The New Uxbridge Times - December, 2020

THE NEW

Uxbridge Times

Established in 1991 Vol. 29 • Issue 12

Over 21,000 Copies Mailed Free

UxbrIdge • North UxbrIdge • LINwood • doUgLas • NorthbrIdge • whItINsVILLe • sUttoN • MaNchaUg

deceMber 2020

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be Coming to Town The 23rd Annual Uxbridge First Holiday Night tradition continues…..

Join them as they spread holiday cheer as well as tradition throughout Uxbridge a little differently this year.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be coming to town on Saturday, December 5th.

• Starting with “Let’s light Up Our Town Contest” Holiday Lighting Contest which will be judged by Santa and Mrs. Claus during the month of December. If you wish to join this friendly competition, please go to their facebook page and fill out the Google form, so that Santa and Mrs. Claus can check out your house. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded.

• Virtual Lighting of the Uxbridge Town Common by Santa and Mrs.

Claus on Saturday, December 5th (Time will not be announced due to public safety concerns, please follow facebook page and Uxbridge cable) • Santa and Mrs. Claus will be cruising around town on a special route to spread their holiday spirit to kick off the holiday season. The route will be announced soon and check out the Uxbridge First Night Facebook page for more details.

• Calling All Children – Write a letter to Santa by either dropping off a letter or mailing the letter to Mendon Street Kitchen at 9 Mendon Street, Uxbridge, MA 01569. Santa will be reading and answering the letters live on facebook in December.

$40K in Grant Funding for Uxbridge Police Department Determining HierarcHy - the mild weather is still being enjoyed by these two beauties at azrael acres located in Uxbridge.

PHOTO BY CarOl DanDraDe

Cultural Council seeks Grant Applications & Members The Northbridge Cultural Council is currently accepting grant applications from local artists, performers, schools, and nonprofit organizations through December 14th, 2020. Funding (usually ranging from $100-$1,000) will be distributed for events or workshops supporting the arts, humanities, and applied sciences in the Northbridge community, taking place any time throughout 2021. Virtual events are welcome! The application can be found on both massculture.org and at north-

POStaL PatrOn

bridgemass.org/cultural-council.

The Northbridge Cultural Council is a local agency funded by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. The Northbridge Cultural Council is part of the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, the Local Cultural Council (LCC) program of the Mass Cultural Council. The LCCs enrich the cultural life of all cities and towns in Massachusetts. Led by municipally appointed volunteers, LCCs award over $4 million every year, supPRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PERMIT NO 55800

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porting more than 6,000 cultural programs that include everything from field trips to lectures, festivals, and dance performances.

If you would like to join the council to help promote arts, culture, and sciences in Northbridge for all ages, please visit: northbridgemass.org/cultural-council, or email northbridgeculturalcouncil@gmail.com for more information and how to apply.

Help brighten the Holidays for a Child Veterans Inc. Giving Tree, will brighten the holiday season for a child of veterans, who without your help, might not be able to receive gifts this holiday

Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, and Public Safety and Security Secretary Thomas Turco announced that more than 160 law enforcement agencies will receive $4.6 million in federal grant funding made possible through the Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program. These grants will provide access to equipment and strengthen training, crime prevention, and enforcement initiatives across the Commonwealth.

The JAG program is the leading source of criminal justice funding awarded by the Department of Justice to state and local jurisdictions. Local police departments, sheriffs, and the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) received a combined $4.6 million in funding for several needs, including protective equipment and communications infrastructure.

Representative Soter announced that

season. This event is ongoing and will continue through Friday, December 18th.

For more information visit www.veteransinc.org or contact Sherry leger Callahan at sherrycallahan@ veteransinc.org

the Uxbridge Police Department received $40,000 from this round of funding. The Department intends on using the funds to purchase seven Panasonic Toughbook CF33 units and mounts for the Department’s patrol vehicles. These new units would ensure dependability and improve communication throughout the department.

Soter commented, “With these funds, the Uxbridge Police Department will be able to make significant equipment upgrades within their fleet of cruisers.

The JAG program has supported the Commonwealth’s law enforcement personnel for many years. I’m pleased to announce funding for Uxbridge as it will help to ensure the safety of residents and officers alike.”

Representative Soter continues to work hand in hand with town officials and public safety officers in his district to pursue grant opportunities like this one.

~ INDEX ~ town news.........Page 4 Society……....…Page 17 Senior corner…...……19 School news….Page 21 Business news...Page 25 classified...........Page 26 real estate.........Page 27

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CLOSED DEC. 24th-DEC. 28th Open New Year’s Eve 12/31, New Year’s Day & Saturday 1/2/21 • Noon - 8 p.m.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Support your local businesses Shop Local...Eat Local for the Holidays Check out Santa & Mrs. Claus sightings around town on Saturday, December 5th!

VISIT THE UXBRIDGE FIRST HOLIDAY NIGHT FACEBOOK PAGE FOR DETAILS.

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call to advertise 508-278-2134

DeCeMBer 2020

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St. Patrick’s Manger a sign of hope by christine Beauchaine The manger scene at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Whitinsville has become a much-loved feature of the downtown landscape during the holidays. A recent post on Social Media mentioned that the manger was being put up for the season and was deluged with positive comments. People called it “beautiful” and a “joy”. It seems to be something which residents really look forward to seeing. The nativity scene draws church going and nonchurch going admirers alike.

St. Patrick’s Church has been a fixture in Whitinsville since Christmas of 1870, when the first service was held there. However, their nativity scene is a relatively recent addition. In 2001, Fr. Michel Broderick noticed that the town was lacking a large nativity scene. The church is located at the intersections of Church Street, Cross Street and East Street. It is a highly visible landmark in downtown Whitinsville. Fr. Broderick realized that the parish could put the manger right on the corner and many people would be able to see and enjoy it. The parishioners were “very vested in the manger and generous,” according to Fr. Tomasz Borkowski, the current pastor. It didn’t take long to make the manger scene a reality.

Borkowski said that this particular nativity scene is called a Fontanini.

The company’s website says “Since 1908, Fontanini believes in the old tradition of the Lucchesi figurine designer producing subjects of unique expression and accurately modeled. Generations of Italians have devoted themselves to the creation of nativity sets, and different figures throughout the many years.” The figures are noted for attention to detail and lifelike sculpting.

Fr. Borkowski added that the Fontanini pieces are “very popular all over the world” in both churches and homes.

Putting up the manger is a large undertaking which requires 12-15 volunteers and several hours of work. The manger itself “is in many parts that screw together,” Borkowski noted.

Assembling the manger takes about four hours. It takes at least two more to “add the figures and secure them.” St. Patrick's receives a yearly donation of hay bales from Perry’s Auto Sales.

Tradition is important at any time, but particularly during a global pandemic.

Tradition can help people find a sense of normalcy, which can lead to decreased anxiety and better overall mental health. Fr. Borkowski agreed that the year had been “challenging”.

He said, ‘our Christmas celebrations are not going to be exactly the same as they have been in the past.” He acknowledged that this year, in particular, the manger scene was a way to keep things “normal”.

“Keeping up this tradition in our town this year is more important than ever,” Borkowski said. He also noted that several people had already commented on how “glad” they were that the church was putting up the manger.

Face Shields Donated to Uxbridge Public Schools Thank you to Blackstone Valley Engineering Company of Marlborough, Massachusetts for donating 750 face shields to the Uxbridge Public Schools. The face shields donated to the Uxbridge Public Schools are going to help protect Uxbridge’s staff and students throughout the Uxbridge district during this time of COVID-19.

Owners of Blackstone Valley Engineering Company, Edward Danis of Uxbridge and Dave Peter of Bellingham were driven to help the community at the peak of COVID19 in April. BVE used their manu-

aWaiting a miracLe - excitement is stirring for the return of a sacred tradition in Whitinsville. “Keeping up this tradition in our town this year is more important than ever.” Said current pastor, Fr. Borkowski.

Huge Selection of Unique Holiday Gifts!

77 South Main St. Uxbridge, MA ~ HOURS ~ MON - FRI 9am-5pm SAT 9am-3pm

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE SEASON BY DONATING AN UNWRAPPED TOY

facturing know-how to scale up a die cutting process for face shields that could turn out shields in the order of 100s per hour. They donated their product to local hospitals, the Uxbridge Fire and Police Departments, Whittier Rehabilitation Facility in Falmouth, Massachusetts, local dentists, hair salons, and Uxbridge’s Hannaford’s Supermarket.

Uxbridge Public Schools is thankful for this generous donation and the support received from Blackstone Valley Engineering Company.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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town News Route 16 Housing Study CMRPC is working with the Towns of Douglas, Mendon, and Uxbridge on a Regional Residential Housing Needs Study. The three towns do not have recent housing plans therefore this study is intended to collect data and community input to understand existing conditions and trends, and gain insight on housing concerns from a local perspective.

A recommendations report will outline major findings and housing gaps that have been identified, and provide a set of realistic housing strategies for each community to pursue.

Please consider participating in the online survey at: https://tinyurl.com/ Route16HousingStudy. Source: town of Douglas website douglas-ma.gov.

All Night Parking Ban begins WeLL DeSerVeD - State representative michael Soter, Principal michael rubin, and State Senator ryan Fattman.

Michael Rubin awarded 2020 Principal of the Year Recently Uxbridge High School’s Principal, Michael Rubin, was awarded Massachusetts 2020 Principal of the Year. Mr. Michael Rubin was awarded the recognition from the Massachusetts School Administrators Association (MSAA).

The honor recognizes one middle school and one high school principal who have succeeded in providing highquality learning opportunities for students as well as demonstrating exemplary contributions to the profession.

The all night parking ban for the Town of Northbridge will go into effect on December 1st, 2020 and continue through April 1. 2021. The April 1st date may be extended if weather conditions make it necessary. The ban is effective from 1 :00 am. to 6:00 a.m.

The ban is applicable to all streets in the Town of Northbridge with the following exceptions: ON BOTH SIDES: Cove Place ON THE EVEN NUMBERED SIDE: D Street, High Street, Linden Street, Main Street from Burna Square to Border Street, Maple Court, Overlook Street, Upper High Street from #66 to #100, Water Street from Main Street to

gate at the Shop yard entrance Johnston Ave. from Brook Street to the end of Johnston Ave @ dead end Upper Border Street from 0 Street North ON THE ODD NUMBERED SIDE: East Street from Johnston Ave to Christian Church parking lot, Forest Street, Johnston A venue from Church Street to East Street, Pine Street, Prospect Street from Cottage Street to Church Street, Water Street from gate behind Fire Station to bottom of hill. 20 feet, North of fire hydrant, Granite Street from #23 Granite to East Street.

Violators of the ban will be tagged and if interfering with snow removal will be towed at the owner's expense.

rotary member; Linn Butler (on right) delivers masks to meals on Wheels.

Rotary donates masks The Rotary Club of Blackstone Valley and friends of the club have delivered 1000 masks so far! The great news is that they obtained 1000 more masks to distribute! Recipients include: 300 to Meals on Wheels, 100 to the Uxbridge Senior Center, 300 to the Blackstone Valley Emergency Shelter and 300 to the Northbridge Food Pantry.

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Additional Unemployment Benefits approved for 17,000 MA Residents State Representative Soter is pleased to announce that the House and Senate have approved the payout of additional unemployment benefits to Massachusetts residents who did not qualify for enhanced federal unemployment benefits over the summer.

Senate Bill 2934, which was signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker on October 26, will provide approximately 17,000 Massachusetts residents with up to $1,800 in retroactive unemployment benefits. Representative Soter said these additional funds will help indi-

viduals and families pay for food, rent and other expenses during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the federal Lost Wages Assistance Program, individuals collecting unemployment were provided with an additional $300 in weekly benefits over a six-week period this summer, beginning at the end of July and running through the first week of September.

However, these federal funds were made available only to those individuals who were already receiving at least $100 in state unemployment benefits.

“the changes to this program will help to provide our community’s families some stability during these trying times and provide them with much needed relief as we navigate this pandemic together.”

- representative Soter

Representative Soter said the new law recalculates the state’s minimum weekly unemployment benefit for the period covering the week ending August 1 through the week ending September 5.

Making this change will allow the state to extend the federal lost wages benefits retroactively to those who previously failed to qualify.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, approximately 461,000 standard unemployment insurance beneficiaries and 234,000 Pandemic Unemployment

Assistance beneficiaries were deemed eligible for the Lost Wages Assistance Program over the summer. More than $1.3 billion in supplemental federal funding was distributed under this program to eligible Massachusetts claimants, with the new law expected to provide another $31 million in unemployment benefits.

After recording double-digit unemployment figures over the summer, the state’s jobless rate dropped to 9.6 percent in September, with 365,400 residents out of work.

Duby appointed new VP of Behavioral Health Open Sky Community Services has announced the appointment of its new Vice President of Behavioral Health, Karen Duby, LICSW. As part of her role on Open Sky’s Senior Leadership team, Duby will be responsible for oversight of all of the organization's behavioral health programs, including Career Services, Respite Services, and the Adult Community Clinical Services Division.

“Karen comes to us with extensive experience in leading behavioral health programs in the Central Massachusetts area,” said Ken Bates, President and CEO of Open Sky Community Services. “Her strong clinical and management background, paired with her passion for the field, will greatly strengthen our services at Open Sky and we’re excited for what she brings to the team.”

Duby began working in the mental health field after obtaining her Master of Social Work in May 1993, from Boston College. Duby previously

Karen Duby, LicSW served as a Vice President at Community Healthlink in Worcester, MA where she led division leadership of up to 20 directors and supervisors in operating their respective programs.

Duby also provided clinical oversight for Community Healthlink’s primary

care services, Homeless support services and the Continuum of Inpatient Substance Use Disorder services.

Duby’s career at Community Healthlink spanned 20 years during which she held an additional eight titles, held roles including Assistant Vice President of Recovery Services, Director of Emergency Services in North County, Director of Program for Assertive Community Treatment and Crisis Stabilization Clinician.

“I’m excited for this new opportunity to utilize my skills in leading, developing and inspiring excellence in a behavioral health organization,” said Duby.

“I think I can bring a fresh perspective and new approach, and I am excited to get started with Ken and the entire Open Sky team.”

For more information about Open Sky Community Services, please contact Lorie Martiska, lorie.martiska@ openskycs.org or visit online at: www.openskycs.org.

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Blackstone Valley Tech 2020 Annual Report Now Available Highlighting facts, figures & milestones

tance learning, administrators, staff, and students worked together to achieve classroom learning from their kitchen tables, backyards, or anywhere that inspired curiosity. Therefore, the 2020 Annual Report titled Unexpected Opportunity looks at how BVT reacted, adapted, and contributed during the school closure to carry out its mission in new and undefined ways during a global health pandemic.

From the challenges of a pandemic, incredible and positive change can arise. BVT is proud to be an inclusive community with a long-term goal of producing young citizens with the skills to navigate any bias they encounter with empathy and compassion. With an open mind and skilled hands, their students are shaping the future.

The annual report is available at www.valleytech.k12.ma.us/annualreport or by contacting the Superintendent-Director’s office at 508-529-7758 x3037.

Blackstone Valley Tech is proud to announce that copies of its 2020 Annual Report are now available to the Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District residents.

"Our annual report provides an opportunity to go beyond the facts and figures of our operation to share student success stories, school achievements, and how taxpayer dollars are utilized," said Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael F. Fitzpatrick. "The report plays an important role in keeping the community informed of its vocationaltechnical education system, and the return yielded on its investment."

Experiencing a state-imposed school closure in March that resulted in distance learning, in the process, we all learned that not all classrooms have four walls. Working remotely, embracing technology and online tools for dis-

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Young Writers Recall History Each year the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) sponsors an American History Essay contest open to all children in grades 5 through high school.

The subject matter changes annually and thousands of young writers in private, parochial and public schools enter. Over the years, the Deborah Wheelock Chapter, DAR, has been especially pleased with the enthusiastic participation of students at the Whitin Middle School. The level of essay writing is extraordinary, and this Chapter proudly claims two Massachusetts state winners, including one this year.

Due to the national shut-down in March 2020 in response to the COVID-

Jackman-Tallent joins the staff of Carr Funeral Home The Carr Funeral Home is pleased to announce they have added Abbie Jackman-Tallent to the staff of their Whitinsville location.

A third generation funeral director, Abbie is the daughter of Joe and Jeanne Jackman and an Uxbridge native. She is a graduate of Holy Name High School, Salve Regina University and the Funeral Institute of New England.

She has been a licensed funeral director for more than 15 years. Abbie and her family reside in Northbridge.

Carr Funeral Home has been serving families throughout the Blackstone Valley since 1850.

For more information, visit www.carr funeralhome.com

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It's time to start planning your special day, Let’s put 2020 behind & plan your special day for 2021 Everything you will need for your perfect day & more.

CATERING • EVENT PLANNING • FLOWERS JUSTICE OF THE PEACE & NOTARY PUBLIC Still doing small gatherings for weddings outside during COVID 19 restrictions.

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grade 5; Macy Cullen (grade 6) and Natalie Orr (grade 7). Plymouth celebrated its Quadricentennial (16202020) this November, so, along with a special certificate, each received a watercolor print of the Mayflower, signed by the artist.

NSDAR has chosen “The Boston Massacre” as the essay contest title for 2020-2021. March 5th, 2020 commemorated the 250th anniversary of this precursor to the American Revolution.

Once again, young writers will have an opportunity to ‘imagine I was there’ during a famous event in American history. If life returns to a semblance of normalcy in 2021, the Deborah Wheelock Chapter hopes to welcome more essay winners to the Simeon Wheelock House for in-person congratulations. For more information about how to join the DAR, contact deborahwheelockdar@googlegroups.com.

Museum of Work & Culture Annual Appeal and Raffle

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Your Wedding...As You Wish.

19 pandemic, winners of the 2019-2020 essay contest could not be present to read their essays, entitled “The Voyage of the Mayflower”, in either April or September! There could be no reception with proud parents and teachers present and no picture taken to mark their achievement publicly. Nonetheless, the Deborah Wheelock Chapter belatedly wants to recognize the winning student efforts and thank their teachers for the encouragement given these young writers. Earlier this fall, the prizes were delivered to the Whitin Middle School for distribution.

The winners from at Whitin are as follows: Charlotte Lewis, who also won honors as the MDAR state winner for

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Kelly’s Farm Stand “Your old fashioned farm stand experience since 1936” Rte. 140 • 146 Milford St, Upton • (508) 529-4564 NOW OPEN FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

Top Quality TREES • WREATHS ROPING Holiday Baskets & Centerpieces Sorry no vegetables

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 9:30 AM. to 7:30 PM

The Museum of Work & Culture has launched its Annual Appeal & Raffle to support the Museum’s free educational and public programming. This year’s raffle will feature an early incentive drawing on Wednesday, December 9th for 10 gift certificates to local eateries and entertainment venues. The final drawing will be held on Sunday, April 11th during the Museum’s Annual Salute to Spring event and will include over 30 prizes.

“We are more reliant than ever before on the generosity of our supporters,” said Director Anne Conway. “They have made it possible for the Museum to remain vital during these challenging times and grow our reach with free virtual programming that has benefited thousands of students and individuals in 2020.”

Raffle tickets are $5 each or $20 for 5 tickets. Donations may be made at www.shopmowc.com and raffle tickets may be requested by emailing mowc@rihs.org. Please be sure to include your full mailing address when requesting raffle tickets.

Have a Safe & Happy Holiday Season!

DeCeMBer 2020

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Douglas High School posts Honor Roll GRADE 9 HIGHEST HONORS Ashley Arnold, Amanda Audette, Isabelle Calkins, Olivia DeLuca, Matthew Doyle, Taylin Fragala, Noah Gaskill, Hadley Gavin, Isaac Gosselin, Owen Gray, Gavin Gualtieri, Emilee Hamelin, Emma Hennessy, Andrew Hogan, William Hogan, Colin Loehr, Samantha Loy, Taylor Lundquist, Chloe McDonald, Julia Oskirko, Erika Our, Elyssa Pastor, Natalie Reade, Colin Squier, Molly Stinchfield, Ethan Vassar, Evan Wheeler, Cecelia White HIGH HONORS Cameron Beckwith, Cadence Bouchard, Darius Buivydas, Christopher Dame, Gavin Delgado, Colton Howard, Ava Lemire, Samuel Lopez, Zechariah March, Marcus O’Brien, William Peterson, Dominic Rossi HONORS Rylee Bennett GRADE 10 HIGHEST HONORS Chloe-Jo Bassim, Caroline Beaird, Griffin Berard, Ryan Bonin, Ciara Brule, Mackenzie Catlin, Ella Collins, Essined Colon, Renee Dansereau, Felipe DeOliveira, Sena Shaylyn, Emanuel Jalynn Felder. Jenna Fontaine, Elise Forget, Nicole Guthenberg, Therese Hennedy, Luke Lightbown, Salome Lopez, Samuel Lyford, Antonio MacGregor, Molly McEnaney, Madison Mooney, Meghan Moulder, Michael O’Toole, Izabella

Oum, Hannah Purvis, Caroline Ramsdell, Ariana Sacco, Connor Stickney, Brianna Taylor, Matthew Trychon, Luke Walcek, Kate Wall, Benjamin Walsh, Stephanie Williams, Lily Zygmuntowicz HIGH HONORS Josie Fontaine, Emma Hutnak, Celina Moore, Mason Salvas HONORS Noah Salloux, Meghan Such GRADE 11 HIGHEST HONORS Mia Beaumier, Kaylee Bolin, Savanna Brito, Brendan Calkins, Zophia Cherrier, Abigail Damasio, John Dariotis, Miranda DeGaetano, Anthony Demeo, Gavin Francisco, Kyle Gaskill, Thomas George, Drew Ghiorse, Mackenzie Gray, Sarah Hamilton, Jillian Harper, Natalie Houle, Joseph LaBonne, Matthew Landry, Eva Llopiz, Aleigha Martinsen, Kayla Melvin, Chayse Mitchell, Olivia Muscatell, Katheryn Peloquin, Julia Psuik, Joselyn Richards, Isabelle Rindone, Kailey Salera, Reece Slowik, Victoria Slowik, Paul Smith, Arianna Souphida,

Katelyn Surrette, Brianna Taft, Nirali Trek-Najera, Jacob Triber, Haleigh Wagner HIGH HONORS Morgan Berthiaume, Benjamin Markey, Stephanie McGloin HONORS Aiden Ferguson, Chase Setzer GRADE 12 HIGHEST HONORS Kiley Arnold, Autum Barnes, Samuel Bloniasz, Nichole Brothers, William Champagne, Kaleigh Chesley, Andrew DeFalco, Morgan Doyle, Abigail Dumais, Jenna Elliott, Julia Forget, Casey Holland, Nicholas LaPolt, Bridget Leary, John Maraggio, Shane Murphy, Robert Perkins, Lauren Phelps, Daniel Pippitt, David Prosser, Milayla Prue, Camryn Salera, Marlee Schultheiss HIGH HONORS Emma Allard, Christian Antonioli, Paige Brothers, Hunter Dunn, Abigail Fortier, Evan Kuczer, Lydia Pauhus-St. Laurent, Nathan Perkins, James Pippitt, Alana Sansoucy, HONORS Gabriella Balanca, Ethan Soyinthisane

State Representative David Muradian, R-Grafton recently joined with his colleagues in the House of Representatives to approve a $423.7 million final deficiency budget to close the books on Fiscal Year 2020.

In addition to addressing existing shortfalls at several state agencies, the supplemental spending bill also contains a number of state-wide funding and policy initiatives.

Representative Muradian noted that the bill allocates $727,170 to reimburse cities and towns for early voting costs associated with the March 3rd presidential primary. It also provides $11.9 million for Special Education Circuit Breaker reimbursements.

To help address the opioid epidemic, House Bill 5102 establishes an Opioid Recovery and Remediation Trust Fund that will be administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and will provide expanded access to prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery options.

House Bill 5102 also makes changes

to the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Act by allowing personal care attendants & family child care providers to be included in the definition of “covered individuals.”

Additional funding initiatives include: $2.7 million in affordable housing grants; $250,000 for the Office of the Child Advocate; $711,947 for the Dept. of Elder Affairs Home Care Aide Training Program; $250,000 in grants for Councils on Aging; $6.6 million for State Police Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (SAEK) testing; $720,000 for the Dept. of Public Health’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) & Pediatric SANE Program; $988,913 for schoolbased health programs; $4.2 million for National Guard tuition and fee waivers; $1.1 million in Welcome Home Bonus life insurance premium reimbursements; $378,000 for vocational rehabilitation; and $66,800 for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission’s Independent Living Assistance program. House Bill 5102 now heads to the Senate for further action.

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PaGe 8

DeCeMBer 2020

St. Mary Parish Christmas Mass Schedule St. Mary Parish, Uxbridge invites all to come join them to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas. Beginning on Thursday, December 24th, Christmas Eve Masses will be at 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. On Friday, December 25th, Christmas Day Masses will be at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

St. Mary has been holding masses since May and has continually met the standards set by the government and the Diocese of Worcester in regards to safety and cleanliness. Mass protocols

include the wearing of masks and social distancing. A ticket will be required to attend Christmas Mass and can be reserved through their website beginning on Monday, December 7th, at 10:00 a.m.

For more information on attending mass or to reserve a ticket please visit: https://stmaryuxbridge.org/ Please come join them in the peaceful surroundings and artistic beauty of St. Mary Church as they prepare to celebrate the birth of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! St. Mary Parish is located

Obituaries___________________________

at 77 Mendon Street in Uxbridge, MA. For more information please contact the parish office at 508-278-2226.

Mary T. Limanek, 96

Alice T. (Nolet) Tessier, 90

Book Clubs continue at area library

Mary T. Limanek, 96, previously of Centennial Ct., passed away on Monday, November 2nd, at Beaumont Nursing home in Northbridge, peacefully after a period of declining health.

She had been a resident of Beaumont the past 3 years.

She is survived by many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings, Rose McKay, Anne Ledoux, Joseph Limanek, William Limanek, Stephen Limanek and Frances Steele.

Born in Douglas on September 10th, 1924, she was the daughter of Michael and Mary (Stefanik) Limanek. Mary worked as a Spinner for the former Hayward Schuster Woolen Mills in Douglas for many years, and was a longtime resident of Uxbridge. She enjoyed scratch tickets, visits to the casino, playing bingo, and in her younger years, gardening.

Alice T. (Nolet) Tessier, 90, previously of Uxbridge passed away on Saturday, November 7th, 2020 peacefully at her home in West Wareham surrounded by her loving family.

She was predeceased by her adored husband of 65 years, Harold G. Tessier in 2016. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Tessier of W. Wareham with whom she lived; a sister-in-law, Mary Nolet of IN; and many nieces and nephews. She was also recently predeceased by her son Roger Tessier.

Born in Providence, RI on November 25th, 1929 she was the daughter of Alfred C. and Roseanne M. (Blanchette) Nolet and was a graduate of Northbridge High School. Alice worked at the former Uxbridge Worsted Company, where she met her husband, and stayed working until their closing. She was also a manager at the Park Street Diner in Ayer for 22 years. Her and Harold spent winters in North Ft. Myers, FL for 20 years and enjoyed trips to Foxwoods, Vegas, and going on bus trips to the Biloxi casinos in MS. Alice also enjoyed crocheting and playing bingo. She was a very giving woman with a big heart and will be sorely missed. She was a longtime member of Good Shepherd Church in Uxbridge as well as St. Anthonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church in W. Wareham and St. Anthonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church in Shirley.

Simon Fairfield Public Library will have the following book clubs. Zoom details can be found on the libraries website at: https://mysfpl.org under google calendar.

The Sci-Fi Book club will be talking about Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson on December 5th at 10:00 a.m.

The Greatest Book Club Ever will be talking about Me Before You by Jojo Moyes on December 10th at 6:30 p.m.

Young Readers Club will be meeting on December 15th at 4:00 p.m. (book yet to be determined).

The Book Wizards will meet on December 17th at 4:00 p.m. (book yet to be determined).

ThE NEw

Uxbridge Times The new Uxbridge Times is direct mailed monthly to over 21,000 households & businesses in Uxbridge, north Uxbridge, linwood, Douglas, Manchaug, northbridge, Whitinsville & Sutton on or about the 1st of each month. 800 additional copies are delivered to business establishments, public offices & senior centers in four surrounding towns.

DeaDLine For both articles and advertisements.

12:00 noon on the 15th www.thenewuxbridgetimes.com

aDVerTISInG e-MaIl:

thenewuxbridgetimes@msn.com arTICle SUBMISSIOnS:

newsatthenut@msn.com

Inc.

KatHLeen mUSSULLi Owner / Publisher

emiLy HUrteaU Office Manager / Sales Administrator cHriStine KOttmeier Editor

carOL FOWLer Advertising Representative aLiVia mUSSULLi Office Assistant / Contributing Writer cHriStine BeaUcHaine Contributing Writer

P.O. BOx 401, UxBrIDGe, Ma 01569

(508) 278-2134 Subscriptions $36 Per Year

Submitted items will only be published if received by the deadline, and if space is available. articles are limited to 800 words or less. articles and Cartoons printed in the new Uxbridge Times are the message and opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent the opinions of anyone connected with this publication. all submissions must be signed and have a phone number where the writer can be reached. In the event a writer cannot be reached for verification the article will not run. We also reserve the right not to print items. nOT reSPOnSIBle FOr TYPOGraPHICal errOrS In aDVerTISeMenTS

DeCeMBer 2020

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Uxbridge Library offers Virtual Programing Uxbridge Free Public Library is located at 15 North Main Street Uxbridge, MA. Online: www.uxbridgelibrary.org Please visit their website or call 508278-8624 x100 for their most up-todate hours of operation, services, and additional programs.

Virtual Programs Adult Programs GENTLE YOGA Saturdays – December 5th, 12th, and 19th at 10:00 a.m. Tune in to YouTube Live to start off your day with a yoga session with Marise Nazzaro. Search YouTube for the Uxbridge Free Public Library channel. This class is sponsored by the Uxbridge Board of Library Trustees.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION Thursdays, December 3rd and 17th at 6:00 p.m. Tune in on Facebook Live for an interactive virtual meditation session with Jenny Xie. Thank you to the Friends of the Library for sponsoring this program.

PRESENTATION FOR ALL AGES: A CELEBRATION OF ANIMATION The 100 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All-Time – Thursday, December 3rd at 6:30 p.m. Award-winning author and pop culture historian Martin Gitlin hosts this fun, nostalgic and enlightening presentation for all ages based on his book, A Celebration of Animation: The 100 Greatest Cartoon Characters in Television History. He is the only author to actually rank the greatest cartoon characters ever, such as Popeye, Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Scooby Doo, Snoopy and SpongeBob Square Pants. He will show funny cartoon snippets of characters from the past century, play trivia with patrons and discuss the criteria he used to rank the best of the best. Adults, teens, kids: This program is fun for everyone!

Marty will have autographed and personalized copies of his book available online for purchase after the event.

Patrons interested in participating should email uxbridgelibrary@ cwmars.org to register and receive the Zoom link. This class is sponsored by the Uxbridge Board of Library Trustees and the Whitinsville Social Library.

Virtual Youth Programs TAKE-HOME CRAFTY WEDNESDAY’S Wednesday mornings and afternoons Weekly crafts are back! Let them know how many you would like in your curbside bag.

VIRTUAL STORY TIMES - Monday and Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m.

Join Lindsey and Iggy on Facebook Live for songs, rhymes, stories, and more. Best for ages 0-4.

PJ STORY TIME Thursday, December 17th at 6:30 p.m.

Wind down with Lindsey and Iggy on Facebook Live with cozy picture books. Best for all ages.

MUSIC AND MOVEMENT with Deb Hudgins - Tuesday mornings Deb is on YouTube with more songs, rhymes, and activities about seasons, friends, and more. Visit their Calendar for the program link each Tuesday. Best for ages 0-4. Brought to you by the Library Board of Trustees.

SPAGHETTIOS MUG MEAL with Chef Julie - Thursday, December 10th at 5:00 p.m. Join them and Chef Julie on Zoom as they make another yummy microwave mug meal! Look below for the ingredients list, and visit their calendar to register! This program is best for ages 10 and up. Brought to you by the Library Board of Trustees.

• Large mug • Microwave • 1/2 c. pasta • 1 c. water, hot • 2 tsp. Cornstarch • 4 Tbsp. red pasta sauce • 2 Tbsp. milk

VIRTUAL POP-UP GREETING CARD CLASS with Pop-Up Art School. Wednesday, December 16th at 4:00 p.m.

Pop-Up Art School is serving up a steaming mug of art fun! You will cut, assemble, and decorate a pop-up greeting card with your own theme, colors, and design. Visit their calendar to register. Best for ages 8 and up. Brought to you by the Library Board of Trustees.

LETTERS TO LIBRARIANS Have you ever had a pen pal? Do you wonder what the librarians have been up to? Email Lindsey at lcentrella@ cwmars.org to join their Letters to Librarians pen pal program!

DO YOU MISS LEGO CLUB??

They sure do! Email Lindsey at lcentrella@cwmars.org if you’d want to join a virtual LEGO club at the library!

VISA AND MASTERCARD / MA REG. #128580 / CS LICENSE #104402

All welcome to 40 Hours Devotional at St. Mary Parish St. Mary Parish announces they will be holding 40 Hours of Devotion in Advent beginning Sunday, December 6th, through Tuesday, December 8th.

40 Hours is an extended opportunity for prayer in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This honored tradition seeks to nurture the love of the faithful for Jesus who is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist.

40 Hours will begin with Mass celebrated by Rev. Nicholas Desimone, Pastor of St. Mary Parish at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 6th with Adoration of the Eucharist immediately following Mass. Sunday and Monday will conclude with solemn benediction at 9:30 p.m. Morning Mass will be held at 7:00 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday followed by Adoration of the Eucharist.

40 Hours will conclude with Mass on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

St. Mary Parish has approximately 40 ministries that reach out in love to others in service of the Gospel. Each hour of the 40 Hours will be hosted by one of the ministries of the parish and will include meditations, scripture readings, the divine office, praise and worship music, the rosary, and silent prayer.

Different presenters throughout the 40 Hours include, Liz Cotrupi Pfunder, Margaret Tower, Rev. Dennis O’Brien and Rev. Donato Infante.

All are welcome to come and be with the Lord during these 40 Hours. A hospitality area will be available for those wishing to worship for an extended period of time. St. Mary Parish is located at 77 Mendon Street in Uxbridge.

Please view their website for a more complete schedule at www.stmary uxbridge.org or call the office for more information: 508-278-2226.

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letter to the editor____________

Northbridge H.S. Honor Roll

Long bus ride brings safety concerns

hIghest hoNors GraDE 12: afia aning, Kristina Brenn, Callie Ellis, Olivia LeBrasseur, angela Lovering, Brennan Mahoney, Kiera Mc Mahon, Emma Paulhus, Jared Wielsma GraDE 11: angelique akeley, ruby Holtz GraDE 10: abby Barnatt, Ian Gahan, Caroline O'Brien, Kathryn O'Brien, abigail Schofield, Graham Williams GraDE 09: Elizabeth andrews, abigail Caya, Timothy Guiliani, Zachary O'Meara, Marcus reilly hIgh hoNors GraDE 12: Emma Barnatt, ally Boucher, Colin Brody, Vincent Duca, asa Flannery, Charlotte French, Patrick Gahan, Mikayla Gallerani, Trinity Grondin, Joseph Hewitt, Emma LaChapelle, Katelyn Lombardo, Hannah Lomonaco, Morgan Mawn, Justine Michaud, alexandra Padula, allison ronan, Patrick rosenlund, Kayley Tivnan, Katharine Tubbs, Melanie Warner, Michael Wilkes GraDE 11: andrew akeley, James Bartlett, Sara Bedigian, Delaney Bernier, Tyler Bliss, Sydney Boudreau, David Castellon Palma, Nicholas Cleary, Olivia Clemente, Haley Cormier, Jared Dermooshegian, Lauren Ferreira, Hayleigh Hoffman, Caitlyn Mahoney, Isaac Maynard, Mallorie Mercer, Dev Patel, Tyler richards, Christopher rivelli, Jessica ross, aidan roy, Christopher Smith, Patrick Smith, Celia Walker GraDE 10: Cameron athanas, Meghan Cummiskey, Elizabeth Duca, Mary Goodrow, Nikauly Hernandez, Jenna Malone, Coulton Manning, Kayla Munson, Katie Murray, andrew Padula, Caramia Pozzi, Dominic Scichilone, Kayleigh Silva, Nina Szymanowski, Carly Tedford, Keira Touhey, Jenny Wagenhoffer, Emily Wheeler, Nathan Williams GraDE 09: ryan Bedigian, Gary Bunis, Evan Carrachino, rebecca Cleary, Sarah Cowen, Erika Dresp, Madelynne Driscoll, Charles Dupuis, Olivia Frabotta, ainsley Hogan, Kayla Hubbard, Callie Jee, Hannah King, Kayda King, Delaney

Dear Editor I have many concerns about my student's bus route. Getting straight to my concern. My student is on bus 10. A new stop was added and the time of the route has tripled. Bus 3 is in the same area as bus 10. Why wouldn't the new student on W Hill Road be added to Bus 3? Why during a pandemic would the bus company add triple the time to bus 10 when bus 3 is capable of transporting this student?

An extra 25 minutes is a very long time to spend on a bus during this pandemic. Especially when Uxbridge now is in the Red! Also with the windows open freezing temps, rain, snow etc.

I asked administration again and again.....Why was the new student put on the bus with triple the amount of students, and triple the route time? I have followed both buses and it is grossly unfair.

I have contacted ALL the administration of the schools. Dr. Tiano (ftiano@uxbridge.k12.ma.us), Brian Hyde (brianhyde @uxbridge.k12.ma.us), Ann DeYoung (anndeyoung@ uxbridge.k12.ma.us), Jennifer Bellville, (jbellville@uxbridge. k12.ma.us) Julie Vendetti (julie@vendettimotors.com) NO ONE would help! I was brushed off! Please help fight for justice for the Taft students!!!

Sincerely, Mary Small

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Mahoney, rachael Mahoney, Kaydence Melanson, Charleigh Mitchell, Mia Pellegrino hoNors GraDE 12: Gloribel Concepcion Cruz, alyssa Corral, Jonathan Cray, Emma Ganley, Thomas Gogolinski, Wendy Gordor, Brennan Hayes, Brooke Jackson, Theodore Jee, Erika Kwasek, Jill Labrie, Chloe Lamont, abby Larochelle, Olivia Lavallee, Domenic Malone, ariel Marko, Julia Mezynski, Trevor Moorey, avery Senosk, Michael Shorey GraDE 11: Makenzie alicea, anderson Barnicoat-Sansone, Samantha Billmyer, John Buckley, adam Chen, Kylie Clement, Molly Consigli, Kyla Dominguez De Los Santos, Emma Donahue, Collin Falconer, abigail Fraser, Daniel Fung-a-Fat, Charles Garrigan, Joseph Gauthier, John Gifford, Claire Green, Olivia Guest, Kayla Kamishlian, Maeve Kelly, rory Schofer, Walker Sengtong, aaron Smeglin, Brent Turgeon, Timothy Visbeek, Derek Westhoff, Matthew Wildman, Lindzy Winslow Grade 10: Karlee Battista, Brynn Burt, James Canoy, ryan Chick, Molly Conroy, Connor DeCiero, Hannah Direnzo, Corey Gjeltema, Kiana Hardy, Hunter Hastings, Madeleine Lannon, adam Minior, Xavier Murphy, Lillian Naylor, James Oatis, Jason Overfield Jr, Caitlin Porcelli, Jacqueline roe, Madison Scott, Caleb Sweck, Jack Vaughan, Matthew Visbeek GraDE 09: Mahrail absamis, Timmothy adams Jr, Macie allen, Madelyn andresen, Drew Beaudoin, Kiara Bodreau, Samantha Brody, Jolee Conway, Jackson DeCiero, adam Ells, ryan Flaherty, Dakota Grazulis, Tyrese Holder-Hinds, Lucas Hovsepian, Charlotte Leppamaki, Emily Letendre, Molly Mawn, Joseph Mazzarelli, Ella Morganelli, Brady Nicholson, James Potter, Mason remillard, rachel Sawyer, Mary Sullivan, anthony Tomasetti, Jack Wallace, Natalie Zborowski

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Ever Heard Of World Book Online?

Well, you’re about to, and in a big way. You’d think that after all the new stuff your Uxbridge Free Public Library (uxbridgelibrary.org) has brought you in the last few months (ebooks, Kanopy, language study, and a whole lot more), that we’d be flat out exhausted trying to come up with even more new programs to keep your inquisitive mind working overtime. But, we’ve done just that!

Welcome to World Book online. This program has four data bases. Early Learning, Kids, Student, and Advanced.

Early Learning is primarily for preschoolers and children in the early elementary (K-2), Kids is for mostly K-4, Student is for primarily middle school-aged kids, and Advanced is high school and beyond (college, adults...). You’ll need an Uxbridge library card in order to create an account, and once you’re in, you can access all databases, as well as save articles, maps, citations, and more for research. Each database has incredible images and a wide range of topics, including Current Events, Biographies, Maps/Atlases, Stories/Activities (primarily in Early Learning and Kids databases). That covers just about anything in the world that you’d like to learn about.

And if you’re a teacher working to inspire your pupils, there are also a ton of resources and guides you can turn to.

For example, you can find content for your curriculum by plugging in state standards in the Educator Tools section.

There are Guided Reading resources, lesson plan links, and downloadable graphic organizers (like KWLs, compare/ contrast charts, and concept maps). Teachers can also use their Google Classroom platform in sync with the Student database.

And it’s all brought to you by your Uxbridge Free Public Library.

Now, you’re probably wondering what we’ll come up with next. It’s hard to top what we’ve already done, but you can be assured we’re working on it. In the meantime enjoy World Book and all the other programs we’ve brought you.

It just keeps getting better and better

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PaGe 11

Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Celebrates 34 Years a message from Devon Kurtz, executive Director The beauty of the Blackstone River Valley reminds us daily that in the midst of the pandemic and national unrest nature invites us to find peace, solace and well-being. The sights, sounds and scents of this season encourage us to slow down, take our time and relax in our surroundings. On our trails, our bike paths, and our interpretive sites, we are welcomed to step away from the concerns of our daily life and, even if only for little while, breathe deeply.

As we honor our 34th anniversary of the Heritage Corridor, our celebration this year will be different. We will not be gathering together for our annual calendar contest. We will not be

launching our group kayak trips on the river. We will not be joining with others to tour the newest exhibitions. Instead, we will be focusing on all that we can do. This year we invite you to help us redefine how we explore the Valley.

These times will never stop our adventures.

Although distanced, we hope that each of you will share your own excitement and joy that you find in the Valley and to share your thoughts on our Facebook page and post your photos on our Instagram. The strength of our communities forged the history of the Blackstone River Valley, protected our natural resources, and continues to define our unique living landscape.

- Devon Kurtz, Executive Director, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor

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You Can Help Keep the Wheels of Preservation and Progress Turning!

It has been 34 Years!

Friends like YOU from all over the Blackstone River Valley have made these years so successful. In 1986, Congress passed an Act creating the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. Since that time, we have led the efforts to preserve this amazing, living landscape and created a National Historical Park to interpret the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.

Adding to our list of accomplishments, we: Built a replica barn at the historic Kelly House Museum in Lincoln, RI; Built a silver LEED building to house the new heritage center in Worcester, MA; Opened new segments

of the bikeway in Massachusetts and Rhode Island; Developed a robust Volunteers-In-Parks program to help preserve and celebrate our natural, historical, cultural, and recreational resources; and contributed economically to Valley communities through development and tourism.

Today, we ask you to help us continue this important work. Your support helps us to: • Partner with nonprofits, businesses, and residents to restore, retain, and reinvigorate the Valley; • Coordinate enthusiastic volunteers to work on behalf of BRVNHC and its partners; • Facilitate a variety of programs and events to connect people to the National Heritage Corridor and its nationally significant resources;

• Provide services to the 25 communities that make up the Corridor in Massachusetts and Rhode Island; and, Act as the local coordinating partner of the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park.

We still have important work to do and we need YOUR support more than ever!

The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works in partnership with the Federal Government.

We ask if you have enjoyed any of our programs, or take pride in this beautiful place that has a nationally significant story, and you want to see this important work continue, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today! We thank you for your continued support!

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DeCeMBer 2020

Photography Session part of fundraiser drawing Thanks to a generous donation by Bethani Chadbourne of Pictorial Tales, Bay State Trail Riders Association, Inc. (BSTRA) is offering tickets for sale to the general public to win a Gift Certificate for a choice of an Equine Photography Session or an Individual or Family Portrait Session. The Gift Certificate is valued at $200 and includes up to 20 minutes for the session, 6 digital images, a $50 product credit, an online gallery to download your images, and a 25% discount on all products after the $50 credit. Additional time and images are available as add-on purchases if desired. The $50 credit can also be used for custom holiday cards.

Chadbourne is a fully licensed Massachusetts

based photographer specializing in equine and human portraits, seniors, events and more. As a horse owner herself, Chadbourne is particularly interested in and feels a special passion for her equine subjects. It is that passion for horses that drove Chadbourne to leave her past job as a wedding photographer and start her own business, Pictorial Tales Photography. Chadbourne said, “If you are a horse owner like myself, you understand the enveloping love one has for their horse. Your relationship is unique and I want to capture your horse’s unique characteristics and your special, authentic bond. Being able to pause these moments in time allows me to create a memory you can physically hold or decorate your home

with which will last for generations.”

Chadbourne’s past experience as a wedding photographer enables her to capture special moments when she is photographing an individual or family. Whether you choose the Equine Session or the Individual or Family Portrait Session, your images will capture that special moment you will always cherish.

Tickets for this Opportunity Drawing are reasonably priced – 5 tickets for $10, $15 tickets for $20, 35 tickets for $40, 55 tickets for $60, 75 tickets for $80 or 100 tickets for $100 - and they are conveniently available for purchase online through December 15th or through the mail as long as they are received by December 15th. For more information, mail in order form, or to make an online ticket purchase, visit www.bstra.org/support/raffle The drawing takes place on December 16th and a video of the drawing will be published on BSTRA’s Facebook Page. The winner does not need to be present at drawing and will be notified.

Since 100% of the proceeds from tickets sales goes towards funding local trail projects, this fundraiser offers everyone an opportunity to make a difference to trails in State Forests in their community. BSTRA has a large $55,000 trail and parking lot expansion project scheduled for the Douglas State Forest, as well as a connector trail creation and bridge improvement project in the Upton State Forest, and a project for trail improvements at Grafton’s Pell Farm. “We hope the community will support us by participating in this Opportunity Drawing. They will be getting chances to win something really special for themselves or a gift for someone else, while helping community trails,” said Lynn Paresky, BSTRA’s

Bethani chadbourne Fundraising Director. “We wouldn’t be able to offer such a wonderful prize if it wasn’t for the generosity of our Sponsor, Pictorial Tales, and we are extremely grateful for her support.”

Since 1989, BSTRA has put more than $630,000 into trails within State Forests and Parks within 34 towns in Massachusetts. A wide variety of user groups who enjoy the trails for outdoor recreation and fitness will benefit from BSTRA’s trail improvement projects, including hikers, dog walkers, equestrians, mountain bikers, runners, cross country skiers, and families out enjoying nature.

“Now that a lot more people are using trails of our State Forests for recreation and fitness due to Covid-19, they can see the significance of trails as a local resource and the importance of our trail improvements,” said Paresky. “Participating in this fundraiser is their chance to make a positive difference to the trails right in their own community.”

DeCeMBer 2020

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College’s Food Pantry provides holiday meals to students Quinsigamond Community College was out on the frontlines helping to make Thanksgiving a little bit better for its most vulnerable students. Recently, the college’s Food Pantry and Resource Center provided turkeys with all the fixings for 40 students in need. The holiday meals were distributed to students in a safe, contactless way. Those students in need who did not get a turkey were given $40 gift cards to Market Basket.

QCC President Dr. Luis Pedraja took part in distributing the food and said he was humbled by the students’ need, as well as their gratitude.

“Within the first 35 minutes of opening we distributed all 40 turkeys and a total of 49 students were served in one hour. The students were so thankful for the assistance and said it would make such a difference for them and their families,” Dr. Pedraja said. “Prior to the pandemic, we found 49% of our students were hungry and many were not sure where their next meal would come from. Today, we are seeing firsthand this need increasing and we are doing everything we can to help mitigate it.”

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Advisor Bonnie Coleman, who is one of the weekly QCC volunteers, said she was the last person the students saw as they left with their holiday meals.

“After the students picked up their turkeys and other food they stopped and thanked me. So many said ‘God bless you for doing this,’” Ms. Coleman said. “It was heartwarming to see that we are able to make a small difference in the lives of students who are working so hard for a better life for

themselves and their families.”

To date, 409 students have signed up to use the food pantry and with the cold weather and holidays, the college anticipates that number to continue to increase. Since the start of the pandem-

Helping students in need included (L to r) Foundation President Dr. Linda maykel and Qcc President Dr. Luis Pedraja.

ic, QCC’s Food Pantry partnered with the Worcester County Food Bank to deliver 2,000 lbs. of food.

“We are helping feed our students, as well as hundreds of family members.

The word community in our college name is no accident. We are part of the community and as such, we will do everything we can to help our most vulnerable,” Dr. Pedraja said.

For more information about QCC, contact Josh Martin, Director of Institutional Communications at 508854-7513 or jmartin@qcc.mass.edu.

Quinsigamond Community College provides the community with high quality, affordable higher education in Worcester County. As a regional leader in education and workforce development, QCC serves the diverse educational needs of Central Massachusetts by providing affordable, accessible, and high quality programming leading to transfer, career, and lifelong learning.

Great Antique Finds

an antique Voter Box found at the John Farnum building, features a crank used after the ballot was inserted.

The box was found at the John Farnum Building and is being stored at the John Farnum House in Uxbridge. Hopefully, one day, several of the found items, including a bell, will be on display in local public building lobbies. If anyone is interested in helping please contact Jeannette Gokey 508-735-0967.

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DeCeMBer 2020

Students give back to their community

By Julie & Jonathan cray The Northbridge High School Operation Graduation Committee for the Class of 2021, also known as NHS Opgrad, is a group of parents who fundraise all year to organize a celebration for the entire senior class after their graduation ceremony in May of 2021. This year, NHS Opgrad is celebrating their 30th Anniversary, but also facing restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is so much uncertainty right now in how we will move forward in organizing this celebration, but we continue to do our best to give the seniors the celebration they deserve.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our small town of Northbridge significantly. It prompted us to create our motto: “Unity is found in community.” Since November is a month full of gratitude, our committee and senior families agreed it would be a good time to give back to those in need in our community. We organized and were granted permission to host a drive thru food collection at Northbridge High School on November ninth and tenth. The drive aided our community and let our seniors come together safely, since they have not been able to have very much socialization with each other since beginning remote learning in March of 2020.

The food drive included social distancing, wearing masks as well as gloves and exceeded our goals by filling not only one but two trucks full of food for those in need. Our reunited seniors were able to socialize with their fellow participating

Senior abby Lax along with her mom, cathy Lax, a food drive coordinator.

Senior; emma Paulhus receives donation from aimee aileen.

(Pictured L to r) Julie cray; (Drive coordinator), along with seniors; melanie Warner, emma Barnatt, Jenny chauvin, cathy Lax; (coordinator), Kayla Snow, Jonathan cray and Opgrad Board member; Suzanne Snow. classmates, meet donors, and earn community service hours. Together, joyfully and gratefully, we all gave back to so many in need, one hour and one can at a time.

We would like to thank everyone for all of their donations, they were given to the Balmer Elementary School Food Pantry and the Town of

Northbridge’s Food Pantry located in the Northbridge Senior Center. The generosity and commitment of our seniors and our community members made this event successful and created a better situation for those in need.

Pictured at right - top: Seniors; emily Lafreniere, Jenny chauvin, Kayla Snow, carly Jacobs, allison ronan, Katherine tubbs, abby Lax, emma ganley, emma Lachapelle, Katelyn Lombardo.

Pictured at right - middle: Seniors; carly Jacobs, abby Lax, Domenic trombino, Patrick gahan, Jonathan cray, Brennan mahoney, Jared Wielsma, coordinator; cathy Lax and Suzanne Snow.

Brennan mahoney, Jared Wielsma, Patrick gahan, Jonathan cray, John mignault, Domenic trombino.

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Open Sky Community Services receives Grant to expand Telepsychiatry Open Sky Community Services has received a $45,777 grant from The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts to expand telepsychiatry services in its group homes including at its Uxbridge sites.

Open Sky Community Services provides clinical, community-based, and residential care services for individuals with mental health challenges, developmental disabilities, and other complex challenges.

The grant was one of 14 Activation Fund grants recently awarded by the Foundation totaling almost $700,000.

“Throughout Worcester County there are many important health, education, and human service agencies and organizations, which, through the efforts of their dedicated staffs, are providing essential services to our most vulnerable populations,” said Francis M. Saba, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation. “The critical nature of their work has been heightened by the challenges of the current pandemic.

Through our Foundation’s annual Activation Fund process we are able to help support many of these agencies and organizations. In 2020, 66 letters of intent to participate in the application process for support from the Activation Fund were submitted. Of the 66 letters, many were from organizations that had never applied and others from both previous applicants and agencies that had not previously been invited to apply. The 66 letters in 2020 compare with 38 from 2019. Clearly the need for support has increased and is significant. After a thorough review of the letters and applications by our experienced and thoughtful Foundation staff, 14 projects with support of $698,039 were funded. Five of the projects totaling $271,000 were specifically funded in response to the pandemic. Our Foundation is pleased to

continue to do our part in helping these agencies.”

Dr. Jan Yost, President and CEO of the Foundation noted, “The goal of the Activation Fund is to enable an organization to move to a higher level of capacity and to then continue to function at that higher level after the grant ends.” Yost explained that Activation Fund grants typically are for one-year projects that demonstrate a creative and innovative approach to alleviate an existing community health concern or that address an emerging health challenge in the region.

The grant awards are as follows: Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) - $70,790 to upgrade instructional equipment in QCC’s Radiologic Technology program to better prepare QCC students for their clinical rotations and entering the workforce.

Worcester Common Ground (WCG) $100,000 to install a rooftop greenhouse on an affordable housing project WCG is developing in Worcester which will allow residents to grow produce for themselves and their families.

NEADS World Class Service Dogs $50,000 for the construction of its Behavioral Check List space to test puppies to determine their eligibility to enter NEADS training programs as Service Dogs.

Living in Freedom Together (LIFT) $19,000 for the installation of sprinklers at residential home for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation.

LUK, Inc. - $50,000 to support telebehavioral health services for students in middle and high schools in Central Massachusetts.

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center - $60,000 for four dental chairs as part of its plans to expand its Milford site to include dental services, optometry and a 340B pharmacy.

Building Futures - $49,998 for facility and technology upgrades to the Worcester Housing Authority's Youth Center in Great Brook Valley, which provides youth ages 5-14 with tutoring and homework help.

Christopher House of Worcester $39,082 for a program to enhance the skills of its first line managers and train peer mentors with the goal of reducing the turnover rates of both nurses and CNAs. Jeffrey's House - $23,772 for the installation of sprinklers in three sober living houses it operates in Fitchburg and for accessibility renovations in two of the houses.

CENTRO - $50,000 to hire a community health worker to assess the needs of people using its food pantry and refer them to other services CENTRO

offers if they are eligible.

Genesis Club - $40,000 to create a "virtual clubhouse" to enable Genesis Club to reach out to people recovering from mental illness who cannot access its physical location, allowing people to access clubhouse services remotely.

South Middlesex Opportunity Council - $50,000 for the pre-development costs associated with converting the second floor of a building in Worcester into a 50-bed permanent emergency shelter facility.

Seven Hills Family Services $49,620 to upgrade AV equipment in order to record, edit and translate train-

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ing sessions offered at its family support centers in Worcester, Fitchburg and Sturbridge so that families who cannot attend the sessions can access them online at their convenience.

The Foundation was established in 1999 with the proceeds from the sale of Central Massachusetts Health Care, Inc., a physician-initiated, not-for-profit HMO. The Foundation currently has assets of approximately $79 million and has awarded grants totaling over $45 million since it began its grantmaking in 2000. FMI visit The Health Foundation’s website at www.hfcm.org or call (508) 438-0009.

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~Society ~ MRMC Volunteers honored for service

Bay Path Practical Nursing welcomes new faculty member

Medical Center, averaging about 548 hours per week supporting patients and staff.

To follow is a list of the volunteers honored, their hometowns and their hours of service:

ernie gentile and Lynda Keenan are recognized for each providing 7,000-hours of volunteer service at milford regional medical center.

Milford Regional Medical Center recently recognized several volunteers who have provided more than 500 hours of service. The 26 recognized volunteers have each logged between 500 and 7,000 hours of service fulfill-

ing various roles at the hospital. Each of the honored volunteers received a pin in recognition of their service.

Milford Regional has a total of 396 volunteers serving in over 40 different roles and departments throughout the

Sacred Heart Church “Twice Blessed” Thrift Shop During the Covid-19 Pandemic the Sacred Heart Church Twice Blessed Thrift Shop will remain closed for the Winter until further notice. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who are directly impacted as well as the First Responders and Essential Workers.

Catholic Community of Sacred Heart Church, 187 Hopedale Street, Hopedale, MA Phone (508) 473-1900 or visit their website; sacredhearthopedale.org Like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/twiceblessedthriftshophopedale/

The Bay Path Practical Nursing Academy is pleased to welcome Silvia Medina as a newly appointed faculty member. Silvia Medina, MSN Ed, RN of Blackstone, has been named adjunct faculty, a role she assumed on September 1st, 2020. Medina is an experienced home care nurse who is fluent in English, Creole, and Portuguese. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing Education this year at Western Governors University (WGU), her Bachelor of Science in Nursing also at WGU in 2010, and was a Dean’s lister at the Atlantic Union College in 2007 where she earned her Associates Degree in Nursing. Her experience also includes rehabilitation nursing and acute care at Kindred Hos-

500 HOURS • Donna Tamagno - Hopkinton • Phil Kuehne -Ashland • Mark Haggerty - Hopkinton • Eileen Ryan -Hopkinton • Helen Vaughan - Milford • Elaine Capuzziello - Milford • David Vaillancourt - Milford • Paul Erickson - Norfolk • Pat D’Amour - Milford • Dan Sullivan - Bellingham • Joyce Harrington - Whitinsville • Philip Harcourt - Millville • Leah Guyton - Blackstone • Muriel Beaulieu - Northbridge

Silvia medina, mSn ed, rn pital where she precepted newly hired nurses.

Send Us your news: newsatthenut@msn.com

1,000 HOURS • Jeanne Anderson - Milford • Chris Bjork - Medway • Brenda Fenton - Uxbridge • Janice Lavallee - Milford • Mary Ann Oppenheimer - Franklin • Judy Tovern - Blackstone • Kavitha Chandran - Franklin 2,000 HOURS • Margaret Argy - Hopedale

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DeCeMBer 2020

Cory's Crusaders ways you can help Tim Jones is a self-syndicated Comic Strip artist, and a member of the national Cartoonist Society & arIa

Fmi visit: www.facebook.com/sourgrapescomic

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Shop AmazonSmile and select Cory’s Crusaders as your charity of choice. Especially during Black Friday and Holiday Shopping! It’s quick, it’s easy and you will be making a donation just by shopping for the things you were already planning to purchase.

1) #GivingTuesday Dec 1st, A Global Day of Giving-Create a Facebook fundraiser for Cory’s Crusaders.

2) Like them on Facebook & Instagram. Share posts & newsletters with family, friends and co-workers.

AWARENESS = FUNDING = RESEARCH = CURES! Together we are making a difference in the life of a child fighting brain cancer. Make a Donation Today! Online: www.coryscrusaders.org

GET YouR BuSiNESS NoTiCED...ADVERTiSE hERE! Reach Over 21,000 Homes and Businesses Every Month Call 508-278-2134 or Email: thenewuxbridgetimes@msn.com

Merry Christmas & happy New Year!

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DeCeMBer 2020

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senior corner Millbury Council On Northbridge Center renamed to Plummer Place TAI CHI Northbridge Senior Center/Plummer Place is SENIOR CENTER BUS Aging posts events located at 20 Highland Street, Whitinsville and If you need a ride for groceries, prescriptions, in Being shown on Northbridge Cable TV channel MILLBURY SENIOR CENTER PICTURE BOARD & DECORATE A GINGERBREAD COOKIE TO GO! From November 30th – Christmas Day. Holiday Picture Board available outside in Garden, all welcome to take pictures.

DECORATE A GINGERBREAD COOKIE Available for pick up only, $3 for a kit of 2. Supplies Limited so call ahead 508-865-9154 BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC Every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Held outside in front of the Millbury Senior Center under the Awning Masks required along with social distancing.

EXERCISE IN THE GARDEN The center is closed at this time, but all are welcome to continue light exercise in the garden on Mondays and Fridays 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Weather permitting & social distancing is a must.

GRAB & GO MEALS Lunch meals will be available to be picked up daily at the front door, 11:30 a.m. Menu is available on Town Website, www.townofmillbury.org or on Millbury Senior Center Facebook page. A 48 hour reservation is required.

For information or reservations call us at 508-865-9154 THE SENIOR CENTER IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. While the building is not open to the public the Food Pantry at the Millbury Senior Center is available from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday by calling 508-865-9247 for an appointment. The food pantry is fully stocked at this time, tell them what you need and you can pick it up or they will deliver it.

They are still available to answer any questions you may have and are available for your transportation to doctors appointments or if you need to go to the drug store for your prescriptions, they will take you there. If you don’t have a mask, they will give you one.

Also if you are in need of a home delivered meal give them a call and they will set you up to get one delivered to you.

Keep safe and remember to wear a mask if you go out and to wash your hands frequently. The COA is located at 1 River Street in Millbury, MA.

can be reached at (508) 234-2002.

A final decision has been made and the name has been officially changed. Members thought it was very appropriate to name the center after Israel Plummer, adding to the many landmarks in town named after him. In their November/ December newsletter there is a nice history lesson on Mr. Plummer and what he did for the town back in the 1800’s. If you did not receive the newsletter, you can go to: ourseniorcenter. com and read it online.

As a reminder, the center is an intake sight for SMOC/fuel assistance.

Call the Center for questions or if you would like to make an appointment with one of their staff.

The senior center is open to the public for 1 on 1 appointments. Call to schedule an appointment.

town medical trips, etc. please call them and they will put you on the bus schedule. They have a limit of four passengers on the bus at a time, and they clean and sanitize in between trips. Masks should be worn at all times on the bus, they will be provided by the driver if you don’t have one. Please make your appointments 24 hours in advance.

AQUA EXERCISE Whitin Community Center. The time has changed to 1:30 p.m. There are new protocols at the community center for check-in so give yourself a little more time before the class. Wear your bathing suit to the community center as the locker room protocol has changed. Call the senior center and let them know if you are going so they can tell the community center. $3/class.

ZOOM FITNESS CLASSES Fitness instructor Judy Noel will do live Zoom classes for Sit and Stretch on Mondays at 9:30 a.m., Low Impact Aerobics on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Stretch and Strengthening on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. If you would like to participate in any of these classes, call Kelly at the center so she can set you up.

191. Ron Allen is taping a half hour show each week to introduce you to this fantastic exercise program. His show will air on the following dates: Sundays at 8:30 a.m., Mondays at 4:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Fridays at 4:30 p.m. If you are outside of Northbridge or if you need to catch up on episodes, you can watch his show on live stream. Go to northbridgetv.org and type ‘Tai Chi’ in the search bar and all of Ron’s episodes will pop up. Call them if you have questions or need assistance accessing his program.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED They are in need of Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers. If you can spare a few hours a week to deliver meals to seniors, call Bill at the senior center.

They are also in need of volunteer out of town medical drivers. Drivers take seniors to out of town medical appointments and are reimbursed for their mileage. Call the senior center if you would like to volunteer for this important program.

Wishing all seniors a happy and healthy holiday season!

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Uxbridge Senior Center News The center is located at 36 South Main Street in Uxbridge. Telephone: 508278-8622 From the Director; I want to personally thank all the contributors, donors, and volunteers who helped make the Thanksgiving meal distribution a success. We were able to distribute 200 meals to our seniors on Monday, November 23rd for lunch.

This year we partnered with the Mendon Street Kitchen to cook the luncheon. Due to the COVID pandemic and safety concerns, we limited our volunteers but we accomplished so much!

The Town of Uxbridge is truly blessed to have so many people who care for each other. What a wonderful way for the community to come together for a great cause. Thank you for allowing the center to be a part of this endeavor.

A list of our major contributors/donors: Mendon Street Kitchen, UniBank, Savers Bank, Table Talk Pies, Hannaford’s, Taft School Students, and Fallon Health.

I also want to acknowledge all of our volunteers. Thank you to those folks who donated canned cranberry sauce, gravy or provided monetary donations.

Thank you to Fallon Health for the $1000 grant monies that helped curb the cost to the senior center. Thank you to Jennifer Bellville and the students of the Taft School for making homemade greeting cards to include in the lunch bags. Thank you to the Town Manager, Directors of various departments in Town and the BOS who also contributed. Our seniors thank you!

A big shout out to those who contributed to the Hannaford’s Helps Reusable Bag Program for the month of November. Proceeds of this project will be put towards the various services and programs that the Senior Center offers.

We thank you!

The Uxbridge Elderly Connection will be sponsoring our Christmas luncheons this year. The Elderly Connection supports the senior center efforts to provide extra activities and expenses that are not in our municipal budget. Please consider supporting the Elderly Connection during this holiday season.

The winter months are now upon us.

Please look after your elderly neighbors, relatives and friends. These will be difficult times since we will now be more socially isolated than ever. Please consider to call, write or deliver a home cooked meal to your friends and those in need. A little kindness will go a long way! Remember, people will forget what you say or do but they will always remember how you made them feel.

Take the time to make someone feel special!

Lastly, I want to personally wish everyone a blessed Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sincerely, Lisa Bernard; Director VIRTUAL PROGRAMS will be aired on Local Cable Channel 192 Tuesday – Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. and also, the Facebook page and YouTube channel.

MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION is now accepting appointments. Call 508278-8622 to schedule your rides.

ZUMBA GOLD re-runs will be offered on Thursdays, Dec. 3rd – 31st. New Zumba Gold classes will be starting up on Thursday, January 7th, 2021.

Interested individuals should call the Uxbridge Senior Center at 508-2788622 for more information and receive their application and waiver forms prior to the start of the program.

• Friday, December 4th – 12:00 p.m. – Baked Fish Curbside Pickup. Lunch includes baked fish meal & dessert. You must call ASAP to make your reservation.

• Friday, December 18th – 12:00 p.m. – Christmas Ham Luncheon Curbside Pickup. You must call ASAP to make your reservation. Thank you to the Uxbridge Elderly Connection for sponsorship. NOTE: Curbside Luncheons may be cancelled or postponed due to inclement weather. If in doubt, please call the senior center before heading out.

• Wednesday, December 30th – Hannaford Gift Card Distribution ~ Cards will be mailed out. Thank you to the BOS for their support.

The Uxbridge Senior Center in collaboration with the UHS Student Council and the National Residence Hall Honorary Bridgewater State University Campus are offering Face Time and Pen Pal Programs for seniors.

With the long winter months upon us, seniors will become more socially isolated. If you would like to join this group, just call the Senior Center at 508-278-8622 to sign up. Let them know if you prefer FaceTime or the Pen Pal Program.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: Thursday, December 24th Open for ½ day Christmas Eve Friday, December 25th Closed for Christmas Day Friday, January 1, 2021 Closed for New Year’s Day SENIOR CENTER ON THE MOVE Videos will be posted every Monday at 10:00 a.m. Get ready to join Sally on VIRTUAL Trips around Uxbridge!

HANNAFORD GROCERY SHOPPING every Tuesday. Pick up begins at 8:30 a.m. Please sign up in advance by calling to reserve your seat on the van.

Masks are required & seating is limited.

VIRTUAL CHAIR EXERCISES Every Tuesday with Sally posted on the Uxbridge Senior Center FaceBook page & YouTube after 2:30 p.m.

WALKING CLUB WITH SALLY! Every Wednesday - 10:00 a.m. – Meet

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at the Blackstone River Greenway if temps are 40 degrees and NO SNOW! Wear your mask & bring a water bottle.

BANK & PHARMACY RIDES 1st and 3rd Wednesdays – Dec. 2nd & 16th - 10:00 am – Please call at least 24 hours in advance if you need a ride.

Masks must be worn as well.

SHOPPING TRIP TO WALMART 2nd and 4th Wednesdays - Dec. 9th & 23rd - 9:30 am there will only be 4 people allowed on the van per visit. Call ahead to sign up! Masks must be worn.

SHAWS/OCEAN STATE SHOPPING RIDES 1st & 3rd Thursdays – Dec 3rd and 17th - 9:30 am Please call at least 24 hours in advance if you need a ride. Masks must be worn and limited to 4 people on the van.

VIRTUAL CRAFTS WITH SALLY Every Thursday posted on the Uxbridge Senior Center Facebook page and YouTube after 2:30 pm.

LIVE FACEBOOK PICTIONARY Every Friday 1:00 pm with Sally. Come play along with Sally & Gail. Tune in to the Uxbridge Senior Center Facebook page. Dec. 4th & 18th will begin at 2:00.

Feel free to contact them at 508-2788622 or visit their web page at Uxbridge-ma.gov/coa or like them on FB page or by googling Uxbridge Senior Center and their new YouTube Channel or dropping by. Uxbridgema.gov/Council-Aging · https://www.

Facebook.com/UxbridgeMASeniorCen ter https://www.youtube.com/channel https://www.uxbridgetv.org/schedule NEWS FROM SHINE Medicare Open Enrollment Ends December 7th!!

It is important to review your options EVERY year to be sure your insurance coverage is still the best for your needs.

Open enrollment is the time you can change your medical and or prescription drug coverage for 2021. Every year, Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage (HMO, PPO) plans can change their premiums, co-pays, deductibles, formularies (list of drugs covered) and preferred pharmacies. In the case of Medicare Advantage Plans they can also drop providers from their Plan. This year we are anticipating that there may be some new plans and choices for you to make. Along with these new plans and choices we expect there will be some aggressive marketing with an unusual high volume of plan sponsored meetings.

Be sure that your primary care physician and other providers are covered in the plans network before you change to a different medicare plan. You should also be sure your medications are covered as well.

This year they are strongly urging all beneficiaries, to sign up for a “MyMedicare Account”. Having this account will allow them to assist you more comprehensively with your choices for 2021. Information on signing up is available on their website www.shinema.org. Just click on the MyMedicare Link.

Call the center and ask for a SHINE phone appointment. or call 1-800-2434636, then press or say 4. You can also email them at info@shinema.org

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school News Whitinsville Christian School announces First Quarter Honor Roll GRADE 6 HIGH HONORS Isabella Aloise Graf, Grace Cwiakala, Audyn DeWeerd, Ian Finch, Jude Goodson, Hailey Kindl, Emma MacCarthy, Elliot McCabe, Eamon Moloney, Julia Monteiro, Chase O'Connell, Brinley Rufo, Meah Ryan, Lincoln Shaw, Ruth Stenbuck, Caleb Tetreault, Elisavet Tzimogianni, Nathanael Vos HONORS Emily Bastien, Amelia Bowler, Gabriel Deters, Enson Enoch, Abby Flagg, Emily Flagg, Emma Frazier, Lucia Gaudiano, Finch Harvey, Carrie Keeler, Joshua LaBonte, Dominik McAlister, Nolan McGee, Ailish Mitchell, Vaughn, Mulroy, Neola Nigh, Sophia Robbins, Abigail Shafton, Liam Simao GRADE 7 HIGH HONORS Kacy Brochu, Adeline Cherrier, Amalia Dishington, Jack Hutchinson, Faith Najem, Brady Pitts, Maria Ramos, Justin Smith Honors Madison Amati, Emily Burkhart, Natasha Carreiro, Jacob Fogg, Elijah Fortna, Noah Garrant, Jillian Gould, Leah Johnston, Ryan Martinka, Hadasyah Mestres, Camden Morse, Emma Oosterman, Ludmilla Silveira, Lilly Wierenga, Matthew Wren

Johnston, Adrienne Marshall, Jaquelyn McNamara, Victoria McNamara, Carlie Paharik, Chloe Richey, Nathan Romine, Alexandra Weedon, Eme Wyndham, Greyson Yarger GRADE 10 HIGH HONORS Allison Anema, Allison Cinelli, Nicolas DeNorscia, Emily Dill, Eliana Dishington, Fiona Donnelly, Trinity Ezedi, Alexondra Foster, Grace Hart, Bella Roberge HONORS Toby Bowler, Sophia Dill, Victoria Fredericks, Jenna LeDuc, Ethan MacGillivray, Noah Massotti, Peter McHugh, Hannah Pollitt, Abigail Shimko, Lucas Silveri, Michael Vardis, Amanda Witkus

GRADE 12 HIGH HONORS Dylan Anema, Lucy Bowler, Andrew Burkhart, Karlee Buurma, Benjamin Cannistraci, John Esler, Olivia Fleming, Alexandria Fogg, Anthony Gilbert, Micah Hart, Isabella Ibrahim, Thomas Karns, Bethany Peterson, Maggie Rejmer, Fiona Shaw, Nicole Spiller, Ella VanTol, Katherine Weedon, Alyssa Worley HONORS Karen Bekhet, Lillie Burns, Samuel Chilton, Joshua Delaney, Josiah Graves, Benjamin Johnson, Hannah Liu, Joella Mills, Madison Paul, Benjamin Piett, Mikaela Rose, Joseph Thumann, Nathan Walton, Anna Watters, Brandon Whiton

GRADE 11 HIGH HONORS Daniel Bourguignon, Hope Brookhouse, Parker Carlin, Abbi Cullen, Meghan DeGregorio, Rebecca Dowling, Elizabeth Dowling, Abigail Goodell, AJ Gorman, Kayla Hannon, Jillian LaBonte, Benjamin Linton, Dimitar Milev, Victoria Njoroge, Riley Plourde, Ella Rejmer

New England ConservWhitinsville Christian atory of Music in music School (WCS) has named Heather Hannon Rufo as and vocal performance, as well as additional training their new Director of the Arts. In this role, Heather in acting, dance, and voice. will provide leadership and She has performed professionally in New York and coordination of the many arts programs at WCS in Boston, joined Actors' Equity Association, aporder to achieve the school’s goal of delivering quality peared in many commercials and print ads, permusic, drama, and visual arts that foster student poformed and recorded with Heather tential and God-given talent.

Hannon rufo Video Game Orchestra, and “I am so thrilled to be back is currently a resident actor at WCS! After directing the high school with Boston Playwrights Platform.

“We could not be more pleased to theater at WCS from 2004-2005, I moved to New York City to further pur- welcome Heather as our new Director sue my acting and singing career,” said of the Arts,” said Rick Lukianuk, Head Rufo. “I am now playing my best role of School. “She has an impressive yet as a wife and mom to my three resume, not only as a performer, but daughters who are students at WCS. also in the field of sales and marketing.

I'm so excited to be able to come back These skills will help her succeed in and share my experience with the next executing the WCS vision, enthusiasm, generation of artists here at and unity within our distinct programs.

She will be a valuable resource for parWhitinsville Christian School.”

Heather received a Bachelor of Arts ents, students, faculty, and the commuin Communication Arts with an empha- nity to work together in advancing sis on theatre from Eastern Nazarene WCS’s arts programs and moving College. She also received training at toward a shared goal of excellence.”

SenD US YOUr SCHOOl neWS: newsatthenut@msn.com

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GRADE 8 HIGH HONORS Charlotte Bartlett, Amanda Cinelli, Emelyn DeWeerd, Julia Gibbons, Brady Gorman, Julia Lawson, Gillian McGee, Siena Mueller, C.J. Najem, Logan O'Connell, Quinnlan Rice, Hannah Ostroff, Hannah Walton HONORS Caden Anema, Katherine Godin, Joanna Graves, Jocelyn Hackathorn, William Mulroy, Cadence Murzycki, Brianna Penterson, Rosemary Poe, Hannah Rejmer, Liliana Shafton, Scarlett Shaw, Corbin Swaim, Georgia West, Emma Wierenga GRADE 9 HIGH HONORS Caleb Deters, Maria Fletcher, Kaylin Fogg, Annika Fortna, Avery Glidden, Ava Ibrahim, William Johnson, Hannah Lashley, Delia Moloney, Meadow O'Connell, Hayden Plourde, Isabella Silveira, Declan Smith, Justin Vos, Grace Walton HONORS Micah Allen, Asher Bell, Nicolas Belucio, Hannah Bourguignon, Ella Brochu, Molly Burkhart, Sophia Calado, Zachary Casey, Kathleen Crowley, Ethan Enoch, Megan Foellmer, Camdyn Forget, Matthew Godin, Niki Guo, Evan Hand, Nathan

HONORS Juliana Buchanan, James Casey, Jenna Dolan, Lauren Foellmer, Cameron Gibbons, Annika Holm, Emma Johnson, Cece LaBonte, Molly Lashley, Ian MacGinnis, Daniel Paharik, Lois Powers, David Randall, Ethan Smith, Callie VandenAkker, Kole Wyndham

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DeCeMBer 2020

Five Secrets To Stopping Arthritic Hip Pain

By Dr. Sean t. Lordan If you are like many adults ages 50+ with Low Back and Hip pain, this article is for you. Heading into the winter months especially, hip pain and low back pain both tend to rear their ugly heads as the weather becomes colder and subsequently our joints become “stiffer.” If you suffer from chronic on again/ off again hip or low back pain, read the following bullet points and implement a few changes to see extraordinary results.

Watch your Diet:. Specifically the quality and quantity of what you eat. Your hips are weight bearing joints. With more weight, wear and tear is inevitable. Weight loss is never easy, especially if you are hampered with chronic hip pain making it difficult to walk and exercise. Diet and nutrition in this case become extremely important. There are many studies that directly link a high body mass index (BMI) to hip pain. Think about it, the more pain you have, the less you move and the more likely you are to gain weight.

There are two specific parts of your diet to consider, quality and quantity. Without the proper combination and dose, weight gain is inevitable. I suggest that you try count-

ing calories for a week. There are many apps on your phone that make this easy.

Myfitness-pal and mynetdiary are two that I recommend to my patients. By tracking what you are supposed to consume and comparing it to what you actually consume will help you to determine the quantity of food you should be eating. Quality of food is a bit trickier and can vary greatly person to person. In general, using an approach that incorporates the addition of the following to your diet will be a good start: Omega 3 Fatty-Acids / Fish Oils; Salmon, Nuts and Seeds; Almonds.

Cruciferous Vegetables - Kale, Fruits and Berries - Blackberries, Healthy Fats Cont.

- Olive Oil, Lentils & Beans - Black Beans, Root Vegetables - Garlic and Tumeric, Whole Grains - Whole Wheat Bread, Glucosamine / Chondroitin- Bone Broth. ELIMINATE: processed foods, salt intake Get Moving. One of the best techniques to manage arthritic joint pain is exercise.

In terms of frequency aim for 3-4 days per week as a minimum and keep it low impact. Swimming, biking and walking are three of the best exercises for hip arthritis. In the event that surgery should be deemed necessary, remember that the

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stronger your joint is prior to surgery the better your outcomes will be post operatively. I recommend doing these three exercises in conjunction with a light aerobic program: Bridges, Clamshells, Air squat (to chair), Stretch. Stretching is an important part of joint health and integrity.

If you have hip pain, the four stretches you should be doing are: Posterior pelvic tilt, Piriforis stretch- into table, Hamstring stretch, Calf stretch.

Doing these stretches will help keep your joints limber and make it easier for you to attain better range of motion even if you do decide to go the Total Hip Replacement (THR) route.

Consider Your Options. When you have pain in the hips due to arthritis you have more than one option to manage your symptoms. Your first step should be to consult a Physical Therapist (PT) to see what can be done to help with the mechanical causes of the pain. You DO NOT need a script from your PCP to see a PT, this is something new that most people don’t know. Save time and money by skipping the Doctors office and going right to a musculoskeletal specialist. A PT will identify and fix tight muscles and impaired joint mobility that is most likely the root

cause of your pain (yes, even if an X-ray tells you it is bone-on-bone, PT will still help your pain!) Another option in consultation with your PT or PCP would be to decide whether further medical management is needed. By further medical management I’m talking about a cortisone shot or anti-inflammatory medication or steroids to manage your symptoms. If all else fails, a surgical consult may be necessary but should only be considered if you are in relatively good health and are in debilitating pain.

Get Professional Help! Those who have PT prior to Hip Surgery do better long term than those who don’t. This is because training the muscles and creating a stronger baseline of strength bodes well for post-op recovery. Simply put, the stronger you are going into surgery makes recovery easier.

There you have it, 5 secrets to success in your battle against hip pain during this cold weather season. If you have questions about low back or hip pain, I can be reached at drlordan@conciergephysicaltherapy.com. For more information about aches and pains you may be having throughout your body visit www. conciergephysicaltherapy.com.

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Imagining I Was There: exhibit The year 2020 has presented unparalleled challenges to all aspects of everyday life! But the Deborah Wheelock Chapter, DAR, continued to bring attention to Constitution Week which is celebrated nationally from September 17th thru 23rd annually. On each floor of the Uxbridge Free Public Library, posters displayed famous historic events and featured a Proclamation by the Board of Selectmen, recognizing the 234th anniversary of the signing of this founding document. Co-sponsored by the Deborah Wheelock Chapter, DAR, and Library, children (ages 5 to 10) were invited to enter in the 4th annual “Imagining I Was There” coloring contest to celebrate Constitution Week.

Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic entry to the library was curtailed. Coloring was not allowed in the usual fun, communal atmosphere enjoyed in previous years, and the contest was extended to October 31st to offer more opportunity for participation. Lindsay Centrella, Youth Services & Assistant Library Director, was pleased to report young patrons were excited to choose from selected scenes of significant anniversaries in American history from Mayflower landing (1620), to Constitution signing (1787)*, to adoption of the 19th amendment ( women’s right to vote in 1920), to landing on Iwa Jima (1945)!

Although no ‘entries’ were returned for judging, she is delighted so much ’historic’ artwork currently decorates homes throughout Uxbridge. While there is no picture of winners holding artwork and certificates in 2020, nonetheless DAR and library goal- to educate- was achieved.

In referring to the Constitution, Federalist, No. 51 states, “If angels were to govern men neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.” Throughout successive generations promoting ‘education’ about American history and heritage has been an object of the Daughters of the American Revolution, an international volunteer service organization founded in 1892.

In Uxbridge, the Deborah Wheelock Chapter, DAR, has welcomed women with ancestry traced to the American Revolution without regard to race, color, religion or national origin and with interest in historic preservation, patriotism and education since 1899.

For more information about DAR and how to join, contact Deborah Wheelock DAR@googlegroups.com.

Send Us Your news: newsatthenut@msn.com

DeCeMBer 2020

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Feature Film tells the story of saving an area high school Against all odds, the students, faculty, staff and parents of one of the smallest private educational facilities in America band together to save their school. How they did it was nothing short of a miracle.

Emmy Award winning producers, Jeff Bowler and Bret Saxon’s Wonderfilm Media just completed the forth of eight weeks of principal photography on the highly anticipated documentary, All In: Miracle at St. Bernard’s. The featurelength documentary is based on the incredible true story of how St. Bernard’s, a small private Catholic high school in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, found itself 100 years after its founding, facing a dramatic shut-down. The film follows the community as they pour their hearts and souls into saving their school from being permanently shuttered. A miracle ensues.

A Real-Life David and Goliath Story With enrollment dwindling, by 2018 St. Bernard’s was the smallest school in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, with a total of 99 students. The Catholic Diocese of Worcester made the difficult decision to close the school. Led by the school’s principal, Linda Anderson, students, parents, faculty, alumni and the townspeople of Fitchburg hatched an idea to raise enough money to take the school independent and keep it open. They worked tirelessly to raise the daunting amounts needed.

Unfortunately, like the school, the town was struggling, and fundraising proved extremely difficult.

With quickly approaching deadlines, extreme pressure from the budget shortfalls, the Diocesan Superintendent of Schools informed all parties of the dire straits they were facing, and that short of a miracle, the school would cease to exist. Then the football team started winning.

IT ALL CAME DOWN TO FOOTBALL Almost every eligible student at the school joined the football team. With an enrollment so small, that meant the St. Bernard’s football team had 26 boys.

Miraculously, despite going up against schools often ten times as big as St. Bernard’s, the team, led by Coach Tom Bingham, was winning, and winning, and winning. And with each win, the media started reporting on this David beating Goliaths. “St. Bernard’s was going up against teams from the top schools in New England, with thousands of students, multi-million-dollar endowments, and players who were much larger physically – and winning,” said All In producer Jeff Bowler. The St. Bernard’s team went on to win the state Super Bowl played in Gillette Stadium. The 26 boys on the team, fighting for every inch of the field that their hero, New England Patriot Quarterback Tom Brady, called home on Sundays, won the State Championship, generating enough national publicity to raise the money needed to save the school, including a huge donation from a still anonymous donor.

Shortly thereafter, with funds in hand, the school officially became independent, with the full support of the

Diocese. In the first year following the miraculous football season, admissions are soaring, and an entire town’s spirits have been raised in celebration of saving their historic high school.

“As a St. Bernard’s alum and filmmaker, I was tapped by the school to help tell this truly remarkable story to the world,” said Bowler. “This feelgood, underdog tale is about so much more than football. The story is about a community that rallied together to create their own miracle. Faced with the closing of their beloved high school, students and faculty members stepped up to the plate to save their school, with unwavering perseverance.”

All In: Miracle at St. Bernard’s is being produced by Wonderfilm’s Jeff Bowler and Bret Saxon. The Emmy Award-winning duo have enjoyed success in feature documentaries, including the 2017 documentary, UNCHAINED: THE UNTOLD STORY OF FREESTYLE MOTORCROSS, narrated by Oscar nominee Josh Brolin; which won the Emmy for Best

Documentary, in the sports category, as well as the 2009 feature-doc, DIRTY OIL aka DOWNSTREAM, directed by Leslie Iwerks, which was short-listed for an Oscar.

All In is being directed by Gregg Backer (Producer/Director HBO Sports, Real Sports). Other producers include Foglight Entertainment’s Gregg Backer and Evan Kanew with Nathan Bilotta serving as Executive Producer.

All In: Miracle at St. Bernard’s is currently shooting in Fitchburg, Boston and Los Angeles.

Wonderfilm Media recently wrapped supernatural horror LULLABY directed by John Leonetti (Anabelle), with Alcon, in Toronto. Cast and crew adhered to all COVID-19 production guidelines and there were no cases of the virus on set. The film is set for a major release next October.

Wonderfilm latest release, Dead Reckoning with K.J. Apa and India Eisley, just premiered November 13.

Upcoming Wonderfilm Media projects include the biopic on Tampa Bay

Rays breakout star, Randy Arozarena.

The outfielder escaped Cuba on a makeshift boat in 2015, started a new life in Mexico before making his way to the U.S and has become the most talked-about MLB player in baseball.

Wonderfilm is also developing the highly coveted Steve McQueen biopic as a limited series based on Marshall Terrill’s book, “A Tribute To The King of Cool”.

ABOUT WONDERFILM MEDIA Wonderfilm is a leading entertainment company with offices in Hollywood, Boston and London. Wonderfilm focuses on the production of high-quality feature films and episodic television that offer international appeal through the Company’s commitment to elevated storytelling. Wonderfilm has seen twelve of its features released over the past twelve months, including the Nic Cage thriller Primal and the Guy Pearce vehicle Disturbing the Peace. Wonderfilm was founded by Jeff Bowler, Bret Saxon, and John Lewis.

Tufts Center for Animals & Public Policy events UPCOMING CAPP EVENTS: MAPP Informational Webinar to learn about the Master of Science in Animals and Public Policy (MAPP) program, curriculum, opportunities, MAPP faculty, and their areas of expertise.

• Thursday, December 3rd, 12:00 p.m.1:00 p.m. (EST) with Dr. Megan Kiely Mueller, Co-Director, Tufts Institute for Human-Animal Interaction and faculty, MS in Animals & Public Policy program.

Members of the public are invited to this online webinar at no charge. Info for joining each webinar: https://grad. vet.tufts.edu/mapp-program-informational-webinars/ • Graduate Programs Open Houses Thur., Jan. 7th – Mon., Jan. 11th, 2021.

Join them at one of their upcoming Open Houses to meet students, faculty and staff and learn how Cummings School graduate degree offerings can help you achieve your career aspirations. RSVP for one or all three programs at: https://grad.vet.tufts.edu/ open-house/

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DeCeMBer 2020

DAR Women in the Arts Recognition Margaret Fournier of Webster, has received the 2020 Daughters of the American Revolution, Women in the Arts Recognition Award from the National Society of the DAR. The Award is given to people who have shown exceptional talent in the Arts, and have been recognized by the community for contributions to American Arts and Culture.

For over 28 years Mrs. Fournier has won many prizes from the Woodstock Fair for her Crafts. Last year at the 2019 Woodstock Fair, her Bride Doll from 1889 won First Prize for Dolls and First Place for Best Overall in Show. The Bride Dress had 6,000 white pearl beads, and It took her all winter to complete the project. She has also made

a wedding party of the same 1889 period.

Margaret has many interests and activities that include the Uxbridge Fife and Drum Corp and Historian of the Fournier and Langlois Family Reunions. She is a dedicated member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Margaret is the Registrar of the Captain Job Knapp Chapter in Douglas, and has helped many women become members of the chapter. The members of the Captain Job Knapp Chapter were honored to submit her name for this year's DAR Women in the Arts Recognition.

If you have an ancestor who served in the American Revolution you are eligible for membership. FMI on the DAR contact clavallee234@gmail.com.

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How To Master Your Mindset During A Crisis Mike Savage will present “How to Master Your Mindset During A Crisis: The Seven Secret Weapons of Great Business Leaders Who Thrive During Challenging Times” at a Zoom meeting of The Communicators Club from Noon to 1:15 p.m.

Tuesday, December 1st.

Mike said, the pandemic is a curveball that none of us could have imagined. While most business leaders have assessed the reality of their situation, applied for a PPP or EIDL loan, and taken the necessary steps as required by law, they may not be addressing an important aspect of this crisis – their mindset and mental state. Mike, who has more than 30 years of entrepreneurship, believes that mindset, language, focus, daily routine, peer network, and thought process are significantly more important to success than a tactic, product or marketing plan.

Mike will dig into how great leaders summon their inner powers when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges and emerge victorious.

He will explain how entrepreneurs can win this battle as they manage their state of mind, believe that the universe is unfolding as it should, and have faith that they will successfully navigate through this adversity.

There is a $10 fee for the virtual program. To register, go to https://conta.cc/38uuUvp. For more information about The Communicators Club, visit https://communicatorsclub.org/.

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the Bolandrina family joined in the walk to shine awareness on mental health issue.

Out of the Darkness Walk at Purgatory Chasm Bay Path Practical Nursing Academy Director, Gretheline Bolandrina MSN Ed, RN, CRRN of Douglas, participated in the 2020 Out of the Darkness Experience, a walk joining Massachusetts together for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

According to Michele Lee, Associate Area Director (MA) and Area Director (RI) for AFSP, “mental health and suicide prevention are now a top priority for many individuals, businesses, organizations, and communities. The AFSP is committed to offering resources, support, messages, and connection to everyone in need.”

Bolandrina registered as captain for Bay Path Practical Nursing Academy team and raised $350, 75% more than the initial fundraising goal of $200. Bolandrina was joined by her children Jessica, Lilly, and Max for the walk at Purgatory Chasm.

“It was a beautiful day to walk for a great cause,” said Bolandrina, who said her main focus is to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention, but she added that she also wants to raise funds for AFSP. “I’ve been checking in with the alumni and the PN Class of 2021. As much as possible, we share insight, ideas, I hear about some of their challenges and successes, we continue to learn from each other on how we are here for all.”

Mental Health Awareness and Mental Health First Aid Training are ongoing advocacies at the practical nursing education community.

“We have not been able to host fundraisers in our communities, we need to abide by state and town guidelines so the reinvented Out of the Darkness Walk into the Out of the Darkness Experience works well,” said Bolandrina.

“Together to Fight Suicide” was a special day to experience with family or small groups around local neighborhoods.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is a voluntary health organization based in New York City, with a public policy office based in Washington, D.C., and local chapters in all 50 states in the United States. The organization's stated mission is to “save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.” For more information visit www.afsp.org.

Bay Path Practical Nursing is a 40-week, (10-month), fulltime, Monday through Friday, evening program. The program begins mid-August and is completed in late June. Graduates receive a Practical Nursing Certificate and are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN licensure exam. For more information visit www.baypath.net

DeCeMBer 2020

PaGe 25

business review

Sircar joins Protect Your Finances from “Cyberthieves” UniBank as CFO UniBank, Central Massachusetts’ premier community bank, announced that Nobo Sircar has joined UniBank as its new Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Sircar comes to UniBank with significant financial executive experience in the banking industry. He recently served as EVP and CFO of Bank of New Hampshire and had extensive experience as EVP and CFO at South Shore Bank. Mr. Sircar currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Bankers Association. Past positions held include Chairman (ABA RNAC Board of Directors) for the American Bankers Association, Board of Directors for the South Shore Habitat for Humanity and Board of Trustees at Bridgewater State College Foundation.

You’ve no doubt heard reports of personal data being stolen and used for financial fraud, anything from online shopping on your credit cards to actual theft from your Darren Parent financial accounts.

This problem won’t go away anytime soon – but you can take steps to defend yourself.

Here are a few suggestions: Use multifactor authentication or other extra security options with online accounts. Many of your online accounts offer extra security by giving you the option to prove your identity in different ways. With multifactor authentication, you must provide at least two different factors to prove your identity when you log in to an account.

This additional layer of security provides you with much greater protection.

Be creative with passwords. Create different passwords for work, financial services sites, social media and email and give each password some length and complexity. Consider passphrases actual words combined with symbols and numbers (for example, “ThisIsA Passphrase!2468”), for sites that allow them.

Protect your computer and your key data. Keep your antivirus software updated. And don’t install bootleg or unlicensed software, which could infect

your computer with a virus. Also, back up your important data.

Watch out for fake websites or apps.

When making financial transactions, be sure you’re on the website of your bank or financial institution and not on a fake site established by hackers. Your financial statements should have the legitimate website, so bookmark it and use it when doing anything with your accounts. Also, be careful when downloading apps stick with those from established providers such as Google Play or the App Store.

Avoid “over-sharing” on social media. Cyberthieves constantly stalk social media platforms for information they can use to commit their crimes.

You can help stymie them by limiting what you share online. It’s a good idea to keep your full name, address and birthday private. You might also avoid discussing your plans for upcoming vacations. And review your privacy settings periodically so that only people you know or approve can see your information.

Limit use of public Wi-Fi. Hackers often set up their own Wi-Fi networks in public areas, such as the computers found in hotel business centers. Ask an employee for the name of the legitimate network. And even when you use it, log off when you’re finished.

Don’t take the bait of “phishers.”

Cyberthieves go “phishing” for sensitive information – usernames, passwords and account numbers by sending

communications, such as emails, purporting to be from a business or financial institution with which you often do business. They may claim your account was “suspended” or that an “unauthorized transaction” was made, and you’ll be asked to click on a link that takes you to what appears to be the company’s website.

If you go along with this request, you could find malicious software being downloaded on your computer. But legitimate businesses generally won’t ask for account numbers or passwords unless you initiate the transaction.

Other signs of phishing include threat-

ening language, “urgent” requests, misspelled words or odd word choices. If an email does look suspicious to you, delete it without opening it.

This list is not exhaustive, but by putting these steps to work, you can at least reduce the risk of becoming victimized by cybercriminals.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Please contact Darren Parent, your local Edward Jones Advisor at 5 Albert Street, Auburn, MA 01501 Tel: 508-832-5385 or Darren. parent@edwardjones.com. Edward Jones, Member SIPC.

nobo Sircar Michael Welch, CEO of UniBank, said, “Nobo brings deep financial industry experience with a proven track record to UniBank. He also possesses the community bank mindset necessary to assist our team to drive our ‘Community First’ mission and we welcome him to UniBank. His financial acumen coupled with his commitment to serving the community made him the ideal candidate.”

Chris Foley, President of UniBank, stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Nobo and eager to benefit from his expertise and insight he has acquired throughout his distinguished career.”

Justine DeNorscia, Executive Vice President at UniBank, said, “The appointment of Nobo to CFO is a prime example of ‘Right Person, Right Time’ and we’re looking forward to tapping into his experience.”

Nobo Sircar said, “UniBank has an outstanding reputation and I am extremely proud to join this talented team that delivers excellence in their financial services and is driven to provide community support to many organizations. There is great potential ahead and the leadership opportunity at UniBank is an honor and a privilege.”

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DeCeMBer 2020

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Custodial Substitutes Northbridge Public Schools is seeking Rate of pay $14.50 / hour.

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

Wishing You A Blessed Holiday Season We would like to say

THANK YOU to all of our advertisers for their support during 2020.

As a fellow small business, we know how difficult this year has been on our community.

With the new year approaching, we look forward to helping you promote your business and continue to deliver important local news to our towns.

Best Wishes,

The New Uxbridge Times

to advertise call 508-278-2134 or email: thenewuxbridgetimes@msn.com

DeCeMBer 2020

PaGe 27

The Giving Spirit recently for the holidays a donation was made by michael Shain, founder & presidnet of thanks to yanks. to the airman and Family readiness Program of the 102 intelligence Wing Otis ang Base. the funds will be used for food baskets for both thanksgiving and christmas, thanks to yanks is a local charity that remembers, respects and reveres the sacrifices that our military and the families that love and support them make daily, to protect our freedom, for more information Like them on Facebook. mr. John ciesla, army veteran and his wife, (pictured above) holding a donation check payable to Homes For Our troops. Bay equity loan officer michael Shain has committed to making donations throughout the year to this military charity.

Homes for Our troops, is a taunton based non-profit organization that builds and donates homes to severely injured post 9/11 veterans.

REAL ESTATE

Homes for Our Troops donation Bay Equity Loan Officer Mike Shain enthusiastically supports “Homes for Our Troops,” a Tauntonbased charity that builds and donates custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans nationwide, to enable them to rebuild their lives.

Shain is passionate about helping those who serve.

“Giving back to the community is very important to me and supporting those who have served is an honor,” Shain says. “Homes for our Troops has long history of outstanding work.

I am thrilled to make donations throughout the year to support their mission.”

Shain is also President and Founder of Thanks To Yanks, a local charity supporting those who sacrifice to serve and protect; including first responders, military members and their families.

Mike Shain has more than 30 years of banking and mortgage lending experience and hosts “Real Estate and Beyond,” a local TV show about home buying and selling trends.

About Bay Equity: Bay Equity is a family-owned, fullservice retail mortgage lending institution that prioritizes personal relationships. Founded in 2007 and licensed in 42 states. For more about Bay Equity Home Loans, visit: www.bayequityhomeloans.com.

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DeCeMBer 2020