CA Summer Guide 220527

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022 • 11

pull out and save all season!

r e m m Su 2 2 0 2 n u f Relax and enjoy every evening with your brand-new luxury hot tub!

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12 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022

Summer fun 2022

Entertain in Style Family Features

ahead of time, making lists can be a helpful way to stay organized and ensure you get everything done. List out your guests, what needs to be picked up from the store and possible decorations you might need to buy or craft yourself. The possibilities can seem endless, but it’s important to have a plan in place before you start putting things together.

I

t’s never too early to plan ahead, especially when you are expecting guests in your home. Your family and friends know and might love your style, but it can be important to spice things up now and again to impress your visitors.

Factors such as lights, music and food can affect your guests experience in your home.

To remain stylish and keep your party going, consider these tips for fun and festive home entertaining.

Think about Theme.

There are numerous ways your style can be shown while entertaining. One way is to pick a theme or theme-related food dishes. One way to show your theme is through decorations.

Placing them throughout your home can give the party some life and help guests get into the overall theme of the party.

Back to Basics.

Staying organized is key while entertaining guests in your home. Try to plan out every detail before the big event, which can allow things to go more smoothly on the big day.

As you think out your plan

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 28, 2021 • 13

Summer fun 2022 Light up the Party.

Transforming your home can be made simpler by changing the lighting. It’s typical for lights to be dimmed for parties to set a more relaxed mood. Other ideas include using candles, lamps or even hanging lanterns if you are entertaining outside. Make sure it’s bright enough so everyone can see, but dimmed enough to set the mood for the evening’s events.

Set the Mood with Music.

Pick music that matches your theme and inspires that same feel throughout the house.

If you’re going for a fun, energetic atmosphere, try something with a quick tempo, such as pop.

If you’re wanting to relax, go for subtler, soothing tones. Try making your playlist before you entertain and listen to it a few times through, that way you can know what to expect and how guests will react to your music selections.

Enjoy it.

Through all the anxiety and stress of entertainment planning, make sure you take time to enjoy yourself during the time guests are in your home. Some guests will notice if you’re not having a good time. Smile and remember to be present in the moment.

Find more entertainment tips at eLivingToday.com.

SOURCE: ELIVINGTODAY.COM

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14 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022

Summer fun 2022

Get Away Without Going Away 5 family staycation ideas that won’t break your budget eLivingtoday.com

Visit local landmarks. Just because it’s not a traditional vacation doesn’t mean you can’t pretend to be tourists.

Start by visiting the places you recommend to friends and family from out of town or pick up a city guidebook to uncover hidden spots you may not even know exist. Make a plan to seek out historic sites, visit local landmarks like museums or try an out-of-the-way restaurant (or two) you’ve never eaten at before.

F

amily vacations are a great way to bond and take a step back from the hectic schedules that accompany everyday life, but sometimes time or money (or both) make planning an elaborate trip a non-starter.

However, a staycation - a vacation you take right in your hometown (or nearby) - can be much less expensive and fit into nearly any amount of available time with the added bonus of skipping out on potentially stressful travel.

Camp out in the backyard.

Camping doesn’t have to be done far from home. In fact, it can be done right in your own backyard. Pitch a tent to sleep under the stars and plan a night full of traditional camping activities like roasting s’mores, telling spooky stories

Consider these staycation ideas to take advantage of your local area’s attractions and prove you don’t have to go far to spend quality time together.

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022 • 15

Summer fun 2022 by flashlight and trying to identify stars and constellations.

Set up a picnic in the park. Pack a basket with sandwiches, fruit and other treats and head to the park. You can enjoy a casual meal then take advantage of the open space for a family walk or game of tag before retreating to the playground to let the little ones expel any leftover energy.

Have a home spa day. If you’re looking for some relaxation but don’t want to splurge on the full spa treatment, plan an at-home oasis instead. Light some candles, run a bubble bath and break out the facial masks and fingernail polish.

Visit an amusement park. No matter where you live, there’s probably an amusement or water park within driving distance. A quick online search before you arrive can help prepare a strategy for hitting the most popular thrill rides and waterslides while skipping those that may not provide quite the same entertainment value.

Find more tips and tricks for enjoying family time together at eLivingtoday.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

SOURCE: ELIVINGTODAY.COM

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16 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022

Summer fun 2022 5 Tips for Gardening with Kids Family Features

A

fter months of cool weather, the first hint of spring will likely have the whole family eager to dive into outdoor

activities. This year, as you begin tackling the garden, find ways to get the youngest family members in on the action, too.

Not only is gardening an activity you can enjoy together,

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Summer Activities & Gatherings

there are numerous ways to incorporate age-appropriate, teachable moments from counting and colors to responsible care of living things.

Creating a positive first

experience with gardening can start with this simple advice: * Dedicate a spot for a junior garden, which allows you to instill a sense of pride and ownership in the little gardener

while protecting your own garden areas from ambitious young hands. * Provide appropriate tools in child sizes. Just as you would teach a child the finer points of baseball using a bat and glove, demonstrate the joys of gardening with tools such as a rake, hoe and trowel, all of which can be found in sizes more manageable for little helpers. * Let the kids choose what to plant. Whether flowers or food plants, allow children to make their own decisions (within reason) about what they would like to grow. This can help them engage in the magic of watching items they selected emerge from the ground and grow into their finished forms. * Encourage exposure to unfamiliar plants that entice the senses with appealing smells and flavors. Herbs such as chives, mint and basil are good choices, or consider edible flowers such as pansies or violets. * Set an example for your child to imitate by giving regular and proper care to your own garden.

Remember to bring the lesson full circle by enjoying the bounty of your garden together, whether it’s a small hand-cut bouquet or a meal featuring your child’s freshgrown produce. Find more tips for gardening with your kids at eLivingtoday.com.

SOURCE: FAMILY FEATURES

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022 • 17

Summer fun 2022

5 Tips to Stretch Your Summer Travel Budget Family Features

M

PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

any of the nation’s leading travel experts are predicting a surge in travel this summer. It’s no surprise that after months of restrictions, Americans are ready to set out on their next adventures.

While popular destinations are likely to be open and welcoming visitors, the uptick in traffic combined with higher prices may translate into more expensive travel.

If you’re planning a trip this summer, learn how to incorporate some smart spending strategies with these tips from the financial experts at Credit One Bank: Be flexible on travel dates and destinations. Unless your travel is tied to a specific event or occasion, try searching with flexible dates to find the best available rates. Similarly, if you know you want to get away but you’re not particular about where, try looking for destinations offering special promotions or deals for travel during certain timeframes.

Consider trip interruption and cancellation policies. Planning for the unexpected can help protect you if a trip needs to end early or be canceled altogether. Unless you have travel insurance, you’re likely to lose money on non-refundable expenses such as flights, event tickets or tours. However, some travel companies or your credit card provider may cover reimbursement for certain prepaid expenses. Look into what options are available before

you travel to avoid extra headaches when the unexpected occurs during a trip.

Get rewarded no matter how you travel. Using your credit card rewards to offset travel costs is a smart strategy, but not everyone wants or needs perks like miles or points that are exclusive to use with a single travel partner. With point-based travel reward cards, like the Credit One Bank Wander Card, the more places you visit, the more rewards you reap along the way that can be redeemed for future experiences, statement credits, gift cards and more. That means no matter what hotel chain you stay at, car rental agency you select or airline you fly with - or as you mix and match to get the best deals - everyday adventurers have opportunities to earn up to five times the rewards points for doing things

they love.

Come up with a realistic budget. When you’re planning a trip, it’s easy to focus on the big-ticket expenses like airfare and hotel rooms. The reality is, when you add up all the smaller expenses, you may spend significantly more than you realize. To plan a more ac-

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curate budget, be sure you account for expenses like dining out at restaurants, paying for fuel at the pump and tickets to attractions and events. Don’t forget fees that add up, too, like tips for housekeeping, checked bags, Wi-Fi access, parking and souvenirs.

Research and book free and

discounted attractions. Some attractions offer discounts for purchasing tickets in advance online, age-based discounts or free admission at certain times or dates, so be sure to look into any attractions you hope to visit ahead of time. If you’re a travel rewards credit card holder, start your search by looking into your redemption options. If your card offers flexible options by booking through a specific partner site or dedicated travel platform, you might be able to redeem points or make your spending dollars go further toward earning more rewards for the cost of experiences, entertainment and other expenses while you travel.

Find more ways to make your money work for you at CreditOneBank.com/articles.

SOURCE: CREDIT ONE BANK

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We offer Seasonal Pick Your Own Blueberries, Peaches & Apples Stop by our bakery for a treat & visit with the animals

18 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022

Summer fun 2022

Make Family Reunions Meaningful Family Features

D

uring the coming months, families are likely to spend more time together.

Reunions that have been postponed during the pandemic will finally take place, and once those long-awaited hugs have been exchanged, everyone can settle in for some overdue catching up.

However, the time many families spent apart over the past couple of years means important conversations may have been put on hold. A family reunion is a perfect opportunity to share stories, reminisce and discover what matters most to the people who matter most to you.

Sitting down with loved ones to talk about their lives can be richly satisfying. Learning about memorable events, favorite activities and valuable lessons they have learned can

PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

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help bring you closer to loved ones and get to know them in a different way. It can also help you create a meaningful tribute to a loved one when the time comes.

Finding a way to start talking with a loved one may be the most difficult part, but once the conversation starts, it may be hard to stop. Consider these tips from RememberingALife. com, an online resource from the experts at the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) to get the conversation started.

Start by sharing mutual stories. If you’ve taken a vacation together or shared a cherished experience, discuss that first to get the conversation going.

If your family member is hesitant, share your own stories first so he or she feels more comfortable.

Ask questions. One of the easiest ways to start and main-

SummerArts Series HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS

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Tokyo Tramps

09/02 Neal and the Vipers

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Gary Backstrom Band

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022 • 19

Summer fun 2022 tain a conversation is by asking questions. If you’re not sure what to ask, try inquiring about your loved one’s proudest achievement, the best advice received, a favorite memory or greatest inspiration. A visual prompt like a photo album, souvenir or memento can also be a conversation starter.

If you’re comfortable with the idea, also ask how he or she would like to be remembered when gone.

Take notes. Either during or after your conversation, make note of the important memories shared. If it won’t make your loved one uncomfortable, make an audio recording of your discussion so you can listen again later. These notes and recordings may become treasured heirlooms for future generations.

Treat your talk as a beginning. Use it as a springboard for more conversations, during which you can openly talk about any number of things, from reflecting on the past to planning for the future.

Designed to be a fun and easy way to help get the discussion started, NFDA created “Have the Talk of a Lifetime” conversation cards featuring thought-provoking questions.

The things you discuss may be helpful when your family must make important decisions about how you wish to remember and honor your loved one after he or she dies.

When the time comes, make it meaningful. These shared conversations may help your family plan a meaningful funeral or life tribute event for your loved one that honors his or her life while giving you, your family and other friends a chance to reminisce and say goodbye. When the time comes, memorialization can be an important step in the journey toward healing.

When you’re preserving your family’s legacy, resources such as RememberingALife. com can provide helpful information about memorialization and other end-of-life matters.

SOURCE: NATIONAL FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION

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20 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022

Summer fun 2022

6 Tips for Planning a Sweet Graduation Celebration

“

Family Features

W

hen years of hitting the books lead to a hardearned diploma, there’s just one thing left to do: celebrate the graduate with something sweet. A graduation is a major life milestone that deserves plenty of recognition, and a graduation party is a perfect way to celebrate the occasion with family and friends.

Whether the party celebrates a recent grad or accepted student, you can make the moment all the more memorable with these planning tips and personalized party favors and customized gifts from M&M’S. Make a guest list. Deciding who you’d like to invite is a good starting place because it may influence several other choices you need to make down the road, like where you host the party and what you serve to eat and drink.

A graduation is a major life milestone that deserves plenty of recognition, and a graduation party is a perfect way to celebrate the occasion with family and friends.

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022 • 21

Summer fun 2022

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Choose the place and time.

Another decision you’ll need to make right away is where and when the party will be held. Having a rough idea of how many people will attend can help determine where to host the party, since you’ll want to have enough room for everyone to be comfortable. If you’re timing the celebration to coincide with a graduation ceremony, be sure to schedule your party so any guests who also plan to attend the ceremony can do both. Many families choose to hold open housestyle parties for an extended period of time so people who have multiple graduation parties to attend can fit them all in.

Plan your menu. The style, timing and duration of your party all influence what kind of food you serve. If your party overlaps a traditional mealtime, you may want to serve a full meal. However, if you’re hosting an open house format, keeping food fresh for an extended period can be a challenge. If you take care to keep chilled foods cold and heated foods warm, a buffet can allow guests to serve themselves as they wish. You may also find appetizers are easier to heat and replenish throughout the party. Don’t forget about dessert: A celebratory cake or tray of cupcakes are traditional ideas you can complement with other selections, such as candy bars to add colorful fun and variety to the party.

Accommodate gifts. While common etiquette suggests a host should never expect them, most people do bring gifts to celebrate the graduate.

You can set up an attractive gift table with a gift of your own to discretely show guests where

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to place gifts when they arrive, such as an M&M’S Occasion Bottle, which can be personalized to toast your grad with up to three colors, text, clip art and photos. The bottle stands nearly a foot tall, so it makes for an eye-catching centerpiece at the gift table.

Select entertainment. Often, there’s enough hustle and bustle at graduation parties that you don’t need to go overboard planning activities or entertainment. You might have some music playing at a moderate level so guests can still have casual conversations without yelling, and you may want to display a slideshow celebrating the graduate’s accomplishments along the way to this big day. Other fun ideas include photobooths with props, a signature frame for guests to sign and notecards for guests to offer their congratulations, advice or predictions for the graduate’s future.

Organize party favors. One way to thank guests for honoring your graduate and inspire more moments of fun is by offering a favor that doubles as a memento of the event. For example, M&M’S Class of 2022 Graduation Favor Tins make for a perfect way to send guests home with a sweet reminder of the celebration. Each stylish tin can be customized with a lid design and message for guests and be filled with a delicious serving of personalized candies that match the party’s theme.

For more colorful ideas, including customizable gifts and party favors for celebrating grads, check out the full 2022 Graduation Gift Guide at MMS.com.

SOURCE: M&M’S

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22 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022

Summer fun 2022 Rethink Your Lawn Use clover for a lush, green, eco-friendly, enviable yard Family Features

W

ho has time to continuously care for that carpet-like, green grass almost everyone longs for? Nearly no one. Cultivating a lush, green lawn takes time, can be expensive and is a mainstay on weekend to-do lists spring through fall. Now that’s a serious commitment.

Traditional turf lawns require a lot of maintenance. You must mow and remove weeds often, plus the amount of water usage can be staggering.

The average American family uses 320 gallons of water per day, about 30% devoted to outdoor uses, according to the EPA. More than half of that is used for watering lawns and gardens. Nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022 • 23

Summer fun 2022 account for almost one-third of all residential water use, totaling nearly 9 billion gallons per day.

It’s about time to rethink the obsession with turf grass lawns and take a page from the past; clover can help create a greatlooking lawn. Several decades ago, clover was considered so essential for lawns that it was a standard component in lawn seed mixes and wasn’t considered a weed. Clover was branded a weed when agricultural chemical companies created herbicides to rid lawns of broadleaf plants.

The herbicides had no effect on grass, but killed everything else, clovers included, which is how clover became identified as a weed.

It’s not too late to renovate your lawn and reintroduce the springy, soft, green carpet of clover back into your lawn. It’s fluffy on the feet, aids in both weed and erosion control and, when used to overseed existing lawns, fills in bare spots fast.

doesn’t get unwieldy, making it an ideal lawn alternative or healthy addition to your lawn.

Today, as interest grows in more natural, eco-friendly ways to care for grass, you might consider totally replacing your lawn with an option like Miniclover, which should not be confused with invasive white Dutch clover.

“Miniclover is about onethird to half the size of white Dutch clover, producing a thick, carpet-like appearance that blends well with turf,” said Troy Hake, president and owner of Outsidepride.com, which offers a multitude of seeds, including grasses, clovers, wildflowers, herbs and more. “It’s especially attractive, cost effective, eco-friendly and can help you get that thick, lush, green lawn your neighbors will envy.”

In addition to providing weed and erosion control, the fluffy lawn alternative offers a variety of benefits: Nitrogen fixer. Miniclover

Thrives in sun to partial shade. Unlike some turfgrass types, Miniclover does well in partial shade that receives at least some direct sunshine daily.

takes nitrogen from the air and “fixes” it in your soil, eliminating the need to apply nitrogen plant food because it does the work for you, keeping lawns green and growing while adding natural nitrogen to the soil.

Drought tolerant. Miniclover has longer, deeper roots than turf grass, reaching down into the soil for the moisture they need, so you won’t need to water as much during normal weather conditions. Plus, it stays green year-round and is

resistant to drought and tolerates wet conditions.

Controls weeds. Its dense structure and growth habits help suppress existing weeds and the establishment of new weeds, as it grows via stolons (stems that grow horizontally along the ground).

Low to no maintenance. You can mow Miniclover - the more it’s cut, the smaller the leaf size - or simply let it grow, as it only grows 4-6 inches tall and

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Stands up to foot traffic. It has superior wear tolerance over turf grass, does well in compacted soil and fills bare spots quickly.

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Grow it alone or, because of its adaptability and ability to grow in a wide variety of conditions, combine it with other groundcover plants, like creeping phlox, ivy and thyme.

It’s time to rethink typical lawn turf and try an ecofriendly alternative to replace or renovate your lawn. For more information, visit Outsidepride.com.

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24 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022

Summer fun 2022 RenovoMD Medical aesthetics practice in Northborough stays busy

By Jeff Theodore Contributing Writer NORTHBOROUGH - It’s been almost 15 years since Dr. Jean Casello opened the doors to RenovoMD, and the very first customer who walked in still comes regularly.

“We don’t have a lot of turnover when it comes to patients,” Casello said of the medical aesthetics business, which specializes in non-invasive beauty treatments.

One patient who has since moved to Los Angeles still comes back for care, as do pa-

tients from places like South Carolina and Maine.

“It’s humbling that they return to see us,” Casello said in a recent interview.

“We’re very busy,” said Casello, who works with a nurse and an esthetician on her staff.

While the team is busy, though, it’s never too busy to follow the latest trends in medical aesthetics.

Casello said it’s important to keep current on innovations and noted that treatments are far more advanced now than they were in the early days of her practice.

“I love that this specialty is constantly evolving,” she said.

“There’s always a better treatment or approach. It doesn’t surprise me that things are

Industry embraces evolution Billed as the premier skincare and aesthetics destination in Central Massachusetts, RenovoMD sees up to 100 customers per week. In demand treatments range from Botox and dermal filler injections to CoolSculpting as well as other popular skin rejuvenation techniques.

Dr. Jean Casello

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changing quickly.’’

CoolSculpting represents one such innovation. The process, which helps reduce body fat, once took Casello’s practice at least an hour to do on one area on the body. Today, it only takes a half-hour to do two areas.

Team invests in training Casello, a former internist, said she also isn’t surprised by the profitability of the medical aesthetics industry, which is projected to bring in about $15 billion nationally by 2024.

Growth in the industry is being driven by decreased risks of complications, faster recovery times and lower costs, according to the American Association of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery.

“I knew it was a cuttingedge field and was going to go somewhere,” Casello said of the industry’s growth. “It had the potential to be big and it has been, it’s incredible to see just how many people are just now trying these procedures for the first time.”

She noted her business, highlighting two of its major assets – experience and knowledge.

“Our strength lies in teamwork and the fact that we’re knowledgeable and have a desire to learn,” Casello said, explaining that the team benefits from between one and two training webinars per week.

There are also monthly inhouse training sessions.

“It’s important to learn and talk to our peers,” Casello said.

Recently, Leslie Fletcher, a renowned national expert on injections for Botox and dermal fillers, visited RenovoMD to present such an in-house training event. Fletcher, the owner of the InjectAbility Institute in California, created Arque Derma, a non-invasive alternative to a facelift that restores facial volume lost by aging processes.

“We’re very fortunate in that we’ve been able to receive training from the best of the best from all over the country,” Casello said.

Medical Aesthetics | 25

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022 • 25

Summer fun 2022 RenovoMD

Southborough Rotary Club will hold Food Truck Festival for four weeks

Medical Aesthetics | from page 24

SOUTHBOROUGH – The Rotary Club of Southborough will hold its Food Truck Festival for three consecutive Wednesdays over the coming weeks at St. Mark’s Field off Main Street from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The festival had its first date on May 25. As of press time, remaining dates were scheduled for June 1, June 8 and June 15.

Each week will feature four new food trucks and has no cost to attend.

The Rotary Club and Main Street Bank are also sponsoring the Friends of the Southborough Youth Commission’s Cash4Campers initiative which helps families send their children to summer camp. Anyone who donates $20 to the initiative will receive a $10 voucher that can be used to purchase food from the trucks.

Get the latest on food truck lineups on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ RotaryOfSouthborough.

All this sets RenovoMD apart, Casello said.

“The fact remains that someone could take a weekend course and say that they’re a professional injector or that they know how to use a laser,” she said. “There’s a huge artistic component to what we do that you can’t learn overnight, it takes time.”

RenovoMD eyes bright future For Casello, RenovoMD gives her an opportunity to meld medicine with creativity.

“When you’re sculpting someone’s face with dermal fillers, you have to take into consideration a person’s ethnicity, skin type and other factors,” she said. “It’s not a onesize-fits-all and that requires creativity.”

“It’s hard to imagine skincare changing people’s lives, but it does,” she continued.

“When I see someone look in the mirror and say, ‘Wow, I feel pretty good about how I look, and the confidence that brings them’ that makes me feel great.”

With that in mind, for Casello and RenovoMD, the future remains bright.

“At this stage of my career, I don’t want to grow too fast because the integrity of my business matters to me,” Casello said. “I’m all about giving people the best results they deserve and being one of the best medical aesthetic practices out there.”

RenovoMD is located at 96 W Main Street in Northborough.

Learn more at renovomd.com.

Trucks line up for a previous running of the Wednesday Food Truck Festival in Southborough. This year’s festival will run weekly until 7 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.m. as it has in some past years.

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26 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022

Summer fun 2022

Public officials celebrate as Hudson Riverwalk project takes shape

By Dakota Antelman Managing Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATE HOGAN

HUDSON - Federal, state and local officials and delegates gathered at Cellucci Park in Hudson earlier this month for the presentation of $400,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARPA) money to help fund the completion of Hudson’s Assabet Riverwalk Project.

Speaking before, during and after the event, which took place on May 5, those officials continued to celebrate the riverwalk as a new step in much larger efforts to continually augment Hudson’s downtown area.

“Hudson is a town to turn

Cellucci Park in Hudson earlier this month to celebrate the ongoing Hudson Riverwalk project.

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to – purposefully bridging local leadership and state and federal investment to transform what is possible and build a downtown ready for the 21st century,” State Rep. Kate Hogan said in a recent press release.

Taking shape along the Assabet River, the multiphase riverwalk project aims to protect the riverbank while creating new outdoor space for community members close to Hudson’s downtown area.

This month, Hogan lauded the project for improving accessibility and interconnectedness in this part of Hudson.

“I’m proud of the commitment and collaboration between municipal, state and federal governments that made these projects possible,” she said.

Community celebrates revitalization An initial portion of this project was funded via a Massachusetts Department of Transportation grant. That work involved installing walkways through part of Cellucci Park and adding new lighting and signs, among other things.

Further work has continued with ARPA funding focused on stabilizing and restoring the riverbank itself, which had been impacted by runoff from area roadways, overgrowth of invasive plants, and lingering factory waste, like the leather soles of shoes that were once manufactured in town.

Speaking on May 5, officials noted other projects in town, including the redesign of Hudson’s downtown rotary and South Street areas with pedestrian access, safety and local businesses in mind. They further highlighted how these efforts have coincided with work by businesses themselves and Hudson’s Business Improvement District (BID) to strengthen the local economy.

Residents, public officials and business owners alike have long lauded Hudson’s Main Street growth.

Along the Assabet River, where Industrial Revolution era manufacturing facilities once drove Hudson’s econoRiverwalk | 27

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022 • 27

Summer fun

Coming Soon to Hudson!

Riverwalk project takes shape Riverwalk | from page 26

Riverwalk work expected to be completed during summer The ARPA event at the riverwalk was also attended by U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, among other officials.

Trahan highlighted broad health benefits of these kinds of facilities, thanking Hogan and Eldridge for their collaboration to help allocate ARPA funds initially sent to Massachusetts from the federal government.

“Projects like this are why, when we put the American Rescue Plan together last year, we also prioritized funding for states and towns to respond to the many effects of the pandemic, including its toll on our mental health,” Trahan said.

Work continues at the riverwalk, with that work now expected to wrap up this summer, according to the Business Improvement District.

PHOTOS/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

my, those same stakeholders have also noted particularly drastic results since the start of the revitalization work.

“We’ve had swans, mergansers and wood ducks, all of that in the river,” said Joe Freeman of Manzo Freeman Development in a recent interview. “...We didn’t see that when we first came here.”

Freeman is the CEO and director of business development at Manzo Freeman, which operates the Landing at Hudson Mills in one of Hudson’s remaining historic mill structures.

He credited public officials and the community at large for helping “clean up” the river while creating new spaces, like the riverwalk, for community members.

His sentiments were recently echoed by State Sen. Jamie Eldridge in comments this month during the riverwalk’s recent ARPA event.

“The Hudson Riverwalk will allow more residents to be connected to the Assabet River flowing through downtown Hudson, highlighting its role in the Industrial Revolution in Hudson, and how the Assabet River has been cleaned up since,” Eldridge said.

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28 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022

Summer fun 2022

Northborough American Legion post hosts Veteran’s Coffee Hours

By Stuart Foster Reporter NORTHBOROUGH – The Vincent F Picard American Legion Post 234 in Northborough has been hosting Veteran’s Coffee Hours with a different speaker presenting each month since late last year.

For organizers, the program serves an important purpose, fostering connection and a space for education for a community of local veterans.

“It’s nice to meet other people your age and talk about things,” Post 234 Commander Rick Currier recently told the Community Advocate.

Program caters to older veterans The events are organized in partnership with Easterseals, a national non-profit focused on disability services.

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As part of the coffee hours, Chromebooks were also distributed to veterans, while Honor Guard Stan Corbett gave training on how to use them.

Coffee house part of larger programming docket The coffee hours also serve as a function where veterans can meet and talk with others who have relatable backgrounds and military experience.

Currier said that Costello had initially approached him with the idea of the coffee hours five or six months ago, adding that he had completely supported the idea. While Costello expected to have five or six people attend, they quickly garnered a much larger

PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

The events take place on the third Wednesday of each month. They are free and open to all veterans, focusing on topics that are particularly relevant to older veterans.

“We look at the senior audience and really try to cater to that,” said Easterseals Man-

ager of Veteran Programming Adam Costello, who runs and supports the coffee hours.

Costello said that the older veteran population has a need and interest to learn about topics like accessing health care through Medicare and Department of Veterans Affairs

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Summer fun 2022

“

Veteran’s Coffee Hours Legion | from page 28

Organizers seeks to build consolidated information source Costello added that he

Marlborough

PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

response.

Costello said that response to the coffee hours has been very positive, in part because of the collaboration between different organizations like the Dow Jones Foundation, which provided books for the events, and CVS, which pays for coffee and donuts.

Costello added that they organize events like hikes, obstacle courses and weight lifting on weekends or weekday nights with a younger, post-9/11 military audience in mind. Other events, including programs for breast cancer awareness, are planned with participation of women veterans in mind.

Ongoing programming at the Vincent F Picard American Legion Post 234 in Northborough is seeking to provide oppertunities for education and connection to local veterans.

wants to create a compact information source for resources available to veterans in Massachusetts on the Massveteran. com website. Costello said that, while there are a number of resources and organizations available to veterans returning from service, many of them have vague descriptions. Some veterans might try to find the resources they need from

specific organizations without realizing that they are not eligible or are looking in the wrong place.

“You usually only do that a couple of times before you say ‘Oh, there’s nothing out there for me,’” Costello said.

With Massveteran.com, Costello wants to present the organizations and services available to veterans so that

It’s nice to meet other people your age and talk about things.

Rick Currier Post 234 Commander

they, as a result, can search for and find the resources they need.

Veteran looks to support fellow veterans Costello said he was inspired to do this work by his experiences returning after serving in Iraq. He said that, when he was trying to find resources and organizations, many talked to him as if he was a victim of something. Despite his military record, however, he did not qualify for many of the services, and he recalled being told at one veterans organization that he had not “lost everything yet.”

“It wasn’t until the suicides started happening with the

people I served with that I started wondering what’s going on,” Costello said.

Costello said that he realized that there is something is harmful in the transition process from military to civilian life, adding that he wanted to consolidate options so that veterans can find help or resources before their situation deteriorates.

He added that Easterseals’ Military and Veteran Programs are always looking for volunteers to help. Opportunities and events provided by MassVeteran are also listed on its Facebook page.

“We want to grow this because it needs to be grown,” Costello said.

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30 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022

Summer fun 2022

Group plans event for LGBTQ+ youth at Westborough Senior Center

By Stuart Foster Reporter WESTBOROUGH – OUT MetroWest will hold a satellite event for LGBTQ+ youth on June 3 at the Westborough Senior Center.

OUT MetroWest is an organization that started roughly eleven years ago to help provide resources for LGBTQ+ youth in the MetroWest area. It holds these satellite events fairly regularly in towns throughout the area to overcome transportation obstacles for individuals who cannot easily get to the organization’s main address in Framingham.

Speaking with the Community Advocate, Program and Education Manager Lily Pearl said the goal of the satellite programs is to recreate what OUT’s space in Framingham offers. This seeks to encourage those attending to come to Framingham or join OUT

MetroWest online via Discord.

Pearl noted the benefits of regional programs like OUT, saying that Gay Straight Alliances in different communities often do not communicate with each other. As a result LGBTQ+ youth in nearby towns may not know each other.

“We’re doing one in Westborough but we’re inviting teens from all around different towns,” Pearl said of the upcoming event. “Anywhere that’s a little bit closer than Framingham, we’ll kind of spread the word out through their schools, libraries and other places.”

Organizer thanks Westborough While they had been doing online events earlier during the pandemic, the OUT organization did return to in-person events in March.

Pearl said that health and

safety protocols have been working well so far, with masks and proof of vaccination required to attend events.

“People were ZOOMed out,” Pearl said. “Especially students. For many of them school was just ZOOM the whole day.

They don’t want to hop on another ZOOM.” As a result, she said that people who had met each

other a year ago online were now meeting in person for the first time.

Pearl said that OUT MetroWest needs help finding spaces for events like this, adding that Westborough has been a great partner.

“I feel like, so many times in Massachusetts it can feel like a liberal bubble somewhat, but we still do have a lot of push-

Northborough Cultural Council to host CultureFest NORTHBOROUGH – Northborough will gather for its fourth annual CultureFest of Music & Arts next month at the Town Common.

Organized by the Northborough Cultural Council, CultureFest aims to bring the community together through the arts.

The theme of this year’s festival will be “Art and Wellness”

in response to the coronavirus pandemic challenges.

The event will feature stage performances, outdoor visual art exhibitions, and activities focused on all aspects of diversity, art and wellness.

CultureFest also includes an art event with community participation entitled “Flags of Hope”.

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back,” Pearl said. “A lot of our youth are still dealing with a lot of homophobia, transphobia that really kind of pushes why these spaces are so important to prioritize.”

OUT’s Westborough satilite program is specifically scheduled to run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

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ed with fabric paint, markers and stamps to decorate individual canvas flags in what organizers note will be “a personal message of hope for healing in their personal lives, in our community and the world.”

The flags will be strung on ropes and hung around the festival.

The festival is free, running on June 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022 • 31

Summer fun 5 healthy benefits of using a hot tub this summer

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Summer is approaching here in the Northeast and it’s time to make the most of your home and backyard. One of the best ways to create a small slice of paradise on your own property is to install a luxury hot tub. You’ll not only be creating your own backyard oasis where you can escape from daily stress and a demanding career, but by installing a hot tub, you’ll be able to enjoy the health benefits that come along with using it.

While having a hot tub on your property can afford you hours of fun and enjoyment with the family, using a hot tub can benefit your health in many ways.

Jason Ward, owner of Ferrari Pools, Patios and Outdoor Living in Shrewsbury Massachusetts says more people are purchasing hot tubs for more than just backyard fun. “More and more people are purchasing hot tubs because they have researched the mental and physical health benefits of regular usage.”

A hot tub is a great way to reduce stress There are many people that use all forms of stress reduction. Some people like yoga, or meditation or even taking a walk in nature. But not every-

one. Using a hot tub is a great way to reduce your stress and forget about a bad day. You can step out into your own backyard after a long day of work and relax with family.

Grab your favorite beverage and some Peace of Mind at the same time.

Hot tubs can ease muscle fatigue While the warm water of a hot tub can feel great on those aching muscles, jets that are specifically designed to ease muscle tension make that experience even better. Hot tubs come in a whole host of sizes so depending on the hot tub you purchase, that will dictate the number of soothing jets in that unit. With different seating options and jet placement, a hot tub is a great way to ease muscle fatigue and feel refreshed.

Reducing inflammation by using a hot tub Soaking in a hot tub has proven to be an effective way of reducing inflammation in the body. We’ve all had those aching shoulders, knees and even a little bit of tennis elbow.

Sometimes those joints that are inflamed just need a little bit of care and massage, and those hot tub jets may just do the trick.

Improving circulation by using a hot tub Several studies have shown that you can improve your overall circulation with regular use of a hot tub. One of the more significant ways that’s soaking in a hot tub can benefit you is by improving your blood pressure. Health experts have indicated the warm water can open up blood vessels which in turn can lower blood pressure.

Burning calories in the hot tub?

A hot tub should not take the place of regular exercise, but some experts have indicated that a 30 minutes soak in a hot tub can help you burn a few calories. When it comes to weight loss and burning off a few calories, everyone is different. But there is research that indicates burning calories in your new hot tub is not so farfetched.

Jason Ward from Ferrari Pools also says that if you are looking to purchase a hot tub, you should not delay because of the supply chain issues we have seen over the past 18 months. He also suggests if you are purchasing a hot tub for health reasons, to consult with your physician if you feel that’s necessary.

32 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022

Summer fun 2022

Arts In Common Westborough event to return for 2022

By Stuart Foster Reporter

PHOTO/ED KARVOSKI JR.

WESTBOROUGH – Westborough’s Arts In Common community festival will be held at Bay State Green later this year, on Saturday, Oct. 1, 13 years after its inception.

Continuing this tradition, Arts In Common co-chair Jenny Silverberg recently said the event’s core mission remains unchanged.

“The mission has always stayed the same, which is to have a festival where people can come and make connections with neighbors, meet new people and maybe have some dialogue about arts,” Silverberg told the Community Advocate.

The Drum Nomads band begin last year’s entertainment lineup at Arts in Common.

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Event inspired by Boston art festivals Silverberg said she had the idea for the festival after she walked past the recently built Bay State Green several years ago. She said that she was inspired by the many art festivals she had attended when living in Boston, and she thought the green would be a great location.

Silverberg presented the idea to members of the Westborough Cultural Council, who invited her to come to a meeting. The council wanted to be a part of Arts In Common, and Silverberg became a member of the council. They then launched Arts In Common together.

Cultural Council Chair Holly Kenny said that organizers try to use Arts In Common as an opportunity to support artists from Westborough and other surrounding communities. Kenny said earlier this month that they had received around 40 applications so far this year, with a mixture of artists featured at previous Arts In Commons and new ones.

Within the Cultural Council, Kenny said that there is a jury committee to select artists.

“They have to be, not necessarily professional artists, but high quality work, and folks that do festivals and [who] are used to displaying and selling their work,” Kenny said.

Organizers emphasize community participation Arts In Common committee members emphasize the importance of community participation in art. One example is the event’s bottle cap community mural, which was created for the festival’s 10th anniversary in 2019.

Committee member Tracy Spadafora said that she wanted to do something that involved upcycling and had always loved the color of bottle caps.

So, she put up signs throughout Westborough asking people to contribute their bottle caps.

“The community really came through, they collected a ton Arts in Common | 33

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022 • 33

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Arts in Common | from page 32

of bottle caps,” she said. “We probably have enough for another five murals.”

Spadafora worked with Westborough High School’s visual arts program to design the mural’s landscape.

Before the festival, Spadafora, her daughter and some of her daughter’s friends prepared the backing for the mural and painted the image on it.

During the festival, people were subsequently able to come up to the mural and screw or drill the bottle caps onto it.

The bottle cap mural has since been installed on the Bay State Common, remaining on display since last fall.

Event returns for 12th running Several years and a pandemic later, Silverberg is working on a public art policy that will create transparent guidelines for artists applying to create these types of projects.

“When the community participates in the public art project, it’s more meaningful to them,” Spadafora said.

In its 13th year, this will be Arts In Common’s 12th running after it was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more about Arts In Common online at www.artsincommon.net.

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Above: Wearing a shark hat purchased at last year’s Arts in Common, Ralph Audi, 6, draws on the roof of a graffiti art house.

Left: James Arous, 3, plays drums at Arts in Common’s musical instrument petting zoo last fall.

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Moonlight over Northborough NORTHBOROUGH - Northborough resident Sandy Howard recently snapped a well-timed photo of the moon seeming to balance on a nearby power line. Stargazers have been treated to spectacular lunar views in recent weeks, particularly with the sight of a total lunar eclipse earlier this month.

Do you have a photo you would like to see in the Community Advocate? Send it our way at news@communityadvocate.com!

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34 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE SUMMER GUIDE • Friday, May 27, 2022

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