TOWN CRIER UPTON & MENDON, MASSACHUSETTS July 4, 2014 Vol. 23 No. 12 Est. 1993 • Mailed FREE to all 5,800 addresses in Upton and Mendon. www.TownCrier.us Mendon Upton School Committee Chose MCAS Over PARCC A Salute to Summer in Upton By Melissa Orff “next generation” state assessment, and that the Thousands of area Staff Reporter exam would make the common core standards residents enjoyed some Students in the Mendon Upton Regional “more tangible” for the teachers. School District will be taking the MCAS exams Flaws with the PARCC exam were also summertime fun at again next year after the School Committee enumerated by Maruszczak, who said that the Upton Fireworks chose to stick with the current assessment tool some of his concerns about the test came Festival on Saturday in lieu of switching to the new PARCC exam. from feedback he received about this year’s During a June 23 School Committee pilot. Although the elementary students who June 21. Held at Meeting, Committee Members voted took the pilot PARCC exam used a paper and Blackstone Valley Tech, unanimously to adopt the MCAS pencil version, at the middle school level, the Upton Men’s Club (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment students used the iPad to complete the exam. System) test as the assessment tool for the Maruszczak told the committee that there were event, featured vendors, 2014/2015 school year after experiencing some “numerous” technological glitches with the refreshments and difficulties with a test version of the PARCC pilot exam and would therefore only consider music. The evening of (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for a paper and pencil administration for next College and Careers) exam that the district had year. “And doesn’t this defeat one of the key entertainment piloted this year. purposes of the PARCC exam?” he said. was topped off by Superintendent Dr. Joseph Maruszczak gave Maruszczak also mentioned a “changing the fireworks a presentation to the Committee on the pros political landscape” in the near future, causing and cons of switching to the new PARCC exam, some unknowns in the areas of common display at a decision he said needed to be made as early as core and PARCC. “I think that there is so dusk. Jane the end of June. much hype and misinformation with regard Bigda Maruszczak told the Committee that one to common core and PARCC…but I do of the key incentives for districts to switch think there will be a new political landscape photo to the new PARCC exam this year would be in this state after the first of the year,” said that districts would be held harmless on their Maruszczak. “There are a lot of national voices See more fireworks accountability rating with the state. Their rating that are saying ‘let’s slow this down and be can only stay the same or improve, and could thoughtful and deliberate about this to ensure photos on page 11 not go down if they chose to administer the that we get it right’,” he said. PARCC exam. Maruszczak ended his presentation with a Maruszczak said that other pros included MCAS OVER PARCC p 18 giving the students the opportunity to have a Raising the Big Without Public Hearings, Mendon Top in Mendon Passes Over Zoning PRSRT STD PRSRT PAID US POSTAGE #35 PERMIT MA UPTON, 01568 (Top) Spending a beautiful summer morning in Mendon, dozens of area Bylaw Articles residents enjoyed watching the crew By Michelle Sanford of the Kelly Miller Circus create an Staff Reporter/Columnist entertainment venue on the corner of During the June 25 Special Town North Avenue and Route 16 in just a Meeting, Mendon residents voted to few hours. The workers raised the Big pass over two zoning bylaw articles Top and created a Midway for the two after it was discovered public hearings performances held on June 23 to benefit had not been held prior to the vote. the Mendon Lions Club. The circus family According to Mass. General Law, a includes over 90 members who come from public hearing must be held before all over the world including the United residents vote on zoning changes. States. Jane Bigda photo Article 17 was brought forward by the Board of Selectmen and aimed to change the zoning of town owned POSTAL PATRON POSTAL CAR-RT-SORT WS MA 01568 UPTON, (Bottom) Young Hopedale residents, Evan property located at 3 North Ave. Lind, age 4, and his brother Owen, age from a general residential district to a 3, watch intently as members of the Kelly general business district. The property, Miller Circus work to raise the Big Top in known as the Taft Orchard property, Mendon. The circus, which was sponsored totals approximately 22 acres. by the Mendon Lions Club, performed The reason for the zoning change two sold-out shows on Monday, June 23. was so the Board of Selectmen could Jane Bigda photo The Upton & Mendon Town Crier Town Mendon & Upton The Inc. Crier Publications, Town Street 48 Mechanic MA 01568 Upton, OVERZONING BYLAW p 2 Please Donate to the Oliva Fund at Milford Regional Medical Center Use the Envelope Inside this Newspaper or Call in to the WMRC Radiothon: Town Crier Monday, August 25 • 7am - 5pm • 508-473-1490 Publications (During The Milford Regional Golf Classic at Franklin Country Club) Alternatives Receive Grant to Expand Thanks To Yanks Mendon Barber Shop Employment Academy Initiative Tribute Dinner Specializing In Alternatives Unlimited, Inc. has received a $10,000 grant from the A special tribute dinner is being Men & Children Orville Harrold Fund of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation planned to recognize all military to expand the agency’s Employment Academy program. Alternatives, Lynne Stacy members, veterans and their families, $1ºº OFF which provides services to individuals with developmental or psychiatric including Blue and Gold Star families Tues 8-5 • Wed 8-6 disabilities across Central Massachusetts, developed the Employment while also remembering the heroes and Thurs 1-7 Fri 9-5 HAIRCUTS Academy initiative to address the specific barriers to employment faced victims of 9/11/01 is being planned by Sat 7-1 with coupon by people with disabilities. Since 2011, the six-week Academy sessions Thanks to Yanks. This non- political Expires 12/31/14 have been held at Quinsigamond Community College. event is to simply say “Thank You”, for Paulette Lawrence 14 Hastings Street Students at the Academy build their job-seeking skills through a their service and sacrifices. The free Tues 9-5 • Thurs 9-5 Mendon, Ma combination of classroom study and opportunities for real world dinner will be held at the DoubleTree Sat 8:30 - 1 508-478-4441 employment exploration. Because of the success of the program – half Hotel, Beaver St., Milford. on Thursday, of its graduates have found competitive employment, secured volunteer September 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. positions to gain more experience, or are pursuing further education Help is needed to locate and invite – the decision was made to add additional Academy locations. The military members, veterans and their “You’ll Feel Right at Home With Robyn.” funds from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, as well as a families. If you know someone we $3,500 grant received from the Staples Foundation’s 2 Million & Change should invite, please either send us “Robyn was the best agent I have ever program, will be used to develop Academy programs at Mt. Wachusett worked with. I have bought and sold their contact information or ask them Community College and a site to be selected in the Greater Milford area. to contact us directly. All information many properties over the years and I “People with psychiatric and developmental disabilities have only a 30 have never met someone as fantastic should be sent to Michael Shain, at percent employment rate. With these grants from the Greater Worcester Robyn Nasuti as Robyn.” [email protected], or call 508- Direct: 774-573-1336 Community Foundation and Staples, we will be able to expand this www.RobynSoldMyHouse.com Melissa F. Upton, MA 330-8487. If you would like further successful program so that more of the people we serve can enjoy the information visit www.thankstoyanks. Realtor® Notary satisfaction that comes from a ‘job well done’” explained Alternatives Marketing Specialist org and feel free to “like us” on ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Rep) Executive Director Dennis H. Rice. Facebook. ASP(Accredited Staging Professional) SRES (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) SFR (Short Sale & Foreclosure Specialist) COMMONWEALTH 774-573-1336 ◆ OVERZONING BYLAW from front page explore opportunities for possible place. Article 26 was requesting Bylaw Review Committee Shirley business development on the land. residents amend Mendon Zoning Smith said some conflicts between SCRAP METAL REMOVAL “We should explore this,” said Bylaw Section 3.01 (b) (viii) by the Town Forest Committee and Selectman Michael Goddard to adding some additional wording. Land Use Committee concerning we take broken or working attendees. “This land is an asset to That particular section of Mendon’s the bylaw must be resolved before F Air Conditioners Radiators the town.” Goddard also reminded Bylaws concerns Allowable Land moving forward with it. Residents Tractors Boilers residents that should a business Uses and discusses specific uses then voted unanimously to pass it Auto Parts Patio Furniture show interest in developing the land which are prohibited as principal over. R Lawn Equipment Cars no action would be taken without and/or access uses in all districts. A general bylaw that was passed Bikes Grills the voter’s approval. Part (viii) says Power Plants, except that evening was brought forward Motorcycles Wheels However, when asked if a public for Large Scale Ground Mounted by the Historical Commission.