Blackstone Valley Xpress North Edition

NORTH EDITION: Grafton, Millbury, Sutton, Upton

BLACKSTONE VALLEY

CROSSTOWN ADS AND BUSINESS NEWS

North Edition: Grafton, Millbury, Sutton

formerly The Yankee Xpress

September 26, 2025

Grafton’s Business Scene

BY CHRISTINE GALEONE

PRSRT STD

ECRWSS

U.S. Postage

PAID

Boston, MA

Permit No. 55800

INSIDE

45th Annual Farm

Days at Waters Farm

BY PATTY ROY

The 1757 farm house that is the

main building at the Waters

Farm in Sutton, grew over the

decades as additions to the family

created the need for additions to

the home.

The Farm is now a living museum

and listed on the National

Register of Historic Places and

still offers the same rural charm

of open fields, apple trees, sugar

maples, chestnuts and a view of

Manchaug Pond. It also offers a

schedule of lively events this fall

WATERS FARM

continued on page 2

PUT YOUR TRUST IN US!

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#1 Massachusetts

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Jo-ann Szymczak: 774-230-5044

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25 Union Street, 4th Floor,

Worcester, MA 01608

for the whole family to enjoy.

The highlight of the calendar

is the 45th Annual Farm Days on

Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct.

19. From 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on both

days, kids and grown-ups will have

a blast viewing the antique tractor/

engine show, animal exhibitions

(including 4H animals) craft vendors,

food vendors and a tractor

pull which will prove which machine

has the most muscle. Want

to try some unusual transporta-

Diane

Casey-Luong

recently received the

Outstanding Service

award from Homes

for Heroes.Only 3 are

given out in the

nation.

The horrific violence that has

occurred in our country in the

past month has been devastating.

But in addition to trying to

make our country safer, kinder

and more just in response, we can

also take the time to treasure the

good people and the simple joys in

our lives.

Among those simple joys are

the little blessings of autumn that

envelope us in this new season

of change. Thankfully, there are

several ways people can enjoy the

autumn splendor while spending

time with good friends, family and

neighbors.

Once again, Grafton Recreation

will hold its Fall Festival on Sunday

Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

at Nelson Park in North Grafton.

The free event is presented by

Coral Care, Country Bank, Dance

It Up, Grafton Children’s Daycare

& Preschool. It’s also sponsored

by Jackie Crawford-Ross, Realtor

and Kid Hero Books. It will feature

pumpkin painting, scarecrow

building and an apple pie contest.

And there will be food trucks,

music and inflatables.

Another free family event will

be held on Sunday Sept. 28. That’s

when the Congregational Church

Firefighters and EMS

Law Enforcement

Military and Veterans

Healthcare Professionals

Teachers

of Grafton’s 46th Annual Harvest

Fair and Apple Pie Social will

be held. The event will be from

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the church

grounds, located at 30 Grafton

Common. The event will include

live music, a yard sale, kids’ games

and raffles. And the apple pies,

apple crisp, chili and chowder that

the fair is known for, along with

other food and beverages, will be

available to buy. The funds raised

through the sales and raffles will

help support the charities and missions

that the church supports.

On the Grafton Common, the

Grafton Country Store continues

GRAFTON

continued on page 2

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2 The Blackstone Valley Xpress • www.theblackstonevalleyxpress.com • September 26, 2025

WATERS FARM

continued from page 1

tion? A barrel train will make its

way around the farm and tractor

pulled hay rides will provide some

good, old-fashioned fun. Visit with

a robotics club and meet and greet

your local police and firefighters.

Youngsters can work off some

energy in bouncy houses.

Interested in traditional crafts?

You can watch a pottery demonstration,

visit the hammer mill and

see a pottery or shingle-making

demonstration.

Delicious homemade apple crisp

will be on sale and souvenirs are

available in the Peddler Shop. The

Sutton Historical Society will be set

up in the Darling Barn.

Take a tour of the old farmhouse

that was home to six generations

of the Waters family, before being

generously donated to the town by

Dorothea Waters Moran, the last of

the line, in 1974.

Within the old walls, you can

witness the passage of centuries

– with beehive ovens and open

hearths for cooking, borning room,

whale oil lamps, pewter plates,

tables, chairs and bookcases that all

belonged to the Waters family.

WHAT’S NEW ON THE FARM

While bringing the past to life,

Waters Farm still has an eye on the

future, said Brian Garrett, volunteer

and member of the board of

directors.

“One of the big innovations is

improving handicap accessibility

for the farm,” he said. Along with

that is development of a visitors’

center in a building on the property.

Fundraising for the project going

well, Garrett said.

“We’ve gotten a lot of grants and

a lot of donations. A lot of local

businesses have donated materials

and efforts, doing projects here and

there,” he said. “Our goal is to get it

open next year for Farm Days.”

GRAFTON


More than $750,000 has been

raised with another $500,000 identified

as being needed for interior

buildout, audio-visual needs and

security, furnishings and for accessibility

improvements.

Lead donor commitments have

been made by Unibank and bank-

Hometown. The town of Sutton has

provided an ARPA grant for septic.

Friends of Waters Farm have also

made IRA Required Minimum

Distribution donations to the

project.

To those who want to contribute

manpower for the farm’s upkeep ,

volunteer work days will be held

on Saturday, Oct. 4 and 11 from

8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Help out with

grounds maintenance, small carpentry

projects, building clean-up

and general farm work.

Farm Days general admission is

$15 per adult, $10 for military and

seniors, and children under 5 are

free.

Waters Farm is located at 53

Waters Road, Sutton. Visit Waters-

Farm.org or www.facebook.com/

WatersFarmPreservationInc/

to celebrate fall with elegant seasonal

décor in its shop. Shoppers

will find a selection of seasonal

wreathes, glass pumpkins and a

myriad of other items to celebrate

fall with loved ones or individually.

Just down the road, Off the

Common Antiques also has a wide

selection of autumn-themed décor

to browse and shop. At the multiartisan,

multi-vendor shop, shoppers

can find antiques, handmade

items and reclaimed furniture to

bring the coziness of the season

into their homes.

It’s sometimes in the darkness

that we realize who and what

brings light to our lives. Hopefully,

this fall will bring bountiful opportunities

to cherish those blessings.

Contact Christine with your business

news items at cmgaleone15@

gmail.com.

Published on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month. Direct mailed to nearly 65,000

homes and businesses each month and available on news stands in the region.

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Contact us:

Patty Roy, Editor: proy@theyankeexpress.com

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

To request advertising info, please email ads@theyankeexpress.com

Jen Schofield, Advertising Director: The Yankee Xpress, Blackstone Valley Xpress, Local

Town Pages, Milford and Upton Mendon Free Press; jenschofield@yankeeshopper.net

Bill Cronan, Blackstone Xpress North and South (Douglas, Uxbridge, Northbridge;

Millbury, Grafton, Sutton); bcronan@theyankeexpress.com

Kate Carr, The Yankee Xpress North and South (Auburn, Charlton, Dudley, Oxford, and

Webster); katecarr@localtownpages.com

Susanne Odell Farber, Upton, Mendon, Hopedale: sue@sodellconsult.com

Laura Gleim, Billing & Sales: lgleim@theyankeexpress.com

Kimberly Vasseur, Production Manager

Sally Patterson, Graphic Artist

Contributing Writers and Columnists: Tom D'Agostino, Christine Galeone,

Amy Palumbo-Leclaire, Mark Marzeotti, John Paul, Janet Stoica, Christopher Tremblay

Blackstone Valley Xpress/©2025

9 Industrial Road, Milford MA 01757 • 508-943-8784 • www.theyankeexpress.com

September 26, 2025 • www.theblackstonevalleyxpress.com • The Blackstone Valley Xpress 3

Small Stones Festival of the Arts

Art Call and Exhibit Dates

Submissions for the 2026 Small

Stones Festival of the Arts

were being accepted starting

September 15. This festival,

known as the largest juried fine art

and photography showcase in the

region, invites talented fine artists

and photographers to participate

in its eighth year alongside some of

the best painters, photographers,

watercolorists, and other twodimensional

artists.

The two-week exhibition, which

is organized by the Blackstone

Valley Art Association and the

Worcester County Camera Club,

will commence on January 24,

2026, at the Community Harvest

Project barn, located at 37 Wheeler

Road in N. Grafton. This free event

for the public will run until February

1.

Artists can submit works until

October 15, with a limit of five

pieces allowed per participant.

All types of two-dimensional fine

art and fine art photography will

be considered. Selected juried

artworks will be exhibited and

included in a hardbound catalog,

and the Festival’s web gallery will

display all submitted pieces that

meet the minimum requirements.

For more details and to submit

artwork, please visit smallstonesfestival.org/.

A panel of six jurors, recognized

for their professional careers in art

and curation at local museums,

galleries, and colleges, will choose

around 144 works for display.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second,

and third place as well as six

juror’s choice awards. Cash prizes

total $500 for first place, $250 for

second, and $100 for third place.

Additionally, attendees will vote

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The fine art jurors this year

include Jim Welu, the former director

of the Worcester Art Museum;

Jo Ellen Reinhardt, a classically

trained artist and co-founder of

the New England School of Fine

Art; and Janet Montecalvo, a

versatile artist with a background

in publishing, graphic design, and

painting.

For fine art photography, the

jurors consist of photographer and

educator Ron Rosenstock, whose

works are held in renowned collections;

Nancy Kathryn Burns, who

serves as the Stoddard Curator of

Prints, Drawings, and Photographs

at the Worcester Art Museum; and

Pip Shepley, an artist whose photography

is displayed in multiple

institutions, including the Griffin

Museum of Photography.

The Small Stones Festival of the

Arts aims to enhance the appreciation

and practice of fine art and

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After

photography within the Blackstone

Valley and beyond. Grafton Arts

Inc., a recognized 501(c)(3) organization,

is the Festival’s financial

supporter.

The festival organizers extend

their gratitude to the following

supporters: Brigham Hill Foundation,

Grafton Cultural Council,

Greater Worcester Community

Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural

Council, Millbury Cultural

Council, Upton Cultural Council,

Yesod Foundation, and local

businesses including EverRise,

Gastonart & Frame, Gaudette

Insurance, Homefield Credit

Union, New England School of

Fine Art, Sydney Padgett, Realtor,

Pepperoni Express, Pulte Homes,

Uncommon Cow, and UniBank.

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The Fruits (and Veggies) of Their Labor

New Energy-Efficient Equipment Enhances Student Meals and Hands-On Learning at BVT

At Blackstone Valley Regional

Vocational Technical High

School (BVT), every new

piece of equipment is more than

just an upgrade—it’s an opportunity

to learn, innovate, and

grow. Thanks to a Healthy Meals

Incentives grant from Action for

Healthy Kids, the Food Services

program is now equipped with

a state-of-the-art walk-in cooler

and freezer tailored to its unique

needs. This energy-efficient unit

not only boosts safety and efficiency

in their kitchen but also

allows them to store fresh, local

ingredients that support healthier

meals for its students.

“With an increase in scratch

cooking and the ability to store

more fresh ingredients, we’re

able to prepare restaurant-quality

New England

Steak & Seafood Restaurant

Casual Elegant Dining and Banquets

PRIME RIB AND STEAKS

Prepared over our open pit

FRESH SEAFOOD & LIVE LOBSTERS

CHICKEN & PASTA DISHES

APPETIZERS, SALADS

COMBINATION DINNERS

AND KID’S MEALS

TRY OUR FAMOUS Cinnamon Rolls & Chowder

Mon. 4-9pm; Tues. Closed; Wed. & Thurs. 11:30am-9pm;

Fri. 11:30am-10pm; Sat. 4-10pm; and Sun. 12-9pm

Serving this area with the finest steak and seafood for over 65 years

508-478-0871 • 11 Uxbridge Rd. ~ Rt. 16 Mendon

See Our Menu on our website

www.nesteakandseafood.com or on Facebook

meals that are both nutritious

and delicious,” said Chef Eric

Carlson, Director of Food Services.

“Offering students a wide

variety of healthy options supports

both learning and lifelong

wellness.” Working alongside

our dedicated Food Services

team, Chef Carlson and Nutritionist

Lisa Ciarametaro ensure

that every school lunch includes

detailed nutritional information

to help students and staff make

informed food choices.

The benefits of this grant go

beyond the cafeteria. Lincoln

Shaw, a junior in the Heating,

Ventilation, Air Conditioning

& Refrigeration (HVAC&R)

program, helped install the new

system alongside instructor

Matthew LaJoie. From setting up

refrigeration units to installing

ductwork and electrical components,

Lincoln gained invaluable

hands-on experience with

commercial-grade equipment.

“HVAC&R technicians are

often called on to work with

walk-in coolers and freezers in

commercial environments,” said

LaJoie. “This was a perfect opportunity

for a student to apply

classroom knowledge in a realworld

setting—right here on our

campus.”

As a Healthy Meals Incentives

grantee, BVT is proud to partner

with the USDA and Action for

Healthy Kids to strengthen its

school meal program. Thanks to

A Place to Connect, a Day to Enjoy.

Accord Adult Day Center

provides a safe and engaging

environment for your loved ones

during the day. Our professional

staff offers personalized care,

social activities, and a sense of

community. We help seniors stay

active and independent while

providing family caregivers

with peace of mind.

Above, Northbridge junior and HVAC & R student Lincoln Shaw helped install the new equipment

Below, Food Services Director Chef Eric Carlson in the new walk-in Refirigerator

Photos submitted

grant funding, in-house expertise,

and student involvement, the

Food Services program continues

to deliver high-quality, nutritious,

and cost-effective meals to its

school community—one scratchcooked

dish at a time.

About Blackstone Valley Regional

Vocational Technical High

School (BVT):

Blackstone Valley Regional

Vocational Technical High School

serves the towns of Bellingham,

Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton,

Hopedale, Mendon, Milford,

Millbury, Millville, Northbridge,

Sutton, Upton, and Uxbridge.

Accord Adult Day Center

Webster, MA

(508) 943-3432

www.accordadultday.org

Contact us today to learn

more and schedule a visit.


Financial steps to prepare for Alzheimer’s and dementia

Tim Furbush, CFA

FINANCIAL FOCUS ®

Provided by Edward Jones

More than 7 million Americans

have Alzheimer’s disease,

according to a 2025 report from

the Alzheimer’s Association.

The emotional toll of watching

a loved one struggle with

the memory loss, depression,

anxiety and cognitive decline is

already overwhelming — but

the financial burden can be

significant too. Hopefully this

disease will never touch your

family, but it’s important to be

financially prepared just in case.

By planning to cover long-term

care costs and creating a financial

strategy for caregivers, you

can help protect your family’s

financial well-being.

Expenses related to Alzheimer’s

and other forms of

dementia can be extensive.

Families often face ongoing

medical treatment costs, medical

equipment purchases, home

safety modifications, prescription

drugs and personal care

supplies. Long-term care represents

one of the largest health

care costs not covered entirely

by traditional Medicare, making

advanced planning crucial.

Here are a few essential planning

steps to consider:

Plan for care costs and identify

insurance coverage. Start

by understanding your family’s

health insurance options, including

Medicare, supplemental

policies and veteran’s benefits

if applicable. Determine coverage

for adult day care services,

in-home care services, full-time

residential care and other longterm

care options. Confirm

whether you or your loved ones

have long-term care policies or

other insurance with long-term

care riders.

In some states, Medicare offers

Special Needs Plans (SNPs)

for people living with dementia,

including Alzheimer’s. These

plans specialize in care and

coverage for beneficiaries with

dementia, and only those diagnosed

can enroll.

Identify assets and debts.

Create a comprehensive picture

of your family’s financial position,

including bank accounts,

investments, property and debts

such as credit cards, mortgages

or lines of credit. You’ll need

this if you take over financial

management for a loved one.

Ensure legal documents are in

place. Work with an attorney to

establish crucial documents like

a durable power of attorney for

finances and health care decisions.

These documents should

be created before someone is

diagnosed or when they’re just

starting to show early signs of

Alzheimer’s, so they can understand

what they’re signing.

Waiting until cognitive ability

declines makes the process more

challenging and may require

court procedures for conservatorship.

Consider a living trust. A

living trust can hold financial

assets and property while a successor

trustee, like trusted family

member, manages money and

makes investment decisions.

While complex, these trusts can

provide valuable protection for

families dealing with a parent

or older relative experiencing

dementia.

Look for tax benefits. Caregivers

who pay care costs out

of pocket may qualify for tax

credits and deductions. These

benefits vary by state, so consult

with a tax advisor about your

eligibility.

Consider protective measures

for early stages. If a

loved one is showing signs of

Alzheimer’s or other dementia,

you may want to set up autopay

for bills, open joint checking

accounts, freeze credit reports

at major bureaus, consolidate or

cancel credit cards, and monitor

financial activities closely. This

can help keep financial responsibilities

flowing smoothly and

prevent exploitation by scam

artists.

A qualified financial advisor

can help evaluate your family’s

overall situation and recommend

appropriate strategies to

prepare for potential dementiarelated

costs. They can work

with your legal and tax professionals

to help you put comprehensive

protection in place.

While an Alzheimer’s or dementia

diagnosis will change

everyone’s life in your family,

taking proactive financial steps

can help ease the burden and

provide greater confidence for

the journey ahead. For more information,

visit www.alz.org.

Contact Tim for assistance

with your personal finances.

Tim Furbush, CFA

Edward Jones Financial Advisor

Westborough, MA 01581

Tim.Furbush@edwardjones.com

This article was written by Edward Jones

for use by your local Edward Jones

Financial Advisor.

Edward Jones, its employees and financial

advisors cannot provide tax or legal

advice. You should consult your attorney

or qualified tax advisor regarding your

situation.

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UUSGU Dedicates New Vertical Lift

On Saturday, September 13, the

Unitarian Universalist Society

of Grafton & Upton (UUS-

GU) dedicated, and celebrated, the

installation of a new vertical lift

in their meetinghouse on Grafton

Common. Dedication of the lift is

the culmination of an 18-month

capital campaign, and provides access

to the main meeting space and

sanctuary of the meetinghouse.

The capital campaign received

broad support, not only from

UUSGU members, but also from

the larger Grafton community.

The UUSGU meetinghouse

is a vital thread in the fabric of

Grafton, and a landmark on Grafton

Common. It hosts programs

that serve vulnerable, at-risk, and

diverse populations. The space is

used by other congregations and

nonprofits. The installation of a

lift ensures access for people of all

abilities and makes the meetinghouse

more available as a community

resource.

Following the dedication ceremony,

UUSGU hosted a reception

celebrating the historic event.

The Unitarian Universalist Society

of Grafton & Upton is a community

of people who recognize

the inherent good in all people,

extend love and acceptance to

everyone, embrace the worth and

dignity of every individual, and

foster each other’s spiritual growth,

no matter their beliefs.

The Unitarian Universalist Society

of Grafton & Upton is located

at 3 Grafton Common, Grafton.

Capital campaign co-chairs Ted Beauvais,

Suzanne Maas, and Michael Quarrey celebrate

the dedication of the new vertical lift.

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Scouts Host Pulled

Pork Dinner

Scout Troop 1122 will host a Pulled Pork Dinner Fundraiser

on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 5-7 p.m. at the Uxbridge Community

House. The dinner is $20 for adults, and $15 for children under 12

years and seniors.

The dinner includes a hearty plate of pulled pork, sides and a

beverage. Come enjoy a tasty meal and catch up with friends and

family.

Proceeds of the fundraiser go to support the troop’s activities

like weekend camping trips, hiking and team-building events. To

purchase tickets email Bsatroop1122@gmail.com

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Sutton Town Meeting - Monday

Oct. 20

The Town of Sutton will hold its

fall town meeting on Monday,

October 20. On the warrant

will be a proposed MBTA Communities

Zoning Overlay that will help

the town meeting compliance with

the state requirement by creating

a district where multi-family

housing would be allowed by right,

rather than by special permit.

The district being suggested

surrounds three parcels on Route

146 and Boston Road surrounding

Market 32. The Housing Production

Plan group chose these

parcels as options that would be of

minimal impact to the town. The

creation of the district does not

require that multi-family housing

be built there, but allows it. To view

the zoning bylaw, go to

A public hearing on the MBTA

Communities Zoning Overlay will

be held by the planning board on

September 22.

The draft warrant with all

Open Call for Auditions

articles for the fall town meeting

warrant was presented to the

select board at their September 16

meeting. The finance committee

will held their public hearing on

the warrant articles on September

24. As of this writing the draft

warrant contained 13 articles. The

warrant will be signed by the select

board on October 7 and posted on

October 10.

The Blackstone Valley Community Chorus welcomes new and returning singers to Open Call for the 2025

holiday concert season! Open Call will take place at 6 pm on Sunday, October 5, at the Douglas Municipal

Center Resource Room located at 29 Depot Street in Douglas, MA. New members do not need to prepare

an audition. Rehearsals are held on Sundays at 6 p.m. There is a $35 membership fee. Join us and sing in our

Holiday Pops Spectacular!

Fall Festival

Grafton Recreation has a line-up of fall treats in store for kids and grownups alike. On Sunday, October 19

Coral Care, Country Bank and Dance it Up! Host the Fall Festival from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Nelson Park.

Enjoy music, food and games along with pumpkin painting and scarecrow building (while supplies last).

Then on Tuesday, October 22 only friendly spirits are abroad for a Trick or Treat event from 3-4 p.m. at the

Grafton Municipal Center. Designed for ages 5 and under; siblings are welcome. Wear your costume! Start in the

gym at the Senior Center tent for a bag and a map. Arrows will point the way to places to trick or treat at Town

Hall offices, plus tables from Grafton Public Library.

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and businesses each month!


Clear the Clutter this Fall with Affordable Junk

There are plenty of reasons to

call a junk removal service. Maybe

walking through your basement

has gotten difficult or there is no

more room in the attic? Perhaps

you are planning to move, and you

need to declutter before your open

house?

Figuring out who to call can be

challenging. If you contact one of

the big haulers, they route you to a

phone center where they’ve never

even heard of your town, plus their

pricing seems vague and full of

extra fees. No wonder you’ve let

the stuff pile up—it’s too much of a

hassle to get rid of it!

Or you can call Affordable Junk

Removal and let a local small business

with deep community roots

take care of everything.

Jay Schadler started his business

in 2005. Back then, it was just him

and a beat-up pickup truck taking

small jobs and working nights and

weekends when he could. As the

years rolled on, his business grew,

but his commitment to customer

service never wavered. Now he’s

got a staff of ten, along with eight

trucks, servicing eastern and central

Massachusetts and northern

Rhode Island.

Affordable Junk Removal

specializes in house and estate

cleanouts. If your garage, attic, or

office is overflowing with stuff, take

back your space and let the pros do

the heavy lifting.

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Visit our display by appointment

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Jay and his team have handled

it all. They’ve dismantled aboveground

pools, hauled away ancient

hot tubs, taken down old fencing,

and stripped away worn carpeting.

They’ll come for a single item, or

they’ll clean out an entire house.

And they can take almost anything.

They can’t accept hazardous

materials, brush, dirt, or concrete,

but everything else is fair game for

them to take away.

Not everything ends up in a

landfill—not if Jay can help it.

He first tries to either recycle or

donate items. Only after he tries to

repurpose items do they end up at

the transfer station.

Working with Affordable Junk

Removal is simple. First, you can

load stuff yourself if you want by

renting a 15-cubic-yard dumpster

for a week and chucking up to a

ton of your unwanted stuff. If you

need to get rid of more weight,

then Jay prorates that tonnage—

you never pay for what you don’t

use.

If you don’t want to be bothered

with the dumpster, they’ve also got

a driveway special where they’ll

take away a truckload of your

unwanted things if you pile it up.

Or if you don’t want to lift a finger,

then you can point at the items,

and the team will fill up their truck

and haul away your unwanted

things. However you do it, you’re

left with more space and more

peace of mind.

Jay and his team beat the big

waste haulers on both price and

customer service. When you call

Affordable Junk Removal, you

aren’t connected to an anonymous

call center. Your phone call goes

right to Jay.

And speaking of pricing, Jay is

upfront about it. His website shows

the truck sizes and prices, so you

can save time knowing your costs

before you call for an appointment.

There aren’t any hidden costs or

surprise fees with Affordable Junk

Removal.

Affordable Junk Removal is fully

licensed and fully insured, and

they’ll treat your property with

care and respect.

They also have a thriving commercial

business, working with

contractors and roofers to clear

away debris and keep the job site

clean. They can even handle commercial

and residential emergencies

with same-day service.

Jay and his family are deeply

involved in the community. He and

his wife, Christine, run the Corner

Market restaurant in Holliston. It’s

not uncommon for someone to

reach Jay at the restaurant, order

a sandwich, and then schedule a

junk removal appointment. Yes,

the local small business really can

handle everything!

Contact Affordable Junk Removal

and Dumpster Rental and let a

local small business take care of everything

for you. Call Jay Schadler

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My Journey to the Midstate Trail

BY THOMAS J. MCLAUGHLIN

Thomas McLaughin is writing

a series of articles on hiking in the

region.

When asked why she hiked,

Grandma “Emma” Gatewood,

the first woman to

complete the Appalachian Trail,

replied, “I want to see what’s on the

other side of the hill – then what’s

beyond that.” Earl Shaffer, a World

War II combat veteran and the first

person to hike the entire Appalachian

Trail, gave a different reason.

Shaffer wrote that it was to “walk the

war out of my system.”

There’s something both intriguing

and therapeutic about a long walk on

an open-ended trail with no end in

sight. You don’t know what’s ahead

and there’s a calming, repetitiveness

to each step as you pass through

miles of forests, fields, meadows,

hills, mountains, and streets.

It had been more than 30-years

since I had done any climbing, hiking,

or walking that could be measured in

miles. In my early twenties I climbed

Mt. Washington, but I hadn’t hiked

much since then. My desire to hike

again was rekindled by rising blood

pressure readings and a movie.

The movie was, “A Walk in the

Woods,” based on Bill Bryson’s

best-selling book, starring Robert

Redford and Nick Nolte. Bryson

moves to Hanover, New Hampshire

where he discovers that the Appalachian

Trail (AT) runs through his

new hometown. He teams up with

an old friend to hike the AT. I loved

both the movie and the book.

This made me want to hike and

learn more about it. I devoured

whatever I could find on the AT

and hiking. I watched too many

AT hiking videos on YouTube, and

read numerous articles and blogs on

The Trek. I read Ben Montgomery’s

“Grandma Gatewood’s Walk – The

Inspiring Story of the Woman Who

Saved the Appalachian Trail,” and

D. Dauphinee’s “When You Find

My Body – The Disappearance of

Geraldine Largay.” The former was

inspiring, the latter was sad, but both

were informative. I also watched hiking

and running documentaries on

Netflix – “Beyond the Tree Line,” and

“Like Harvey Like Son.”

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The Appalachian Trail in Tyringham, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

Late in the summer I drove out

to the Appalachian Trail in Western

Massachusetts in Lee, Becket, and

Tyringham, and I hiked some small

sections there. These were just day

hikes that reminded me of my need

for greater physical conditioning,

especially when going uphill. On my

way up Becket Mountain I crossed

paths with a couple of southbound

(SoBo) hikers in late August who

said they had walked 640 miles in

three weeks from Mt. Katahdin,

Maine. The straight distance between

these points is far less, but the AT

meanders through the Presidential

Range of the White Mountains

and goes through Vermont’s Green

Mountains before descending into

Massachusetts so it adds more than

a couple of hundred miles to the

journey. I was getting winded going

up Becket but the two thru-hikers

were breathing fine as they passed

through their fourth state.

Northern New England is

considered to be the hardest, most

challenging part of the trail so it

seemed like clear sailing ahead for

these two hikers, but in the month

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would close 700 miles of the southern

portion of the trail. I figured if

they hiked 25-miles per day, they

probably made it just past Virginia’s

Shenandoah Valley when Helene hit.

A week after I had been on that section

of the AT in Becket, 31-year-old

Tara Dower, ran through the area on

her record breaking 40-day run to

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just in the nick of time as Helene was

arriving there.

The winter came and went and

I yearned to get back out there

without snow and mud, but as

much as I liked being on the AT, it

was an 80-to-90-mile drive just to

reach to it. I knew a little bit about

the Midstate Trail from seeing signs

throughout this area so I looked at

online maps and researched it.

Since I was only doing day hikes

anyway it donned on me that I

should put my time into hiking on

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Manchaug Pond Clean-Up

The Manchaug Pond Foundation

will be holding their Fall

Clean Up of scenic Manchaug

Pond on Saturday, October 25. Volunteers

are invited to join members

and Friends of the Manchaug

Pond Foundation in cleaning up

Manchaug Pond and its watershed.

Volunteers with boats are also

welcome to help us clean up coves.

The Foundation is a 501 (c) (3)

public charity dedicated to the welfare

and correct use of Manchaug

Pond and its watershed.

The effort is scheduled to take

place Saturday, October 25 from

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9 a.m.- 12 p.m. with volunteers

meeting at the state Public Access

Boat Ramp on Torrey Road in

Sutton. Everyone will hit the pavement

with garbage bags in hand to

clean the roadsides, shoreline, and

boat ramp - all areas within the

Manchaug Pond watershed. Volunteers

are not required to stay for

the duration of the clean up. Good

company, beautiful scenery, safety

vests, rubber gloves, and garbage

bags will be provided. Rain date

will be Sunday, October 26 and a

rain date notice will be posted on

the Manchaug Pond Foundation’s

Facebook page and website early

Friday, Oct. 24.

The Manchaug Pond Foundation’s

educational events aim to

improve the water quality of the

picturesque 380 acre community

lake, which lies within Sutton and

Douglas, through the education

of the many users and watershed

residents. Educational information

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on residential Low Impact Development

(LID) techniques such

as landscaping with buffer zones

and rain gardens to limit runoff of

fertilizer nutrients are available on

the Foundation’s website. Educational

materials have been made

possible by the MPF’s previous

three water quality grants awarded

by the Massachusetts Department

of Environmental Protection. For

more information visit manchaugpond.org

Local Jimmy Fund Walkers Join

Fundraising Efforts

Eleven Grafton residents will

join the thousands of walkers

on Oct. 5 to raise funds

supporting cancer research and

patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer

Institute, aiming to reach a goal of

$9.5 million.

“For 36 years, the Jimmy Fund

Walk has been a cornerstone

of support for lifesaving cancer

research,” said Caitlin Fink, vice

president of the Jimmy Fund.

The Jimmy Fund, established in

1948, is a vital supporter of Dana-

Farber’s mission to reduce the

burden of cancer through groundbreaking

research and compassionate

care with strong community

engagement and partnerships

including the Boston Red Sox.

The local walkers are Cathryn

Williams, Colleen Caron, Anjali

Paranjape, Mary Legere, Brian

Langevin, Kelly Magowan, Maria

McManus, Bill Nash, Deborah

Peak, Kelly Gannon and one other

Grafton resident.

The event, which takes place

along the Boston Marathon ®

course with four different distance

options, celebrates hope and community

commitment to fighting

cancer with virtual participation

available. Participants can register

via JimmyFundWalk.org and

receive medals, T-shirts and bibs.

Posters of Walk Heroes along the

route will cheer the walkers on,

culminating festivities at the Boston

Common.

To register or support a walker,

visit JimmyFundWalk.org.

Contact Bill at

774-289-5564 or by

email at bcronan@

theyankeexpress.com

to advertise today!


ETIQUETTE EXPRESS

Making Everyday Interactions Better

Etiquette & Leadership Coach helping people show up with confidence, kindness, and credibility.

BY LEE-ANN BARKHOUSE

From the Classroom to the

Sidelines: Respect in Every

Season

As summer winds down, September

brings two big themes:

back-to-school routines and the

excitement of sporting events.

Whether you’re cheering at a game,

navigating school drop-off, or sharing

community spaces, good manners

keep life running smoother

for everyone.

THIS MONTH’S HOT-TOPIC QUES-

TIONS:

Q.

At a sporting event, people

around me stood for long

stretches blocking our view,

kids were disruptive, and parents

seemed more focused on their

phones than the game. It only

calmed down when a child got hurt.

How can I speak up respectfully?

A.

Cheering is part of the

fun—and it should never

come at the expense of

others’ enjoyment. If someone is

blocking your view or letting kids

run wild, a polite, “Excuse me,

would you mind sitting for a bit so

everyone can see?” or “Could you

help keep it down so we can all enjoy

the game?” is usually enough.

If nothing changes, moving seats

or quietly speaking with an usher

helps you stay respectful while

protecting your experience.

Q.

How should parents and

kids handle school pickup

and drop-off lines?

A.

These lines only work

when everyone does their

part. Stay in line, keep

your eyes on the task, and skip the

phone until you’re through. We

are all busy, and showing patience

and kindness—like pulling forward

quickly and respecting staff directions—keeps

the process safe and

stress-free for all.

Q.

I live in an apartment,

and kids often run up and

down the hallway with no

supervision or respect for others

in the building. How can I address

this in the kindest way?

A.

Shared spaces like hallways

and elevators are meant

for everyone’s comfort,

and sometimes a simple reminder

makes all the difference. A kind

approach might be, “I know

kids need room to play, and the

hallway noise really carries into

the other spaces. Could you help

keep it down in the evenings?”

This frames it with empathy while

still making your needs clear. If

the problem continues, addressing

it neutrally through building

management helps resolve it

without creating tension with your

neighbors.

Q.

What is the best way to

handle people who constantly

talk about themselves,

bicker over nothing, and

complain about everything? They

always seem negative.

A.

Constant negativity can

wear anyone down. Keep

your responses polite but

brief, and when possible, redirect

the conversation: “That’s one way

to see it—have you noticed…?” If

the behavior doesn’t change, limit

your time with them. Guarding

your own energy while staying

kind is the best balance.

AND FINALLY, THE ETIQUETTE TIP OF

THE MONTH:

Courtesy to Carry with You:

Good manners are never complicated—they’re

simply the small

choices that make life easier for

everyone. Wiping the counter,

keeping voices down, or showing

patience in line may seem ordinary,

yet those quiet gestures of kindness

are what transform shared

spaces into welcoming ones. A

little courtesy not only smooths the

moment, it also sets the tone for

the kind of community we all want

to live in. Remember—people

may forget your words, but they’ll

always remember how you made

them feel.

See you next month—step into

fall with kindness leading the way.

—Lee-Ann

Have a situation you’d like help

with? Write in or email info@

investinuma.com and your question

may be featured in a future column.

Let’s build a kinder, more respectful

world, one interaction at a time.

Lee-Ann Barkhouse is a certified

etiquette and leadership coach who

helps people show up with confidence,

kindness, and credibility. At

Invest in You (www.investinuma.

com), she shares practical tools

to make everyday moments more

thoughtful and meaningful—whether

at work, at home, or right here in

the community.

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PLANNING FOR YOUR RETIREMENT

FRANK RANDALL

Financial Advisor

Frank.Randall@lpl.com | 508.397.2346

Whether retirement is fast approaching

or many years away, it’s important to work

with a financial advisor to structure a

customized retirement plan. Putting the

work in now can mean the potential for

less to worry about in your golden years.

As a financial advisor, I am interested in

helping you arrange your finances with the

goal of making your money last as long as

you need it. Together, we can develop a

well thought out plan that can help guide

you through retirement planning.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and

broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Hometown

Financial Group (including bankESB, bankHometown, North Shore Bank, and Abington Bank, a division of North Shore Bank)

and Hometown Wealth Management are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives

of LPL offer products and services using Hometown Wealth Management, and may also be employees of Hometown Financial

Group (including bankESB, bankHometown, North Shore Bank, and Abington Bank, a division of North Shore Bank). These

products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of,

Hometown Financial Group (including bankESB, bankHometown, North Shore Bank, and Abington Bank, division of North Shore

Bank) or Hometown Wealth Management. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:

Not Insured by FDIC or Any Other Government Agency

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Talking for All Animals:

27th Annual Pet Rock Festival

Returns to Lancaster Fairgrounds

New England’s biggest and best animal welfare festival returns

Oct. 5 with American Idol winner David Cook, live music, and a

cause worth wagging about

Pet Rock Fest, Inc. is thrilled to

announce the 27th annual Pet

Rock Festival, set for Sunday,

Oct. 5, 2025, from noon to 5 p.m.

at the Lancaster Fairgrounds, sponsored

by Tito’s Handmade Vodka,

MA Homes and Castinetti Realty.

Following a successful inaugural

year at this spacious, animal-friendly

venue (pond, shade, grass!), the

festival is excited to return—and

this year, the music is hitting a high

note.

Headlining the live entertainment

is David Cook, winner of

Season 7 of “American Idol”, best

known for his soulful rock voice,

platinum-selling hits, and energetic

performances. Since his 2008

win, Cook has sold over 2 million

albums and 5 million tracks

worldwide, performed on Broadway

in Kinky Boots, and raised more

than $1.5 million for brain cancer

research in honor of his late brother.

His appearance adds a national star

power to Pet Rock Fest’s already

vibrant tradition of music, community,

and advocacy for animals. Also

taking the stage are Eldon James

and the One Eyed Cat, P.E. James,

and The Wray-Ons, rounding out

a music lineup that will keep the

festival energy high all afternoon.

But at the heart of the day is the

message of kindness to all animals.

“After years of searching for the

right location, we’re thrilled to bring

Pet Rock back to Lancaster,” said

Charlene Arsenault, Pet Rock Fest

founding partner. “And now, adding

David Cook to our stage—along

with some of the region’s best local

acts—makes this year’s event one

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of our most exciting yet. Music has

always been part of Pet Rock, and

this lineup continues the tradition

of pairing incredible performances

with our real headliners: the animals

we’re here to help. But the real

meaning of this event is to deliver

knowledge and awareness about

animal welfare, all wrapped in a fun,

welcoming atmosphere.”

Pet Rock Fest is New England’s

largest event dedicated to animal

welfare, featuring live music, interactive

activities, and more than 100

animal welfare organizations. As

with past years, this year’s festival

features the Rescue Groups and

Shelters Pet Parade, engaging K9

demos, the “Pups in the Air” disc

dog team, a food court curated by

VegFest, pet photo contests, the

ever-popular amateur dog contest,

giveaways, vendors, guest appearances,

speakers and more.

This year’s event again includes

those beloved features—plus live

performances throughout the day,

interactive exhibits by CMDART

and the American Red Cross,

animal-friendly vendors, kids’

activities, and the much-loved Pet

Rock Hero Awards, now dubbed

the Juno Award. The Lancaster

Fairgrounds, known as the “home

of the Bolton Fair,” offers ample

grassy spaces, shaded picnic areas,

pavilions, barns, and even a dogfriendly

pond—perfect for a day

of pet-centered fun, music, and

community.

The Pet Rock Festival’s mission

has always been to raise awareness

and funds for animal welfare, and

the Lancaster Fairgrounds allows

HOMEOWNERS

WELCOME!

VISIT US FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECT!

for expansion in both programming

and reach. This year, Pet Rock Fest

again partners with local nonprofit

VegFest for a vegan food court

(there is also a vegetarian food

court) and continues offering free

and low-cost pet services, including

microchipping and rabies vaccinations

courtesy of VCA Hospitals.

“We’re grateful for the support

from the Lancaster Fairgrounds

and our sponsors, vendors, and

volunteers who make Pet Rock Fest

possible,” added Jeannie Hebert, Pet

Rock Fest founding partner. “And

with David Cook, our fantastic local

acts, and everything else we have

planned, it’s going to be our biggest

celebration yet for the animals.”

Pet Rock Fest gives its proceeds

to worthy animal-related charities

that support a variety of causes,

from shelters to law reform to farm

animal sanctuaries. The registered

nonprofit has given away more than

a half a million dollars since its

inception in 1999.

Pet Rock Fest encourages everyone

passionate about animal welfare

to participate, whether as attendees,

volunteers, sponsors, or vendors.

Those interested in contributing to

the 27th annual Pet Rock Festival

should contact petrockfest@gmail.

com for more information.

For updates on the plans for the

event, groups signed up to attend,

music schedules, and other

official or not-so-official news, visit

petrockfest.org or check us out on

Facebook at https://www.facebook.

com/petrockfest, on X (formerly

Twitter) @Petrockfestival, and Instagram

@petrockfest.

About Pet Rock Fest

Celebrating more than 25 years,

Pet Rock Fest is the largest animal

welfare festival in the Northeast.

Held annually in the fall, it features

guest speakers, vegetarian food,

live music, games, a raffle, vendors,

and participation from hundreds

of animal welfare organizations.

Beyond its flagship festival, Pet

Rock Fest is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)

organization dedicated to raising

funds year-round for animal welfare

nonprofits and causes across New

England. Donations to Pet Rock

Fest are tax-deductible and directly

support efforts to improve the lives

of animals in need.

If you’d like more information,

visit www.petrockfest.org.


Christine Hurley Set to Headline Comedy Night At Slater’s

With Mitch Stinson And Dan Miller

Comedy returns to Samuel

Slater’s Restaurant in Webster,

MA, on Friday, October 24,

2025, at 7:30 PM. The show will

feature Christine Hurley with special

guest Mitch Stinson and host

Dan Miller for a night of laughs.

Tickets are on sale now at www.

samuelslaters.com.

Christine Hurley loves what she

does, making people laugh! She

is Matt Siegel's (Kiss108's Matty

in the Morning Show) favorite

comedian. Christine has performed

several times at the Boston

Garden for Denis Leary's Comics

Come Home show that supports

the Cam Neely Cancer Foundation.

You have seen Christine on

Nick at Nite's Search for America's

Funniest Mom Contest, season 9

of The Great Food Truck Race on

the Food Network and America's

Got Talent! Christine is the most

booked comic on the East Coast

and lives up to her title as "The

Queen of Boston Comedy."

Mitch Stinson is a former

aircraft-carrier aviator for the

United States Navy who, as a pilot,

made over 200 carrier landings

during his 10-year military career.

Mitch has recently risen through

the comedy ranks in the Northeast

US by virtue of his original (and

clean!) material that offers unique

insight into the transition from

hot-shot Navy pilot to everyday

civilian life… resonating with comedy

crowds everywhere.

A native of the South End in

Boston, Dan Miller was born a

comedian but made it official in

1992 when he burst onto the local

comedy scene. Since then, he has

teamed with local and national

headliners including Lenny Clarke,

Paul Nardizzi, Dane Cook, and

Dave Attell. Dan took a hiatus from

stand-up in '95-'96 to work on his

acting and improv skills taking a

starring role in the Boston-area

dinner theater production of Mario

and Mary's Italian Comedy Wedding.

He has since been honing his

craft in comedy clubs throughout

New England.

Samuel Slater’s Restaurant at

Indian Ranch offers a variety of

events year-round, along with

seasonal concerts at Indian Ranch

Amphitheater, the Indian Princess

paddlewheel, and Indian Ranch

Campground. Other upcoming

events at Samuel Slater’s include

World Gone Crazy: New England’s

Premiere Comedy Band

on October 10, A Golden Age

of Hollywood Murder Mystery

Dinner on October 11, Abraxas:

Santana Tribute Band on October

17, Wizard of Ozz: The Ultimate

Ozzy Experience on October 25,

Halloween Party with The Deloreans

on October 31, Little Lies: A

Tribute to Fleetwood Mac on November

8, New England Yacht Club

on November 14, Petty Larceny: A

Tribute to the music of Tom Petty

on November 15, Comedy Night at

Slater's with Will Noonan & Guests

on November 21, KSF: A Tribute

to Kansas, Styx, and Foreigner

on November 29, and Red Solo

Cup: A Tribute to The Legendary

Toby Keith on December 13. More

events will be announced soon.

Tickets for Comedy Night at

Slater’s with Christine Hurley &

Guests on Friday, October 24,

2025, are on sale now at samuelslaters.com.

Doors open at 6:30 PM;

the show starts at 7:30 PM. Samuel

Slater’s Restaurant is located at

200 Gore Road in Webster, MA,

outside of Worcester and less than

an hour’s drive from Boston, Providence,

Hartford, and Springfield.

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SPORTS

Looking to Take That Next Step

BY CHRISTOPHER TEMBLAY,

STAFF SPORTS WRITER

For the past three seasons

the Sutton golf team has

found itself on the outside

looking in. Year after year the

Sammies have come up one win

shy of qualifying for the CMASS

Tournament. Golf coach Matt

Milaszewski knows that the

athletes want nothing more that

to get over that hump and play in

the post-season.

“We lost a lot of our matches

by two or three strokes, if only

a couple of kids were one stroke

better here and there we would

have been able to get to the tournament,”

the coach said.

As this year’s season gets

underway Milaszewski will have

everyone back from last year’s

squad in addition to another six

new golfers. Leading the way

once again will be John O’Leary.

The junior will find himself as

Sutton’s top golfer teeing off in

that number one spot. O’Leary is

committed fully to his craft and

practiced and took lessons this

summer to improve his game. He

is currently shooting a 38 on the

links in his third year with the

team.

“As a captain this year I am

looking for him to exhibit leadership,”

Milaszewski said. “He’s

someone that nobody really

Friends of the Poor Walk

The Uxbridge St. Vincent de Paul Society’s annual Friends of the Poor Walk fundraising event will take

place on Saturday, Sept. 27.

The walk starts at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary Church, 77 Mendon Street, Uxbridge. Register either online

or in person at 9 a.m. in the parking lot behind the parish hall. To register or donate, visit UxbridgeSVdP.

org. Walk the town loop (three miles) or the shorter one-block route with your family and pets. Free tee

shierts are available for participants.

Golf Course

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wants to play against.”

Following O’Leary down the

fairway in the number two position

at the time of this writing

was sophomore Dylan O’Mara.

Like the golfer in front of him,

O’Mara worked at fine-tuning his

game from last year. He has also

gotten bigger and stronger, meaning

he’s hitting the ball further.

In the next three positions are

junior Collin O’Rourke, eighth

graders Bryan O’Mara and junior

Josh Leary. O’Rourke consistently

shoots in the low to mid 40’s and

spends a lot of time on the course

and takes lessons to get better.

The younger O’Mara is referred

to as Mr. Fairway by his coach, as

that’s where his shot goes every

time he tees off. He, too, is another

consistent golfer and as an

eighth grader will only develop

his game over the next few years.

Leary typically shoots in the

mid to high 40’s and the coach

believes that the more time that

he gets to get onto the course the

better he gets. Last fall, his game

improved as the year went on.

Hoping to sneak into that sixth

position currently is senior Andrew

Cloutier and junior Griffin

Kisiel. Both athletes are new to

the team and have had their ups

and downs, but are vying for that

sixth spot.

“Both are shooting in the mid

40’s right now after shooting in

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the low 50’s during tryouts,” said

the Sutton coach. “Their game

seems to be improving by playing

up to the competition.”

Coming back to the team to tee

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seating up to 200

off for another season are junior

Troy Georgiopoulos, freshman

Chase Maybay and eighth grader

Brody Koneczny. Newcomers

to this fall’s team are juniors

Evan Fisher, Max Perry and

Ethan Levielle, sophomore Liam

Anderson and freshmen Liam

Watson and Matt Graham.

This fall Milaszewski is taking

a scoring trend approach as well

as who had had the hot club to

where each golfer will tee off.

According to the coach, the majority

of the top six golfers are all

within one or two strokes of one

another on the course, but you

never can tell when someone may

turn things around and take that

next step.

Depending on where the team

happens to be playing and the

availability on the course Sutton

may be allowed to play two more

golfers per match. Currently

their home course, Blackstone

National, is allowing eight golfers

per team.With the season underway

the Sammies head coach is

looking for his team to take to

the links and try to score a 165 or

lower among its top four scores.

Last fall Milaszewski set a goal of

170 and the team was unable to

eclipse the goal, thus no district

play.

“If the top four scores can be

at 165 or better, then we should

be able to get the wins,” he said.

“Getting the wins eventually

translates into qualifying for the

tournament.”

Taking that next step and getting

into the tournament would

be one step better than the previous

three seasons at Sutton.

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Healthier Baking in the Blackstone Valley

BY CHRISTINE GALEONE

With the violence that has

shaken our country in the

past month, we all need

to comfort others and ourselves.

and ingredients. So, when we can

make comfort food at home with

wholesome ingredients and less

sugar, we can feel better about what

we’re consuming and sharing with

others.

1 ½ Tsp. of cinnamon

Directions:

Combine apple slices with cinnamon in a

large bowl.

Distribute the filling evenly in an 8 x 8”

baking pan.

Topping Ingredients (*Note: While not

exact, these topping ingredients were

inspired by the topping ingredients listed

in an apple cobbler recipe by “Sally’s Baking

Addiction”)

½ cup of sugar

¼ cup of salted butter (melted)

½ cup of milk

1 tsp. of vanilla

1 cup of flour

1 tsp. of baking powder

Directions:

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the wet

topping ingredients with the dry topping

ingredients until the batter is smooth.

Pour the batter evenly over the filling.

Bake the cobbler for about 30-40 minutes

or until the topping is golden. Let cool until

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While it’s most important to

comfort others and to try to reduce

violence in our society through

praying, giving blood, joining

organizations that promote kindness,

peace, justice and safety, and

by donating to funds such as the

Annunciation Hope and Healing

Fund by the Catholic Community

Foundation of Minnesota, we also

turn to comfort food for others and

ourselves.

But even though we enjoy a

variety of it, some comfort food is

certainly better than others when it

comes to our health. One example

is this apple cobbler, a New England

fall favorite.

We all know that a lot of comfort

food is brimming with sugar, fat

and, frequently, artificial colors

This apple cobbler is also healthier

because of the health benefits

of apples and cinnamon. They’re

both high in antioxidants, which

can reduce free radical damage.

Apples also contain fiber, vitamin

C, vitamin K, vitamin E, vitamin

B1 and vitamin B6.

Research has shown that apples

promote heart health, mind health

and bone health. Additionally, the

popular fruit can strengthen your

lungs, lower cholesterol, boost your

immune system, boost gut health,

and offer some protection against

Type 2 diabetes.

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4 apples (rinsed, peeled and sliced)

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BY AMY LECLAIRE

Every dog deserves the chance

to live its best life. For many

— especially big dogs — one

of the key ingredients is freedom.

The Great Outdoors isn’t just

a bathroom break; it’s a place

for discovery. To explore is to

engage, to be curious, to connect

with the world. A routine walk,

no matter how pleasant, rarely

offers the same adventure as time

spent off-leash. That time is quite

literally unleashed—filled with

energy, joy, and sometimes pure

silliness.

Like us, dogs need mental

stimulation. They need opportunities

to solve problems,

encounter new sights and smells,

and interact with their surroundings.

In short, a dog needs to be

a dog—sometimes in structured

settings, sometimes in spontaneous

ones.

Is a dog born to be wild? Maybe

not in the wilderness sense,

but a “safely free” dog is certainly

a happy one. And when that

freedom is balanced with guidance,

the reward is immeasurable:

boundless joy, deep appreciation,

and—most endearingly—the

sight of a tired dog curled up to

sleep.

How do we give our dogs both

freedom and safety? The answer

is multi-faceted, and includes

training, patience, boundaries,

and consistency. Freedom must

be earned and guided. Much like

a toddler at a playground, a dog

should explore under the watchful

eye of someone who knows

LIVING WITH LUKE

amyleclaire@hotmail.com

Off the Rails with Luke

What a baby bird, a garden hose, and Ozzy Osbourne taught me about doggy freedom.

when to step in and when to let

curiosity run its course.

Luke’s world may not be his

oyster—if I let him follow every

scent, he’d be lost at sea—but it’s

endlessly fascinating. And for

him, that’s freedom enough.

LUKE GETS CURIOUS

“Momma, the baby bird is

trapped in the bush!”

Sure enough, our rhododendron

held the proof: a tiny bird, quivering

on a branch.

“Ohhhh, you must be learning

to fly,” I whispered.

Luke nosed the shrub, tail in

overdrive, and barked like a first

responder calling in backup.

“Wahk! Wahk!”

Luke may have been trying to

help, but the baby bird’s parents,

sniping the situation from a high

branch in our maple, were not appreciative.

They dove and scolded

and flapped furious wings. Back

off, big guy. Our baby needs space.

I got the message. Luke, not

so much. He barked louder. The

birds squawked back. Soon it was

“WAHK! WAHK! WAHK!” versus

“WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!”

Time for a distraction.

“Bring it on, Snake-O!”

The garden hose never fails. Set

to “wild fountain mode,” it instantly

shifted the drama into comedy.

Luke bounded through the spray,

barking in rhythm as though doing

karaoke to Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy

Train. Off the rails? Absolutely.

But now everyone—the baby bird

included—was safe and free.

Freedom with dogs raises a bigger

question: how free is too free?

What if your dog is shy but

meets a bossy one? Or your dog

is bossy and meets another bossy

one? Years of owning and wrangling

dogs has taught me this:

extremes don’t work. A dog kept

too confined gets stir-crazy. A dog

raised without boundaries turns

into a wild child. The sweet spot is

somewhere in between.

Luke was a calm and curious

pup. When big dogs passed, he’d

flatten himself, chin on paws, and

wag his tail longingly. Wanna

be my friend? Most people were

charmed. “Your puppy is so calm

and cute!” they’d say.

But not every encounter was

storybook. A silver Lab once

snapped at him after a friendly

sniff. A golden snarled at him in

the park. A German Shepherd

went for his neck. Did it toughen

him up? Maybe. These days, Luke

stands his ground. He doesn’t start

trouble, but if another dog growls,

he’ll growl louder.

Still, “tough” isn’t the badge I

want for him. “Safe and confident”

is. Luke has learned the joy of

ignoring drama with an abundance

of training treats, along with the

all-important “leave it” command.

He struts back to me after walking

away from a scuffle like he’s earned

a medal.

“Momma, I don’t need their

headaches. All I need is you.” Such

simple behavior—the choice to

focus on me instead of the dogs—

has earned Luke rich rewards. Who

wouldn’t turn a head for a slice of

salmon?

That, to me, is the best kind of

freedom.

WHEN TRAINING GOES

OFF THE RAILS

Sometimes even good dogs—and

good owners—get schooled.

My relationship with Luke, like

any good relationship, is imperfectly

perfect. I care deeply. He

genuinely wants to please. But

every so often, life throws us a

curveball. And nothing spells

“teachable moment” quite like a

real-world doggy conflict.

Take, for instance, The Lake

Incident.

Luke had been swimming

happily in his lane at my parents’

lake house, minding his own

bubble-making business. (His art

form? Smacking the water with

his paws to create bubbles, then

chomping at them like he’s auditioning

for Shark Week.) If Luke

ever wrote a book, it would be

called The Joy of Swimming.

But more than water, Luke loves

people. And he adores our lake

neighbors. So, when I wandered

toward their dock—midway

between my parents’ shoreline and

the poodles who live down the

way—Luke followed. “Hi Cathy!

What a great day for boating!” I

called out. Luke chimed in with

a full-body paddle, the dolphin

of the family. Cathy, ever the gracious

lake hostess, called back, “Hi

Luke! You’re such a good swimmer!”

Luke basked in the stroke to his

ego. He lifted his head high and

paddled closer. The poodles down

the road were less impressed.

Barking from the shore

escalated into a chorus. Ignore,

ignore, ignore, Luke. Swimming

made him a different animal. I

prayed that he’d rely on the muscle

memory of good habits learned.

“WOOF, WOOF, WOOF!!” Unfortunately,

the curly temptation

before him was too great. A tall

white poodle leapt from the weeds

like a llama on candid camera!

Luke’s curiosity detonated. “A new

friend!” He bumbled through tall

grass with zero intention of obeying

me.

“Luke! Luke! Come!” I hollered,

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REAL ESTATE

More contracts are falling through.

Here’s how to get ahead.

When you sell a house, the

last thing you want is for

the deal to fall apart right

before closing. But according to the

latest data, that’s happening a bit

more often lately. The good news is,

it’s completely

avoidable

if you

lean on

your Realtor

for

insight

into why

that is

and how

BY MARK MARZEOTTI

to avoid it

happening

to

you.

This June, 15 percent of pending

home sales fell through. That

means those buyers backed out of

their contracts. That’s not too much

higher than the norm of roughly

12 percent from 2017-2019, but

it’s still an increase and it’s one you

don’t want to have to deal with.

The key to avoiding this headache

is knowing what’s causing the issues

that lead to a buyer walking

away. A recent survey from agents

reported the number one reason

deals are falling apart today is

stemming from the home inspection.

Here’s why. With high prices

and mortgage rates stretching buyers’

budgets, they don’t have a lot of

room (or appetite) for unexpected

repairs. Not to mention, buyers

have more options to choose from

now that there are more homes

on the market. So, if the inspection

turns up a major issue, they

may opt to walk away. After all,

there are plenty of other homes

they could buy instead. Or, if the

seller isn’t willing to take care of

repairs as a result of the inspection,

a buyer may back out because they

don’t want the expense and the

hassle of dealing with those issues

themselves.

The good news is, there’s a way

you can get ahead of any unpleasant

surprises as a seller, and that’s

getting a pre-listing inspection.

It’s not required, but the National

Association of Realtors (NAR)

explains why it’s helpful right now:

To keep deals from unraveling, it

allows a seller the opportunity to

address any repairs before the “For

Sale” sign even goes up. It also can

help avoid surprises like a costly

plumbing problem, a failing roof

or an outdated electrical panel that

could cause financially stretched

buyers to check out before closing.

What’s a Pre-Listing Inspection?

It’s exactly what it sounds like: a

professional home inspection you

schedule before your home hits the

market. Here’s what it can do for

you: Give you time to fix what matters.

You’ll know what issues could

come up in the buyer’s inspection.

So, you’ll have time to take care

of them before anyone even walks

through the door.

Avoid last-minute renegotiations.

When buyers uncover

unexpected issues after you’re

under contract, it opens the door

for concessions you may have to

make like price drops or repairs, or

worse, a canceled deal. A pre-listing

inspection helps you stay ahead

of those things before they become

deal breakers.

Show buyers you’re serious.

When your home is clean, wellmaintained,

and already vetted,

buyers see that. It builds trust and

can help you sell faster with fewer

back-and-forth negotiations. Did

you know that The Marzeotti

Group has taken the Home Inspectors

course in it’s entirely so we

are trained to see the home flaws

to be addressed before listing your

property? This too will help avoid

a failed sale! We are not licensed

home inspectors, but know what to

look for!

Should Every Seller Do This?

Not necessarily. Your real estate

agent can help you decide what

makes the most sense for your situation,

your house, and your market.

If you decide to move forward

with a pre-listing inspection, your

agent will guide you every step of

the way. They’ll advise on whether

to fix or what to disclose on each

issue. We will help you prioritize

repairs based on what buyers in

your area care about.

Mark Marzeotti

REALTOR®

Marzeotti Group

Mark.Marzeotti@LamacchiaRealty.com

(617) 519-1871

www.MarzeottiGroup.net

945 W Boylston Street

Worcester, MA 01606

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for All Your Home

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508.847.0728

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LUKE


Pocahontas in a bikini carrying

her weapon, a soaked stick. Sadly,

Luke wasn’t wearing his training

collar. Commands bounced right

off his wet ears. Meanwhile the

poodles, clever and agile, darted

back and forth, taunting him into

a strange game of freeze tag. “Betcha

can’t catch me. Woof, woof!

You don’t belong here!”

Then—confrontation. Luke

lunged from the tall grass with

a snarl. One poodle retreated.

The other circled back, snapping

at his backside. Suddenly

my sweet, wet-headed teddy bear

transformed into a wildebeest in

a nature documentary, growling,

twisting, and snapping—adrenaline

spraying everywhere. My pup

was ensnarled in a two-on-one

fight!

And then, as quickly as it began,

it stopped.

Luke caught sight of me, mudsplattered

and breathless on the

shore. His expression softened.

“They started it, Momma,” his

eyes seemed to say. Then, head

low, he waded back toward me.

“Sorry.”

I clipped his collar, and we

walked home, both of us humbled.

No one was hurt—not a

nip in sight. Just a lot of noise,

territory disputes, and egos. Dogs

being dogs.

The lesson? Knowledge is your

best tool. That, and a long leash for

lake swims. Because even the best

training doesn’t guarantee perfection.

And sometimes, the real lessons

come from the messy parts.

Write to Amy:

amyleclaire@hotmail.com

Follow Luke on IG

livingwithlukevalentino

Lodging ~ Daycare ~ Grooming

Training ~ Pet Supplies

139 Upton St. (Rt. 140),

Grafton, Ma 01519

Phone: 508-839-1757

Fax: 508-839-1736

Hours:

Mon.-Thurs. 6:30am to 6pm

Fri. 9:30am-4pm Closed for lunch 12-1pm

Sat. 8am to noon Sun. 5pm to 6pm only

Grafton@GibsonsNaturalPet.com

www.GibsonsNaturalPet.com


HAWK HILL

ORCHARDS

PICK YOUR OWN

APPLES

OPEN

Columbus Day

10am-5pm

OPEN Wednesday

thru Sunday

10am-5pm

Visit Our

Americana

Country

Store

•Apples •Peaches •Jams/Preserves

•Cider

•Dessert Breads

• Specialty Sauces •Gifts •Honey

and Salsas

•Fruit Pies

•Apple Crisp

•Apple Dumplings

•Apple Cider Donuts

83 Carleton Rd., Millbury, MA

508-865-4037

Harvest Festival by

Whitinsville VCC

Village Congregational Church

of Whitinsville is holding

its 2025 Harvest Festival on

Saturday, Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. – 3

p.m. on the Northbridge Town

Common across from the church

at 5 Church Street. (Rain date is

Sept. 28 from 12-4 p.m.)

The 17th annual event promises

a day of arts, crafts, vendors, food

court, music, children’s activities,

an obstacle course, face painting,

Maggie the Clown, a tag sale and a

Offering...

•Dogs, Cats, Small Pets & Select Exotics

•Wellness & Preventive Care

•In-House Lab & Diagnostics

•Medical, Surgical & Dental Services

•Pain Management, Acupuncture & Laser Therapy

whole lot of raffle prizes including

a 50/50 raffle. Bring your family

pet by at 10:30 a.m. for the Blessing

of the Pets.

All proceeds from the festival

benefit the church’s mission including

Thanksgiving and Easter

food baskets for families in need;

the NAC Food Pantry and Peace

of Bread Mission; school supply

drive for local students and the

Blackstone Valley Emergency

Warming Centers.

18 GRANITE STREET

WHITINSVILLE, MA 01588

508-234-9987

info@pawstepsvet.com

Monday-Thursday: 8am-6pm

Friday: 9am-5pm

Closed Saturday & Sunday

•End-of-Life & Compassion Services with limited Home Care for existing patients

•Visiting Specialists for Ultrasonography, Endoscopy & Cardiology

Create a meaningful

online memorial

tribute to honor,

remember and

celebrate your

beloved pet.

Scarecrows on

Douglas Common

Scarecrows will be arriving

at the Douglas Common on

October 4 and 5 this year

and will remain on display for

the public to enjoy until November

8 as the Douglas Common

Preservation Society, Inc. holds

its 2nd Annual Douglas Common

Scarecrow Contest.

Are you ready for a little fall

fun and the chance to win one of

three prizes for “Favorite Scarecrow”?

If you live in Douglas or

any of the surrounding towns,

you are invited to enter the contest

and bring your creativity and

talent to share with the community.

Contest details, entry form

and guidelines are available on

the Douglas Common Preservation

Society, Inc. Facebook page

and on several local Group FB

pages, including We Are Dynamic

Douglas. If you aren’t on

Facebook, you can request your

paperwork by emailing lynnparesky@aol.com

or pick up a

flyer at various local businesses.

Free Flu Clinic

The community will be involved

in voting for the Contest

winners this year, so make sure

you visit the display at the Common

by the October 28 voting

deadline! Public voting will

be available online, via email,

or by regular mail for Favorite

Scarecrow (one vote per person

received by October 28th), and

prizes will be awarded to the

three scarecrows receiving the

highest number of votes. First

Place is a $150 Amazon Gift

Card; Second Place is a $100

Amazon Gift Card; and Third

Place is a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Winners will be announced and

prizes presented at the Awards

Ceremony to be held on November

1st at 1 pm at the Common.

Winners will be notified if not

present and arrangements will be

made for them to pick up their

prizes.

Thanks to each of our sponsors

for making this event possible

with their generous support.

The Uxbridge Senior Center located at 36 South Main Street in

Uxbridge is proud to sponsor a Free Flu Shot Clinic. This is an

annual program, which will be provided again this year by the

Uxbridge Hannaford’s Pharmacy. The clinic will take place on Tuesday,

October 7 from 9 a.m. -12 p.m. at the Senior Center. Everyone

is welcome; the 65+ flu vaccine will be available for those that are

interested. Please bring your insurance cards with you, no copays

required and remember to wear a short-sleeved shirt. Safety precautions

will be in place for everyone’s safety. Please call the Senior

Center to obtain your registration forms before attending this event

at 508-278-8622 or email: lbernard@uxbridge-ma.gov

45 N. Main Street, Millbury

508.865.2560

www.mulhane.com

Scan for info

For your free online pet tribute visit

our website or contact us directly

at matthew@mulhane.com

508-865-2560

www.mulhanepettributes.com

THOMPSON

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774-280-2281

fullcircletree@yahoo.com


TALES FROM BEYOND

The Dancing Mortar

BY THOMAS D’AGOSTINO

There are many tales and

ghost stories of Block Island,

a small island just off the

coast of Southern Rhode Island.

The Palatine Light, Dutch Kattern,

and the Pirate Lee are just

a few of the famous narratives

islanders still tell. One lesser tale

told is that of the dancing mortar.

A mortar, along with a pestle, is

a device used to grind grains or

herbs, depending on the size. The

possessed implement in question

was said to have been fashioned

from the lignum-vitae wood of

the famous ghost ship Palatine.

The vessel was actually called

the Princess Augusta, but became

known by the former moniker,

being made famous in John

Greenleaf Whittier’s famous

poem of the ghost ship. Old

timers on the island once related

the story with utmost certainty,

swearing that the mortar was a

cursed byproduct of the devil.

The mortar stood 14 inches

high and 10 inches in diameter

and was quite heavy compared to

its size. It was first owned by a

man named Simon Ray, who had

the distinction of sheltering and

nursing many of the survivors of

the Princess Augusta shipwreck.

Those who passed while in the

family’s care were buried in a

grave not far from the home.

When he and his family passed

on, the property, including the

mortar, came into the possession

of a man named Dodge. Dodge

was convinced that the spirits

of the former tenants, including

those of the famous shipwreck

who passed within its walls, were

still in the house.

The mortar, which came with

the homestead, was claimed to be

possessed with some unknown

spectral powers. Wild accounts

soon flooded the local stores and

shops, of how the mortar would

suddenly start flitting about or

spinning on its base without any

human intervention. When the

tool became bored with such

meager antics, it began to flip

itself on its side and roll around

the room. It would then right

itself and start hopping up and

down, sometimes touching the

ceiling rafters before hopping

across the room again.

Attempts to exorcise the

demon in the mortar were to no

avail. It was used as a chopping

block, but would not sit still long

enough to fulfill such a task.

Finally, it was laid on the base of

a large stone and anchored with

heavy boulders, whereas Ethel

Colt Ritchie put it in her book

Block Island Legends and Lore,

“it lay restrained from its ghostly

ballet by the sober cold stone

surrounding it.”

This is not the end of the dancing

mortar tale, for it was later

removed from the stone crypt

by the Dickens family, and once

again began its recreation to the

point where they decided to finally

rid the island of it. The mortar

was donated to Brown University,

where it was displayed with

other artifacts of early Americana

in the university’s Rhode

Island Hall. The mortar stayed

on display throughout the 1950s

but vanished around 1960 when

the hall was cleaned out to make

room for a new department.

The whereabouts of the dancing

mortar has been a mystery

since. No one from the Block Island

Historical Society or Brown

University has any recollection

of where the mortar may have

gone. Perhaps it sits in someone’s

private home, waiting for

the right time to once again come

to life and begin hopping and

jumping around. Or, just maybe,

the demons that once possessed

the object left the dancing mortar

when it was removed from the

island. If so, where did they go

and what may they be currently

possessing on the magical atoll

we call Block Island?

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Things to Consider When the Manufacturer States Fluid

is Lifetime

Q.

I

like new with coolant,

have a 2016 Mazda CX5

with 115, 000 miles, runs

brake, trans axle fluid changes as

well as numerous engine oil changes.

What baffles me is that Mazda

does not recommend transmission

fluid/ filter changes. They say it is

good for ‘ the life of the car.’ Your

thoughts on this and what exactly

should be done? A simple fluid

drain and refill, pan dropped and

cleaned with new filter or complete

flush.? What should I be paying for

this service?

A.

Always an interesting

question, when the

manufacturer says lifetime

fluid. As an example, BMW lists

the transmission fluid as a lifetime

fill, but the transmission manufacturers

state the fluid should be

changed every 60,000 miles. I think

it is a good idea to change the fluid

(drain and refill) depending on

how you drive. If you tow a trailer,

drive for ride hailing or part time

deliveries I would change the fluid

every 50-60,000 miles. If you drive

nice and easy perhaps you can go

much longer. As for cost, I would

only use Mazda fluid at $10-$20

per quart with about five quarts

needed. Expect about an hour

labor for the service. I would avoid

a transmission flush and stay with

a drain and refill.

Q. and it is only Thursday.

I have had to jumpstart my

car eight times this week

This eighth time, before I could

leave my office AAA had to come

out and jump it for me because my

jumper kit had run out of battery

from jumping the car on average

twice a day for the past three

Q.

I still

listen

to

AM radio BY JOHN PAUL

and lately the

reception is not good. What can I

do to improve the radio reception

back to when the car was new?

A.

The most common issue

is a dead ground with the

antenna. As rust builds up

under the antenna mount, this can

cause electrical noise, introducing

static and interference into the

radio signal. Start with checking

the antenna and if possible clean

up the mounting area. Also, check

any chassis ground cables for green

corrosion.

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weeks. My current battery is only

13 months old, and I turn off the

headlights, the radio, unplug any

chargers from the car every time I

turn it off. What more can I do to

ensure I have a reliable car? It’s a

2015 Honda CRV.

A.

Although the battery may

have an issue now (you can

only jumpstart a battery

so many times), at some point the

battery needs to be charged with

a battery charger and then tested.

From your description, it sounds

like your car has a parasitic drain.

Some component is not shutting

down and draining the battery.

Common issues are defective

relays, hood latch and the driver’s

door handle which can cause

curtesy lights to come on. At this

point the car needs to have the battery

charged, alternator tested for

output and then a test for parasitic

drain. The shop may need the car

for more than one day to test the

electronics.

Q.

Question about trading in

my 2019 Subaru Outback.

Carvana offered $11,600

trade in, sight unseen. If they see

something they don’t like, can they

drop that price? And if so, would I

still be obligated?

A.

Carvana claims you can get

a real offer in two minutes.

You can trade in the car or

sell it to them 100 percent online.

In Carvana words: “No haggling,

no headaches”. A neighbor of mine

wanted to trade in his Ford F-150

for the smaller Ford Ranger. The

local Ford dealer offered $19,000

for a trade, Carvana offered

$23,000. He was prepared to take

the Carvana offer, and the local

dealer stepped up and matched

the price. So Carvana can make

it easy to sell

your car or use

their price as

a negotiating

tool.

Q.

Have you ever tested out

the Harbor Freight ICON

scan tools. I was about five

years into working as a tech and

although our shop has a Snap -on

scan tool, sometimes others are

using it. In the meantime, I purchased

an Innova 5610 scan tool

and it does pretty good, but I was

looking for something better.

A.

The Innova 5610 is a good

tool and with bi-directional

controls can handle many

tasks. I recently have been using

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Vampires In New England

The Willard House & Clock Museum will indulge your

dark side during the spooky season on Thursday, Oct. 30

from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the museum, 11 Willard Street,

North Grafton. Tom Kelleher current Historian and Curator

of Mechanical Arts at Old Sturbridge Village will give a talk

on Vampirism in New England.

There was a belief in rural New England (mostly

Rhode Island, Connecticut and Vermont) that consumption

(we know it as tuberculosis) was somehow

spread by evil spirits living in dead bodies. People

hoped that by disturbing or mutilating a corpse the

evil spirit would not infect a living family member.

Nohting about corpses rising from graves , bats or

sucking blood.

Kelleher has worn many hats both literally and

figuratively for over 40 years at Sturbridge Village.

A past president of the international Association for

Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums,

he regularly teaches and demonstrates at museums,

parks, and historical societies around the country. Tom holds

a Master’s in history from the University of Connecticut, and

writes often for a variety of magazines and journals, including

Early American Life.

Flea Market and

Craft Fair

The Millbury First Congregational Church, 148 West Main St.,

Millbury will hold a Flea Market and Craft Fair on Saturday,

September 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“The Kitchen” will be selling refreshments and at lunch time, hot

dogs will be served. There will also be a Bakery Table, and a Church

Flea Market Table.

CAR DOCTOR


the Harbor Freight ICON T-10

and it is very impressive. There are

submenus listed that I did not see

on much more expensive tools.

Not cheap but it also comes with a

battery tester and borescope. The

borescope with the large tablet display

is very nice. Everything from

the unit itself, charging dock, to

cables, to the quality case put it in

the professional scan tool category.

Q.

I

working on my car. Is

have noticed I use only

the metric sockets when

it safe to donate or sell the SAE

sockets?

A.

Although your car may use

metric sockets, sometimes

working around the house

you will need SAE sizes. I have an

old Honda push mower that was

given to me, and the Honda engine

is metric but the deck bolts are

all SAE sizes. When I quit being

a working mechanic, I kept SAE

sockets and wrenches and donated

more specialized tools, large sockets,

pullers, air tools and testers to

the local vocational school.

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Happenings!

NOTE: Community bulletin board-type

items are welcome for inclusion in the Happenings!

section of the Xpress newspapers.

Please allow enough lead time for publication.

Email your calendar or event notice to

news@theyankeexpress.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

• Oxford Fall Festival sponsored by the

Oxford Lions Club at Joslin Park, Oxford

Center from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lots of

vendors. Food available for purchase,

Grafton

FLEA MARKET

Looking to go into business for yourself OR

Looking to expand your current business?

Reach 1000s of

people a week

The Grafton Flea Market is an indoor/outdoor

market with hundreds of dealers and has been in

operation for over 50 years. Conveniently located at

296 Upton St., Rte. 140

on the Upton-Grafton Town Line

For more information

call 508-839-2217

or visit www.graftonflea.com

American Legion

Chester P. Tuttle Post 279

THURSDAY IS....

By

Wise Guy

Trivia

7-9 PM!

Every Friday

Live Bands

Sept. 26

Fender Road

kids’ activities, entertainment, 50/50

raffle.

• Friends of WSL Book Sale from 10:30

a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The Friends of the

Whitinsville Social Library are holding

their annual fall book sale with a ton of

great quality used books and media for

great prices! Support your local library

and snag your next read. The sale is

on the library’s front lawn, weather

permitting.

• Book Sale - Friends of the Auburn

Public Library, 369 Southbridge Street,

Auburn. Tables will be set up outdoors

by the pond - 10 am - 12:30 pm

Payment: Cash, Check, or PayPal

Questions? email: friendsofauburnplibrary@gmail.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2

• The Museum of the Millbury Historical

society will be open from 4-6 p.m.

This coincides with the Millbury Farmes

Open

Every

Sat. & Sun.

88 Bancroft St., Auburn, MA 01501

7:30pm-

11pm

Every Friday 7-10

$10 cover

charge for bands

unless receipt of same

day liquor and/or food

purchase from

the Tuttle.

ALL Are Welcome!

Membership Not Required!

Monday - Saturday: 11:00-1:00 • Sunday: 11:30-close

Cruise Nights

Every Tuesday • 4-7pm

Hamburgers•Hot Dogs

•Sausage Sandwiches

Featuring...

Market held outside at the Mansion

from 3-7 p.m. with many vendors

participating. You can pick your fresh

produce, groceries and other items from

numerous vendors and picking up some

Millbury history, too!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4

• Friends of the Uxbridge Free Public

Library Book & Bake Sale from 9 a.m.- 1

p.m.

It’s a great opportunity to find literary

treasures and homemade treats while

supporting your library! At 15 North

Main Street.

• Douglas Oktoberfest 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Main Street, Douglas. The event is a high

point of the season, drawing thousands

each year. Main Street is lined with

vendors offering food, crafts, games,

displays and even weiner dog races.

There are also performances by singers,

bands, choral groups, dancers and

variety shows. Enjoy the family friendly

rides and games including the popular

Huge Slide, train and obstacle course.

The cash cube with prizes remains a

highlight. Craft vendors, food, kids’ attractions

and more.

• Dudley Grange # 163 Annual Apple

Festival from 10 a.m .- 3 p.m.

The Festival takes place on the lawn in

front of the historic Dudley Grange Hall,

139 Center Road, Dudley. The Festival

is held in conjunction with the Black

Tavern Historical Society’s Annual Craft

Fair, located across from the Grange.

The Apple Festival features live music,

hot apple crisp and other delicious food

options. This is a rain or shine event.

• The Overlook in Charlton hosts its 8th

Annual Fall Festival from 11 a.m. – 4

p.m. This public event takes place at 88

Masonic Home Road and will feature

vendor booths, live music, hayrides, kids’

games, and seasonal treats.

Tiny Tim’s at the Tuttle

Open for Breakfast & Lunch 7 days a week

Sun. & Mon. 7am-2pm, Tues. to Thurs. 7am-8pm,

Fri. & Sat. 7am-9pm

Phone: (508) 832-2701

For Hall Reservations: (508)-721-5142

or email TinyTimsCatering@gmail.com

ENTERTAINMENT

Karaoke every Saturday

Richie and his Famous

Ice Cream Truck!

8-11:00 pm

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5

• Dudley Fall Festival at Shepherd Hill

Regional High School, 68 Dudley-Oxford

Road, Dudley. From 11:30 a.m. – 2:30

p.m. Enjoy a free trunk or treat event.

Food trucks, carnival games and vendors.

Rain date Oct. 19.

• Sing with the BVCC! The Blackstone

Valley Community Chorus welcomes

new and returning singers to Open Call

for our 2025 holiday concert season!

Open Call will take place on Sunday,

October 5th, at 6:00pm at the Douglas

Municipal Center Resource Room located

at 29 Depot Street in Douglas. New

members do not need to prepare an

audition song, but should come ready to

sing. There is a $35 membership fee to

join. Rehearsals take place on Sundays

at 6:00pm at the Douglas Municipal

Center beginning on October 19th. This

season the BVCC is preparing a Holiday

Spectacular to be performed with a full

orchestra on December 14th at Valley

Chapel in Uxbridge.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7

• Sutton Historical Society will hold its

Annual Meeting at 7 pm in the First

Congregational Church, 307 Boston

Road, Sutton.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8

• Cybersecurity and You: learn how

to stay safe online at Charlton Public

Library. Join the Charlton Public Library

for a Cybersecurity class on Wednesday,

October 8 at 10:30 am. Art Torres from

POST Computer Systems will be here to

teach techniques and tips to help you

avoid losing your valuable information

and money to cyber criminals. There

will be plenty of time for questions! A

complete schedule of upcoming digital

literacy events can be viewed on the

Library’s calendar at https://charltonlibrary.org/event-calendar/

Charlton

Public Library is located at 40 Main

Street in Charlton.

OCTOBER 9 - 23

• History Leads At Simon Fairfield

Online Library Auction! The sixth annual

Friends of the Simon Fairfield Public

Library Online Auction will run October

9 – 23. This year’s featured items

include a 19th c. Douglas Axe from the

Hunt Manufacturing Company, and

a rare first edition Civil War Military

HAPPENINGS!


GIANT CHURCH

Saturday, September 27

8 am to 2 pm

St. Roch Church parking lot

334 Main Street, Oxford, MA

Rain date - Sat., Oct. 4

Dictionary inscribed by Brevet Major

Louis Edwin Granger, 13th Massachusetts

Infantry, who fought at Bull Run,

Antietam, and Gettysburg, and was

breveted three times for bravery. This is

a unique opportunity to own a piece of

Civil War and Massachusetts history. The

auction also offers a great selection of

goods and services, including home and

garden treasures, handcrafted, antiques

and vintage goods, vacation packages,

and useful services. For more information

visit the Friends page on the library

website at: mysfpl.org/friends .

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

• Halloween Harvest Festival at Douglas

Orchard and Farm, 36 Locust Street,

Douglas from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Get ready

for a tail-wagging, treat-filled Halloween

Festival with our amazing partners,

Dog Orphans. Bring your pups dressed in

their spookiest, silliest, or most creative

Halloween costumes for our pawsitively

adorable Dog Costume Parade

Contest—winners will be announced

with fang-tastic prizes. Kids can join the

spooky scavenger hunt around the farm

and grab their treat bags full of goodies.

Don’t forget to come in your Halloween

best, because it’s costumes galore for

everyone! Plus, enjoy magical performances

by the Witches of Sutton and

the talented Dance Sensation children’s

dance troupe. It’s going to be frightfully

fun for the whole family!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16

• The Blackstone Valley Chamber of

Commerce (BVCC) announces its

upcoming Business After Hours networking

event, hosted by Fidelity

Bank in Millbury. The event will take

place on from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Fidelity

Bank’s Armory Village branch, located at

16 South Main Street, Millbury. It’s free

to attend!

• The Friends of the Auburn Public Library

host Robert Stacy, historian at the

Museum of Worcester who will give a

presentation on “The Lives of Worcester

Workers 1830-Present from 6:30-8 p.m.

at the Pakachoag Center, 203 Pakachoag

Street, Auburn. The doors open at 6 p.m.

Admission is $15. Payment by cash,


HAPPENINGS!


check or PayPal. The event is a fundraiser

for the Friends. Kindly pre-register

at friendsofauburnplibrary@gmail.com

SATURDAY OCTOBER 18 AND SUN-

DAY OCTOBER 19

• 45th Annual Waters Farm Days 53

Waters Farm Road, West Sutton. 10

a.m. – 4 p.m. Antique tractor and

Doodlebug show, animal exhibition, 4H

animals, craft vendors, tractor pull, car

show, food vendors, barrel train, kids’

bouncy houses, robotics club, police/

fireman meet and greet, blacksmith and

shingle making demonstration, pottery

demonstration, peddler shop, tractorpulled

hay rides, apple crisp, and circa

1757 farm house tours.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19

• The Museum of the Millbury Historical

Society at the Asa Waters Mansion,

123 Elm Street, will be open from 11

a.m. until 5 p.m. This coincides with the

Asa Waters Fall Festival. Some of the

museum’s holdings are: 100 years of

Aftermath yearbooks; photos: churches,

schools, downtown, sports; scrapbooks;

research books & histories of Millbury

& Sutton going back to colonial times.

Also, President Taft photos and memorabilia;

military uniforms, guns, and flags.

• Fall Festival in Nelson Park, North

Grafton, 6 Prentice Street from 11 a.m.

– 2 p.m. There will be music, inflatables,

food trucks, and local businesses joining

in on the fun! FREE!! Music, food, games

and more ! Decorate a pumpkin and

build a scarecrow while supplies last.

Halloween fun! Presented by Coral Care

& Country Bank.

• Join Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf

Volunteers for the Annual Crop Hunger

Walk. Beginning at First Congregational

Church, 355 Main Street, Oxford at 1

p.m. Please arrive at 12:30 to sign in.

This is an easy 3.5 mile walk through

Oxford. A small monetary donation is

requested. This year’s goal is $2500

which will help stock the shelves of the

Food Shelf, Oxford’s community food

pantry, in the weeks ahead. Register

at crophungerwalk.org or just show up

on the 19th. The food pantry is open to

Oxford residents for free.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22

• Friendly Trick or Treat from 3 – 4 p.m.at

Grafton Municipal Center, 30 Providence

Road,Grafton. Hosted by Grafton Rec

and sponsored by the Town. The event is

designed for ages 5 and under, though

all are welcome. Come visit Town Hall

and trick or treat at town offices and

tables set up by local businesses. Dress

up in your costume and collect goodies

in a safely lighted and non-scary environment.

Start at the Senior Center Gym

tent to collect your bag and a map. Face

painting available! Halloween Fun!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23

• The Sutton Garden Club will host Gretel

Anspach, Trustee of Mass Horticulture

and a Lifetime Master Gardener of the

MA Master Gardener Association,who

will talk about cold frames and hoop

houses to extend the growing season

by as much as 2-4 weeks. These tools

let you transition seedlings and from

windowsills or greenhouses to the outdoors.

Presented at 7 p.m. at the A.L.

Dudley-Gendron Post 414, 156 Boston

Post Road, Sutton. The Garden Club

welcomes new members: $20 individual

or $30 for a family.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25

• St. Patrick’s Church Autumn Recycling

Event, 7 East Street, Whitinsville. 8

a.m. – 1 p.m. Accepting gently used

books (no encyclopedias), media &

magazines, gently used textiles/clothing

and accessories, electronics for a

fee (no propane, batteries, lightbulbs),

rinsed bottles/cans returnable in MA

(no glass). Please keep items for each

station separate. Call 508-234-5656 or

contact Officesupport@mystpatricks.

com for price list or questions. Proceeds

benefit Youth in Action service projects.

• The Sutton Historical Society will be

set up at the M. M. Sherman Blacksmith

Shop, 6 Singletary Avenue, from 4-7

p.m. as part of the OMG Pumpkin Festival

2025 hosting a miniature Halloween

village exhibit, Revolutionary War metal

detecting finds from several Sutton

farms, and interpreters sharing some

of Sutton’s more colorful and historic

events. This community event at the

Sutton Common is sponsored by the

Sutton Fourth organization and includes

a costume parade, tractor parade,

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

scarecrow and jack-o-lantern contests,

trunk-or-treat at the school complex,

as well as a Boo Bash at the Sutton

Library. More information can be found

at thesuttonfourth.org. This event is

free and open to the general public of

all ages. The Historic Sutton Center

Walking Tour begins at 5 p.m. on Sutton

Town Common, 4 Uxbridge Road. Reenactors

will guide visitors to multiple

stops around the Common sharing the

town’s history and some stories befitting

the Halloween season.

• Food Truck Fright Fest 2025, 3:00 PM

- 9:00 PM. On the grounds of Nichols

College 121 Center Road, Dudley. Parking

and Admission is FREE - Open to the

General Public. The event of the season,

Fright Fest 2025 offers visitors and their

families a safe, fun environment to “trick

or treat” among the festively decorated

grounds and food trucks. Enjoy fantastic

food from all your favorite food trucks.

Visit the Oktoberfest Beer Garden for

craft beer, wine and seasonal favorites.

Costumes are encouraged. Cash prizes

awarded for best costumes. There will

be music and fun for everyone!

The Blackstone Valley Crop Hunger Walk

will be held on Saturday, October 25 -

starting at 9 am at the Village Congregational

Church in Whitinsville with

registration at 8:30 am. For more

information, contact Barbara Fortin at

508-234-2137.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1

• Annual Holiday Fair from 9 a.m. – 2

p.m. at St. Denis Church, 23 Manchaug

Road, Douglas. Crafts, raffles, baked

goods, kids’ table. Luncheon served from

FALL HOURS

at Samuel Slater’s

Restaurant

Weekly Specials at

Samuel Slater’s Restaurant

HAPPY HOUR

1/2 PRICE BAR:

APPS:

$5 BEER

WEDNESDAYS &

$6 WINE

THURSDAYS (4PM-6PM)

ONE PER PERSON MAX. PORTIONS MAY $7 COCKTAIL

THESE PRICES ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE.

VARY. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH

OTHER OFFERS OR SPECIAL EVENTS.

PRIME RIB

WEDNESDAYS

WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY

(4-9pm)

SATURDAY(12-9pm)

SUNDAY(12-8pm)

BAR OPTIONS ARE ROTATING.

12oz plus two sides for $25

STARTING AT 4PM • LIMITED TIME OFFER

WHILE SUPPLIES LAST • DINE-IN ONLY

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Vendor spaces still

available.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7

• Then Grafton Land Trust will hold its

annual dinner meeting at 6 p.m. at

the Highfields Golf Club in Grafton.

This year’s speaker will be Dr. Stephen

Mrozowski, the founding director of

the Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for

Archeological Research at University of

Massachusetts Boston.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9

• The Polish American Social & Civil Club

is having a Polka Dance 1-5pm Featuring

Dennis Polisky & Maestro's Men. Located

UPCOMING

EVENTS

in Samuel

Slater’s Hall

OCTOBER 17

OCTOBER 31

NOVEMBER 21

FOR MENUS, RESERVATIONS, TICKETS, AND MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.SAMUELSLATERS.COM

OVERLOOKING WEBSTER LAKE • 200 GORE ROAD, WEBSTER, MA

•Leaf Removal

•Irrigation Winterization

•Backhoe and

Excavator Services

•Weekly Mowing

•Walls & Walkways

508-839-7354

508-769-3273 cell

Jamey yaylaian

at 217 Mendon Street Uxbridge.. Plenty

of seating and area for dancing. Full

bar,food, and raffles will be available for

purchase. $15 admission for more info

please email uxbridgepascc@gmail.com

or call 508-278-7583. POLKA MUSIC returns

to Uxbridge so mark your calendar

so you don't miss out on a great time!!!

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11

• Charlotte Wilson will share fascinating

facts about Sutton’s citizenry during

Revolutionary days at 7 p.m. in the first

Congregational Church, 307 Boston

Road, Sutton. Courtesy of the Sutton

Historical Society.

OCTOBER 10

OCTOBER 24

NOVEMBER 8

NOVEMBER 29

OCTOBER 11

OCTOBER 25

NOVEMBER 15

DECEMBER 13


FOR ALL YOUR FUEL NEEDS

NEW BOILER INSTALLS

• Crown Boilers

• Williamson Furnaces

• Oil Tank Installs

Central air conditioning

and ductless mini splits

ALL NEW

INSTALLS COME WITH

A 3 YEAR PARTS

AND LABOR WARRANTY,

AS WELL AS THE

MANUFACTURERS

WARRANTY.

We do NOT

Sell Biofuel!

Which will help prevent

system breakdowns.

HELP WANTED -

Class B CDL driver with air brake, tanker and hazmat

endorsements. Must have DOT Medical Card.

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

A Full Service Oil Company

24-Hour Emergency Service

WWW.LMTOIL.COM • WE DO ONLINE ORDERING

RS 974

FREE RENTAL

NEVER PAY FULL DEDUCTIBLE!

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

restrictions apply

508-839-9508

Let Napoli Cook for You this Celebration Season!

We cater all events big and small, including corporate meetings, showers, graduations, mercy meals & weddings.

CALL TODAY TO ORDER YOUR HOLIDAY PIES, PASTRIES AND COOKIE PLATTERS!

Thanksgiving Dinner

One Fresh 22-24 lb. Turkey

New England Butternut Squash • House-made Russet Whipped Potato

House made Sage Stuffing • Green Bean Casserole

Cranberry Sauce • 10” Apple Pie • 10” Pumpkin Pie

Turkey comes in pan, deboned, brined, seasoned, and ready to bake!

All sides served in 1/2 pans for easy re-heating!

Perfect for 10-12 people • $525

All orders MUST be placed by November 19 th and picked up

between 10am-2pm on Wednesday, November 26 th

Corporate Thanksgiving

Catering Special

Fresh Roast Turkey, House-made Sage Stuffing

Turkey Gravy, House-made Russet Whipped Potato

New England Butternut Squash • Cranberry Sauce • Apple Crisp • Bread

$28.95 per person • Minimum 20 People • Delivery Available

Add Paper Products $2.50 per person

Assorted Beverages $2.75 per person

1 Week Notice Required

Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner at one of the tables in our restaurant or you call ahead for takeout.

Feel free to bring your own beer or wine; we’ll supply the glasses.

79 S. Quinsigamond Ave, Shrewsbury • 508-798-7999 • napolideli.com

Blackstone Valley Xpress North Edition - Sept. 26, 2025

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Blackstone Valley Xpress North Edition - Sept. 26, 2025

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