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Uxbridge Times God Bless America
Established in 1991 Vol. 29 • Issue 5
UxbrIdge • North UxbrIdge • LINwood • doUgLas • NorthbrIdge • whItINsVILLe • sUttoN • MaNchaUg
Drive-thru COVID-19 testing is available, once again, at Milford Regional Medical Center for Milford Regional Physician Group patients, Tri-River Family Health Center patients, Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center patients and Milford Regional physicians and employees. Patients should contact their primary care provider to determine if they meet Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) criteria for testing. Patients that meet DPH criteria must have a physician order to have the test; an appointment will be scheduled. The testing center is located at the main entrance of Milford Regional Medical Center at 14 Prospect Street in Milford, Massachusetts. Milford Regional encourages symp-
By Samantha Galicki N95, surgical mask, cloth mask, on, off, on, off. This has become the new normal for front line workers in hospitals all over the country. Frontline workers like Respiratory Therapist Stacie Galicki have had to quickly adjust to this new normal when working in a converted COVID-19 unit at uMass Memorial Medical Center. Galicki is a respiratory therapist in what was formerly the 2lakeside Neuro-Trauma ICu of uMass but has recently been converted into a second COVID unit. She along with a team of doctors, nurses, and other respiratory therapists have been working long and tiresome hours to help COVID positive patients recover from this disease that is running rampant around the country. “It is absolutely insane in there, walking into an unknown every single night is terrifying but having such a strong team behind me makes the fight a little easier,” said Galicki when asked to sum up the experience. uMass currently has two strictly COVID positive units where they are able to keep patients in negative pressure rooms. These rooms are designed to pump the air that has been contaminated with the virus outside instead of into the hallway protecting the patient and the staff to some degree. “I don’t think that people think this is as real as it is, we are seeing people of all ages dying. This virus is not taking it easy on anyone and unfortunately just because we are health-care workers does not mean that we are immune somehow.” Galicki said, referring to seeing people still out and about living their daily life. Respiratory Therapists have been getting a little lost in all of the media coverage. Nurses and doctors are putting their lives on the line just as much and
MaY 2020
Milford Regional posts Drive-thru Testing update
A Frontline Point of View on Covid-19
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tomatic patients that do not qualify for testing to self-quarantine at home until they have had no fever for 72 hours AND symptoms have improved AND at least 7 days have passed since symptom onset. Patients should monitor their symptoms and take their temperature daily. If you develop any worsening of your symptoms such as increasing shortness of breath, chest tightness, lethargy, periods of confusion, or worsening fever, you should contact your primary care provider or go to the emergency department for evaluation immediately. Milford Regional encourages you to go to their website: milford regional. org to stay up –to-date on the medical center’s response to COVID-19.
Douglas Open Space and Recreation Survey Results READY FOR BATTLE - One of the faces fighting the COVID -19 Virus is Respiratory Therapist Stacie Galicki. She is working, along with many other courageous caregivers, at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. no work is too minimal. But, it's the respiratory therapists that have to go into each room to monitor the ventilators that are keeping people alive so they can continue the fight. uMass has seen an influx in love from the community. Doctors from hospitals around the country are sending them food, people are donating masks and bandanas to help protect staff with the current shortage in personal protective equipment, and even things as small as lighting up their PRESORTED STANDARD uS POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PERMIT NO 55800
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porches in support and drawing notes of encouragement on their driveways for appreciation on the way into work. Health care workers all over are still urging people to stay home, limit exposure in public places by wearing a mask or other facial protection, and if you feel any kind of symptom, strict isolation from anyone you may be living with. They also are reminding people that this will pass and to keep spirits as high as possible.
In an effort to understand some of the needs of the residents of the town of Douglas, the Douglas Open Space Committee conducted a survey last fall. The survey asked several questions about open space and recreational facilities, both passive and active. The survey was distributed both online and with physical copies placed at the library, adult social center and the municipal center. They received 97 responses. The respondents were mostly all Douglas residents (indicated by zip code) and most were between 25-64 years old. The first general area surveyed concerned asked about what type of open space they should preserve. Preserving land both existing and additional found 60.4% responding that it is very important. Preserving land to meet water and conservation needs is very important to 66.7% Preserving for active recreation-
Spring Town Meetings Rescheduled UXBRIDGE
SUTTON
The Uxbridge Spring Annual Town Meeting date has been changed to Wednesday, June 17th, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. at Valley Chapel, 14 Hunter Road, Uxbridge.
The Sutton Selectboard has voted to reschedule the Spring Town Meeting to Monday, June 22nd and the Town Elections will be held on Tuesday, June 23rd.
al needs (ie, ball fields) is very important to 39.6%. On the other hand, preserving land for passive recreation was very important to 76.3%. Finally, linking open space was very important to 56.3% of the respondents. The next section asked to rate several recreation activities/facilities as “sufficient as is”, “more are needed” or “new facilities are needed”. The top vote getters for more are needed were (in order): Public access to water bodies 47, Conservation/open areas 45, Neighborhood parks and trails 44, Family recreation area with facilities 43, Public Swimming area 42. Of interest is that the top votes for “sufficient as is” was ball fields 70, basketball courts 53, tennis courts 52 and children’s playgrounds 49. An additional survey question asked: What would you do to help preserve continued on page 18
~ INDEX ~ Town News............Page 4 Senior Corner…………17 Society……………Page 19 School News……Page 21 Business News....Page 23 Sports…………… Page 25 Classified.............Page 27
