~ THE NEW ~
Uxbridge Times Happy Day! Valentine’s
“Your Hometown News” VOLUME 20 • ISSUE 2
A FREE Monthly Publication
Uxbridge • North Uxbridge • Linwood • Douglas • Northbridge • Whitinsville • Sutton • Manchaug
February 2011
Economic Development subject of meeting BY CONSTANCE DWYER On January 19th at its 7:30 a.m. Membership Breakfast held at the Alternatives Singh Theater in Whitinsville, the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce addressed “Economic Development in the Valley.” The good news is that the newlyformed Blackstone Valley Regional Economic Development Council is alive and well and is a major resource for business growth, tax structure, and the future of the Valley. The Council was formed in 2010 but the work began in 2006. Main speaker Joseph, “Joe” Deliso of Sutton, President of the Blackstone Valley Regional Economic Development Council, and Principal of Blackstone Management and Consulting in Sutton, introduced himself as a “data guy” and presented a series of slides that more than confirmed this assertion. He began by reflecting on the most recent census which shows that we will lose one of our 10 Congressmen—but which one is still unknown. Interesting enough, he said, back in 1910 we had 16 Congressmen in the Commonwealth. Representation is based upon population and he commented that we have grown by 9.6% in Massachusetts since 1990 when we had 6 million people. That means we grew by only
590,000 people, or about 31,000 per year, and are now the 9th from the top in the average age of our population. At this point, we were left to ponder the economic meaning and consequences. His 17 slides showed that with this relatively small growth, the fiscal climate of the state is in sad shape. With a debt of 71 billion dollars, Massachusetts is ranked #1 as having the “highest debt in the nation on a per capita basis – eleven thousand dollars.” The last full 10 year record shows that the “real growth” in its economy is about 2.7 percent, with spending about 2.25 percent and revenue about 1.5 percent, but the state’s “Economic Development Budget” has earmarked “less than 1% in addressing the issue, about one quarter of that of North Carolina, which, by the way, has seven regional Economic Development Regions covering the whole state, sharing 1.6 million dollars of state funding. Joe further explained that in Massachusetts a regional economic development council is more “ad hoc” and not well organized compared to those in other states. But he was optimistic because the current Blackstone Valley Regional Economic Development Council now has 6 out of its 13 Valley towns as members: the first was Millbury with the other towns of Sutton, Douglas,
Uxbridge, Mendon and Upton following suit. His hope is that other towns will join; particularly, Northbridge, neighbor to Whitinsville where the meeting was taking place, will join, as well as Leicester which is also part of the Valley. According to one attendee, it was clear that the unmentioned national deficit and debt, combined with the projected 2 billion dollar 2012 state budget deficit and as an example of municipal economic problems, Northbridge’s reliance on state aid for more than 50% of their annual budget, provided a sound argument for creation of a business, municipal and state alliance in a “Regional Economic Development Council” in the Blackstone Valley. The speaker further noted that the Mass. Office of Business Development is taking a “leadership” role, charging “the Governor (Deval Patrick) to come up with a plan and authorize issuance of 12 contracts to advance economic development…. It’s like what it says in the Bible - find 10 good people…The Massachusetts Office of Business Development can find 12 (good people).” In talking about regional organization, he also made this reference to Worcester, “Worcester can’t be an economic development region on its continued on page 33
Richardson’s generosity priceless to Uxbridge Senior Center BY CONSTANCE DWYER There are managers at all supermarkets but there’s an outstanding one at Hannaford’s in
Uxbridge - Michael, “Mike” Richardson. Any regular shopper not only gets to know his name but he, in turn, personalizes that contact by mak-
Director at the Council on Aging; Marsha Petrillo, Meg Walsh and Mike Richardson; Manager of Hannaford’s in Uxbridge. Photo by ConstanCe Dwyer
POSTAL PATRON
ing an extra effort to remember yours and to walk that extra mile to help you out. When his company asked him to pick a local organization that Hannaford’s might consider assisting financially, Mike chose the Uxbridge Senior Center. Marsha Petrillo, Director at the Council on Aging (Uxbridge Senior Center) said, “Hannaford’s is a dynamic company in Uxbridge and we are grateful that they have taken us under their wings. With the budget cuts we are facing, we need to supplement our income and Hannaford’s recently stopped by with a $450 check from a hot dog sale they had for us. All the food and personnel were generously provided by Mike.” Mike added that Marsha’s presence at the fundraiser also was “significant.” Mike also pointed out that the people of the community made the hot dog sale successful because they raised the majority of the money through their donations. Hannaford’s also recently hosted a “behind the scenes” tour of the store when seniors, like Uxbridge native, Mary Kroll, 93, took the tour to continued on page 16
Velma Sampson celebrates 102nd Birthday! Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, presents Velma Sampson of Atria/Draper Place in Hopedale with a Senate Citation honoring the former Whitinsville resident on her 102nd Birthday, January 8, 2011. Sen. Moore, a former Hopedale Selectman, also presented Mrs. Sampson with a Proclamation from the Hopedale Board of Selectmen declaring Saturday, January 8th as "Velma Sampson Day," throughout the town. Mrs. Sampson, who volunteered for the Northbridge Council on Aging into her nineties, said she wasn't planning to work on "Velma Sampson Day," but she would certainly play a celebratory game of Bingo.
business bio:
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PERMIT NO 55800
Bliss Motors is State of the art
eCrwss
By Constance Dwyer Bliss Motors, located at 110 Main St. in downtown Uxbridge, was started by Lester Bliss about 30 years ago. Offering auto repair, state auto inspections and car towing.
LESTER BLISS
See complete story on page 31
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