Norfolk & Wrentham November 2023

Vol. 12 No. 10 Free to Every Home and Business Every Month November 2023 

TOPSoccer: A Special Program 

for Kids with Special Needs 

By Grace Allen 

It’s a typical sight on a Sunday 

morning: a soccer field 

brimming with activity while 

parents cheer from the sidelines. 

For families who have 

kids with disabilities, that experience 

once might have seemed 

out of reach. TOPSoccer is 

changing all that. 

The Outreach Program for 

Soccer, or TOPSoccer, was developed 

by US Youth Soccer 

for children and youth from 

ages 4 to 26 with physical and/ 

or mental disabilities. The participants 

are paired with volunteers 

who teach them how 

to play soccer in a safe and fun 

way. 

A local TOPS chapter has 

been operating in Norfolk 

since 2011, with participants 

from several surrounding communities. 

Starting in the spring, 

the program will move to King 

Philip High School in Wrentham, 

which is offering the field 

for free so there will be no cost 

for families. 

John Rainone, the director 

of the TOPS program, says the 

TOPS Director John Rainone and his daughter Kelsie, with TOPS 

athlete Jonathan Love. 

move to the high school is significant 

because the turf field 

will make it easier for kids with 

disabilities to play, without the 

worry of uneven terrain. 

“Our TOPS program has 

some of the highest numbers 

in the state,” explained Rainone. 

“We have multiple kids 

TOPSOCCER 

continued on page 2 

Wrentham Town Charter 

Amendments Proposed 

Submitted by Jerry McGovern 

Wrentham’s Town Meeting 

on November 13 will ask residents 

to vote on several proposed 

amendments to the Wrentham 

Home Rule Charter. The Charter, 

first enacted on January 1, 

2015, codified the Town’s structure, 

authorities, and processes 

to help ensure operational consistency. 

The Charter requires that a 

special committee be established 

at least once every 10 years for 

the purpose of reviewing the 

charter and to make a report to 

the Town Meeting concerning 

any proposed amendments. 

The Charter Review Committee 

(CRC) met from May 

– October to develop proposed 

amendments and receive public 

feedback. Based on the reviews 

and feedback, a draft amended 

charter was finalized and provided 

for public review on October 

12. 

The Substantive Proposed 

Amendments 

The most substantive proposals 

are to change several elected 

boards and officials to appointed 

boards and officials. The affected 

boards and officials are: 

774-847-9846 

cirocorp104@gmail.com 

104 Pond St., Norfolk MA 02056 

www.norfolkmotors.net 

• Board of Assessors 

• Board of Health 

• Library Board of Trustees 

• Town Constables 

• Town Clerk 

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SPRINGFIELD, MA 

Postal Customer 

Local 

The Election Trend 

Over the last six years (2018- 

2023) there have been 24 races 

for these positions (not including 

Town Clerk). Twelve of the 24 

races did not have a candidate 

and required a write-in vote to 

fill the office. The winning candidates 

averaged 20 votes (eight 

received less than 20 votes). This 

is less than half of the required 

number of signatures to get on 

the ballot. 

The Impact 

These are positions that have 

important regulatory and statutory 

requirements. The impact 

is an ever-increasing complexity 

and an associated need to 

have requisite competencies and 

qualifications for the positions. 

This is exacerbated by unchallenged 

elections and a reliance 

on write-in candidates. There is 

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Page 2 Norfolk & Wrentham Local Town Pages | www.norfolkwrenthamnews.com November 2023 

TOPSOCCER 

continued from page 1 

in wheelchairs, multiple kids 

on crutches and leg braces, and 

a couple that are legally blind. 

The turf field will make the program 

even more inclusive.” 

Rainone has been involved 

with the Norfolk-based TOPS 

chapter since its start, and in 

2020 became its director. He 

runs the program with the help 

of his daughter, Kelsie, who 

began volunteering with TOPS 

when she was in 6th grade. 

According to Rainone, the 

primary goal of TOPS is to provide 

a fun, social outlet for special 

needs kids while learning to 

play soccer. But another, equally 

laudable goal, is to provide the 

parents of these kids with the 

opportunity to just sit and watch 

while volunteers take over. 

“Parents can relax, knowing 

their child is safe, having fun, 

and involved in a sport in a way 

they probably didn’t think would 

ever be possible,” said Rainone. 

Mark and Erin Botelho’s son, 

Leo, has multiple disabilities, including 

cerebral palsy, and is legally 

blind. Leo has participated 

in the TOPS program for twelve 

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From left, KPHS soccer players Lauren Obara, Natalie Seropian, and 

Halle Leblanc, with TOPS athlete Rowan Lee. 

years, beginning at the age of 3. 

He started out with a walker but 

now uses leg braces and walks 

independently. He enjoys playing 

goalie, says his mother. 

“The volunteers from King 

Philip are amazing and kind 

students,” said Botelho. “We 

are thankful our son has found a 

place where he is welcome and 

expected only to be himself.” 

Another parent, Lauren Love, 

says TOPS has provided her son 

Jonathan with the opportunity 

to practice the fundamentals 

of soccer at a level appropriate 

for him. Love says her son has 

participated in TOPS for close 

to ten years, and calls the experience 

rewarding for everyone involved 

in the program: players, 

parents, and volunteers. 

“It’s provided Jonathan with 

a wonderful social experience, 

and has given us a sense of 

community,” said Love. “It has 

allowed me to meet and share 

information with other parents 

who experience both the joys 

and the struggles of having a 

child with special needs.” 

Love says that another son, 

Ryan, plays soccer for King 

Philip High School, and this 

year is one of the TOPS volunteers 

who works specifically with 

Jonathan. 

“It’s heartwarming to witness 

how much they are learning 

from each other,” she said. 

Kayla Swedits is yet another 

parent who speaks highly of the 

TOPS program. Her 7-year-old 

daughter Riley has a rare genetic 

disorder and subsequent 

developmental delays. An attempt 

to play in her town’s recreational 

soccer program was 

disheartening for Riley. 

“We tried TOPS and it was 

a completely different feel,” said 

Swedits. “The volunteers meet 

Annual Meeting of the 

Norfolk Cable Corporation (NCTV) 

Monday, November 13, at 6:30 PM 

NCTV, Green Room, 158 Main Street, Norfolk MA. 

Election of directors and the transaction of such other 

business as may properly come before the meeting. 

Hybrid access to the meeting via Zoom will be provided. 

Link to the meeting on the NCTV webpage - nofolkcable.com 

KPHS football players Tommy Kilroy and Aiden Astorino with TOPS 

athlete Rowan Lee. 

her where she is, skill-wise. Riley 

loves it and I get to sit back and 

watch her play with a big smile 

on her face.” 

While anyone can volunteer 

with the program, the biggest 

group of volunteers are high 

school athletes, primarily from 

King Philip. The boys soccer 

team has been the backbone 

of the program, especially during 

the height of COVID, but 

this year all the fall sports teams 

have stepped up to help, says 

Gwen Prater, president of the 

King Philip Soccer Association 

(KPSA), which offers the local 

TOPS program. She expects 

all the spring sports teams also 

to volunteer when the program 

moves to the high school in 

2024. 

“The volunteers might even 

be getting more out of the program 

than the individuals playing 

in TOPS,” says Prater. 

Fine Jewelers since 1936 

Kelsie Rainone, now 24, 

agreed that the volunteers have 

embraced the program, learning 

along the way that the participants, 

even the kids with severe 

special needs, are typical kids 

too, with similar likes and dislikes 

as the volunteers. 

“When I first started volunteering, 

some of the TOPS kids 

were my age,” Kelsie said. “And 

they were doing the same things 

I was. I play soccer, they’re playing 

soccer. Yes, they play a bit 

differently but they’re still doing 

the same things I’m doing.” 

Prater says KPSA families 

have made financial donations 

to the TOPS program, which 

will enable the organization to 

get new equipment, including 

specialty balls, uniforms, and 

medals for the end of the sea- 

TOPSOCCER 


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November 2023 Find us on Facebook | Norfolk & Wrentham Town News Page 3 

Mother’s Luncheon Set for 

November 20 

Annual Gilly’s House Event Helps Grieving Mothers Move Forward 


Losing a child of any age is a 

profound and painful experience 

for a mother, and the grief never 

ends. A yearly luncheon hosted 

by a local non-profit attempts to 

acknowledge that grief and offer 

a way forward through the oftencrippling 

sadness. 

The 4th annual Gilly’s House 

Mother’s Luncheon will be held 

at noon on November 20 at 

Chabad Jewish Center in Milford. 

The luncheon will include 

speakers, goody bags, and raffles. 

The event is free, with food 

provided by the Chabad Jewish 

Center. 

Barbara Gillmeister, cofounder 

of Gilly’s House, a sober 

home for young men, says the 

luncheon is for mothers who 

have lost a child for any reason 

but are still stuck in the grieving 

process. 

“It could be last week, it could 

be twenty years ago,” said Gillmeister. 

“We want to help mothers 

shift their approach to grief 

by demonstrating that something 

positive can come out of tragedy.” 

The yearly event features 

speakers who discuss how they 

found new purpose after losing 

a child. At this year’s luncheon, 

South Shore resident Robyn 

Houston-Bean will be one of the 

scheduled speakers. Her foundation, 

The Sun Will Rise, offers 

grief support groups for those 

who have lost a loved one to substance 

abuse disorder. Houston- 

Bean established the foundation 

after losing her own son to an accidental 

overdose in 2015. 

The mother’s luncheon is always 

held in November before 

the holiday season, which can 

be especially painful for mothers 

who have lost a child, noted Gillmeister. 

Her hope is that grieving 

mothers, by attending the event, 

will consider how they can move 

forward to honor the memory 

of their child by giving of themselves 

for others. She recounts 

the example of a woman who 

lost a daughter to suicide and 

now bakes cakes for the men at 

Gilly’s House. 

“It doesn’t have to be a big 

thing that helps you on your 

grief journey,” said Gillmeister. 

“Something that might seem 

small to you could be amazing 

to someone else. And it gives 

mothers a chance to help others 

when they can’t help their own 

anymore.” 

To register for the luncheon, 

or for more information, visit 

gillyshouse.com. The event is 

capped at 80 attendees, but there 

will be a waiting list if necessary. 

Sponsors of the event include 

Kim Williams Real Estate (Norfolk), 

Charles River Bank (Medway), 

SK Services (Walpole), 

Robert Roofing & Gutters (Norfolk), 

AG Maggiore Construction 

(Hingham), and the Holly 

Club of Wrentham. Contact 

Gilly’s House if your organization 

would like to help sponsor 

the event. 

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Rabbi Kivman of the Chabad 

Jewish Center addresses the 

mothers at last year’s luncheon. 

TOPSOCCER 


son. KPSA also funds an ice 

cream truck for the last day of 

the session. 

TOPS Director Rainone, 

who sits on the board of the 

Massachusetts Youth Soccer 

Association and serves as liaison 

for the state’s 27 TOPS 

programs, hopes to grow the 

program in new directions. 

He’d like to have enough participants 

so they can hold real 

scrimmages each week. This 

past fall session, he invited the 

Norfolk, Plainville, and Wrentham 

Police resource officers 

and their community resource 

dogs to a TOPS session, enriching 

the experience even 

more for the kids. Rainone also 

envisions having therapists in 

the program, working with the 

volunteers to better serve the 

TOPS athletes, and also engaging 

with the parents on the 

sidelines. 

“John is thinking big,” said 

Prater. “With Kelsie at his side, 

he has successfully run this 

program and KPSA has done 

ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARD SCHOLARSHIPS IN HEATHER’S NAME TO KING PHILIP HS GRADUATES 

Trot/Walk 5k 

Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023: 8:00 a.m. • Cost $25 

Start at Norfolk center Dunkin Donuts commuter lot 

Register online at: 

https://healthershungryturkeytrot.racewire.com 

This race is in honor of Heather Olivieri, 

who passed away in 2019. She was a 

41 year old mother who lived her life in 

Norfolk and loved running. In January 

2018 she accomplished a long-time goal by 

finishing the Disney World Full Marathon, 

with lung cancer. In 2023, three $1500 

scholarships were awarded in her memory 

(over $17,000 to date). 

To see her story and donate to the scholarship fund: 

gofundme.com/f/heatherscholarshipfund2023 

everything we can to support 

them. Every week I’ve watched 

them greet each TOPS player 

with a huge smile, and I literally 

find myself wiping tears 

away as I watch the kids play. 

It’s clear they’ve created more 

than a rec program. This is a 

community, and we want this 

resource to continue to grow 

and serve even more special 

needs families in the area.” 

Registration has opened for 

the spring session, which will 

run on Sunday mornings from 

10:30 to 11:30 a.m., starting 

on April 21, 2024 until June 

2. There are no restrictions 

regardless of physical or mental 

disability. Participants from 

area towns are welcome, and 

volunteers are always needed. 

Visit https://www.kpsoccer. 

org for more information and 

to register for the spring session. 

Email topssoccergold@gmail. 

com with any questions. 

To help support the TOPS 

program, which will need 

more specialty equipment and 

nets, donations can be made 

via Venmo: @kp-soccer with 

TOPS in the memo line. 

TROT/WALK 5K 

1123


VOTE 


significantly less scrutiny and an 

increased risk to effective town 

operations and compliance with 

regulatory and statutory requirements. 

The Working Solution 

Currently, when a mid-term 

vacancy for an elected position 

occurs (which is common), the 

procedure to fill the vacancy involves 

a joint meeting between 

the affected board and the Select 

Board. This involves interviews 

with interested individuals 

in open meeting. It has the effect 

of providing more rigorous scrutiny 

on experience and qualifications 

than occurs with write-in 

votes. 

Under the proposed amendments, 

this appointment procedure 

would expand to all the 

above positions except for the 

Town Clerk. This is already 

the procedure for the Appeals 

Board, Conservation Commission, 

Council on Aging, and 

Recreation Commission. They 

are all highly effective and 

maintain the necessary independence 

of action even though 

appointed. This appointment 

practice provides increased 

scrutiny and is beneficial to the 

affected board as it allows them 

to recruit highly qualified volunteers 

and provide their recommendation 

to the Select Board. 

The Biggest Challenge 

Changing the Town Clerk’s 

position from elected to appointed 

is significant. This is a 

position steeped in history and 

tradition. But the job is much 

more demanding in 2023 than 

it ever was before. As an elected 

position, the only requirement 

is for the individual to 

be a registered town voter. No 

background or experience is required. 

Our current Town Clerk has 

done an absolutely terrific job, 

and even more so when considering 

all that has changed in 

the last four years. But the next 

Town Clerk will not be entering 

a “clerks” job. The position has 

grown such that it would more 

appropriately be titled “Director 

of Elections and Public Records.” 

This is not an entry level 

position. The need to direct and 

manage all the changes to election 

procedures (early voting, 

mail in voting, etc.) as well as 

increased provisions for properly 

maintaining and providing 

public records alone presents a 

risk to the Town unless properly 

done. This is not a job that allows 

a learning curve. 

For full disclosure, the CRC 

is not unanimous on this proposal. 

But the majority of the 

CRC believe that by making the 

position appointed, it not only 

opens the field of applicants beyond 

Wrentham residents, more 

importantly it enables the town 

to hire someone with experience 

and a proven record. It is meant 

to safeguard our election procedures 

and your public records. 

Summary 

The proposals to change 

elected boards and officials are 

meant to be thought provoking. 

In discussions thus far, the 

primary argument against the 

proposals is that they reduce the 

opportunity for residents to vote 

on important positions. There is 

merit to this argument. 

But the trends show that 

there are fewer people that want 

to run for an elected office at 

the same time as these positions 

are becoming increasingly complex. 

With so many elected positions 

requiring write-in votes, 

and with the elected member 

so often being chosen by a 

number that is less than the required 

number of signatures to 

get on the ballot, this opens the 

Town to a risk, especially when 

considering the knowledge and 

experience needed to adhere 

to statutory and regulatory requirements. 

Quite frankly, the 

CRC would be extremely remiss 

to not offer an alternative, especially 

since the alternative is already 

in practice and proven to 

be effective. 

Appointments for these offices 

are becoming increasingly 

common for towns in our 

Commonwealth. Every new or 

amended town charter that we 

have researched for the past 

five years has included these 

changes. At least 130 towns have 

transitioned from an elected 

town clerk to an appointed position, 

and the numbers are also 

in line with the other boards 

included in the proposals. The 

CRC has received strong feedback 

that the transitions have 

been highly effective and have 

become widely accepted once 

implemented. 

The proposals are intended 

to provide and safeguard what 

is best for effective, professional, 

and compliant town management 

going forward. The proposed 

amendments are not a 

reflection on past or current 

performance but are to address 

current trends and increasing 

complexities going forward. It is 

not about the last 10 years, it is 

about the next 10 years. 

This does not sacrifice tradition 

or the right to vote. Our 

town government is based on 

Town Meeting as our legislative 

body. Nothing in these proposals 

changes that. 

The proposed amendments 

will be decided by the voters at 

Town Meeting. 

More information is at: 

https://www.wrentham.gov/ 

government/boards_committees/charter_review_committee/ 

. 

The CRC consists of Kevin Sweet, 

Town Administrator; Cindy Thompson, 

Town Clerk; Jim Anderson, 

Select Board; Mike King, Town Finance 

Director; and Jerry McGovern, 

Chairman and Citizen-at-Large. 

Thomas L. Beatty 

M.D. 

Karie DeVries 

M.D. 

Ann Dolloff 

M.D. 

Afarin Greiger 

M.D. 

Katherine Johnson 

M.D. 

Elizabeth Konig 

M.D. 

Emily Newton-Cheh 

M.D. 

Virginia Simmons 

M.D. 

Thao Thieu 

M.D. 

Sandra Reilly 

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Waltham


OPINION: Why We Oppose Wrentham CRC’s Attempt to 

Eliminate Voting Rights 

By Edward Goddard and 

Michelle Rouse 

In assessing the Charter Review 

Commission’s (CRC) proposals 

for Town Meeting, we 

recall Winston Churchill’s admonition 

that “Democracy is 

the worst form of government, 

except for all the others.” The 

CRC suggests removing many 

elected positions, such as Town 

Clerk, Boards of Assessors and 

Health, and Library Trustees, 

into Town-appointed roles. This 

would eliminate residents’ rights 

to elect these representatives, 

and further concentrate power 

within the Town Administrator/ 

Selectmen roles. The CRC argues 

eliminating elections would 

broaden available talent, with 

the Town Clerk, for instance, no 

longer required to be a Wrentham 

resident. The CRC also 

warns that the voters might elect 

a poor candidate as Town Clerk. 

And they cite lack of contested 

elections as additional support. 

We have both served as Selectmen 

and on the Wrentham 

Elementary School Committee; 

Ed has also been Town Moderator 

for the past seven years. 

We emphasize that CRC members, 

who are our colleagues and 

friends, act in good faith. Still, 

their arguments lack persuasion 

and must be challenged. First, 

the CRC concedes that the 

Town Clerk and affected boards 

are all operating efficiently, even 

with unprecedented changes to 

voting laws since the Covid-19 

pandemic. Second, if no one 

steps forward to run for the affected 

positions, the Selectmen 

appoint the boards, essentially 

replicating what the CRC is proposing 

now. Third, we remain 

confident, given recent history, 

that a locally elected Town Clerk 

can handle further election law 

changes, which we expect will 

not rival Covid-era changes. Finally, 

we take serious issue with 

and challenge the notion “Government 

knows best” that CRC 

relies upon to take away voting 

rights to protect us from ourselves 

for a possible poor Town Clerk 

candidate choice. Yes, democracy 

is messy, and a lesser candidate 

could possibly be elected. 

So too may our unelected Town 

Administrator appoint an equally 

poorly equipped friend from outside 

of Wrentham, without any 

oversight or checks and balances 

from voters. 

In the end, the attempt to 

end-run voters and concentrate 

power with the Town Administrator/Selectmen 

is a bridge too 

far for us, however well-intended. 

Including the Boards of Health 

and Assessors and the Library 

Trustees instead of a stand-alone 

vote on the Town Clerk position 

suggests this is an attempt to 

make lives easier for them and in 

the process implicitly questions 

the judgment of Wrentham voters. 

We are unwilling to support 

this autocratic approach to town 

government. 

If you believe similarly, attend 

Town Meeting and vote against 

these changes. Utilize social 

media, reach out to friends, and 

engage with your elected officials 

to voice your concerns about 

eliminating your right to vote. 

This is a once-in-a-decade vote 

in Wrentham. 

We close with a recent quote 

from Israel Supreme Court Justice 

Amit: “Democracy dies in a 

series of small steps.” Defeat the 

CRC’s proposals at Town Meeting 

and reinforce that Wrentham’s 

authority rightly derives 

from the votes of the residents, 

not Town Administration or the 

Board of Selectmen. 

Guest Column 

Death by Dogma 

By G. Gregory Tooker 

It seems a supreme irony, 

Religious faiths deemed so pure, 

Spur bloody conflict, misery, 

Man cannot long endure. 

Dogma embeds in youthful minds, 

Prisoners before age of reason, 

Marching forward, thought in bind, 

Question not, risk charge of treason. 

Perplexing, yes, this mental slavery, 

Logic says, just break the chains, 

Purge choking edicts from memory, 

Intelligence will produce true gain. 

But who will lead the real crusade, 

Bring us back from looming brink, 

Expose flawed logic, halt the parade, 

Before mankind forever sinks? 

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Someone must step forward soon, 

Or dark hooded fate will grimly reap, 

Each blindly marching elite platoon. 

Author’s Comment 

Throughout the history of mankind, religious strife has 

plagued human civilization. Each faith that has evolved 

staunchly maintains it is the genuine explanation for all 

that exists in the universe and the formula for man’s salvation. 

So far, it doesn’t seem to be working. Who will step 

forward to resolve these disputes and stop the carnage? 

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Local Deacon Pens Children’s Book 


Norfolk resident Ron Tibbetts 

is a deacon in the Episcopal 

Diocese of Massachusetts. He’s 

now a children’s book author, 

too. His book, “The Whimsical 

Adventures of Marvin,” is a 

collection of short stories about 

a 4-year-old rhinoceros named 

Marvin. The stories take place 

during the time of the birth of 

Jesus Christ and offer hope to 

readers of all ages. 

Tibbetts, 70, has been active 

in the battle against substance 

abuse disorder and is one of 

the people behind the #2069 

movement. For many years he 

was also the director of Neighborhood 

Action, an outreach 

program in Boston for poor and 

homeless people. 

He agreed to answer some 

questions about his book for 

readers of Local Town Pages. 

Did your work with marginalized 

people inspire this book? 

Nothing about the book is accidental. 

Growing up in a small 

town like Norfolk, poverty, addiction, 

and homelessness were 

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never part of the conversation. 

We may not have been rich, but 

we were not the kind of poor 

you see in the cities. When I 

worked in Boston, I discovered 

there were two types of people 

living on the streets: some who 

had grown hopeless and those 

who remained hopeful. And the 

hopeful had a dream that things 

could get better. They believed 

in better. Later, when I served 

at Trinity Church in Wrentham 

and started the #2069 movement, 

I saw again, in suburban 

folks, that those who navigated 

their addiction with the courage 

and certainty that they could 

overcome it were those who had 

the ability and hope to imagine 

things being different. 

Tell us about Marvin. Is he 

based on anyone? 

I was serving at the All Saints 

Episcopal Church in Attleboro 

and it was Christmas time. 

We were getting ready to start 

the children’s procession to fill 

the creche at the front of the 

church, populating it with the 

sheep and the camels and all the 

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Deacon Ron Tibbetts has written his first children’s book. 

things that might be in a manger. 

I looked in this little basket 

and I saw a small plastic rhinoceros. 

I picked it up and looked at 

the priest, and she shrugged her 

shoulders and said, “Why not?” 

So we brought the rhinoceros to 

the manger and I turned around 

and said to the congregation, “I 

want to introduce you to Marvin.” 

And that was the beginning 

of the story. 

It seems like the target audience 

for the book isn’t just 

children. What would you like 

readers to take away from 

these stories? 

These are children’s stories 

for adults too. My background 

is Christian; therefore, my frame 

of reference is around Christian 

teaching. In the Gospel of Matthew, 

Jesus says it’s easier for a 

camel to pass through the eye 

of a needle than for the rich to 

get into heaven. But he doesn’t 

say it’s impossible. Jesus goes 

on to say that with man, these 

things are impossible but with 

God all things are possible. So I 

am grounded in that belief, that 

things we think are impossible in 

this world—enough food for all, 

housing, education—it’s all possible, 

with hope and with God. 

So the real takeaway would be 

to never let somebody tell you 

something is impossible. 

“The Whimsical Adventures of 

Marvin” is a collection of short 

stories offering a sense of hope 

for the world. 

This is actually your second 

book. 

Yes. I wrote a book in 2006 

called “One Point of View,” 

and that was a series of essays, 

poems, and reflections, mostly 

on what my work with the marginalized 

community had taught 

me. 

Is there anything else you’d 

like readers to know? 

In our life together, my wife 

Vicky and I have faced some 

real health and financial challenges, 

challenges that are not 

uncommon in this world. But it’s 

been imagination and belief in 

the possibilities that have served 

us well and kept us together and 

working together, and now enjoying 

time with our children 

and our 10 grandchildren. 

Where can people buy your 

book? 

“The Whimsical Adventures 

of Marvin” is available at 

Barnes and Noble and Amazon, 

in hardcopy, paperback, and 

eBook form. 

Health and Wellness Vendor 

Fairs this Month 

The Metacomet Public Health Alliance 

Nurses will be hosting the 3rd annual Health 

and Wellness Vendor Fair in both Norfolk and 

Wrentham this month. Admission is free. 

Wrentham’s fair will be held on Thursday, 

November 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wrentham 

Senior Center, 400 Taunton St. in Wrentham. 

Norfolk’s fair will be held on Tuesday, November 

7 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Norfolk Senior 

Center, 28 Medway Branch in Norfolk. 

The fairs will focus on the needs of the senior 

citizens in both towns. Over 20 local agencies 

and companies will be available to discuss 

their services, including HESSCO, physical 

therapists, home care companies, medication 

pre-packaging companies, podiatrists, adaptive 

home equipment companies, assisted living facilities, 

and more. 

Flu shots and health screenings will be offered, 

and the Lions’ Eye Mobile will be on site. 

Complimentary massages, giveaways, and numerous 

raffles will be available.


Southwood Hospital Redevelopment Options 

Discussed at Meeting 

By Joe Stewart 

On Tuesday, October 11, the 

Norfolk Planning Board held a 

public meeting and presentation 

on the Southwood Hospital redevelopment 

scenario analysis 

performed by the Metropolitan 

Area Planning Council (MAPC), 

the regional planning agency 

serving the cities and towns 

of Metropolitan Boston. Josh 

Fiala, Principal Planner, summarized 

the analysis and results. 

The Southwood Hospital site 

is an 88-acre parcel on route 1A 

near the Walpole border comprising 

the abandoned Southwood 

Hospital complex (vacant 

for 20 years), wetlands and open 

space, and polluted areas requiring 

substantial remediation before 

the site can be developed. 

The property is owned by GFI 

Partners through its subsidiary 

111 Dedham Street Inc. 

Last year, a community workshop 

and survey were conducted 

by Norfolk and the MAPC 

which concluded that Norfolk 

residents prefer use of the property 

as open space followed by 

restaurant, retail, clean energy 

production, mixed use, and senior 

living while the majority 

do not support housing (ranging 

from single family homes 

through large scale multi-family). 

This year, the MAPC conducted 

scenario analysis to help 

Norfolk understand potential 

redevelopment options. Mr. 

Fiala discussed how the 15 analyzed 

scenarios were selected, 

organized, and evaluated. He 

went on to explain the factors 

selected for the analysis, including 

three factors that determine 

development viability: financial 

feasibility, market potential, and 

environmental remediation. 

The analysis concluded that 

there are five scenarios that are 

both viable and aligned with 

Norfolk’s preferred uses: 

• Light industrial/warehouse 

• Light industrial/warehouse 

with residential 

• Assisted living 

• Major residential (more 

than 400 units) 

• Modest residential (more 

than 300 units) 

The analysis also uncovered 

that current zoning would prevent 

development of the site for 

those uses and there are uses that 

are simply not feasible. Among 

them are a solar farm, hospital, 

retail, office park, open space 

only, and single-family homes. 

In other words, zoning changes 

are required to redevelop the site. 

Bill Buckley, GFI Partners’ 

Project Manager, said that they 

are embarking on additional 

testing at the site because extensive 

cleanup and remediation 

is required before any development 

can take place. The testing 

will involve additional borings 

and new groundwater monitoring 

wells, both of which require 

Norfolk Conservation Commission 

approval. The testing will 

provide additional data which 

will be used to assess the scope 

and scale of remediation. And 

that, in turn, will inform which 

scenarios are viable. He wrapped 

up by noting, “We all want a 

good product that will clean up 

the site.” 

A longtime Norfolk resident 

attended the meeting, Mr. Roy 

Hamlin, who founded Hamlin 

Cabinet with his wife Eileen in 

1964. Mr. Hamlin noted that 

Norfolk needs new sources of 

revenue and recommended that 

the town prioritize tax revenue 

when assessing development options. 

In a subsequent conversation, 

Richard McCarthy, Jr., Norfolk’s 

Town Planner, said that the site 

has development challenges including 

a deed restriction that 

the Massachusetts legislature 

would need to lift, water issues 

as Norfolk needs to secure additional 

supply to support ongoing 

growth, and no wastewater treatment 

facilities. Mr. McCarthy 

also shared that the town is in the 

midst of its Master Plan review 

that will likely inform future development 

of the site. 

Mr. Fiala highlighted that 

there are multiple “tracks” involved 

in redeveloping the 

Southwood Hospital site: future 

site uses and zoning are in one 

track while the contamination 

and remediation are in another 

track. Interested residents are 

encouraged to stay informed on 

both tracks. 

The Norfolk Planning Board 

has organized an online folder 

in which presentations, reports, 

and related documents are available 

to the public: https://bit.ly/ 

SouthwoodHospital. 

Heather’s Hungry Turkey Trot 

Set for Thanksgiving Day 

Registration is now open for 

the 2023 Heather’s Hungry Turkey 

Trot. The annual 5K will take 

place on Thursday, November 23 

at 8 a.m. The race will kick-off 

at 132 Main St. (commuter rail 

parking lot next to Dunkin’.) 

Register online at https:// 

heathershungryturkeytrot.racewire.com, 

or at 7 a.m. on race 

day. Cost is $25. Race medal included. 

Awards for the top three 

finishers. 

The race is held in memory 

of Heather Olivieri, who passed 

away in 2019 at age 41 with nonsmokers 

lung cancer. She was a 

life-long Norfolk resident and 

King Philip graduate who loved 

running. In January of 2018, 

Heather accomplished a longtime 

goal by finishing the Walt 

Disney World Marathon while 

battling cancer. The 5K Thanksgiving 

Day race is the route she 

used multiple times while training 

for the marathon. 

Proceeds from the 5K will go 

towards a scholarship established 

in Heather’s name. For more information 

about Heather or to 

donate to the scholarship, visit 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ 

heatherscholarshipfund2023. 

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College-Prep: To-Do List for High School Juniors 

Junior year in high school 

sneaks up on families quickly. 

Students are now at the halfway 

point and in less than 2 years, 

many students will be heading 

off on a new adventure - college! 

Junior year is a critical time to 

put a college prep plan in place. 

Creating a timeline now, versus 

waiting until senior year, will 

definitely alleviate some of the 

college stress, and will set your 

student up for a successful college 

admissions experience their 

senior year. 

Robert D. McCaig, Monmouth 

University Vice President 

for Enrollment Management, 

sums it up perfectly when he said, 

“The most important thing students 

should do when applying 

to college is pace themselves and 

prioritize. Starting early certainly 

helps students with the pacing, 

and knowing when to put time 

into SAT prep versus studying for 

an exam versus visiting another 

college, for instance, is an important 

part of prioritizing.” 

@Students: Here are some 

helpful tips to get you moving in 

the right direction this fall: 

1. The #1 question an admission 

rep will be thinking 

when they are reviewing 

your college application: 

“Did you take the most rigorous 

courses you could, 

and did you earn good 

grades?” GPA and course 

rigor, without question, 

are the 2 most important 

factors. Make your studies 

a top priority. Other 

factors like leadership activities, 

strong SAT scores, 

and athletic prowess are 

secondary considerations. 

They will help- but you still 

need good grades! 

2. If your grades start to 

slide, don’t wait until you 

are drowning. Raise the 

red flag immediately and 

meet with your teacher or 

tutor and ask what can be 

done to help. Asking for 

help is not a sign of failure 

- but of strength. 

3. Visit your guidance counselor 

early junior year. Determine 

the courses you 

should take to put you on 

the right track for college 

admission. Course selection 

is important. Colleges 

like to see growth in 

a student’s transcript. If 

you have 2 years of A’s in 

College Prep Math - think 

about taking Honor’s 

Math the following semester 

or year. A good question 

to ask- “How much 

can I push myself without 

being shoved.” 

4. Plan early for the PSAT, 

ACT, and SAT. You’ll need 

to register 5 weeks before 

the exam. Many students 

opt to take the test more 

than once and a student 

should plan accordingly. 

5. Start building your activity 

resume and update 

it throughout the year. 

Make a list of your extracurricular 

activities, accomplishments 

and work 

experience with a short description. 

It’s never too late 

to begin an activity or join 

an organization. Colleges 

are looking to build a wellrounded 

class with students 

that show depth and 

commitment in a few activities 

that interest them. 

My advice: Do what you 

love and do the work (engage 

and create impact). 

6. Begin visiting colleges as 

early as possible and definitely 

by the fall of your 

junior year. I recommend 

Maryline Michel Kulewicz and 

Tracy Sullivan of College 101 

Admissions Consultants 

Rep. Vaughn Opposes Gun Reform Bill 

Legislation Will Negatively Impact Law 

Enforcement and Licensed Gun Owners 

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State Representative Marcus 

Vaughn (R-Wrentham) recently 

opposed a major gun reform bill, 

saying it will do nothing to reduce 

crime and will instead have 

a negative impact on lawful gun 

owners in the Commonwealth 

by infringing on their Second 

Amendment rights. 

House Bill 4135, An Act 

modernizing firearm laws, was 

engrossed by the House of Representatives 

on a vote of 120-38 

on October 18. In voting against 

the bill, Representative Vaughn 

cited a number of concerns, 

including the process used to 

bring the bill to the House floor, 

the lack of information on how 

much it will cost, and the restrictions 

it will place on law enforcement 

officers that will severely 

compromise their ability to perform 

their job. 

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The gun bill has drawn strong 

opposition from the Massachusetts 

Chiefs of Police Association 

(MCOPA), whose members 

recently voted unanimously to 

oppose the bill. The Gun Owners 

Action League (GOAL) also 

opposes the bill. 

According to Representative 

Vaughn, House Bill 4135 would 

establish a gun registration database, 

impose restrictions on ghost 

guns, expand the state’s extreme 

risk protection order (ERPO) 

law, and increase the number of 

“prohibited areas” where firearms 

would not be allowed. Additionally, 

House Bill 4135 would 

require the Department of State 

Police to auction certain firearms 

surrendered or seized due 

to a suspension or revocation of 

a license or permit, rather than 

dispose of them, while also requiring 

State Police officers to 

conduct inspections of licensed 

gun dealers. 

One of the biggest concerns 

cited by the MCOPA is that the 

touring local colleges first, 

even if you think you may 

want to attend college outof-state. 

It will help determine 

the factors that are 

important to you in selecting 

a future college. A few 

factors to consider: rural, 

urban, or a suburban setting; 

small or large student 

body; public or private 

school. 

bill’s “prohibited areas” provision 

– which was included in response 

to last year’s Supreme Court decision 

in the case of New York 

State Rifle & Pistol Association v. 

Bruen – contains no comprehensive 

carve-outs for off-duty and 

retired police officers. An amendment 

adopted during floor debate 

only partially addressed this 

issue in a very narrowly defined 

manner. 

Retired Chief Mark K. 

Leahy, who currently serves as 

the MCOPA’s Executive Director, 

also noted that the gun registration 

requirement included in 

House Bill 4135 “will do nothing 

to reduce gun violence or reduce 

gun deaths,” and instead emphasized 

the need to focus on “the 

swift and vigilant prosecution of 

the criminals engaging in these 

felonious acts, and a renewed 

embracing of what ‘mandatory 

minimum sentences’ means.” 

Representative Vaughn noted 

that Massachusetts already has 

some of the strictest firearms 

7. Create a college list that 

includes affordable choices. 

As a family, determine 

early your available finances 

and what/if any 

loans will be necessary. It 

is important that your family 

is all on the same page. 

Research the availability 

of merit or need-based 

aid that will support the 

student throughout their 

four college years. Excellent 

financial aid resource: 

studentaid.gov. And It is 

never too late to start saving 

- 529 plans! 

8. As a family, determine early 

on if you need assistance 

from an outside source. 

Independent Educational 

Consultants (IEC) have 

broad experience in navigating 

the many aspects 

of the college admissions 

process. Some consultants 

offer comprehensive packages 

beginning sophomore 

and junior years as well as 

hourly work for specific 

pieces of the application 

process. 

Good luck and enjoy the 

journey! 

College 101 Admissions Consultants 

LLC. Website: www.mycollege101.com. 

Email: tracy@ 

mycollege101.com. Phone: 508-380- 

3845. 

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laws in the country, along with 

the lowest rate of deaths associated 

with gun violence. He said 

the vast majority of gun-related 

crimes are committed with illegal 

weapons and not with legally 

owned firearms, adding that the 

focus of the bill should be on 

punishing those who break the 

law rather than targeting lawabiding 

citizens. 

Representative Vaughn criticized 

House leadership for doing 

an end-run around the joint 

legislative committee process by 

attaching the gun bill to a supplemental 

spending bill in the 

House Ways and Means Committee 

and reporting it “in part” 

with only the gun bill language 

included. He also criticized the 

lack of a fiscal note detailing the 

costs of the legislation, which is 

required under House Rules for 

any proposal that is expected to 

cost more than $100,000 to implement. 

House Bill 4135 now moves to 

the Senate for its consideration.


Your Money, Your Independence 

Stop Making Sense: Massachusetts Updates Estate Tax Laws 

It’s taken 2 years, but Massachusetts 

lawmakers finally provided 

legislation for Governor 

Healey to sign on October 4th 

impacting the lowest (worst) U.S. 

estate tax threshold as part of a 

“$1 billion tax relief package.” 

There are several positives 

in this package. Benefits for expanded 

childcare credit (over 

30% of package), seniors, renters, 

septic systems, low-income 

housing, commuters, and shortterm 

capital gains reduced from 

12% to 8.5%. 

Recall an estate tax may be 

owed based on net value of the 

estate of a deceased person before 

distribution to non-spousal 

heirs. To calculate net value, add 

all assets (real estate, investments, 

IRAs, small business, life insurance 

proceeds, personal property 

etc.) minus liabilities. 

Key facts on MA update: 

• Estate tax exemption rises to 

$2 million from $1 million, 

first increase since 2006. 

• Provides a uniform credit of 

$99,600. 

• Eliminates “the cliff effect” 

when all assets were taxed if 

over threshold. 

Glenn Brown, CFP 

• Retroactive for estates of 

decedent’s death on or after 

January 1, 2023. 

• Filed 2023 estate tax returns 

or estimates paid are entitled 

to a refund. 

This Must Be The Place 

(Naive Melody). 

Before celebrating a victory 

for the Commonwealth by echoing 

legislators that this “doubles 

the previous threshold,” understand 

there are only 12 states in 

the U.S. that still tax estates. 

Yes, you can live in 38 other 

states and pay $0 state estate tax 

regardless of your wealth. 

Furthermore, the federal 

estate tax exemption is now 

$12.92 million, over 6X greater 

than MA. For most, there’s little 

concern of having a life’s work 

of earning, planning and saving 

being taxed upon death by the 

federal goverment. 

Same As It Ever Was, 

Same As It Ever Was… 

The new $2M threshold 

moves MA from tied for 49th 

worst to 48th of U.S. states. 

Consider actions of other 

states since 2018 per taxfoundation.org. 

New Jersey and Delaware 

eliminated their estate tax. 

Vermont raised to $5M, 

Maine $6.4M, New York 

$6.58M and Connecticut now 

aligns to federal government’s 

$12.92M. 

Additionally, Illinois ($4M) 

and Oregon ($1M) legislators 

have proposals to increase to the 

federal government’s $12.92M 

or higher. 

Take Me To The River (or 

another state)? 

How quickly can one’s estate 

exceed $2 million in MA? 

Consider the median single-family 

home sale price in 

Middlesex County is $845,000. 

Add savings, 401(k), 403(b), any 

insurance proceeds, value of a 

small business, maybe a generations 

Maine lake house… it can 

add up. 

Connect with an estate planning 

attorney. New laws and 

life events are opportune times 

to connect as well as provide an 

updated net worth and review 

your process. Remember, revocable 

living trusts bypass probate, 

not estate tax laws. 

Know your net worth. Run 

updated estate tax estimates 

after $99,600 credit applied. 

MA is still a graduated tax rate 

starting 0.8% up to 16%. For 

example, $3M is now ~$82,400 

in MA estate taxes, $5M is 

~$292,000 taxes, and $10M is 

~$968,000 taxes. 

Plan to be agile in retirement. 

Connection to seasons, family 

and friends can be strong. However, 

proper planning can create 

alternatives for residency in 38 

states to no longer deal with state 

estate tax or 5% MA state income 

tax (make that 9% if earning 

over $1M). 

At $10M net value, does one 

put $1M towards a new or 2nd 

home in another state, declare 

residency so heirs receive this 

value? Or stay in Massachusetts 

to pay ~$1M in estate tax? 

As a fiduciary, it’s a responsibility 

to educate on the possibilities 

for those interested. 

The opinions voiced in this 

material are for general information 

only and are not intended to 

provide specific advice or recommendations 

for any individual. 

Glenn Brown is a Holliston 

resident and owner of Plan- 

Dynamic, LLC, www.PlanDynamic.com. 

Glenn is a fee-only 

Certified Financial Planner 

helping motivated people take 

control of their planning and 

investing, so they can balance 

kids, aging parents and financial 

independence. 




RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER 

Annual Camy 5K Run to be held 

on November 11 

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The 23rd annual USATFcertified 

Camy 5K Run & David 

5K Walk will be held on Veterans 

Day, Saturday November 11 

at the Walpole Italian-American 

Club, 109 Stone St., Walpole. 

The Camy 5K Run starts at 

10 a.m., the David 5K Walk 

starts at 9:50 a.m., and the free 

Rosina Fun Run of 50 yards for 

kids 11 and under starts at 9:30 

a.m. 

The event benefits local charities 

and is named in honor of 

Camilio “Camy” Clerici and 

his grandson, David Clerici, 

longtime Walpole residents and 

members of the I-A Society, 

who both died in 2000. 

Register online at https:// 

www.active.com/walpole-ma/ 

running/distance-runningraces/23rd-annual-camy-5krun-and-david-5k-walk-2023, 

by 

email at www.paulclerici.com/ 

camydavid5k, or on race day. 

For more information, email camydavid5k@yahoo.com 

or call 

508-668-2249. 

The Medfield Foodservice Department is 

now hiring! Substitute worker positions 

available with flexible hours, as well as 

full time, benefited positions. 

For more information please contact: 

Caitlin Fahy at cfahy@email.medfield.net 

or 508-242-8897


8 Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid 

Estate planning can be complicated, 

and it’s not uncommon 

for people to make mistakes with 

their plans. But financial advisors 

make errors, too, so here are the 

most common mistakes I have 

encountered from other financial 

and estate planners. 

1. Improper beneficiary designations 

I frequently see advisors 

improperly completing 

beneficiary designations. 

Examples: not changing 

the beneficiary due to divorce 

or a death, or listing 

a special needs child 

or grandchild directly as a 

beneficiary, rather than a 

trust FBO (for benefit of), 

thereby affecting their eligibility 

for Social Security 

disability benefits. 

Financial Planning 

Estate Planning 

Insurance 

Investments 

Accounting 

Bookkeeping 

Payroll 

Income Tax Preparation 

For Individuals & Small Businesses 

2. Not changing asset titles 

to trusts 

Incorporating revocable 

living trusts into a client’s 

estate plan but forgetting 

to update all the account 

titling to the name of the 

trust. Not changing titles 

creates problems that include 

having to pay additional 

probate costs, losing 

the private nature of settling 

the estate, etc. 

3. Incorrectly assuming clients’ 

goals 

Many advisors assume a 

client’s main goal is to save 

estate taxes, for example. 

However, when really connecting 

with a client, we 

might find that taxes are 

only a small aspect of their 

objectives. Sometimes, in 

Updated 

Your 

Estate Plan 

Lately? 

667 South Street Route 1A Wampum Corner 

Wrentham MA 

800-560-4NFS www.nfsnet.com 

Jeffrey Schweitzer 

listening to the client, we 

realize that their fears are 

more about their heirs’ 

ability to manage the inheritance 

as well as decisions 

such as trustees, etc. 

4 Naming minor children as 

account beneficiaries 

Letting clients name minor 

children outright as 

primary or contingent 

beneficiaries of life insurance 

or retirement plans. 

When minor children inherit, 

a court must appoint 

a guardian who must be 

bonded and must file a laborious 

annual accounting 

with the local court. 

5. Wrong choice of executors 

and trustees 

Naming a financial institution 

as successor executor/trustee 

after surviving 

spouse or instead of surviving 

spouse. In some cases, 

this is to the detriment 

of the spouse and other 

beneficiaries because large 

institutions usually follow 

their fiduciary responsibilities 

with a less personable 

approach than another 

trustee could provide. 

6. Failure to address medical 

directives 

Many attorneys will draft 

a health-care power of 

attorney (POA) and living 

will. If the two documents 

co-exist, they may 

conflict since the POA allows 

another to make decisions 

while the living will 

already states what is to 

be done. Absent statutory 

(or document) direction, 

health-care providers may 

experience a conflict in 

what to do. 

7. Ignoring state estate and 

inheritance taxes 

Many states follow the 

federal $5 million-plus 

exemption for taxable estates, 

but the states do not 

always exempt this larger 

amount. For example, in 

Massachusetts, estates over 

$1,000,000 that are not left 

to the surviving spouse are 

subject to a Massachusetts 

estate tax. 

8 Failure to address asset 

protection 

Most couples fear losing 

their assets to nursing 

homes. For couples nearing 

retirement, strategies 

that protect assets should 

be explored. Strategies include 

lifetime credit shelter 

trusts, life estate deeds, gifting 

and other techniques 

that make assets available 

for use but beyond the 

reach of creditors. We 

have a great FREE guide 

entitled “Planning Your 

Estate”. Please feel free to 

contact me and I will send 

you a copy right away. My 

number is below. 

Jeffrey N. Schweitzer, EPA, CEP, 

ATP, RTRP can be found at Northeast 

Financial Strategies Inc (NFS) at 

Wampum Corner in Wrentham. NFS 

works with individuals and small businesses 

providing financial and estate 

planning, insurance, investments and 

also offers full service accounting, bookkeeping, 

payroll, income tax preparation, 

and notary public services. For 

more information, stop by the office, 

call Jeffrey at 800-560-4NFS or visit 

online - www.nfsnet.com 





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Exhibit Commemorates Boston 

Tea Party Anniversary 

The Massachusetts Historical 

Society (MHS) has announced 

its newest exhibition, “The Dye 

is cast: The Interest and Ideals 

That Motivated the Boston 

Tea Party,” commemorating the 

250th Anniversary of the Boston 

Tea Party. The special show 

delves into this pivotal event in 

American history through the 

perspectives of six Bostonians 

from diverse backgrounds and 

features a collection of artifacts 

and documents from MHS’s collection. 

The exhibition will be 

on view through February 29, 

2024, in the second-floor gallery 

spaces. 

“We are thrilled to bring 

forth this exhibition and celebrate 

an event that had a significant 

role in shaping the path 

toward American independence,” 

shared Catherine Allgor, 

President of the Massachusetts 

Historical Society. “Visitors will 

have the chance to explore the 

historical context, understand 

the participants’ motivations, 

and gain a deeper appreciation 

for the lasting impact this incident 

had on shaping the United 

States.” 

By examining the tea crisis 

of 1773 through the eyes 

of six Bostonians, each with 

their unique experiences and 

circumstances, this exhibition 

offers a fresh perspective on 

the events that unfolded that 

fateful day. Featured individuals 

include Paul Revere, Joseph 

Warren, Phillis Wheatley, Prince 

Hall, John Rowe, and Thomas 

Hutchinson, whose stories give 

insight as to why the Boston Tea 

Party happened. 

The exhibition will showcase 

historical artifacts, including 

the Tradesmen’s Protest against 

EXHIBIT 

continued on page 15


Notable People and Places of Wrentham 

As part of Wrentham’s 350th 

anniversary celebration, the committee 

planning this year’s events has 

asked residents to submit memories 

of significant people and places in the 

town’s history. Following is a submission 

the anniversary committee shared 

with Local Town Pages. Visit wrentham350.com 

to see the complete story 

and photos. 

The Heartwarming Story 

of Two Wrenthams 

In January of this year, Wrentham 

community member, Kristine 

Brown, reached out to us 

to share a wonderful story. She 

and her British husband, Barry, 

had visited Wrentham, England, 

some 35-40 years ago and had 

the pleasure of meeting with the 

town’s mayor. It’s worth noting 

that Wrentham, MA was named 

after Wrentham, England, where 

John Thurston and other settlers 

hailed from. After Barry’s 

recent passing, Kristine came 

across postcards that they’d received 

from Wrentham, England, 

along with articles from an 

English newspaper and the Sun 

Chronicle. We were thrilled to 

meet with Kristine where she 

fondly recalled sharing a glass of 

wine early in the morning with 

the mayor and visiting a local elementary 

school to answer questions 

from the students. 

We’d like to express our gratitude 

to Kristine for sharing the 

news clippings and postcards of 

Wrentham, England, with all of 

us today. 

Compiled by Grey Almeida, 

Wrentham 350 Anniversary 

Committee Member. 

Wrentham K of C 5K Planned 

for November 5 

The 6th annual Wrentham Knights of Columbus 

5K will be held on Sunday, November 

5 at 9 a.m. The 5k Run/Walk will start and end 

at Parker’s Pub, 303 Shears Street, Wrentham. 

The USATF-certified flat course will loop 

around scenic country roads. Cash prizes will be 

awarded to the top three male and female finishers, 

and other valuable prizes will be awarded for 

Wrentham 

Launches Town 

News Portal 

Town Administrator Kevin Sweet has announced the 

launch of Wrentham’s News Portal. 

The town of Wrentham News Portal, https://wrenthamnews.com, 

features a modern, interactive design with 

a categorized news blog for users and visitors to explore. 

Users can subscribe to the news portal to receive notifications 

via email. In addition to email notifications, the 

news portal is linked directly to social media, so residents 

are encouraged to follow the Town of Wrentham on Facebook, 

Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. 

Additionally, users can view a photo gallery of various 

landmarks around Wrentham. 

“Our town news portal will allow residents to remain 

in the know about what’s going on in and around town,” 

said Town Administrator Sweet. “I encourage everyone to 

visit and explore the new site, subscribe to categories and 

follow us on social media.” 

The town of Wrentham News Portal was designed by 

John Guilfoil Public Relations. 

the top finishers in each age group. There will be 

a DJ, sponsor tents, and fun for the entire family. 

Register for the event at http://wrenthamkofc.racewire.com. 

The council has raised over 

$20,000 to date from the annual 5K race, all of 

which has been donated back to the community’s 

charitable causes. 

Holiday Toy 

and Children’s 

Book Swap 

The Fiske Library in Wrentham will 

hold a toy and children’s book swap on 

Saturday, November 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 

p.m. Everything at the swap is free. Please 

bring your own bags. 

Have items to donate? Toys and children’s 

books in good condition can be 

dropped off at the Fiske Library on Tuesday, 

November 21 from 4 to 8 p.m., or on 

Wednesday, November 22 from 10 a.m. to 

noon. 

Please no clothing or linens. Donations 

will be accepted the morning of the event, 

but people are encouraged to drop off 

items on the designated donation days if 

possible. 

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Community Ties and a Commitment to Customer Service: 

Affordable Junk Removal 

There are plenty of reasons 

to call a junk removal service. 

Maybe you’re planning to move 

and need to clear out the basement 

and attic before your open 

house. Maybe you’ve spent way 

too much time at home lately 

and are feeling the need to declutter. 

But figuring out who to call 

can be a pain. If you contact 

one of the big haulers, they 

route you to a phone center 

where they’ve never even heard 

of your town, plus their pricing 

seems vague and full of extra 

fees. No wonder you’ve let the 

stuff pile up—it’s too much of a 

hassle to get rid of it! 

Or you can call Affordable 

Junk Removal and let a local 

small business with deep community 

roots take care of everything. 

Jay Schadler started his business 

in 2003. Back then, it was 

just him and a beat-up pickup 

truck taking small jobs and 

working nights and weekends 

when he could. As the years 

rolled on, his business grew, but 

his commitment to customer 

service never wavered. Now he’s 

got a staff of ten, along with 

ten trucks, servicing eastern 

and central Massachusetts and 

northern Rhode Island. 

Affordable Junk Removal 

specializes in house and estate 

cleanouts. If your garage, attic, 

or office is overflowing with 

stuff, take back your space and 

let the pros do the heavy lifting. 

Jay and his team have handled 

it all. They’ve dismantled 

above-ground pools, hauled 

away ancient hot tubs, taken 

down old fencing, and stripped 

away worn carpeting. They’ll 

come for a single item, or they’ll 

clean out an entire house. And 

they can take almost anything. 

They can’t accept hazardous 

materials, brush, dirt, or concrete, 

but everything else is fair 

game for them to take away. 

Not everything ends up in a 

landfill—not if Jay can help it. 

He first tries to either recycle or 

donate items. Only after he tries 

to repurpose items do they end 

up at the transfer station. 

Working with Affordable 

Junk Removal is simple. First, 

you can load stuff yourself if you 

want by renting a 15-cubic-yard 

dumpster for a week and chucking 

up to a ton of your unwanted 

stuff. If you need to get rid of 

more weight, then Jay prorates 

that tonnage—you never pay for 

what you don’t use. 

If you don’t want to be bothered 

with the dumpster, they’ve 

also got a driveway special where 

they’ll take away a truckload of 

your unwanted things if you pile 

it up. Or if you don’t want to lift 

a finger, then you can point at 

the items, and the team will fill 

up their truck and haul away 

your unwanted things. However 

you do it, you’re left with more 

space and more peace of mind. 

Jay and his team beat the big 

waste haulers on both price and 

customer service. When you call 

Affordable Junk Removal, you 

aren’t connected to an anonymous 

call center. Your phone 

call goes right to Jay. 

And speaking of pricing, Jay 

is upfront about it. His website 

shows the truck sizes and prices, 

so you can save time knowing 

your costs before you call for 

an appointment. There aren’t 

any hidden costs or surprise fees 

with Affordable Junk Removal. 

Affordable Junk Removal is 

fully licensed and fully insured, 

and they’ll treat your property 

with care and respect. 

They also have a thriving 

commercial business, working 

with contractors and roofers to 

clear away debris and keep the 

job site clean. They can even 

handle commercial and residential 

emergencies with same-day 

service. 

Jay and his family are deeply 

involved in the community. He 

and his wife, Christine, run the 

Corner Market restaurant in 

Holliston as well as Resellables, 

a thrift store in Bellingham. It’s 

not uncommon for someone to 

reach Jay at the restaurant, order 

a sandwich, and then schedule a 

junk removal appointment. Yes, 

the local small business really can 

handle everything! 

For more information, contact 

Jay Schadler at (774) 287-1133 or 

visit Affordable Junk Removal online 

at www.takeawayjunk.com. 


Wrentham Voter 

Registration 

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An in-person voter registration will take place on 

Friday, November 3 for the Special (Fall) Town Meeting 

scheduled for Monday, November 13. Any Wrentham 

resident who is not registered or will become 

16 years of age on or before November 13 may preregister/register 

to vote. 

The registration will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

at the Town Hall located at 79 South Street. Voter 

Registration forms may also be downloaded from the 

Town Clerk’s page of the Town’s website. Please call 

the Town Clerk’s office at (508) 384-5415 with any 

questions.


Celebrate the Holidays with FPAC 

Holiday Productions 

FPAC Holiday Productions 

will present two shows as part of 

its annual holiday season. 

December kicks off with the 

holiday classic: The Nutcracker, 

presented December 2 and 3 at 

the Franklin High School Auditorium. 

Experience all the festive 

magic and colorful splendor of 

The Nutcracker as FPAC stages its 

cherished annual production of 

the holiday classic with live orchestra, 

special guest artists and 

more than 100 area dancers. The 

Nutcracker remains a highly anticipated 

and treasured part of 

the FPAC season - a popular 

holiday tradition for more than 

20 years. The world-famous ballet, 

set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved 

score, delights the imaginations 

of audiences young and old with 

a professional production at a 

reasonable price. The production 

is staged by Cheryl Madeux of 

American Ballet Theatre, Hartford 

Ballet, and Joffrey Ballet. 

Madeux is currently director of 

BalletFranklin- the ballet conservatory 

at the Franklin School for 

the Performing Arts. 

The FPAC Holiday Productions 

December season continues 

as Humbug! returns December 

16 and 17. A family favorite since 

debuting as part of FPAC’s 2008 

season, Humbug! is an original 

musical retelling of Charles 

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, 

starring the script’s writer, Nick 

Paone, as Ebenezer Scrooge. 

With musical hits of every genre 

and live accompaniment by a 

10-piece band of professional 

musicians, Humbug! transports 

audiences from Dickensian England 

to contemporary America 

as the novel’s iconic characters 

and storyline are cleverly reimagined 

with modern setting 

and dialogue. Humbug! delivers 

a holiday gift of hilarity with a 

timely – and timeless – message. 


are presented at the Franklin 

High School Auditorium. 

For tickets and more information, 

visit www.FPAConline. 

com or call the box office at 

508-528-3370. 

Seth Glier to Perform at Circle 

of Friends Coffeehouse 

Seth Glier returns to the Circle 

of Friends Coffeehouse on 

Saturday, November 18. 

Glier is a seasoned troubadour, 

a singer-songwriter, producer 

and multi-instrumentalist 

who averages over 250 live performances 

annually. He’s shared 

the stage with artists as diverse 

as James Taylor, Ani DiFranco, 

Edwin McCain, Martin Sexton, 

Emmylou Harris and Ryan 

Adams, and has quickly become 

known for his passionate live sets 

and powerful command of both 

piano and guitar. 

His new album, “Everything,” 

is a collection of eight 

songs inviting us to imagine a 

future in which humans and the 

planet are re-aligned into mutual 

restoration. The album is an 

acknowledgement of the sacred 

connections that exist between 

all living things and is an active 

questioning of what might 

be possible collectively. “Everything” 

is a reminder that the 

future is something we always 

have an influence over. 

Paste Magazine notes 

“Grammy-nominated musician 

Seth Glier continues to gain momentum,” 

while USA TODAY 

says, “Singer with an exquisite 

tenor echoes Bruce Springsteen 

and Billy Joel.” 

The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse 

is a non-profit organization 

affiliated with Franklin’s 

First Universalist Society. 

Concerts are presented in a 

smoke free and alcohol-free 

environment at the Society’s 

handicapped accessible Meetinghouse, 

262 Chestnut St. in 

Franklin, and begin at 8 p.m. 

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Beverages 

and gourmet desserts will 

be available. Admission for this 

performance is $20. Please visit 

https://www.circlefolk.org/ to 

purchase tickets or for more information. 

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The b.LUXE beauty beat 

Big Thanks… 

By Gina Woelfel 

I recently sat down with 

Heather Cohen, the owner of 

b.LUXE Hair and Makeup Studio 

in Medway. We had a chance 

to catch up and reflect on 2023 

and what a crazy, wonderful year 

it’s been, with so much to be 

grateful for! 

During our talk, Heather 

shared that one of her favorite 

things to do in the fall is to take 

long walks with her dogs. “I hike 

my dogs most mornings, but our 

autumn hikes are my favorite. 

The air is crisp, and my pups love 

playing in the crunchy leaves.” 

She also shared that it’s her time 

to disconnect from her “salon” 

brain and focus on other aspects 

of her life beyond the day-to-day 

operations of her studio. The 

beginning of November is the 

calm before the busy holiday 

season, and Heather likes to take 

this time to reflect on how grateful 

she is for everything in her 

life. “Well, I’m blessed with my 

family, friends, and dogs. I have 

a tight-knit group of people who 

really support and love me, and 

that’s allowed me to work as hard 

as I have.” 

As a child, Heather’s family 

sometimes depended on their 

local church and community 

services to make ends meet. Despite 

their financial struggles, 

she never went without or felt 

ashamed of needing assistance. 

“In hindsight,” she explains, 

“that helping hand was a blessing 

in disguise because it taught 

me the importance of taking an 

active role in my community and 

giving back. I didn’t know the 

significance of it at the time, but 

now, those acts of kindness speak 

volumes, and I’m extremely 

grateful for them. We organize 

volunteer opportunities at the 

salon for our staff to participate 

in, cutting hair for the Franklin 

Senior Center, packing food and 

raising money for The Franklin 

Food Pantry, working with PAWS 

New England, and donating 

yearly beauty scholarships to our 

sister school in Cancun, Mexico, 

who we visit each year to bring 

new supplies and teach classes. 

I’m really impressed with how 

our staff always joins in. If it’s 

important to our community, it’s 

important to b.LUXE.” 

During our conversation, we 

discussed the keys to running 

a successful beauty salon with 

over 30 talented and influential 

women. Heather expressed her 

gratitude towards her employees: 

“They’re the backbone and 

heart of b.LUXE. I’m fortunate 

to have the creative and management 

teams that I do! They are 

the best in the business, and their 

incredible talent and work ethic 

inspire me to set the bar higher 

and consistently exceed expectations. 

We didn’t become Massachusetts’ 

most highly-rated salon 

just by chance! We made that 

happen together.” 

Heather also expressed her 

gratitude towards John Green, 

the owner of Medway Mills, 

where her salon is located. This 

historic, eight-acre complex is 

surrounded by wooded grounds, 

with Chicken Brook flowing 

directly underneath the salon. 

“John has done an excellent job 

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preserving the property’s natural 

charm while incorporating beautifully 

landscaped grounds, stone 

walls, and flower gardens to welcome 

visitors to the Mill. This 

year, he added an upper parking 

lot to accommodate the overflow. 

Our customers love the timeless 

atmosphere here.” 

Heather has great affection for 

the whole Medway Mills family. 

“The businesses here work well 

together, and it’s a great place to 

work.” Three beauty and wellness 

businesses located at the 

Mill have provided Heather with 

an enormous amount of support 

and inspiration - Chat Noir Nails, 

whose owner is Jillian Lustgarten 

Cohen, Molly’s Apothecary, 

owned by Ann Fisher, and Drift 

and Oak Yoga, whose owner is 

Bianca Fantoni. “We share many 

of the same customers and work 

together to grow each other’s 

clientele.” She praises these businesses 

for helping women understand 

their worth and enhancing 

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the community. “To me, they define 

Girl Power, and I’m so proud 

of that. I couldn’t ask for better 

women to work alongside.” 

“The Local Town Pages” deserves 

a HUGE shoutout, too!” 

exclaims Heather. “We love our 

BEAUTY BEAT column, and 

without this community paper, 

we’d lose our direct line to our 

customers. “We’ve really enjoyed 

these conversations with existing 

and potential clients, especially 

those who’ve never visited our 

studio. It’s been a friendly opportunity 

to introduce ourselves and 

connect with so many wonderful 

people.” 

Happy Thanksgiving from 

our family to yours. 

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“I need a book to list how 

many people I’m grateful for!” 

says Heather. “But I guess it really 

just boils down to community. 

I’m really very, very grateful 

to this community for bringing 

b.LUXE into the fold and embracing 

it the way that they have. 

Thank you…” 





For rates and info on advertising your business, 

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EXHIBIT 


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the Proceedings of the Merchants, 

November 3, 1773, and 

the Edes family punch bowl, as 

well as immediate reactions to 

the event, among others. These 

items provide tangible connections 

to the past and allow 

visitors to immerse themselves 

in the historical context of the 

Boston Tea Party. 

The exhibition is being held 

at the Massachusetts Historical 

Society, located at 1154 Boylston 

Street, Boston. Admission is free 

and open to the public during 

the following hours: Monday 

and Wednesday through Friday, 

from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; Tuesday 

from 10 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.; 

and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 

p.m. Please note that the last admission 

for exhibition visitors is 

45 minutes prior to closing. 

For more information about 

the “The Dye is Cast: The Interest 

and Ideals That Motivated 

the Boston Tea Party” exhibition, 

please visit the Massachusetts 

Historical Society’s website 

at www.masshist.org. 

About the 

Massachusetts Historical 

Society 

Founded in 1791, the MHS is 

an independent research library 

and manuscript repository dedicated 

to collecting, preserving, 

and sharing the history of Massachusetts 

and the nation. The 

Society serves as a vital resource 

for scholars, educators, and the 

general public, offering a wide 

range of programs, exhibitions, 

and publications that illuminate 

the past and inform the present. 

Call Jen Schofield at 508-570-6544 


Wrentham to be Recognized as a 

Purple Heart Community 

Medal Recipients Asked to Contact Local Veterans Services Office 

By Angela Weicherding-Fitton 

Wrentham, home to 500 veterans, 

is becoming a Purple Heart 

community. 

The designation means the 

town recognizes the sacrifice of 

people who have served their 

country, particularly those who are 

Purple Heart recipients and their 

families. As a Purple Heart community, 

there will be signs on all 

main roads leading into or out of 

Wrentham, including Route 140, 

Route 1A, and Route 152. The 

signs will serve as a visual reminder 

to drivers that others have paid a 

high price for their freedom. 

Veterans Agent Stephen Travers 

handles veteran support 

services for North Attleboro, Plainville 

and Wrentham. He’s working 

with Wrentham Assistant Town 

Administrator Greg Enos on the 

effort to designate Wrentham as a 

Purple Heart community. 

“I’m pleasantly surprised by 

the ways that Massachusetts honors 

its Purple Heart recipients,” 

5 

STAR 

Travers said, while discussing the 

project. “Some towns have parking 

assigned specifically for Purple 

Heart recipients. There are Purple 

Heart specialty plates available at 

no cost through the DMV and 

those folks have no annual registration 

renewal costs.” 

Travers said that Purple Heart 

recipients don’t look for recognition, 

noting he is a veteran who 

retired five years ago. 

“In general, Massachusetts 

treats all its veterans great, but 

Purple Heart recipients are extra 

special,” he said. “We recognize 

Purple Heart recipients as the 

wounded that made it home. They 

are the heroes that walk among us, 

most without us even knowing.” 

In 1782, George Washington 

issued the first ever Purple Heart. 

It was considered a Military Badge 

of Merit, which was a simple heart 

made from purple cloth. One hundred 

and sixty years later, in 1942, 

the Purple Heart, now a medal, 

became an award for military personnel 

who had been wounded 

in combat. However, the Purple 

Heart is not limited to members 

of the military any longer; civilians 

wounded in combat are also 

eligible for the medal. 

Travers, who used to be a recruiter, 

also pointed out that 2023 

marks 50 years since the military 

became an all-volunteer organization. 

This means that every member 

of the military now is a man or 

woman willing to put everything 

on the line for our freedoms. The 

last war to have draftees was the 

Vietnam War. 

There is currently no database 

or way to perform an online query 

to determine who has received a 

Purple Heart. Wrentham veterans 

who are Purple Heart recipients 

are urged to contact Travers at 

(508) 699-0100 if they’d like to 

participate in upcoming events. 

Any Wrentham veteran in 

need of support or services can 

also contact Travers. 

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DURYSTA - A Game-Changer in Glaucoma Treatment 

By: Roger M. Kaldawy, M.D. 

Milford Franklin Eye Center 

Introduction 

Imagine a world where a tiny 

implant can help prevent vision 

loss and improve the quality of 

life for millions of people suffering 

from glaucoma. This vision 

is becoming a reality with 

the introduction of DURYSTA, 

a groundbreaking treatment 

option that is changing the 

landscape of glaucoma management. 

In this article, we will 

delve into what DURYSTA is, 

how it works, and its potential 

impact on the lives of glaucoma 

patients. 

Understanding Glaucoma 

Glaucoma is a group of 

eye conditions that can lead to 

damage of the optic nerve, ultimately 

resulting in vision loss. 

It is often referred to as the “silent 

thief of sight” because it 

typically progresses slowly and 

Living Healthy 

without noticeable symptoms 

until significant damage has 

occurred. The most common 

type of glaucoma is open-angle 

glaucoma, which accounts for 

around 90% of all glaucoma 

cases. In open-angle glaucoma, 

the drainage system within the 

eye becomes inefficient, leading 

to increased intraocular pressure 

(IOP). Elevated IOP is a major 

risk factor for optic nerve damage 

and vision loss. 

Traditional Glaucoma Treatments 

Traditionally, the primary approach 

to managing glaucoma 

has been to lower intraocular 

pressure. Several methods are 

used to achieve this, including 

eye drops, laser therapy, and surgical 

interventions. While these 

treatments can be effective, they 

often require frequent administration, 

leading to compliance 

issues. Additionally, surgical 

procedures carry certain risks 

and may not be suitable for all 

patients. 

Enter DURYSTA 

DURYSTA (bimatoprost 

implant) is a revolutionary development 

in the field of glaucoma 

treatment. Approved by 

the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA) in March 2020, 

DURYSTA offers a novel and 

sustained approach to lowering 

intraocular pressure in glaucoma 

patients. 

MILFORD - FRANKLIN 

EYE CENTER 

Welcome Dr. Dan Liu - Accepting new 

patients starting November 1, 2023 

Comprehensive Eye Exams 

Back to School Exams 

Full Optical Shop 

Eye Glasses - Contacts 

New Patients Receive a 

Free Pair of Select Glasses 

Optical 

Shop 

On-Site 

FRANKLIN OFFICE 

750 Union St. 

508-528-3344 

SMILEFORVISION.COM 

Roger M. Kaldawy, M.D. | Jorge G. Arroyo, M.D. | Dan Liu, M.D 

Saturday & 

After Hours 

Available 

Michael R. Adams, O.D. | Shalin Zia, O.D. | Donald L. Conn, O.D. | Dr. Purvi Patel, O.D. 

MILFORD OFFICE 

160 South Main St. 

508-473-7939 

MILLIS OFFICE 

730 Main St. 

508-528-3344 

SURGERY CENTER MILFORD 

145 West St. 

508-381-6040 

How DURYSTA Works 

DURYSTA is a tiny implant 

that is placed directly into the 

anterior chamber of the eye 

through a minimally invasive 

procedure. This implant releases 

a medication called bimatoprost, 

which is a prostaglandin analog. 

Prostaglandin analogs are 

known to be effective in reducing 

intraocular pressure by increasing 

the outflow of aqueous 

humor from the eye. What sets 

DURYSTA apart is its sustained 

release mechanism, providing 

consistent IOP reduction for an 

extended period. 

Advantages of DURYSTA 

Long-Lasting Efficacy: 

DURYSTA is designed to provide 

sustained IOP reduction 

for up to twelve months after a 

single implantation. This means 

fewer office visits and a reduced 

need for daily eye drops, improving 

patient compliance and 

quality of life. 

Minimally Invasive: The procedure 

to implant DURYSTA is 

minimally invasive and typically 

takes a few seconds. Patients can 

usually return to their normal 

activities shortly after the procedure. 

Efficacy Across Glaucoma 

Types: DURYSTA has shown 

efficacy in reducing IOP across 

various glaucoma types, including 

open-angle and angleclosure 

glaucoma, making it a 

versatile option for a wide range 

of patients. 

Reduced Side Effects: Unlike 

eye drops, which can cause side 

effects such as stinging, redness, 

and allergies, DURYSTA is delivered 

directly to the eye’s target 

site, minimizing systemic side effects. 

Preservative-Free: Many eye 

drops contain preservatives that 

can irritate the eyes over time. 

DURYSTA is preservative-free, 

reducing the risk of irritation. 

Improved Quality of Life: 

With fewer daily eye drop applications 

and sustained IOP 

reduction, DURYSTA can enhance 

the quality of life for glaucoma 

patients, allowing them to 

focus on their daily activities 

without the burden of frequent 

medication administration. 

Clinical Trials and Results 

The approval of DURYSTA 

was based on the results of clinical 

trials that demonstrated its 

safety and efficacy. In a pivotal 

Phase 3 clinical trial, DURYSTA 

was shown to significantly reduce 

intraocular pressure compared 

to a placebo, with the 

effect lasting for an extended period. 

The trial also highlighted 

the low rate of adverse events 

associated with DURYSTA implantation. 

Real-World Impact 

Since its approval, 

DURYSTA has made a significant 

impact on glaucoma management 

in clinical practice. 

Patients who were previously 

struggling with the inconvenience 

of daily eye drops and 

the fear of surgical procedures 

now have a more convenient 

and effective option for managing 

their condition. 

DURYSTA has particularly 

benefited individuals with poor 

adherence to medication regimens, 

as it eliminates the need 

for daily eye drop administration. 

This can be especially crucial 

in preventing vision loss in 

glaucoma patients, as consistent 

IOP control is essential to preserving 

vision. 

Furthermore, DURYSTA 

has the potential to reduce the 

healthcare system’s burden by 

decreasing the frequency of 

office visits and surgeries for 

glaucoma management. This 

can lead to cost savings and improved 

resource allocation in 

healthcare. 

Challenges and Considerations 

While DURYSTA presents a 

promising solution to many of 

the challenges associated with 

glaucoma management, it is not 

without its considerations: 

Cost: The cost of DURYSTA 

may be a barrier for some patients, 

as it is a relatively new 

treatment and may not be covered 

by all insurance plans. 

Implantation Procedure: 

While minimally invasive, the 

implantation procedure for 

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skilled ophthalmologist. Access 

to specialized care may be limited 

in some areas. 

Long-Term Data: As 

DURYSTA is a relatively new 

treatment, long-term data on 

its safety and efficacy beyond 

the three-year mark is still being 

EYES 

continued on page 17


Living Healthy 

It’s More Than Just a Click or a Pop! 

TMJ is a condition characterized 

by pain in the jaw joint and 

surrounding tissues accompanied 

by a decrease in the range 

of motion of the joint itself. 

There may be clicking or popping 

and a noticeable swing of 

the lower joint. Currently more 

than 12% of American’s suffer 

from TMJ symptoms. 

There are many causes of 

TMJ. These include dental procedures, 

autoimmune disease, 

biting into a large sandwich or 

bagel, injuries to the jaw area 

and infection. Once the biomechanics 

of the joint has been 

altered, the function becomes affected 

and the pain ensues. Traditional 

treatments include pain 

medication, muscle relaxers and 

dental appliances. These are effective 

resources for some but 

not for all, especially long term. 

Stephanie B. suffered from 

TMJ pain for over two years 

Dr. Rochelle Bien & Dr. Michael Goldstein 

since the removal of her braces. 

Chewing certain foods would 

aggravate her jaw and intensify 

her pain. In the beginning, she 

felt she could handle the problem 

on her own by giving up 

chewing gum, eating oversized 

sandwiches, chewy meats and 

certain fruits. However, she noticed 

that over time just yawing 

and even singing, could cause 

an exacerbation. She was becoming 

disillusioned with the 

idea that she could fix this on 

her own and decided to call The 

Holistic Center at Bristol Square 

and made an appointment to 

see the doctors. 

Upon exam , the swing was 

noted in Stephanie’s jaw as she 

both opened and closed her 

mouth, indicating a dysfunction 

in the biomechanics of 

her TMJ. After several weeks of 

treatment, the clicking and popping 

were gone and the swing 

in her jaw was stabilized. She 

no longer suffers from the TMJ 

pain and has noticed that the 

headaches she thought were unrelated 

had gone away as well. 

If you are suffering from 

TMJ pain, do not hesitate to 

contact The Holistic Center at 

Bristol Square, located at 1426 

Main Street, Walpole. Call 

(508)660-2722 and make your 

appointment today. 


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EYES 


collected. 

Conclusion 

DURYSTA represents a significant 

advancement in the 

field of glaucoma treatment. Its 

sustained release mechanism, 

minimal invasiveness, and potential 

to improve patient adherence 

make it a game-changer for 

glaucoma patients. As further 

research and real-world experience 

accumulate, DURYSTA’s 

role in preserving vision and 

enhancing the quality of life for 

those with glaucoma is likely to 

become even more pronounced. 

While challenges and considerations 

remain, DURYSTA offers 

new hope and a brighter 

future for individuals living with 

this sight-threatening condition. 

Our center and ophthalmologists 

have state of the art equipment 

to diagnose and treat 

many eye problems, including 

glaucoma. We offer DURYSTA 

in our state-of-the-art surgery 

center in Milford. 7 dedicated 

eye care providers here to help 

you in 3 facilities in Franklin, 

Milford and Millis. We are 

available and have Saturday and 

after-hours appointments. From 

the basic eye exam to the hightech 

surgeries performed locally 

in Milford, our center is now 

able to better recognize glaucoma 

and manage this disease 

with many interventions including 

DURYSTA. We continue to 

provide world class eye care for 

the entire family. 

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Dean College Brings AIDS Quilt to 

Campus in Conjunction with “RENT” 

Display is Part of Thoughtful New Programming Around Theatre Shows 

Dean College is 

proud to display a section 

of the AIDS Memorial 

Quilt on campus 

from November 14-15, 

2023, leading up to the 

premiere of the School 

of the Arts production 

of “RENT” on November 

15. 

The AIDS Memorial Quilt 

is a living memorial to a generation 

lost to AIDS, an important 

HIV prevention education tool 

and the largest community arts 

project in history. Individuals 

and groups create Quilt panels to 

honor, remember and celebrate 

the stories and lives of those lost 

to HIV/AIDS. Displayed for the 

first time during the National 

March on Washington for Lesbian 

and Gay Rights on October 

11, 1987, today the Quilt is an 

epic 54-ton tapestry that includes 

nearly 50,000 panels dedicated to 

more than 110,000 individuals. 

The Quilt display will provide 

powerful context to the College’s 

production of “RENT,” 

Jonathan Larson’s iconic musical 

that follows a group of impoverished 

young artists and musicians 

struggling to survive and 

create in New York’s Lower East 

Side, under the shadow of HIV/ 

AIDS. 

“In moments of crisis, at times 

of great conflict and trauma, 

people turn to art as a way to 

share their love and their fear 

and their anger,” said Patsy Collins 

Bandes, dean of the School 

of the Arts. “The AIDS Memorial 

Quilt was built out of one of 

these moments of protest and demand 

for those lost to be remembered. 

We at Dean College are 

honored to display this work of 

art in parallel with our students 

lifting their own voices to create 

a story of survival, hope and 

love onstage in our production of 

‘RENT.’” 

The AIDS Memorial Quilt 

will be on display to the public 

on Tuesday, November 14 and 

Wednesday, November 15 from 

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the 

Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student 

Center Concourse. Dean students 

will also be tabling with 

interactive educational materials 

during the display. The School 

of the Arts at Dean will present 

“RENT” from November 15-19, 

2023. 

The display is part of the 

College’s thoughtful new programming 

series to create more 

context around each of the theatre 

shows this season. Titled 

“Continuing the Conversation,” 

the College will hold post-show 

discussions with the creative 

teams and experts in the field 

about the performance and the 

themes, context or history it explores. 

The series is co-sponsored 

by the Franklin Public Library 

and will offer library patrons a 

discount on tickets if they would 

like to attend the show 

prior to the discussion. 

The post-show discussion 

for “RENT” 

will take place on Saturday, 

November 18. 

Continuing the conversation 

from the Quilt 

display earlier in the 

week, this event will 

discuss the legacy of the AIDS 

epidemic 40 years later and its 

influence on queer identity in the 

21st century. Guests will include 

Dr. Kristin Holster, professor of 

sociology at Dean College, and 

Dr. Helen Lewis-Michelson, associate 

professor of theatre at 

The Boston Conservatory at 

Berklee. 

“Continuing the Conversation 

allows us to deepen the exploration 

of the shows we are producing, 

and it is thrilling to be able 

to partner with the Franklin Public 

Library on this project,” said 

Collins Bandes, who oversees the 

College’s performing arts programs 

in arts and entertainment 

management, performance, 

production and design, theatre 

studies, and new BFA programs 

in acting and musical theatre. “It 

gives us an opportunity to explore 

with both our students and 

the community what impact our 

art has on the world, and how 

theatre is a powerful tool for cultural 

engagement.” 

For more information about 

the AIDS Memorial Quilt, visit 

www.aidsmemorial.org. For more 

information about “RENT” and 

the Continuing the Conversation 

series, visit www.dean.edu/boxoffice. 

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Annual Burn 

Awareness Video 

Contest Underway 

Department of Fire Services Invites 

High Schools to Take Part 

The Department of 

Fire Services’ annual 

Burn Awareness Video 

Contest is underway, and 

schools with communications 

courses that focus on 

media design and production 

are encouraged to take 

part. 

State Fire Marshal Jon 

M. Davine said the annual 

contest is a way to raise 

awareness of the painful, 

lifelong consequences 

of misusing fire and to 

counteract dangerous 

stunts and challenges that 

young people may see on 

social media. The contest 

is sponsored by DFS, the 

Massachusetts Property 

Insurance Underwriters 

Association, and Shriners 

Children’s. 

The winners will be announced 

during Burn Prevention 

Week, which runs 

from Feb. 4 to Feb. 10, 

2024. This year’s grand 

prize is a digital video camera 

for the winning students’ 

school, courtesy of 

the Massachusetts Property 

Insurance Underwriters 

Association. The secondplace 

team will share $100 

in gift cards from Best Buy, 

courtesy of Shriners Children’s. 

The third-place 

team will share $50 in gift 

cards from Best Buy courtesy 

of Shriners Children’s. 

The contest is open to 

students in grades 9-12 

who are enrolled in Massachusetts 

schools. Submissions 

must be from 

school-sponsored communications 

courses or 

extra-curricular groups. 

Communications teachers 

or faculty sponsors are 

required to review and approve 

all storyboards before 

filming starts. 

Videos should explore 

burn prevention topics in 

one to three minutes. They 

should be well researched, 

educational, and informative, 

and they must not 

demonstrate risky or unsafe 

behavior. Fire may 

only be depicted through 

royalty-free stock footage, 

and not through images 

recorded by students. 

For the complete contest 

rules, scoring rubric, 

and submission form, visit 

https://www.mass.gov/ 

info-details/high-schoolburn-awareness-videocontest.


Sports 

KP Girls Soccer Team Aiming for Long Playoff Run 

By Ken Hamwey 

Staff Sports Writer 

The King Philip girls soccer 

team was No. 10 in the MIAA 

power rankings at Local Town 

Pages deadline and it was No. 6 

in the Boston Globe’s statewide 

ratings. Those numbers suggest 

that coach Gary Pichel and his 

Warriors are well-positioned for 

what could be a lengthy run in 

the playoffs. 

KP’s overall record at the paper’s 

deadline was 11-3, numbers 

that put the Warriors in a tie with 

Franklin for the Kelley Rex Division 

title. KP’s three losses were 

to Hingham, the defending Division 

1 state champion, Bishop 

Feehan and Franklin. 

“Our goals at the start of the 

season were to develop impact 

players, win the division crown 

and aim for a state championship,’’ 

said Pichel who’s guided 

the Warriors into the playoffs in 

10 of his 11 seasons at the helm. 

The veteran coach, who earlier 

in his career led Nipmuc 

Regional to a pair of state championships 

in 2005 and 2006, 

admits his goals are lofty but realistic. 

“To win a state title a team 

needs to be skilled and have great 

team chemistry,’’ Pichel noted. 

“And, a little luck also helps.’’ 

The Warriors, who have eight 

starters back from last year, are 

skilled and their team chemistry 

is terrific. But, they also possess 

other key strengths. “The girls 

have a high soccer IQ, they’re 

fundamentally sound, their mental 

toughness helps them to be resilient, 

they’re athletic and have 

a strong will to succeed,’’ Pichel 

said. 

KP’s captains personify the 

team’s attributes for success and 

Pichel says they all lead by example. 

They include seniors Heidi 

Lawrence (striker) and Rylie Wesley 

(defender) and juniors Addisyn 

Lamothe-Vaughn (defender) 

and Rhianna Mason (defender). 

“Besides leading by example, our 

captains all speak up, are supportive 

and set the tone for our 

younger players,’’ Pichel said. 

Lawrence is the team’s leading 

scorer with 19 goals and 8 

assists. “Heidi is one of our fastest 

players and she has a strong 

desire to keep improving,’’ Pichel 

said. “She fires a well-developed 

The 2023 King Philip girls soccer team hopes to go deep in the state tournament. 

Coach Gary Pichel has set some 

lofty goals for the King Philip girls 

soccer team. 

accurate shot with either foot.” 

Wesley, whose speed and skills 

made her a top-notch defender, 

suffered a season-ending injury 

in KP’s third match of the 

season. “Unfortunately, we lost 

Rylie in our match against Oliver 

Ames,’’ Pichel offered. “She 

was in a collision on defense and 

fractured her ankle.’’ 

Lamothe-Vaughn and Mason 

are not only leaders, but also 

prime-time defenders. “Addisyn 

has been recruited to play at Division 

1 Iona,’’ Pichel revealed. 

“An offensive outside back, she’s 

got great endurance and is skilled 

in containing opposing players. 

She’s also one of the best slide 

tacklers I’ve coached. Rhianna 

wears her heart on her sleeve. 

She’s passionate about the sport 

and she’s a motivating force in 

the defensive zone.’’ 

Two juniors — center forward 

Dani Lomuscio and forward/ 

striker Mikayla Thompson — 

have been dynamic contributors. 

At Local Town Pages deadline, 

Lomuscio had 9 goals and 8 assists 

and Thompson had 10 goals 

and 7 assists. 

“Dani is one of the greatest allaround 

players I’ve coached, ‘’ Pichel 

said. “She can play defense, 

midfield and any offensive position. 

She’s got a high soccer IQ 

and is one of the hardest workers 

on the team. Mikayla has played 

soccer most of her life and mostly 

as a defender. She’s got great offensive 

skills, speed and strength, 

and she can finish a play.’’ 

Pichel labels junior Ally Pochay 

(center back) and senior Ally 

Smith (outside back) as “pleasant 

surprises.’’ 

“Ally Pochay can be one of the 

premier backs in the Hockomock 

League,’’ he emphasized. “She’s 

got outstanding quickness and 

tenacity. Ally Smith is consistent, 

hard-working and underrated. 

Starting with her sophomore season, 

she’s improved every year.’’ 

Sophomore goalie Lauren 

O’Bara had a 0.71 goals-against 

average and 8 shutouts at Local 

Town Pages deadline. “Lauren 

was our backup keeper late last 

year,’’ Pichel noted. “She got 

into a playoff game last year and 

played well. Her punting average 

is 50 yards. A natural athlete, 

she’s got quick hands and is instinctive.’’ 

Three midfielders — seniors 

Eilish McGowan and Kylie 

Menendez and junior Bridget 

Scott — have played key roles 

and excelled in transition. 

“Eilish is a feisty left-footed 

offensive weapon,’’ Pichel said. 

“She’s got a cannon for a shot. 

Kylie has good field vision and is 

a great play-maker. Bridget is aggressive 

and tenacious and has a 

long-ball shot.’’ 

The 65-year-old Pichel relies 

on an athletic philosophy 

that combines winning, reaching 

one’s potential and having 

fun. “Those ingredients are all 

related,’’ he said. “If a player enjoys 

competing and is having fun, 

then she’ll reach her potential 

and that leads to winning.’’ 

Life lessons can be learned 

in sports and Pichel hopes soccer 

has taught his players some 

valuable tenets going forward. 

“Sports teach athletes how to 

overcome adversity, how to be 

good teammates and how to 

solve problems,’’ he offered. 

“Other good lessons are how to 

build relationships, how to manage 

time and how to sharpen 

one’s work ethic.’’ 

Pichel, a native of Springfield 

who was raised in Milford, favors 

an up-tempo, aggressive style. 

“We’ll be aggressive no matter 

what our opponents’ strategy 

might be,’’ he said. 

Tourney time has arrived and 

Pichel knows that being flexible, 

adjusting on the fly and staying 

healthy are crucial to a deep 

playoff run. His best playoff advance 

came in 2017 when KP 

lost to Westford Academy in the 

state semifinals. 

November is an important 

time of the year for KP girls 

soccer. Its coach and its players 

are aware there’s been a 22-year 

drought since the Warriors last 

won a state title in 2001. 

The 2023 season, however, 

could be very special and very 

memorable for the program.


Coming in December! Reservation deadline is November 13th! 

Holiday Guide 

and 

Kids Activity Pages 

Local Events! 

Recipes to make 

with the kids! 

Songs! Games! 

Coloring Pages! 

Jokes! 

And More! 

Reserve your space today 

by contacting Jen Schofield 

at 508-570-6544 or by email at 


localtownpages


Good Deeds: We Remember Our Veterans 

By William P. O’Donnell 

Norfolk County Register 

of Deeds 

Many Americans will never 

know what it is like to serve in 

the armed forces, risking lives 

for our country and facing the 

harsh realities of combat. The 

men and women who choose to 

join the military make incredible 

sacrifices, leaving behind their 

families and putting their own 

lives on the line to protect our 

freedom and way of life. This is 

something that we, as Americans, 

can sometimes take for granted. 

However, it is important to recognize 

and appreciate the immense 

courage and dedication 

that these individuals possess. 

Having worked with the Veteran 

Affairs Boston Healthcare 

System in Brockton, West Roxbury, 

and Jamaica Plain through 

the “Suits for Success” program, 

I have seen first-hand how much 

it means to veterans when we do 

show our appreciation for their 

selflessness and commitment to 

serving our nation and recognize 

the sacrifices they and their fellow 

veterans have made for our 

collective well-being. It is our 

duty as citizens to honor and support 

our military members in any 

way we can. 

On Wednesday, November 8, 

the Norfolk County Registry of 

Deeds will celebrate the veterans 

of Norfolk County with an open 

house and the release of our 

third volume of Notable Lands 

Records titled “We Remember 

Our Veterans.” The open house 

will run from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. 

at the Registry of Deeds in Dedham. 

Admission is free and each 

person attending will receive a 

copy of the booklet. 

This edition of Notable Lands 

Records is a tribute to the brave 

men and women of Norfolk 

County, from the Revolutionary 

War to present-day peacekeepers. 

The booklet features detailed 

stories of veterans throughout 

the 28 communities that make 

up Norfolk County. These individuals 

have led remarkable lives: 

Diabetes on a Budget 

Milford Regional Physician 

Group and Milford Regional 

Medical Center will present a 

class on diabetes management 

on Thursday, November 2 at 

7:30 p.m. The class will be held 

at Milford Regional Medical 

Center, 14 Prospect St., Milford. 

This free class will discuss 

how expensive treating diabetes 

can be and how the cost 

of testing your sugars, eating 

healthy and buying medications 

adds up quickly. However, wellcontrolled 

diabetes is less likely 

to have costly health complications. 

This class will also discuss 

new technology covered by 

some insurance that makes 

caring for yourself easier. Registered 

dietician Christina 

Morrison and registered nurse 

Caron Grupposo will share 

several are Medal of Honor recipients; 

one was an experimental 

aircraft pilot; another served 

in three wars. The booklet outlines 

a history of the military 

branches as well as the four 

United States Presidents born in 

Norfolk County who served as 

commander-in-chief. 

There will be much to celebrate 

that evening. Patriotic 

music will fill the air. Guests can 

stroll the Registry’s Great Hall 

and view the fascinating storyboards 

detailing the history 

of the various branches of the 

armed services, the contributions 

of veterans, and the significant 

ways a grateful nation 

honors its veterans. There is also 

a storyboard that lists the Norfolk 

County Medal of Honor recipients. 

If you have any questions 

about the event, please contact 

Jonathan Thomas at (781) 234- 

3305 or by email at jthomas@ 

norfolkdeeds.org. The Registry 

of Deeds is located at 649 High 

Street in Dedham Center. 

some tips and tricks to help you 

save money while taking care of 

your health. 

Pre-registration is required 

as seating is limited. View milfordregional.org 

and select Classes 

and Events on the homepage or 

call 508-422-2827. Additional 

information will be provided to 

attendees via email prior to the 

date of the class. 

Encore Students to 

Receive Regional Gold 

Medals in New York City 

Encore Music Academy and 

Recording Studios, located in 

Franklin, MA, is proud to announce 

that two students have 

been awarded Regional Gold 

Medals of Excellence for academic 

year 20022-2023 from the 

Royal Conservatory of Music 

Certificate Program. To achieve 

this award, students must have 

attained the single highest score 

for their level on their instrument 

in the region which includes the 

following states: MA, RI, CT, 

ME, VT, NH, NY, NJ, PA, DE, 

MD, and WV. 

Congratulations to the following 

students and their instructors 

for the talent, hard work, dedication, 

and perseverance it takes 

to achieve such a tremendous 

honor: 

Amelia Piercy, 16, Franklin, 

student of Carl Scheinman, 

Level 4 saxophone 

Sunehri Verma, 15, Franklin, 

student of Lisa Ostrow, Level 6 

voice 

As a result of their tremendous 

achievement, these students 

have been invited to perform at 

the annual Celebration of Excellence 

in New York City on January, 

28, 2024! 




Save the Date for 

Candy Give-Back 

The Norfolk Community League (NCL) will hold its annual 

Halloween candy give-back event on Monday, November 6 

from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Freeman Kennedy School’s loop road, 70 

Boardman St. in Norfolk. 

NCL is also looking for high 

school student volunteers 

to help man the event 

and earn service hours. 

Contact Laura Joyal at 

president@norfolkcl.org 

for more information. 

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Dean College Football to 

Join MASCAC in 2025 

The Massachusetts State 

Collegiate Athletic Conference 

(MASCAC) Council of Presidents 

and Commissioner Angela 

Baumann are excited to 

announce the addition of Dean 

College as a football affiliate beginning 

during the 2025 season. 

Dean will join Anna Maria 

College, Bridgewater State 

University, Fitchburg State 

University, Framingham State 

University, Massachusetts Maritime 

Academy, Plymouth State 

University, UMass Dartmouth, 

Vermont State University-Castleton, 

Western Connecticut, 

Westfield State University and 

Worcester State University as 

football programs in the MAS- 

CAC. 

“The MASCAC and the 

Council of Presidents are 

delighted to welcome Dean 

College to the conference in 

football,” MASCAC Council 

of Presidents Chair and Salem 

State University President John 

Keenan said. “It strengthens 

our conference footprint and 

the conference brand. We look 

forward to enhancing studentathlete 

opportunities.” 

“This is a momentous time 

for the MASCAC as we further 

solidify our competing teams 

in the sport of football,” Commissioner 

Baumann said. “We 

are excited to welcome a Massachusetts 

team like Dean to the 

MASCAC and look forward to 

the kickoff of a long-term football 

partnership with us beginning 

in 2025.” 

The Dean College football 

program is led by 2007 alumnus 

Andrae Murphy who is in 

his second year at the helm. 

The team last won a conference 

championship in 2019 

and played in the New England 

Bowl. The program, along with 

the rest of Dean’s athletic teams, 

officially joined the NCAA in 

the fall of 2020 as a full member. 

“While we have cherished 

our time in the ECFC, join- 

MASCAC 


Celebrate the Holidays with 



will present two shows as part of 

its annual holiday season. December 

kicks off with the holiday 

classic: The Nutcracker, presented 

December 2 and 3 at the Franklin 

High School Auditorium. 

Experience all the festive magic 

and colorful splendor of The Nutcracker 

as FPAC stages its cherished 

annual production of the 

holiday classic with live orchestra 

conducted by Austin Davy, special 

guest artists and more than 

100 area dancers. The Nutcracker 

remains a highly anticipated 

and treasured part of the FPAC 

season - a popular holiday tradition 

for more than 20 years. The 

world-famous ballet, set to Tchaikovsky’s 

beloved score, delights 

the imaginations of audiences 

young and old with a professional 

production at a reasonable 

price. The production is staged 

by Cheryl Madeux of American 

Ballet Theatre, Hartford Ballet, 

and Joffrey Ballet. Madeux is 

currently director of BalletFranklin- 

the ballet conservatory at the 

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Franklin School for the Performing 

Arts. 

Lucy Stewart of Complexions 

Contemporary Ballet will 

appear as The Sugar Plum Fairy. 

Stewart grew up in a suburb of 

Denver, Colorado, where she 

spent her early years dancing at 

a small studio in the mountains 

and then at Colorado Ballet. 

Originally training in all forms 

of dance, her primary areas of 

study included ballet, contemporary 

and jazz. She spent her 

summers training with American 

Ballet Theatre, The Joffrey 

Ballet, COMPLEXIONS, and 

Colorado Ballet. Lucy has studied 

the last two years at The Juilliard 

School in the dance division 

where she had the opportunity to 

study with various leading artists 

in the dance world, including 

Ohad Naharin, Tiler Peck, Rena 

Butler, and James Whiteside, as 

well as the opportunity to perform 

Set and Reset by Trisha 

Brown. For the last several years, 

Lucy studied regularly with John 

Gardner and Amanda McKerrow 

from ABT. 

Jacopo Calvo, also of Complexions 

Contemporary Ballet, 

will join Stewart as her Cavalier. 

Calvo was born in Asti, Italy. He 

began his dance training at the 

age of 11 at his hometown school, 

Ritmo Danza. At 18, he moved 

to NYC where he attended The 

Ailey School on scholarship. He 

has worked with choreographers 

such as Marcus Jarrell Willis, 

Brice Mousset, Ray Mercer, Earl 

Mosley, Francesca Harper, and 

artist Nick Cave in The Let Go 

at the Park Avenue Armory. He 

has attended summer intensives 

with American Ballet Theater 

and Complexions Contemporary 

Ballet, and RESET 2021 with 

Studio Wayne McGregor. Jacopo 

has performed with Alvin Ailey 

American Dance Theater for 

their 60th Anniversary Season 

in Memoria at New York City 

Center and for the Ailey Spirit 

Gala. This is his 2nd season with 

Complexions. 

FPAC Holiday Productions are 

presented at the Franklin High 

School Auditorium. For tickets 

and more information, visit www. 

FPAConline.com or call the box 

office at 508-528-3370. 

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Craft Fair Set for 

November 18 

The 48th annual Franklin Newcomers & Friends Craft 

Fair will be held on Saturday, November 18, from 9 a.m. to 

3 p.m. at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High 

School, 147 Pond St., Franklin. 

This popular and well-established event features handcrafted 

items by artisans from throughout New England. 

Browse and shop a great selection of items for the home 

and gift-giving, including specialty foods and more. 

The entry fee is $3 for 12 years of age and older. Donations 

for the Franklin Food Pantry are welcome. 

Questions? Email franklincraftfair@gmail.com. For more 

information about the Newcomers, visit the group on Facebook. 

“Celebrate Wrentham 350” at 

the Franklin Historical Museum 

The Franklin Historical Museum will host neighbors 

and friends from Wrentham for its Second 

Sunday Speaker Series on November 12. Doors 

open at 1 p.m. and the presentation starts at 1:15. 

Admission is always free. 

Wrentham has had a yearlong celebration of the 

incorporation of the town in 1673. Ed Goddard, 

head of the Wrentham 350 Committee, will share 

information on the committee formation, fundraising, 

merchandising, and events over the past year. 

Celebrations have included a brunch at the Senior 

Center, St. Patrick’s Day party, William Sweatt 

Day, the town’s birthday party on the common, a 

Grand Parade, a time capsule burial, and the upcoming 

Gala Ball in December at Lake Pearl Luciano’s. 

Goddard will present photos of the various 

events, and share lessons learned as well as the ins 

and outs of planning the momentous year. 

Historians know Franklin was once part of 

Wrentham, known as Wrentham’s Western Precinct, 

before breaking off and establishing Franklin 

in 1778. This event will be of interest to all who 

want to wish our Wrentham neighbors a Happy 

Birthday and specifically to any civic-minded folks 

from Franklin interested in learning more about 

Wrentham’s celebration as we look ahead to our 

250th in five years’ time. 

When attending a museum event, please consider 

donating a non-perishable food item to be collected 

at the museum and donated to the Franklin 

Food Pantry. 

November Program Highlights at the Norfolk Senior Center 

RSVP to 508-528-4430 or 

register at the Norfolk Senior 

Center, 28 Medway Branch 

Road, Norfolk. For a full list of 

activities, visit the Senior Center 

page on the town’s website: norfolk.ma.us. 

Tuesday, November 7 from 

noon to 2 p.m. Nicky’s Lunch Trip 

Meet us for lunch at Nicky’s Family 

Dining, 460 Franklin Street in 

Wrentham. RSVP by November 

3 so that we can reserve tables. 


1 to 4 p.m. Health and Wellness 

Vendor Fair Over 20 local agencies 

and companies will present 

MASCAC 


information. Get flu shots and 

health screenings, as well as eye 

screenings with the Lions’ eye 

mobile. There will be free giveaways, 

complimentary massages, 

and numerous raffles. Hosted 

by Metacomet Public Health 

Nurses. 

Wednesday, November 8 from 

noon to 2 p.m. Veterans Appreciation 

Luncheon Join us for a 

celebration to honor and recognize 

Norfolk veterans. Luncheon 

of roasted turkey dinner with fixings 

and sides as well as dessert 

is provided by the Friends. Resident 

Phil Salamone will sing and 

ing the MASCAC represents a 

great opportunity for the next 

phase of our football program,” 

said Dean College President 

Kenneth Elmore, J.D. “With its 

deep-rooted traditions, storied 

history, and competitive landscape, 

this is an ideal union for 

our student-athletes.” 

“Dean College is thrilled to 

become an affiliate member in 

the MASCAC for the sport of 

Football,” said Dean College Director 

of Athletics George Martin. 

“We would like to thank the 

MASCAC President’s Council 

and Commissioner Baumann 

for the invitation to join this 

group of outstanding institutions, 

and we are honored to 

accept. Beginning in the fall of 

2025, our student-athletes will 

benefit from this new partnership, 

and we will look forward to 

joining in the spirited competition 

this conference has exhibited 

for many years.” 

Dean College is a private, 

residential New England college 

grounded in a culture and tradition 

that all students deserve the 

opportunity for academic and 

personal success. A uniquely 

supportive community for more 

than 150 years, Dean has woven 

together extensive student support 

and engagement with 

exceptional teaching and innovative 

campus activities. Our 

graduates are lifetime learners 

who thrive in their careers, embrace 

social responsibility and 

demonstrate leadership. This is 

The Dean Difference. 

The Massachusetts State 

Collegiate Athletic Conference, 

the nation’s oldest Division III 

men’s and women’s playing conference, 

has a rich and storied 

tradition of competitive success 

lead us in patriotic songs. Special 

guest appearances by State 

Representative Marcus Vaughn 

and Legion member Lori Scholl. 

Masters of Ceremony are veteran 

residents Bill Crane and 

Duane Weiss. There will be raffle 

prizes including an American 

Flag blanket. Lunch free for Norfolk 

veterans. Cost: $2 for Friends 

members and $5 for non-members. 

RSVP required. 

Monday, November 13 from 

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wrentham 

Outlet Holiday Shopping Trip 

Get your holiday shopping in 

early before the rush. RSVP by 

while celebrating excellence in 

the classroom. MASCAC member 

schools include Bridgewater 

State University, Fitchburg 

State University, Framingham 

State University, MCLA, Massachusetts 

Maritime Academy, 

Salem State University, Westfield 

State University and Worcester 

State University. Two other 

institutions, the University of 

Massachusetts Dartmouth and 

Plymouth State University, are 

affiliate members of the conference 

in the sports of football and 

men’s ice hockey, while Western 

Connecticut State University 

joined the conference as a football 

affiliate member in 2013 

and Vermont State University- 

Castleton in 2024. Springfield 

College joined as a men’s golf affiliate 

in 2019. Anna Maria College 

will join the conference as 

the ninth core member in 2025. 

November 9 for a ride from the 

Senior Center. 

Tuesday, November 14 at 10 

a.m. Town Clerk Meet & Greet 

Besides administering elections, 

what does the Norfolk Town 

Clerk do? Meet Carol Greene 

and ask all your questions. RSVP 

required. 

Thursday, November 16 at 

2 p.m. Before the Mayflower 

Presented by Paolo DiGregorio. 

The Mayflower arrived in Plymouth 

403 years ago and marked 

a collision of cultures, peoples, 

and worlds. But what happened 

before that fateful journey? This 

lecture will explore the world of 

native New England, Puritan 

England, and the road to 1620. 

Presenter Paolo is a historian/archaeologist/educator 

with a passion 

for telling the stories of our 

past. RSVP required. 


1 to 2:30 p.m. Thanksgiving 

Cornucopia Arrangements Norfolk 

Garden Club member Rick 

will lead us in making beautiful 

Thanksgiving cornucopias with 

a liner and oasis. We will use live 

greens, flowers, artificial decorations, 

and a holiday ribbon. Bring 

a pair of sharp scissors, rose bush 

type cutters, and a small bottle 

of water. Space limited. RSVP 

required.


FPAC to Present Hilarious 

Comedy Buyer & Cellar Starring 

Paul Rescigno 

The Franklin Performing Arts 

Company (FPAC) will continue 

their 2023-24 season with the 

hilarious comedy Buyer & Cellar 

starring Paul Rescigno November 

17-19 at THE BLACK 

BOX. Directed by Nick Paone. 

Alex Moore has a story to tell. 

A struggling actor in L.A., he 

takes a job working in the Malibu 

basement of a beloved megastar. 

One day, the Lady Herself 

comes downstairs to play. It feels 

like real bonding in the basement, 

but will their relationship 

ever make it upstairs? Buyer & 

Cellar is an outrageous comedy 

about the price of fame, the cost 

of things, and the oddest of odd 

jobs. Winner of the 2014–2015 

Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding 

Solo Show. 

Paul Rescigno is a Los Angeles 

based actor who has previously 

performed on the FPAC 

stage in Something Rotten! (Nigel), 

The Drowsy Chaperone (Gangster 

2), and Sweeney Todd (Pirelli). He 

has written for The Late Show with 

David Letterman and appeared 

on TV in The Resident (FOX), 

The Other Two (HBO Max), Odd 

Mom Out (Bravo), Late Show with 

David Letterman (CBS), Unbreakable 

Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix), Mozart 

in the Jungle (Amazon), Black Box 

(ABC). His theater credits include 

Boats And…, The Boys From 

Syracuse, and The Comedy of Errors. 

Rescigno studied at Shakespeare’s 

Globe in London and 

holds a BFA in Acting from Syracuse 

University. Along with his 

twin brother Robbie, he writes 

and performs their award-winning 

comedy show The Rescignos. 

FPAC is an Actors’ Equity 

Small Professional Theater company 

based at THE BLACK 

BOX in downtown Franklin. 

Each season, FPAC produces 

musicals, plays, ballets, and more 

featuring Broadway stars, professional 

actors, local artists, and 

students of the arts. Later this 

season, FPAC will present Bright 

Star, an immersive Tarzan starring 

Broadway’s original Tarzan 

Josh Strickland, and August: Osage 

County. 

Content Warning: Buyer & 

Cellar contains some strong 

language. Buyer & Cellar runs 

November 17-19 at THE 

BLACK BOX. For tickets 

and more information, visit 

FPAConline.com or call the box 

office at 508-528-3370. 

Nov. Event Highlights 

at the First Universalist 

Society in Franklin 

Unexpected Changes: An Existentialist 

Perspective 

Existentialism is the philosophy that life is what we 

make of it. Life, however, has a way of changing our 

plans when we least expect it. FUSF lay member Ann 

Parsley will talk about what it’s like to be an existentialist 

atheist, how that philosophy can help when things go 

wrong, and why an existentialist atheist might choose to 

join a UU church. Program will be held on November 5 

at 10 a.m. 

The Chestnut Street Review Variety Show 

The “Chestnut Street Review” is back after a two-year 

hiatus. The FUSF Community prides itself on its musical 

and artistic talent, and invites everyone to this jampacked 

evening of music, singing, storytelling and more. 

There will be something for all families and the young at 

heart to enjoy. Program will be held on November 11 

from 7 to 9 p.m. Desserts will be available. $10/person 

and $25/family. 

The First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF) is 

located at 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. For more information, 

email info@fusf.org or call 508-528-5348. FUSF 

is a Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregation.


Norfolk County’s Most 

Expensive Real Estate 

Sales 3rd Quarter of 2023 

During the summer of 2023, 

ten properties, a mix of commercial 

and residential, sold for 

more than $11,000,000, with an 

average price of $34,887,000. 

These properties were sold during 

the period of July 31 through 

September 20. 

The ten properties were: 

10. 108 Bodwell Street, Avon, 

a 49,090-square-foot industrial 

warehouse built 

in 1970 on 6.33 acres of 

land, sold in August for 

$11,250,000. 

9. 85 John Road, Canton, a 

435,600-square-foot research 

and development 

facility on 10 acres, sold in 

August for $22,750,000. 

8. 206 Grove Street, Franklin, 

a 150,000-square-foot 

warehouse and distribution 

facility, sold in July for 

$28,000,000. 

7. Wheeler Circle, Stoughton, 

the 280-unit, 809- 

room apartment complex, 

known as Stone Ends 

Apartments, sold in July 

for $28,972,000. 

6. 176 Grove Street, Franklin, 

a 171,000-square-foot 

freight transportation 

center and warehouse, 

was sold in May for 

$29,500,000. 

5. 25 & 40 Kenwood Circle, 

Franklin, A multi-building 

storage and distribution 

center with a combined 

200,000 square feet of 

space was sold in July 

to Boston Infill LLC for 

$37,500,000. 

4. 57 Littlefield, Avon, the 

“Avon Business Center,” 

a multi-building rental 

unit complex for industrial 

companies and small 

businesses, in July for 

$47,250,000. 

3. Finnell Drive Industrial 

Park, the 5-building, 

246,625-square-foot industrial 

park located in 

Weymouth, sold on the 

last day of August for 

$51,000,000. 

2. Walpole Mall, which sits 

on 31 acres of land along 

the Boston Providence 

Highway, sold in July for 

$71,950,000 to LCR Walpole 

LLC. 

1. 29, 39, & 51 Trotter Road, 

Weymouth, known as the 

MIO Apartments, an upscale 

residential studio 

apartment complex, sold 

in July for $94,600,000. 

The top sales appear to have 

been a combination of apartment 

complexes, retail, industrial 

and warehouse space, and 

distribution facilities. 

“The industrial and commercial 

nature of these developments 

bodes well for the Norfolk 

County economy, both in terms 

of employment and revenue,” 

said Norfolk County Register 

of Deeds William P. O’Donnell. 

“This also indicates that Norfolk 

County is not only a desirable 

place to both live and work but 

is also a magnet for business, industry, 

and trade.” 

Excise taxes from these 

10 sales totaled more than 

$1,927,000 for the state and 

county. 

“Despite the overall decline in 

activity throughout the county, 

there are still pockets of the 

market here in Norfolk County 

that are seeing growth and stability, 

particularly in commercial 

real estate and certain neighborhoods 

and property types,” 

noted Register O’Donnell. 

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Monthly Property Sales Slump in September 

Norfolk County recordings in 

September 2023 show a significant 

decline in the total number 

of property sales compared to 

September 2022 recordings. 

This decline can be attributed to 

a limited inventory of new and 

existing property for sale and a 

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housing market that continues 

to struggle with higher interest 

rates relative to what they were 

in 2020 and 2021. 

“The limited inventory of 

properties for sale has created a 

highly competitive market and 

fewer opportunities for buyers,” 

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said Register of Deeds William 

P. O’Donnell. “Moreover, the 

higher interest rates have made 

it more challenging for potential 

homeowners, especially 

first-time homebuyers, to secure 

affordable financing options, 

further dampening the demand 

for properties.” 

The total number of deeds 

recorded for September 2023, 

which reflects both commercial 

and residential real estate sales 

and transfers, was 1251, down 

12% from September 2022 and 

down 1% from August. However, 

this number also includes 

transfers of property within 

families and other non-market 

transactions. The total number 

of actual property sales for 

September was 668, down 21% 

from last year and down 5% 

from last month. 

“Property prices dropped 

significantly in September compared 

to last year, and the number 

of property transactions was 

also down, which may suggest 

that the property price alone is 

not the sole factor contributing 

to the decrease in the number of 

deeds recorded at the Registry,” 

said Register O’Donnell. 

The average sale price of 

commercial and residential 

properties for September 2023 

fell to $864,251, a 20% decrease 

compared to September 2022 

and a decrease of 29% from 

August 2023. The total dollar 

volume of commercial and residential 

sales is down, decreasing 

37% from last year and 44% 

from last month. 

“Seasoned homebuyers are 

doubly affected by current market 

conditions, as they not only 

face higher borrowing costs 

but also have limited options to 

choose from. Additionally, with 

home loan interest rates exceeding 

7%, these same homeowners 

are also less likely to refinance, 

leading to a decrease in the 

number of mortgages being recorded,” 

said O’Donnell. 

For the month of August, 

lending activity overall continued 

to decline from last year. A 

total of 1,174 mortgages were 

recorded, which is 31% less than 

last year and 5% less than last 

month. 

“Those who took advantage 

of the lower interest rates 

in 2020 and 2021 are also less 

likely to refinance at current 

rates, and with property sales 

going down, this results in a 

more pronounced decline in 

the number of mortgages recorded,” 

said O’Donnell. “For 

individuals who are struggling 

to keep up with payments now, 

refinancing at a higher interest 

rate is not going to help, which is 

one factor contributing to the increase 

in notices to foreclose and 

foreclosure deeds. Also, many 

potential sellers who would need 

to borrow to purchase a new 

property have elected not to sell 

given the higher interest rates.” 

The Norfolk County Registry 

of Deeds continues to closely 

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monitor the foreclosure market. 

In September 2023, there were 

5 foreclosure deeds recorded as 

a result of mortgage foreclosures 

taking place in Norfolk 

County, whereas in September 

2023, there were 4 recorded. 

Additionally, there were 33 notices 

to foreclose, the first step 

in the foreclosure process, more 

than the 25 recorded this month 

last year. 

For the past several years, 

the Norfolk County Registry 

of Deeds has partnered with 

Quincy Community Action 

Programs (617-479-8181 x376) 

and NeighborWorks Housing 

Solutions (508-587-0950) to 

help anyone facing challenges 

paying their mortgage. Another 

option for homeowners 

is to contact the Massachusetts 

Attorney General’s Consumer 

Advocacy and Response Division 

(CARD) at 617-727-8400. 

The Norfolk County Registry 

of Deeds is located at 649 High 

Street in Dedham. The Registry 

is a resource for homeowners, 

title examiners, mortgage lenders, 

municipalities and others 

with a need for secure, accurate, 

accessible land record information. 

All land record research 

information can be found on the 

Registry’s website: www.norfolkdeeds.org. 

Residents in need of 

assistance can contact the Registry 

of Deeds Customer Service 

Center via telephone at (781) 

461-6101 or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org. 

Norfolk Gets Road Safety Grant 

The town of Norfolk is getting $19,025 in 

federal grant money to support traffic safety 

enforcement and outreach programming. The 

Healy-Driscoll Administration announced 

Oct. 17 that 186 Massachusetts towns and 

cities would be receiving the federal awards. 

A total of $5,449,584.03 has been awarded 

through the FY24 Municipal Road Safety 

Grant Program. The program is administered 

by the Office of Grants and Research 

(OGR) and utilizes funds awarded by the National 

Highway Traffic Safety Administration 

(NHTSA). The annual program provides 

funding to municipal police departments who 

propose traffic safety projects in their community, 

including high visibility enforcement patrols, 

equipment to enhance road safety such 

as digital speed signs, pedestrian and bicyclist 

safety initiatives and public outreach campaigns 

intended to educate community members 

and youth about roadway safety. 

“Whether by vehicle, bicycle or foot, everyone 

has the right to travel safely through our 

communities,” said Governor Maura Healey 

in a statement. “Through this program, we 

were able to award grants to every community 

that requested funding. The education, 

enforcement and outreach initiatives supported 

through these grants will help ensure 

safer roads for all.” 

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Norfolk & Wrentham November 2023

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