~ THE NEW ~
Uxbridge Times Established in 1991 Vol. 30 • Issue 4
Over 21,000 Copies Mailed Free UxbrIdge • North UxbrIdge • LINwood • doUgLas • NorthbrIdge • whItINsVILLe • sUttoN • MaNchaUg
aPrIL 2021
Students return to the Classroom by Christine Beauchaine
Feeling isolated “I'm tired of these walls. This place feels even smaller than it is. Every day, I spend an estimated 20 hours in this single, small room. It serves as my art studio, my classroom, my office, my reading space and my bedroom. I have become so intimately familiar with this space during my 2020 quarantine, and have learned to adjust my life to fit within this room.” The above drawing has been accepted into the Massachusetts Amazing Emerging Artists Recognitions Exhibit. By Artist & Uxbridge High School Senior, Margaux Lewis. See story on page 10
More than one year after local schools shut down due to Covid-19, students will be returning to school full time. Students were fully remote in the spring of 2020, when much of the rest of the state was also shut down. Most local students have participated in some variation of hybrid learning since returning to school in the fall of 2020. Students were generally divided into cohorts who attended school remotely on some days and in person for others. A few students who required in person learning due to IEPs (Individual Education Plans) or special needs, have been attending school fully or mostly in person.. A few other students have participated in remote learning only. Massachusetts Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner, Jeff Riley, released a timeline in early March for when schools would be required to return to full-time in person learning. The state can withhold funding from schools who do not comply with the mandate, although districts can provide a fully remote option to students through the end of the 2020/2021 school year, if parents choose. Remote learning proved challenging, particularly at the outset of the pandemic. Parents who found themselves working from home tried to
balance their own work with their kids’ school work. Parents who did not have the ability to work remotely had to scramble for childcare and remote learning support. Many children need the structure of school or specific school provided supports in order to succeed and this was also problematic. Teachers had to scramble to adapt lesson plans so they would work in a remote environment. More than one parent in the local town related Facebook Groups (We Are Notably Northbridge, We Are Uniquely Uxbridge, and We Are Dynamic Douglas) expressed consternation regarding facets of remote learning. One wondered if the fall would go better than the previous spring had. Many parents posted on websites like Care.com, looking to hire nannies and tutors to help with remote learning. Once school resumed in the fall, things improved somewhat. However, as one father of a local first grader noted, “It is what it is, but it’s not ideal.” Technology issues, student engagement, socialization and what to do about snow days are just some of the problems which have come up during the past year. There is a growing concern from parents and teachers alike that kids are falling behind by not being in school in person. School districts have had to grapple with balancing safety with learning.
As with the response to the Covid-19 itself, there are a wide range of emotional responses and mixed feelings in regards to remote learning, hybrid learning and a return to in person instruction. As of this writing, the leaders of three different teachers organizations were hoping to delay the return to in person learning in order to have time to vaccinate more teachers. Teachers were added to the list of people who are eligible for Covid-19 vaccination in mid-March. Students in Douglas returned to school on March 22 for Pre-K through grade 5. All other students will return April 5. Students in Northbridge and Uxbridge will be tentatively beginning their return to in person learning on April 5, although as of this writing, both districts were still formalizing their final plans. More information can be found by accessing the individual schools’ websites. Older students seem a bit ambivalent about returning. A high school freshman said, “I wonder if we’re going back too early,” and a local senior who has been fully remote since December, said she “didn’t really see the point” in returning right now. But local elementary students and their parents, overall, appear relieved and even excited to be returning to “normal”. One seven-year old said, “Learning at school has recess and you get to see your friends. It’s just more fun.”
Preserving the Past: The Restoration of the Cornet John Farnum House By Mary Beauchamp Entering Uxbridge from the east you cannot help but notice the red gambrel house set back at the corner of Route 16 and Capron Street. This historic building is the Cornet John Farnum house, the oldest house in Uxbridge. It is believed that the house was built circa 1715 while Uxbridge was still a part of Mendon and we were still British citizens. In 1727, Uxbridge was established as a town independent of Men-
POSTAL PATRON
don. Not yet having a meeting house of their own, it was decided that first town meeting would be held at the home of John Farnum. The ownership of the property has changed hands many times over the past 300 years. Finally the Town of Uxbridge purchased the Farnum House in 1968 to preserve and protect this historic site and the Historical Commission was charged with the care and maintenance of the house. Since that time, the house has been used by the PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PERMIT NO 55800
ECRWSS
Historical Society as a museum, meeting space, and for storage of historical artifacts and documents. Over the years, repairs and maintenance have been performed by the town as needed at the house, but time has been taking its toll and serious structural issues have been developing. The last major renovation of the Farnum House was in the mid 1970’s at the time of the bicentennial celebration. In just six short years, the Town of Uxbridge will celebrate its 300th
anniversary and it seemed a perfect time to undertake a total restoration of the property. Last year the town applied for and was awarded a grant through the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s (MHC) Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund (MPPF). The MPPF is a state-funded 50% reimbursable matching grant program established by the MHC to support the preservation of properties, landscapes, and sites (cultural resources) listed in the State Register of Historic Places.
Eggscrambler Event in Whitin Park The Whitin Community Center is excited to announce their new event, the Eggscrambler! The event will take place on April 3rd, from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at the beautiful 7.5-acre Whitin Park. This is a self-led
scavenger hunt for children and their families to get outside, enjoy the park and have a chance to win some great prizes. For more information about the event visit: www.Whitin Community Center.com.
The Town of Uxbridge along with a generous donation from the Arthur R. Taft Memorial Trust are providing the matching funds for the survey and planning project. The purpose of this phase of the project is to create a plan for a complete restoration of the house. Fifteen firms from around New England responded to a request for proposals issued by the town. From this pool of applicants, the Designer Review Committee then incontinued on page 12
~ INDEX ~ Town News.........Page 4 Society……....…Page 17 Senior Corner....Page 19 School News….Page 21 Business News...Page 23 Classified...........Page 26 Real Estate.........Page 27