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Uxbridge Times
“Your Hometown News” VoluMe 24 • ISSue 10
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uxbridge • North uxbridge • linwood • Douglas • Northbridge • Whitinsville • Sutton • Manchaug
Ending the stigma of Mental Illness
Blackstone Valley Crop Hunger Walk
By Constance Dwyer Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Marylou Sudders, a former Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health, spoke from the heart when she addressed business leaders in a packed VFW hall in Millbury. It was the September 16th breakfast meeting of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce. Preceding her talk, she was pleased to hear from two well-known mental health professionals: Dennis Rice, longtime Executive Director of Alternatives, a nonprofit organization in Whitinsville that helps individuals with disabilities build successful lives in the community with “real homes, real jobs and real relationships”; the other speaker was Paul Richard, Executive Director of the Shine Initiative, one of the largest mental health agencies dealing with mental illness in children and young adults. Mr. Richard’s organization was the sponsor of the breakfast catered by Whittier Farms of Sutton and at the conclusion of his remarks, he introduced Secretary Sudders. Secretary Sudders was appointed by Governor Charlie Baker in January of this year. She leads the largest executive agency in state government with a $21 million budget out of the Commonwealth’s $38 billion budget. She stated “I have precious resources and I take it seriously” adding the three words that define the Office of Health and Human Services, “health, resilience and independence.” Her focus was on mental health. She shared the personal story of her own heartbreak in facing mental illness in her family. Her mother died when she was only 15, having suffered from depression. Her mother was faith filled and played the organ at her church but once she started to withdraw, her church participation, unfortunately, retreated as well and, most likely,
PoSTAl PATRoN
oCToBeR 2015
“The Best Medicine,” by Frank Robertson, 2014 winner Best of Show
Tapestry Art Show seeking submissions For the 15th straight year in a row, Tapestry, a people’s art show for artists of all abilities, returns to Alternatives’ Community Gallery in Uxbridge. Alternatives, a leading provider of services for adults with disabilities throughout Central Massachusetts, encourages artists of all ages, abilities, and experience levels to submit original work for inclusion in this one-of-a kind event. In celebration of the rich diversity of talent in our community, all forms of art, including painting, photography, ceramics, sculpture, graphics, and weaving, are welcome for submission. All artwork will be judged and eligible to win cash prizes. “because they didn’t know what to do.” A thin book she highly recommends for anyone suffering from depression is Darkness Visible. She has a sister with mental illness who was also clinically depressed but has recovered today and has a great job, having been named Employee of the Month for four months in a row. Secretary Sudders stressed how critical it is to reduce stigma saying, “together we can do it.” She encour-
Submissions for Tapestry are due no later than November 6th. The show opens at Alternatives’ Community Gallery, 5 South Main Street in Uxbridge, on Friday, November 13th. The public is welcome to enjoy a reception on the 13th from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. The exhibit will also be open as part of Uxbridge First Holiday Night, Saturday, December 5th from 4:00 p .m. - 7:00 p.m. To submit art, visit www.alternativesnet.org/ event/ tapestry and download a submission form. For information, contact Samuel Ankrah at (508) 278-6791 or Samuel. Ankrah@alternativesnet.org. Regular Community Gallery Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
aged the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce members to check the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) website on reducing stigma. Her professional training includes being a social worker and former college professor at Boston College of Social Work where she still is a visiting professor. One of her many significant accomplishments is the passage of Mental Health Parity. She is sensitive to two serious issues
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on everyone’s minds: first the epidemic of opiate use causing two and a half times more deaths than car crashes, and second the safety of foster children needing “increased public confidence.” “We are committed to transparency and honesty,” she said in concluding remarks. The only legislator in the audience was past Senator Richard “Dick” Moore of Uxbridge who was praised for his advocacy for mental health.
Business Bio:
O’Shea’s Amish Craftsmen Furniture
eCRWss
Proud Owner Gerry O'Shea at left with a hand made, hand rubbed, solid maple chest made by an Amish family in Indiana. Gerry o'Shea
See story on page 33
The Blackstone Valley Crop Hunger Walk will be held on Saturday, October 17th at 9:00 am. The three-mile walk will begin at Trinity Church next to the Whitinsville Town Common and end at the Uxbridge Town Common. The Community Hall in Uxbridge is not available this year so the luncheon will be at the Blackstone Valley United Methodist Church, Linwood Ave., Whitinsville. Rides will be available from the Uxbridge Common back to Whitinsville so that the walkers can participate in the luncheon at the Blackstone Valley United Methodist Church after the Walk. Registration will begin at 8:30 am at Trinity Church on Linwood Ave., Whitinsville. Walkers are to bring all donations they have collected for the Crop Hunger Walk with them when they register. Walkers from the Blackstone Valley will join with 1,500 communities across the country to support self-help programs in 30 countries organized by Church World Service. In many developing nations, people walk as many as six miles a day to get food and water. One in nine people worldwide lack access to clean water and a healthy diet. In walking as they walk, your steps take on meaning. Walkers walk to be in solidarity with their struggle. The Crop Hunger Walk provides 4 million dollars a year to 3,200 food pantries in the U.S., including food pantries in Douglas, Northbridge and Uxbridge. The Northbridge Association of Churches has been the local sponsor for the Blackstone Valley Crop Hunger Walk for 41 years. During that time, local walkers have raised $270,574 for the fight against hunger. For information, contact Carolyn Mitchell, coordinator, at 508-234-3544, or Mike Tatarek, treasurer, at 508-2345768.
~ INDEX ~ Town News ..............Page 4 Calendar...................Page 21 Senior Corner ..........Page 23 Society .....................Page 27 School News............Page 29 Business News........Page 33 Sports.......................Page 37 Classified .................Page 39