THE NEW
Uxbridge Times Established in 1991 Vol. 26 • Issue 10
Over 21,000 Copies Mailed Free
Ux br Id g e • No r t h Ux br Id g e • LINw o o d • d o Ug Las • No r t h br Id g e • w h It INs VILLe • s Ut t o N • MaNc h aUg
o c t o ber 2017
Big changes for Uxbridge Town Meeting by Susan Franz
The Fall Annual Town Meeting at 7:00 p.m. on October 24th will be held at a new location. Increasing engagement by town residents sparked the search for a new venue. At the Spring Town Meeting voters were very patient as officials worked hard to accommodate the increased turnout. The larger auditorium and electronic voting systems should speed voting at the fall meeting. The new venue, Valley Chapel at 14 Hunter Road (off Route 16), has more than twice the capacity of the high school auditorium. Valley Chapel has offered, for use, a social auditorium that is physically separate from its sacred sanctuary space. There is disability access, sound enhancing devices on request, and additional parking at the rear of the facility. Onscreen documents can be displayed on multiple screens. Childcare will again be available for children ages 3-12 with sponsorship from the Uxbridge Public Schools. Parents should bring ID. Unfortunately, our childminders will not be able to accommodate infants in diapers. The town finalized a long considered plan to move to electronic voting devices. Electronic voting has been well received in several neighboring towns. A new system was tested over the summer with a simple remote system that allows people to vote Yes, No, or Abstain. The votes are automatically tallied and there is secured signal to protect each voters privacy. Back-up voting methods will be present, if needed. With electronic voting, all votes will be by secret ballot. Any town resident who is a registered voter can participate in Town Meeting. Town Meeting is our local legislature and its approval is required for most budget items, bylaw changes, and updates to the Town Charter. Town Meetings are some of the oldest governing institutions in America.
Your best source for local news.
Serving the community for over 26 years! POSTAL PATRON
3
1
2
FRIENDS & FAMILY - Each year Our Lady of the Valley Regional School welcomes families to “Picinic In The Parking Lot”. Enjoying this years event: 1) Troy Hafers, Parker Dacosta, Nolan Pinchuck. 2) Kylee & Caitlyn Kelly. 3) Danny Wickstrom, Mrs Helena Wickstrom, Sam Wickstrom. 4) Mr. & Mrs. Mark Willand, Stephen Willand and Father Nick Desimone. See story on page 16
4
$100,000 Grant Award to combat Opioid Epidemic
Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis has announced the Worcester County House of Correction has been selected by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to be the recipient of a $100,000 Grant Award to fund addiction treatment and services for incarcerated individuals with an opioid use disorder who are within two months of release. The new program known as Medication Assisted Treatment Re-entry Initiative for Houses of Correction (MATRI-HOC) will provide support services and access to medication-assisted treatment as well as community based resources. The grant was one of five awarded to Massachusetts jails to help inmates suffering from opioid addiction. The funding will provide the Worcester County House of Correction with the increased ability to place diagnosed opioid dependent inmates in a medication assisted program PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PERMIT NO 55800
e c r Ws s
including case management and counseling to help reinforce recovery and re-entry into society. With current estimates of incarcerated individuals suffering from substance abuse and addiction disorders as high as 90 percent, the MATRI-HOC grant will provide additional resources for Vivatrol therapy, an injectable drug that is non-addictive and helps to prevent relapse with opioid addicted individuals. Currently offering Vivatrol on a small scale, the House of Correction will expand the current number of inmates who are diagnosed with an opioid use disorder into the program. Inmates eligible for the program must have a diagnosed opioid use disorder and are due to be released within 60 days. Each individual will receive a clinical assessment and will be assigned a case manager to develop a treatment/recovery plan, including Medication Assisted Treatment when
appropriate. Case management, treatment and recovery support services will be available to each participant for up to a year following their release. "As one of only five correctional facilities in the state to have been selected for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health MATRI-HOC grant, we are pleased to have additional resources to fight this tragic epidemic." said Evangelidis. "According to the most recent data, inmates with a history of opioid dependency are at 56 times higher risk of opioid overdose death following their release as compared to the general public. This grant will support proven and effective treatment options at our jail which will not only save lives among this population but through achieved and maintained sobriety make our community a safer place." said Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis.
Bu s in e s s Bio :
~ INDEX ~
A Touch of Magick
t his curious consignment shop in downtown u xbridge is worth a visit. o wner, d eborh k ennedy, (pictured on right) has transformed these storefronts into an eclectic shopping experience offering a variety of clothing, jewelry and much more! See story on page 35
Town News ..............Page 4 Calendar...................Page 21 Society .....................Page 23 Senior Corner ..........Page 25 School News............Page 31 Business News........Page 35 Sports.......................Page 37 Classified .................Page 39 Ph o t o c o u r t es y o f Wic k ed d ePic t io n Ph o t o g r aPh y