Blackstone Valley Xpress February 26 2021

NORTH EDITION: Grafton, Millbury, Sutton, Upton

BLACKSTONE VALLEY

February 26-March 26, 2021

CROSSTOWN ADS AND BUSINESS NEWS

Optimism for 2021 at

bankHometown, MNB,

and Hunter’s Grille

By Rod Lee

The mood within the business

community across the northern

communities of the Blackstone Valley

brightened considerably with

Gov. Baker’s recent decision to

allow restaurants, gyms and other

establishments impacted by the

coronavirus pandemic to increase

capacity from 25% to 40% as part

of a relaxing of previously stringent

restrictions.

For Michael Mahlert, executive

vice president and senior loan officer

with bankHometown in Millbury,

John T. Latino Jr., VP and

chief operating officer of Millbury

National Bank, and Jay Hunter,

owner/operator of Hunter’s Grille

& Tap at the Grafton Inn, Gov.

Baker’s action was an encouraging

sign.

Nevertheless, challenges remain.

This is especially true for restaurants,

20 percent of which in the

state of Massachusetts have closed

according to the Massachusetts

Restaurant Association—in what

the National Restaurant Associa-

Continued on page 2

Women’s Success Network

ready to reengage for 2021

Heather Elster, executive

director of Whitin Community

Center.

Ashley Daviau, senior member

service representative at

Millbury Credit Union.

By Barbara Van Reed

The year 2020’s often-heard refrain was that of a new business or

organization just getting started and then…COVID.

And yes, 2021 still has some hurdles ahead.

One organization that is eager to reengage with its community is

the Women’s Success Network, an initiative formally begun by the

Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce in April 2019 with a clear

purpose to “help women in the workplace to achieve their vision

of success by creating a community of support and inspiration.”

Continued on page 6

formerly The Yankee Xpress

Precautions including masks have not dulled the spirits of wait staff at

Hunter’s Grille & Tap at the Grafton Inn. Owner Jay Hunter believes a

full recovery from the pandemic for restaurants will be a “two to fiveyear

process.”

INSIDE

Grafton seniors not forgotten

By Christine Galeone

Among the groups that have been

the hardest hit by the COVID-19

pandemic are senior citizens. Because

they are more vulnerable to

the virus than other age groups,

many have eliminated their normal

social, religious and educational

activities that they participated in

outside of their homes. Sadly, the

isolation has led some to experience

health issues due to things

such as lack of exercise and loneliness.

Thankfully, there are Grafton

businesses and organizations that

are aware of the struggles that

senior citizens are facing. And

they’ve been doing what they can

to help.

Not too long ago, the Grafton

Senior Center Crafters made an

array of beautiful handmade items

– including ornaments, hand-knit

winter accessories and holidaythemed

gifts. The proceeds from

the sales of the items benefitted the

Grafton Senior Center. Thanks to

the support and generosity of Off

the Common Antiques, a multiartisan,

multi-vendor shop, the

crafters were able to sell the items

ECRWSS

AaTs OF MASSACHUSETTS

Provides canine comfort

PAGE 5

GROWTH PLATE INJURIES

What parents should know

PAGE 8

LIVING WITH LINCOLN

The Senior Stroll

PAGE 13

TALES FROM BEYOND

Ghosts of Pachaug State Forest

PAGE 15

THE CAR DOCTOR

Everything automotive

PAGE 17

Recent display at Off the Common Antiques. (Courtesy of Off the Common

Antiques Facebook Page)

for their fundraiser at the shop

through December.

In North Grafton, Theroux Dental

Associates has also kindly

been supporting the efforts of the

Grafton Senior Center and the

Friends of the Grafton Elders.

One of the ways that Dr. Tina Theroux

supported them, during the

Continued on page 2

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2 Blackstone Valley Xpress, February 26, 2021

OPTIMISM

Continued from page 1

tion describes as “the most

challenging year ever for the

industry.”

One of the biggest mitigating

factors, Mr. Hunter said,

is alarm about the pandemic

spread by newspapers, radio

and television.

“The restrictions don’t

impact us as much as the

constant barrage from the

media,” Mr. Hunter said on

February 10. “People are

now trained to live in fear

and be home by 9:00 p.m.

“Our customers are starting

to return but I feel this

will be an ongoing two to fiveyear

process to get everyone

comfortable to dine out.”

Survival of restaurants

during the pandemic hinges

on a number of factors, Boston

25 News reported after an

investigation. Among these

are location, menu, clientele,

alcohol sales, state and local

restrictions and taxes. Good

relationships with vendors,

banks, financial backers and

landlords can mean the difference

between staying in

business—or shutting your

doors for good—Boston 25

News concluded.

As steward of the fortunes

of Hunter’s Grille, Mr. Hunter

tries to maintain a positive

outlook. He is also a booster

of other enterprises in town

that are trying to work their

way through the pandemic.

Recently, for instance, he

interviewed Cindy Wyman,

owner of the Madison Place

hair salon, as part of a “business-to-business”

collaboration

with Grafton Community

Television.

Mr. Hunter likes to remind

the public that there is more to

the story than what they might

be hearing or reading about.

“What most people don’t

understand is that restaurants

are cleaner than most

houses,” Mr. Hunter said.

“That’s because we’re in

constant cleaning mode. Every

time someone finishes

dining with us we clean

and sanitize their table and

chairs. Every time we finish

a task in the kitchen we

clean and sanitize. Our HVAC

system purifies the air. We

do a thorough cleaning and

sanitizing at the start and

end of each day. Most folks

only clean their house once

a week. That’s the point we

need to be aware of.”

Hunter’s Grille & Tap qualified

for both rounds of PPP

money available through the

SBA, Mr. Hunter said. He still

sees full recovery for restaurants

like his as “a two to

five-year process.”

Since the pandemic began,

Mr. Mahlert said, the many

conversations he’s had with

small business owners left

the impression that some are

doing relatively well but that

other sectors of the economy,

like hotels and restaurants,

are still suffering.

Mr. Mahlert has an explanation

for why this is the case.

“During the most recent

round of the SBA’s Payroll

Protection Program, one of

the qualifying factors for businesses

was that they must

demonstrate a 25% or greater

reduction in revenues in at

least one quarter of 2020

compared to the same quarter

of 2019. To date, we have

received roughly half of the

number of PPP loan applications

we received in the first

round, but believe that has

much to do with businesses

not being able to show

the reduction in revenues.

We believe this potentially

shows some improvement in

the economy (or at least, not

a great enough reduction)

in businesses’ performance

year-to-year, which could be

a reason for optimism.”

Mr. Latino offered a similar

perspective from the viewpoint

of Millbury National Bank.

“I would say we are cautiously

optimistic,” Mr. Latino

said. “We have seen

the last year create a lot of

challenges for many people

in our community and for

small businesses. However, I

continue to be impressed by

the fortitude and entrepreneurial

spirit of small business

owners. They really are

the backbone of our community

and our economy.

“People have not been

traveling and have been receiving

stimulus funds, and

for the most part have been

cautious about controlling

what they can, and being

prudent with saving.

“There have been some

bright spots,” Mr. Latino said.

“The trades are extremely

busy and some businesses

have actually seen their

strongest year. The residential

real estate market is very

strong, and it seems to be

driven by lack of inventory.

This seems to support that

it is not a bubble and with

low rates here to stay for the

foreseeable future, I expect

the market will continue to

remain strong. Homeowners

are building equity, rental

rates are strong, and there

is a demand for construction

and home improvement.

“Certainly the longer the

pandemic continues the

harder it will be for many.

Certain industries have been

hit very hard such as travel,

entertainment, and hospitality.

I think there is some

pent-up demand for those industries

when they reopen,

which should hopefully help

with a speedy recovery.

At MNB, Mr. Latino said,

“we are watching the commercial

real estate market

for impacts of vacancies and

reduced demand stemming

from business closures and

a migration to work from

home. Some of the consumer

behavior towards online

will be a permanent shift,

which is a challenge for the

retail industry. Working from

home will also likely have

somewhat of a permanent

shift—how long that remains

is to be determined.

“I am hopeful that the postpandemic

economy will provide

lots of opportunity for

new entrepreneurs to start

new businesses and that we

can rebuild stronger than ever.

Central Mass. is a hub for innovation,

small business, education,

biotech and many other

industries. I think we are ripe

for a strong recovery.”

------------------------------------------------------

Contact Rod Lee at

rodlee.1963@gmail.com or

774-232-2999.

GRAFTON


holidays, was by donating

20 Thanksgiving food bags

to local seniors. Theroux

Dental Associates also currently

offers a ten percent

discount to seniors.

Unibank, which has a

North Grafton branch, also

recently inspired the gratitude

of the Grafton Senior

Center. The bank’s generosity

helped make the

center’s Holiday Gift Card

Drive an overwhelming success.

About 340 gift cards

were distributed to Grafton

seniors who were in need of

holiday cheer.

The Friends of Grafton Elders,

which contributed to

the drive’s success as well,

has been helping Grafton

seniors by providing free

Grab N Go Lunches through

Elder Nutrition. To learn if

the nonprofit will continue

the program during March,

people can check the

March 2021 Grafton Senior

Center newsletter. It can be

found online at grafton-ma.

gov/council-aging/pages/

newsletters-2021.

Another contributor to

the gift card drive is the St.

James Church Community

Outreach. Additionally,

the outreach program

has been providing free

transportation through the

Grafton Senior Center, to

Classic pub-style food is what keeps customers coming

back to Hunter’s Grille & Tap.

Grafton seniors. To find out

the current status of the program,

people can check the

latest newsletter from the

Grafton Senior Center.

Grafton Community

Television has also been

enhancing the health and

wellbeing of local seniors.

Since the Grafton Senior

Center is closed to the public

due to the pandemic, GCT

has been airing the center’s

Balance and Fall Prevention

class at 10:30 a.m., the center’s

Zumba class at 11:30

a.m., the center’s Stretch

and Strength class at 12:30

p.m. and the center’s Line

Dancing class at 2 p.m. The

classes can be viewed every

day on Ch. 34 on Verizon

and Ch. 191 on Charter.

The Town of Grafton is

continuing its Property Tax

Relief Program for qualifying

seniors ages 65 and

older (as well as qualifying

disabled veterans, active

duty service members

and people who are legally

blind). The program allows

qualified individuals to

work off up to 125 hours in

property taxes per tax year.

People interested in the program

can contact the Town

of Grafton’s Assessor’s Office

to learn if they qualify.

One business that’s helping

Grafton nonprofits that

serve seniors and others is

Tufts University. Its Cummings

School of Veterinary

Medicine is located

in North Grafton. Grants for

$1,000 from Tufts Community

Grants program (formerly

known as the Tufts Neighborhood

Service Fund) will be

awarded to non-profit organizations

in Grafton, Boston,

Medford and Somerville that

have volunteers who are or

have been associated with

Tufts (i.e. alumni, students,

current employees, etc.) in

the past year. Grant applications

are being accepted

through Monday March 1.

Applications and more information

can be found at

go.tufts.edu/tcg.

With many seniors 75 and

older being vaccinated and

with the number of people

who have the virus generally

decreasing, senior citizens

should soon be able

to resume the activities

that help them to thrive. In

the meantime, a little care

and concern from the rest

of the community can go a

long way.

Please note that this information

was correct at the

time the column was written.

However, because the

pandemic is rapidly changing

things, it’s best to check

the websites and social media

pages of any business

to see if new changes have

been implemented. Contact

Christine with your business

news items at cmgaleone15@

gmail.com.

Published on Published Fridays, four on times 2nd a month. and 4th Direct Fridays mailed of to the 68,470 month. unique homes

and Direct businesses mailed each to month 63,000 and unique available homes on news and stands businesses throughout each the month region.

1st Friday and SOUTH available COUNTY: on Charlton, news stands Dudley, throughout Oxford and Webster. the region.

22,600 homes and businesses.

2nd Friday: BLACKSTONE Auburn, Charlton, VALLEY Dudley, South: Douglas, Oxford and Mendon, Webster, Northbridge 1/2 all addresses. and Uxbridge.

2nd Friday BLACKSTONE 18,910 VALLEY homes South: and businesses. Douglas, Northbridge and Uxbridge.

3rd Friday ROUTES 12 & 20: Auburn, Oxford and Webster

4th Friday: Auburn, Charlton, Dudley, Oxford and Webster, other 1/2.


4th 4th Friday Friday BLACKSTONE VALLEY VALLEY North: North: Grafton, Graon, Millbury, Millbury Sutton, and Suon. Upton


DIRECTORY

DIRECTORY

Submit business news and community events to news@TheYankeeXpress.com

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Contributing writers and columnists: Peter Coyle, Tom D’Agosno,

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Magda Dakin, Chrisne Galeone, Rod Lee, Amy Palumbo-Leclaire, Janet Stoica

Send letters, comments, and tips to news@The Yankee Express.com

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Sally Patterson, Production Manager Carol Kosth, Graphic Artist

Contributing writers and columnists: Peter Coyle, Tom D'Agostino, Magda Dakin, Christine Galeone

Rod Lee, Amy Palumbo-LeClaire, John Paul, Jason Poquette, Andrew Smith, Janet Stoica

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Blackstone Valley Xpress, February 26, 2021 3

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Grafton and Leicester awarded funding through the Shared Winter Streets and Spaces Program

The Massachusetts Department

of Transportation recently

announced the latest

round of funding through

the Shared Winter Streets

and Spaces program. Among

the towns to receive funding

are Grafton and Leicester.

The Shared Winter

Streets and Spaces program

provides grants as small

as $5,000, and as large as

$500,000. These grants sup-

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port a variety of projects

so that municipalities can

quickly launch changes for

safer walking, biking, public

transit, recreation, commerce

and civic activities.

These improvements can

be either temporary or permanent.

Many of the projects

that receive funding

are in response to the public

health crisis, and provide

safe mobility for children

and elders, for public

transportation, and to open

spaces and parks.

Among the towns that received

funding are Grafton

and Leicester. Grafton received

$300,000 to construct

a new sidewalk on Milford

Road, which will create a

safe walking route away from

a heavily traveled street. Leicester

received $134,101 to

expand the ADA-compliant

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WHITINSVILLE – Blackstone

River Valley National Heritage

Corridor (BRVHNC) announces

appointments made

to its Board of Directors following

its annual meeting in

January.

The Board of Directors

elected new officers as

follows: Chair, Richard T.

Moore (MA); First Vice-

Chair, Dennis Rice (MA);

Second Vice-Chair, Lee

Dillard Adams (MA); Treasurer,

Yvonne Chita (MA);

and Secretary, Todd Helwig

(MA). BRVNHC’s Immediate

Past Chair is Richard H.

Gregory III (RI).

Directors re-elected for a

three-year term on BRVN-

HC’s Board include Richard

H. Gregory III (RI), Dennis

Jan. 8-Feb. 12, 2016

Rice (MA), and Gary E. Furtado

(RI).

sidewalk network connecting

Towtaid Park to its surrounding

neighborhood and

create new off-street parking

designated for persons with

disabilities.

“The Shared Winter

Streets and Spaces program

provides valuable

funding to make towns in

the Commonwealth more

accessible for all residents,”

said Senator Michael

Moore, (D-Millbury).

“The program has become

even more critical due to

the ongoing public health

crisis, as it is vital to create

spaces that can accommodate

people coming

and going, without putting

them at risk of contracting

the coronavirus.”

Blackstone River Valley

National Heritage Corridor

announces new

board appointments

Richard T. Moore

Directors on the Board include

Bill Beitler (RI), Robert

Billington (RI), Michael D.

Cassidy (RI), Bob Contursi

(MA), Robert Dandrade (MA),

Gary E. Furtado (RI), Pieter

de Jong (MA), Jeannie Hebert

(MA), David W. Kellogg (RI),

Thomas Kravitz, (RI), Harry

T. Whitin (MA) and Donna M.

Williams (MA).

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Focus on non profits

AaTs of Massachusetts provides canine comfort to many

By Christine Galeone

It’s not hard to imagine the

stress that surgical residents

have had to endure during

the COVID-19 pandemic. But

Kim Fontaine, the president

and director of Animal-assisted

Therapy services of

Massachusetts, didn’t have

to imagine what it was like

to see some of that stress relieved

from the faces of surgical

residents of the UMass

Memorial and UMass University

campuses. Fontaine

said that the AaTs therapy

dog teams’ visits to those

hospitals were among the

teams’ favorite visits during

the pandemic.

“Seeing the worn faces of

the surgical staff suddenly

brighten up when they noticed

the therapy dog teams

in their break room was a

Kim Fontaine’s Therapy Dogs Keeva (left) and Tomo. Photo

by Karyn Marquis Photography

moment I will never forget,”

Fontaine recalled. “Soon,

the residents were laying on

the floor cuddling with the

dogs; some dogs sat on the

students! One surgeon remarked,

‘This made my day,’

to which another surgeon replied,

‘This made my year!’”

Helping those surgical

residents cope with overwhelming

stress is just

one way that the Millburybased

nonprofit has been

strengthening the community.

Through its programs

and services, AaTs of Massachusetts

has been bringing

people joy and the healing

power of the bond between

humans and animals since

2018. And Fontaine refuses

to let the pandemic interfere

with the life-enriching comfort

that the nonprofit brings

to the Blackstone Valley and

beyond.

While the original AaTs

was founded in Connecticut

in 2009, Fontaine earned her

Professional Dog Trainer

Certification from Animal

Behavior College through an

apprenticeship with Chris

Patella, the founder of AaTs

of Connecticut. The mission

of both locations is to “provide

adults and children

with physical, cognitive and

psychosocial disabilities the

opportunity to experience

the power of the unique

human-animal bond as therapeutic

intervention, thus

promoting lifelong health

and wellness.”

AaTs of Massachusetts

strives to accomplish that

mission and more by offering

animal-assisted therapy

to individuals and groups

at places such as schools,

where the nonprofit provides

reading programs, educational

programs and life skills/

special needs programs, senior

living facilities and colleges.

It also offers training to

become a credentialed AaTs

therapy dog team.

In addition to running

the nonprofit, Fontaine and

her dog Keeva serve as the

primary K9 unit for the Central

Massachusetts Critical

Incident Stress Management

Team. They are also a K9

First Responders dog team. In

their work, they help provide

psychological support to first

responders and survivors after

a traumatic incident.

Like most nonprofits,

AaTs has faced challenges

wrought by the pandemic.

Fontaine said that there has

been an abrupt elimination

of some of the nonprofit’s

teams’ routinely scheduled

visits. Looking ahead, she

noted that it will also be challenging

to fulfill the growing

need to train additional therapy

dog teams while meeting

mandates concerning tool in the toolbox towards

gathering restrictions and building resiliency following

social distancing.

a critical incident.”

But while the pandemic So, how can people support

has created new obstacles

AaTs of Massachusetts

for the nonprofit, Fontaine during these challenging

said that it’s imperative to times? Fontaine said that

keep AaTs safely operating. people can help the nonprofit

“Now, more than ever, we

by requesting therapy

will need mental health assets

dog visits. “While some of

as we all endure and our therapy teams work on

recover from the global pandemic,”

a regular basis as school

Fontaine explained. therapy dogs or police com-

“These are unprecedented fort dogs, other teams are

times! A credentialed therapy

BV dog Express team 150 is just ad.qxp_Layout another 1 8/25/20 5:42 PM Page 1

chomping at the bit to visit

with the people in their com-


An AaTs therapy dog team visits surgical residents at

UMass. Submitted by AaTs

munity,” Fontaine shared.

“We are currently offering

all first therapy dog visits

free of charge.”

More information about

the nonprofit is available on

the Animal-assisted Therapy

services website, www.aatsma.org,

on its Facebook page

or by calling 774-242-0893.

----------------------------------------------------------

If you would like to suggest

a Blackstone Valley nonprofit

or initiative for this series,

please contact Christine at

cmgaleone15@gmail.com.

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WOMEN’S

SUCCESS

NETWORK


The very first program,

one that people are still

raving about, was presented

by Dr. Laurie Leshin,

president of Worcester

Polytechnic Institute.

Another was a presentation

by Representative Hannah

Kane, who spoke about

the critical need for women

to get involved in politics at

all levels and her challenges

as a mother, wife, business

owner, consultant, volunteer,

and politician.

Later in the summer of 2019,

Wine & Women Wednesday

debuted with a networking

event at the Blackstone National

Golf Club in Sutton, followed

by financial and time

management workshops in

the fall.

The Women’s Success

Network was off and running,

complete with a committee

of professional women

from all backgrounds

and experiences to support

the effort, which would include

quarterly gatherings.

But 2020 was to become history;

all four major scheduled

events were canceled,

though quarterly newsletters

were published.

The board is ready now

to plan lectures, workshops,

and networking opportunities

for the new year.

The first, a Blackstone Valley

Zoom Café on February

9, featured Sandra Kearney,

CEO/President of Human

Power Solutions, whose timely

topic focused on building

and maintaining strong business

relationships in the age

of COVID.

The WSN executive committee

members who plan

the programs are Pat Hurton

(Chair), Pat Baker, Alise Breton,

Carol Dauphinais, Ashley

Daviau,, Heather Elster, Jessica

Muradian, Kathy Tonry,

and the BVCC staff.

We asked several of the

members why they personally

became involved with

the Women’s Success Network.

Interview with Heather

Elster, Executive Director

of Whitin Community

Center

Why did you agree to join

the WSN committee?

I believe in our mission

to support one another to

reach our professional and

personal goals.

How do you think WSN

can best support women?

WSN can best support

women by providing opportunities

to build new relationships

and facilitate those

introductions at events that

are fun and informative.

How do you think you

can personally contribute

to that?

I can help with that by

encouraging attendance of

women in my network and

make introductions at events.

WSN seeks to connect with

women in a great variety

of careers and life stages.

What is the best way to do

that?

By providing events that

appeal to different generations

and encouraging everyone

to be open to trying

new things.

What experiences in your

life would make a good

illustration of having

received support from

another woman?

I have been fortunate

to work for and work with

women who prioritized their

family but did not sacrifice

their work commitments.

I learned to share with my

employer what was important

to me but assuring them

that I would work hard and

commit to my deadlines. It

might mean I had to take a

work phone call on the sideline

of a soccer field when

my boys played but I could

still be present for them,

which was my priority.

What is your advice for

young women, middleaged

women, older

(maybe retiring) women?

This can be life advice, financial

advice, career advice

or other. You truly cannot do

it all. You have to prioritize

what is most important to

you and then be open and

honest about what you can

and cannot do. Work hard

and be flexible.

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Interview with Ashley

Daviau, Senior Member

Service Representative at

Millbury Credit Union.

Why did you agree to join

the WSN committee?

I had attended a women’s

breakfast back in 2017 and

just loved every second of

it. It was so interesting to

see all of the remarkable

accomplishments that Dr.

Laurie Leshin (president

of WPI) had achieved. I

was so small minded and

didn’t realize that someone

from our very own city of

Worcester, Massachusetts,

had done such great things

– I mean, she worked with

NASA! It was also then that

I felt very small in this sea

of big fish. When I had the

chance to work with women

and the opportunity to network

with these “big fish,” I

jumped to the occasion. It

felt nice to be able to contribute

and to be helpful towards

a common goal.

How do you think WSN

can best support women?

I think that the WSN can

best support women by

helping facilitate the networking

process and to

show other women that they

are the “big fish” regardless

of their title or status. The

WSN is all about creating

our own version of success

and helping women achieve

that through workshops,

discussions and by working

together to recognize our

own value and worth.

How do you think you

can personally contribute

to that?

Well, there is the most obvious

answer in the sense

that I help with the mailing

list, so I put together all of

the contacts that we reach

out to. I also brainstorm

with this group of impressive

women, bouncing ideas

off one another to create

and construct events that

are meant to not only support

women, but to additionally

educate and encourage

them as well.

WSN seeks to connect

with women in a great

variety of careers and life

stages. What is the best

way to do that?

I don’t think that there is

any one-stop-shop in terms

of connecting with and

reaching out to women in

various careers or different

life stages. I think that’s

the importance of having

such different women

working together - to come

up with different events

and avenues to go down to

help achieve this goal. I,

for one, am in a different

career and in a much different

life stage than many

of the members on the

Committee, but that’s what

makes it work. You are

getting differing views and

opinions from all sides of

the spectrum and we talk

about what would work for

us. I am still growing in my

career and have two young

children at home – what

works for me may not work

for a grandparent who has

settled in their job title or

a single woman who isn’t

quite sure what they want

their career to be just yet. It

is key to switch up the type

of event, the focus or topic,

the timing, and schedules,

etc. to be able to reach as

many women as we can.

What experiences in your

life would make a good

illustration of having

received support from

another woman?

Honestly, the situations

that stand out the most to

me would be my get-togethers

with a couple of my

co-workers. I consider this

group of women to be like

my mentors. They are older

(although not much older –

sorry ladies) and further in

their careers than I am, and

I have always looked up to

them. We have become

quite close over the years

and, as time has passed,

we no longer work side by

side. We still have our little

getaways or sporadic dinners

with each other and

inevitably, work conversation

comes up. This is

about the time when they,

not only give me advice and

direction, but praise me for

the work I’ve done. There

isn’t much like the feeling of

a group of women that you

look up to telling you what

a good job you have been

doing and pushing you to

keep climbing. They, too,

come from different stages

in their career and in their

personal lives and to get

their guidance, in all of the

different shapes and sizes

that it comes in, is extremely

gratifying. Although it

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doesn’t seem like much –

this is some of the support

that means the most. It really

does go to show that

what may seem like such a

small act to you can mean

something so much greater

to someone else.

What is your advice

for young women,

middle-aged women, older

(maybe retiring) women?

This can be life advice,

financial advice, career

advice or other.

My advice for all women

is to never settle. It doesn’t

matter if you’re just starting

out and are feeling insecure

about what you have

to offer or if you’re retiring

and you think that you’ve

done all that you are going

to do. There is always going

to be something more

– something more that you

can learn, something more

that you can offer, something

more that will surprise

you about yourself.

As I mentioned before, I

have always considered

myself to be one of the

“small fish” in this big sea

but the more that I network

and put myself out there,

the more I realize that I can

swim with the “big fish”

just the same. Through the

Women’s Success Network,

I have been introduced to

some women that I consider

to be extremely successful,

by my own definition

of the term, and some

women that have done

some pretty remarkable

things. What I’ve learned is

that we all have to start out

somewhere and make our

own path. We truly are in

control of our own destiny.

It is never too late to redefine

yourself or add something

to your so-called “resume.”

Create your own

definition of success and

never let anything stop you

from achieving it.

Women interested in

getting more information

about the Women’s Success

Network and to be added to

the mailing list should contact

Pat Hurton at pjhurton@

yahoo.com.

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Vestibular migraines often include vertigo

By Keith Roach, M.D.

DEAR DR. ROACH: Can you

shed light on how vestibular

migraines are diagnosed and

the best treatment? -- J.H.

ANSWER: The vestibule of

the ear is where the organ of

balance is located, so vestibular

symptoms relate to balance

issues in general, but

most commonly, it means

vertigo. The term “vestibular

migraine” means vestibular

symptoms attributed to

migraine.

Vestibular migraine thus

includes migraine headache --

not everyone will have headache

with every episode, but

most people with vestibular

migraine will have headache

with at least some of the episodes

-- and vestibular symptoms.

These could include

vertigo (a sensation of movement

when still), unsteadiness

or movement symptoms with

a change in head position that

persists long after the head

has moved. Abnormal sensitivity

to sound and vision are

also prominent in vestibular

migraine.

There is a similarly named

condition, basilar migraine,

that also has vestibular

symptoms. However, basilar

migraine has additional

symptoms seen during the

early, or aura,

phase coming

from the brainstem,

deep in

the brain, such

as clumsy movements

or confusion.

These occur

most commonly

five minutes to an

hour before the headache.

Making the diagnosis of

vestibular migraine is challenging,

since there are

many clinical entities with

similar symptoms. There is

no conclusive laboratory or

radiology tests to confirm

the diagnosis. In practice,

the diagnosis of probable

vestibular migraine is made

in people with recurrent migraine

symptoms associated

with vertigo. Often, treatment

is begun when the condition

is considered probable,

and if the person does not

respond well to treatment, a

more thorough evaluation is

considered.

To your

good

health

Treatment for vestibular

migraine is broken down

into treatment for acute

attacks and treatment to

F

prevent attacks.

Many neurologists

use diazepam (Valium)

and similar

drugs for acute attacks.

Preventive

medicines come

in many different

families, and the

choice of the best

agent depends often on

other conditions the person

has. Everyone with migraine

should try to find and avoid

triggers. This includes eating

on a reasonable schedule

and good sleep hygiene.

If medications are needed,

prescription choices include

blood pressure medicines

(beta blockers like propranolol

and calcium channel

blockers), antidepressants

and seizure medicines.

Over-the-counter options

include riboflavin, magnesium,

feverfew and coenzyme

Q10, all of which have

some but not conclusive evidence

of benefit superior to

placebo.

Psoriasis

DEAR DR. ROACH: Can you

tell me the possible causes

of psoriasis? I have read that

it is related to chronic inflammation.

What type of inflammation

might this be? -- C.K.

ANSWER: Psoriasis, a chronic

skin condition that can


sometimes affect the joints,

is indeed an inflammatory

condition, but inflammation

is a set of symptoms and

observable signs, not an underlying

cause or diagnosis.

There are five cardinal signs

of inflammation: redness,

swelling, pain, warmth and

loss of function.

Psoriasis appears to be a

problem of a dysregulated

immune system. It is unclear

what triggers the body to begin

responding with inflammation

to the skin, but some

proteins (called antimicrobial

peptides) made by skin cells

may start the process. These

can be triggered by trauma

to the skin, but also by some

medications, alcohol, cigarette

smoking, infections and

stress, all of which can also

act as triggers for people with

psoriasis. These make the immune

system cells specific to

the skin become much more

active.

Understanding the immune

system issues in psoriasis

has led to newer and

more effective treatments,

especially for more-severe

psoriasis.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is

unable to answer individual

questions, but will incorporate

them in the column whenever

possible. Readers may email

questions to ToYourGood-

Health@med.cornell.edu. (c)

2021 North America Synd.,

Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Five things all parents should know about growth plate injuries

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Dr. Sean T. Lordan

1. Watch for the classic

signs and symptoms of a

growth plate injury

Besides trauma, many

growth plate injuries can be

caused due to overuse in a

young athlete who has experienced

a recent growth

spurt (or not). Any sport

requiring repetitive training

like dance, gymnastics, track

and field or football will increase

a child’s likelihood of

a growth plate injury.

As a parent, it is important

to be on the lookout to prevent

a growth plate injury

from progressing from an

inflamed joint to the point of

a fracture. Luckily there are

several observable signs you

can watch for, and report to

your child’s Pediatrician.

First, check for changes in

your child’s gait or posture

that are outside of the norm.

The first question I ask most

parents of children with suspected

growth plate injuries

is, “has your son or daughter

had a significant growth

spurt in the past year?” The

growth spurt combined

with the observational tips

I divulge next will help clue

you in to a potential more

serious injury. Look to see

if your child is slouching

more, or if they are walking

with a slight limp. Are they

walking on their toes or taking

a shorter stride length

than normal? If they play

sports, do they accelerate

as quickly as they once did?

Do they have pain in a specific

area (can point to it) of

their body after activity?

In the worst cases your

child may not be able to

bear weight through a particular

body part, or even

move their affected limb.

The first step as a parent

is to ask your child where it

hurts. If they point to a bony

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prominence, and it is tender

to the touch, they may have

an inflamed growth plate.

These are all clues that may

indicate joint Apophysitis,

the fancy term for a “growth

plate injury.”

Mention this to your

child’s Doctor when you go

to see them. All too often

parents downplay their Children’s

pain or symptoms!

Doctors will confirm with

X-Rays, MRI, CT or Bone

Scans at the hospital, and

they will refer to PT for conservative

treatment if caught

early enough.

2. Do this to treat joint

ppophysitis at home

The benefits of massage and

light stretching in the early

phases of rehab can’t be understated

when it comes to

joint Apophysitis. Apophysitis

by definition is an inflammation

of the apophysis of

the joint. The first stage of

rehab should focus on combining

medical management

(medication and creams to

control inflammation) and

gentle exercises to limit the

inflammation at the joint. Exercises

and stretches will differ

depending on which bony

prominence is affected.

In general, it is safe to say

that if you can gently massage

the muscles around the

affected joint (as an adjunct

to professional care) this

should be helpful and may

shorten the course of care.

Pain at the joint happens

due to a traction force of the

muscle “pulling away” from

the bone causing an excess

of stress at the growth plate.

The initial plan of rehab care

should be to gently relieve

that pulling effect, and massage

does a great job at that.

3. What’re The Most Common

Sites of Joint Apophysitis?

The most common sites of

traction apophysitis from

growing pains are:

Sever’s Disease (at the achilles)

Osgood Slaughters (at the

knee / tibial tubercle)

Sinding-Larsen–Johansson

Syndrome (at the kneecap)

AIIS / ASIS (at the hips)

Sacral ALA (In the low back/

sacrum area)

Iselin disease (base of the

5th toe)

These are all conditions

treated successfully by

Physical Therapy.

4. What NOT to do for joint

apophysitis

My advice for those diagnosed

with joint Apophysitis

is contradictory to the “classic

medical approach,” of

“rest and stretch.” I tell my

pediatric patients at their Initial

Exam with me not to do

any “conventional stretching”

around the site of pain

for at least two weeks. I define

conventional stretching

as, “pull and hold with this

strap for 60 seconds.”

The reason for avoiding

static and dynamic stretching

early is multifactorial. First

off, most stretches are taught

completely wrong (or are delivered

verbally on worksheet

of stick figures) and don’t accomplish

their original intention

of creating muscle length

to a specific tissue.

Considering a child with

joint Apophysitis is experiencing

inflammation due to

too much force pulling at the

joint- why are we mimicking

those same exact forces with

stretches?It is ok to eventually

reincorporate those forces,

but only when the growth

plate is slightly healed are

ready for them again.

We need let the body get

out of the acute stage of healing.

I recommend two weeks

of no stretching. Instead of

stretching I encourage moist

heat, NSAID’s, ultrasound,

massage, Graston Technique

and dry needling as options

to improve muscle length

to the mid belly portion of

the muscles involved. After

two weeks when the inflammation

at the epiphysis has

calmed, I work in limited

range dynamic stretching

and then finally pain-free

static stretching when the

tissues can accommodate it.

Dr. Sean T. Lordan

5. How physical therapy

will help

As I mentioned above PTs

are in a unique position to

help children and adolescents

with repetitive overuse

(and traumatic) growth

plate injuries. We use state

of the art research and

technology to reduce trauma

on joints and to provide

a pleasurable experience

in order to work through

growing pains. Usually we

have some fun while we

are at it! If you are still

unsure of whether or not

PT can help, please feel

free to reach out anytime

and I would be happy to

guide you to the right medical

professional. I can be

reached at drlordan@conciergephysicaltherapy.com

--------------------------------------------------

Dr. Sean T. Lordan is the owner

of Concierge PT in Sutton. He is

a husband, father and resides

in Grafton with his family.

Soter announces Baker-Polito administration awards $315,000

in MGCC grants to Worcester 8th district businesses

BOSTON - On February 11,

Representative Soter announced

that the Baker-

Polito Administration released

approximately $64M

in grants to 1,312 additional

small businesses in the seventh

round of COVID relief

grants administered by the

Massachusetts Growth Capital

Corporation (MGCC).

This program is focused on

serving businesses that have

been most impacted by the

pandemic, including restaurants,

bars, caterers, personal

services and independent

retailers. Representative

Soter is proud to announce

that $315,000 will be distributed

to 5 businesses in the

8th Worcester District.

The breakdown by town

is as follows – each business

did not receive the same

amount:

•Bellingham – 2 businesses

– $145,000

•Blackstone – 1 business -

$25,000

•Uxbridge – 2 businesses -

$145,000

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Representative Soter

commented on the release,

“It is great to see funding

continuously roll into the

8th Worcester district. In

total, almost $2,400,000 has

been infused into the four

towns that I represent. Unfortunately,

this is only

temporary. As I have said

before, we need to evaluate

long term solutions as

this funding will only last so

long. I’ve taken actions to

file emergency legislation to

provide immediate and direct

relief for our local small

businesses.”

To date, the Baker-Polito

administration has awarded

approximately $514 million

in direct financial support to

11,212 businesses across the

Commonwealth. This funding

has been made available

through a $668 million

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business relief fund set up in

December, as well as a $50.8

million fund for small and diverse

businesses included in

the economic recovery package

announced in October.

Among the sectors that received

the highest total number

of grants this round are:

restaurants, bars, caterers, or

food trucks (426); personal

services businesses (173); and

independent retailers (114). In

addition, grants for this round

were awarded to 596 minorityowned,

and 489 women-owned,

businesses; 356 recipients are

located in Gateway Cities, and

352 businesses have not received

any prior aid.

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Sen. Fattman announces district S.A.F.E. grants

BOSTON – State Senator

Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton)

announced that the fire departments

in the towns he

represents would receive

nearly $100,000 total in Student

Awareness of Fire Education

(S.A.F.E.) and Senior

S.A.F.E. grants during the

FY21 distribution.

Twenty-six years ago, the

S.A.F.E. program was established,

and since then, the

average annual child fire

deaths have been reduced

by 78%. Senior SAFE was

created to offer funds to local

fire departments in support

of senior citizen fire

prevention training. Seniors

are the most vulnerable of

populations at risk of fire related

deaths. This initiative

is aimed at educating seniors

on fire prevention, general

home safety, and how to be

better prepared in the event

of a fire.

“The S.A.F.E. grant program

is a great asset that is

available to fire departments

in the Commonwealth,” said

Senator Fattman. “It is important

for our kids to learn

of the dangers of fire, how to

prevent fire, and what to do

if you face a perilous situation.

I will keep advocating

for funding of this program,

so that fire departments may

continue to educate young

children about the importance

of fire safety.”

Within the Worcester-Norfolk

District, the following

towns were awarded funding

through the Community

Compact Information Technology

Grant Program:

•Bellingham: $5,281 for

S.A.F.E. funding; $2,680 for

Senior SAFE funding

•Blackstone: $4,692 for

S.A.F.E funding; $2,480 for

Senior SAFE funding

•Douglas: $4,692 for S.A.F.E.

funding; $2,480 for Senior

SAFE funding

•Dudley: $4,692 for S.A.F.E


SAFE funding

•Hopedale: $4,692 for


Senior SAFE funding

•Mendon: $4,692 for S.A.F.E


SAFE funding

•Milford: $5,281 for S.A.F.E


SAFE funding

•Millville: $3,794 for S.A.F.E


SAFE funding

•Northbridge: $5,281 for


Senior SAFE funding

•Oxford: $4,692 for S.A.F.E


SAFE funding

•Southbridge: $5,281 for


Senior SAFE funding

•Sutton: $4,692 for S.A.F.E


SAFE funding

•Uxbridge: $4,692 for S.A.F.E


SAFE funding

•Webster: $5,281 for S.A.F.E


SAFE funding

Senator Moore appointed the Chair of the

Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight

BOSTON - The committee

assignments for the 192nd

General Court were announced.

Senator Michael

Moore (D-Millbury) was

appointed the Chair of the

Senate Committee on Post

Audit and Oversight, and

the Senate Vice Chair of the

Joint Committee on Financial

Services.

As Chair of the Senate

Committee on Post Audit

and Oversight, it will be

the responsibility of Senator

Moore, and the other

members of the committee,

to oversee the development

and implementation of legislative

auditing programs

conducted by the Legislative

Post Audit and Oversight Bureau,

with an emphasis on

performance auditing.

While serving as the Vice

Chair of the Joint Committee

on Financial Services,

Senator Moore and the rest

of the committee members

will consider all matters

concerning banks, banking

institutions, credit unions,

insurance companies, small

loans and any other matters

that are deemed relevant to

the committee.

Grafton activity guide

Grafton Recreation has made an Explore the Outdoors Activity

Guide to encourage families and children to spend

time outside this winter and experience the health benefits

of fresh air and sunshine during the winter months.

The Explore the Outdoors Activity Guide highlights hiking

trails and playgrounds in Grafton as well as a checklist of

things to do in the snow. Children are challenged to see how

many outdoor activities they can do on the checklist until

March 1. Checklists can be turned in to Grafton Recreation at

tinyurl.com/funoutdoors2021 and all entries will get entered

to win a $75 Grafton Rec 2021 Program Gift Card. Winner

will be announced on March 5. Website: www.grafton-ma.

gov or www.graftonrec.com.

“I have chaired several

committees since my election

into the Senate, and in each

position, I made sure to do

the best job that I could do,”

said Senator Moore. “I will do

the same in my new role as

the Chair of the Senate Committee

on Post and Oversight,

and I look forward to getting

to work with the other members

of this committee.”

Senator Moore was also

appointed to serve as a

member on the Senate

Committee on Ways and

Means, the Senate Committee

on Intergovernmental

Affairs, the Joint Committee

on Environment, Natural

Resources and Agriculture

and the Joint Committee

on Public Safety and Homeland

Security.

In the previous General

Court Session, Senator

Moore served as the Senate

Chair on the Joint Committee

on Public Safety

and Homeland Security,

and the Chair of the Senate

Committee on Bonding,

Capital Expenditures and

State Assets.

Call today for your FREE In-Home Consultation

Pre-spring

Special

Whole House of

Faux Wood Blinds

Installed $

for 2200

*includes up to 10 window coverings

of Signature Series Cordless

Faux Wood Blinds with wand tilt,

professional measure, delivery, and

installation. Additional windows can

be added for $260 per window.

568 Main Street, Hudson, MA

www.AmericanHeritageMuseum.org

(978) 562-9182

Cannot be combined with any other coupons or offers.

Offer valid until 3/31/21

Independently Owned & Operated

by Sue Adams

Local: 508-865-9300

Donna’s Day: creative family fun

Sunnyside up snowflakes

By Donna Erickson

Put “Snowflakes Sunny-

Side Up” on your breakfast

menu and the nutritious

surprise will

brighten even the darkest

of wintry mornings.

Made with colorful slices of

sweet red pepper in shapes

that resemble snowflakes,

the whimsy adds fun to the

start of the day. The curvy

rings frame an egg as it

fries into deliciousness for

about 5 minutes. Top with a

dusting of Parmesan or feta

cheese, and serve with toast

or an English muffin and

fruit juice.

For a special weekend

breakfast, let the snowflakes

land on servings of hashed

brown potatoes, bacon or

~ Established 2011~

BOUTIQUE

GIFT

SHOP

10

YEARS

CBD Products Available

Clothing I Jewelry I Candles

Cold Weather Accessories

And More!

www.shopchevere.com

508.278.5566 336 N. Main St., Uxbridge

Tues., Wed., Fri. and Sat. 11am-3pm; Thurs. Noon to 6pm

sausage.

Let’s get crackin’...

Snowflakes sunnyside up

2 large firm red bell peppers

with contours

Butter

6 medium eggs

Salt and pepper

Grated parmesan cheese or

crumbled feta

1. Slice peppers into six 1/3-

inch-thick rounds, keeping

the cut edges smooth and

even. Remove seeds and

core pieces.

2. Melt some butter on a

flat skillet. Cook the pepper

slices on medium heat on

one side for about 1 minute,

then flip.

3. Carefully crack an egg into

the center of each ring. Immediately

press down on

the ring with a spatula if egg

white seeps through. Cook

for about 5 minutes or until

the yolks are firm. (Place a

lid on the pan for the last

minute, if you wish.)

4. Serve with salt and pepper,

and cheese sprinkled

on top. Makes 6 snowflakes.

TIP: For a springtime twist,

set a strip of cooked bacon

upright under the pepper on

the plate. Your winter snowflake

instantly transforms

Sutton Garden Club to award scholarship

While we await spring and

gardening time, the Sutton

Garden Club is pleased to

announce it will award one

scholarship in the amount

of $1,000 this year. Consideration

will be given to a

student who plans to pursue

college studies (including

college affiliated certificate

programs) in horticulture,

landscape design, botany,

environmental studies or

other related natural sciences.

Eligibility: Sutton resident

graduating students (public

or private high school, tech.

etc.) and graduating students

of other towns who are related

to a current G a r d e n

Club member.

The SGC scholarship is

contingent upon the student’s

ability to maintain

a grade point average of at

least 2.5 during the semester

following the granting of the

scholarship.

Sutton High School students

apply through the Guidance

Office. Applicants from other

High Schools should submit

a 1 page, single-spaced word

processed letter by April 15,

by mail to Sutton Garden Club

Scholarship Committee, 78

West Millbury Rd., Sutton, Ma

01590 or by email to brigittepaine@yahoo.com.

MATTRESS

SALE!

PRICES GOOD WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

INSTANT FINANCING UP TO $10,000

Check www.whitcosales.com for special coupons

TWIN: Reg. $299

NOW $ 219 99

FULL: Reg. $499

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SLEDS • TOBOGGANS • ICE SKATES • TUBES

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into a blooming flower with

a stem.

------------------------------------------------

Find more recipes and family

fun at www.donnaerickson.

com. Write to Donna at Info@

donnaerickson.com ( c) 2021

Donna Erickson. Distributed

by King Features Syndicate

It’s

that time

of year

again!

George’s Surf ‘n Turf

Serving the Best from Land ‘n Sea

AT THE REDWOOD DRIVE-IN

Route 16 - Mendon

George’s Surf &Turf

IS OPENING

Wed., March 3rd

Spring’s just around the corner and so are we!

We’re located on Route 16 at the Redwood in

Mendon. Our order window is open Mon.-Sat.

at 11am and Sundays at noon. For take-out

orders or more info., call 508-473-2125

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Serving:

•Haddock

•Shrimp

•Scallops

•Whole Clams

•Clam Strips

•Clam Cakes

•Chicken Fingers

•Onion Rings

•Fries

SCHULTZY’S PLACE

Please wear

your mask.

Try Our Homemade

Soups, Chilis

and Corned

Beef Hash

Hrs.: Mon.-Sat. 5:30am-2pm; Sundays 6:30am to 2pm

3 Boston Road (Heritage Plaza) Sutton, MA • (508) 865-6777

•Burgers

•Hot Dogs

•New England Clam Chowder

•Manhattan Clam Chowder

•Lobster Rolls

•Ice Cream

....and more!

ASK ABOUT OUR

DAILY SPECIALS

including our daily

Vegetarian Special

Seasonal Specials at Schultzy’s

$

3.00 OFF

For Healthy Hearts

we use only

100% unsalted

cholesterol-free

vegetable oil.

FREE Order of Onion Rings

on Any Rainy Day*

*WITH ANY PURCHASE & THIS AD

a $15

purchase

Mon.-Fri.

ONLY

One per table, not to be combined. Exp. 2/28/21

MICROWAVE OVEN SMOOTH TOP STOVE

Reg. $ 218 Reg. $ 649

$ 99

99

188 99 $

599 99

$

699 99 $

279 99

TV SALE

CHEST FREEZER

DELUXE

DISHWASHER

$

239 99 Reg. 399

$

349 99

GE TOP LOAD

7 CU FT

WASHER CHEST FREEZER

Reg. $ 849 99

75” LG Reg. $999.99 $899.99

55” TV Reg. $399.99 $299.99

65” LG Reg. $699.99 $549.99

32” Smart TV Reg. $169.99 $139.99

50” LG Reg. $449.99 $349.99

86” LG Reg. $1999.99 $1799.99

ALL SONY & SAMSUNG TVs ON SALE!

PRE-SEASON

BIKES

IN STOCK

Mon.Fri. 10-8; Sat. 9-8; Sun. 12-7

140 Main St., Spencer, MA

508-885-9343


We couldn’t be happier or prouder to have served

our community for half a century. Join our year-long

celebration of this milestone by following us on Facebook

or through our website to stay informed of

our fun-filled activities.

For just fifty cents a day, fifteen dollars a month

for 12 consecutive months, or a one-time payment

of $180, you will help us continue our mission and

commitment to saving stray, homeless and unwanted

dogs and finding them loving forever homes.

Please help us reach our goal by becoming one of

the 300 reoccurring donors we need to make this

a success. To sign up as a reocurring donor please

visit our website dogorphans.com.

Dog Orphans 2nd annual

virtual bow wow bingo

Dear friends,

We are very excited to be celebrating our 50th anniversary

this year and will be holding many fun-filled

activities throughout the year. Whether on-line, or

in person, if possible, we have many events coming

your way.

To kick off the year, we are proud to announce our

second annual virtual bingo game. At this time, we

are looking for sponsors to support this event. For

only $100, sponsors can take part in the fun and also

enjoy a complimentary bingo card, a Dog Orphans

50th anniversary mask, promotion of your business

on our Facebook page as well as during live streaming

of the bingo games at least twice throughout the

month.

We look forward to partnering with you to celebrate

our 50th anniversary and happily promote

your business.

Sincerely, Ron Morse

(508) 475-1855

Dog Orphans, Inc., 90 Webster Street

Douglas, MA 01516

Call Margaret

to get your

Free Measurement

Free Design & Quote

and ask how

you can get

FREE GRANITE!*

*Does not include install

833 Providence Road

Whitinsville, MA

(Rte. 122)

508-372-9023

Millbury Senior Center news

MILLBURY - The Millbury

Council on Aging, 1 River

St., is offering COVID-19 vaccine

assistance for seniors

75 and older. To register for

the COVID-19 vaccine for an

appointment call the center

at 508-865-9154.

Blood Pressure Clinic every

Tuesday from 9 - 10 a.m.

BP clinics are now held inside.

Come to the front door

and we will escort you from

there. Masks required along

with social distancing.

Grab & Go Meals - lunch

meals will be available to be

picked up daily at the front

Paws corner

By Sam Mazzotta

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My

neighbor’s dog, every day

since I moved into this house

in rural New York, has a habit

of coming up to the property

line when I go out to check

on my garden. She will stand

right at the edge, lift a paw,

bark at me, then turn around

and leave. What’s up with that

behavior? -- Jim G.

DEAR JIM: That sounds like

a well-behaved, well-trained

dog. Or, your next-door neighbor

has, or had, a low-power

wire along the property edge

that delivers a shock to a dog

when it crosses the line. Whatever

it is, she was trained not

to cross into the neighbor’s

yard.

I like that you noted her

body mannerisms. Raising

a paw is a signal that she is

alerted and checking you out.

A nonaggressive bark is an attention

signal. It’s something

like, “I see you, and I want

you to know that I’ve got my

eye on you.” And her turning

back after that bark is a good

sign. She doesn’t see you as

a threat. She’s said her piece,

and now she’s off on her way.

door, 11:30 a.m. Menu is

available on Town website,

www.townofmillbury.org or

our Millbury Senior Center

Facebook page. A 48 hour

reservation is required. For

more information or reservations

call us at 508-865-9154.

Millbury Senior Center

is accepting SNAP applications

(food stamps). Appointments

are on Tuesdays

and Thursdays 10 a.m. – 2:00

p.m. Call for an appointment

and required documentation

508-865-9154. This project

has been funded at least

in part with Federal Funds

Being aware of a dog’s

body language and barking

is important even if you don’t

own a dog. A bark followed

by a growl (or vice versa) is a

warning signal meaning “back

off.” A raised paw and an intent

stare at a specific object

is typical of an alert and energetic

but calm dog. A dog that

charges and stops is being

aggressive and there’s a good

chance that behavior can escalate

into an attack.

If you get the opportunity

to meet your neighbors, compliment

them on their dog’s

good behavior.

Nuisance critters worry

rural newcomer

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I am

relocating soon to rural Tennessee,

in an area that the

real estate agent said is filled

with critters like raccoons,

opossums, woodchucks, foxes,

coyotes, muskrats, mink,

snapping turtles, venomous

snakes, crows, free roaming

hogs, stray dogs and cats. My

question is, What are the regulations

for dealing with nuisance

critters? Are there any

restrictions I need to be aware

of? I’m not computer literate

and don’t know how to look

these up online. -- Karl B.

DEAR KARL: I’m more of a

from USDA. This institution

is an equal opportunity

provider. The SNAP Logo is

a service of the U.S. Department

of Agriculture. USDA

does not endorse any goods,

services or enterprises.

The Senior Center is

closed to the public.

While the building is not

open to the public the Food

Pantry at the Millbury Senior

Center is available from 9 am

to 1 pm Monday thru Friday

by calling 508-865-9247 for

an appointment our food

pantry is fully stocked at this

time tell us what you need

Neighbor’s dog is giving him the eye

Celebrating

50 Years!

pet-care specialist than a wildlife

specialist, but I looked

up some information for you.

Tennessee allows landowners

to capture nuisance wildlife

and either release or euthanize

the animal -- unless it’s a

protected species. You must

use a box trap or other live

trap. You can hire a professional

to do the trapping for

you. And you can call a state

wildlife management official

for advice, especially if you

aren’t sure whether an animal

is protected. To learn more,

perhaps someone who is computer

savvy can access the

Tennessee Wildlife Resources

Agency website for you and

search for “wildlife damage

control.”

•On Feb. 26, 1919, the Grand

Canyon National Park is established.

The chasm, home to

more than 1,500 plant and 500

animal species, is more than a

mile deep, and 15 miles across

at its widest point.

•On Feb. 27, 1964, the Italian

government begins accepting

suggestions on how to save

the Leaning Tower of Pisa

and you can pick it up or we

will deliver it.

We are still here to answer

any questions you may have

and we are available for your

transportation to Doctors appointments

or if you need to

go to the drug store for your

prescriptions, we will take

you there. If you don’t have a

mask, we will give you one.

Also if you are in need of a

home delivered meal give us

a call and we will set you up

to get one delivered to you.

Keep safe and remember to

wear a mask if you go out and

to wash your hands frequently.

I do hope you’ll relocate rather

than eliminate most of the species

that you trap. Opossums

are becoming endangered,

and they’re not ferocious at

all; they eat ticks and are immune

to Lyme disease. Bats

are a threatened species that

love to roost in dark, quiet attics.

But they also eat tons of

mosquitos. We really need

these little natural vacuum

cleaners around. Snakes keep

the rodent population down.

Coyotes and bears play their

role in balancing the natural

environment, even though

they are quite scary to discover

near your house.

Send your questions to ask@

pawscorner.com. (c) 2021 King

Features Synd., Inc.

from collapse. The top of the

180-foot tower was hanging

17 feet south of the base. The

tower’s lean is caused by the

remains of an ancient river estuary

under the building.

•On March 5, 1770, a mob of

American colonists gathers at

the Customs House in Boston

and begins taunting the British

soldiers guarding the building.

The protesters, who called

themselves Patriots, were protesting

the occupation of their

city by British troops.

(c) 2021 Hearst Communications, Inc.

All Rights Reserved

100’s OF ROLLS

OF STAINMASTER

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Bound Area Rugs in stock

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Rte. 12 & Clara Barton Rd., North Oxford • 1-508-987-8521

www.northoxfordmills.com • Open Tues., Thurs., Fri. & Sat. 9-5; Wed. 9-8


Living with Lincoln

The Senior Stroll

By Amy Palumbo-LeClaire

Every pet owner, at one time

or another, has experienced

the joy of going for a WALK.

Some dogs even know how

to spell the W-A-L-K. I don’t

know what’s better: the buildup

to the walk or the actual

stroll itself. When it comes to

living with Lincoln, I’d have

to give each a fair shake. Now

that he’s a Senior Pet, walks

have become even more interesting,

and treasured.

“Want to go for a walk?”

The question passes

through him like electricity

while he relaxes in his preferred

spot, the nook beneath

our island countertop, his dog

cave. He stiffens his posture,

stretches his paws forward at

an attentive numeral eleven,

and tilts his square head.

“Want to go for a walk?” I repeat

the question just to plant

that expression (a Dog Owner

fave) in my mind.

The second request sells

him. He springs from his cave

and grabs the nearest dishrag,

one of several used to

clean dirty paws. “I love this

idea!” He parades around the

kitchen with the dirty rag.

It’s a Retriever thing.

Dogs remind us that the

simple joys in life are the

sweetest. He waits for me to

grab my coat from the closet

and, since its winter, tack

on a hat, scarf, and gloves.

Leave it to a dog to give “his

person” the charm of a butler.

He observes my routine

carefully. He grins while I

button my coat. He blinks

while I wrap my scarf. Then

he performs a happy dance,

as though we’ve both just

won the lottery. “Do you

want to go see Gracie, Lincoln?”

I keep the inspiration

going. Naming other Goldens

in the neighborhood turns on

his heart light even more.

“Do you want to go see the

new puppy?” He tap-dances

and grabs a dropped glove.

The glove caper.

“Let it go, Lincoln.” I’ll admit,

this particular habit has lost

its luster. “Lincoln, please. I

need the glove. Let it go.” Refusal.

He wiggles to the front

door mouthing the glove like

a magician with a dove. I resort

to the obvious: use my

bare hands as a scissor to pry

open his upper and lower jaw.

The slimed glove drops to the

floor like a dead bird.

“Go ahead, Lincoln.” Since

he’s already pushed his way

through the opened doorway,

I gesture that he GO first.

“A couple throws?” Before I

have a chance to attach leash

to collar, he’s found a ball in

the yard. Now that he’s ten, I

have to monitor the number

of throws because we still

have an entire three mile

walk to manage. “Just a few,”

I say to him. He drops the

ball by my feet and waits, the

indent at his head creased

with that expression again. I

toss him a few and he completes

the 40 yard dash to

retrieve one of thousands of

balls thrown over a decade.

I resist the opportunity to

offer the Gronk-toss—a high

ball thrown perfectly to allow

him to spring like a dolphin

on all fours, catch the ball

on the hop, and carry it back

with a celebrity smile. 2020

has been a year of worry.

Test positive? Torn ACL?

“We’re going for our walk

now, Lincoln.” He stares up

at me, foam lining his black

lips like the suds of an ocean

shoreline. He secures the

ball to one side of his mouth

with big canines that have

been filed flat by so much

ball play. He drools. A new

battle begins. “Let it go, Lincoln.”

He turns his head

away from me—a subtle hint

to let me know he’ll be bringing

along the ball, thank you

very much.

“Give.”

Refusal.

Our latest problem.

His breathing is already

compromised due to age

and, well, a few senior issues.

I use gloved hands to pry a

slurpy ball from a surprisingly

strong, old mouth. In

the process, the ball shoots

off my hand and takes a

bad bounce. The two of us

scramble like football players

for the fumble. “Leave

it!” I shout. Too late. Lincoln

recovers the ball, a close

snag. A ghost from NFL Football

Past announces the play

while Lincoln celebrates the

victory with a dance. Meanwhile,

I produce Plan B.

Reverse Psychology.

I pretend I don’t mind that

he has won the battle and

walk to the edge of the driveway,

as though to desert him.

“Bye, Lincoln. Have fun.”

His expression softens.

“You’re really going to go

without me?” He tip-toes toward

the mailbox, ever so

slowly, a lion studying his

prey. “Can we talk about it?”

“I’ll be right back, Lincoln,”

I lie, and keep walking. He

comes closer to the driveway

threshold, more vulnerable

now. I spin around, dash towards

my ball-obsessed dog

and perform a quick, unexpected

extraction. Then I

jog back down the driveway,

place the ball on a high garage

shelf, return to his side,

and snap on a leash. We cross

over to the street. He pulls

me back in the direction of

the garage. “Cheap shot.”

I tug him forward. Within

seconds, the incident is a

distant memory. Unlike humans,

dogs forgive immediately,

fully. They don’t hold

grudges. We go for a walk.

Lincoln wears a permanent

smile that falls somewhere

between the residue of ball

play and the promise of

new adventure. His trot is

peppy, age-defiant. We pass

kind neighbors, interesting

shrubs, and the small, crabby

pug whose bark is significantly

worse than any dog’s

bite. He tailgates Lincoln’s

hairy butt with an obscene,

gurgling rattle.

“Go home!” I turn around

and stomp my foot. Lincoln

shakes him off and proceeds,

unaffected by bad behavior.

“Hyper little fellow, isn’t he?”

We pass the deserted apple

orchard and Lincoln takes

a shot at pulling me back

to beautiful “off-the-leash”

years when we’d tour rows

and rows of apple trees long

since cut down. The field,

now overgrown and fenced

in, is nostalgic for both of us.

“You remember the orchard,

don’t you, Lincoln?”

I notice the memory

emerge in his mind. He flecks

me a knowing grin. Then, as

quickly as it came, the memory

morphs to a new sight.

A friendly Human across

the street walks a gorgeous

German Shepherd pup. Normally,

a tsunami could not

hold me back from this pup.

“What a beautiful pup!” I

croon. Lincoln interrupts.

“My name is Lincoln! I’m ten

years old and have my own

column! You can read about

me in Living with Lincoln, of

The Yankee Xpress!”

“I’m sorry. I’m on Day 10,”

the Human says, and we part

like the Red Sea. Lincoln

tosses a glance up at me. “He

had the puppy smell, too.”

It’s a 2020 thing.

We make our way to the

“home stretch” at Dodge

Road, where a trot becomes

a stroll.

The pep in Lincoln’s step

becomes a pause in his paws.

“You want to take a rest, Lincoln?”

He sits, lifts his head,

and smiles proudly. Despite

an already healthy self-esteem,

I pour on praise. “You’re doing

such a good job walking.” I

massage his ears. “Most tenyear

old dogs couldn’t walk

this far. You’re so athletic.

We’ll get some water when we

get home. Sound good?”

He listens to me - happy

tongue out - and agrees. Always,

there is inspiration

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Al’s

Senior news line

Another COVID scam

By Matilda Charles

You know it’s getting bad

when local police chiefs go

on the nightly news to warn

against scams. That’s what

is happening in my area,

and possibly in yours. Scammers

are going all out to

steal your information, money

and identity, and they’re

using the COVID vaccine as

their tool.

A few weeks ago, the

scammers’ tactic was to

Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy

name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on

earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our

daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we

forgive those who trespass against us, and lead

us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

(intention), Amen.

If you pray three times a day, three consecutive

days, you will receive your intention, no matter

how impossible it may seem. Praise and Thanksgiving please

the Heart of God. Believer

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claim we were eligible for

a special COVID Medicare

card. The card doesn’t exist.

So many of us might have

said that in response to the

frequent phone calls that the

scammers changed tactics.

Now they claim to have an

appointment for you to get

the COVID vaccine.

Here’s how it works: A

scammer will claim to be

calling from your doctor’s

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office, without actually naming

the doctor. All they need

from you, they say, is your

Medicare card number and

possibly your bank account

or Social Security number

“for identification.” Your best

bet is to just hang up. But if

you ask for the name of the

doctor, they won’t know it.

It’s the same with hospitals

and clinics.

If you’re not sure whether

the call is fake, hang up and

call your doctor, the hospital

or clinic, and ask if they’ve

tried to contact you.

Scammers also are using

different tactics: telling you

they can fit you into a quick

appointment, saying they’re

from Medicare or your insurance

provider, sending

you an email that indicates

you can get a fast appointment

reservation by calling

their special phone number,

or offering you the vaccine

at a “reduced cost” (the

vaccines are free). Some of

them actually offer to mail

the vaccine to you.

Don’t fall for any of these

scams. If you need help signing

up online for an appointment,

call your doctor’s office

or the senior center. Don’t

give scammers any information,

not even your name.

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Tales from beyond

The Ghosts of Pachaug State Forest

By Thomas D’Agostino

The ghosts of Pachaug are

well documented and have attracted

the curious and paranormal

enthusiasts for years.

As the shadows grow long

and darkness envelopes the

terrain around Pachaug State

Forest in Voluntown, Connecticut,

unearthly shrieks permeate

the wooded domain. They

are the shrieks of an Indian girl

who was killed by British soldiers

over three centuries ago.

The once flourishing village

that is now deserted thicket

is host to several creepy entities

from colonial soldiers to

the wraith of a little girl. There

is even a black misty figure

that stalks those who hike the

trails and roads of the forest.

The ghosts seem to fall

neatly into the history of the

region. Pachaug is Indian for

“bend in the river.” The Narragansett,

Mohegan, and Pequot

tribes inhabited the area.

Towards the end of the 17th

century, the colonists began

to settle there and convinced

the Mohegan tribe to rid the

others from the land. After

they had gained the help of

the Mohegans in successfully

removing the other two tribes,

the colonists then turned and

pushed them out as well.

Around 1700, a six-squaremile

expanse of land was

given to veterans of the Indian

Wars. They named the new

settlement Volunteer Town

due to the fact that they had

been volunteer soldiers during

the conflict. In 1721, they

shortened the moniker to Voluntown.

A community was

quick to spring up along the

fast flow of the Pachaug River.

This tributary runs through the

forest from Beach Pond to the

Quinebaug River. Mills began

to dot the river as early as 1711.

Nearly every brook has some

remnant of the many mill ruins

in the forest preserve.

Like many other small

New England farming and

mill communities, progress

and technology became their

enemy and soon the small village

of Pachaug was on the

downward slide. By the Great

Depression of the early 20th

century, the village was nothing

but overgrown roads and

crumbling homes. The mills,

long dormant had also fallen

into disrepair and were soon

consumed by the ravages of

time and nature. All that remained

among the forest were

the ghosts that still hold their

vigil to this day amid the ruins

of what was once their home.

There is a section of the forest

called Hell Hollow along

a road and pond of the same

name. The name is not necessarily

derived from the demonic

forces that thrive in the

area. The settlers named many

parts of Connecticut with prefixes

like “devil” or “demon,”

as the area gave them the feeling

that there were supernatural

forces at work. In the case

of Hell Hollow, the land was

rocky and poor. Farming was

brutal and the area was prone

to flooding. Such names have

carried on through history. If

they are haunted at present,

it only adds to the mystery of

the locale. A rock formation

known as “Devil’s Den” can

be seen northeast of Hell Hollow

Pond, on the southwest

side of Flat Rock Road along

the Quinebaug Trail. This may

not be of ghostly significance

but tends to reiterate the fact

that the settlers were probably

a bit superstitious.

Visitors to this patch of

the forest have witnessed a

dark entity that rushes out of

the woods directly in front of

them. The strange mist is reported

to be about fifteen feet

long and hovers a few feet off

of the ground as it makes its

way across the road. Hikers

and hunters alike have given

testimony to the strange fiend

that lurks in the dark bowers

of the forest. Many also

get a fearful feeling of being

watched while traversing the

trails of the Hell Hollow section

of the forest.

Another haunting in the

Hell Hollow area is that of an

Indian girl. In the late 1600s,

an Indian woman was slain by

English soldiers near the present

Hell Hollow Road. Since

then her vengeful screams of

murder and brutality have saturated

the air in a tormenting

aria that eerily replays over

and over. The screams send

even the bravest hunter on

his heels for more hallowed

ground. The local hunters will

not venture far into that area

according to the few I have

talked to. They wished to remain

anonymous for fear of

ridicule but as one said, “When

you hear that piercing scream

come out of the woods, no

one cares what anyone might

think. Your hair stands up on

the back of your neck and you

are out of there!”

The ghost of a colonial soldier

still makes his rounds at

Hell Hollow Road.

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a section along Breakneck Hill

Road. Locals have encountered

the vigilant spirit many

times over the years as it

marches back and forth along

the side of the road. Some

have actually almost hit the

wraith as it crosses the road,

still on eternal duty.

Author David Trifilo encountered

the ghostly soldier once

while traveling along the thoroughfare.

He wrote of his experience

in his book entitled,

“The Hauntings of Pachaug Forest.”

The author was rounding

a sharp bend of the road when

he encountered a threadbare

colonial soldier carrying a long

musket over his shoulder. The

entity marched into the road

directly in front of Trifilo. When

he hit the brakes, the ghost

vanished into the void. The

sightings of the soldier have

been frequent over the years.

Paranormal investigator and

writer Lauren Neslusen has

heard of others who have been

startled by the ghostly guard

as it crossed the road in front

of them. Motorists have actually

driven through the specter.

Some have stopped for a moment

to reflect on what they

had just encountered while

others do not stick around for

a second meeting.

The ghost of this soldier has

been witnessed for centuries.

The first sighting recorded

goes as far back as 1742. The

description is the same as

the present day witnesses accounts.

The spirit is dressed

in a tattered uniform holding

a long musket slung over the

right shoulder. He marches silent

and dusty along the bend

in the road, sometimes crossing

as if looking for something

on the other side. The date

of the first sighting definitely

places him well before the

American Revolution. Perhaps

he is a remnant of King Philips

War (1675 to 1676) or Queen

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Anne’s War (1702-1713), which

was the second inter-colonial

war between France and England.

Some claim he is from

the French and Indian War,

yet that conflict took place

from 1754 to 1763, several

years after the initial sighting

of Pachaug’s sentinel ghost.

Another spot of spectral

relevance is an area of the forest

called Maud’s Grave. The

original site of her burial was

on a rise next to the remains

of the Reynolds home at the

Sterling/Voluntown border.

Maud was the daughter of

Gilbert and Lucy Reynolds.

She died just before her third

birthday after choking on an

apple from complications due

to diphtheria. The parents

found her on the morning

of October 12, 1886 with the

apple by her side. They preserved

the apple in alcohol

because it had the impressions

of her baby teeth in it.

She was the third child of

the Reynolds to die within

a few years, but she was not

buried in the family cemetery.

Mrs. Reynolds was so

taken aback by the death of

her daughter, that she buried

her close to the home where

she could see the cross that

marked the grave. It is in this

spot that her ghost is seen,

perhaps trying to find her family

or wondering why she is

not at rest with her brothers.

No one has an answer, as she


Maud Reynolds’ grave marker.

Breakneck Hill Road where soldier’s ghost is seen.

has never spoken. Even after

she was laid to rest in the family

plot, her ghost has continued

to wander the grounds

which were once her home.

In 1965, a relative moved the

remains of Maud to the family

burying ground on the top of

Bare Hill. A cross was fashioned

from bricks over her grave and

her original marker was taken

to the church the family once

attended and put in a closet. It

remains there to this day as a reminder

of one of Hell Hollow’s

most famous ghosts.


1. U.S. PRESIDENTS: The poem

“O Captain! My Captain!” was

written after the death of which

president?

2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE:

What is the weight of a U.S.

quarter?

3. MOVIES: What was the name

of the skyscraper in the drama

“Die Hard”?

4. TELEVISION: What city was

the setting for the sitcom “Mork

and Mindy”?

5. SCIENCE: What is the study

of knowledge, reality and existence

called?

Resource directory

6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What are

male blue crabs called?

7. GEOGRAPHY: What is the

highest point in Japan?

8. FOOD & DRINK: The acai berry

is native to which continent?

9. LITERATURE: Who wrote the

“Winnie-the-Pooh” book series

for children?

10. MEASUREMENTS: What is

an angstrom?

Answers

1. Abraham Lincoln

2. 0.2 ounces

3. Nakatomi Plaza

4. Boulder, Colorado

5. Philosophy

6. Jimmies

7. Mount Fuji

8. South America

9. A.A. Milne

10. One ten-billionth of a meter, used

to measure very small distances


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Vet er a n s p o s t

Internet access for veterans

By Freddy Groves

Fifteen percent of veterans do not have an internet connection,

limiting their access to Department of Veterans Affairs

video telehealth services. But no longer. The VA’s new Digital

Divide Consult has geared up to help over 12,000 eligible

veterans so far.

If you’re a veteran living in a rural area, have limited

broadband service, don’t have a device with video, have a

serious medical condition or are in temporary housing, you

can get help with internet access and devices.

But there’s more:

If you’re part of a HUD-VA program, you can receive a

smartphone to reach telehealth.

If you use TracFone SafeLink, T-Mobile (was Sprint) or Verizon,

you can hook up with VA Video Connect health care

without incurring data charges on your bill. Go to mobile.

va.gov/app/va-video-connect for details. The VA will even

do a test call before your visit to check your connection.

If you’re in a rural area or don’t have broadband at home,

the VA has coordinated with various groups and businesses

to create locations for you to use for talking privately to your

health care providers. The American Legion, VFW and certain

Walmarts are part of the Accessing Telehealth through

Local Area Stations (ATLAS) program. Go to connectedcare.

va.gov/partners/atlas for locations near you.

The Microsoft Airband Initiative is charged with creating

broadband (high speed) in rural areas. Look at microsoft.

com/corporate-responsibility/airband. (While you’re there,

check into the Microsoft Software & Systems Academy, 18

weeks of training for high-paying jobs.)

Additionally, you could be eligible for the FCC’s Lifeline

program, which subsidizes broadband and phone service

for low-income veterans and veterans who get the following:

Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, pension and survivors benefits, and

more. Check lifelinesupport.org or call 800-234-9473.

Get started by contacting a VA social worker, who will have

all the details and can determine your eligibility.


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Q & A with The Car Doctor

John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car

Doctor. He has over 40 years’

experience in the automotive

business and is an ASE certified

master technician. He will answer

reader’s questions each week You

can find the Car Doctor podcast

at www.johnfpaul.podbean.com

or other popular podcast sites.

Email your car questions to jpaul@

aaanortheast.com Follow John on

Twitter @johnfpaul and friend him

on facebook mrjohnfpaul

Q.

My 2004 Toyota Camry’s trunk will not open with the

remote. When pressed, the signal sounds but the lid

stays closed. The remote works for the other functions,

locking and unlocking the doors. We have two remotes

and neither works.

A.

The trunk lock actuator is likely the problem. It is

a simple two wire connection so relatively easy to

check. If there is no current to the actuator, then the

wiring will need to be inspected for an open circuit. One other

possibility, some aftermarket and dealer installed remote

lock systems have a hidden valet setting that keeps the trunk

locked. Also, the mechanical trunk release on some models

also has a valet setting.

Q.

I am looking at enclosed cargo trailers to carry my

remote-control airplanes and tow behind my Kia

Sportage. A small 4-by-6-foot cargo trailer would

probably work just fine. As I am shopping, these trailers

seem to cost from a low price of $2000 to as much as $3500.

To me they all look the same. Any idea why the wide range

in prices?

A.

To some extent you get what you pay for. The more

expensive trailers may have larger tires, side doors,

roof vents, customizable cargo systems and carry

more weight. The more expensive trailers have stronger constructed

frames and thicker exterior skin. The floor material

could be higher quality and more durable. Also do not think

the weight of the trailer indicates quality. I have seen some

solid trailers that used aluminum to keep down weight but

added additional strength. As you are shopping the markup

on trailers can vary. I like to buy local, but some dealers just

charge more for the same trailer, so it pays to shop around.

Q.

It seems as if every time I bring my car in for service

(7500 miles) the shop tells me that it needs a cabin

filter. I like to do what is necessary for car maintenance

but every oil change to replace this filter seems excessive.

I do not know anything about cars, so I am not going to

check it myself. If my house does not have a dust filter, why

do I need one in my car? Will it cause any problems if I have

the shop remove it and do not replace it?

A.

Your house may, in fact, have an air filter. And just

like a furnace filter I would not remove the pollen/

dust filter in your car. The typical life of a cabin air

filter is 20,000-30,000 miles. With my cars I do check the filters

and replace them when they are dirty, sometimes in as

little as 15,000 mies. I would ask the service facility to see

the condition of the filters, just to make sure they are dirty.

Some lube shops and even dealerships will just recommend

replacement because they do not see a new filter in their

record keeping system.

Q.

My Mini Cooper convertible driver’s side windshield

wiper makes a loud noise when doing its job.

Now I do not drive this car often in the winter but

when I do it is annoying. When the wiper reaches the top

part of the windshield it chatters when it starts the return. I

have changed the blade which did not help. This has been

going on for about six months and no one seems to know

how to correct the problem. The passenger side works fine.

I have cleaned the window with vinegar and when that did

not work, I used car wax on the glass and that made the windows

shine but only made matters worse, any ideas?

A.


More than likely the wiper arm is not sitting parallel

to the windshield. Over time the windshield wiper

arms will sometimes change shape just enough to

cause the wiper blades to chatter. This can happen over the

winter with snow and ice buildup on the wiper arms. A slight

adjustment to the arms (a slight twist with an adjustable

wrench) is usually all it will take to quiet the wiper down.

Q.

I bought a used car and after a few weeks I heard

a noise when I first started the car. The noise may

have been there from the beginning, but I just noticed

it. I brought car back to dealer and after having it for an

hour or so they heard something, but the engine is operating

normally. They did say if it gets worse bring the car back.

They also told me I should not be concerned because the car

is covered by their own extended warranty for 100,000 miles.

What do you think?

A.

Many engines make a slight noise on startup and it is

perfectly normal and does not affect the life/performance

of the engine. At this point I would get a second

opinion from an impartial shop. If the second opinion is

that the noise is normal/typical then take the dealer’s advice

and just monitor the noise. If the noise gets louder, return to

the dealer and have them inspect/repair the engine.

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401-769-4286

MECHANIC WANTED

Pratt Trucking/Little River Recycling Oxford, MA

Job Summary: Pratt Trucking is a family owned and operated

company in Oxford, MA. We are searching for a qualified

mechanic to work on our fleet of Garbage Trucks, Roll Off

Trucks, Hook Lift Trucks, and other equipment. Top Wages

Paid, Weekends Off, and Benefits!

Responsibilities: Performs physical tasks in the shop or field

in support of operations including, but not limited to: inspection,

troubleshooting, repairs, and maintenance of

equipment. Provides unscheduled repairs of equipment; reviews

equipment status with operational personnel and performs

scheduled maintenance of trucks and equipment. Inspects,

repairs, maintains, and makes recommendations and

performs modifications to functional parts of a variety of

equipment and machinery. Diagnoses maintenance requirements

on diesel engines, transmissions, drive lines, differentials,

electrical circuits, hydraulic systems, and chassis

through diagnostic aids, inspections, and interpretation of

equipment reports with assistance. Disassembles, overhauls,

and replaces worn parts on equipment as required.

Reads and interprets work orders to perform required maintenance

and service. Demonstrated commitment to a clean

and safe working environment.

Qualifications and Skills: Knowledge of Mack, Cummins,

GMC, Chevrolet trucks. Knowledge of troubleshooting/diagnostic

tools. Experience as a heavy duty truck mechanic.

Ability to work safely in a shop environment. Mechanical

skills should include, but are not limited to, mechanical,

electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic troubleshooting and repair

of trucks and equipment.

Benefits: Health Insurance, Top Wages! Over-time optional.

Job Type: Full-time. Experience: Driver’s License (Required),

Diesel Mechanic: 1 year (Required), Diesel repair certification

(Preferred), Trash industry experience (Preferred), Class

A or B CDL (Preferred), Welding experience (Preferred)

Salary based upon experience (top wages paid)

Apply now in person at Pratt Trucking

22 Town Forest Rd • Oxford MA 01540

(508) 987-1187

or apply online at: www.pratttrucking.com

Zoom boating safety courses offered

Local United States Coast

Guard Auxiliary Tri-State Flotilla,

Massachusetts will be instructing

four upcoming boating

safety classes through the

Zoom video conference platform,

due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Registration is managed

through the Milford Community

School Use Program, Adult-

Boating, at http://mcs.milford.

ma.us or (508) 478-1119 at least

6 days prior; keeping in mind

that availability is limited and

you will receive course materials

prior, covered by the

registration fee. Participants

under the age of 16 must be

accompanied online by a registered

parent/guardian. For

additional USCGAux. information:

phil.uscgaux@verizon.

net or (508) 478-3778.

About Boating Safely $45

Saturdays: March 27 and

April 24, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

A one-day course developed

to provide the skills and confidence

needed to explore

the coast and inland waters

by boat. Basic knowledge

and skills are needed to have

safe and enjoyable boating

experiences. This course

is perfect for families that

have just purchased any

type of boat or are planning

to in the future, and also for

the boater keeping up with

changes to boating regula-

QUALITY BUILDING MATERIALS

FOR ALL YOUR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND REMODELING NEEDS!

Family Owned And Operated Since 1952.

124 Main St., Millbury

cslumberco.com • 508-865-4822

tions and laws. Successful

completion of the course

will also temporally certify

(until a proctored exam is

completed) any minor, from

12 to 16 years of age, to operate

a powerboat, including

a Personal Water Craft / Jet

Ski for 16 & 17-year-old operators,

on all Massachusetts waters;

in conjunction with the

Mass. Environmental Police.

Rhode Island residents born

in/or after 1986 can also take

the “Challenge Exam” for the

RI Boater Education Card to

operate motor vessels over 10

horse power, along with anyone,

any age, from any state,

wanting to operate a PWC on

RI waters. It will also cover

the requirements to operate a

vessel in most other states &

many countries where boating

safety education is mandatory.

Several of the boating

insurance companies offer

a discount on premiums for

successful completion of this

course. The Zoom ABS class

is limited to 20 students.

Suddenly in Command $5

Wednesdays:

March 17 and April 14

7 – 10:30 p.m.

Imagine you are out on the

•Empty tissue boxes have

so many uses. Try lining one

with a plastic grocery bag

and keeping it in your car for

stray trash. Or you can use

it to corral all of those plastic

grocery bags until you

need them -- just stuff them

in one at a time. Lastly, and

probably my favorite: Cut out

doors and windows to use as

houses for kids’ toys. Imagination

makes the possibilities

endless.

•We are always prompted

to choose strong passwords,

but a random collection of

letters, numbers and special

symbols can be hard to

remember. I make a strong

password by using a coded

phrase, like “My three boys

are No. 1,” which might be

“MY3boysR#1.” Just thought

I’d share my trick, but not my

password!”

water when the boat’s captain

somehow is incapacitated

or falls overboard and

can’t swim back to the boat.

Are you prepared to take basic

actions to get help, stop

or start the engine and take

the helm? A little knowledge

could save lives and make

you feel more comfortable

boating when you’re not generally

at the helm.

Misfortunes can and do happen

while on that fishing,

diving, adventure, or party

charter. Being out on your

own boat with that significant

other at the helm, or going

out on a friends’ pontoon

boat can also turn to horror if

the skipper is suddenly out of

commission. This is a boating

safety primer for those

not generally at the helm but

would like to know what to

do, to be better prepared.

• Keep a bottle of club soda

handy for spot stains on carpets

or upholstery. It’s good

for more than just drinks.

•Line your veggie and fruit

drawers with plain paper

towels to avoid messes in the

refrigerator. Check through

produce daily to remove any

spoiled items.

•For grease stains on fabric,

I don’t reach any further than

my kitchen sink. I saturate it

with dishwashing liquid and

throw it in the washer. it

works better than any stain

stick.

•Everyone knows probably

five uses for pantyhose with

runs in them. Here’s one I

heard from a friend that I had

never heard before. Scrunch

one leg up and use it like a

dusting mitt on upholstered

furniture to get rid of cat hair.

I guess it would work for all

pet hair, but I do this every

day now, and it’s so easy.

Send your tips to Now Here’s

a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando,

FL 32803. (c) 2021 King

Features Synd., Inc.

HOMEOWNERS

WELCOME!

VISIT US FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECT!

RE: Real Estate


The proposed down payment homebuyer tax credit

Mark Marzeotti

Additional help could be on

the way for first-time homebuyers.

The new Washington

administration proposed a

Down Payment Homebuyer

Tax Credit, which could be

significant in aiding potential

first-time homebuyers. For

starters, the credit could be

used to cover all or a con-

Landlords who own one or

several multi-family buildings

have questions about

the landlord-tenant relationship.

Over the years, the

“landlord” business has

evolved from one of almost

total freedom in operating

rental property to one of the

most highly regulated businesses

in the country. The

Southern Worcester County

Landlord Association

(S.W.C.L.A. non-profit) was

formed in 1979 covering the

Southern Worcester County

area. From its original mem-

SWCLA membership

bership of seven individuals

it grew to where they now

maintain a membership of

hundreds of landlords representing

many hundreds

of units - united in a common

goal.

Landlords are faced with

more challenges today than

ever before. Whether you

own and/or manage one rental

unit or 100, the benefits of

belonging to an organization

such as ours are invaluable.

Visit SWCLA.ORG and call

any of the directors listed

about becoming a member.

siderable share of a buyer’s

down payment. With home

prices rising ever higher, any

down payment assistance is

welcomed when a family is

looking to buy.

For years, minority and

millennial homebuyers have

struggled unsuccessfully

to save enough for a down

payment. High student loan

payments along with everincreasing

childcare costs

and other urgent needs have

made the goal of buying that

first home far-fetched for

too many Americans. Add

to that the financial hardships

brought upon us by the

COVID-19 pandemic, which

has hit many American families,

minorities and lowerwage

workers particularly

hard. These demographics

especially would immediately

benefit from this proposal.

Down payment assistance

– in this case, up to $15,000 –

could make all the difference

in helping hopeful buyers get

a foot in the door. And making

the credit advanceable

would mean buyers could

access the funds upon closing

rather than having to wait

until next year when their

tax return is filed and the refund

arrives.

That said, policies to increase

the supply of homes

YOUR DREAMS,

OUR MISSION

are equally important. As

we take a look at the current

housing market and

mortgage data, we see an

upward trend. For instance,

existing-homes sales totaled

5.64 million in 2020

– their highest level since

2006, before the Great Recession

– with mortgage

rates at all-time lows. But

while demand is high, supply

is registering at a 50-

year low. This means home

prices will continue to soar

unless more residential

units can be created. So,

tax and other incentives

that increase supply are

equally important in order

to keep home prices affordable.

Many Realtor groups

LUX

THE

GROUP

Sandi Grzyb - Realtor/Agent

774-230-3500 • 508-943-6960

sandigrzyb@aol.com

sandi.luxgrouphomes.com

sandi.luxgrouphomes.com

Licensed in MA & CT

continue to advocate for

the building of more affordable

housing because,

in addition to increasing

the housing supply, it will

provide a boom for our

struggling economy.

Maureen Cimoch

Real Estate Consultant

Cell 508.769.9211

111 East Main Street, Webster

www.LakeRealty.net

www.WebsterLake.com or .net

Mark Marzeotti

Realtor

Mark

Marzeotti

Realtor

The Marzeotti Group Realty

is proud to share the news

about efforts that encourage

policies and ideas that level the

playing field and help all our

neighbors achieve the American

dream of homeownership.

ADVANTAGE 1

25 Union Street, 4th Floor

Worcester, MA 01608

617-519-1871

MLMarzeotti@gmail.com

www.MarzeottiGroup.com

Commercial /Industrial

lease opportunity

21 Pearl St.,

Webster, MA 01570

55+

Description:

57k sf. Building.

Wet Sprinkler system.

3 Phase Electrical.

New Zoned High Efficiency Gas Heat.

New Electrical Lighting.

Freight Elevator (3500lbs Capacity)

Rate $8.00 /sf./yr.

Available

June 1, 2021

Usable space:

First floor 21,978 sf. with 11½ ft ceiling height.

Second floor 22,784 sf. with 11½ ceiling height.

Third floor 5,244 sf. with 12 ft. ceiling height.

Drive in Bay with dock leveler (1)

Exterior Dock Doors (2) First Floor. (2) second Floor.

Parking private gated and public street plus two bay

commercial garage 20x30x12.

Robert Warehouse LLC

Contact: Pete Coppola

at 774-249-8289

Upton Ridge

UPTON

New homesites just released! Upton Ridge is a picturesque

55+ community with beautiful hillside views and easy access

to major routes. Endless opportunities to stay active and have

fun exist, whether it be walking to the 18-hole golf course just

steps away or hosting a barbecue for your family and friends on

your spacious deck. Choose from 4 luxurious townhome designs

complete with your own designer touches and enjoy quality in

every square foot. Find your dream home and start living.

99 Hartford Ave. South | Upton, MA 01568 | (508) 938-6700

Virtual Appointments Also Available

*©2020 Pulte Homes Illustrations and dimensions are approximate. Features, options, amenities, floor plans, design,

materials are subject to change without prior notice. Community Association fees and additional fees me be required.

At least one resident must be 55 or better, see community documents for any additional conditions that may apply.


The Perfect Finish!

•Professional Car Wash Services

•Micro-Fiber and Neoglide Tunnel Wash

•Saber Touchless Wash

•Heated Indoor Self-Serve Bays

•Express Interior Cleaning Services

•Self-Serve Pet Wash Facilities

•Gift Cards Available

Joi ou VIP Clu

f Fre Washe,

Discount an othe

progra benefit.

“Our Best

Just got

Better!”

SHIELD

SIMONIZ CERAMIC SEALANT

in our Works Protection Package

or an add on to any wash selected…

Quality Workmanship

Over 35 Years in Business • I-Car Gold Certified

On All Insurance Company Lists

Every Vehicle Must Pass a 25 Point Safety Inspection

THERE’S A SMARTER

WAY TO HEAT ANY

ROOM THIS WINTER.

Heat the rooms you live in …

without wasting energy on

the rooms you don’t.

Uses 25-50% less energy

to heat your home.

Employs allergen filtration

to reduce germs, bacteria

and viruses.

Provides year-round

comfort that keeps you

cool in the summer too.

Requires no ductwork,

so installation is quick

and easy.

RS 974

188 Worcester St., (Rte. 122) Grafton, MA

508-839-9508

restrictions apply

© 2013 Mitsubishi Electric © 2015 Mitsubishi Electric

AMERICA’S #1

SELLING BRAND OF

DUCTLESS

Blackstone Valley Xpress February 26 2021

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