A Summer Blast Off in Upton
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TOWN CRIER July 1, 2016 UPTON & MENDON, MASSACHUSETTS Vol. 24 No. 12 www.TownCrier.us Est. 1993 • Mailed FREE to all 5,800 addresses in Upton and Mendon. New Taft Public Mendon Selectmen Library Opens A Summer Blast Off in Upton Discussing Public Today Local residents started Safety Restructuring We got the date wrong – the summer with a blast By Michelle Sanford new Taft Public Library at thanks to the Upton Staff Reporter/Columnist 29 North Ave in Mendon is Men’s Club Firework With the recent announcement opening today, July 1 at 12 Festival on Saturday, of Mendon Public Safety Director noon. The building will be June 25. Festivities Ernest Horn’s retirement, the Board open until 5 p.m. today and started at 4 p.m. at of Selectmen began preliminary will be following its normal Blackstone Valley discussions on how the town’s operating schedule – Tuesday Tech where youngsters Public Safety Departments might and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 enjoyed inflatable be restructured. The conversation p.m.; Thursday, 3 to 7 p.m.; attractions and took place during a June 20 other activities while and Friday, 12 noon to 5 p.m. meeting. everyone appreciated For the last ten years, Horn Saturday hours resume after the live a concert has been Mendon’s Public Safety Labor Day. by Neon Alley. The Director, serving as both the Police All services including evening was topped Chief and Fire Chief. However, borrowing and returning off by the spectacular now that he’s preparing to retire materials and museum passes fireworks display. effective January 1, 2017, the will again be functioning. Thanks to the Upton Selectmen said they are likely Registration for the Summer Men’s Club for a great leaning toward hiring a separate Reading program will be start to the summer fire chief and police chief to replace held in the building. Check and to all who donated him. “I’ve been getting a lot of toward the fireworks out the Taft Public Library questions from the public on what display. our plans may be,” said Selectman Column on page 10 of this Chair Rich Schofield. “Tonight, I issue for a complete schedule wanted to give just a framework of of events. what the transition process might A formal grand opening be,” he said. of the building will be held Working to End the Stigma of Drug Addiction During the brief discussion, later this year. By Melissa Orff Sadler is also a member of Upton’s Opioid Task the Selectmen appeared to Staff Reporter Force, and said that she has pledged to spread the agree unanimously that the best Recently retired Miscoe Hill Teacher Betsy Sadler word about the #StateWithoutStigMA campaign so option going forward is to hire wants to put an end to the stigma of addiction, that no other family would have to experience what two individuals to fill the police and she is asking for help from the Mendon Upton they went through. chief and fire chief positions. “It’s community to do so. “Our family wants to talk about the importance my opinion that we should be Sadler, who lost her 34-year-old son last July of educating yourself about prescription drugs,” she splitting those responsibilities up,” to a drug overdose, attended the Mendon Upton said. “As parents it’s really important to make those said Selectman Chris Burke. “In Regional School Committee on June 19 to talk about decisions for our kids – you don’t want to see them speaking with the Chief [Horn], he a campaign recently started by Governor Charlie in pain but you don’t ever want to see them as an has acknowledged many times that PRSRT STD PRSRT PAID US POSTAGE #35 PERMIT MA UPTON, 01568 Baker and the Massachusetts Department of Health addict either.” it’s certainly a big responsibility; and Human Services that focuses on reducing the Along with information and resources available for it think it’s a big responsibility. barriers and stigma of addiction. those struggling with addiction and their families, I think it better serves our The #StateWithoutStigMA campaign is a statewide the #StateWithoutStigMA website asks for everyone community to separate those two effort aimed at reducing the stigma that addicts face in Massachusetts to take a pledge – to “join the positions again.” which has shown to prevent some from seeking movement against stigma by embracing those in Selectman Mark Reil agreed. “In treatment and is a leading reason for relapse. need and showing compassion in how I think about, no way am I in favor of continuing “It’s the state’s greatest public health threat – talk about, and treat people who struggle with with the structure of the Public addiction to powerful opioid painkillers. This addiction – empowering them to seek treatment and Safety Director, he stated. “Having epidemic kills about four people each day in the a successful recovery.” them separate is important.” Reil Commonwealth,” reads the #StateWithoutStigMA “It takes 10 seconds,” said Sadler. “I would love went on to say when it was decided website page. “But you can help. By changing the way nothing better than for everyone in Mendon and that Horn would serve in both you think about, talk about, and treat people with Upton to take that pledge and to become educated positions 10 years ago, it wasn’t addiction.” so that no other family has to be demolished like our meant to be long-term. Schofield Sadler spoke openly to the Committee about family was.” also noted, “We definitely want to her son Thomas Bertrand and his struggle with Sadler told the Committee that although it is a separate fire and police.” POSTAL PATRON POSTAL CAR-RT-SORT WS MENDON, MA 01756 addiction. “He was a super student and a great difficult topic for her to discuss, she understands the How the Board will move athlete…he excelled in college,” she said. “I never importance of opening up the dialog about addiction forward with hiring the two chiefs dreamed I would have to be educated on this subject, in order to eliminate the stigma. will be determined over time to be honest.” “I am doing this for Tom as well as for other as well as whether they will be One of the main issues that Sadler said her family families,” she said. promoted from within the current dealt with during his seven-year struggle with To take the pledge, visit the Executive Office of fire and police departments. “We addiction was the “shame and guilt.” “He couldn’t Health and Human Services website and search for don’t want to hurry into anything,” believe that he didn’t have enough willpower to fight the StateWithoutStigMA page. The Upton & Mendon Town Crier Town Mendon & Upton The Inc. Crier Publications, Town Street 48 Mechanic MA 01568 Upton, PUBLIC SAFETY DISCUSSION p 12 this…but it’s not about willpower,” she said. Enjoying the Delights of the Dance EXTRA MILE TUTORING Locally owned and operated by Steven Perryman, O.D CATCH UP OR GET AHEAD TUTORING Call Theresa to Sell ! ALL SCHOOL SUBJECTS View: Sale Pending 8Harrington.com GRADES 3 TO 12 MENDON Colonial w/ 1st Floor In-Law Suite! Asking $454,909 Belly Dance Artist Celia performed for Cornerstone at Milford residents as part of View: the Grab Your Passport! Destination: Croatia 57Whitewood.com celebration. She was a huge hit! Pictured, MILFORD Colonial l-r, are Cornerstone residents, Jenny Kaizzi, @"Mill Pond Aurora Little, and Ann McKnight with Celia. Estates" Cornerstone of Milford photo Under Agreement Asking $537,900 508-654-6298 www.extramiletutoring.com Who Am I? Call Theresa to Sell at Top Price! 508-954-8862 31 Granite Street, Milford Part One Just because it is summer doesn’t mean our reader’s get a vacation! The following Who Am I quiz is offered by the Mendon Historical Society in Partnership with the Mendon 350th Anniversary Committee. This is the first part of the quiz; the second will run in the August 5 issue. So put on your thinking cap and grab a pencil to jot down your guesses. The answers to the Mendon-based Who Am I Quiz are found on page 5. 1. I was governor of New York for four Cosmetic & Family Dentistry terms, and the 41st vice president of the U.S. My middle name indicates that my ancestry goes back to one of Mendon’s first settlers of the 1660s. 2. I was a U.S. Senator from Rhode WELCOMING Island, and I also am a descendant of the same settler as the governor of New York. 3. I was a famous London and Broadway NEW PATIENTS musical star. I had a leading role in The King and I. My husband, Richard, was Relaxed Friendly Atmosphere also a descendant of the same Mendon founder as the governor of New York and the senator from Rhode Island. Children Welcome My final resting place is in Lakeview Cemetery, Upton. 4. I was 27th U.S. President of the U.S. and 10th U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice. ient My ancestors settled in Mendon in at Sp 1679 near the shores of Lake Nipmuc. P e 5. I was Secretary of Agriculture in the John C. Park, DMD c Eisenhower administration. I am w FREE i related to two early Mendon families. e a 6. I was born in Mendon in 1744. George Washington appointed me Adjutant v Cleaning & Exams take home l N General of the Continental Army at Valley Forge. I was mortally wounded v Periodontal Care bleaching kit at Yorktown, the last American general v Root Canals to die in the Revolutionary War.