~ THE NEW ~
“Your Hometown News” VOLUME 19 • ISSUE 4
A FREE Monthly Publication
Uxbridge • North Uxbridge • Linwood • Douglas • Northbridge • Whitinsville • Sutton • Manchaug
APRIL 2010
Uxbridge Man Survives Earthquake In Haiti Another resident returns to minister aid By Constance Dwyer “I have been asking myself a lot…What is my life all about? I believe now, more than ever, it is…to help the poorest of the poor as Jesus has called us to do.” Todd Pihl, Uxbridge, Haiti earthquake survivor Thankful to still be alive after facing the devastation of the Haiti earthquake, Todd Pihl of Uxbridge considers his survival as a “bit of a miracle.” He was in Haiti with a para-church group, Mission E4 to “work with the poor in Haiti” from January 9th - l6th when a devastating earthquake struck on January 12th. “I was in the pediatric ward with Mission E4 president Scott Long visiting a sick boy about 7 years of age when the earthquake hit. It sounded like a bomb and the whole ground was moving back and forth, like waves on a lake. The earthquake lasted about 37 seconds, which seemed like an eternity. You could not even move--the ground was rolling under our feet. When we were able to make it outside it looked and felt like Armageddon, the earth coming to an end. Everyone was in the streets. It was total devastation.” He said, to this day, he can still hear the Haitian people crying out to “Jezi,” Creole for Jesus. “In the midst of the destruction there is revival in Haiti. Every night from sun down to sun up Haitian people gather and are crying out to God. The reports coming back from teams are that this continues even now. It is awe inspiring to witness the faith of these people in the midst of what is going on” Over the following week the team of 40 helped the injured and he is still amazed that none of his team “even got a scratch,” despite the surrounding destruction. “There were large walls that fell next to one of the team busses. A telephone pole fell 2 feet in front of
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one of our buses. It is truly a miracle that none of us were hurt when over 200,000 people died around us.” Todd explained that Mission E4 sends people to Haiti every month and they were primarily working in Leogane (epicenter of earthquake). They have been able to get 1,000 tents, although they were promised 5,000 through one of the big aid groups. The aid is coming too slow. “The need is still there and it’s important to work with the local pastors to get the aid out since they understand how to do it and have their networks in place. The government agencies don’t have the same networking capability. It is a very difficult situation and it has not improved much since the earthquake first hit” He remarked that since the Chile earthquake Haiti is now in the background, but 250,000 people died in Haiti compared to 800 in Chile. “Both situations are very bad, but it’s disconcerting to me that Haiti is not in the news anymore. I suppose that is the nature of the media. I’m still struggling with what I can do. I just tell as many people as I can and try not to look at the whole situation and become overwhelmed and give up. I encourage people to just do what God is calling them to do, whether that is to pray, to give money or supplies, to support a Haitian child through MissionE4 website or to go to Haiti. There is an opportunity to go and learn and be an encouragement to these people who are suffering and have lost their homes, friends, and families.” He somberly added that when you see so many people die in an instant, you recognize that “there’s a day of reckoning for all of us”. I have been asking myself a lot over the past month, “What is my life all about?” I believe now more than ever it is to reach out and serve the widows, and the continued on page 20 PrESOrTED STANDArD US POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PErMIT NO 55800
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Welcome Spring! Students Enter Safe Driving Video Contest Uxbridge High School students have jumped in the director’s chairs to bring to life – and video – an important message about safe and sober driving during the prom and graduation seasons as participants in the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s (EOPSS) 2010 Dance. Don’t Chance. video contest. Open to registered high school juniors and seniors across the state, teens write and produce 60-second videos promoting safe driving and discouraging underage drinking for the chance to win fabulous prom-related prizes.
Safety belt usage, speeding, drag racing, and distracted driving (i.e. texting and cell phone use) are among the important issues students addres-
Help the Uxbridge High School Students...
VOTE TODAY! sed. JAM’N 94.5 radio personalities will select the winning video after students and the general public have cast votes for their favorites. “The creative efforts of these students
Business Bio: Your Best Friends’ Best Friend Read more about Beth Stevens Fontaine and her kind way with animals in her care. PLAYTIME - Beth and her Golden Retriever, Giacamo
See page 39
help spread vitally important messages to the least experienced drivers in the Commonwealth, their peers,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Mary Elizabeth Heffernan. “I commend the students who have submitted videos for working so diligently to bring attention to the dangerous risky behaviors of some teenagers who climb behind the wheel. We should all be concerned.” The Dance. Don’t Chance. contest winners will receive prizes from a number of sponsors. Prizes included: continued on page 21
~ INDEX ~ Town News……………Page 4 Calendar……………Page 25 Society………………Page 27 Senior Corner ………Page 31 School News ………Page 35 Business News ……Page 39 Sports………………Page 43 Real Estate …………Page 45 Classified……………Page 47