THE NEW
Uxbridge Times Established in 1991 Vol. 29 • Issue 9
Over 21,000 Copies Mailed Free
UxbrIdge • North UxbrIdge • LINwood • doUgLas • NorthbrIdge • whItINsVILLe • sUttoN • MaNchaUg
Medline Opens New Distribution Facility Healthcare Products Distributor & Manufacturer to create 150+ new jobs Medline, a healthcare business and the largest privately-owned medical products manufacturer and distributor in North America, announced its new Uxbridge distribution facility has opened for business and is fully operational. The cutting-edge facility will add another 150 new jobs to its existing 250-member team to support Medline’s growing customer base in New England and the Northeast region. Medline previously operated a distribution center less than half the size of this new building in nearby Mansfield. The $90 million medical-grade distribution center is an 820,000 square-foot facility from which tens of thousands of individual products and devices will be shipped to healthcare providers such as hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgery centers, hospices and physician offices. More than $800 million in annual orders expect to be handled from the Uxbridge facility. “This state-of-the-art facility optimizes how we deliver medical products to our current and future customers who are working on the frontlines of healthcare,” Abington continued. The new facility utilizes the latest technology, including: • An advanced robotic picking system • Hands-free voice picking systems • A wireless communications system. The building’s energy efficient design and LEED-certified building minimizes environmental impacts. Medline has played a critical role responding to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Distribution centers like the newly-built facility in Uxbridge have operated around the clock to get PPE and other medical supplies to healthcare providers. In 2020, Medline has delivered more than 9 billion exam gloves, nearly 400 million facemasks, cover gowns, and isolation gowns and more than double typical hand sanitizer volumes.
POSTAL PATRON
Schools Grapple With Reopening Amid Covid By Christine Beauchaine
This $90 Million medical-grade distribution center is an 820,000 square-foot facility from which tens of thousands of individual products and devices will be shipped to healthcare providers such as hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgery centers, hospices & physician offices. ABOUT MEDLINE Medline is a healthcare company: manufacturer, distributor and solutions provider focused on improving the overall operating performance of healthcare. Medline works with both
delivering high quality care. With the size of one of the country’s largest companies and the agility of a familyowned business, Medline is able to invest in its customers for the long-term and rapidly respond with customized
“We are excited about our new home in Uxbridge, which is an ideal location to serve our customers. At this site we have the benefit of retaining all of our existing team members, while gaining access to more local talent.” - Bill Abington MeDlIne execUTIVe VIce PReSIDenT FOR GlObAl OPeRATIOnS
the country’s largest healthcare systems and independent facilities across the continuum of care to provide the clinical and supply chain resources required for long-term financial viability in PrESOrTED STANDArD US POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PErMIT NO 55800
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solutions. Headquartered in Northfield, Ill., Medline has 20,000+ employees worldwide and does business in more than 90 countries. Learn more about Medline at www.medline.com.
Public schools in Massachusetts have been working to figure out what “back to school” looks like since they closed in March. Schools were required to submit final plans to the state on Friday, August 14th, 2020. These plans had to include in-person, hybrid and remote instruction. Schools were required to address social distancing, cleaning and sanitization, as well as food and transportation issues. Local schools have come up with a variety of different plans to support students during the pandemic. The Uxbridge school district will use a hybrid model with students in school two days per week and learning remotely for three. Students in preschool, kindergarten and the district’s Independence Program will attend inperson classes, five days per week. Additionally, the school’s website states that some students “may be recommended to attend in person five days a week due to their individual needs”. Parents will have a choice of having their children attend school in the hybrid model or completely remotely. However, the school’s website advises parents that whichever choice they make will be “locked in” for the first eight weeks of the school year. The Douglas school district has also implemented a hybrid learning model for the upcoming school year. They have decided on a 2-1-2 model. Students will be divided into cohorts “with an emphasis on keeping family groups in the same cohorts across the districts”. Primary, elementary and middle school cohorts will rotate between in person and distance learning on a weekly basis. The high school will also be divided into cohorts. Their split will be alphabetical. Students in the high school will receive in-person instruction two days per week. They
Flea Market continues Summer Series The Upton VFW Post 5594 will hold the next Flea Market of its Annual Summer Series on September 12th, then again on October 10th, which is the second Saturday of those months. The post is located at 15 Milford Street (Route 140) Upton. Vendors and craftsmen are
sePteMber
more than welcome. Spaces are $10 or $15 if a banquet table is needed. Reservations are not required. FMI call Post Member David Kennedy 508-529-3314 or via the Upton VFW Facebook page. All proceeds benefit the post. All welcome, food will be available.
will work through Google Classroom for the other three days. Most of the latter work will be done independently. The First day of school in Douglas will be September 16th. The Northbridge school district has decided to begin the year entirely remotely. Their website states that while they “will host in-person learning for a small population of high needs students” and for preschool students who have not chosen remote learning, they have chosen to “begin the year in a fully remote learning model”. This model will remain in place until at least November of 2020. The first day of school for Northbridge will be September 14th. Blackstone Valley Tech, which serves students from Uxbridge, Northbridge, Douglas and other local towns, will be implementing a tiered reopening plan. Tier One would have all students in distance learning with no students at the school. However, the school’s website says that after freshman orientation and a “transition week”, the school will “start on Tuesday, September 8th, operating under Tier Two”. This means that one grade will be in shop while the other three grades utilize distance learning. The grades will rotate. Each tier has slightly fewer restrictions with Tier Six rolling back all restrictions and resuming all face to face learning. The school states that it will “continuously monitor state regulations and guidelines”. There is no timeline on working through the tiers. All of the schools have a great deal of additional information posted on their websites. The situation with Covid-19 is fluid and ongoing. No one can predict its exact trajectory. The schools have all noted that they may have to shift their plans accordingly in order to respond appropriately to changing circumstances.
~ INDEX ~ Town News.........Page 4 Senior Corner…...……15 Society……....…Page 17 School News…Page 19 Business News...Page 23 Sports...........Page 25 Classified...........Page 26
