THE NEW
Uxbridge Times Established in 1991
Vol. 28 • Issue 9
Over 21,000 Copies Mailed Free
UxbrIdge • North UxbrIdge • LINwood • doUgLas • NorthbrIdge • whItINsVILLe • sUttoN • MaNchaUg
Uniquely Uxbridge Day Celebration
Digging into Pipe Problems By abigail epplett Water supply has always been an issue for debate in Uxbridge. The water division of Uxbridge’s Department of Public Works (DPW) is over 125 years old. Documents on “Water Supply and Sewage” presented to the Massachusetts State Senate by the Board of Health in 1893 show that water sources at that time were varied in acceptance. Seagrave Brook “would not furnish a sufficient supply [of water] for even the present population.” More promising was Cold Spring Brook by “the Douglas Road,” although the water was graded “fairly satisfactory,”and the “continued expense of maintaining a pumping station” drove up costs. Today in Uxbridge, although the issues surrounding proper sanitation and clean drinking water are both extensive and expensive, they are not so dire. According to the DPW, through a survey conducted by local engineering and environmental science company Tighe & Bond, about three-quarters of the town’s residents use town water, which is about 3,300 to 3,400 accounts. They receive “approximately 250 million gallons of potable drinking water… produced yearly” through over sixty-five miles of water mains, seven wells, and two storage tanks. The Tighe & Bond report laments that “like most New England water utilities, Uxbridge has an aging system.” Around 54% of the water mains are over fifty years old, with 15% of pipes being ninety years old or more. The sewer system is also overdue for an overhaul. Consisting of fifty miles of pipes and five pumps leading into the Wastewater Treatment Facility, the sewer system serves over half of the town, which is around 2,400 accounts. The treatment plant is in need of an upgrade to meet phosphorus limits set by the state, as excessive amounts of phosphorus in the body can cause kidney damage and osteoporosis. Without a treatment plant upgrade, the U.S.
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Environmental Protection Agency would fine the town, the cost of which would end up being passed along to customers. There are also several sections of pipe in need of repair, including but not limited to Mendon Street/Route 16, High Street and the connection to Douglas Street, Hartford Avenue East, Oak Street, and Granite Street. In addition to structural issues, new equipment, such as a backhoe and a dump truck are needed to properly maintain the existing facilities. The DPW has already made several important purchases: a ROVVER X sewer inspection crawler, essentially a robot that makes pipe inspections along with a few different types of cameras to make checking on pipes both easier and safer for workers. In an interview with Envirosight, the sewer equipment manufacturing company, Wastewater Operations Supervisor Jim Legg describes working with the current system: “Some lines are 100 to 200 years old, and you never know what to expect. The pipe material could change eight times in a run, or you could pop up in someone’s basement. Some were lines that just had dirt thrown over them and now run under someone’s lawn.” Because many pipes are in dire need of repair or replacement, Uxbridge is undergoing an overhaul of the system. In February 2016, the Board of Selectmen voted to borrow $44.8 million for upgrades. The measure was later passed with an over two-thirds majority vote in a special town meeting at Uxbridge High School in April of that year. In this article, the Board decided that the debt would be collected by raising water and sewer rates for customers, rather than taxing the entire town. With the help of Tighe & Bond, the Uxbridge’s “somewhat unconventional method” of charging for water and sewer services has been reworked to account for the size of the meter and the amount of usage. PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PERMIT NO 55800
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sePteMber 2019
It’s never to late too learn somethIng new! above, mike graves demonstrates Plein-air painting along the river. Join the Blackstone valley art assn. and explore your artistic side. river Bend Farm at Article on page 7 right.
It’s National Senior Center Month by Christine Beauchaine September is National Senior Center Month but if senior centers make you think of slowing down and playing bingo, you’re in for a surprise. The Northbridge Senior Center is constantly evolving and working hard to “be relevant to the needs of the community.” Michelle Methe, Assistant Director for the Northbridge Senior Center, is working to end the “stigma of the senior center,” Methe says that more than one person has come in, asking where the beds are. But despite some people apparently getting senior centers mixed up with nursing homes, the Northbridge Senior Center has an exciting,
joyful vibe. Exercise classes are offered every day and include chair yoga, tai chi and tap dance. On a recent Wednesday afternoon, the parking lot was full. A group of women happily played Mahjong and graciously offered to teach me. A movie was in progress and I had just missed an ice cream social. In the month of July there were 1,853 visits to the Northbridge Senior Center. Some people come every day for lunch, while others come for more specialized activities like creative writing, painting or ukulele classes. Technically, the senior center serves those aged 60 and up, however Methe noted that there are continued on page 22
Uncle Buck's Backpacks help area children The program, known as “Uncle Buck’s Backpacks,” will collect school supplies and donate them to families in need in and around Uxbridge. This program is a collaborative effort between members of the public and members of Solomon’s Temple Lodge, in cooperation with the People First Food Pantry of Uxbridge.
The inaugural event will take place on September 7th as part of Uniquely Uxbridge Day, where members of the public as well as the lodge will be fundraising & collecting school supplies. Backpacks will be hung on the railing of the lodge for donations. The lodge is located at 20 Court Street.
On Saturday, September 7th, Uxbridge will be celebrating their Seventh Annual Uniquely Uxbridge Day on the town common. This day is to enjoy all the things that make Uxbridge a great community to live in! Traditionally held the First Saturday of September, UUDAY 7 promises to fill the downtown town common with Uxbridge Spirit. Part of what makes Uxbridge a fabulous community is how they support others in need. What started in 2013 as a fundraiser to help the seven families that were displaced by the bank building fire, has grown into an annual event that raises approximately $2,300 annually. The funds are given back to the Uxbridge community in meaningful ways such as to the police department, fire department, The People’s First Food Pantry and the Uniquely Uxbridge Day Scholarship. Speaking of contributions to the community, for the past seven years, UUDAY has been blessed with the help and assistance from the Mason’s of the Solomon Temple Lodge on Court Street. These gentleman have opened their doors since day one to help and support this day and the community is grateful to have them as their friends and community partners. Uniquely Uxbridge Day runs from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on the town common. Admission is free, so come on down and visit with over fifty crafters, artisans, community groups, civic and government organizations, and local small businesses. Enjoy the music, the food, the fun and see all of your friends. The north end of the common, is their KidZone, which in addition to games and activities will feature the perennial favorite, pie-eating contest at 12:00 p.m. Stop by the raffle table and take your chance at winning some of the continued on page 10
~ INDEX ~ town news ..............Page 4 Calendar...................Page 17 society .....................Page 19 senior Corner ..........Page 21 school news............Page 25 Business news........Page 27 sports.......................Page 29 Classified .................Page 31