a.m. 

- 7 p.m.). 

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Enroll by 1/31/2018. 

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508-545-8032 

117 West Central Street 

Natick, MA 01760 

www.getinshapeforwomen.com


Here’s Looking at 

American Troops 

Entering WWII 

Pictured from left to right at the exhibit opening is Richmond 

Tripp, WWII veteran; Kenneth Rendell, founder and director of The 

International Museum of WWII; Marc Wortman, author 

Photo credit: The International Museum of World War II 

On Wednesday, November 

8, The International Museum 

of World War II celebrated the 

opening of its new special exhibition, 

The Real and Reel Casablanca; 

American Troops Enter 

World War II, Landing in North 

Africa, with a private reception. 

The exhibit opened 75 years to 

the day when America entered 

World War II, dispatching its own 

soldiers to North Africa to join its 

Allies in fighting the Germans. 

The exhibit features artifacts related 

to the first military actions 

carried out by the U.S. on foreign 

soil as well as objects from the 

infamous Hollywood film, Casablanca, 

starring Humphrey Bogart 

and Ingrid Bergman. 

Attendees of the event included, 

BU professor Leslie 

Epstein, whose father and 

uncle were both screenwriters 

for the film Casablanca, and 

author Marc Wortman, author 

of three history books including 

1941: Fighting the Shadow 

War. 

Also in attendance was Richard 

Tripp, a World War II veteran 

who was on the USS Ranger 

from Nov. 8-12, 1942, during the 

invasion of Casablanca, official 

called “Operation Torch.” Tripp 

was just 18-years-old. 


American Troops Enter 

World War II, Landing in North 

Africa will run through February 

3, 2018. For more information, 

visit www.imwwii.org. The 

museum is located at 8 Mercer 

Road, Natick. 

Spark Kindness, Inc. 

Elementary School 

Parent Workshops: Hot Topics 

Tuesday, February 13 from 6:30 

to 8:30 at Wilson Middle School 

For parents and caregivers (preschool 

and elementary school). 

Elementary educators and 

administrators will conduct 

workshops sharing some of their 

expertise and tips on hot topics 

on navigating the elementary 

years. (Childcare will be 

provided.) Registration will begin 

in January 2018. 

MA. CSL 105479 MA. REG 135975 

HOUSE HELPERS 

Contractor / Handyman Service 

www.househelpers.org 

FRANK DIGIANDOMENICO, OWNER 

(508) 875-8789 office • (508) 561-2080 cell 

Since 2001 

Licensed and Insured 

Natick Community Calendar 

Through January 30 

AFLOAT, a photography 

exhibit by Nancy Rich, The 

Center for the Arts, Natick, 14 

Summer Street, Natick, www. 

natickarts.org 

Through February 8 


American Troops 

Enter World War II, Landing 

in North Africa, The International 

Museum of World War 

II, 8 Mercer Road, Natick, 

www.imwwii.org 

January 6 

Tanglewood Marionettes 

present Cinderella, 11 a.m., 

The Center for the Arts in 

Natick, 14 Summer Street, 

$12 adults; $10 children, www. 



A Cappella Singers women’s 

chorus spring auditions & 

open rehearsal, 7-9 p.m., Fisk 

Memorial United Methodist 

Church, 106 Walnut St., 

Natick, www.theacappellasingers.org, 

(774) 231-1963 

Big Pharma, film presented 

by Metrowest Health Foundation 

in conjunction with the 

Morse Institute Library, Morse 

Institute Library, Liebowitz 

room, lower level, from 6:15-8 

p.m. 








(774) 231-1963 


Friends of the Morse Institute 

Library’s Book & Music 

Sale, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 

includes bake sale, students 

can earn community service 

credit for volunteering, email 

morsebooksale@gmail.com 

for details. 

Natick Recreation 

Winter Program Registration 

New Time 

Winter Program Guide was 

mailed to all residents and should 

have been received around the 

third week of November. If you 

did not receive your copy, you can 

find it on our website or come into 

the Cole Center to pick one up. 

Online Registration began 

in December, but will continue 

until classes are full. Register for 

all classes online at: http://www. 

natickma.gov/recreation 

Senior Swim 

FREE PUBLIC SWIMMING 

FOR NATICK’S SENIOR 

RESIDENTS 

Location: Keefe Tech Pool, 

750 Winter Street, Framingham 

Natick Recreation and Parks Department 

in conjunction with the 

Framingham Parks and Recreation 

is pleased to provide Public 

Swimming at Keefe Technical 

School Pool on weekends. Pool 

availability may change as the 

season progresses. 

For more information and specific 

dates the pool is available or 

closed, please call the Framingham 

Recreation Department at 

(508) 532-5960. 

Saturdays • 2 - 3 p.m., FREE 

Youth Programs 

TEEN AFTERSCHOOL 

DROP-IN (Grades 7 and up) 

*NEW* 

Instructor: Recreation Staff 

Location: Cole Center, 179 

Boden Lane 

Teens are invited on Tuesdays 

and Wednesdays after school to 

drop-in for FREE, in our safe 

and supportive environment to 

connect with friends, find quiet 

space for homework, use the gym 

or just play air hockey and foosball. 

Staff and volunteers support 

a structured study space and help 

3rd TEDxNatick, Natick 

High School, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., 

www.tedxnatick.org 

Ben Rudnick & Friends, 11 

a.m., The Center for the Arts 

in Natick, 14 Summer Street, 

$12 adults; $10 children, www. 



Friends of the Morse Institute 

Library’s Book & Music 

Sale, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 

includes bake sale, students 

can earn community service 

credit for volunteering, email 

morsebooksale@gmail.com 

for details. 








(774) 231-1963 

with homework. 

Snacks are provided. 

Tuesdays & Wednesdays • January 

- March 2018 • 2:30 - 6 p.m. 

(No program Feb 20, 21) 

Special Dates - Extended 

Hours 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. • January 

10, February 7, March 14 

FREE 

OPEN GYM BASKETBALL 

*NEW* (Ages 14+) 

Location: Cole Center Gym 

Cole Center Gym is now open 

to the public when not in use for 

programming. Open gym passes 

are FREE and can be obtained 

at the Cole center during normal 

business hours. Those under 

18 will need a parent to sign the 

waiver. The waiver can be signed 

online through community pass 

or a copy can be downloaded 

from our website. FREE 

Submit press releases, photos with captions and story ideas to editor@ 

Naticktownnews.com The deadline is the 15th of the month.


WANTED 

– FEMALE 

SINGERS 

THE A CAPPELLA SING- 

ERS, based in Natick, is a women’s 

chorus which sings both 

accompanied and a cappella 

music. We welcome prospective 

new members who have prior 

choral experience and/or can 

read music in all parts (Soprano 

I, Soprano II, Alto I and Alto II) 

to join us at our open rehearsals 

on Monday evenings, January 8, 

15 and 22 from 7-9 p.m. at the 

Fisk Memorial United Methodist 

Church, 106 Walnut Street, 

Natick. ACS is a dues-paying, 

non-profit organization. 

ACS was formed in 1964 as 

part of the Natick Newcomer’s 

Club and consists of members 

from many towns and many 

walks of life, all with a common 

love of vocal music. Our spring 

concert is on Saturday, May 5. 

Check us out at www. 

theacappellasingers.org; contact 

us at info@theacappellasingers. 

org; call (774) 213-1963; or just 

show up at a rehearsal! 

Natick Is 

UNITED – 

1-Year 

Anniversary 

& New Site! 

Last November, over a period 

of 2 days, representatives from 

throughout the Natick and MetroWest 

community gathered to 

STAND UP and STAND TO- 

GETHER against acts of hatred 

and discrimination. Natick 

is UNTED was formed, and, 

to date, over 860 organizations 

and individuals have signed the 

unified pledge. 

Visit www.natickisunited.org 

to see the updated website, add 

your name and sign up for the 

Natick is UNITED newsletter! 

(Even if you are a signer of the 

Natick is UNITED statement, 

you need to sign up for the 

newsletters to receive them. We 

want to be careful about sending 

newsletters to only people who 

request them.) 

Third Annual TEDxNatick January 20 

The third annual TEDx- 

Natick event will take place on 

January 20, 2018, at Natick 

High School from 10 a.m. to 

3:30 p.m. With continued support 

from MathWorks as the lead 

sponsor, this year’s preliminary 

speaker roster includes the 

speakers listed below. Tickets are 

on sale at tedxnatick.org. 

Juan Enriquez, Futurist - Juan 

is an author, venture investor, 

and business leader who speaks 

widely about the impact of life 

sciences on the future of humanity. 

He co-founded Synthetic Genomics 

with J. Craig Venter and 

serves on many corporate boards. 

He has written books including 

Evolving Ourselves: Redesigning 

the Future of Humanity 

– One Gene at a Time, which 

describes how humans increasingly 

shape their environment, 

themselves, and other species. He 

is a TED All-Star with millions of 

views of his TED talks 

Deborah Henson Conant, 

Harpist - Grammy-Nominated 

composer/performer who 

has toured internationally as a 

solo artist, as well as performing 

original works with symphonies 

from Boston Pops to the National 

Symphony Orchestra 

Caitrin Lynch, Cultural Anthropologist, 

Olin College - 

Her career passions encompass 

 

 

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On Call Physicians 

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Post Surgical Rehab 

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the dynamics of work and cultural 

values, particularly aging 

and manufacturing in the U.S. 

and abroad. She is devoted 

to encouraging her engineering 

students to think critically about 

the world around them 

Admir Masic, Physical Chemist, 

MIT - His research focuses 

on using advanced modern technologies 

to explore technologies 

of the ancient world as a source 

of inspiration for a new generation 

of durable and sustainable 

building materials 

Jane Parven, Student - 

Currently a senior at Natick 

High School where she is class 

treasurer, member of the speech 

team, and communications coordinator 

of her acapella group. 

Seth Rotberg, Health Advocate 

- He grew up in Natick 

and is passionate about bringing 

his personal experience to working 

for non-profit organizations. 

Abel Sanchez, Big Data Scientist, 

MIT - Executive Director of 

MIT’s Geospatial Data Center, 

working in the Internet of 

Things (IOT), Big Data, Cybersecurity, 

and Digital Innovation. 

Dawn Smith, Writer & Producer 

- She lives in Brookline 

where she works on 

screenplays, political and issue 

advertising, standup comedy, and 

produces the comedy web series, 

PAID FOR BY. 

Julia Spruance, Adventurer & 

Guide - Program Coordinator at 

the non-profit Waypoint Adventure 

where she leads rock climbing, 

kayaking, backpacking, and 

teambuilding programs for youth 

and adults with disabilities. 

Maria Milagros Vazquez is an 

author, storyteller, dancer, empowerment 

coach and host of 

a monthly StoryTelling event in 

Fitchburg. 

Christine Helie, Entomologist 

- Christine and her husband have 

developed a fascinating pest management 

program to preserve 

mature and young trees in Boston 

Parks. 

“We are delighted that 

MathWorks will continue as 

our Premier Sponsor,” said 

Rosemary Driscoll, TEDx- 

Natick co-organizer. “Math- 

Works’ support will enable us 

(508)653-8330 

 

 

Alzheimer’s Residents Welcome 

Hospice & Support Services 

34 South Lincoln Street, South Natick, MA 

www.rehabassociates.com/riverbend 

to produce an exceptional experience 

for TEDxNatick attendees, 

and for the thousands 

of folks who will enjoy the talks 

at TEDx.com after the event.” 

“MathWorks is proud to continue 

in the lead role of bringing TEDx- 

Natick to our community,” said 

Jeanne O’Keefe, senior vice president, 

MathWorks. “Our goal is to 

inspire people to learn, discover 

and innovate, and we expect 

TEDxNatick to deliver the same 

quality of inspirational stories 

that the community experienced 

during the past two events.” 

An all-volunteer, community-driven 

initiative, TEDx- 

Natick brings together 800 

community members, civic 

leaders, business leaders, technologists, 

artists, educators, and 

other professionals for a full day 

of thought-provoking talks, inspiring 

music, conversations and networking. 

Previous TEDxNatick 

events sold out quickly. This 

year’s event will have over 20 corporate 

and individual sponsors, 

and 12 fantastic speakers. 

Founded in 1984, MathWorks 

employs more than 3500 people 

in 15 countries, with headquarters 

in Natick, Massachusetts, 

USA. MathWorks is the leading 

developer of mathematical computing 

software – MATLAB and 

Simulink.


Sports 

McDonald Hopes to Excel Again 

For Natick Girls Hoop Team 

By KEN HAMWEY, 

Staff Sports Writer 

Brenna McDonald had a dynamic 

freshman season for the 

Natick High girls’ varsity basketball 

squad last year, and it’s hard 

to imagine that her sophomore 

campaign could be even better. 

The 6-foot-2 power forward 

averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds 

a game, was selected as 

a Bay State Conference all-star 

and was voted the Redhawks’ 

Most Valuable Player. And, in 

two different games, the Natick 

native scored 32 points against 

Norwood and had 20 rebounds 

against Brookline. 

“Last year, the opportunity 

was there for Brenna to show 

her skills,’’ said Natick coach 

Dan Hinnekamp. “Expectations 

for her this season are high, and 

we’re hoping she has an even better 

year as a sophomore.’’ 

McDonald doesn’t feel any 

added pressure to surpass last 

year’s statistics and accolades, but 

she’s acutely aware that opposing 

defense will be geared to limit her 

effectiveness and likely employ 

some double-teaming. 

“My goals are for us to win the 

Herget Division and go further in 

the tourney than last year (Natick 

lost to Worcester North in the second 

round),’’ she said. “My personal 

objectives are to improve 

on last year’s stats and be more 

aggressive on defense. I don’t feel 

any pressure, because coach Hinnekamp 

knows I’ll do my best. 

There’ll be difficulty to duplicate 

last year, but hard work will help 

me reach my goals.’’ 

The personable McDonald, 

who can play multiple positions, 

relies on a variety of strengths. 

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635 Waverly Street, Rte 135 

Framingham, MA 01702 

She can jump, rebound and pass, 

face up in the post and shoot, and 

play effective help defense. Her 

court vision and instincts are also 

sharp. “I can still improve my 

speed and quickness, my outside 

and mid-range shooting and my 

ball-handling,’’ McDonald emphasized. 

Hinnekamp likes McDonald’s 

versatility and all the other assets 

she brings to the table. 

“Brenna can also play center,’’ 

he said. “She’s got great 

post moves, especially her turnaround 

jumper in the key. A very 

coachable player, she can clog the 

middle and stop dribble penetration, 

she defends well and she 

can shoot. Playing last year with 

Skyler Schmid was a big plus for 

Brenna.’’ 

Last year, against Norwood, 

when Schmid was sidelined, Mc- 

Donald took charge, scoring 32 

points in a big victory. “I got a lot 

of rebound put-backs and scored 

on post moves and drives,’’ she 

recalled. “It wasn’t easy without 

Skyler. That game showed I was 

making progress. I wasn’t even 

sure before the season started 

that I’d be on the varsity. Skyler, 

however, took me under her wing 

and helped me overcome being 

nervous.’’ 

A tenacious, hard-nosed defender, 

McDonald rates her 

teammates as top-notch, and 

she’s a fan of juniors Claire Gaziano 

(point guard), Makenna 

Range (shooting guard) and Mia 

Grundberg (forward). “Claire 

has lots of energy and she can 

shoot and pass,’’ McDonald 

said. “Makenna is a strong offensive 

player who can hit threes, 

and Mia is excellent on defense, 

getting lots of steals and usually 

Ron Saponaro 

Tel: 508-872-2266 

Fax: 508-872-2011 

Email: ronstire@rcn.com 

guarding our opponents’ top 

scorer.’’ 

McDonald, who’s played 

three years of club basketball, 

rates Hinnekamp as one of her 

best coaches. “He’s calm during 

games and he’s able to motivate 

his players,’’ she noted. “If you 

do something wrong, he’ll let you 

know, but he’s patient with your 

progress.’’ 

Natick is off to a good start, 

defeating Milton, 61-23, in its 

opener. To achieve her goal of 

winning the Herget Division, 

McDonald, who scored 12 points 

against Milton, knows the Redhawks 

will have to be at their best 

against Wellesley and Walpole. 

“They’re the teams that will 

present a big challenge for us,’’ 

she said. “They’re well-coached 

and traditionally strong. Wellesley 

is the defending division champ, 

Brenna McDonald and the Redhawks 

are quite likely to take those 

numbers to a higher level in 2018. 

and Walpole has a lot of players 

returning.’’ 

McDonald relies on a competitive 

philosophy of working hard 

and reaching her potential. She 

firmly believes that if that situation 

occurs, then winning will 

follow and create plenty of enjoyment 

along the way. 

Learning life lesson is another 

plus, she believes, that a competitor 

can take away from athletics. 

“Sports help with time management 

and how to be accountable,’’ 

she said. “If you make a 

mistake, you’ve got to accept responsibility. 

Athletics also teach 

the value of effort.’’ 

An honor-roll student, Mc- 

Donald has plenty of time to plan 

her future. “If there’s an opportunity 

to play basketball in college, 

I’ll certainly pursue that,’’ she 

said. “If I can keep improving, 

I’d like to compete at a high level. 

But, that’s to be determined.’’ 

Instead of rating her MVP 

and all-star honors as her top 

thrills as a freshman, McDonald 

instead regards being accepted by 

veteran players and being part of 

Natick’s overall team chemistry as 

her most memorable moments. 

As her coach says: “Brenna 

was very instrumental in helping 

us go 13-7 last year.’’


Gilly’s House to Open March 1 

By Grace Allen 

Steven “Gilly” Gillmeister lost 

his battle with addiction on October 

24, 2016 at the age of 25. 

For David and Barbara Gillmeister, 

the pain of losing their 

son to a drug overdose will never 

go away. Seeking a way to honor 

his memory, the Wrentham couple 

channeled their grief into action 

by establishing a non-profit 

in Steven’s name. 

Gilly’s House, a sober home for 

those in recovery from substance 

abuse, is slated to open on March 

1. The house, the former Sheldonville 

Nursing Home, will provide 

a comprehensive life skills transitional 

program for young men 

who have successfully completed 

a residential treatment program. 

Steven Gillmeister was, by 

all accounts, a typical American 

teenager. He had many friends, 

and enjoyed helping people and 

making them laugh. He seemed, 

at least on the outside, a very 

happy person, said his mother. 

Steven’s road to addiction 

started with marijuana. 

“Anybody who thinks this is 

not a gateway drug is really fooling 

themselves,” said Barbara 

Gillmeister. 

Steven entered several residential 

treatment programs around 

the country, but it was only when 

he entered a sober house in Portland, 

Maine, that his life started 

to get back on track. 

“He felt successful there, he 

felt comfortable there,” said his 

mother. “It was supportive, structured, 

and a good place to be. 

And it was really the only place 

he was able to maintain sobriety.” 

Sober living homes are transitional 

residences for individuals 

who have completed residential 

treatment programs, but need 

more time to learn coping methods 

before returning to a productive 

life. A sober living home can 

be the bridge to long-term recovery 

and success. 

“Rehabilitation programs can 

be short stints, depending on 

your insurance,” said Gillmeister. 

“Maybe you get 90 days for 

treatment, and then where do 

you go from there? What you really 

need to do is go to a sober 

house. That’s the next step. That 

should be the last step.” 

Addiction specialists agree that 

the longer an individual stays in a 

sober living home, the better the 

odds of long-term recovery. Barbara 

Gillmeister believes her son 

did not give himself enough time 

in the Portland sober house. With 

the optimism of youth, he left the 

sober home after a short six month 

stay. He relapsed soon after. 

Gilly’s House will help young 

men learn the skills to reenter 

and become productive members 

of society. 

“If someone is 25, but started 

using at age 17, he hasn’t had the 

chance to develop the skills his 

peers have developed,” explained 

Barbara Gillmeister. “He could 

have his sobriety in check, but if 

he doesn’t have the skills to function 

in society, he’s not going to 

be successful and will relapse and 

soon find himself right back in 

the same place.” 

Gilly’s House, with room for 22 

residents, will teach cooking, financial 

literacy, resume writing, job interview 

skills, and more. Healthy 

living strategies like yoga, journaling, 

and fitness will accompany 

therapy, counseling, and support 

group meetings. The house will be 

steeped in AA programming. 

Residents will be required 

to perform community service, 

and attend school or work for 30 

hours a week. 

The young men will be subject 

to random drug tests, and the 

home will be staffed with house 

managers, providing 24-houra-day 

oversight. There will be a 

zero-tolerance policy in place, 

and all residents will sign a contract 

agreeing to the house rules 

and procedures. 

The MA Alliance for Sober 

Housing (MASH) is a voluntary 

certification program that sets 

standards for sober living homes. 

Barbara Gillmeister, who has a 

Master’s degree in Education, 

Steven “Gilly” Gillmeister 

Gilly’s House, the former Sheldonville Nursing Home. 

has participated in MASH training, 

and Gilly’s House is seeking 

certification. Her goal, she says, is 

for Gilly’s House to set the gold 

standard for sober living homes. 

“I want to be proud of this,” 

said Gillmeister. “It’s in my neighborhood. 

It has my name on it. It 

has my son’s name on it.” 

The Gillmeisters are determined 

that Gilly’s House will be 

as home-like as possible for these 

young men. They are furnishing 

the house through donations 

of new and gently-used items, 

and will stock it with household 

goods through registries set up at 

Bed, Bath and Beyond, as well 

as Target. 

Volunteers will help clean the 

building, strip the wallpaper, and 

paint the rooms. A brand-new 

kitchen will be installed, to replace 

the institutional kitchen on 

site. 

“We want it to be beautiful 

aesthetically, spiritually, and 

emotionally for the people who 

are here,” said Barbara. “People 

who are substance abusers have, 

for whatever reason, amazingly 

low self-esteem. We want them 

to come here and feel,’ oh wow, 

somebody really cares, that I’m 

worth it.’ We want Gilly’s House 

to be an uplifting place.” 

Since their son’s death, the Gillmeisters 

have become active in the 

S.A.F.E. Coalition of Franklin, an 

alliance of community partners 

who have joined together to provide 

support, education, treatment 

options, and coping mechanisms 

for people affected by substance 

abuse disorder. 

The couple has visited numerous 

sober homes and modeled 

Gilly’s House on the most successful. 

The Board of Directors 

for the home consists of a panel 

of experts in all facets of addiction 

recovery. 

The Gillmeisters credit the 

support of Rep. Jeffrey N. Roy 

(D-Franklin), and Rep. Shawn 

Dooley (R-Norfolk), along with 

the S.A.F.E. Coalition, for helping 

them get the project off the 

ground. Both state representatives 

acknowledge fighting the 

drug crisis is a complex problem, 

and sober homes provide an important 

function for people on 

the road to recovery. 

“Finding a sober living environment 

in our area of the state 

has been challenging because 

they simply don’t exist,” said Rep. 

Roy. “Gilly’s House will close that 

gap in our region, and will offer 

an opportunity for area residents 

suffering from substance use disorder 

to make that transition 

from treatment back into society 

closer to friends, family or place 

of employment. Sober homes 

allow those in recovery to share 

housing expenses, get access to 

services, and unite with others 

on the journey and help develop 

the positive life skills necessary to 

succeed. And most importantly, 

sober homes are an important 

part of our efforts to save lives.” 

Rep. Dooley added, “The reality 

is that the battle against the 

opiate epidemic must truly be a 

multi-pronged approach. Studies 

show that the first year of recovery 

is the most important and 

sober houses provide the focus, 

support, and community needed 

for a person who has recently left 

rehab to have the greatest opportunity 

for success.” 

The Gillmeisters said Gilly’s 

House, financed with a mortgage 

from Milford National Bank, will 

accept young men from anywhere, 

not just the immediate 

area, because the need is so great. 

“My hope is that we can help 

save other parents from going 

through the pain that my husband 

and I have gone through, 

and continue to go through,” 

said Barbara. 

She also believes this is what 

Steven would have wanted her 

to do. “I have met some amazing 

people during this process. 

Whenever a need arises, someone 

seems to step up. A lot of 

things have happened for a reason. 

I do feel like a hand is pushing 

me forward.” 

Soon after Steven passed away, 

one of his childhood friends 

shared a memory with Barbara 

Gillmeister. When the boys were 

young, they would often walk past 

the shuttered Sheldonville Nursing 

Home on their way to play at 

each other’s houses. Steven and 

his friend would gaze at the building, 

and say to each other, “If we 

have a lot of money someday, let’s 

buy that place. Just imagine what 

we can do with it.” 

For more information about 

Gilly’s House, or to donate items, 

services, or funds for scholarships 

and operating expenses, 

visit www.gillyshouse.com. Follow 

Gilly’s House on Facebook 

(www.facebook.com/gillyshouse) 

for updates. 

Gilly’s House is also looking 

for community members willing 

to teach life skills and share their 

knowledge with the home’s residents. 

Contact Barbara Gillmeister 

at Barbara@gillyshouse.com 

if you can help. 

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Roberta Bowen 

508.380.6553 

Janice Burke 

508.380.7206 

Diane Bush 

774.270.4177 

Beth Byrne 

508.561.0521 

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508.667.4696 

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508.655.0680 

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617.244.3948 

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617.930.3677 

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ColdwellBankerHomes.com 

117 W Central Street Natick, MA 01760 

Happy New Year... 

From Our Family 

to Yours!


January 2018 

Natick Home of the Month 

RUNNING OUT OF ROOM? 

ExpEriEncE ExcEllEncE 

HAPPY 2018 

BethByrneIsInTheHouse.com 

Beth Byrne, Realtor 

508.561.0521 

BsByrne@comcast.net 

BethByrneIsInTheHouse.com 

117 W Central St. 

natiCk, Ma 01760 

508.655.0680 

SOLD 

NEW LISTING 

SOLD 

SOLD 

12 Harvest Moon 

Drive, Natick 

$1,250,000 

342 Village Street 

Millis - $425K 

SOLD 

43 Rybury Hillway 

Needham - $1.375 Mil 

SOLD 

85 Indian Ridge 

Sudbury - $890K 

SOLD 

117 Curve Street 


SOLD 

Exceptional colonial situated in South Natick’s highly coveted 

Sanctuary Estates. Floor plan is expansive and open yet intimate, 

warm and inviting. Designed for family living and entertaining, this 

spectacular home is move-in ready. Elegant foyer leads to a dramatic 

two-story sunken great room with hardwood floors & fireplace. Beautiful 

kitchen, sunny eat-in area with skylights and French Doors to 

deck. Private home office, formal living & dining rooms with hardwood 

floors and crown molding. Master bedroom suite features gas 

fireplace, two walk-in closets, sitting room, large master bath with 

double sinks, glass shower and an over-sized jetted tub. Impressive 

finished lower level with a family room, game room, entertainment 

bar, kitchenette, full bath and the 5th bedroom. Walk-out to the lush 

private backyard with patio. Very near Natick’s vibrant center and the 

downtown commuter rail. For more information contact Beth Byrne, 

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, at (508) 561-0521, bsbyrne@ 

comcast.net, or BethByrneIsInTheHouse.com. 

36 Granite Street 

Hopkinton 

SOLD 

4 High Street 


SOLD 

20 Spring Valley, Natick - $799K 

New Construction 

5 Pearl Street, Millis - $660K 

New Construction 

SOLD 

94 Ridge Street 


75 Norfolk Road 


SOLD 

56 Metropolitan Avenue, Ashland $479K 

62 Hamilton Road, Wrentham $330K 

23 Skyline Drive, Medway $440K 

4 Fieldstone Road, Medfield $590K 

1 Pearly Lane, Franklin $750K 

62 Emmons Street, Milford $275K 

87 Purchase Street, Milford $210K 

Call for a free market evaluation of your home. 

SOLD 

20 Edgewood Road 

Wayland - $969K 

Let my 18 years experience of 

selling homes help you with your next move. 

15 Baltimore St, Millis & 10 Speen St, Framingham Offices 

192 Boston Post Road 

Sudbury - $645K 

SOLD 

222 Curve Street 


SOLD 

26 West Elm Street 

Hopkinton - $735K


Call Janice Today...Start Packing Tomorrow! 

Happy New Year! 

FOR SALE 

UNDER AGREEMENT 

11 Marigold Ave, Wellesley 

List Price: $1,799,000 

SOLD 

35 Fisher St, Natick 

List Price: $774,900 

UNDER AGREEMENT 

Janice Burke, Realtor © 

508.380.7206 

Pburke1045@aol.com 

JaniceCBurke.com 

117 W Central Street Natick, MA 01760 508.655.0680 

11 Cunningham Dr., Framingham 


30 Farwell St, Natick 


SOLD 

6 Langdon Rd, Natick 

Sold Price: $680,000 

Happy New Year! 

I LOOK FORWARD TO 

WORKING WITH YOU IN 2018 

Complimentary Comparative Market Analysis and Buyer Consultations 

SOLD 

SOLD * SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD * 

SOLD * 

SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD * 

* SOLD 

SOLD * SOLD * SOLD * 

SOLD * 

SOLD * 

SOLD * SOLD * 

SOLD 

SOLD * SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD * 

PENDING 

JESSICA ALLAIN 

TOP 10 PREMIER ASSOCIATE 

617.820.8114 

jessica@benoitmiznersimon.com 

A SINCERE THANK YOU TO MY 

WONDERFUL CLIENTS OF 2017! 

PENDING 

OVER $19 MILLION IN HOMES SOLD IN 2017 

544 BOSTON POST ROAD, WESTON | 54 CENTRAL STREET, WELLESLEY | 936 GREAT PLAIN AVENUE, NEEDHAM 

Benoit Mizner Simon & Co, LLC. An Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Housing Opportunity.*Represented the buyer. Per MLS data 1/1/17-12/14/17. 

# 

1 NATICK AGENT 

BENOIT MIZNER SIMON & CO. 

2015, 2016 & 2017

Natick January 2018

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