Norwood January 2014 by Local Town Pages

PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Norwood, MA Permit #7

Postal Customer Local Vol. 4 No. 7

Free to Every Home and Business Every Month

A Graceful Leap to the Boston Stage BY SAMANTHA TINCLER

seem like a daunting prospect for such a young performer. The show’s month-long run consists of a total of 43 performances, with 250 performers making up three rotating casts. Emma however, is not intimidated.

Emma Doyle is a thirdgrade student at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School in the center of Norwood. She’s a busy student, listing her favorite subject as English, and on top of her studies, she also practices piano, plays basketball and soccer, and avidly studies ballet. School and these extracurriculars would make for a full plate for any 11-yearold, but Emma is dedicated to ballet. The Norwood resident has been dancing since she was three years old, starting with classes at the Norwood Recreation Center, and becoming a student at Boston Ballet last year. This year, on top of her other studies and activities, Emma has moved forward with her ballet to join the cast of Boston’s annual production of The Nutcracker, along with her Boston Ballet classmates, in the role of a street urchin.

“It’s very interesting," Doyle said. "It’s fun just going to the show and it’s fun not even thinking about being in the show,” adding that she feels no stage fright, even when performing in the 2600seat Boston Opera House. Emma was in 14 performances over the course of the show’s run – a lot of work for a young student with many other responsibilities. “It’s hard to balance it with school and all the other activities and all that stuff,” Doyle said. However, Emma enjoys the show, both as a performer and a spectator,

January 1, 2014

A conversation with Local Author Michele Bussiere BY RENEE PLANT Writers draw inspiration from many areas of their lives, but for local author Michele Bussiere, the idea for her novel came right from the backyard of her Norwood home. Bussiere’s eBook, “Eldoria: A Step through the Thicket”, is a fantasy novel targeted at a young adult audience. The novel, which is currently for sale on Amazon.com, tells the story of a teenage girl named Morgan Campbell and her connection to a mystical island called Eldoria. Here, Bussiere discusses how her twin daughters played a role in helping her develop the story, as well as her future writing plans. Q: When did you first become interested in writing? A: I’ve always loved writing; it was my minor in college. Writing a book has always been a dream. It’s one of those things that you can want to do it, but it isn’t until you’re inspired by a particular project or storyline that it takes on a mind of its own. Q: How did you come up with the idea of “Eldoria”?

DOYLE

The Nutcracker might

BUSSIERE

continued on page 2

continued on page 3

Funeral Home

illooly

126 Walpole Street, Norwood, MA 02062 Phone: (781) 762-0174 • Fax: (781) 762-2818 Gilloolyfuneralhome@gmail.com

www.gilloolyfuneralhome.com Pleasant St Auto 1081 Pleasant St • Norwood

781-769-0077

Frederick J. Wobrock • William G. Crowley

A Service Family Affiliate of AFFS and Service Corporation International 206 Winter Street, Fall River, MA 02720 • 508-676-2454

Jack Madden MANAGER’S SPECIAL

20% OFF

Any Service Work Up to $200.00 in savings!

Jack Madden

Not to be combined with other specials or offers. Expires 1/31/14. Must present coupon upon arrival.

Free Wiper Blades with Inspection Sticker

January 11th & February 8th Please RSVP to (781) 762-0174 by January 9 (for 1/11) and by February 6 (for 2/8)

OIL & FILTER CHANGE

includes up to 6 quarts of oil, oil filter, free multi point inspection

16 Jack Madden

Not to be combined with other specials or offers. Diesels, full synthetics and hybrids extra. Expires 1/31/14. Must present coupon upon arrival. Ford and Lincoln Mercury Only.

825 PROVIDENCE HIGHWAY, NORWOOD, MA - ROUTE 1 - THE AUTOMILE jackmaddenford.com • Call 888-836-1758 for appointment

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

Page 2

DOYLE continued from page 1

Published Monthly Mailed FREE to every home in Norwood Circulation: 15,000 households Publisher Chuck Tashjian sales Chris Robertson

Even beyond The Nutcracker, Emma’s passion for ballet is apparent. Her family supports her love of dance – her mother Mary Doyle drives her to and from her classes, but Emma’s practice doesn’t stop there. “I usually have ballet classes on Thursday and Saturday, but sometimes it’s tempting to do ballet on my own,” Doyle said.

TelemarkeTing Kyle Koller ProducTion & layouT Gorette Sousa Michelle McSherry adverTising deParTmenT 781-762-NEWS (6397) Ad Deadline is the 15th of each month. Localtownpages assumes no financial liability for errors or omissions in printed advertising and reserves the right to reject advertising or editorial submissions. ©

listing her favorite performance as “the snow dance… I’ve seen it just one time, and it’s beautiful,” Doyle said.

She lists her favorite thing about ballet as [getting] to stretch and know more about how you move your muscles, and [learning about] different parts of your legs and arms and how you move them. Her least favorite thing about ballet is having to wear a bun on her head for long periods of time, because, as she says, “It gets uncomfortable!” Looking forward to the future, Emma sees herself continuing to pursue ballet, bringing her dedication to the stage as either a teacher or a professional ballerina.

January 1, 2014

Mudroom Clutter Conquered BY DEBBIE TREMBLAY, A.K.A. THE ORGANIZING GENIE Now that the holidays are over and all the decorations have been packed away, it’s time to spend some time decluttering and organizing one of the most used rooms in the home, the entry way, for the long winter ahead. During the winter months, the high traffic area in your mudroom or screen room can easily become a dumping ground of wet boots, sneakers, gloves, hats, and scarves. How many times have you tripped over a pair of boots that were strewn about or became frustrated because you couldn't find a matching pair of gloves? Being that this is the first room you or your guests see before entering your home, wouldn't it make sense to make this room into a warm and inviting functional space? Although I can't magically make the cold weather disappear, I can offer a few organizing solutions that will turn this room into a highly efficient area that the whole family can utilize.

The following are the Organizing Genie's Top 7 Quick "Entry Way" Organizing Solutions that you can implement today. • As with any organizing project, the first step is to declutter this room and eliminate everything you do not need or use. This can include older shoes, boots, broken umbrellas, and backpacks. While decluttering, take everything out of your mud room that doesn't belong there and return these misfits back to their appropriate rooms. • Set up a system for the family to place all their boots and shoes before entering the house. This will help keep dirt and snow from entering your home. Boots and shoes can be placed on a tray or even a small shelf and/or shoe rack unit. • Place a long sitting bench against one wall and then slide labeled storage bins for each family member underneath the bench. Designated bins are a great alternative to keep sports gear in check. • Install a heavy duty multi-layered shelf on one wall. On the lower shelf have each family

member pick out their own basket to place hats, gloves and small items. Allow them to paint or decorate it add creative touches by having them design it themselves. Reserve the top shelf for less used items, hats, storage baskets, etc. • Install height appropriate large coat hooks on the shelf and or walls for coats, backpacks, leashes, scarves, etc. Have children hang their picture or label above the hook to indicate their own personal space. On one of the hooks, hang a pretty tote bag to use as a catchall for mittens, hats, etc. • An alternative to a shelf is to hang a peg rack on the wall and load it with enough pegs for all your coats and backpacks. • Place a tall basket or stand to contain wet umbrellas and dirty sports equipment. With these few tips, you will be well on your way towards creating a grand and inviting entry way that the whole family can be proud of. www.OrganizingGenie.com

Something for Everyone! FAMILY MEMBERSHIP $75 PER MONTH

NO JOINING FE

• Boot Camp • Cross Training X • Middle School Strength & Conditioning

Join by January 31st and Receive One Month

FREE!!! (new members only)

Children’s Swim Lessons... Next Session Starts January 11th Red Cross Swim Lessons 4-to-1 Ratio Private Lessons Also Available

45 Vanderbilt Ave., Norwood • 781-769-2340 www.vanderbiltclub.com

January 1, 2014

BUSSIERE continued from page 1

A: It all started about seven years ago during my daughters’ summer vacation. They were playing outside, and I looked out into the woods behind the house. There was an opening from a shrub we had cut down, and on an old stonewall, one spot was being illuminated from the sun that looked like a magic portal. I said to my daughters, “That looks like it would transport you somewhere”. Q: And it just took off from there?

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com my daughters as the main character. They love animals, so it was an important element to be sure there were characters who could transform into animals. Q: Have you always been interested in the fantasy genre? A: When I used to think of writing a book, I thought it would be for an adult audience. I’d never even looked into that genre or age group until my children took an interest to the Harry Potter series when they were young. Q: How did you differentiate your story from other books and movies that fall into this nowpopular genre?

have been very collaborative. Their likes and dislikes have steered the storyline. My daughter, Chantal, is the cover artist for all of the books. Both she and my daughter, Brianna, are very creative and artistically inclined.

A: The age of the audience I am trying to reach being 9-12 has been the biggest challenge. It’s a matter of determining where kids go online at this age to be sure it is being advertised in the right places. It is also a question of who is making the decision of what books kids download to their Kindles and Nooks, and being sure to advertise to them as well.

A: That no matter what your age – child or adult – it’s so important to live up to your responsibilities and to be responsible for your actions. A common thread throughout the series is a friendship-based romance that develops between the two lead characters. As they go through the series, grow into adulthood and have children of their own, they always support each other

Q: Who, or what, inspired the characters? Morgan was the first character; Quinn, her friend and love interest, came along later. It’s hard to recall exactly where exactly they come from. I know I was trying to think of a girl a little older than

A: Aside from the fact that magic is the overriding theme, there’s very little in common with the mainstream books. I just tried to create a magical land that’s very different from the actual world. They have their own customs; I tried to be very different. I tried to create the characters and really follow them. Q: Are there any plans to turn this eBook into a series? A: Yes. I finished the first book, wrote a second, and then a third. I couldn’t let the characters go. So, the first three are completed, and I have books four through six outlined with a few scenes written. The characters have become part of the family and my daughters, who are now 16-years-old,

and depend on each other - no matter what adventure they are on. Q: Have you thought at all about your future writing plans?

tion at some point. I’m not sure if it’d be mystery, romance novel, or what the genre would be exactly. But, I’d eventually like to write something new for an adult audience.

A: I’d like to do some adult fic-

Q: What have been the biggest challenges in marketing an eBook?

Q: What would you like readers to get out of this book and series?

A: Yes. It led to this ongoing story that lasted their entire summer vacation. My daughters kept asking, “What happens next?” So, when they went back to school, I thought I would write it down while it was fresh in my mind so they could look back on the story when they got older. I originally thought it would be 2025 pages, but it got to be about 400 before I realized, I just wrote a book!

Page 3

Welcomes Michele Taranto to their Real Estate Team! Michele has been a Norwood resident for over 15 years and is very familiar with its neighborhoods and residents. Voted Best Real Estate Office by U.S. Commerce Past 5 Consecutive Years.

Michele Taranto Realtor 168 Nahatan St., Norwood • 781-799-7068 mtarantomcn@aol.com

1081 Pleasant St • Norwood

Do It Here • Do It Now

MASS STATE INSPECTION Oil Change Special (up to 5 quarts)

(most cars) Coupons cannot be combined. Expires 1-31-14.

Free Battery Charging System Check

ONLY $ 95 19.

• Full Cars & Dot Commercial Inspection Station (All Makes, All Models, including Trailers) • Full Line of Domestic & Foreign Auto Repair

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

Page 4

Nature Calls: Breaking the Ice in Norwood BY AMY BEAUMONT Thanks to the recent stretch of freezing temperatures, ice fishing is alive and well here in town. As far as which location is best, Ellis Pond seems to be the go-to spot. Located off of Walpole Street, the pond is a hidden gem and one to be explored. Although Ellis is not stocked with fish, New Pond and Buckmaster are. Therefore, the fish and eggs found in these areas eventually make their way to Ellis. Largemouth Bass, Pickerel, Catfish, Bluegill and Carp are among the species found in these locations, along with the occasional trout. At one time, Ellis Pond was also the goto spot for ice. The Norwood Ice Company, established in the 1860s by the Ellis Family, harvested ice here before refrigeration ever came along. Though the business was initially not widely marketed, Isaac Ellis was the man responsible for the company’s amazing growth and success. The company also created a no-cost source of entertainment for town residents. The process of cutting and storing ice was so interesting, families gathered along the shores to watch the men work as a source of enter-

tainment. How painfully simple family fun once was! Remnants of the icehouses used during these times can still be found in and around Ellis Pond today. Much more on The Norwood Ice Company and other fascinating facts on our town can be found in Patricia J. Fanning’s book Norwood: A History. As for what draws a person out onto the ice, the reasons vary. I asked Keith Anderson, a homeowner on Ellis Pond what it is he enjoys about ice fishing. “The peacefulness, the sounds of the ice and the smell. Just being outside in the winter on the ice is enjoyable. I can’t play hockey anymore, so this is a fun thing to do.” I joined Keith mid-December on Ellis

Pond, tools in tow, to observe the annual breaking of the ice. It was snowing lightly during our trek, and made for a picturesque winter scene. It was also good and cold, and I silently promised myself to dress warmer on my next visit. As a good steward of the pond, Anderson keeps a close watch on both the wildlife and general conditions. Because he spends so much time out on the pond, he is also keenly aware of changes from year to year. “I haven’t seen the pond freeze over this early in at least five or six years,” he noted. As he broke though the ice, he measured the depth of the ice at about 4-5 inches. After the final swipe with his broom, Anderson was ready to fish and I was more than ready to get back to my warm car. Ice is certainly best enjoyed in warm layers, I thought to myself. Keith was also quick to point out that the best year for The Norwood Ice Company was 1905, when the ice was recorded as being 15 inches deep. Whether 4 or 15 inches thick, Ellis Pond quietly awaits winter visitors – be it fishermen, ice skaters or walkers. Why not take your own walk out onto the ice at Ellis and see things from a different perspective? For more information and great tips on ice fishing, check out this website:http://takemefishing.org Amy Beaumont is a portrait photographer and a freelance writer. She can be reached at abeaumontphotography@gmail.com

January 1, 2014

December's Cold Winter Chill Brought Out Norwood Residents to Froggy's Pond (officially named Hartshorn Swale) at East Cross St. and West Border Rd. Photos courtesy of Beaumont Photography, Norwood

Come in From the Cold! Warm up in our Cafe with a hot beverage and one of our freshly baked scones or cinnamon sugar doughnuts. Scones also available frozen, ready to bake take some home today! Chosen By Yankee Magazine as “One of the 5 Best Pie Companies in New England”

Store Hours: Monday-Friday 8 to 6 • Saturday 8 to 3

153 Washington Street, East Walpole (Inside Hogie Bear Building)

508-660-9731

www.eversohumble.com

NO ARTIFICIAL COLORS, FLAVORS OR PRESERVATIVES and absolutely NO HYDROGENATED OILS OR TRANS FAT!

Visit us online: www.localtownpages.com

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

January 1, 2014

Norwood Hospital Awarded “A” Safety Grade by Independent Industry Watchdog Norwood Hospital was awarded an “A” grade in the Fall, 2013 update to the Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from accidents, errors, injuries and infections. The Hospital Safety Score is compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading experts on patient safety and is administered by The Leapfrog Group (Leapfrog), an independent industry watchdog. The first and only hospital safety rating to be analyzed in the peerreviewed Journal of Patient Safety, the Score is designed to give the public information they can use to protect themselves and their families. All ten acute care hospitals in the Steward Health Care System (Steward) received “A” grade from Leapfrog. “Norwood Hospital is honored to again be recognized by The Leapfrog Group with the top score for patient safety, which is always our number one priority,” said Emily Holliman, Norwood

Hospital president. “I am so proud of the ongoing commitment of our physicians and patient care staff to provide our patients with the highest level of quality care in a safe and supportive environment right in their own community.” Calculated under the guidance of Leapfrog’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the Hospital Safety Score uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” score representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm. More than 2,500 general U.S. hospitals were assigned scores this Fall. “As patients begin to take a more active role in selecting where to receive health care, it has never been more important to focus on hospital safety and transparency. The ‘A’ hospitals, including Norwood Hospital, are helping us to raise the standards

St. Catherine of Siena School “Meet the Authors Night” BY BELLA CAGGIANO Attention young, budding authors! St. Catherine of Siena School is offering a fun and exciting evening for children (or adults) who love to read and/or write. On Wednesday, January 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m., they are hosting a "Meet the Authors Night" with three children's authors presenting their books and describing their experiences as an author. The three authors are Barbara McGrath, Gregory Mone, and Mark Peter Hughes and in addition to their presentations, children will have an opportunity to meet and talk with these interesting people and have their books personally signed for them. There will also be a selection of books for purchase at the event. After the talks, feel free to shop at the book fair, children can participate in arts crafts based on the authors’ books and enjoy some home-baked goods.

The event is free and open to the public. authors: barbara mcgrath: www.barbaramcgrath.com/. Barbara has written over 20 awardwinning picture books for young readers. gregory mone: gregorymone.blogspot.com/. Gregory’s latest middle grade novel FISH (Scholastic Press), is filled with pirates, puzzles, and grand journeys. FISH was a Scholastic Book Fair bestseller, and it has received numerous awards and nominations. mark Peter hughes http://www.markpeterhughes.com/ Mark is an author of novels for teens and 'tweens including Lemonade Mouth Puckers Up, A Crack In The Sky, I Am the Wallpaper, and Lemonade Mouth (now a Disney Channel Original Movie musical).

of health care nationwide,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of Leapfrog. “We offer our congratulations and hope Norwood Hospital will continue to strive for an ever-increasing level of excellence in patient safety.” “We are incredibly proud of this award because it recognizes our ongoing commitment to health care quality and patient safety at

Norwood Hospital and across the Steward system,” said Justine Carr, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Steward. “In the past three years, Steward has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in new services, new physicians, significant infrastructure improvements and new clinical technology to improve the quality of care and patient experience in our hospitals.”

Page 5

Run Your Inserts & Ads With Us! Call Christina

(508) 468-6916

WESTWOOD ELECTROLYSIS AND LASER HAIR REMOVAL Registered Electrologists Experienced Certified Laser Technicians

(781) 326-7111 www.westwoodelectrolysis.com

FDA APPROVED LASER

F RE E

consultation and test patch &

50OFF

1st treatment

OR ELECTROLYSIS SPECIAL

Appointments 7 Days a Week

F RE E

745 High Street Rte. 109

(Across From Starbucks)

Established in 1997

consultation

10OFF

1st treatment

With this coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Expires 1-31-14.

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

Page 6

January 1, 2014

Norwood Theatre in 2014 BY BELLA CAGGIANO The Norwood Theatre is offering a full, diverse menu of entertainment for their 2014 schedule. There are shows and movies for all ages, ranging from comedy, to music to even a physic. Whatever your taste, the talent performing at the Norwood Theatre equals the big shows in Boston, without those high ticket prices and traffic! Why not make it a full evening and have dinner before the show at one of Norwood's many quality restaurants. January kicks off 2014 with Comedy Night with Tony V, a Ginger Rogers/Fred Astaire film series, a ladies-only physic night and a tribute to the music of John Denver. In February, listen to music from Billy Joel, laugh with Steve Sweeney, for Valentine's Day, Breakfast at Tiffany's and The

Announcing Our 2014 Season January 18th: January 30th: January 31st: February 7th: February 8th: February 16th: February 21st: March 22nd: March 23rd: April 6th: May 4th: May 17th: May 30th - June 1st:

Comedy Night with Tony V Jon Stetson, Ladies Only Psychic Experience A Tribute to John Denver with Chris Collins and Boulder Canyon Michael DelGuidice and Big Shot, The Ultimate Billy Joel Experience

Princess Bride will be shown, Divas with a Twist and The Journey Experience will bring music to the common, and children's artist Mr. G will be in Norwood entertaining children and families with his fun, entertaining performance. A tribute to the Rolling Stones, Assisted Living: The Musical and Karen K & The Jitterbugs arrives in Norwood in March and April delivers An Afternoon with FDR and a Robert Redford film series. May closes out the season with the Hal McIntyre Orchestra, Memories of Elvis in Concert and the renowned musical, A Chorus Line. For detailed information on these shows and others that may be added to the schedule, and to purchase tickets, visit the Norwood Theatre website at www.norwoodstage.com

Run Your Advertisements & Inserts With Us!

Call Christina at (508) 468-6916

Comedy Night with Steve Sweeney Divas with a Twist Scarab: The Journey Experience The Glimmer Twins, A Tribute to The Rolling Stones Assisted Living: The Musical An Afternoon with FDR The Hal McIntyre Orchestra Featuring a Tribute to Sinatra Chris McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Memories of Elvis in Concert A Chorus Line

Book by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante, Music by Marvin Hamlisch, Lyrics by Edward Kleban

Gift Certificates and Packages Available 109 Central Street, Norwood, MA

$FOUSBM 4USFFU /PSXPPE t t XXX OPSXPPETUBHF DPN $FOUSBM 4 FFU /PSXPPE t t X OPSXPPETUB DPN #PY 0GmDF )PVST .POEBZ 'SJEBZ BN QN QN JE BN QN QN

781-551-9000

www.norwoodstage.com

Tel: (781) 762-4440 â&#x20AC;˘ Dine In/Take Out 550 Boston-Providence Hwy, Norwood, MA WWW.ACAPULCOS.NET Sun-Thu 11am-10pm â&#x20AC;˘ Fri-Sat 11am-11pm

Gift Certificates Available

50% off Lunch or Dinner Buy any lunch or dinner entree at regular price and receive second entree of equal or lesser value with a 50% discount. Not to be combined with any other offer or coupon Expires: 1/31/14

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

January 1, 2014

Page 7

2013 Norwood TONY Award Recipient: Gretchen Mueller BY BELLA CAGGIANO Norwood The TONY (Ten Outstanding Norwood Youths) Awards were initiated over 40 years ago to recognize exceptional Norwood youths in grades 1012 for their significant contributions that included their time, effort and talent with voluntary contributions to their church, community and other worthy causes. To be eligible, the students must be Norwood residents but can attend schools outside of town. A panel of five judges, one from the business community, one from the town clergy, one from town officers, one from the Women's Community committee and one from the Masons, review their individual nomination where they must answer five questions and a 300word essay on what community services means to them. Through blind judging, each nominee is given a score and the top ten result in a TONY Award. The Norwood Masons, who acquired the program 18 years ago, hosts an annual awards banquet in honor of the award winners. This year's banquet was held on January 25. The award includes a citation from Governor Patrick, a plaque from the lodge, a $1,000 savings bond and a gift card from Perk's coffeehouse. Two supplementary awards include an additional $500 savings bond and a commemorative plaque.

That connection and enjoyment of giving is present throughout many of aspects Mueller's life. As a Girl Scout, she participated in many charitable activities, in soup kitchens, Cradles to Crayons and other non-profits organizations and at Norwood High School (NHS), as a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, she spent her study periods tutoring three fellow students in chemistry and general studies.

Local Town Pages is proud to recognize and commend these admirable young adults with a profile of each student in our monthly newspaper. Norwood High School graduate Gretchen Mueller is the ninth student profile in our 2013 TONY Award series. Eighteen year-old Gretchen Mueller has already spent half her life volunteering. Her largest commitment began in the fifth grade as an alter server at St. Catherine of Sienna Church, an experience that fulfilled a significant piece of her life. "I really wanted to be involved in my church," Mueller said. "I went to Mass every Sunday and wanted to be involved."

"It was a lot of fun to be friends with people and help them learn what they needed to," Mueller said. Even with her ambitious volunteering and academic schedule, Mueller still managed to find time to explore her personal interests. She was in the NHS color guard for four years, captain her senior year, and was involved in the team's many successful competitions.

Mueller is currently a student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst which she chose to be a part of their renowned color guard team/marching band and to continue her studies in their honors college. This past Thanksgiv-

Facials, Skin Care, Body Treatments, Nail Care, Pedicure, Massage, Electrolysis, Waxing

532 Washington Street (Rt. 1A) • Norwood Day and Evening Appointments Gift

Certificates Available

10.00 OFF

781-255-0300

www.essentialsnorwood.com

a Deep Cleansing Facial

"The streets were packed with people, it was crazy," Mueller said. "We spent a lot of time working on it and it goes by really fast."

Mueller has gotten involved with the U Mass church program and will continue to expand her volunteer experiences throughout her tenure. She is in the school's honor program and while currently undeclared, is leaning towards a major in math or science, possibly chemistry.

Tarra Tax Service Put our 40+ Years of Experience to Work for You! Year Round Payroll Service and Tax Planning Strategies Estate Planning • Private Consultation • Individuals • Corporations • Small Businesses

Contact Fred Conway, CPA

& The Staff of Tarra Tax and Appraisal, Inc.

638 Washington Street Norwood, MA 02062

781-828-2449

Over 10,000 Ears of Experience

"The band was a huge part of my life," Mueller said.

New Year, New You!

Your retreat for body and soul

ing, she represented the university with the band in the Macy's Day Parade.

10.00 OFF

(Reg. $75)

Any Electrolysis Treatment

With coupon only. May not be combined with any other offer. Expires 1/31/14

10.00 OFF

Helping People Hear Better & Reconnect with Life Since 1989 ~ Call NOW for a FREE CONSULTATION ~

Hearing Care Center

450 North Main Street • Cobb’s Corner • Sharon

781-784-1944

www.HearingCareCenter.com

Expert and Caring Audiologists

Mani/Pedi Combo (Reg. $51)

With coupon only. May not be combined with any other offer. Expires 1/31/14

Dr. Paul Milner PhD, CCC-A

Experience the latest technology from the world’s leading hearing aid manufacturers.

Judy Learner Nichols MS, CCC-A

$200 Off Any Pair of Digital Hearing Aids ••• On New Purchases Only ••• Not to be combined with any other offer – expires February 15, 2014.

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

Page 8

Think Outside the Shoe Box When Organizing Financial Records CONTRIBUTED BY PHILIP SWAN, NORWOOD FINANCIAL SERVICES AT NORWOOD BANK If you've ever had trouble finding an important financial document, you know why it's necessary to keep your financial records organized. Less clutter means less stress, and though you'll need to commit a bit of time up front to organize your files, you can save time and money over the long term when you can find what you need when you need it. What records do you need to keep? If you keep paperwork because you "might need it someday," your files are likely overflowing with nonessential documents. One key to organizing your financial records is to ask yourself "Why do I need to keep this?" Documents that you should retain are likely to be those

that are related to tax returns, legal contracts, insurance claims, and proof of identity. On the other hand, documents that you can easily duplicate elsewhere are good candidates for the shredder. For example, if you bank online and can view or print copies of your monthly statements and cleared checks, you may not need paper copies of the same information. How long should you keep them? A good rule of thumb is to keep financial records only as long as necessary. For example, you may want to keep ATM receipts only temporarily, until you've reconciled them with your bank statement. If a document provides legal support and/or is hard to replace, you'll want to keep it for a longer period or even indefinitely.

Palumbo LIQUORS

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Records that you may want to keep for a year or less include: • Bank or credit union statements • Credit card statements • Utility bills • Annual insurance policies Records that you may want to keep for more than a year include: • Tax returns and supporting documentation • Mortgage contracts and supporting documents • Receipts for home improvements • Property appraisals • Annual retirement and investment statements • Receipts for major purchases Records that you may want to keep indefinitely include: • Birth, death, and marriage certificates • Adoption papers

January 1, 2014

• Citizenship papers • Military discharge papers • Social Security card Of course, this list is not all-inclusive and these are just broad guidelines; you may have a good reason for keeping some records for a shorter or longer period of time. Where should you keep them? Where you should keep your records and documents depends on how easily you want to be able to access them, how long you plan to keep them, and how many records you have. A simple set of labeled folders in a file cabinet works fine for many people, but electronic storage is another option if space is tight. For example, one easy way to cut down on clutter and still keep everything you need is to store some of your files on your computer. You can save copies of online documents or purchase a scanner that you can use to convert your documents to electronic form. But make sure you keep backup copies on a portable storage drive or hard drive, and make sure that your files are secure. Another option to consider is cloud storage. Despite its lofty name, cloud storage is simply an online backup service that allows you

New England

Ballistic Services Instant cash paid for your valuable firearms. Inc.

Call today for a confidential consultation

508-381-0230 • www.neballistic.com

• In Store Specials • Liquor Gift Sets • Gift Certificates Available

YOUR HOME is your most valuable asset.

Call Mr. Handyman to give your home the attention it deserves.

Specialty Items for Any Occasion Open Sundays WALPOLE 421 High Plain St. Junction of Rtes 1 & 27 (508) 668-1653

MEDFIELD 547 Main St. Junction of Rtes 109 & 27 (508) 359-4453

508-668-0098 www.mrhandyman.com

to upload and store your files over the Internet, giving you easy access to information without the clutter. Information you upload is encrypted for security. If you're interested, look for a company with a reliable reputation that offers automatic backup and good technical support, at a reasonable subscription cost. Staying organized Keeping your financial records in order can be even more challenging than organizing them in the first place. One easy way to prevent paperwork from piling up is to remember the phrase "out with the old, in with the new." For example, when you get this year's auto policy, discard last year's. When you get an annual investment statement, discard the monthly or quarterly statements you've been keeping. It's a good idea to do a sweep of your files at least once a year to keep your filing system on track (doing this at the same time each year may be helpful). But don't just throw your financial paperwork in the trash. To protect sensitive information, invest in a good quality shredder that will destroy any document that contains account numbers, Social Security numbers, or other personal information. Whatever system you choose, keep it simple. You'll be much more likely to keep your records organized if your system is easy to follow. This column is made available by Philip Swan, Vice President Norwood Financial Services at Norwood Bank; Investment Executive Infinex Financial Group 11 Central St. Norwood, MA 781-440-4234 pswan@infinexgroup.com and prepared by Forefield. Investment and insurance products and services are offered through INFINEX INVESTMENTS, INC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Norwood Financial Services is a trade name of the bank. Infinex and Norwood Bank are not affiliated. Products and services made available through Infinex are not insured by the FDIC or any other agency of the United States and are not deposits or obligations of nor guaranteed or insured by any bank or bank affiliate. These products are subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of value.

MA HIC #146451

Run Your Advertisements, Inserts & Flyers With Us! Call Christina at (508) 468-6916

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

January 1, 2014

Hands on History at St. Catherine’s Saint Catherine’s 4th, 5th and 6th grade students actively participated in a demonstration of what life was like for the men, women and children who fought during the Revolutionary War. Students had the opportunity to learn about the Minuteman Era by listening to Mr. Denis Cormier from the Massachusetts 7th Regiment. The students had the opportunity to dress in various military uniforms and handle artifacts from that era to better understand the history that helped shape our nation. This program was made possible by St. Catherine’s Home and School Association (HASA) and is in its second year. This is one of the many enrichment opportunities made available to Saint Catherine’s School students.

Breakfast With The Stars!!! Come join some of your favorite characters, including Cinderella, Rapunzel, Batman, Superman and more at "Breakfast With The Stars". Enjoy a light breakfast and get an autograph and picture with your favorite "stars"!. Sponsored by the Backstage Boosters, the breakfast will be held at the Norwood High School Dining Hall, Saturday, January 25, 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. Tickets are $5 for children and adults. Children under 2 are free. Pictures are available to purchase at $1 each, but feel free to bring your camera. Please contact Linda McCarthy at 781-7695021 with any questions.

Students in the 8th grade watched Denis Cormier and their grade 8 teacher Mr. Delaney (in a white wig) engage in a lively debate concerning both sides of the conflict that eventually led toward the Revolutionary War.

Page 9

Blessing of the Creche at Saint Catherine’s Church Picture of St. Catherine’s students during the blessing by Msgr. Garrity of the Christmas Creche.

Parts & Service for Snow Blowers, Mowers & Lawn Tractors Call MOTOR MEDIC to Schedule Service for your Outdoor Power Equipment

FREE PICK-UP & DELIVERY

781-269-1555

242 PLEASANT STREET, NORWOOD, MA

SCHEDULE YOUR PICK-UP TODAY!

Building a Foundation For Life

Saint Catherine of See Christ Siena School Be Christ in Others for Others 249 Nahatan Street Norwood, MA 02062

Open House

Sunday Wednesday Wednesday

January 26 January 29 January 29

12 - 1 pm 10 - 11 am 6 - 8 pm

781.769.5354 ext. 262 or admissions@scsnorwood.org www.scsnorwood.org

Pre-K through Grade 8

Visit us online at: www.localtownpages.com

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

Page 10

Norwood Notes Recycling Department Holiday/Christmas Lights Recycling

drawing from nominations. The winner will be awarded a gift certificate to various Norwood restaurants and other local merchants.

The Norwood Department of Public Works (DPW) is accepting those old, broken or simply outdated holiday lights. Bring those strings to either collection site:

Nominations will be accepted through the 15th of each month and winners will be ineligible for the following month's drawing. Each winner will be notified in person from the Norwood Department of Public Works and their program partner, Waste Management. Winners will be featured in various media outlets.

1. The Winter Street Compost Site 2. The DPW Administrative Offices Lobby, 165 Nahatan St. Norwood Public Works Department Recycler of the Month

For more information and nomination papers, visit the Town of Norwood website, and choose Public Works from the Departments pull-down menu.

To encourage curbside recycling rates, the Town of Norwood is implementing a new "Recycler of the Month" program. Nominations for the monthly winner will be accepted through a brief online survey. The winner will be determined through a random

January 1, 2014

Congratulations Coakley Middle School Citizen's of the Month Congratulations to the November winners of Dr. Philip O. Coakley Middle School's Citizen of the Month. Citizens of the Month exemplify the school's mission statement and are chosen by teachers and staff. To celebrate their accomplishments, an end of the year breakfast celebration will be held for students and their families.

November's awards went to: Grade 8: Erin Donnelly, Lauren Gregorio, Olivia Haglund Grade 7: Sarah Mohiuddin, Xavier Cullen, Amanda Olbrys, Christian Rodgers Grade 6: Jenny Carroll, Zoe Labadie, Conor Sheehan Principal Ann Mitchell

Town of Norwood employees and their families are ineligible to participate.

"'& .

S %#*" ! & / R.J. MITH I &)+( & NSURANCE A GENCY â&#x20AC;&#x153;Service 1961â&#x20AC;? 0 (,# Since #& 1

+*' - Home '% - +)#& )) Auto Business Financial Services #& & # $ (,# ) )"#&!*'& * '(-''

&# $ #!# '%'

Why Not Get the Best for Less! Selling and Servicing Major Appliances for Over 50 Years!

NORWOOD

1015 Washington St.

781-769-2446

NEWTON

244 Needham St.

617-558-5500

MON - WED: 9am-6pm THURS: 9am-7pm FRI & SAT: 9am-5pm SUN: 12pm-5pm (Newton is CLOSED on Sunday)

HOURS

@PoirierSales

Poiriersales.com

AND MANY MORE!

15% OFF PARTS

Limit one per customer. Cannot be combined with other offers. In store purchases only. Coupon must be presented at purchase.

10% OFF SERVICE CALL Limit one per customer. Cannot be combined with other offers. In store purchases only. Coupon must be presented at purchase.

Run Your Inserts & Ads With Us! Call Christina

(508) 468-6916

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

January 1, 2014

Out and About by dawn c. FiTzgerald

Happy New Year’s Day, by Day

But truthfully, Rome and many of our waistlines weren’t stretched to the limits in a day.

Ah, it’s that time of year again. When the last of the Christmas tree tinsel has been plucked off the floor, and the second or third toy broken.

After the first week, or month many of us head back to the fridge, then to the couch, and ultimately back to our old ways. It’s hard to keep a New Year’s Resolution when cookies are so good.

From November until December we are bombarded with commercials for yummy, fatty, bad for you foods that you have to eat-because they are only made once a year. The special brownies, the Christmas sugar cookies, the peppermint bark. Eat it, devour it. Whatever you choose to chew on from turkey day til Christmas day don’t really count. You may find your pants a bit tighter. You blood sugar a bit higher. Who cares? ‘Tis the season. Until the ball drops. And reality hits. Gone now are the enticing commercials for cookies, cakes, and pies. Farewell to fare of turkeys basted in butter, rib eyes, roast beef, and mashed potatoes. New Year’s Day is upon us. Time to immediately change all our bad habits. So you gorged yourself on goodies all season. Well now, we’ve got a diet or gym membership just for you. And only you. But you have to act now-before you hit the cookie aisle and your stretch pants become officially stretched out. Forget that it took you two months of hard living and eating to put that extra poundage on. Head to the gym, join a weight loss center, start a diet plan and you will lose that you gained quickly. Not. Don’t get me wrong. Many of us, myself included, should join a gym (some of us faster than others). We should drop the turkey leg and pick up a plate of greens.

And let’s face it, it takes less time to rip open a bag of chips than it does to cut, wash, chop, and clean up after a salad. Just thinking about it makes me exhausted. And in need of a quick cookie fix. So, if you are like me, battling a bit more of you thanks to Thanksgiving, holiday parties, and Christmas fare, Remember to be kind to yourself. The holiday season has officially ended. The leftovers almost gone. But the year is anew. It may have taken two months (or for some of us many years) to put on the extra poundage. But you now have twelve to take it off. Give yourself a break- just not the cookies and milk kind. And be kind to yourself. The holidays can be very stressful. Beating yourself up now that it’s all done isn’t going to bring your skinny jeans back anytime soon (remember you hid them in the back of the closet convinced you would wear them again but it’s been three years now and they are out dated, old, and probably tired just like you)? So toss out the skinny jeans, they are part of the old you. The new you will do this or at least try. Remember slow and steady wins the rat race. And if not, there’s always next year. Dawn C. Fitzgerald is a freelance writer. She’d love to hear from you at dawncfitz@yahoo.com

Page 11

St. Catherine’s Students Donate to Norwood Food Pantry During last month, students from St. Catherine of Siena School in Norwood, MA, brought in food items for the Norwood Food Pantry. Each grade, from Pre-K to Grade 8 took responsibility for a particular kind of food – from canned fruit and vegetables, to coffee, tea and peanut butter. This month-long collection culminated in a Mass of Thanksgiving held at St Catherine of Siena Church and celebrated by Monsignor Paul Garrity. Students brought their contribution of food to the altar for a special blessing before the bags were sent to the food pantry. Middle School students helped the younger children fill the altar with their bags. Children in Miss Parsons, Miss Sullivan and Mrs. Christopher’s Kindergarten class made paper turkeys and cornucopias that lined the front of the large expanse of donations. This

year’s event was held in honor of long-time teacher Jane Quinlan who passed away this fall. Mrs. Quinlan was instrumental in coordinating this annual school Christian service project. Donated items were then brought to the Norwood Food Pantry to stock their shelves during a time of year when food availability is at an all-time low. Mrs. Ruth Taeger, Executive Director of the Ecumenical Community Food Pantry of Norwood, showered praises on the children at Saint Catherine’s saying how grateful she was to all of them for their generosity to people that they don’t even know. Special thanks to SCS students, parents, and teachers for their generous response to this year's food drive. Donations this year totaled over a ton of food - nearly 11 pounds of food per child!

Visit us online at: www.localtownpages.com THE SPRAY TAN SPA at Salon Divoe

We have Opened in Response to the Harmful Effects of the UV Tanning Beds and the Exposure to the Sun with a Vision to Provide a Guilt Free Way for People to Obtain the Natural Looking Tan they Desire. With Hand-Held Sprayers, our Technicians will Apply an Organic Product Called DHA, which is made of Non-Toxic Sugar, Often Derived from Plant Sources Such as Sugar Beets and Sugarcane.

Full Service Salon Skin Care

Facials • Waxing Nurse Administrating Botox & Fillers

Nail Technician

Gel Nails • Pedicures

8 Stylists

Hair Cuts • High Lites

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

Page 12

January 1, 2014

Living Healthy It Starts Today! BY: COACH CHRIS MCHUGH, LIFESTYLE COACH, FITNESS CONSULTANT, AND MANAGER OF GET IN SHAPE FOR WOMEN, WESTWOOD One of the first things that I tell a new client that is starting my program is: “the difference between the clients that get results, and the ones who don’t is that it (snaps fingers) starts today.”

1. Time-I don’t have enough

“Starts today” means not waiting to get started; it means going food shopping as soon as they leave my office; it means making their transformation a high priority. The following are the top three, day-one-road-blocks that I see time and time again preventing clients from gaining the necessary traction toward achieving their goal.

Nine out of ten times people react to a challenge ahead of them with subjective/relative perspective. That is to say, a client who is looking to add a one hour workout to a day that she perceives as already overfull is going to be pessimistic about incorporating the new ritual into her day. The idea of doing so is so heavy that it prevents her from moving forward with a single workout. I recommend being the one in ten that approaches the adjustment with an attitude that says: “this is what I have to do, so what has to change to make this happen?” You’d be surprised how easy it is to free up time when you take a more objective look at your day and cut back on or eliminate less productive tasks, such as television watching, surfing the internet, hobbies, or talking on the phone. 2. Shopping- I haven’t gone food shopping yet This one is simple… just do it! How many times do clients ex-

plain to me that there kids ate the last banana, or “I missed my snack because there was nothing in the fridge.” This problem, like many others, is an issue of simply not fully mentally processing what is required to follow the plan. To fully process what is required to undergo a complete physical transformation it is vital to fully conceptualize the literal requirements of what it is going to take to accomplish your goal. As a trainer, it is very hard to work with a client that burns a ton of energy trying to follow the program piece-meal rather than using that energy to adapt to the new way of being 100%. In other words, it is very important to make a decision right then and there that the old way isn’t working and this new way is the only way. In this case, the new way involves frequent trips to the super market for specific foods. 3. Missing Workouts- Something important came up Frequent workouts (at least 2, preferably 3-6) are crucial for physical and mental health. I en-

courage my newest clients to come as many times as they can over the first couple of weeks knowing that workouts promote healthy decision making throughout the week. Simply put: if you absolutely must miss a workout, I recommend fitting it in later that night or early the same day if a time is available. When my mind starts to rationalize reasons to skip a workout, I tell it to “shut up” and I stop considering the idea of missing the workout. I have trained myself to know that 100% of the time after finishing a workout I feel amazing. Chances are that at least one of the three day-one-road-blocks have found their way onto your path to your goals at one time or another. I recommend bringing them into focus and doing your best to refine this area of personal discipline. Truly, it is not the most enjoyable exercise to engage in, but you just might find that it ends up being the most rewarding.

6 Week Body Transformation Package

3 small group personal training sessions per week for 6 weeks, plus nutrition counseling!

Westwood Client

AFTER

50% OFF! Was $558

NOW ONLY $279!

Westwood Client

AFTER

New clients only. Offer expires 1/18/14.

Results start when you do! BEFORE BEFORE “I have dropped 2 sizes. My arms are firm and I feel good wearing sleeveless tops. Best of all my belly fat has just about disappeared.” -Jeanne Babel, Age 62 Owner, Babel’s Paint and Decorating, Mother of 2 Lost: 20 pounds and 9% body fat

917 High Street, Westwood

781-320-0066 (behind Dunkin’ Donuts)

“It really is a transformation program. The trainers, manager and owner are amazing. They care about each and every person in here. It’s almost like they are in it with you. I am now a healthy positive role model for my son and family.” -Maria Kirkland, Age 46 Accounting Professional, Mother of 1 Lost: 112 poinds and 23% body fat

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

January 1, 2014

Page 13

Living Healthy Can a Fall Break your Wrist? CONTRIBUTED BY JOHN VACOVEC,, PHYSICAL THERAPIST AND CEO OF PHYSICAL THERAPY AND SPORTS REHAB, INC.

of inactivity. Stretching and range of motion exercises can minimize the phenomenon of 'muscle atrophy'.

ance. At times, aids like a walking stick or Zimmer frame may also be provided.

A Colles' fracture refers to a fracture around the wrist. Typically, it occurs due to a fall on an outstretched hand. Specifically, the fracture occurs at the end of a bone in the forearm called the radius (at the cortico-cancellous junction).

3. massage therapy and mobilizations

Given the importance of the wrist in daily activities, the objective of physical therapy is to help regain full motion of the affected wrist. However, physical therapy can also help reduce swelling, controlling pain, improving strength, improving balance and regaining independence, especially in older patients. Physical therapy helps the healing process. Recovery from Colles' fractures can be hampered by unnecessary and extreme motion after removal of the cast. This can be minimized or avoided under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

Manual therapy from a skilled physical therapy on the joint or on the surgical scar site is very helpful. This helps reduce pain, decrease swelling and improve blood flow to the area to improve healing. 4. electrical stimulation

Dorsal displacement and dorsal angulation are common characteristics of such a fracture. Falling on an outstretched hand can be a consequence of either tripping or losing balance, and it is the body's defense mechanism against falling flat on one's face. While this sort of fracture is not prevalent in younger patients, it is commonly seen in older patients, patients with osteoporosis, and those with any other form of bone disease. The treatment of Colles' fracture requires the application of a cast to facilitate compression and prevent motion in an effort to promote healing. In some cases, surgical correction may be required. Once pain and swelling is reduced, the objective of the healthcare team changes. The new priority is joint range of motion and restoration of muscle strength. This is where physical therapy plays an important role. How Physical Therapy Can Help Physical therapy can help in the recovery of wrist fractures in several ways: 1. rice The use of Rest, Ice packs application, Compression and Elevation (RICE) is universally applicable after injuries to reduce the extent of injury and facilitate healing. 2. Therapeutic exercises Muscles tend to lose tone, strength, and mass due to a period

Used to improve muscle tone and strength, it can involve application of a tiny electric current on muscle fibers to stimulate muscle contraction. 5. balance therapy If a Colles' fracture has occurred in an elderly patient due to loss of balance, then treatment is aimed at improving core strength and bal-

you, but we’ll teach you an exercise programl. Physical Therapy and Sports Rehab. Inc has 2 convenient locations. Call our Norwood office (at 781-769-2040) or Norfolk location (at 508-3847020) today! Go to www.ptandsr.com to learn more! Prepared by 2011 Therapy Newsletter. All rights reserved. are experiencing the benefits of what physical therapy can do for you. Call us today to schedule an appointment. We’ll not only treat

The Care You Need Physical therapy is important in the full recovery of wrist motion and strength after an injury. Expect the therapist to start with gentle mobilizations of the wrist and hand to improve joint circulation and encourage motion. As the pain subsides, the therapist will encourage (and supervise) gentle exercises to regain full function. Your physical therapist will provide the care you need, when you need it. If you are hurt and in pain, there is a good chance that physical therapy can help you. Reach out to us today, and discovery why individuals across the community

Physical Therapy

R R

& Sp rts Rehab, Inc.

OUR EXPERTISE...YOUR RECOVERY CALL Today

AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT Norwood Guild Medical Center 825 Washington Street, Ste. 280 (781) 769-2040

Norfolk 227 Dedham Street, Rtes. 1A & 115 (508) 384-7020

www.ptandsr.com

JANE DICKERMAN, M.D. Board Certified OPHTHALMOLOGIST • Comprehensive Eye Exams for Adults and Children • Evaluation & Treatment of Medical & Surgical Eye Diseases • Also offering BOTOX® and Juvederm® • Visit our Optical Shop

20/20 EYE CARE, PC Providing Quality Eye Care for the Entire Family Since 1987

91B Central Street, Norwood, MA 02062

781-501-5650

Visit Us At: www.janedickerman.com

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

Page 14

January 1, 2014

Norwood Sports Rick Kief, Wrestling Coach With his kids all grown up and out of the house, Rick Kief was looking for something to fill the void in his life. Although working full time, the ex-Norwood wrestler was still hoping to find more to do during his day. “As an empty nester and all my sons gone, it was time to give back,” Kief said. “Since I loved wrestling, I figured I’d give coaching a try.” Having been a state wrestling champion at 134 pounds in 1977 for Norwood, what better place to begin his coaching career? Luckily for Kief there was an opening. “On a whim one night I decided to look into the Mass. Wrestling site and happened to see a vacancy at Norwood," Kief said. "I immediately called Brian (McDonough, the Norwood AD) and went from there.” McDonough figured an ex-Mustang wrestler could relate to the program, which was having a tough time.

“He wrestled at high levels both in high school and in college and he’s a Norwood kid who has a passion for the sport,” McDonough said. “To be a successful coach you have to strongly believe in the sport and Rick definitely does.” Kief, who wrestled for the Mustangs during the late 70’s, and later went on to Harvard where he was the captain of the wrestling team during his senior season with the Crimson. The sport he grew to love was first introduced to him in middle school by his gym teacher, who thought Kief had what it took to be a wrestler and asked him to join the team he was putting together. From there it was true love. “Wrestling is a sport that pushes you to extremes," Kief said. :Very few sports do this, outside of some individual sports. In wrestling, you never know what’s going to happen. You can control what you’re going to do, but you never know what your opponent's going to throw at you.”

Norwood Girls Hockey By Christopher Tremblay Having climbed a good portion of the mountain for the past few years, the Norwood Girls Hockey team has yet to get to the top. Having lost in the semi-finals in overtime four years ago, the Lady Mustangs have been ousted from the Division 2 South Hockey Tournament in the quarter finals for the past two seasons.

Norwood has racked up a total of 28 regular season wins and two tournament victories and although they will be losing six skaters, including five starters, Coach Tim Coskren is optimistic that his team will once again be ascending the mountain this winter, but unsure how high they will get. “As I coach you would like to repeat last year’s performance, buy unfortunately we lost some

free game

buy one game, get one game free

Norwood Sport Center

Norwood • 781-769-0606

Not valid on league play. One coupon per visit per person. No double discounts. With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Offer expires 1-31-14.

Fridays 7:30-10pm $25 per lane 65 Cottage St. (East)

Norwood

781-769-0606

Mon-Thurs. 9am-10pm • Fri. & Sat. 9am-11pm • Sun. 1pm-10pm

In addition to coaching the regular wrestling techniques to his team, Kief will be looking to add some martial arts into the program. When one of his sons got into martial arts, Kief got involved with him for a couple of years and it opened his eyes to where he decided to incorporate it his coaching. “You have to crawl before you walk,” Kief said. “But eventually I would like to get the kids introduced to my style of wrestling with the martial arts mix. Coaching is good, but actual experience is more effective.” Although the coach is excited about the upcoming year, he knows it’s not going to be an easy one. Norwood finished last season with one win and by the end of the campaign only had 10 athletes on the roster; 14 are required to field a team. “It’s definitely going to be a rebuilding year, there’s no doubt about that,” the coach said. “As of right now, we have 17 athletes, in-

cluding a good group of incoming freshman. They’re eager to get going, but it’s going to be a learning experience for them as well as myself." Although the new coach would like to see some wins, he’s hoping

to keep the kids interested in the sport not only so that they continue with it, but to encourage others to join the program. “Once you get that wrestling bug, you’ll always have it,” Kief said. “Now it’s time to pass it on.”

really strong dependable players,” Coskren said. “I’m not going to lie, it’s going to be tough, but things are unseen until the season begins. We will definitely be competitive in the league; how we do will all depend on the girls stepping into the skates and how they react.”

Other lines will consist of Samantha Shea, Hannah Gillis and Sydney MacQuillen and Casey MacDonald, Molly Newman and Abey Glaser. Defensively, Norwood will have Shannon Gillis and senior cocaptain Colleen Glaser as well as sophomore Erin Kelly and freshman Tori Phillips vying for time.

Defensively, the Mustangs said goodbye to Bay State League All Star Heather Folan and Katie O’Brien. On the other end of the ice, Norwood lost forward Karen Colomey and center Jenny O’Donnell, the team’s number three and four scorers respectively.

Between the pipes will be third-year starter senior Samantha Baturin, with Marguerite Lee as the back-up. The Coach has seen Baturin progress all three years she has played for the Mustangs.

On the bright side Coskren will have his top two snipers returning to the lineup this year. Coming back for another season will be leftwing Kacie Smith and center and co-captain Emily Kelly; last season each athlete scored around 40 points. “In order to have any success, we need these two to repeat what they did last year,” the coach said. Freshman Corey Hayes will be paired with Smith and Kelly, while Lisa Moynihan, Shelia

Pictured: senior Emily Kelly.

Carroll and Sammy Hayes will make up the second line. Bella Asrinwall may also see some time on that second line as well. “Sheila and Bella are somewhat similar players,” Coskren said. “Most likely one will play defense and one will play offense. At this point it looks like Shelia will be on defense and Bella would be a forward, but who knows, things could change.”

“Samantha has improved every year since she began playing for us,” the coach said. “She was shaky that first year, but this past season played a lot and although it’s still early this year, she has already looked much better.” If the likes of Smith and Kelly can put up the numbers they posted last fall and the younger athletes step up, Norwood should have no problem at making that climb up the mountain, and who knows, may actually reach the peak.

January 1, 2014

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

Norwood Sports

Register for Spring 2014 Soccer Now! The Norwood Youth Soccer registration deadline for Spring, 2014 travel teams is January 5, 2014, and for intramural teams, is February 16, 2014. Regististrations are now being accepted. A late fee of $10 applies after deadlines. Go to www.norwoodsoccer.com and click "Registration" for more information.

We publish the 1st of every month. Advertisement and editorial deadline is the 15th of each month.

editor@norwoodtownnews.com

Page 15

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Sponsored by

Kayla Briggs - Athletic Republic Athlete of the Month ATHLETIC REPUBLIC NORWOOD result based training program

Kayla Briggs has been selected Life as well as many other events in the Town as Athletic Republic's Athlete of community maximally effective p Now U n ig Ma. The one that the moth. Lisa Verrochi, has been S of Norwood, level of play and your in advancing g in r p S The Challenger her Cheerleading Coach for the Fisordearaintoingher isperformance. port Tr 3-9 & Saturdays Open: Mon-Fri and Cheer Program. past 4 years has seen Kayla SFootball from 8:30am-1pm develop into an amazing young This program provides trainingAvenue, in Norwood football PHONE:781.352.2501 and lady. 290 Vanderbilt cheerleading for mentally and Athletics, especially physically disabled children Cheerleading, played a major role which she volunteers weekly in her life from a young child as at their games. Her she has cheered from the 1st grade cheerleading squad also was through to her senior year. She has awarded the first ever MSSAA devoted time, effort and diligence Community Service Award to her squad for the past four years (Massachusetts Secondary and was also named Cheerleading School Administration Captain her Senior year. Association) for their many Kayla is a leader on her team and Kayla has also given much of her hours of community service in the in the community. Athletic time to charity. She has Town of Norwood. Even with Republic wants to wish Kayla volunteered for the American such a busy schedule Kayla also great success in the future! Cancer Society and the Relay for works 2 jobs.

Time to get In-Shape for the New Year

ARX TRAINING POWERED BY ATHLETIC REPUBLIC NORWOOD

TH N O /M 9 4 $ R U O ASK ABOUT NTH SPECIALS & $99/MO

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

Page 16

NEED A PROPANE

REFILL? 00 $ off SAVE $3.00!

January 1, 2014

Two St. Catherine’s Students Receive Honor of Peace Prize in Poster Contest Grade 7 students Lauren Fallon and Trevor Carroll, first and second place winners in the Norwood Lions Club Peace Post¬er Contest. Special thanks to Mrs. Kedzierski, Art Teacher, for working with students. The first place winner will be eligible for competition at the regional and national contests.

a 20 lb Fill (with coupon)

NORWOOD BOTTLED GAS 305 Providence Highway, Norwood (Next to Boch HONDA)

NTN

781-762-2330 • 781-762-2331 Mazzola’s

Norwood Monumental Works Inc.

943 Washington Street • Norwood • MA 02062 • www.norwoodmonumental.com Email: nmwinc@comcast.net

Kraw - Kornack Funeral Home

1248 Washington Street Norwood, MA 02062 www.kraw-kornackfuneralhome.com 781-762-0482

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED. JOHN P. KORNACK ------ DIRECTORS ------ GEORGE KORNACK

Serving the families of Nowood and the surrounding communities with thoughtful care for over 60 years. Complete Funeral and Cremation Services. Pre-Need Funerals and Funeral Trusts Arranged. Call anytime for an appointment. Wheelchair Ramp and Handicap accessible. All Veteran Services available.

Run Your Inserts & Ads With Us! Call Christina

(508) 468-6916

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

January 1, 2014

Page 17

Christopher Catanese Children’s Foundation Raises More Than $100,000 at 6th Annual Fundraiser The 6th Christopher Catanese Children’s Foundation (CCCF) Annual Dinner & Auction Fundraiser was held Saturday, November 30, at the Norwood Elks Hall. Attended by more than 300 friends, family and supporters, the event raised more than $100,000. All of the funds raised are distributed to local, national and international community-based organizations devoted to supporting children in need. The Catanese family established CCCF in 2005 after their son Christopher's death. Chris was a senior in college when his life tragically ended in an automobile accident. The mission of the Foundation is to allow as many children as possible to experience the joy of Christopher's life by reaching out to children in need. Speakers included CCCF charitable recipients Dick Hoyt from Team Hoyt and Len Gengel from Be Like Brit. Hoyt’s son Rick was born with cerebral palsy, and he has pushed Rick in over 1000 races as they continue to change attitudes and educate others on the world of disabilities. Len Gengel updated guests on the orphanage built in Haiti

in honor of his daughter Britney, who perished in the 2010 earthquake. Peter Catanese II (CCCF Founder and President of Central Automotive Team in Norwood), recently travelled to Haiti to visit the orphanage and see the dining hall named after his son Christopher. At the event Peter, his wife MaryAnne and son Peter III generously pledged $100,000 to Be Like Brit on behalf of CCCF. Guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner created by Ronnie Catanese and The Jeep Grill’s Chef Vincent Ditello while bidding on auction items which included Patriots tickets, sports memorabilia, including an autographed Tom Brady football and John Lackey jersey, an African Safari and a multi course dinner prepared by a private chef in the comfort of your home. “Words can’t express how touched we are by the generosity of our family, friends and the community for their support of our foundation in loving memory of our son,” said CCCF founder Peter Catanese II. “We are able to make a real difference in the lives of children while celebrating the life and spirit of Christopher.”

Pictured: Len Gengel and Peter Catanese II at the Be Like Brit Orphanage in Grand Goave, Haiti.

This year’s CCCF charitable recipients include: Children’s Organ Transplant Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, March for Babies, The Smile Train and other worthy organizations devoted to

making a difference in children’s lives. ABOUT THE CHRISTOPHER CATANESE CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION: The Christopher Catanese Children’s Foundation is a

nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, which was established in 2005 by the Catanese family after Christopher’s death. Website: www.chrisfoundation.org

JANUARY SALE

10%off

With This Coupon

Visit Our Factory & Factory Outlet Cherry Furniture

131 Morse Street | Foxboro | 508-543-9417

Hours: Monday - Thursday: 7a.m. - 4p.m., Friday: 7a.m. - 3p.m., Saturday & Sunday: CLOSED

Now Thru January 31st

30%off

All Selected Floor Models

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

Page 18

January 1, 2014

Winter survival plans include YOU!!!!

PET CORNER Meet Marcia, Mr. Smelster and Lilly, and read about their story! Marcia is a sweet, 5 year old tortie who has been in foster with a loving family, other cats and dogs since we rescued her. She is very social with the family and as expected of animals who appreciate being rescued she is low maintenance and easy going. she is currently living with her previous housemate Mr. Smelster.

Marcia

Lilly is a senior girl who has taken some Lilly time to adjust to her foster home. She is low maintenance as she demands minimal human interaction but surely has flourished in her new foster home where she has been treated like the queen she should be. After many years of neglect it is amazing she would ever trust humans again but since her rescue, Lilly has truly realized she is now safe. She is a petite tortie who has been diagnosed with FIV but that should not deter her new owners from taking her into their home. She has shown no medical issues relating to the disease thus far and may never. We are seeking a quiet, home with no other cats or another FIV cat to

CONTACT US Bay State Animal Cooperative, Inc 47 Windsor Rd., Norwood, Ma. (Corporate office only). 781-436-BSAC (2722) info@baystateanimals.org

FULL SERVICE DOG AND CAT GROOMING

Meet Millie:

share the home with. Of course we have another FIV cat to adopt too if you are looking for 2 deserving cats to truly RESCUE forever.

Their story!!!!!!!!!

These kitties along with 9 others were a result of a hoarding case a municipal animal control got privy to. An elderly woman and her mentally ill daughter lived with 12 cats and a dog and the conditions were horrific for both the caged cats, dogs and the people. This happens more common than not as many animal loving, considerate people take in community cats to protect them from the outdoors or malicious neighborhoods. Unfortunately oh too often Mr. Smelster the financial resources and

Mr. Smelster is a 5 plus year old male, domestic short haired gray tiger. He is a bit more reserved and gets bullied by the girl cats in the house, (typical females). He enjoys being part of a human family, interacts we'll with people and would adjust to other cats easily. Mr. Smelster, like the others rescued, is surely appreciative of his new living conditions. Consider making his New Year terrific!

Salon Hours: By Appointment Closed Sun & Mon

781-352-3509

1159 Washington St., Norwoodâ&#x20AC;˘www.thesoggiedoggie.com

Reminder to all of us to take the time to notice the community cats and kittens in your area and do your part to secure their winter existence. Please consider setting up dog houses or other similar shelters to protect these animals from the winter weather. IF you see kittens please do your part by rescuing them and their moms and bringing them inside at least until the weather has gotten better. A safe haven like a garage, shed, basement can serve these dependent animals well. Remember...we started these outside community colonies by our irresponsible pet ownership. We owe these animals something.

Millie was misunderstood as a kitten. She was crazy playful with a little bit of devil in her but now she just wants her forever home and has proven to be an exceptional character. At a young age she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease affecting her teeth. We removed her affected teeth and she is doing wonderfully. Millie is a beautiful, long haired, white and black spayed female who loves to interact with whatever is going on around her. physical care taking tasks become limited and the animals and humans begin to suffer and conditions deteriorate. 12 cats and a dog were removed by the local animal control, immediately 3 sickly and un-socialized cats were destroyed (tragic). Two more and the dog are going to be returned once the previous owners can clean up and provide for them. Shortly after the seizure of these cats The Bay State Animal Cooperative was notified and asked to assist with the remaining cats. Regardless of their behaviors or personalities we knew we needed to help these creatures. After all, WE, as humans, made their lives de-

pendent on us and horrific. We owed them care and compassion. After seeing the vet, getting altered and vaccinated these kitties were placed in various foster care situations. All of the females suffered from severe uterine infections discovered during their spay surgeries which was caused by the unsanitary litters they had to use. All have recovered fine. Two and maybe up to four have been deemed feral and will be placed in our new barn socialization program, (see about our barn in this article) however, Lilly, Mr. Smelster and Marcia are ready for new homes.

Recently, the use of a small barn facility has been graciously donated by a gracious local resident increasing BSAC's foster care abilities. We have been renovating the space, with the donated assistance of a fabulous local handy man, and plan to use the barn to socialize our more difficult rescues. Wonderful deserving kitties who have been mis-treated by humans, or born in the wild will have a chance to learn to trust humans and become adoptable kitties through this program. The program will enlist only certain kitties and will enlist "cat whisperers" to care for them and socialize with them. If you feel you are a "cat whisperer" please contact us to assist with this endeavor. We are also seeking volunteers to assist with keeping the walkway to the barn cleared of snow throughout the winter months so volunteers can care for them. Landscapers welcomed!!!!! Opening in January 2014.

50 OFF

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

January 1, 2014

Calendar January 2 School Reopens Annual Town Census Dog Licenses Due Nomination Papers Available for Town Election national alliance for the mentally ill monthly meeting norwood hospital, cafeteria b 7 p.m. Families in the South Norfolk Area who are dealing with mental illness and their loved ones are welcome to this free meeting. In case of inclement weather, cancellation will be ruled by announcement for the Norwood schools. For further information, call Ray at 508-668-2941. January 7 Planet Fitness grand opening/ ribbon cutting, 418 walpole st. 5:30-7 p.m. Planet Fitness will celebrate the grand opening of their new top-notch facility in Norwood location on Tuesday, January 7, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Biggest Loser Season 10 winner, Patrick House will be on hand to answer questions and share his inspirational story of how he lost nearly 200 lbs! January 10 Parents night out norwood civic center, 6-9 p.m. This is a great economical babysitting alternative for parents to enjoy an evening out with an economical babysitting solution. The kids will enjoy games, crafts, BINGO and more. Cost is $10 per child and includes pizza. For grades 1-5. Sign up at the Civic Center. January 11 american girl doll create & Play, norwood civic center 9 a.m.-12 noon The theme is Top Chef. Kids ages 5-10 can bring in their American Girl doll, any doll or even stuffed animal and turn that special friend into a chef by designing a stove top, chef hat, pots, doll play food and more. Cost is $45 per child. Sign up at the Civic Center. January 13 look good...Feel good cancer session, norwood hospital cancer center, 70 walnut st., Foxboro, 11 a.m. Volunteer beauty professionals will teach female cancer patients beauty techniques to help restore their selfimage during chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Women will learn about makeup techniques, skincare, nail care and options related to hair loss such as wigs, turbans and scarves. Each participant will receive a free cosmetics kit for use during and after the workshop. Light refreshments will be provided. To register, call DoctorFinder at 800-488-5959.

January 18 comedy night with Tony v norwood Theater, 8 p.m. Along with being a popular headliner at clubs and colleges all over the free world, Tony V has worked with Jay Leno, Dennis Miller, Bobcat Goldthwait, Steven Wright, Adam Sandler and countless other friends and nationally known acts. Tickets are $27 for adults, $24 for seniors and can be purchased at the box office, calling 781-551-9000 or online at norwoodstage.com. January 20 Martin Luther King Day Norwood Public Schools closed for the holiday. January 21 social media-The Tools For your success, 236 Patriot's Place, Foxboro, 12 noon Here's your chance to learn from the experts and make the ever changing world of social media work for you and your business. Massachusetts Small Business Development Advisor, Trish White will be on hand to help you understand how to get the most out of your social media. A lunch from Davio's is included. For members, $25, general admission $35, Facebook Fans $20. Visit the NVCC website to register at www.nvcc.com. January 22 ginger rogers/Fred astaire: Flying down to rio norwood Theater, 7:30 p.m. Enjoy this film in the original 35 mm format on the big screen, as if it were the 1930 s all over again! Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and students and can be purchased at the box office, calling 781-551-9000 or online at norwoodstage.com. January 23 nvcc annual meeting & awards dinner Four Points sheraton, 1125 bos.Prov. hgwy., rte 1, 5:30 p.m. This is the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce's 120th Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner. Sam Kennedy, COO of the World Champion Red Sox will be the featured speaker. Ted reinstein: author of 'new england notebook: 1 reporter, 6 states, uncommon stories' morrill memorial library, 7 p.m. Ted Reinstein from Channel 5's Chronicle, will talk about his new book, "New England Notebook: 1 Reporter, 6 States, Uncommon Stories." Copies of his books will be available for purchase that evening. Sign up for this program by calling 781-769-0200, x110 or 222. ginger rogers/Fred astaire: Top hat, norwood Theater, 7:30 p.m. Enjoy this film in the original 35

Page 19

Clip and save this coupon

Your next plumbing or heating repair* PLUMBING & HEATING

Visit our website for more coupons and special offers on heating system installations.

800-633-PIPE www.rodenhiser.com

*Not valid on trip or diagnostic fees. This offer expires January 31, 2014. Offer code OT-A-50 mm format on the big screen, as if it were the 1930 s all over again! Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and students and can be purchased at the box office, calling 781-551-9000 or online at norwoodstage.com. January 24 laser Tag night norwood civic center, 7-9 p.m. Think tag and hide with a little Star Trek mixed in. Players compete in teams to find and tag their opponents with high-tech lasers. Cost is $12 per person. For grades 5-7. Sign up at the Civic Center. ginger rogers/Fred astaire: Follow the Fleet norwood Theater, 7:30 p.m. Enjoy this film in the original 35 mm format on the big screen, as if it were the 1930 s all over again! Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and students and can be purchased at the box office, calling 781-551-9000 or online at norwoodstage.com. January 25 lego learning Party norwood civic center 10-11:30 a.m. Learn simple math concepts while building bridges, vehicles, tunnels and more. For ages 3-10. Cost is $15 for resident child and adult. Sign up at the Civic Center. breakfast with the stars norwood high school dining hall 9-11 a.m. Come join some of your favorite characters, including Cinderella, Rapunzel, Batman, Superman and more at "Breakfast With The Stars". Enjoy a light breakfast and get an autograph and picture with your favorite "stars"!. Tickets are $5 for children and adults. Children under 2 are free. Pictures are available to purchase at $1 each, but feel free to bring your camera. Contact Linda McCarthy at 781-769-5021 with questions. January 29 "meet the authors night" st. catherine of siena school 6:30 p.m. St. Catherine of Siena School is offering a fun and exciting evening for children (or adults) who love to read

and/or write. The authors in attendance will be Barbara McGrath, Gregory Mone, and Mark Peter Hughes, who will be presenting their books and describing their experiences as an author. The event is free and open to the public. January 30 Jon stetson's ladies only Psychic experience norwood Theater, 7:30 p.m. Jonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charismatic and lively demonstrations provide a rare opportunity to experience the fascinating phenomenon of an intuitive experience, which he delivers with his distinctive style of humor, intensity, and compassion. Tickets are $40 or $35 when purchased with a friend, and

can be purchased at the box office, calling 781-551-9000 or online at norwoodstage.com. January 31 a Tribute to John denver with chris collins and boulder canyon norwood Theater, 8 p.m. Chris Collins and Boulder Canyon will pay tribute to the music and life of John Denver in this special concert event. Collins and Boulder Canyon have toured the country together delighting audiences with their talent, energy, and humor. Tickets are $29 for adults, $26 for seniors and can be purchased at the box office, calling 781-551-9000 or online at norwoodstage.com.

HELP WANTED

Advertising Account Manager WORK FOR A COMPANY ON THE RISE Local Town Pages is one of the fastest growing newspaper publications in New England with six newspapers, that reach over 60,000 homes and business direct mailed each month. Our papers focus on the "local and uniqueness" of each town. We are about working hard and having fun, which is why our employees enjoy coming to work each day. Our newspapers service the towns of Franklin, Medway/Millis, Norfolk/Wrentham, Norwood, Holliston and Ashland. We have recently released a unique new product that has multimedia capabilities and reaches a broad spectrum of different businesses. We are currently in 17 communities with open territories in the towns of Millis, Medway, Franklin, Medfield, Holliston, Ashland, Southborough, Westborough, Hopkinton, Norfolk, Wrentham, Norwood, Dedham Westwood, Walpole, Dover and Sherborn. This is your chance to join our team as we look to expand throughout MA.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

B a s e Sa l a r y (Pa i d We e k l y ) â&#x20AC;˘ Co m m i s s i o n s

Please email your resume to: Lori Koller - Sales Manager at kollerl@verizon.net.

Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com

Page 20

January 1, 2014

Regional Emergency Planning Committee Receives State Certification Local Towns Will Work Together on Emergency Preparation

Happy New Year from The Lock Clinic!

BY J.D. O’GARA

Offering the most complete range of convenience, safety and security systems. Gift

• Audio Installations • Automatic Starters & Alarms • Back Up Cameras • Bluetooth • Custom Stereos • GPS Navigation Audio

Back Up Cameras

Certificates • Heated Seats • Mobile Video - DVD • Special Requests • Heated Windshield Washer Fluid Systems

Lights

Mobile Video

Don’t get caught in the cold! Remote Starters installed at THE LOCK CLINIC! 433 Walpole St. • Norwood, MA 02062

781-769-6641

After a two- to three-year effort, Wednesday, November 13th, the Central Norfolk Regional Emergency Planning Committee, comprised of emergency officials from participating towns in the area, was presented full certification status from the State Emergency Response Commission. Douglas Forbes, Region II Local Coordinator from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), on behalf of SERC (State Emergency Response Commission), presented the certificate to members at the Walpole Public Library. “I would like to commend all members of the Central Norfolk Emergency Planning Committee for their hard work and dedication. Thanks to their efforts, this region is a much stronger and safer place in which to live and work. The State Emergency Response Commission has unanimously approved the Central Norfolk application for Full Certification,” says Forbes. At present, members of the Central Norfolk Regional Emergency Planning Committee include the towns of Norwood, Canton, Medway, Millis, Sharon, Walpole and Westwood. Additional towns, Bellingham, Norfolk and Dedham are currently in the process of being certified as members of the committee, while five more towns, Franklin, Wrentham,

Personalized Service for You and Your Vehicle

781-762-0013

Factory Level Advanced Diagnostic Equipment for your Technologically Advanced Vehicle

Mercedes-Benz • BMW • Audi • Mini Cooper www.revolutionautomotiveservices.com • revolutionautomotiveservices@gmail.com

Medfield, Dover and Needham have recently been invited to join. Members of the committee meet to pool resources and coordinate efforts in the event of emergencies such as hazardous spills. The effort involves connecting federal, state and local officials, administrators, first responders and departments of public services. The group conducts training and exercises to optimize emergency preparedness. “With all these communities, we do mutual aid,” says Mike Laracy, Chair of the New Committee and Deputy Chief of the Walpole Fire Department, who says the regional committee is useful, for example, in that “we’re actually learning about hazardous materials not only in our own communities but outside our communities, so we have an idea of what’s in their town.” Firefighters, police officers and other emergency responders, then, will be able to take precautions and aid neighboring communities when called upon to do so. “It’s good for town chiefs to meet here rather than at an incident,” says Forbes, who points out that members can reference those with specialized certification from other participating towns if need be, making the emergency effort a team approach with respect to the towns. Jeff Trust, Chairman of the Medway Emergency Planning Committee, adds that certification will be important down the road for communities to receive state and federal reimbursements for HAZMAT incidents and grants for first-responder training and equipment.

Run Your Ads With Us! Call Christina

(508) 468-6916