FPA JULY 2026 WEB

Science writer and producer

Evan Hadingham

page 16

Get the family caregiving help you need with resources in Massachusetts.

The AARP Family Caregiver Resource Guide for Massachusetts helps family caregivers access key programs, services and agencies in their community.

To order a copy of the guide, call the AARP Family Caregiving Resource Line at 1-877-333-5885 and request the AARP Family Caregiver Resource Guide for Massachusetts. Or view it online at aarp.org/CaregiverResources

ball game…and into the community

By Jennifer Benson, AArP MAssAchusetts stAte Director

Summer in Massachusetts is here, and there is no better place to soak it all in than under the lights at Polar Park. The crack of the bat, the smell of ballpark snacks, and the energy of a cheering crowd all add up to a classic New England evening. And this season, AARP Massachusetts is stepping up to the plate with a winning offer: free admission to Worcester Red Sox “WooSox” games on Tuesday nights for members and their guests.

It is a chance to enjoy America’s pastime without spending a dime, but more importantly, it is an opportunity to reconnect, recharge, and rediscover the joy of being part of a community.

Every Tuesday home game, AARP members who show their card can receive free general admission tickets, making it easy to grab a seat, bring a friend, and settle in for a night of baseball. These evenings are not just about what happens on the field. AARP Massachusetts hosts “Tuesday Nights at the Ballpark,” creating a relaxed, welcoming space where people can gather, meet fellow members, and share a fun experience together.

Think of it as a social home run.

AARP research shows that staying socially connected is one of the most important factors in healthy aging. Spending time with others, whether it is friends, family, or new faces, helps boost happiness, improve well-being, and even support long-term health. Social interaction keeps people engaged in their communities and fosters that all-important sense of belonging and purpose.

In baseball terms, you do not want to sit on the bench when it comes to your social life.

As we get older, it can take a little more effort to stay connected. Friends move away, schedules change, and routines shift. But that is exactly why opportunities like these Tuesday night games matter. They offer an easy, low-pressure way to get out of the house, enjoy fresh air, and strike up conversations with people who share your interests.

And let’s be honest, it is hard not to smile when you are watching a close game, singing along during the seventh-inning stretch, or debating a call with the fans around you.

Whether you are a lifelong baseball fan or just looking for a fun night out, the WooSox games deliver. You can cheer on up-and-coming talent, enjoy the buzz of the crowd, and maybe even catch a foul ball. More importantly, you can connect. AARP highlights that meaningful social interactions can enhance quality of life, support emotional well-being, and contribute to a longer, healthier life.

So, this summer, consider it your invitation to step up to the plate.

Grab a friend, bring a neighbor, or come solo and meet someone new. With free admission on Tuesday nights, there is nothing holding you back from making memories, building connections, and enjoying the simple pleasure of a summer evening at the ballpark. You can find more information at aarp.org/ma

Because when it comes to healthy aging, staying social is a grand slam. Take

Enjoy some sweet and savory afternoon tea destinations

tradition speaks to the joy these gatherings impart.

REGION – The culinary adventure of afternoon tea is an experience unto itself. Tiered trays artfully display savory finger bites followed by indulgent sweet pastries paired with an incomparable cup of tea. Be it delicate, robust, or mellow it is a delightful way to enjoy an afternoon with friends and family. The influx of tea houses and the staying power of this 19th-century English

Long gap between British meal times

Invented by the 7th Duchess of Bedford, Anna Maria Russell, in 1840, afternoon tea was meant to bridge the long gap between traditional British meal times – breakfast and an eight o’clock dinner. The Duchess typically needed a mid-day nibble and preferred tea and a

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston

Long elegant tables fill the Orangerie and the Limonaia conservatories to host guests for New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill’s Garden Dining Series events. They recently hosted the Aromatic Table, An Afternoon Tea where in partnership with Peppers Artful Events, 100 guests were treated to a delightful four-course, tea-focused dining adventure paired with unique and interesting teas.

Savory dishes included stuffed apricots, Coronation Chicken on a cinnamon profiterole, and classic cheddar chive scones. The glorious sweets included a honey lavender bonbon, rose water and lemon shortbread, and chocolate Earl Grey macaroons. Served alongside tea pairings such as iced rosehip hibiscus tea and iced chamomile moon tea.

Their upcoming Frost and Flora Afternoon Tea, February 21, 2027, is inspired by a variety of garden herbs. The delectable offerings will be served with an assortment of hot teas. Details will be available on their calendar this fall (https://nebg.org/).

side of cake, and bread with butter. Her daily routine, which often included inviting guests to partake, became a fun, celebratory event.

Afternoon tea, while traditionally held for the elite class, has become mainstream, and it’s no wonder. Who doesn’t love to sample unique and interesting savory nibbles and sweet pastries while enjoying a cup of tea with friends? Girls outings, birthday parties, baby showers, and family get-togeth-

Julienne’s

Afternoon Tea Experience, Hudson

Your first encounter with Julienne’s is a tiered tray filled with charming fascinators for you to select the perfect match to your frock. Fascinators are a lightweight alternative to a fancy hat. Stylish British women wear them to elegant afternoon teas; they are a must at royal weddings, and horse racing events.

Julienne’s is a great spot for gathering a group of family or friends. You can reserve one of their themed rooms like the Butterfly Garden and Enchanted Forest for a private event. Each guest can select their own pot of tea from the extensive tea menu. Non-tea aficionados will appreciate the box of tea samples where you can sniff all the varieties offered, making your choice somewhat less difficult.

Special events like Me and My Princess Tea Party, Tea Leaf Readings and more can be found on their website (https://www.juliennesafternoontea. com/).

ers are the perfect time to indulge in this age-old tradition.

Not to be confused with high tea – which is a practical and hearty working-class supper served at high tables between 5:00 and 7:00 pm – afternoon tea remains an elegant social affair with dainty nibbles and served between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Here are some places where you can enjoy afternoon tea in Massachusetts.

The Dunbar House, Sandwich

The historic Dunbar House is a quintessential Cape Cod slice of history. For nearly 370 years a home has been situated here overlooking Shawne Pond. Rustic furnishings and deep wood tones impart a wealth of history–“if only these walls could talk, I wonder what secrets they would tell.”

More than a tea house, the Dunbar House is a full service restaurant that offers afternoon tea events. Explore an Afternoon Tea With Jasmine–an Arabian inspired tea for your little princes and princesses. Cape Cod-inspired gardeners will love their Hydrangea Garden Tea Party. Other whimsical and specialty tea and dinner events fill their calendar (https://www.thedunbarhouse.com/).

Silver Dome Afternoon Tea, Boston Silver Dome Afternoon Tea offers a changing, gluten-free seasonal menu served with a personal pot of meticulously brewed tea. They also offer British-inspired cocktails for the non-tea drinkers.

They offer a take-out menu; grab a tea and scone for a casual picnic on the Boston Common (https://silverdovetea.com/).

Independent journalist’s podcast explores unsolved murder

By colin MccAnDless contriButing Writer

GRAFTON – Journalist Richard Price

lives in a town still haunted by an unsolved crime that took the life of one of its young residents more than 30 years ago.

Ten-year-old Grafton resident Holly Piirainen was vacationing at her grandparents’ house in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, on Aug. 5, 1993, when she disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

She and her younger brother Zach had taken a five-minute walk to see a litter of collie puppies play on a neighbor’s property. Zach returned home shortly afterward, leaving his sister alone. When her father Richard sent both her brothers Zach and Andy to search for her around lunchtime that day, she was gone. The brothers found one of Holly’s shoes near a wooden fence, but no sign of Holly. Hunters discovered her remains 79 days later in the woods about nine miles away in Brimfield. Her death was ruled a homicide, but her killer has never been found.

True crime podcast

This is the harrowing backstory behind “Holly’s Been Taken: A True Crime Podcast,” researched, written and produced

by Price. He is currently an independent journalist and is the former editor of the Grafton News who has written for various newspapers for over three decades. It spans six episodes released over 2022 and 2023.

The case involved a massive search effort that included officers, 20 police dogs, dive teams, the FBI, volunteers and Boy Scouts. It captivated mainstream media outlets and the family even contacted the true crime television show “America’s Most Wanted.”

years later, Holly’s murderer remains at large.

the-mill suburban community. “A community everyone would consider safe,” he said. “It was an opportunistic crime. The fact that it’s still unsolved today has contributed to a certain aura.”

One reason it remains unsolved, said Price, is its complexity. “This is a case that is definitely not simple. There’s more to it than meets the eye.” He views his podcast as an expansion of the conversation surrounding the case.

•

Initially, the cops’ prime suspect entailed a white, middle-aged man in a pickup truck who had been reported earlier that same day leering at teenage girls checking their mailbox. One of the teenage girls later told police the man drove off in the direction of Allen Road and South Shore Drive where Holly was last seen with the puppies. No one has ever been arrested for the crime, and 33

An opportunistic crime Unsolved murder cases are more common than you might think. According to data provided by the Murder Accountability Project, nearly half of murders in the U.S. go unsolved.

What made this unsolved murder case so intriguing to Price was that Holly was a 10-year-old girl abducted in broad daylight in a traditional, run-of-

For example, three persons of interest scrutinized in “Holly’s Been Taken” – David Pouliot, convicted child murderer Lewis Lent and convicted murderer Rodney Stanger – all had familiarity with and connections to the area of Brimfield woods where Holly’s body was found. But no concrete evidence has ever been produced directly linking any of them to her murder. Price’s podcast dives into typical investigative journalist work, weaving a narrative based on police department documents and interviews conducted with people listed in various reports, but he also speaks with Holly’s family members, such as her cousin and close friend Leah Jolin, who spent a week together with Holly at summer camp just

of young Grafton girl

before her death.

“She gives you the personal side. I think that’s something you don’t see enough of in true crime podcasts,” stated Price. “It’s also a story about the people that she (Holly) left behind.”

Keeping the case in the public eye

Price said Holly’s family was cooperative from the start and remained so during the entire process of researching the podcast. He called it an honor to work with them on the project and expressed his sincere gratitude. While some family members are understandably overwhelmed and are dealing with this tragedy in their own way, others such as Jolin and Holly’s aunt Carla Jackman (Richard’s sister), who serves as the family spokesperson, have been open to discussing the murder and its aftermath.

“We want to keep her case out there, so people are talking,” explained Jackman in a Zoom interview. “It’s basically keeping the case out there and hoping for answers.”

Price said the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office has also kept the case in front of the public, hosting a Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) event in Brimfield on Nov. 9, 2025, dedicated to advancing Holly’s case.

Holly’s death still profoundly affects the family. Jackman said they cope with the grief the best they can. “It’s still a struggle. I think of her every day.”

Reminders are everywhere, including the fact that Holly’s niece is now 10, the same age as when Holly passed. Seeing similar cases on the news triggers painful memories. “It just doesn’t go away,” she recounted.

While Price noted that every family deals with traumatic situations differently, he added to Jackman, “I think that your family becomes a source of inspiration for a lot of people, as far as building your strength, and just finding a way to get through.”

Despite the anguish, Jackman said that while she can’t speak for other family members, she still holds out hope that Holly’s killer will be found, citing murder cases that have been solved 30 to 40 years later because of DNA evidence or new technological advances. The Hampden County DA (Anthony Gulluni) gives her hope as well. “I think he feels confident it’s going to get solved. So that gives me hope too – that he feels that way.”

Jackman said police are still looking into the same half-dozen persons of interest from the start of the case and keeping track of them. Price added that the investigative team seems sensitive to the family, and the lead investigator responds immediately to Jackman’s questions via text or email. “We do have good communication with the police,” she asserted. “A lot of cases,

people don’t.”

The man in the pickup truck

In the final episode of “Holly’s Been Taken,” Price revisits the man in the pickup. On the day of Holly’s disappearance, a team of retired investigators allege that a white, middle-aged man in a brown pickup truck sporting facial hair and a hat slowed to a crawl along Allen Road so he could leer at two teenage girls as they checked their mailbox. He returned a short time later to leer at them again. Holly was standing about 200 yards away up Allen Road from where the encounter occurred with the litter of puppies. The investigators concluded that the man was allegedly responsible for Holly’s abduction and murder.

Price did a deep dive into the man’s background, examining public records and interviewing scores of people. Over time, he was able to create a detailed picture of his whereabouts, past, personality and family. Based on the police incident report, he also a developed a comprehensive timeline on the moments before and after Holly’s abduction, which revealed new details. The alleged suspect has never been charged or publicly identified by the district attorney as a person of interest in the case. As such, Price chose not to share his name publicly in the episode and refers to him as “the man in the pickup truck.”

Other intriguing details are disclosed in the episode including Jackman telling Price in an interview with family members that investigators informed them the man in the pickup truck correctly identified the shirt Holly was wearing on the day of her abduction. It was not the same shirt she was wearing in the missing person poster. It was a detail only an individual who saw her that day would have known.

However, two key facets of his background didn’t match the teens’ description. His ex-wife said her husband drove a dark brown truck and was always clean shaven. The man they described drove a tannish or white truck and was bearded.

The “burning question,” as Price muses in his podcast, is “Do the police have his DNA from Brimfield?”

Meanwhile, the search for answers continues. Price urged that people reading this should know that “every little crumb of information can lead to something else.”

If you or someone you know has information surrounding the abduction or homicide of Holly Piirainen, no matter how seemingly inconsequential, please contact the Hampden District Attorney’s office in Springfield, Massachusetts. The website is hampdenda.com. You may also call the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit at 413-505-5946 or the State Police Unresolved Cases Unit at 855-627-6583. You can also text the word Solve to 274637 from your cell phone.

Aerosmith narrowly escaped death on doomed plane

By shAron oliver contriButing Writer

BOSTON – There are some sad dates in rock music history and October 20, 1977, is indeed one of them. During the summer of 1977, Boston band Aerosmith scouted for planes for their upcoming fall “Draw the Line” tour. One aircraft the band management had inspected was a Convair CV-240 plane located in Addison, Texas. However, the band’s assistant chief of flight operations Zunk Buker and his father felt the plane’s condition was not being maintained properly. Plus, watching the pilots share a bottle of Jack Daniel’s was too much for them and for Aerosmith, despite the band’s partying reputation.

Last flight

Unfortunately, fate would not be so kind to Lynyrd Skynyrd, who did charter the plane for their fall tour, ironically named Tour of the Survivors. The band had performed at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium in Greenville, South Carolina on October 19, 1977. They boarded the plane the next day and set out for Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to perform at Louisiana State University. The plane ran out of fuel towards the end of their journey and crashed in a heavily wooded area in Gillsburg, Mississippi.

Reportedly, the pilots initially tried to re-route towards McComb Airport, which was about 10 miles away from where the plane eventually went down. After realizing they would not make it to the airport, they attempted an emergency landing. Sadly, the plane skimmed the top of the tree line and crashed into a large tree, splitting the plane into pieces. Out of the 26 people on board, 20 survived. Those who died in the crash, included lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist and vocalist Steve Gaines along with Gaines’s sister, Cassie Gaines, who was touring as a backing vocal-

ist, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, Captain Walter McCreary, and First Officer William John Gray. Other members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were severely injured, and some took years and even decades to recover. The crash is among the most tragic events in rock and aviation history.

Survivor’s guilt

Upon hearing of the heartbreaking news, shaken members of Aerosmith soon realized the plane was the same aircraft they had turned down months prior and were left with feeling survivor’s guilt. In 2015, Aerosmith’s founding member and guitarist Joe Perry told Crave Online, “It was a terrible tragedy, and we just consid-

ered ourselves incredibly lucky. People were flying on all these different planes, and it was very common to be on a plane Fleetwood Mac had been on the week before.

“We’ve always felt there was somebody watching over us, and this was another example of that. People were put in our lives that helped bail us out for one reason or another. Fortunately, we had someone looking at the plane that we would be taking, and he put his foot down. To be that close to it… it was really a blow, up and down the line. From knowing those guys, to the loss of music and beyond.”

The flight was intended to be the last flight the “Sweet Home Alabama” singers would make on the Convair

since they were planning on acquiring a Learjet after arriving in Baton Rouge, to replace the 30-year-old ancient vessel. The fatal crash took place three days following the release of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s studio album “Street Survivors” with the original album cover showing the band surrounded by flames. In lieu of the tragedy, MCA replaced the image with a new cover, showing the band against a simple black background.

As mentioned in the Aerosmith memoir, “Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith,” lead singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry were initially very interested in renting the ill-fated plane. Low-fueled or not, wiser voices prevailed.

‘The end of an era’: Remembering Spag Borgatti’s passing, 30 years later

By MichAel PernA Jr contriButing Writer

SHREWSBURY – As anyone who lived anywhere close to Shrewsbury – and even many people who lived farther away – knew, Anthony “Spag” Borgatti, Jr. was a respected and loved resident of the town. This was because everyone loved shopping at “Spag’s,” his store, for bargains, but also because of the generosity and compassion that he and his wife, Olive (Lutz) Borgatti, showed for the town and its residents.

Many people still remember how, whenever a Shrewsbury resident passed away, Spag and Olive would pay for the “mercy meal” after their funeral, then dedicate a book to the Shrewsbury Public Library in their memory. Whenever someone was in dire circumstances – like an illness or fire at their home – Spag and Olive would help them out until they got back on their feet.

So, when Spag passed away on February 23, 1996, just a few days shy of his 80th birthday, it was a sad day for the town and its residents.

Spag, who had started out in business in 1936 with a loan of $35 from his mother, built his store into a multi-million-dollar enterprise. It was always – and still is – said that you could find anything you wanted or needed at Spag’s.

After his wife’s passing in 1990, Spag slowly began transitioning the operations of his store to his daughters. By the time of his passing, several changes had been made to the way the store was run – like having bags for customers to store their purchases, and being open for business on Sundays – but the store was as popular as ever.

When Spag passed away, it was like the entire town went into mourning. Tributes poured in from everyone from politicians to the everyday customers of Spag’s. The

newspaper headlines read “Retail Giant Spag Dies,” “Spag’s Legacy is a Model of Success,” “It Wasn’t Business as Usual in Shrewsbury,” and “Town Pays Tribute to Spag.”

Spag’s

Legacy is a Model of Success.

At his funeral service, which was held at Saint Anne’s Church, where Spag and Olive were loyal parishioners, more than 500 people filled the room, with many more being outside. Many of the attendees were Spag’s employees, with several of them wearing their Spag’s employee badges as a tribute to the man that always remembered each of their names.

After leaving the church service, a newspaper photographer captured the moment the hearse passed in front of Spag’s store, with the giant Spag’s logo mounted on it. It was a touching tribute and moment of sadness at the same time.

People erected signs all along the funeral procession’s route paying tribute to Spag. The Thomas family, which operates an auto parts business across Route 9 from Spag’s, put up a sign saying “Spag –We Will Miss You.”

Walter “Wally” Thomas, who was a teenager at the time, recalled that day: “My brother J. T., cousin Joe (Najarian), and myself put up the sign. It was a sad day – it was the end of an era.”

Anthony “Spag” Borgatti with Danka and Duchess.

Photo/courtesy

Michael Perna Jr.

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The Liberty Tree: a rallying point in America’s fight for independence

By shAron oliver contriButing Writer

BOSTON – As the country prepares to celebrate its semi-quincentennial (or quarter millennium) marking the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, we would be remiss to not recall a role or two that the great state of Massachusetts has played. One forgotten symbol of the American Revolution is the Liberty Tree, which was planted 16 years after Boston’s founding in 1646 and served as the rallying point for resistance against British rule.

Plaque marks location

The once famous and stately elm is now represented by a bronze plaque lying ground level at Washington and Essex streets in Boston and located across the street is an 1850s bronze carving of the tree that adorns a building. Historian Alfred F. Young thought the site’s absence from Boston’s Freedom Trail was not by accident. He argued in his 2006 book “Liberty Tree: Ordinary People and the American Revolution,” that “[Boston’s] Brahmin elite fostered a willful forgetting of the radical side of the Revolution.” Perhaps it’s one thing

to let the Boston Tea Party symbolize revolutionary mischief, and another thing to celebrate mobs who threatened hangings, ransacked houses, and tarred and feathered folks.

On January 14, 1766, John Adams met with a radical secret society inside a small room in a Boston distillery. He wrote, “Spent the Evening with the Sons of Liberty, at their own Apartment in Hanover Square, near the Tree of Liberty.”

The men discussed their opposition to Britain’s Stamp Act over cheese and biscuits and washed down with punch or wine. The hated Stamp Act required American colonists to pay a tax on nearly every document they created. Mortgages, deeds, contracts, court papers and shipping papers, newspapers and pamphlets – everything had to be

printed on paper with tax stamps.

On August 14th, locals discovered the initials “A.O.” pinned to the effigy on the tree. The initials were that of Andrew Oliver, a Boston merchant who had agreed to collect the stamp tax. On it, a boot dangled with a small devil figure peeking up from inside the boot and holding a copy of the law. The sign read “What Greater Joy did ever New England see than a Stamp man hanging on a Tree!”

Calls to action Protesters posted calls to action on its trunk and would often gather under

the elm. For years, as tensions between the colonies and Britain grew, the rowdiest of demonstrations took place at the Liberty Tree. The 1768 Liberty riot was a protest over the sei-

Pass Along Comfort

zure of John Hancock’s ship. It ended after the crowd seized a customs commissioner’s boat and dragged it from the dock to the Liberty Tree, held a mock trial on the premise and burned it on Boston Common.

In 1774, angry colonists tarred and feathered Captain John Malcom for firing a shoemaker. They took him to the Liberty Tree, where they placed a noose around his neck and threatened to hang him unless he cursed the governor. No one was cursed or hanged.

The British army chopped down the tree in 1775 and after they evacuated Boston in 1776, revolutionary Bostonians tried to reclaim the site. A “liberty pole” was erected on August 14, the 11th anniversary of the first protest but it didn’t last as a landmark–even though the Marquis de Lafayette included it in his 1825 tour of Boston. “The world should never forget the spot where once stood Liberty Tree, so famous in your annals,” Lafayette declared. Years later, Boston newspapers occasionally mentioned the site of the Liberty Stump.

A 23-foot-tall silver aluminum Liberty Tree that was created for the 1964 World’s Fair was later moved to Boston Common, but it also failed to become a landmark.

“In the full face of a ictions it is hard to see any sense to things that befall us, and we want to question the fairness of a faithful God. However, these moments can be the most meaningful of our lives.”

“God does not comfort us that we may be comforted but that we may be comforters.” We pine to pass along the comfort with which God has comforted us.

~ Billy Graham Hope for Each Day

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Shrewsbury’s Major General Artemas Ward was

commander at the Battle of Bunker Hill

By MichAel PernA Jr. contriButing Writer

SHREWSBURY - During the year 2026, when the United States celebrates its 250th year of independence, it is only fitting that we remember the Shrewsbury resident that played a significant role in the American Revolution – Major General Artemas Ward.

Artemas Ward was born in 1727 in Shrewsbury (the same year Shrewsbury became a town). He grew up in Shrewsbury and attended local schools before attending Harvard, graduating in 1748.

Early political and military career

He was married to Sarah Trowbridge of Groton, in 1750. The couple returned to Shrewsbury and opened a general store, eventually having eight children. Artemas became involved in political office at an early age, becoming a township assessor for Worcester County in 1751, followed by a number of different positions, and eventually being part of the Court of Common Pleas, where he served with John Hancock and Samuel Adams. He also served in the Massachu-

setts Militia, eventually being named as a general and the first commander-in-chief of the Massachusetts Militia in October 1774.

When the American Revolution began, he was ill but directed his troops from his sickbed in Shrewsbury. After the Battles of Lexington and Concord, both New Hampshire and Connecticut named him as the commander of their forces.

Battle of Bunker Hill

When more British forces arrived in Boston during May, Ward discovered that they planned to attack Bunker Hill and subsequently ordered his forces to occupy that location. He placed General Israel Putnam and Colonel William Prescott in charge of the troops there. It was on the same day, June 17, 1775, as the battle raged that the Continental Congress commissioned Ward as a major general, second in command only to George Washington.

It was Colonel Prescott that decided to secretly move the troops occupying Bunker Hill to Breed’s Hill, which was nearby but closer to the Charles River, this taking place on the night of June 16. The next day, approximately

2,300 British regulars made a frontal assault on the Colonial earthworks.

The Colonial forces, numbering about 1,000, were extremely low on ammunition. It was at this time they were given the famous order “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” This they did, waiting until the British lines were almost upon them before firing a devastating volley. The British made a second charge with similar results, then attacked a third time. At this point, the Colonial forces, their ammunition having run out, were ordered to retreat, but not before they had inflicted over 1,000 casualties on the British while suffering roughly 450 losses of their own.

Although the British were ultimately successful, it proved to be a great boost to the morale of the Colonial forces, proving they could stand up to the regular forces of the British Army.

The British Army lost a number of its leaders in the battle, including General Joseph Warren. The Battle of Bunker Hill forced the British to change their previous tactic of head-on attacks, and they subsequently evacuated the city of Boston on March 17, 1776.

Shrewsbury

native Major General Artemas Ward commanded the Colonial troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Boston in 1775.

Departure from the army

After that, General Washington took most of the Colonial troops to New York, however, Ward continued to serve as the commander of the “Eastern Department” until he resigned from the Army due to his poor health. Artemas Ward never got over the fact that Washington had replaced him. During a trip Washington made through Shrewsbury years later, he stopped by Ward’s house to say hello – Ward reportedly refused to come out to greet him, saying he was too ill!

Years later, the Bunker Hill Monument was erected to preserve the history of the battle, even though (as we know) the actual battle took place at Breed’s Hill.

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Retired Leicester police chief gives back by creating

By nAnce eBert contriButing Writer

HOLDEN - After a 40-year career in law enforcement, Jim Hurley retired as the chief of police in the town of Leicester. Soon after, he started a non-profit called 4Others Inc.

Giving back

“I knew I wanted to do something to give back and help make an impact,” said Hurley. “After retiring on December 31, 2019, I met with my attorney to set up a non-profit. My wife, Patricia, is a cofounder of this organization and she named it,” he explained. “Originally, we were going to do furniture and clothing but Mr. Fletcher, from the Fletcher Foundation in Worcester, reached out and steered us in a different direction as that market is saturated. That was great advice.”

The mission of 4Others Inc., a 501(c) 3 organization, is that it collects personal hygiene products like deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, brushes, and soap for those in need in the Worcester area. That became their primary lane of operation. Since the foundation started, things like dental floss, bandages, new underwear, socks and even a few basic ar-

ticles of winter clothing have been incorporated.

“My family has always been involved in giving back to the community,” said Hurley. “Father Tim Brewer of St. Mary’s in Holden shared two distinct messages during a church sermon. The first was that each and every day we encounter individuals that we know nothing about and the second was to do as much as we can for as many as we can as often as we can.”

Once the paperwork and non-profit status was complete, the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. They were still determined to get 4Others Inc. up and running, praying that they would make it while businesses struggled.

“Right before everything closed down, I reached out to my alma mater, St. John’s in Shrewsbury and embraced their notion that once you’re a Pioneer, you’re always a Pioneer,” Hurley noted. “After explaining to them what I was doing, they ran the most amazing product drive for me. This is truly what got me out of the gate and running.”

Many volunteer and donate Hurley and his wife are the board of directors but there are so many people

who volunteer their time and donate products. There are six volunteers who are the core of the non-profit’s group. Hurley admits they are the most phenomenal people you would ever want to meet and the heart and soul of 4Others Inc. They help to run everything smoothly and simply do it all from deliveries to pick up and more. They, too, give one hundred percent

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all while volunteering, he said. There are corporate partners, organizations and dozens of agencies that work with 4Others Inc. to make it the success that it is today. Big Y, Bombas, Veteran’s Inc., Hope and Comfort Hygiene Hub in Needham and so many others collaboratively help to make this non-profit such a huge success. Last year they made over 900

non-profit organization

deliveries and moved almost half a million dollars’ worth of product.

There are young adults and youth groups from St. Mary’s Shrewsbury, St. John’s High School and St. Mary’s in Holden that help to assemble hygiene kits each month. There are also developmentally disabled adults who assemble a wide variety of kits/items that get distributed.

Beyond rewarding “What we do is beyond rewarding,” said Hurley. “I get such a high at how people who are struggling are so happy to get hygiene products. We help give them a sense of pride which can be life changing,” he explained. “In the spring and fall of 2025 we distributed more than 5,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the Worcester Community Refrigerators. The sandwiches were made by St. Mary’s churches in the towns of Shrewsbury, Holden and Uxbridge.”

“In April 2025 I got a call from Greater Good Charities, and they wanted to do ‘Operation Stand Down’ in Worcester.,” said Hurley. “Veteran’s Inc. on Pearl Street participates in this program and has done so for the past twenty years at this location. They bring in the organizations like

lawyers, bankers, health and medical professionals, barbers, job placement and more to assist the veterans,” he noted. “I had always wanted to participate, and we got the opportunity in June 2025. I wasn’t sure if we had enough inventory and we were told not to worry about it and they sent us ten pallets of product, which was phenomenal,” said Hurley.

Hurley said everyone that works with 4Others Inc. has been beyond generous with their donations. After applying to the donation program at Bombas and waiting for almost three years to be accepted, they received 2500 pairs of socks. Last year, they received 5,000 pairs, which was amazing but still not enough Hurley explained. This year, they received 7500 pairs.

“This has been an amazing journey for me, and I am incredibly grateful how the people who supply us with donated items that actually change the lives of those who receive them,” said Hurley.

For more information you can go to their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100064936352408 or you can email them directly at 4Othersinc@ gmail.com.

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Framingham honors ‘Senior Heroes’ for sixth consecutive year

By nAnce eBert contriButing Writer

FRAMINGHAM – The sixth annual Framingham Senior Heroes Awards have once again honored four members of the community who generously donate their time and expertise to truly make a difference. This year, the four recipients are Jim Pillsbury, Glenda Thomas, Marty Dutton and Audrey Hall.

The Framingham Council on Aging’s Senior Heroes Awards program honors those who selflessly give back through their mentorship, leadership, and volunteerism to enhance their community. While there are many individuals who are also committed to giving back to their community, these four people have been chosen for this special recognition.

The four categories for the awards are Culture and Arts, Social Development, Health and Healthcare and Public Service.

Public service

Audrey M. Hall has spent twenty-seven years volunteering and strongly believes that public service is earned through trust. She is receiving the Public Service Award and emphasized that this acknowledgement is also for inclusion and diversity; two key factors she

“I’m just one of many who volunteer. I feel so grateful for being awarded this honor,” says Marty Dutton, second from right, this year’s Framingham Senior Heroes Awards winner in the Health and Healthcare category. Photos/Submitted

Colony Retirement Home III is congregate housing for seniors. Enjoy nutritious “Home Cooked Meals,” served in our attractive dining room with your neighbors and friends.

has fought so hard to ensure.

“I was nominated by another community volunteer, so, to me, that means a lot. I have always believed that public service is earned by trust,” said Hall. “Over the years, I have tried to earn that trust by doing the work, being honest, listening to different viewpoints and seeking out the facts. We look at the issues and the context and then stay focused on what’s best for the community.”

Earning that respect from the community has given Hall the motivation to continue and means more to her than anything, she said. She was the Chair and Vice Chair of the Town Meeting Ways and Means Committee, reviewing every article and policy. She has been a huge advocate for the education sector and one program led to the offering of full-day kindergarten.

“I think that receiving this recognition is so meaningful. People know they can count on me to care deeply about improving our community. Every single voice matters and if you recognize that and people feel respected, you get a positive outcome,” said Hall.

Social development Glenda Thomas is being given the Social Development Award. She is the founder of the Framingham Senior Heroes Awards program, which began

“I have always believed that public service is earned by trust,” says Audrey Hall, this year’s Framingham Senior Heroes Awards winner in the Public Service category.

Bee your best as you age

“I am very proud and happy knowing that I created something that will leave a legacy within the community,” says Glenda Thomas, this year’s Framingham Senior Heroes Awards winner in the Social Development category.

“It is amazing after all this time that I would be recognized for my contributions to the community through public media,” says Jim Pillsbury, this year’s Framingham Senior Heroes Awards winner in the Culture and Arts category.

By MAriAnne lyons Delorey, Ph.D.

“In construction, the only project that goes exactly according to plan is the lunch break.” — Sandra “Square” Rodriguez

For the past few years, Colony has been working toward a rebuild of one of our sites – this is a big project – relocation of existing residents plus demolition and rebuild. There are a lot of moving parts and (as someone who is far less familiar with this scale of construction) there is a lot going on with people from several different subspecialties. I have been learning a lot, and I am grateful for the experience.

As always, when I think of something I am learning about, I often think about how it relates to aging. If we were building our own aging or retirement, who would you count on for each of these subspecialties? How would they support the end result of a person living their best life?

during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked hard to recognize seniors through inclusivity and diversity.

“I am very proud and happy knowing that I created something that will leave a legacy within the community,” said Thomas. “The program inspired so many to volunteer and make a difference and be recognized.”

Thomas said she is humbled to be given this award, and she recognizes all the good work the seniors have done and continue to do.

“Framingham is a culturally rich community. We should all be proud of that; it’s how we can grow to be a better community,” she said.

Culture and arts

Jim Pillsbury is receiving his award for Culture and Arts. For well over a decade, he hosted live shows in the public access television sphere, with the first show called “Jim Pillsbury Live,” which was an hour long with two guests for thirty minutes each. Some of the topics included at the time were controversial. The show was interactive and viewers could call in and ask questions. His other show was called “Jim Pillsbury Live from the Knotty Pine Café” with live music performed at the opening, and he played the drums before hosting each show. Both his shows invited the community in and gave them a space to feel connected.

His show also motivated those in the Framingham community to advo-

cate for a safe haven law. (This law ensures infant safety where newborns can be surrendered in specified locations.)

In addition, Pillsbury said recognizing our veterans is important to him and he used his show to help fly the POW/MIA flag on town buildings.

“It is amazing after all this time that I would be recognized for my contributions to the community through public media. What I did, as an amateur, was groundbreaking and even controversial. I am just thrilled,” said Pillsbury.

Health and healthcare

Marty Dutton is being given the Health and Healthcare Award. She has helped lead the Keep Framingham Beautiful (KFB) initiative, bringing those in the community together through various projects since 2020.

“I’m just one of many who volunteer. I feel so grateful for being awarded this honor and being nominated by the Keep Framingham Beautiful co-chairs, Mike Croci and Debra Caplan. They are the reason KFB is so successful,” said Dutton.

KFB is an anti-litter task force that believes everyone is entitled to a cleaner, greener, healthier place to live, work and play. Because litter contributes to so many environmental hazards and affects humans, plants, animals and more, Dutton is passionate about how microplastics affect the environment and our health and she implements projects that support her cause and gets many in the community involved.

“Anyone can pick up trash and help to make a difference. It’s actually gratifying and helps to improve your sense of well-being while getting some exercise,” said Dutton.

And so, here are some of the trades I have recently encountered and how each one of them could help us build our dream retirement. Civil Engineering – A civil engineer tends to be one of the first trades on site. They are truly “in on the ground floor” for any project. Their job is to assess the site and how it can connect with the infrastructure around the project (like utility lines and roads). For retirees, the civil engineer is probably going to help people understand the connections to the current aging infrastructure. Does your town have a senior center? Where is the closest bus stop? How are the local sidewalks?

Architect – one of the best parts of working with an architect is thinking big. It is a chance to imagine what you want without limits, even if you later have to pare them back. What do you imagine for your own retirement? Do you want to travel? Volunteer? Watch your grandchildren? Write down all your dreams. Engineering – Engineers help implement what the architect imagines. For instance, maybe your building has an open floor plan. Where would you need to put beams in to support the roof? Go back through your wish list. Look carefully at what dreams you can support given your health and your energy level.

Budgeting – This is your accountant. You can imagine a dream building, but do you have the resources for all the things you want? If you have to “value engineer” your list, what will make the cut? What floats to the top of your list as most important in retirement?

Design – The design team is critical to determining what will make a house a home. Similarly, a design team for a retiree could help someone determine what aspects of their plan need softening. You may have a very limited budget for all your wants. What luxuries are essential to making your retirement worth living?

Lawyers – All good construction projects include lawyers. Don’t forget the essentials of good retirement – a will, power of attorney, and health care proxy, plus anything you need for your particular situation.

Project Management – a project manager keeps the ball rolling. In retirement, a project manager could help keep each of the subspecialists talking to each other to make sure all aspects are taken into consideration. Also, when there is a bump in the road (and there will be), the project manager will set the plan rolling again, sometimes with adjustments.

I know this is a silly comparison, but, as Benjamin Franklin noted, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” Don’t forget your retirement, it is no different. Yes, it may change, but take the opportunity to take it seriously and plan it out as if it were as important as a building. Because it is.

Marianne Delorey, Ph.D., is the executive director of Colony Retirement Homes. She can be reached at 508-755-0444 or mdelorey@colonyretirement.com and www.colonyretirementhomes.com. Archives of articles from previous issues can be read at www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.

Vacation time: staying and going

By JAnice linDsAy contriButing Writer

July. Vacation time, when Americans leave home to visit places that other people are leaving to go someplace else.

A certain restlessness resides in the human spirit, a desire to experience what’s on the other side of the mountain.

The restlessness missed me. When my younger sister and I were children, our grandfather, with whom our family lived, described me as a homebody. I was happy at home with library books for adventure.

To be fair, I must say that we two had very little travel experience. Our family took exactly one vacation trip during our pre-teen years. We journeyed from our northern Rhode Island village to Cape Cod and we stayed overnight! I don’t know where it was, but I remember we slept in a cabin at the edge of a wooded playground where we enjoyed a huge seesaw. That’s what I best remember, the seesaw, and the fact that I had to sleep with my sister who turned out to be a nighttime thrasher. She remembers the seesaw, too, and

remembers not caring that she caused me bedtime inconvenience.

It’s lucky for me, a confirmed homebody, that I married a man who wanted to see what’s on the other side of the mountain. Otherwise, I never would have gone anywhere. And even though I had no desire to leave my dear home, I was always glad I went.

The poet of Amherst, Emily Dickinson, who hardly ever went anywhere herself, wrote, “There is no frigate like a book/To take us lands away…” Of course I agree with Emily about books. But, with all due respect to Emily, by reading a book you can’t see the desert sky at night, or smell the mountain air, or taste British cream teas, or hear the ocean roar on a rocky shore.

The first year of our marriage, Dick, a research engineer, attended two back-to-back technical conferences, first in Geneva, Switzerland then in Manchester, England. He had the urge to see new places. He took vacation time before the Geneva meeting so we could rent a car and drive around Switzerland and Germany. I would never have thought of taking such a trip – or have thought of wanting to – but I went because he asked me to and I wanted to be a good sport.

For the first time in my life I had to – yikes! – get on an airplane. I can’t say I’ve ever enjoyed that part

of any trip, no matter how often I’ve done it. My way of coping is to immerse myself in a good book and pretend to be someplace else.

But on that first trip, once we landed in Luxembourg and got into our little rental car and we were on our own, we had a fine time.

And so it was. I had no desire to go any place, but I went anyway, once a year for decades – England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Paris, Peru, Costa Rica, many places in the United States and Canada, usually on combination hiking/driving trips. Enjoyed them all. Learned a lot. Met interesting people.

Now, though, Dick is gone, and I am alone. I can go or stay, as I wish.

I play a little game with myself when I see people saying goodbye to travelers at our local long-distance bus stop. These voyagers are leaving to catch a plane or a train or another bus. I ask myself, “Would you rather be the person staying or the person going?” The answer is always the same: I would rather by the person who is going home.

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Cape Cod amusement park captivated tourists for half a century

By MichAel PernA Jr contriButing Writer

DENNISPORT - Back in the early 1950s, John and Gladys Zinkevich opened what would become a wildly popular summertime entertainment destination in the Cape Cod village of Dennisport. They named their new business Sea View Playland, a name that would become known to thousands upon thousands of Cape vacationers for over fifty years.

The new amusement park, situated on sixteen and a half acres of land, was located on Lower County Road and stretched all the way to the shore on Chase Avenue.

Barn was park centerpiece The centerpiece of the business was the “Barn of Fun.” The barn itself had been built by a couple from Worcester and had actually been used as a dairy and egg farm before the Zinkevich family purchased it in 1949. They transformed a number of chicken coops into small cottages that visitors could rent.

Inside the barn, which featured a clown painted on its green roof, could be found all kinds of arcade games, including pinball machines and skee-ball. E. J. O’Rourke, a resident of Shrewsbury whose great-aunt was Gladys Zinkevich, still fondly remembers how his first job, at the age of eleven in 2003 was running the prize counter in the arcade. “I collected all the flags from the pitch and putt course at night for $3,” he recalled. His father, the late Edward “Eddie” O’Rourke spent a great deal of time at Sea View Playland, developing a fondness for pinball machines, eventually acquiring a large collection of them.

The pitch and putt course was in addition to a mini-golf course. A large blue statue of a hippopotamus stood watch over the first hole on the course,

The “Barn of Fun” at Seaview Playland in Dennisport offered a wide variety of arcade games, including pinball machines and skee-ball.

greeting the mini-golfers. Years later, after the park closed and was sold, the hippo was donated to Nickerson State Park in Brewster where it still stands today.

Decline, closure and rebirth

By the early 2000s, ownership of Sea View Playland had passed to Janice Girouard. After a period of declining business, presumably due to the growing popularity of online gaming and other pursuits, the park was closed in 2004, marking the end of an era of summer fun on the Cape.

The park was offered to the town of Dennis, which ended up purchasing the property for $4.9 million. The Barn of Fun was torn down and the property converted to what is now called Sea View Park. The redeveloped park now includes picnic tables, benches, and parking. Playgrounds with slides and swings have rubber mats to ensure safe play areas for children. A man-made pond and community gardens can be accessed by a short walking trail. Tennis courts were also installed.

Another rose-lined walking path leads to the ocean and what is known as the Chase Avenue jetty, which is touted to offer “a breathtaking view of Nantucket Sound.”

Despite all the improvements and changes to the old Sea View Playland, it appears that the Sea View Park is not as popular as it was during the heyday of the amusement park. It has few visitors other than families with very small children, with nothing left but fading memories of the fun times that thousands of visitors enjoyed for the more than fifty years that Sea View Playland was “the place to go” in Dennisport on Cape Cod.

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Sharing the world’s wonders Science writer and producer Evan Hadingham

By MAtt roBinson contriButing Writer

REGION – Evan Hadingham, who grew up in post-World War II England, has had an enduring interest in writing about and researching both technology and ancient history since childhood.

As the son of a father who was a Royal Air Force squadron leader who also ran a print shop and a mother who was “an excellent writer and editor,” Hadingham had an early interest in aircraft and the means and support to tell others about it in an intelligent (and well-edited) way.

Aviation history interest “I grew up with a deep interest in aviation history,” said the avid model plane enthusiast who had assembled an impressive scrapbook of aviation articles and images in celebration of the 50th anniversary of World War I. “One day, when I was at home from school with a cold, I wrote a rather obnoxious letter to a well-known London publisher, pointing out minor errors in one of their books and mentioning my scrapbook. They asked me to come in and show it to them.”

After the publisher adjusted to the idea of his ersatz editor being 13, he asked Hadingham to write a book about WWI aircraft.

“For the next three years,” Hadingham recalls, “I researched and wrote a reference book on WWI triplanes.”

In addition to intensive academic research and visits to many libraries, museums, and other venues, Hadingham had the privilege of interviewing some of the last living pilots from the very missions he was chronicling.

“I have vivid memories of talking to those ex-pilots,” he maintained, noting that, as many of them had en-

listed illegally when they were technically too young, he could relate to doing what people did not expect boys to do at such an early age.

“It was easy for me as a teenager to imagine myself in their shoes,” he said, “facing deadly peril in the skies every day either from combat

“I seem to have always had wide interests in science, technology, and ancient history,” Hadingham said. While in middle school he produced a limited edition (as in one copy) typewritten science magazine called Discovery that (with the help of his father’s print shop) was expanded

or their unreliable aircraft.”

While interviewing a pilot may not be as harrowing as being one, Hadingham would go on to be actively involved in many missions and studies that were more first-person. He would eventually come to be one of the most respected resources for others who wanted as close to firsthand experience as possible.

Preserving Memories with Dignity

and then documentaries. Archeology career “After college,” he explained, “I alternated writing popular books about archaeology and prehistory with laboring on archaeological sites in the UK and France. I also took an MA degree in prehistory

during his high school years into a “more general newsletter” called Troubadour.

“I always had strong support for my early literary efforts,” he said gratefully.

With the support of his parents, Hadingham pursued writing for many years, expanding his repertoire even further to include books

and archaeology at the University of Sheffield, which was very important for grounding my understanding of scientific research.”

One of his early post-college efforts resulted in the book “Secrets of the Ice Age.”

“I visited and photographed cave art inside about 50 caves in France and Spain,” he recalled, not-

ing that many of them were closed to the public. “These underground encounters with mysterious works of cave art were among the most memorable experiences of my twenties.”

Working for Nova at WGBH When that book was done, Hadingham jumped across the pond from one Cambridge to another and has been on our side ever since. Though he continued to work with other organizations, Hadingham made what may be his most profound mark working with the talented team at WGBH that produced the

es you that every word counts,” he observed, “and that you can nearly always find simpler and more vivid ways to express the same thing.”

This experience (which Hadingham cites as “the best discipline there is if you want to communicate effectively in any medium”) led to other opportunities, including an invitation to contribute to a book that was being put together by the Leakey Foundation (which had also launched the legendary career of the late Dr. Jane Goodall.)

“[They] commissioned me to

Award-winning science program Nova.

“I was privileged to be part of the amazing creative community at WGBH for nearly three decades,” he smiled. “One contribution I’m particularly proud of is helping to create the genre of hands-on experimental archaeology programs, which led to the hugely popular series ‘Secrets of Lost Empires.’”

Hadingham’s time at WGBH not only allowed him to dig deep into other interests but also to transition from print to broadcast.

“In 1986, I was awarded a Macy Fellowship in science broadcasting at WGBH,” he said. “This gave basic training in radio and TV to print science writers.”

Hired as Nova’s science editor in 1988, Hadingham was now responsible for pretty much every part of the series. And while others might have been overwhelmed, he embraced the challenge and the learning that resulted.

“Producing and writing narration for documentaries teach-

write…a book celebrating their 50th anniversary…in 2021,” Hadingham explained, noting that he was able to produce 50 essays on the top discoveries in human origins and primatology during just two days a week (which was apparently all his team at Nova could afford to spare for him). “The book involved talking to all the leading scientists in this fascinating area of research, and was a demanding but thrilling labor of love…. It was like going back to college, both a lot of pressure and an amazing learning experience!”

Though he is officially retired from WGBH, Hadingham still offers part-time editorial consulting. He also maintains ties with the Leakey Foundation by writing for them and serving on their Advisory Board for Communications.

“I never planned any of this career trajectory,” Hadingham admitted. “I simply followed my abiding interests and was very lucky that they led not only to a solid career path but offered opportunities to travel widely…and to write.”

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Westborough Post Office worker to become full-time Santa after retirement

By leighAh BeAusoleil contriButing Writer

WESTBOROUGH — When kids drop off letters to Santa in the big red mailbox at the Westborough Post Office, they receive a reply from one of his many elves.

For 36 years, those replies have been written by students at Westborough High School. United States Postal Service Clerk Tom Brault started the program, and it’s grown exponentially, with more than 400 letters one year.

The Christmas magic was among Brault’s favorite parts of his job. In September, Brault will retire from his Post Office position after 38 years to focus on spreading holiday joy as a Santa Claus impersonator.

“It’s been an honor serving Westborough,” he said.

Brault started at the Post Office at 150 East Main Street the same month it opened in 1988. He was looking for a role with stability and, as an Upton resident, somewhere he could be close to family. His shift would begin at 3:30 a.m. and there were “trays upon trays” of mail to be sorted by hand.

The town has continued to grow and change in many ways, but 15 years in, he noticed a decline in mail and a rise in automation. The business has become package-oriented, with a computer telling him everything he needs to know. The office went from a dozen clerks to six, but he also doesn’t have to come in until 5 a.m. now.

In many ways, the office has

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lost its “personal touch,” but Brault continues to find ways to make a difference – even in the briefest of moments, and especially around Christmas.

“It’s been fun. It’s been a long time,” he said.

Taking after his own father who served as Santa for 40 years, Brault inherited the suit and the mission. It was a “magical” feeling putting on that red suit for the first time – and now he’s finally got the

Brault recalls that his Christmas letter program once received a letter from a child who just moved to town. All they wanted was a friend. Because it’s a community-based effort, any problems the children confess to Santa can be handled by the school district – something Brault has always appreciated.

“It really does make a difference,” he said.

Beyond letters, Brault looks forward to embodying Santa himself.

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provide them with some Christmas cheer as they excitedly identify the man in the red suit.

“It makes my day,” he said.

“There’s no words.”

Though he’ll be keeping connected with the community

beard to match. Brault’s done quite a few gigs so far and is getting ready for his Christmas in July debut at Uhlman’s Ice Cream this summer.

He’s noticed the impact he’s been able to make in his holiday-time role, especially having spent Christmas Eve at The Willows.

He recalls instances when the seniors with dementia can’t quite remember their children who’ve come to visit, but he’s been able to

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United States Postal Service Clerk Tom Brault will become a full-time Santa after retiring from the Westborough Post Office in September.

Tom Brault has done quite a few Santa gigs so far and is getting ready for his Christmas in July debut at Uhlman’s Ice Cream in Westborough this summer.

in this way, Brault said he will miss his customer interactions at the Post Office. Although brief, there were many moments where he could help improve someone’s day or lend a hand when needed.

Whether it was helping someone find their keys, carrying in heavy packages, or watching families grow as they come in to renew their passports – every moment had its own kind of magic to it.

“People don’t realize that dayto-day interaction means a lot,” he said.

Worcester City Hospital served residents for over a century

By MichAel PernA Jr. contriButing Writer

WORCESTER - Back in 1870, Dr. Albert Wood, who was serving as Worcester’s “City Physician,” saw the need for a hospital that would serve the city’s poor population. The hospital would be able to serve twenty patients. His proposal gained support, and by May 1871 it was approved, with the annual estimated cost of running the hospital set at $10,000.

Former mansion

Space was leased in the former mansion of one Abijah Bigelow, located at the corner of Front and Church Streets. There were enough rooms for eight to ten patients. The hospital opened on October 26, 1871, and Dr. John Parks was named as the first superintendent, with one Miss M. A. Hales as the matron. The rest of the staff consisted of one male and one female nurse, a night watchman, a cook and her assistant, and a laundress – quite a far cry from the staffing at any modern hospital. The superintendent’s salary was to be $700 per year, with the matron earning $25 per month.

After the first year of operation, it became apparent that more space was needed. Mr. George Jacques, one of the hospital’s trustees, left a goodsized parcel of land on Jacques Street to the city, with it being intended to use it for a hospital. This proposal was pursued and a new hospital was built, opening in 1881. The new facility consisted of two wards, each capable of treating forty patients.

By 1883, a training school for nurses was established. This consisted of a two-year program for “women desirous of becoming professional nurses.” The first class of nurses graduated in January 1886. A building located at the rear of the hospital was acquired in 1893 and converted into nurse housing.

Scandal and expansion

A scandal involving the hospital’s long-time superintendent, Dr. Peabody, occurred in 1902, when he was arrested for embezzlement of hospital funds, which he spent on himself and his relatives. He resigned from his position.

By 1904, the city had appropriated a considerable sum of money, and the hospital was greatly expanded, with a large number of buildings, including an outpatient building, a chapel, a pathological building, an isolation building for housing patients with contagious diseases, a kitchen building, and additions to several existing buildings.

Following a series of other improvements, the Jacques Memorial Building was opened in 1937, increasing the hospital’s patient capacity to 475.

During the ensuing years, the hospital gradually changed from its original purpose of serving the city’s poor and underprivileged into a facility that treated patients from all social classes.

Today, only a few local residents have recollections of being treated at the hospital or working there, One, Sandra (McKee) Perna, does recall her days of volunteering at the hospital in the early 1970s as what was known as a “candy-striper.” She and several of her friends would help out at the hospital during those times. The name “candy-striper” came from the red and white striped uniforms the girls wore. “We thought we were really something, helping out at the hospital.” she recalled.

Decline and closure

As more and more hospitals started serving the local area, City Hospital’s patient population began to decline, By 1988, what had become a 271-bed hospital had an occupancy rate of only 39 percent, The resulting financial difficulties forced Worcester City

area

The hospital facilities were turned into what is known as the Family Health Center of Worcester, which is a non-profit organization, located at 26 Queen Street.

‘Cool Dogs’ were once the hottest dog around

By shAron oliver contriButing Writer

REGION – Cool Dogs are an extinct species, but memories of this ice cream-based confection remain strong in Massachusetts.

Fond memories

Not too long ago, Dorchester native and Emmy award-winning “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri appeared on Seth Meyers’ “Late Night,” stirring up fond memories for some and piqued curiosity for others. Besides giving the audience and viewers an imagined visual of her wild rides as a passenger on the old Fung Wah buses, the 30-year-old actress, writer and director also captured everyone’s attention when she spoke about her affection for Boston’s Cool Dog. Edebiri explained to the audience that the bun was a sponge cake, the dog was ice cream, mustard was replaced with a chocolate sauce, and whipped cream substituted for relish.

On “Late Night,” Meyers pointed out that the actress had brought some attention to a few of Boston’s historical moments. Edebiri said, “I am just like a complete nerd in my heart of hearts, as evidenced by

the times that I’ve spoken to you about Cool Dogs and the Great Molasses Flood. I believe in local history. I don’t know what to tell you. I believe in it, against all odds.” The FX on Hulu comedy-drama series “The Bear” (2022-2026) dominated during awards season, having won 21 Emmys and five Golden Globes.

Cool Dogs, introduced at the Barnstable County Fair in 2001, were a popular ice cream treat in Massachusetts and beyond for several decades.

Invented in late 1990s

The hot dog inspired ice cream dessert created by Peter and Tara Franklin was invented in the late 1990s. The couple introduced and sold their first Cool Dogs at the Barnstable County Fair and in 2001, food vendors and brand name parks like Disney and

Six Flags at an amusement park trade show proved to be the beginning of a business venture beyond their wildest dreams.

Rookies Peter and Tara worked in a tiny booth in a corner but ended up taking the top prize at the International Association of Amusements and Attractions (IAAPA) for their new product – the Cool Dog. Soon afterwards, stadiums and amusement parks throughout the East Coast expressed interest. What soon followed were deals with supermarkets like Walmart, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club, sports venues, and other amusement parks like New Hampshire’s Story Land.

Although they were more popular in New England, Cool Dogs were even a concession option at the 2005 Super Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, in a match-up between the Eagles and the Patriots. The novelty treat was sold at Fenway Park, Universal Studios in Orlando, Six Flags in Massachusetts, Story Land in New Hampshire and regional supermarkets like Roche Bros. and Stop & Shop.

Recession decline

During the height of the Cool Dog’s popularity, the ice cream was avail-

able in more than 250 locations. The Franklins strongly considered selling their business to Nestle but said the 2008 recession prevented it. Unfortunately, the treat’s popularity was short-lived and was discontinued in 2016, never recovering from the recession.

Brian W. of Weymouth told Boston.com, “I will never forget how before the end of the school year they would treat us to Cool Dogs for dessert after lunch. Cool Dogs were the absolute best, and it is a core memory. I don’t know how a treat like this couldn’t survive.”

Holly Davis wrote on Facebook: “These were so good.”

Even Marge Simpson got in on the trend somewhat in a 2004 episode of “The Simpsons” titled “All’s Fair in Oven War” where Marge learns about a cooking contest and enters her dessert dog recipe using deep-fried cookie dough links, meringue buns, cherry ketchup, and caramel mustard.

Meanwhile, over in Chicago’s Museum of Ice Cream, they have their own rendition that is actually hot dog-flavored and served in a pink poppy seed bun, dressed up in a drizzle of mustard and petite gherkins.

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