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Volume 4, Issue 6

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Chain of Lights Pull-Out

Peace On Earth
Surely they hitched their wagon to a star And though it fell to earth It left a pathway so bright That it still points the way to perfection.

Most Blackstone Valley residents are familiar with Samuel Slater who brought the highly coveted Arkwright technology from England in the early 1790s to trigger the American Industrial Revolution. However, a less familiar Slater legacy is the generous gift from Samuels brother Johns son, John Fox Slater. John Slater had emigrated to the United States a few years after Samuel had emerged as a key factor in the rise of industrialization in Pawtucket. Together, they formed Americas first planned mill village in a section of North Smithfield, named Slatersville. Johns sons, William and John, eventually took over the manufacturing in Slatersville as well as ventured successfully into Connecticut textile continued on page 22

The Gift

December 2007-January 2008

~Susan Thwing Whitney

Christmas Celebrations

The Magic of Our Woods

One of America's most ardent pacifists and abolitionists lived, taught and preached in the Blackstone Valley. In fact, he and up to 200 members created a "practical Christianity" community called the "Dale of Hope" which far outlasted any of the more familiar social reform utopian communities, such as Brooks Farm or Harvard's Fruitlands. His mastery of answering the hard questions while holding firm against the Civil War when he was such a strong abolitionist influenced many, including internationally renown Leo Tolstoy, Mohandas Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr. The relatively unknown Adin Ballou was born in Cumberland, R.I. in 1803, a descendant of founders of

that community. He sought a college education, but his parents wished him to work the family farm. By age 19 and already married, Ballou acted on his "call to ministry" by taking a fellowship with the Universalists under the prompting of cousin Hosea Ballou. By December 1824, he was ordained rector of Milford's Universalist Church. The country was in the midst of great change during the early 19th century. Born when the country had only six million residents under President Jefferson, the great wave of immigration and changes in life from an agrarian to an industrial society brought forth many debates on social and religious issues as the population grew tenfold during Ballou's lifetime. Ballou's vocal Restorationist opinions on punishment for misdeeds before attaining universal salvation conflicted with the more liberal mainstream Universalist opinion of univer-

sal salvation, regardless of being held accountable for misdeeds. Thus, he was fired from his Milford Church in 1830 soon after he began publishing The Independent Messenger, a Restorationist weekly newspaper. Before long, Ballou was appointed as minister of the First Congregational (Unitarian) Church in Mendon. For almost a decade, he published the newspaper at the still-standing 9 Main Street, Mendon building while continuing to pursue the ideals of women's equality, anti-slavery and several continued on page 6

Journeys

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Page 3

The Warrior Sachem

fought it out till he fell, with his brave men around him. Less certain is the identity of the Indian general who orchestrated the attack. Historians have long speculated about Peirces Indian counterpart. Obviously he was skilled in the art of forest warfare. He manipulated Peirce down to the rivers edge, where the river itself would hinder the soldiers movements even as his own warriors surrounded them. But who was he? Most histories credit the victory to Canonchet, warrior-sachem of the Narragansett Indians. Sachem was an Algonquin title given to tribal chieftains. The Narragansetts had six sachems spread throughout the Narragansett Country of Rhode Island and parts of Connecticut. They included Pessacus, Canonchets uncle; Ninigret, sachem of the eastern Narragansett or Niantic Indians; Quaiapen, a female sachem whose stone fort lay in the woods near Wickford; Pomham, sachem of the territory now occupied by Warwick; and Quinnapin, who was Canonchets cousin. Canonchet (or Nanuntenoo, as he was also called) was recognized as the warrior-sachem and leader of the tribe. He reputedly rose to this position one year before the war broke out. In the year 1674 Canonchet held a great dance, recorded William Harris, a neighbor and rival of Roger Williams, which among the Indians is a kind of religious ceremony wherein they customarily give away all the money they have and bid those to whom they give it to go and pray for them. So accordingly out they go and make a kind of shout that signifies as much, and their women dance around in a ring. At the above-mentioned

Journeys

Blood On the Blackstone, Part 7

dance were all but a few of the Indians from far and near. At that time it was decided that Canonchet should be the leader in the plot against the English He was a natural choice to lead his people. Approximately 34 years old at the time of Peirces Fight, Canonchet was the youngest son of the deceased Narragansett sachem Miantonomi. Physically in his prime and endowed with both a keen mind and an unbreakable spirit, he was the embodiment of Narragansett tribal power. In Flintlock and Tomahawk, Douglas Edward Leach describes him as the sturdy young warrior-sachem Canonchet, a man with a proud fighting heart, and a relentless foe of the English. In the aftermath of the United Colonies surprise attack on the Narragansett swamp fort (December 19, 1675, three months before Peirces Fight see Part 1), Canonchet and his surviving tribesmen reportedly took refuge in the frozen woods of Mishnock Swamp, at what is now Coventry, Rhode Island. Reverend Increase Mather wrote that the displaced Narragansetts were left so destitute that they were forced to subsist on ground nuts. However, there are indications that Canonchets men returned to the charred ruins of the fort and may have salvaged quantities of corn and fish which had escaped the fire. Four days after the Great Swamp Fight, the Narragansetts sent representatives to Richard Smiths trading post at Wickford, where the English soldiers who survived the battle were quartered. The Indians expressed a desire for peace between the English and the Narragansett, but we soon perceived it was only to prevent our falling upon them, and to gain more Time to remove their Army and Provisions twenty Miles farther into the Country, to some Rocks where we could not get at them without much Danger, wrote Boston merchant Nathaniel Saltonstall. The English humored the Indian ambassadors, if only to conceal the fact that they were in no position to launch a follow-up attack. Heavy casualties, scarce provisions and a wilderness smothered in deep snow had effectively paralyzed the colonial army. both Sides being well wearied with the late desperate Fight, were willing to refresh themselves the remaining part of the Winter, with the short Slumber of a pretended Peace, at least with a Talk or Dream thereof, wrote Reverend William Hubbard in his 1677 narrative of the war. On December 28th, Plymouth Governor Josiah Winslow, who led the assault on the swamp fort, set free a Narragansett squaw taken during the battle. He gave her a message for Canonchet an offer of peace, contingent upon the surrender of all Wampanoags who might be among his people. It was the same demand that Canonchet had refused throughout the summer and fall. No, not a Wampanoag, nor a paring of a Wampanoaga nail, he had vowed. The squaw never returned to Smiths trading post, but on December th 30 , a Narragansett messenger came in. He relayed his sachems thanks for the proffer of peace, but also admonished the English. He complained we made War upon them, and gave them no notice, wrote Reverend William Hubbard. The Messenger that was sent was fairly dismissed with the continued on page 8

Peirces Fight was one of the bloodiest and most important battles of King Philips War, and it was fought right here on our own Blackstone River. This is Part 7 of a series about the battle and its aftermath. You can catch up on earlier chapters at www.blackstonedaily.com/ourriver.htm. Like all memorable battles, Peirces Fight was a mortal clash between two opposing factions, each under the command of a military leader. On one side, a colonial militia of 50-70 soldiers and scouts led by the man whose name will forever be tied to the battle, Captain Michael Peirce of Scituate, Massachusetts. On the other, a furious horde of 600-900 Indians, mostly Narragansetts, with Nipmucks, Wampanoags and others filling their ranks. By means of a ruse, the Indians lured Peirce and his men into an ambush. Native warriors were strategically deployed so that once engaged, the white men found themselves flanked on both sides of the river with no possibility of retreat. Hopelessly surrounded, Peirce and his party made their stand. One by one, they were cut down, dead. There has never been any question that the Indians followed a premeditated battle plan that day. As George M. Bodge wrote in Soldiers in King Philips War (1906), There is no doubt that Capt. Peirse was out-generalled, as well as vastly outnumbered, and, like the brave man that he was, he

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Four hundred years ago, our forests looked very different. Unlike the vast undergrowth and accumulation of leaves, broken tree limbs and other obstacles that offer challenge when walking through the woods when not on a cleared path, pre-colonial forests were passable and very aesthetic. Hunters and hikers know the difficulty of getting a clear shot or traversing heavy brush. Also, trying to imitate the well-known silent tread of Native Americans remains elusive. Why is that? The Native Americans had the ingenuity to solve these problems by

A Magical Landscape
setting fires, once or twice a year to rid the forests of jutting branches, remnant leaves, brush and undergrowth. Their lives depended on it, for defense as well as food. After the fires, bushes of blueberries and cranberries became bountiful replacement crops and quiet passage allowed better stalking and hunting of wildlife. According to Thomas Morton's 1632 New English Canaan trilogy, "The savages are accustomed to set fire of the country in all places where they come, and to burn it twice a year, viz.: at the spring, and the fall of the

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Throughout central Massachusetts hard to believe, but many of the large and northern Rhode Island, history granite boulders we see today were graces our landscapes, but often, we part of the boulder trains that stretch miss the stories that they reveal. We for miles and miles, mostly from north are all aware that our landscapes are to south, that were left in place as the much more forested than in the 18th ice receded. Often, these bolders are 19th centuries, but what else might we covered with earthen mounds now, learn about a particular spot? even allowing the growth of some An exciting winter trees. project can be to deciWhat are some easipher some tell-tale signs, er clues that we can from tree stumps to tree decipher? type or whorled limbs. ~ the Eastern red Clues are often in evicedar is dominant along dence but understanding RI & CT roads, yet the these landscapes needs common juniper is more us to open our eyes and prominent in MA learn how to begin iden~coppiced tree tifying new clues and the Coppiced tree trunks trunks are sure signs of impacts creating this natural canvas. disturbance Many disturbances of the past can ~basal tree scars point to intrusion be found from logging, blights, fires, ~stone walls offer substantial clues farming, hurricanes and other impacts. ~stumps can be aged accurately Yet, looking at an even broader picAs little as 20 miles, north to south, ture, this region used to be part of the can alter the landscape where the red Laurentide Ice Sheet for thousands of cedar strongly outnumbers the comyears. This was a tundra similar to that mon juniper, found a bit north with of the frigid Artic we know today. Its just a small differential of colder

Tree Stumps and Whorled Limbs

weather. Coppiced tree trunks are multiple trees sprouting from the trunk of a former, larger tree. They usually fill the diameter of the downed tree, whether it was blown down, lost to fire or cut. Take a moment to find other clues by looking at surrounding trees. Are there basal scars near the coppiced tree? These scars could point to logging activity that bumped into other trees when being moved. The scars could also come from fire. Was this a large tree, with thick bark, that could survive the fire, yet was injured slightly while a smaller tree was burned? The appearance of stone walls can be very telling as you detect whether they are built of merely larger stones (grazing lands) or do they have lots of smaller stones scattered on them which points to a gardening or farming area where stones rose up over winter and were thrown on the wall while planting/tilling. The aging of stumps gets a little more complex as tree type determines continued on page 17

leaves. The reason that moves them to do so, is because it would otherwise be so overgrown with underweeds that it would be all a coppice wood, and the people would not be able in any wise to pass through the country out of a beaten path. For, when the fire is once kindled, it dilates and spreads itself as well against, as with the wind; burning continually night and day, until a shower of rain falls to quench it. And this custom of firing the country is the means to make it passable; and by that means the trees grow here and there as in our

parks; and make the country very beautiful and commodious." www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1637m orton.html

Photo depicting a large basal scar on tree

To get more details on deciphering our natural landscapes, the best source is Tom Wessels, Reading The Forested Landscape, A Natural History of New England published in 1997 and available via CWMars libraries. Additional books which are helpful include: North Woods by Peter Marchand A Sierra Club Naturalists Guide to Southern New England by Neil Jorgensen

The Blackstone Canal - Our (Still) Hidden Asset?

Part Two
by John LaPoint
In the October - November issue of Journeys, we began a three part series of articles about the historic 1828 Blackstone Canal and its potential new role in tourism promotion and economic development of the Blackstone Valley region. During the last four years there has been a renewed focus on the Blackstone Canal by the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, its partners and our local and regional planning agencies. Maybe at no time since the last canal boat moved on this extraordinary transportation link way back in 1848 has canal fever so captured the attention of historic preservationists, economic development specialists, political leaders and those who live in the communities of the Blackstone Valley region. In this issue of Journeys, we take a trip outside of the Blackstone Valley to visit a canal system long linked with the history of the Blackstone Canal. As we know from the 2006 Blackstone Canal Symposium and the variety of Park Ranger Walkabouts highlighting the Blackstone Canal, the history of how the Blackstone Canal was built is very much linked to lessons learned by engineers and Irish immigrant canal workers on an earlier project, the Erie Canal in upstate New York. The Erie Canal, opened in 1825 and stretching 360 miles from Albany to Buffalo, was more than just a transportation system. It was an extensive and important economic engine in its days until it was replaced in 1918 by the New York State Barge Canal. Since the early 1990's, as a result of a focused effort by state and local interests, the Erie Canal has again spurred economic rebirth through local and regional tourism. However, a closer look also shows that the canal system in New York State, which remains a fully navigable waterway, has a very high operational cost when compared with actual revenues. As the future of additional restoration the Blackstone Canal and potential expansion of the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park in Massachusetts is considered, one can find many parallels between preservation and planning activities in upstate New York and the activities taken on by the Blackstone Canal Commission that we are more familiar with here in the Blackstone Valley. Here then is a snapshot of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in upstate New York. Governor Mario Cuomo to balance a state budget deficit. The Canal system had previously been under the New York State Department of Transportation. According to the Thruway Authority, canal expenses were $53.9 million in 2006 against canal revenues of $1.6 million. Thruway tolls generated $554 million in revenues in 2006. 2006 could be considered an extraordinary year in the Syracuse-Utica-Albany stretch of the canal where much of the canal system was closed due to extensive flooding. As with Blackstone Valley residents who travel up and down Route 146 and never even see the Blackstone Canal, those who drive along the New York State Thruway in 2007 might find it hard to imagine, but the Erie Canal was for much of the 19th century the true economic lifeline for upstate New York. But when methods of transportation changed, many upstate New York communities lost their economic livelihood because of their location along the canal and turned their backs on these valuable waterfront assets. In 1992, the New York State legislature also created the New York State Canal Recreationway Commission, with a mandate that the beauty, historic character, and environmental integrity of the canals be preserved for future generations. The Commission prepared a New York State Canal Recreationway Plan,

Page 5

Journeys

The Erie Canal linking Buffalo and Albany has been the focus of local, state and federal economic development efforts since the early 1990s. At 363 miles, the Erie Canal is the longest segment of the New York State Canal System, which comprises a total of 524 miles of navigable waterway, including the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and CayugaSeneca Canals. Now a major recreational waterway, a 2002 study commissioned by New York State estimated that canal tourism generates $384 million a year in economic impact for upstate New York. Since that study, the number of canal tourist festivals which are a main attraction in many canalfront communities has risen by more than 30 percent. The entire canal system was placed under the operational authority of the New York State Thruway Authority in 1992 as part of a plan by then

completed in 1995. The Canal Recreationway Plan presented a then new vision of the canal system as a linear park. Some recommendations included programs for improvements to water quality, specific waterfront capital investments to enhance recreational boating activities, and a multiuse 500 mile Canalway Trail. Other important recommendations included improved access to the canals from the New York State Thruway and area air and rail terminals along with designation of the canal system region as a National Heritage Area. This Canal Recreationway Plan was not just a paper exercise with the 1995 study sitting gathering dust on a shelf. One result of the Canal Recreationway Plan was the New York State Canal Revitalization Program, a ten year program of state investments totaling over $80 million. In addition to canal, harbor and lock projects, more than 245 miles of the Canalway Trail was completed and made available for public use. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor was created by Congress in 2000 and includes 234 municipalities linked by the canal system. The Corridor designation increased visibility of the Canal. Many observers feel the Heritage Corridor also brought a new level of energy to existing planning. The Heritage Corridors Preservation and Management Plan, completed in 2006, is the document that guides planning across the entire canal system region. Another major goal of the 1995 Canal Recreationway Plan was to help change local perceptions of the canal system. The new attitude that resulted is highlighted by events such as the Cycling the Erie Canal bicycle tour and numerous local and regional Canal Days celebrations. Once perceived as an industrial relic, the canal system is now championed by many residents, business owners, and politicians as an important recreational continued on page 16

Adin Ballou,
other moral issues. In 1839, at William Lloyd Garrisons urging, Ballou addressed reformers at meetings of the New England Non-Resistance Society, whose tenets included We cannot acknowledge allegiance to any human government; neither can we oppose any such government by a resort to physical force. We recognize but one KING and LAWGIVER, one JUDGE and RULER of mankind. The government, to many of these abolitionists, defied Gods law and was often, evil. By 1841, Ballous convictions and ideals led to the formation of the Hopedale Community. The Hopedale Community was the first and longest lasting utopian society to establish an order of human society based upon the sublime ideas of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, as illustrated in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Women were equal, blacks were fed and housed as runaways and Ballou sought to put into action the beliefs and ideals he and many others, such as Garrison, Frederick Douglas and Samuel May spoke out about as abolitionists. "A few of us had enjoyed personal, social, educational and domestic advantages ... but the larger number had lived and moved on a humbler level. There was naturally a diversity of manners, habits and tastes, in addition to the personal peculiarities of each... Yet we were all domiciled under one roof, lived as one family, stocked a common larder, spread and sat at a common table, organized common activities and constituted to all intents and purposes a Community in fact as well as in name." Adin Ballou, History of the Hopedale Community "Annually in August, in a small, pine grove... Hopedale had an AntiSlavery meeting. I remember many earnest men and women who spoke from that platform. William Lloyd Garrison was always present. Frederick Douglas, a colored man who was an escaped slave, was an interest-

Journeys

Page 6 continued from page one

Edenized. At the time, there was an ongoing, almost ubiquitous, discussion far beyond the Community, in many religions and thought, of the approaching millennium. This was the thousand years stated in Revelation 20 during which holiness is to prevail and Christ is to reign on earth. By 1852, the Community had up to 200 inhabitants, though figures are not exact. The Community had undergone many changes, but it had always allowed private property and profits through shares. This sometimes drove away advocates of shared ownership, yet discrepancies in work habits and production outcomes were appreciated and understood. Ebenezer Draper, the Communitys second president, was very actively involved along with latecomer brother, George Draper. Finally, the persistent urging by brother George to Ebenezer to withdraw their majority shares from the Community in 1856 led to its eventual demise. The Drapers went on to become well-known industrialists, creating the paternal mill town of Hopedale that is mostly known today, even though its mill buildings now stand empty or demolished. However, Ballou continued to believe that this Community, though eventually disbanded, would establish a protoype for the future, exclaiming So shall the Hopedale Community have a glorious resurrection, an apotehosis, of which its earlier manifestation was but the harbinger and prototype. Ballous Practical Christianity influence continued until his death in 1890 as he became minister of the majestic Draper-built Unitarian church in Hopedale. Ballou continued to write many sermons preserved today at continued on page 20

"One member of the old community,

ing speaker. I well remember the black, black man of large stature who was called Henry Box Brown. He was a slave and had come all the way from the South, sent by friends in a dry goods box with holes in the cover, and labeled, 'This side up. With care.' Many escaped slaves lived with the families of Hopedale. My father had a colored man called John who did some work about the place, but never went alone from the house. Several others were there who lived among us for weeks or months. They were fed, clothed, and sheltered. We knew them and saw them moving in and out, one day here. The next gone." Anna Thwing Field, Hopedale Reminiscences The Hopedale Community (18411856+) was based upon pacifism and the ideals and commitment to temperance, anti-slavery, marital fidelity and nonviolence. Whereas there was some discussion of uniting with the transcendentalist community of the more elitist, Brook Farm, the hard work and more rigid approach of Ballous community was in conflict with the wealthier, shorter lived community of transcendentalists. Ballou faced many personal struggles, yet never faltered in his profound beliefs. He lost his first wife shortly after his second child was born, lost two very young sons to scarlet fever, became gravely ill, remarried, and then years later, faced the loss of his most beloved son at age 16 when he fell ill while studying and teaching in Bridgewater. His only surviving child, Abbie, became known as an exemplary teacher for hundreds of children, including Samuel Mays and William Garrisons sons. His second wife, Lucy, was truly his equal partner in all that he created and published, including his book, Practical Christian Socialism in 1854. For almost 20 years, the Community existed as a presage and a world ultimately regenerated and

Harriet N. Greene, declared that the people of the village were indeed a rather peculiar people, peculiar in that they disavowed violence in any form and opened their doors to the fugitive slave; peculiar too in that there was no poverty, unemployment, drunkenness, or wasted lives in their midst." Edward Spann, Hopedale: from Commune to Company Town "I can sincerely say that in my moral and spiritual nature I owe more to Mr. Ballou than to all the ministers and men with whom I have ever come in contact." Rev. Charles H. Eaton, D.D. (adopted son of Ebenezer Draper) "I read in the papers here (in Europe) of the death of Mr. Ballou. Notwithstanding his extreme age, the news came like a shock to me. I admired and respected -nay, revered him more than any other man I ever met. To me he combined a perfectly blameless life with the most extraordinary reasoning powers. I feel that he has done much to develop the best that there is in me." Gen. William Draper (son of George) "It was our custom at Hopedale, as radical Abolitionists, to celebrate from year to year the Anniversary of the Emancipation of 800,000 slaves in the British West Indies. This was done in a pleasant grove near the southerly borders of our domain, half a mile from the central part of our village." Adin Ballou, History of the Hopedale Community "The Hopedale Community made a determined effort to keep itself informed of intellectual progress. In 1842, while it was still struggling to get started, the community began a small public library, one of the first in the country." Edward Spann, Hopedale: Commune to Company Town "We cannot employ carnal weapons nor any physical violence whatsoever," they proclaimed, "not even for the preservation of our lives. We cannot render evil for evil . . . nor do otherwise than 'love our enemies. Adin Ballou

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As the warm weather makes its exit, we move into the frantic holiday seasons. At the farm, this means shipping apples all over the country, stocking up on jams and salsa and other popular gift items, making wreaths, selling Christmas trees, and generally doing our best to make the last few weeks of retail selling profitable. Daylight is at a premium, but most of the outdoor work is finished, and a few hours is about all anyone wants to spend out in the chilly air. Wood will be stockpiled for the winter months, as we need to keep a fire going in the barn to assure the pipes won't freeze. It is a time of wrapping up, cleaning up and winding down. And it seems to me to be a good time to think. As a farm, we are expected to keep track of all the crops we harvested and report our yield to the federal government. We filed an acreage report in July, and the government keeps track of average yield per acre for calculating disaster relief [if there is to be any] as well as cut-offs for collecting insurance benefits. This year I doubt there will be any extra' funds coming our way, despite the obvious reduction in production caused by the prolonged drought. But file we must, and it is important for us as an individual farm to know how we did and where there is room for improvement. We need to see where our production was weak and try to think of a way to boost it for next year. When we examine our yield on each individual crop we grow, we can see places where we grew too much of one thing and not

Time to Think

Page 7

Journeys
by Jane Keown Oliver
cle like this one, I spend a great deal of time thinking about what I want to say. By the time I am seated at the keyboard, I basically just type it in and send it along to the editor. The doing is often far less important than the thinking about what to do. This is not to say that going to our jobs and taking care of our families is unimportant, but if it becomes the focus of who we are, I think we are in danger of losing something very important in our humanity. My cousin's husband, Paul Raffa, died this past week and we celebrated his life in an inspiring service this past weekend. He had worked on the farm years ago as a truck driver, taking loads of apples into the wholesale market in Boston for several years. Both his sons have worked for us for many years. Karin grew up packing apples with us and generally being around to help out whenever needed. People came to offer their support from many places: the family, long-time friends and co-workers, teachers and students from Millbury High School, where Karin is a teacher, veterans [Paul was a veteran of Viet Nam and had worked in veteran affairs for many years], the Millbury Fire Department [where Andrew is a call firefighter], and of course many of the people who work on the farm. It was wonderful to see so many people who took time out of their busy schedules to pause and think about what this single man had meant to them. Paul faced the awful truth of his illness with a determination to get the most out of everyday: to live in the moment. The time of making plans had ceased, but the attitude to make the most of the time left to him was apparent. And it made me think: yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery, but today is our gift...and that's why we call it the present. I read that on an e-mail one time, but saw the philosophy in practice during the past few weeks. Nothing can stop time, and there is nothing wrong with making plans for the future. But let's remember that today is ours, and we may not get to see the crops of next year. When I walk through my garden cutting flowers, I do some quality thinking. It is so beautiful on the hillside in the sun, and sometimes I wish the day would never end. But we must all face the frost [on the farm, ours came on October 29th this year], and we must all take stock of where we are and where we hope to be. An early frost claimed my cousin Paul, but the memories we have of his blooming in our midst will remain with us always. So, too, will the works of our hands and our minds as we fashion our own lives into something worthy of the time we spend here on earth. Thanksgiving is coming soon, and it is a good opportunity for us all to remember our blessings, not the least of which are the people with whom we share our lives. Let's all take time this year to think, to remember, to plan, and to be thankful for every day.

enough of another. Talking to our farmer's market people and stand help also gives us an indication of how the season went and how they think we could better serve our customers' needs. It is a complicated, time-consuming job, but a necessary one. As an individual, I need to reflect on how my job as a farmer fits into my general life. There is no question that the energy expended during the six months of our busy' season can become quite draining to a person no longer in the bloom of youth. I can't do my bookkeeping at night anymore, having to get up before the sun when my mind is fresh to keep everything straight. On some of my long-term reports, I am at this point hopelessly behind, and will spend the first months of winter playing catch-up'. I certainly made a good decision to forgo raising flowers for wholesale. My garden, cut at least in half, was much easier to pick and bunch for the stand and farmer's markets, and left me hours each day to do other things. The flowers I did have were utilized more fully than in other years, and I didn't spend nearly as much time dead-heading. As for plans for next year, I still need time to think. Time to think...it is something we all need but often neglect to do. We race around doing our job, shopping, cooking [some of you even find time to clean!], and generally keep busy, but do we give any thought to what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how it really affects our lives? When I sit down at the computer to write an arti-

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Our River,
express mention of what Terms they must expect if they desired a Peace. On January 5th, Canonchet sent the English a peace offering not Wampanoags as they had demanded, but a little English girl of only three or four years old. She had been captured near Warwick. The Indians who delivered her remained at Smiths until January 8th, when they were sent back, and told what they must trust to. In the meantime, on January 7th, two more Narragansetts came forward, ostensibly to make way for a Treaty of Peace. Was this another attempt to stall the English while the Narragansetts reassembled their fighting force? The Indians complained that Canonchet had misinformed his people about the terms regarding the surrender of Wampanoag fugitives. They claimed they had not given over the Wampanoags because Canonchet had tricked them into believing That they were not by the former Treaty to have delivered up the Wampanoogs, or Philips Indians, until the said Canonchets brother, one of the Hostages at Hartford was released. But the English saw through the charade. Hubbard explained, This was a mere Pretence, for he and they too, better understood the Particulars of the Agreement According to Hubbard, when the colonials raided the Narragansett fort, they found an open copy of the treaty in one of the wigwams, therefore they could not be ignorant of the Articles of the Agreement. On the 8th, a Niantic Indian messenger arrived at Smiths trading post. He carried a letter from Robert Stanton, an interpreter, who had written on behalf of the aging sachem Ninigret, signifying the Reality of the Said Ninigret his Friendship to the English, and the Streights of the Enemy. Ninigret further warned, that young insolent sachem Canonchet, and Panoquin [Quinnapin], said they would fight it out to the last Man, rather than they would become Servants to the English. After so many back and forth attempts, it began to seem to both sides that the others offers of peace were insincere. The final overture was made on January 12th. Pessacus, one

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continued from page 3 the Indians were fled for protection; but in their Way they had Intelligence that 300 Indians had been at Pawtuxit, an English Plantation on the Narraganset Bay, where they burnt Mr. Carpenters Corn and Hay, and all his Houses except his Dwelling-house, which likewise they had set on Fire, but it was again quenched by some English that were in it. They likewise drove away with them 180 Sheep, 50 Head of large Cattle, and 15 Horses. Besides they took much Cattel from young Mr. Harris, and killed a Negro-servant of his. Winslows batallion started north from Wickford. Shortly before leaving, Winslow recruited the famous Indian fighter Captain Benjamin Church to join the mission. Church, who was wounded in the Great Swamp Fight, had originally gone to Smiths trading post to formally take his leave of the General but somehow allowed himself to be talked into joining the hunt for Canonchet, notwithstanding that his wounds had not completely healed. The Winslow expedition soon crossed into Warwick, domain of the sachem Pomham. Winslow moved forward through the Narragansett country burning the wigwams and seizing supplies where they were to be found, capturing here and there a few Indians stragglers, the sick and the old, women and children, whose strength had failed them, write George W. Ellis and John E. Morris in King Philips War (1906). The troops camped five miles outside Providence on the evening of January 28th. Benjamin Churchs memoir of the war describes a brief battle and the capture of an Indian, afterwards executed, at an Indian town, where there were many wigwams and an icy swamp. Possibly this occurred at Pomhams village. The march resumed the following morning. During the night of the 29th, some of the Plymouth soldiers deserted, but not enough to materially

of the Narragansetts older sachems and the uncle of Canonchet, sent a messenger to the English asking for the Space of a Month longer wherein to issue the Treaty. But Governor Winslows patience ran out. The sachems request so provoked him that he resolved to have no more Treaties with the Enemy, but to prepare to assault them, with Gods Assistance, as soon as ever the Season would permit. The Governor got his wish. About the second week in January, winter suddenly and unexpectedly released its grip on New England. A fortnight or 3 weekes since it was bitter cold, Boston minister Increase Mather recorded in his diary on January 28th. Now it is like April (some that have been in the country above 40 years 50 years professing they never knew the like at the time of year), he added. The mid-winter thaw melted the deep forest snow that had frustrated the English in their desire to pursue the remaining Narragansetts and finish them off once and for all. After weeks of being stranded at Smiths trading post, Winslow could finally make preparations to advance on the enemy. By the 27th troop reinforcements from Plymouth and Connecticut had arrived at Wickford, along with some friendly Mohegan Indians. Freshly equipped and provisioned, Winslows command was ready to embark. He and his troops marched from Wickford on the morning of the 28th. But they were too late. Some Indian prisoners had been captured prior to Winslows departure, probably by one of the horseback scouting parties that routinely patrolled the countryside. The prisoners informed the English that the Enemy were gone, or going into the Nipmunk Country of central Massachusetts. The Narragansetts escape was confirmed by messengers from Providence. On the 27th, while Winslow still making preparations, the Narragansetts had launched an early morning assault on the village of Pawtuxet. Details of the attack appear in Saltonstalls account: The winter now being broken up, and the Snow and Ice all gone, our Army, consisting in all of 1600 Men, began their March to the Rocks, where

affect the mission. Following the Narragansetts trail, Winslow and his soldiers trekked into the northwest corner of Rhode Island, aiming for the Connecticut border. Canonchet and his people were evidently moving too quickly to be concerned about covering their tracks. In their wake they sometimes left grim evidence of their passage. As they marched after the Enemy, Hubbard wrote, they found a good house burned, with a Barn belonging to it. And at an unspecified location 25 miles north of Mr. Smiths and 10 miles north of Providence, They perceived also that the Enemy dealt much in Horse-flesh, meeting with no less than sixty Horses Heads in one place. The fugitive Narragansetts crossed into Connecticut and raced towards Massachusetts. For days Winslows troops hounded them, sometimes drawing so near they could see the Indians fleeing in the distance. At one point, the colonials managed to catch up with a small portion of the group. Our soldiers in their Pursuit came upon their Reer, killed and took about seventy of them, Hubbard reported, yet could never come to charge them, for they would presently betake themselves into Swamps, and not two of them run together, so as they saw it was an endless work to proceed further in the Chase of such an Enemy. But Winslow persisted, despite that his armys rations were nearly exhausted. The deeper his forces penetrated into the Nipmuck Country, the sorer the hardships became. they pushed their way over frozen streams and swamps or along the exposed uplands, foraging for whatever they could procure, write Ellis and Morris. Their camps were pitched in the snow under the shelter of a hill or in the woods, and they warmed their numbed bodies over the open fires. Still they pressed on, footsore, wet and hungry, continued on page 17

Christmas Eve Culinary Feasts

by Diane Marie Mariani "There's one day, just one December day in a year, a day, otherwise a normal one, but on that day all quarrels disappear and everybody sends wishes to everybody else, Heaven to Earth, and Earth to Heaven." (A Polish Song) Christmas Natale- Noel- Bze Narodzenie. This December holiday celebrating the wondrous birth of Jesus is observed by many cultures throughout the world. The fashions in which cultures celebrate vary. From attending holy services to lighting a colorful Christmas tree, the ways to be festive are numerous. Yet, Christmas Eve and its Midnight Mass are wrapped in a tradition that many cultures have in common. The Italians, French, and Polish feast! For Italians, la vigilia is the meal on Christmas Eve. It means the vigil; to watch on the eve of a feast, wakefulness. It is held early in the evening so it ends in time for Midnight Mass. Since Christmas Eve is a fasting holiday, the meal consists of pasta and fish dishes, without meat. Seven selections of fish are traditionally served, although, the choices of fish may vary according to each family. Why seven selections? Seven may refer to the seven days of creation, seven pilgrimage churches in Rome, or the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. The latter is the most widely believed explanation. Yet, it is also believed, that in biblical numerology, seven is a number representing perfection. Some families may serve nine,

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The feast of the seven fishes is the la vigilia tradition that my aunt in East Providence, Rhode Island has cooked for fifty-seven years, starting when she was twenty-one. My parents, my sister and I have enjoyed this feast many times at my mothers sisters home. Her traditional dinner would commence with appetizers, including stuffed quahogs and a champagne punch. The fish dinner would include: Anti Paste consisting of scungilli (snail) salad, calamari (squid) salad, and Baccal (cod fish with pickled peppers and olive oil) salad. All of these flavorful dishes are served cold. After the Anti Paste, the fried smelts, the fried shrimp and in my aunts tradition, eel would be served. Eel? Yes, eel flavored with orange rind, and marinated in oil, vinegar and spices. And lastly, the pasta alia olio (thin spaghetti, black olives, and anchovies tossed in garlic and oil). Spumoni (ice cream) and torrone (nougat) are served for dessert among others. Drinks with dinner, of course include, red wine and after dinner, espresso with anisette, Galliano or sambuca! La Messe de Minuit on Christmas Eve is very important to the French Canadians, as it is to Italians and Poles. Yet their meal isnt before the continued on page 10

eleven, or twelve selections. Nine may represent the Holy Trinity times three, and the number eleven stands for the number of apostles minus Judas. In opposition, the number thirteen represents the twelve apostles, plus, Jesus.

As the daylight hours grow shorter and the temperatures drop, we often eat more robust foods, more red meats and root vegetables. This type of food matches best with more concentrated full-bodied red and white wines. Light wines like Pinot grigio, dry reislings and Roses are excellent aspertifs but winter foods require full bodied Syrahs/Shiraz, cabernet Savignon, Red Zinandel, Merlot and Pinot Noir, Italian Barbers, Barolo, Rosso and Chiantis. White wines like some Chardonnays, Viognier, Rousanne and Marsanne are the best choices for chicken, veal and fish dishes. We have an excellent selection of these wines and Jay and I will be happy to select the best wine to match your meal. Among our favorites are wines from the Curtis Winery, Heritage Curvee (a blend of four grapes) and Heritage Curvee Blanc (50% Viognier and 50% Rousanne). These grapes originated in the Rhone Valley of France but were grown and vinted in Santa Barbara, California. At $13.50, they are one of the best and affordable wines for this season. What is your comfort level for wine prices? Let me know and well help you select the best wine at that price.

Chuck &Jay Ly n ch

www.CheckMenus.info - An emerging Guide to Dining and Specialty Foods & Services

Christmas Eve
mass, but after. Le Rveillon is derived from the verb reveiller meaning to wake up or revive. It is a symbolic awakening to the meaning of Christs birth. This meal is the most important of the Christmas season. After Midnight Mass, folks will go to a relative or friends home to feast on Ragout de Patte de Couchon, pea soup, and meat pies, until the wee hours of the morning. The mother of someone dear to me, from Central Falls, Rhode Island shared the details of her mothers Ragout de Patte de Couchon with me. Ragout means French meat pies reux, sauce. Patte means feet, de, of. And, couchon means pig. This dish basically consists of meatballs (hamburger rolled in flour) that are put in the pan that the hocks have been boiling in. The French Canadians use hock (ankle of the pig) instead of the traditional pigs feet. These hocks are used to add a good taste to the gravy. The gravy is made by adding browned flour to the boiling water and seasoning it with salt, pepper, and onions. Some people eat the meat inside the hock as it cooks well.

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, continued from page 9

expressing good wishes for her. The action is reciprocated and then continued with the others dining at the table. The serving A Polish Wilgilia family dinner sharing oplatek of twelve or thirfoods served at the end of Wigilia may teen dishes is a tradition in Poland. aide in digestion. These traditional This may differ in the Blackstone desserts are made of poppy seed as in River Valley. But, again, this is the kutia, a very crunchy dessert made of number of the apostles, and Jesus may poppy seeds, cooked wheat, nuts, be included as well. almonds, raisins, figs, dates, honey, The Wigilia dinner is traditionally cream and some rum. Makowiec, meatless, as la vigilia. The first course poppy-seed rolls as well as dried fruit usually consists of soup such as (especially prune compote) and nuts barszcz with pastries or small noodles are also served. called ears (because of their shape). With traditional Polish families, the Barszcz is a clear beetroot soup (it is table is set in a certain way. Some clear because all the vegetables are folks may put some hay under the taken away after being boiled and just tablecloth, symbolizing the manger. a red color soup extract is left). The And some set an extra dish. This dish ears are little dumplings filled with is there for a stranger who may pass by boiled, dried wild mushrooms. or for someone who has passed on and Fish is important to the Christmas can no longer be at the meal with you. Eve meal. Some may have pickled herAfter Wigilia, it is time for ring, yet, carp is the most important Midnight Mass! Christmas fish and it is the fish tradiMerry Christmas! tionally served in Poland. Christmas is a contraction meaning Served either fried or boiled is the Christs mass. It is derived from the delicious pierogi. It is made in a pasMiddle English Christemasse and Old try, shaped like tortellini, or large raviEnglish Cristes maesse, a phrase first oli and are filled with sauerkraut and recorded in 1038. wild mushrooms. Sauerkraut and mushrooms are conLaura, K. Lawless, Your Guide to sidered to be difficult to digest. The French Language

Meat pies can be made of all pork, beef, or both. Most people make pork pies. Yet, French Canadians make it all different. This particular family makes their meat pie with beef, pork, veal, celery, onions, potatoes (crackers may be used) and some cinnamon. And, of course, the pie is dressed with ketchup. Once the children are in bed, some families wrap Christmas presents to be opened on Christmas morning. After Reveillon, a true French tradition is to leave a candle burning. This is for the instance that Virgin Mary passes by. Wigilia comes from the Latin term vigilare; to await. This is the Polish name for Christmas Eve and until the first star appears on this evening, it is also recognized as a day of fasting. Traditionally, dinner begins after the first star appears in the sky and the Christmas tree is lit. But, this may vary in modern households. Often, the meal begins with a prayer. Then, the male head of the family begins the sharing of the blessed oplatek (the oplatek is a consecrated bread wafer with a sacred picture imprinted on it). He takes the wafer and turns to the next person seated (traditionally this is his wife), offers the wafer to her while

A Mystery Solved on Peppercorn Hill

"As a huge Stone is sometimes seen to lie Couched on the bald top of an eminence; Wonder to all who do the same espy, By what means it could thither come, and whence; So that it seems a thing endued with sense: Like a Sea-beast crawled forth, that on a shelf Of rock or sand reposeth, there to sun itself."

~ W Wordsworth 1807

shapes of triangle, rounded and flat tops was even more compelling. What did this all mean? Another clue yielded some barbed wire, now dating part of the scene to at most, the 1870s, yet other mysteries certainly remained. Soon an opportunity to question many erudite scholars at a Worcester History group dinner at Assumption College arose, yet, no answers were

A recent hike in Upton on the town-owned Stefans farm property, part of Peppercorn hill, was just enough of a mystery to seek a better understanding of its unique landscape. The terrain was very rocky and difficult to imagine grazing cattle or farming of any sort. According to local historians, this was an Indian path of great spirituality, standing at the highest peak and easily seeing Milford. Meandering stone walls, stone cairns, glacial erratics were mixed with lots of wild grapes, berries, yet very few noticeable invasive species, such as poison ivy, often seen in open fields. Perhaps the most startling mystery was the vertical stones, positioned securely in some stone walls, that had been hand carved in a semi-circle. Or perhaps, the large glacial erratics formed in almost a line, along the old Indian path, and bearing three distinct

forthcoming, though one researcher had seen these vertical shapes before in Pennsylvania. However, Tom Wessels Reading the Forested Landscape finally gave tremendous insight as to the clues within the layers of the natural world that we often dont understand or consider. His expertise on several of the mysteries revealed the prolific, though rel-

atively short-lived fanaticism for raising merino sheep, a coveted, highquality wool, that was enhanced by the confluence of the tariff on English wool (and other goods) after the War of 1812 amidst the growing demand by the textile industry along the powerful rivers throughout New England. These sheep were imported from Portugal and millions could be found grazing on steep hillsides or heavily bouldered acreage in MA, NH and Vermont from the 1820s40s. Stone fencing was used as forests disappeared, yet the walls had to be 4-5 feet high to contain sheep who could quickly ruin crops, if not contained. Often wooden rails or even brush was laid on stones to add to the walls height states Wessels. Could this explain the carved semi-circle along some of Uptons stonewalls? Absolutely! It could also explain the extensive exposed bedrock we observed along our hike. Wessels points out that raising these sheep was so shortlived because they ate almost everything in their path, often exposing the bedrock underneath which prevented any recurrent growth on these ledges. A Great Place to Cross-Country Ski This Upton town-ownd land is filled with intrigue but also had wide

paths for hiking and cross country skiing. It has hills and dales as well as some great views to Milford and yonder, but it will keep you intrigued with its criss-crossed walls and glacial erratics from thousands of years ago. Take in the views, walk the historic cart paths, pastures, meadows, and explore the natural features, which include fields, forests, vernal pools, ancient wolf trees, stone walls, and wildflower, butterfly and box turtle habitat according to the Town of Upton website. Its 238 acres has a National Grid powerline running through the property but it barely inhibits the wonderful vistas and intriguing sounds and sights youre sure to enjoy! A map can be found on the Conservation Commissions department at http://www.upton.ma.us/.

Enjoy the Season

You are invited...

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Sutton, MA 10 am - 4 pm Uxbridge, MA 4 pm - 8 pm

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Grafton, MA 12 pm - 4 pm Millbury, MA 10 am - 4 pm

Enjoy this pull-out insert schedule to facilitate your holiday Chain of Lights fun! www.BlackstoneDaily.com/Chain.pdf

www.su tton ch ain ofligh t.com

Sat ur day, Decem ber 1, 2007 10-4 W e lc o m e to o ur G ra nd C e le bra tio no f the C hris tm a sS e a s o n in H is to ric S utto n. Keown Orchards T a ke a s te pb a c k in tim e - to u r th e fa rm s ta n d & ta s te fre s h ly b a ke da p p le c ris p .F re s h ly c u tC h ris tm a s tre e s& c u s to mm a d ew re a th s . S a m p le o ve r 25 va rie tie so fa p p le s , in c lu d in g th e fa m o u sS u tto nB e a u ty. (ha ndic a pa c c e s s ) S t. J ohn s Episcopal C hurch "H o lid a yS h o p p in g th a tM a ke sa D iffe re n c e " F in du n iq u eh o lid a yg ifts w h ile s u p p o rtin g th o s e in n e e da t S t. J o h ns F ifth A n n u a lM a ll fo rH u m a n ity. H a n dm a d e je w e lry, te xtile s , o rn a m e n ts ,h o m ed e c o ra n dm u c hm o re .R P L H* Eat on Farm C onfect ioners - O n eo fA m e ric a 's o ld e s tc a n d y m a n u fa c tu re rs (1892). E n jo yc a n d ya t th eb ig w h ite b a rn o n to po f th e h ill a tE a to nF a rm o r ta ke a h o rs ed ra w nw a g o n th ro u g h th e fie ld s .R H o n n e c to rS h u ttle b e tw e e nF irs tC o n g re g a tio n a l Trolley Rout e # 2: C C h u rc ha n dS t. A n n es C h u rc h . Trolley Rout e # 3: S utto nS e nio rC e nte r-H o ug hR d; S t. A nnes C hurc h- M a in S t; N a tio na lG a lle ry - P utna mH ill R d. Nat ional Gallery - H a n d so nm a ke a n d ta ke h o lid a ya c tivitie s fo rc h ild re n to c re a te w h ile p a re n ts b ro w s eo u rw id es e le c tio no fg ifts &c o lle c ta b le s .O u td o o rb a rg a in te n t, m o s t ite m su n d e r $5. (w e a the r pe rm itting ). B rin g th e fa m ily! R H L Oldies 98.9 Nort h Pole at Manchaug Fire S t at ion E n jo yG re a tM u s ic o f th e 60s & 70s w h ile s ka tin go n th eO ld F a s h io n e dS ka te P a rk. G R E A TP riz eg ive a w a ys ...in c lu d in gaF e n d e rG u ita r p a c ka g e ($332 V a lu e ).V is it M illb u ry G u ita rC e n te ro r lo c a lb u s in e s s e sa t o u rN o rth P o le .E n te r ra ffle s .L H Rebecca LeC out eur Int eriors - A c h a rm in g ,e c le c tic s h o p fille dw ith lo ve ly s u rp ris e s fro md in n e rw a re to d e s ig n e r fu rn itu re . C o m e m e e t & vie w th ea rt w o rk o fL in d aW h ite m a n , re s id e n tD o lly W o rld c ra fts p e rs o no rp o rtra it & ru ra lp a in te rL e o n o ra G u g u e re . W a s s a il B o w l, H u n g a ria np a s trie sa n dB ra z ilia nc a n d ie s .S tro ll th ro u g had e c o ra to rs h o m ee n jo yin g th es e a s o ns a d o rn m e n ts .C h ild re nc a ne n jo yh o tc h o c o la te & c o o kie s& c re a te a C h ris tm a sR e in d e e r. S t . Anne s Parish - A C h ris tm a sF a ir b y th e fa m ilie so fS t. A n n es P a ris hw h e re th e re is s o m e th in g fo re ve ryo n e . R a ffle s ,g a m e s ,c o o kie d e c o ra tin g ,c ra fts ,h o m e m a d eg o o d ie sa n dE n g in e e rD a ve w ith h is m o d e l tra in s . R L P Vaillancourt Folk Art - V is it o n eo fA m e ric as b e s t-kn o w nS a n ta C la u ss tu d io sa n ds e eo u re xte n s ive c o lle c tio no fS a n ta s in c lu d in g th e n e w 2007 e d itio n . T o u ro u rp a in tin gs tu d io to s e e w h e re A m e ric a n a rtis ts c re a te o u rc o lle c tib le S a n ta s . It is th ep e rfe c ts to p to lo o k fo r th a ts p e c ia lh o lid a yg ift! R H S leighbell C hrist mas Tree Farm & Gift Barn is fille d w ith h o lid a ys p irit! S a n ta w ill b e vis itin g in o u ra n tiq u es le ig h- b rin g yo u rc a m e ra fo r as p e c ia lh o lid a yp h o to ! T a ke a h a yw a g o n rid e th ro u g ho u r fra g ra n t fie ld so fC h ris tm a s tre e s - th e nw a rm u pw ith s o m ec o m p lim e n ta ry h o tc h o c o la te . O u rg ift b a rn is fille dw ith fre s h w re a th s , kis s in gb a lls ,s w a g s ,g re e n e ry, u n iq u eo rn a m e n ts a n dg ifts !R H S ut t on S enior C ent er - J o in u s to s h a re in th eh o lid a yh o s p ita lity a s lo c a lc h ild re ns in gC h ris tm a sC a ro ls .E n jo yh o m e m a d eb a ke d g o o d sp re p a re db yS u tto nS e n io rs ;s h o p fo re le g a n ta n da ffo rd a b le g ift b a s ke ts fo r th ew h o le fa m ily a n dd o nt m is sa ll th e je w e lry th ee lve s h a ve b e e nb u s ym a kin g ! T ro lle yo no ve r to th eS e n io rC e n te r fo r a little ta s te o fh o m e to w nh o lid a ys p irit! * S ant a on t he C ommon for C aroling and Tree Light ing a t 5:30P MJ o in th eS u tto nM e m o ria lH ig hS c h o o lM a rc h in g B a n da s th e yw e lc o m eS a n ta to th eC o m m o n fo r th eA n n u a lT re e L ig h tin gC e re m o n y. T h is is a h ig h lig h to f th ed a ys e ve n ts a sw e lig h t th e tre ea n de n jo y th eS H Ss p e c ta c u la rm u s ic ! C hain of Light s Dinner - F irs tC o n g re g a tio n a lC h u rc hw ill b e h o s tin gaR o a s tB e e fD in n e rs e rve dw ith m a s h e dp o ta to e s , ve g e ta b le s , ro lls a n dd e s s e rt. D in n e rs e a tin g s : 4:30P Ma n d 6:30P M C o s t: A d u lt: $8.00 C h ild $5.00 U n d e r 4- F re e M a xim u m /fa m ily: $25.00 T ic ke ts w ill b ea va ila b le fo rp u rc h a s eo n D e c e m b e r 1s ta t th eF irs tC o n g re g a tio n a lC h u rc h .

E a c h ye a r the c o m m unity o fS utto nc o m e s to g e the r to c e le bra te s m a llto w nN e wE ng la nd a t its be s t. Y o uc a n tra ve l fre e to a ll o f the da ys e ve nts by tro lle y. E njo yc a ro ling a nd le a rning s o m eS utto n his to ry a s yo u tra ve l thro ug ho ne o fN e wE ng la nds m o s t pic ture s que to w ns .W e e nc o ura g e yo u to s ta rt yo ur da ye a rly to ins ure yo u do nt m is sa ny o f the w o nde rful s to ps .T ro lle ys e rvic e be g ins a t 10:00A M . (R -re s tro o m ,P -pa rking L -lunc h, H - ha ndic a pa c c e s s )*
Trolley Rout e One: S c ho o lC o m ple x- B o s to nR d; W hittie rF a rm s , D o ug la sR d; S tJ o hns C hurc h- R te 122A ; F irs tC o ng re g a tio na lC hurc h -B o s to nR d. Puckihuddle Preschool - R ig h ta t th eC h u rc h ,c h ild re nc a n c re a te a h o lid a yc ra ft fo rh o m e ! The Brick Block - A rtis tL in d aS in a c o la w ill o ffe ro rig in a lw a te rc o lo r, o il p a in tin g sa n dp rin ts o fS u tto nS c e n e s . S ut t on Hist orical S ociet y at t he Blacksmit h S hop B la c ks m ith d e m o n s tra tio n s th ro u g h o u t th e d a y. "S ile n tA n tiq u e A u c tio n ", ra ffle s ,a n dc h ild re ns a c tivitie sa n dg a m e sw ith p riz e s . S t . Mark s C hurch Holiday Fair R a ffle ta b le in c lu d in gh o m e m a d e ite m s ,g ift b a s ke ts ,u n iq u ec ra fts & a re ac ra fte rs a n da rtis a n s .. K id sc ra fts in th eC h ild re ns C o rn e r. H o m e m a d ec o o kie s fo rs a le .C a lm in gm u s ic. Whit t ier Farms - E xp e rie n c eC h ris tm a so n th eF a rm .E n jo ya h o rs ed ra w nw a g o n to u ro f th e fa rm , kid sg a m e s ,p e ttin gz o oa n dp o n y rid e s . T a s te s a m p le sa t th em ilk b a r. B rin g yo u rc a m e ra a n dh a ve yo u r p ic tu re ta ke nw ith th eR e in s te in s . H o po n a tro lle y. (re s to o m s /h a n d ic a p /lu n c h /p a rkin g ) S ut t on S chools - A G in g e rb re a dH o u s eS p e c ta c u la r - vo te fo r yo u r fa vo rite H o u s e ;e n te r to w in th eG IA N TR a ffle B a s ke ts ;p a rtic ip a te in th eC a keW a lk, K id sA c tivitie s&c ra fts ,g a m e sa n dm o o nb o u n c e ;p u rc h a s eS u tto na p p a re l, w in c a ke so rp a s trie so rb ro w s e lo c a l ve n d o rs h o lid a yg ift id e a s .E n jo yh o tc o ffe eo rc o c o a&o u rb a ke s a le .S p o n s o re d b yS u tto nE le m e n ta ry S c h o o l &S im o n ia nC e n te r fo rE a rly L e a rn in gP T O R H P

S PONS ORS : Oldies 98.9 - C. D. Whit ney Insurance - C ent ral Massachuset t s C onvent ion and Visit or s Bureau - J ohn H. C hafee Blackst one River Valley Nat ional Herit age C orridor C ommission Millbury Federal C redit Union - Millbury S avings Bank - UniBank for S avings - Herlihy Insurance Group Blackst one Valley C hamber of C ommerce - S pecial Thanks t o t he Amat eur Radio Emergency

Keeping Christmas
[From "The Spirit of Christmas."] It is a good thing to observe Christmas day. The mere marking of times and seasons, when men agree to stop work and make merry together, is a wise and wholesome custom. It helps one to feel the supremacy of the common life over the individual life. It reminds a man to set his own little watch, now and then, by the great clock of humanity which runs on sun time. But there is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas. Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world; to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground; to see that your fellowmen are just as real as you are, and try to

by Henry Van Dyke

place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness-are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas. growing old; to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough; to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear in their hearts; to try to understand what those who live in the same house with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave for your ugly thoughts and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open-are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas. Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the worldstronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death-and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas. And if you keep it for a day, why not always? But you can never keep it alone.

look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy; to own that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get

out of life, but what you are going to give to life; to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a

Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children; to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are

10 th An n ual Ux br idge Fir st Holiday Nigh t San ta Par ade

Satur day, Decem ber 1, 2007 - 4-8 PM
Delight in a huge Scenic Light Display and Horse and Carriage rides at Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park-Sponsored by Ironshoe Farm. Two Old Town Trolleys will provide transportation to and from town center to Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park. Evening Activities are: -Strolling singers from the Blackstone Carillons - Ice Sculptures by the Johnson & Wales Chippers Club -Toys for Tots - please bring unwrapped gifts. The parade departs from Elm Street, North Uxbridge, starting at 4:30pm. The Douglas High School Marching Band will lead the Parade and stop at the Common, where Santa will turn on the Christmas Tree Lights. Santa will then proceed to the Center Fire Station, where he will greet the children and hand out presents until 8pm. Town Hall: Blackstone Valley Community Band will perform, Uxbridge Support Our Troops and the AA Sherman Camp 25. On the Common: 4:15-5pm. Blackstone Valley Community Chorus, refreshments by Hannaford Supermarket & Petting Zoo by Ironshoe Farm. Uxbridge Food Pantry will offer hot cider and baked goods (please bring canned goods), popcorn and cotton candy by the Uxbridge First Holiday Night Committee, hot dogs by the Uxbridge Firefighters Association, refreshments and crafts by the 2008 Parents for a Safe Graduation, children activities by Dean Bank, Christmas selections by Karaoke R-Us, french fries by the Knights of Columbus, baked goods, coffee & tea by HMEA. Masonic Hall: Jungle Encounters 4-8pm with free eggnog & cookies. Community House: Post Road Singers, Worcester Men of Song Performances at 5:45pm & 6:45pm. Uxbridge Congregational Church: Bell Ringers. UniBank for Savings: The Vocal Guys Barber Shop Quartet will perform, free raffle and refreshments. Unitarian Church: Whitinsville Congregational Church Bell Ringers, Lower Level-refreshments by the First Holiday Night Committee (nachos & cheese, chowder and drinks) and free childrens crafts by the Visiting Artist Studio. Deborah Wheelock House: Christmas decorations, 5-7pm. The Buxton Fife & Drum will perform. Coronet Farnum House: Christmas decorations and free hot cider. Uxbridge Public Library: Reindeer Fun! Wild Reindeer written by Jan Britt, crafts and refreshments. Uxbridge Senior Center: 5-6:30pm. The Uxbridge High School Band & Chorus will perform, 6:30-8pm. The Honky Tonk Piano Man will play, raffle and refreshments. The Uxbridge Edlery Connection, Inc. on behalf of the Uxbridge Senior Center and the Uxbridge Council on Aging Board will be selling "Hope" friendship bracelets for $15.00 and sales of the bracelets will help benefit the Senior Center. Uxbridge Fire Station: See Santa! Alternatives Unlimited: Art Gallery Tours, light refreshments, a caricature artist from 4:308pm. and entertainment. Savers Bank: The Molly Bish Foundation, Lions Club Vision Van, refreshments by the Lydia Taft House and Blackstone Valley Barber Shop Quartet will perform. Jumbo Donuts: Free treat for all kids under 12 years. Lynchs Riverview Wine & Spirits: A caricature artist 4:30-8pm., samples and snacks. Blue Duck: Light refreshments and a complementary gift. M & B Candies: Free raffle basket drawing until 8pm. Harmony Wellness Center: Free hand paraffin & massage and light refreshments. Bliss Salon & Day Spa: 4-6pm. free raffle drawing for products and services, snacks. Uxbridge Dental Center: 2 free raffle drawings for; Red Sox tickets and Zoom Teeth Whitening Service, goodies bags for the kids and light refreshments. REMAX American Dream:Come visit Santas helpers in the Savers parking lot. Dynasty Cafe: free hot chocolate, entertainment. Gig Stop: Music and refreshments. Nonis Things: 4-8pm. Light refreshments. Books & Books: Come meet Diego and Boots from 5-8pm. and refreshments. Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park: Festival of Trees, Horse and Carriage Rides by Ironshoe Farm,light displays, refreshments,childrens crafts with ,music by the Pike 100 FM, Childrens crafts and popcorn by Prudential Prime Properties & Blackstone Valley Sugaring Association showcases their Sugar House with demonstrations. Faith Fellowship Church presents A Puppets Christmas. Light refreshments by the Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming Committee. In partnership with the Blackstone valley Chamber of Commerce

www.uxbridgeholidaynight.com

In 1915, the Worcester Suburban Electric Company lit the first Christmas tree on the Uxbridge Town Common. Then, the Uxbridge Firefighters Association assumed the responsibility and delighted children with their annual appearance of Santa Claus. The First Holiday Night Committee and the Firefighters Association have joined together to expand upon this holiday tradition.

Lost Scents of Christmas

We live in an era when plastic often replaces greenery and when some senses are overworked, yet others are lost along with the memories they can reveal from merely a whiff. Remember to experience the holidays for their intrinsic values by creating memories for all the senses that will leave imprints long past Christmas. Fill the house with pine scents, the smell of gingerbread or cookies along with your main dinner. Additionally, you can make a scented sachet ahead of time to simmer during a special event or on Christmas Day. Gather: 3 cinnamon sticks / 3 bay leaves / 2 orange slices / 2 lemon slices / 1/3 cup whole cloves Combine ingredients in a mesh bag and secure with string (not ribbon). Place in ziplock plastic bag; refrigerate until ready to use. Place 1 quart water in saucepan; remove from plastic bag and place in water. Simmer all day, adding water as needed. Note: When given as a gift, first dry the orange and lemon slices. Another great project is to make copies of treasured family recipes, along with a brief history or photo of Grandmom, your aunt or whomever and from where the recipe came. This will become one of the most treasured

train set youd been hoping for or perhaps some high tech item for the younger generation. But usually the memories go to the scents, sights and good cheer of family members who gathered together.

gifts as it is handed down through generations even though the young ones might not get too excited initially. Think back to your Christmases as a youngster...I would bet that very few actual presents can be remembered. Sure, there was that favorite doll or

Make sure the pine scents permeate your house along with the other holiday smells of baking pies, turkey or beef. What will you prepare to appeal to the different senses? Take a few moments to make sure that the bounty comes not from the presents but from

the wonders that fill all your senses and soul on this special day. Surprise the kids with a piece of coal and perhaps an orange in their stocking so that they understand the past traditions with humor. Learn the traditions of Christmas stockings, the wreath or Christmas tree, why we kiss under the mistletoe, or how Christmas cards began. How did candy canes and poinsettias become so significant at Christmas? Why do people go carolling? In other words, understanding the first traditions and then your familys ethnic interpretations and additions can help connect to the truer meanings of Christmas. Or if of a different faith or custom, what are the traditions of Kwanza or Hannukah? Personalize your holiday instead of commercializing it into homogeneous complacency. Its all about the spirit of sharing, community and love with your familys unique twist. Enjoy. Now remember, find those old recipes, get outside and pick some pine and red berries....

ISABELLE'S DREAM , 330 W est M ain Street, (508) 8653777. AV ictorian and C ountrygift shop, w ith a w ide arrayof gifts, hom e decoratingand unique personal item s, and filled w ith w onderful C hristm as treasures. R efreshm ents. PEA RSON 'S CH RISTM A S TREE FA RM & ELM HU RSTDAIRY , 4 Fjellm an R oad, (508) 865-2158. B ringthe kids to enjoyactivities at the farm . Select a tree from hundreds, tour the dairy , visit the m aple syrup house. B ring your cam era for a picture w ith a cowor sittingon a tractor. SA N T Aw ill arriv e byox en around 2:30 P .M . FIRST CON G REG A TION A L CH U RCH , 148 W est M ain Street, (508) 865-9737. SnowFlake F air H om em ade goodies, B aked B eans, F ree K ids crafts, B ooks, H olidayC rafts, Jew elry ,G ift B askets, W hite E lephant T able, F ree F ace Paintingand a Special R affle - X m as Stockingfilled w ith toys. H ot apple pie alam ode. EARTH SON G S, 55 W est M ain Street, (508) 865-4757. "O L DT im eC hristm as" in a hom e built in 1848. E njoysw eet treats, dips spreads and m ulled cider serv ed in the original "E N C H A N T E D " barn. FR E Epicture taken w ith "G IN G E R B R E A D M A N " and get a "K ISS" too. W e feature unique hand crafted gifts, snow m an, ornam ents and m uch m ore. R egister for surprise draw ing. A SA W A TERS CH RISTM A S FESTIV A L , 127 E lmStreet, (508) 865-5248. A n old fashion C elebration, includinga visit fromSanta and M rs. C laus. 11:00 T he PattyM orris D ance U nlim ited Perform ers 12:00 R .E . ShawE lem entarySchool C horus 12:30 T he D ynam ic D uo w ith D avid B ourdeau 1:30 R .E . ShawE lem entarySchool W ind E nsem ble 2:30 T he G reendale R etired M en's C horus 4::30 C hristm as T ree L ighting& E lm w ood St. C horus 5:00 G rand R affle D raw ing . M ILLBU RY H ISTORICAL SOCIETY , Inc., 127 E lmSt upstairs at A sa W aters M ansion. open 12-4. T he "G rass H ill" school on W est M ain St. in W est M illburyw ill be open from1- 4 PM . School children w ill present a C hristm as program . R efreshm ents.

PAU LS CEN TER BAK ERY , 75 E lmStreet, (508) 8650055. T o get youstarted, join us for breakfast from5 A Mto12 N oon or com e rest your w earyfeet. F ried dough churros &hot bev erages w ill be serv ed from1p.m . - 4 p.m . ELMDRAU G H TH OU SE CIN EM A , 35 E lmStreet, (508) 865-2850. E njoyour com plim entary"F am ous" popcorn and viewa continuous Special H olidayF eature in M illbury's historic m ovie house. Servingbeer, w ine, soda, pizza, and m ore. T he features w ill run continuallyall afternoon. BOSSEN ELE'S PIZZA , 198 M illburyA v e., (508)5818885. Stop by , bringthe kids! O pen at 11 A M . Sam ple a pasta buffet and enter our Italian Pasta G ift B asket raffle. K ids activities, too. W e offer a full m enu, take out or dine in. D eliv ery available. M ILLBU RY BAPTIST CH U RCH ,O n the C om m on, M illbury ,M A(508) 865-6321. Sign a huge C hristm as C ard for our troops in Iraq. M ix&m atch cookies bydozen or 1/2, single, lunch, crafts. W ew ill be open 12 noon to 4 pm . M ILLBU RY FEDERA TED CH U RCH , 20 M ain Street, M illbury ,M A(508) 865-6274. V iewthe liv e nativityat the W hite C hurch on the C om m on or stayfor lunch or an earlysupper and w armup in the v estry . Perform ances are at 1:30, 2:30 &3:30 for the L iv eN ativity (includinganim als) 12 - 5. H om em ade Soups, C hili and Sandw iches. H olidayG ift B outique. M ILLBU RY FEDERA L CREDIT U N ION , 50 M ain Street, (508) 865-7600. B egin your T our here and enjoylight refreshm ents and take a chance on a raffle, w hile your children participate in seasonal craft activities. M ILLBU RY FIRE H EA DQU A RTERS (LA DIES A U X ILLARY ) 207 W .M ain St. Join the M illburyFire D epartm ent L adies A uxiliaryand M rs. C laus for an A ll A m erican C hristm as w ith hot dogs, popcorn, desserts and refreshm ents. R affles and free balloons for the kids.

M ILLBU RY PU BLIC LIBRARY , 128 E lmStreet, (508) 865-1181. C elebrate 10 a.m- 4 p.m .w ith stories at 11 A M , 12:30 &2:30 PM .A t 2 PM ,B lackstone V alleyC ham ber C horus w ill perform .H olidaycrafts for children. R efreshm ents. M ILLBU RY TOW N E FLORIST , 4 South M ain Street, (508) 865-5831. O ne stop shoppingis here at M illburyT ow n Florist. D ecked for the H olidays, our shop is burstingw ith gift item s and countrycollectibles. O ur talented design staff can create a unique holidayarrangem ent just for you. R egister for door prizes and com plim entarygift. M ILLBU RY SEN IOR CEN TER , 1R iv er Street, (508) 8659154. E m bellished w ith holidayattire provided by Isabelle's D ream , aV ictorian T ea w ith special sandw iches and hom em ade pastries w ill be on sale. Irish Step D ancers at 1:00 pm ,H SB and at 2;30, C raft V endors, H and K nitted Item s, W om en C lub's B igR affle, F ree face paintingbyM illburyH ealth C enter. D ecorate a gingerbread m an cookie in the old R Rcar, handm ade knit item s. TH E CAN DY SH OPPE, 19 M ain Street, (508) 865-0085. Santa C laus w ill be here 1 PMto 5 PM , bringyour cam era. R affle: 1st prize a 20 lb solid Santa, 2nd prize a $25. gift certificate. R affle proceeds to benefit the C amN eeleyF oundation. COU N TRY CAN DLE, 22 W est St.,O pen 10-5.. (508) 8656061. N ewE nglands m ost com plete candle factoryoutlet w ith aw onderful assortm ent of newand unusual candles. T here w ill be Special C andle D ippingfor children. H orse and buggyrides 11-4 in ParkingL ot. Shop open 10-5. M ICH AEL G RAV ES STU DIO , 10 H ayw ard L ane, (508) 865-3183. M ike is a local Pleinaire artist, w hich m eans he paints outdoors in all kinds of w eather and all ov er the U nited States. F romW yom ing, the coast of M aine and C entral M ass, his art is spectacular. H is studio and hom ew ill be open to displayhis oil paintings from1- 4 pm .

TH E FLORAL BOU TIQU E, 242 M illburyA v e. C elebrate the m agic of C hristm as w hile brow singour festiv e displays of unique arrangem ents and collectable giftw are. C om plim entaryhors d'oeuvres. H olidaydoor prizes. M ILLBU RY Y OU TH CAM P, 23 H erricks L ane, (508) 865-5061. V isit the G ingerbread H ouse. K ids gam es, craft fair &baked goods. C om e for lunch w ith B B Q pork rolls, hom em ade ginger breads &m ore. D o your holidayshopping, too! Avisit fromM /M rs C laus - bring your cam era! ROBERT & CO. A N TIQU ES/ G IN A 'S A N TIQU ES AU CTION S & APPRAISERS, 379 G reenw ood St.,(508) 755-1377. In the w onderful old settingof the 1830 E lias H ull H ouse, m ake the holidays ex citingw ith unique and affordable accessories fromy ears past. T hese precious and perfect antiques and collectibles are the sure cure for the cookie-cutter C hristm as and seasonal gifts. RA DIU SH EA LTH CEN TER OF M ILLBU RY 29 M ain St., (508) 865-6106. A n afternoon of fun filled ev ents, pictures w ith Santa, face paintingand entertainm ent. F ruit platters &healthysnacks w ill be serv ed. PAREN TTEACHERG U ILDOFASSU M PTION SCHOOL, 17 G rov e St., 508-865-5404. L ocal v endors &crafters presentinghandm ade jew elry , centerpieces, T astefullySim ple foods, R ed B arn candles, Stam p-it-up cards &m ore. B aked goods and Pam pered C hef item s. C offee, cocoa and hom em ade goodies fromPuffins R estaurant.

Experience the spirit and wonder of the holiday season in M illbury on Sunday, December 2nd from 10-4. Enjoy free trolley rides, play raffles, holiday shop and even win cash by visiting sites. H appy H olidays to all!

Sponsors: M CU ,W heelabrator, C.D. W hitney Insurance, G oretti s, M illbury Savings Bank, W TA G ,W SRS

G r afto n Celebr ates th e H o lid ays

Sun d ay, D ecem ber 2, 2007 12-4 P .M.

1. W illard H ouse and C lock M useum , 11 W illard Street, N orth G rafton. T he historic W illard H ouse and C lock M useumw ill be decorated for the holidays in the C olonial tradition for the m useum 's A nnual C hristm as T ea from2 pmto 4 pm .E njoytea and pastries, children's activities and a clock-m aking dem onstration. F ree adm ission~ (A .G .E dw ards) 2. N orth G rafton U nited M ethodist C hurch 30 O v erlook Street, N orth G rafton. Stop byN orth G rafton U nited M ethodist C hurch, and brow se through our craft fair from12-2. See w hat surprises m aybe in store for you! 3. O ur G lass Studio, 40 N .M ain St, N .G rafton D ance It U p!D ance C enter &Sugarplum s, 36 N .M ain Stop byO ur G lass Studio and m eet sev eral local artisans w hile enjoyingbev erages &light fare. G ift galleryw ill be open. A tD ance It U p! D ance C entre &Sugarplum s, C lara fromthe N utcracker w ill be signingautographs from 12-2. Special discounts on selected m erchandise. U nique N utcracker and holidaygifts. 4. N orth G rafton ShoppingC enter 215 W orcester Street, N orth G rafton. V isit the trav elingpettingzoo. A t Sir L oin's B utchery&D eli, youcan order your holidaydishes w hile children decorate C hristm as holidaycookies. A tW ild A bout B irds, kids can build their ow n bird feeder. L im it of 50. 5. JoinPrincess N ails, 200 W orcester Street. for som e holidaypam pering. F ree polish &design for children under 10. Special - $5 O ff A nygift certificate $35 or m ore.Spirit of W ellness, 202 W orcester Street. $10 off anygift certificate sold 12/2. A20% discount on anyorganic skin care product. F ree skin analysis/chair m assage. C hristm as cookies. A t Floral E legance, 204 W orcester Street, stop in for

refreshm ents. G et inspired byour holidaydesigns & gift item s. E nter to w in a fabulous door w reath. F ree m ake your ow n flow er arrangem ent kit for the first 200 childen(free under 12 y ears). G rafton Pizza, 204 W orcester Street. S1 off sm all pizza /$2 off any large pizza all day .U nlim ited. Stop byD eK roon Salon, 1 H ollyw ood D riv e, from 11/24 - 12/1 to receiv e $10 off anyservice gift certificate w ith our thanks. 6. B righamH ill C om m unityF arm /G rafton L and T rust /G rafton Shakespeare C lub/G rafton G arden C lub/ A pple T ree A rts, 37 W heeler R oad, N orth G rafton. H orse-draw nw agon rides, m usic, and refreshm ents w ill be featured at this w orkingfarm , alongw ith activities and exhibits fromm anyof G rafton's nonprofit organizations includingC om m unityH arv est Project, G L T ,G rafton Shakespeare C lub, G arden C lub, and A pple T ree A rts. 7. C ountryPlaza/Stop &Shop, 100 W orcester Street. V isit Stop &Shop. for free refreshm ents. A tC itizen's B ank, m ake a craft w ith holidaythem es. C V SPharm acyw ill hav e free m ake &take C hristm as ornam ents for kids. A t Supercuts, get $1 off a haircut this dayonly . A t Supercuts, get $1.00 off a haircut this day . A tR e/M axE x ecutiv eR ealty , kids can hav e their faces painted, see dem onstrations byJason K allio fromSay It W ith M agic from12-3 &receiv e a free frisbee. Stop bySubw aySandw ichesfor a free cookie. 8. Santa's V illage at G rafton Suburban C redit U nion 86 W orcester Street. Santa is stoppingbyG rafton Suburban C redit U nion for a free Polaroid and gift for boys and girls from12 to 3:30 pm .L ight refreshm ents w ill be serv ed. D rop off site fro T oys for T ots 11/23-12/14. C hoose a fresh holidaytree fromthe G rafton L ion's C lubannual tree sale.

9. C om m onw ealth H ouse Plaza, 80 W orcester St. V isit Santa's T oyW orkshop at O 'M alleyF am ily C hiropractic and enter a free raffle to w in a kids bike. D rop off letters for Santa for m ailing. F ree stress evaluation for adults. 10. M unicipal C enter/F ood B ank C raft F air 30 Providence R oad, G rafton. O v er 30 artisans and crafters bringyouthe finest crafts from10 amto 3 pm . Pastries, soup and sandw iches w ill be available w ith proceeds benefitingthe G rafton F ood B ank. C hildren can ride the trackless train around the M unicipal C enter. D rop off site for T oys for T ots from11/26-12/7. 11. G rafton Police Station, 26 Providence R oad T ours of the buildingw ill be conducted. L ight refreshm ents. W hile at the station, cast your v ote at the gingerbread contest organized byG irl Scout T roop 219. N ext door, visit the M assachusetts C hief of Police A ssociation for their open house, free keychain and dedication of the building. 12. F arnum sville Firehouse, 3AM ain Street. O pen house. G uided tours/light refreshm ents 12 to 3. pm . G rafton C om m unityT elevision, 296 Providence R d. Stop by for a tour of the studio and see howaccess television is m ade. B ringa blank V H Sor D V Dand record a 5-m inute holidaygreetingfor m ilitarypersonnel ov erseas or for friends or fam ily .C offee and V ienna fingers. T he C om m unityH ouse, 25 M ain Street. O pen house from12 pmto 3 pm .L ight refreshm ents. 13. G ibson K ennels, Inc. ,139 U pton Street, G rafton. C om e dow n to G ibson K ennels for pictures w ith Santa, presented byD ogO rphans. B ringyour 2 &4 legged kids for som e cookies and cookies. T hen sit w ith Santa for som e holidayphotos. 14. B usinesses on the C om m on, G rafton. Ice sculpture dem onstration on the C om m on from12

to 3 pm . V isit the open house at A ntiques on the C om m on. Stop at Peggy's Place for a free surprise gift w /ev erypurchase w hile supplies last. U nitarian U niv ersalist Societyof G rafton &U ptonis havinga Stone Soup F aire, includinglunch from12 to 4 pm .; a childrens craft activity , a fam ilyconcert at 1 pm featuringthe hand B ell C hoir &special guests and T rade &A rtisan M arket. Pick up reindeer food at G rafton C enter Playschool. A pple T ree A rtsw ill present a holidayconcert at 2:30 pmat the E vangelical C ongrega-tional C hurch, featuringour C om m unityC horus and sev eral talented local m usicians. L eC laire Propertiesw ill hav e hot chocolate, cookies, and a children's craft table. T he G rafton C enter L ibraryw ill hav eD iane E dgecom b, storyteller, present "O nce U pon a W intertim e" at 3:30 pm .G rafton H istorical Society w ill hav e its C hristm as O pen H ouse from1 to 3 pm . H istorical displays and refreshm ents. A t the G rafton C ountryStore, K ellyC lark and D onna B lanchard from A pple T ree A rts w ill performfrom11:30 a.m . to 12:30 p.m .R efreshm ents and apple cider. T heB aptist C hurch of G raftonw ill display nativity scenes in the sanctuary .W armdrinks and cookies. Asm all boutique w ith hand-crafted item s available . A t St. Phillip's C hurch, enjoycider and doughnuts w hile children decorate an ornam ent for the holiday tree on the C om m on w ith B row nie T roop 261. A tT he G rafton Inn, M r. K im to performat 1:30 pm . C hildren w ill also m ake a "m arshm allowsnow m an." Finale E v ents Santa w ill be leavingthe G rafton C redit U nion at 4 pmon G rafton's ow n ladder truck. Join Santa for the tree lightingand sing-alongbeginningat 4:30 pmon G rafton C om m on.

L ook for our m ascot logo

Santa will be leaving the G rafton Credit U nion at 4 pm on G rafton's own ladder truck. Join Santa for the tree lighting and sing-along beginning at 4:30 pm on G rafton Common. 1. W illard H ouse &C lock M useum 2. N orth G rafton U nited M ethodist C hurch 3. O ur G lass Studio/D ance It U p! N .G rafton 4. N orth G rafton ShoppingPlaza, 215 W orcester St, N .G rafton 5. 200-204 W orcester Street, N .G rafton 6. B righamH ill C om m unityB arn 7. C ountryPlaza, 100 W orcester Street 8. G rafton Suburban C redit U nion/ L ions C lub 9. C om m onw ealth Plaza, 80 W orcester Street 10. G rafton M unicipal C enter 11. G rafton Police Station 12. F arnum sville Firehouse E tc. 13. G ibson K ennels 14. G rafton C om m on B usinesses

www.grafto n celebratesth eh o lid ays.co m

A big th an k yo u to o ur d o n o rs wh o m ake th is co m m un ity even t p o ssible.

BEN EFACT O R: G rafton Recreation Com m ission P AT RO N S:- Stop n Sh op & Yesod Foun d ation SP O N SO RS: Floral Elegan ce - G ibson Ken n els, I n c., G rafton Econ om ic D evelop m en t Com m ission LeClaire P rop erties, I n c. - Millbury N ation al Ban k G rafton Suburban Cred it U n ion - T in a T h eroux, D MD SU P P O RT ERS: Citizen s Ban k Cum m in gs Sch ool of Veterin ary Med icin e, T ufts U n iver sity CVS P h ar m acy D eKr o o n Salo n D un kin ' D o n uts G aud ette I n suran ce Agen cy G rafto n Co un try Sto re, LLC Massach usetts Ch iefs of P olice Association Ro bert C. Ro n ey Fun eral H o m e, I n c. Rich ard F. Ro d ger, D VM Ro ger's Auto Service T em p -Flex Cable, I n c. Valley P laza D isco un t Liquo r, I n c. FRI EN D : Ap p le T ree Arts Bottle'n Cork - Card oos G ourm et Caterers T h e Broth ers H arris Con struction Co., I n c. D an ce I t U p ! D an ce Cen ter & Sugarp lum s D an ielle's Breakfast an d P ub Ch arles A. G agn e, D D S, P C G rafto n Cen ter P laysch o o l, I n c. G rafton H istorical Society - H om eQ uest Mortgage, I n c. MacKoul's Cars, I n c. - Mich ael J. McMan us, Esq. Millbury Cred it U n ion - MJ's P ep p er Jelly O 'Malley Fam ily Ch iro p ractic O ur G lass Stud io - ReMax Executive Realty P rin cess N ails - Savers Ban k - G rafto n Sp irit of W elln ess Massage T h erap y & Skin Care Sto p & Sh o p - Subway o f G rafto n Sup er Cuts U n itarian U n iversalist Society of G rafton & U p ton W illard H o use & Clo ck Museum

Faces in Stone
by Brennan Gauthier
Two dark eyes shot upward from the desk of retired Massachusetts State Geologist, Joseph Sinnott. They didn't belong to any living creature; they were made of stone. That same morning, a local resident of the Worcester, MA area had brought Sinnott a bowling ball bag with a strange request; "Tell me what this is." The resident who brought forth this oddity claimed to have been hiking along the Quinnebaug River in Southbridge, Massachusetts when his dog began barking and broke his grasp, sprinting into the woods. While his dog was busy chasing a black sheep from a local pasture, a dilapidated stone wall caught the hikers' eye. It wasn't the wall that was calling him; it was the strange skull that seemed to be protruding from its base. As he approached the wall, he realized that it did not actually contain a skull, but a granite boulder. He picked up the hefty artifact and placed it into his backpack. After storing the face in his barn for nearly ten years, he decided to have the curiosity checked out by an expert in local stone. Joseph Sinnott was intrigued by the piece and was even more beguiled upon the realization that no metal tools had ever been used on the stone. How could something so deeply cut into granite be made without metal tools? This was the question that played at the back of Joe's mind until, almost by chance; another face was brought forward to his desk.

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One day, the owner of the first face began to show photos of his find to a group of bar patrons at a local pub. When the photograph circulated around the bar to the last patron, his jaw dropped. The face that looked back at him was almost identical to another he had found. He soon contacted Joe and loaned the artifact for further research. The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, received the head from his father. It was found in the 1940's while on a hunting trip in the woods of Southbridge. It was kept as a curiosity until 2003 when its importance became evident. Although this stone weighed 25 pounds, it still had many of the same characteristics as the first recorded face. Both artifacts had two deeply set eyes and a lunate mouth. Was this all a strange coincidence? How was it that two total strangers living in the same town could own two of the same strange stone? Hoping to find other residents with similar stones, Joe decided to place an article in a local paper about the faces. The article paid off, bringing forth another set of artifacts into the spotlight. Within days, another report surfaced concerning a set of artifacts found during the demolition of a Southbridge livery barn. Again, a face was found with all the same features as the others, but the difference in this case was with an accompanying ground stone artifact. Never before

Corrections

had a stone face been found in conjunction with another artifact. The second piece, a stone bowl, was found within a few feet of the face. The bowl exhibits a shallow depression with four distinct grooves along the lip of the bowl. The bowl is one of many clues that may help us better understand the stone faces. The third face to surface came in the town of Sturbridge, only a few miles to the West of the previous discoveries. Along the shores of East Brimfield Pond, a teenager came forth with a stone that he had kept for over nine years. Currently being used as a candle holder, the stone is identical to the others. It weighs six pounds, making it the lightest so far. This face is also one of the most interesting. It has two distinct cut marks in the corners of its mouth. The boy remembered exactly where the head was found, and this spot has been sampled with no artifacts recovered from a small excavation. Since the original faces were reported, artifacts of similar make and location began to show up from people who collected oddities all their lives. It seems that every town in the Quinebaug watershed had reports of analogous stones. In all, nine artifacts of extreme likeness fell into the hands of Mr.Sinnott, including a stone bowl found by the author. With all these pieces of the puzzle coming together it seemed only a matter of time before a detailed analysis would be undertaken. After looking for resources to turn to, Mr.Sinnott found a unique opportunity on the west coast. A new type of stone dating had become available to the public, and Joe jumped on the chance to travel to New Mexico and have his pieces looked at. A group who identifies artifacts for a fee began

analyzing one of the faces. Unfortunately, due to dissemination laws, the proceedings of those findings are not allowed to be published at this date. Things seemed to be going well for the research, but a tragedy hit in September 2004. Joseph Sinnott, head researcher, passed away by means of heart problems. With his passing, a wealth of knowledge and insight passed as well. A number of questions were left unanswered in the months following Joe's death. Mainly, the answer that seemed to defy every attempt at decipherment revolved around the origins of the stone faces. Were they Native American? Or had some clever prankster hoaxed the whole thing? Ongoing research will hopefully shed light on these truly anomalous pieces of art. More photos can be found at: www.BlackstoneDaily.com/stoneworks. htm Brennan is a UVM student who has studied with the late Joseph Sinnott. Email: spamman05@aol.com

In the past issue of Journeys, two photos of Churchs Blackstone-Millville area were misnamed. The Tower is the Udor Tower, an old water tower disguised as a windmill. Having an elaborate system of piping, it is believed to have serviced a home that once stood there. The owner, Charles Fletcher, later moved the house, leaving the tower standing alone in the yard. In one of his deeds, Fletcher appears to have referred to the tower as "Blarney Castle." An 1850s panoramic map of Millville shows the tower complete
Suppor t our Adver t iser s

with a wooden top and windmill paddles. Udor is thought to be a Latin counterpart for the Greek word for water. The "Millville Silo" is a fallen water tank in the center of the mill yard complex, not a fallen silo. We regret the errors.

now destroyed the breed, so that tis very rare to meet with a wild turkie in the woods. (Joselyn 1865) According to wildlife biologist Jim Cardoza in his Wild Turkey: An Astonishing Success Story, the eastern wild turkey that was once prevalent throughout New England, central and southern U.S.A and Canada, was almost wiped out by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, due to habitat loss, excessive hunting of the species and flooding or destruction of foods, such as nuts. Farming, construction and the constant need for wood as fuel had decimated the forests and by the 1930s, it was estimated that only about 320,000

Wild Turkeys Back On Track

turkeys remained anywhere in North America. Turkeys did not exist elsewhere, so the crisis of possible extermination was severe, especially since more than an eighth of the total were legally hunted every year. Between the 1880s and 1900, fee based hunting laws became standard throughout most of the United States. The revenue derived has been used exclusively for wildlife restoration and research under the 1937 enacted US Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. Yet, for almost two decades, restoration projects failed due to the use of domesticated turkeys which often were illness-free, yet carriers of virus and bacteria to the wild turkey.

Journeys

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Canal

Graftons Ted Williams, wildllife expert, avid fisherman and hunter tells a humorous tale of the difficult task of trapping wild turkeys for stock restoration in his book, Insightful Sportsman: Thoughts on Fish, Wildlife & What Ails the Earth. Yet in less than five decades, the numbers have grown very successfully to over 5.4 million turkeys found in all 49 states. By 2001, over 2.6 million hunters were hunting over 740,000 turkeys, also known as genus meleagris gallopavo, annually. The wildlife restoration of turkeys has been extremely successful, yet there are future threats, such as: exotic

illness strains, mounting global population, annual fluctuations in nesting & climate change impacts and social importance of wildlife managment Wild turkeys are thinner than domestic turkeys and taste a bit differently, but certainly worth a try! Evidentiary studies and info found at: http://www.manwtf.com/documents/JimCardozaPaper.pdf

, continued from page 5

which celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2008. (July 6-13) It is an eight day, 400 mile bicycle tour which specifically promotes the Canalway Trail throughout the entire length of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Starting with 30 participants the first year, 500 bicyclists took part in the 2007 event pedaling mostly on the old canal towpaths once used by mules. An average day's bicycle ride is 50 miles. The majority of the tour route is on relatively flat terrain, as the historic towpath of hard packed gravel has just a one percent grade. These towpaths also pass close by to canalside towns which makes the week long event ideal for bikers looking for something different. For further information: Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor www.eriecanalway.gov/ www.nps.gov/erie/ Parks & Trails New York www.ptny.org/ www.ptny.org/canaltour/index.shtml To read Part One, go to www.BlackstoneDaily.com and click on Journeys.

amenity, as a link to the regions history, and as a natural resource worth protecting. As recreational use of the canals and of the refurbished trails and parks system has increased, bikers using the canal towpath system have joined boaters as a growing segment of new canal users, second only to hikers. The statewide advocacy group Parks & Trails New York has helped to promote the canal pathway system. In 2006 and 2007 they sponsored a series of "Bicycles Bring Business" seminars in key communities along the waterway. Parks & Trails New York also organizes Cycling the Erie Canal,

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Our River,
in pursuit of the Narragansetts ever retreating before them and out of reach Soon the reality of the situation could not be avoided, and the English themselves were constrained to deal much in horseflesh. They killed and ate many of their own mounts. For this reason, Winslows pursuit of Canonchet has ever since been known as The Hungry March. By early February, Winslows company had tracked the Narragansetts for more than sixty miles. They followed their elusive quarry into the Massachusetts woods between Marlborough and Brookfield. But upon coming to the Road toward Connecticut, Winslow halted. He instructed the Plymouth and Massachusetts men to turn east and start for Boston, while the Connecticut troops and Mohegan scouts were told to repair to their own colony. Winslow knew that for want of Provision for themselves and their Horses, he had no choice: the chase must be abandoned. Now at liberty in the woodlands of central Massachusetts, Canonchet and his people joined forces with Nipmuck Indians already prosecuting the war for Philip. Quinnapin, one of the six Narragansett sachems and husband to Philips sister-in-law Weetamoo, participated in a merciless raid on Lancaster, February 10th, in which Mary Rowlandson and her child were taken captive. It is reasonable to assume other Narragansetts had a hand in it as well. Hubbard described the Narragansetts new alliance in the following manner: the Narhagansets having been driven out of the Country, fled through the Nipnet [Nipmuck] Plantations, towards Watchuset Hills meeting with all the Indians that had harboured all Winter in those Woods about Nashaway; they all combined together

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continued from page 8 After locating his people in safe retreats, Bodge continues, Canonchet with a large party of his warriors, returned towards his own country, in order to recover some of the large quantities of corn secreted there, and especially for seed-corn to plant the English fields, from which they had driven the owners. A large raiding party from the various tribes came southward also. It is probable that the two companies were not far from each other, when Capt. Peirse arrived at Rehoboth, and they probably united in his destruction If Bodges surmise is correct, it would serve to explain why Indians of different tribes were mixed in among the Narragansetts who ambushed Peirce. There is an old tradition in the Blackstone Valley that on the eve of the battle, Canonchet and his warriors retired to a favorite haunt of the Indians called Quinsnicket, which is said to mean a rock house or stone huts. The site is located in a tranquil glade of the Moshassuck River valley, off of Breakneck Hill Road in what is now the town of Lincoln, Rhode Island, formerly part of Smithfield. The name is now attached to a huge mass of rocks which caps the hill just back of the Butterfly Factory, Providence antiquarian Sidney S. Rider wrote in 1904. It overhangs other rocks, thus forming a sort of room or space which it covers. Tradition says that beneath this rock, or in this rock house, slept Nanuntenoo, otherwise Canonchet, the night before he destroyed Captain Peirce and all his soldiers. It may be true, for certainly it might have been, Rider observed. On the green sward to the southward of this immense rock, he may have lighted his council fire and planned the fatal ambuscade. [At] Quinsnicket the bountiful hand of nature had brought together everything which could delight the eye of the Indian a magnificent view; security from enemies; luxuriant foliage; rare plants; and the waters of the bright Moshassuck for his beverage. Quinsnicket was part of a large tract of forested land acquired by the State of Rhode Island in 1909; which in turn became Lincoln Park For this reason alone, Quinsnicket has survived to the present day. In 1908, Edwin C. Pierce, a lineal descendant of Captain Michael Peirce, referred to Quinsnicket in the text of an address he gave at a ceremony to honor his fallen ancestor: As the ambuscade was near Quinsniket, there can be no doubt that Canonchet with perhaps seven hundred warriors of the brave and now utterly desperate Narragansett nation had made this rocky fastness his base of operations. There, under the overhanging rock of the hilltop, the savage Chieftain held his council fire and the plan for the ambuscade was laid. The sortie of the colonials from Rehoboth on Saturday must have been reported to Canonchet, and he must have judged that encouraged by their success, the English would continue their advance and accordingly he prepared to ambush, overwhelm and annihilate them Of course, theres just one little problem with Mr. Pierces colorful scenario: Theres reason to believe that Canonchet, warrior-sachem of the Narragansetts, was never at Peirces Fight NEXT: CANONCHET CONTINUED 2007 by Joe Doherty PO Box 31 South Salem, NY 10590-0031 riverwritr@aol.com

Reading the Landscape

how quickly stumps or fallen trees begin to degrade and whether they rot from inside out or outside in. Certain species, such as all coniferous trees, rot from the outside in, often taking up to a hundred years before decaying fully. Yet, most hardwoods rot from the inside out, often totally decaying in as little as 25-30 years. These are very compelling clues to interpret the history of the forest near you. The forests we see today are very different than what colonists witnessed. They viewed white pines up to 5 feet in diameter in huge, cleared groves majestically rising 50 feet taller than other groves. But the landscape has even changed drastically in the last fifty years as Dutch Elm disease or an imported Asain parasite killed species, such as elms and the American chestnut tree. In addition, many invasive species have grown rapidly, replacing native

against the English, yet divided their Numbers, and one half of them were observed to bend their Course towards Plimouth, taking Medfield in their way, which they endeavoured to burn and spoil, Feb. 21, 1675, as their Fellows had done Lancaster ten Days before. The sudden appearance of the Narragansetts in Nipmuck Country imposed a heavy burden on already weakened food supply. Such was the condition of the hostiles, when, in the dead of winter, several thousand Narragansetts, destitute of supplies, poured in upon them, write Ellis and Morris. The already slender resources of the Nipmuck tribes were immediately exhausted, and though the trees were bare and the ground deep with snow, raids upon the English villages for the purpose of securing food became imperative. The worsening food crisis must have been a focus of concern at a great Indian war council convened near Squakheag (Northfield, Massachusetts) on March 9th, just two weeks before Peirces Fight. At this historic conference, Philip and Canonchet looked each other in the eye for the first time since the war started. Narragansett sachems Pessacus, Pomham and Quinnapin were also on hand. Other distinguished Indians included Sancumachu of the Pocumtucks, Annawan, several other chiefs of the Wampanoags, Queen Weetamoo and representatives of the various tribes of the Nipmucks, dressed in all the glory of wampum and deerskin. Successful raids in central and western Massachusetts may have emboldened the Indians to believe that they would enjoy some degree of freedom in that territory, at least enough to plant fields for the coming season. There is little doubt that the confederated tribes determined to drive the English from the Connecticut valley, and to hold it, Bodge writes in Soldiers in King Philips War.

, continued from page 4

plants. So open your eyes to the clues that surround us. Read Wessels or Marchands informative books that give profound insight into the tell-tale signs that will enhance every walk into the woods or even identify the stone walls that line our yards. Find out about stunted apple trees, the difference of swamps vs. bogs and so many other enlightening tools to identify the natural history of New England, and more specifically the Blackstone Valleys landscapes. Our natural landscape is a mosaic of history. Open your eyes to the wonders of wildlife, fauna, flora, stone walls, rock striations and other clues that can give meaning to the life and past around us! See page 23 for a mystery solved by reading a unique Upton landscape!

The Written Word

In April 2002, a small group of writers gathered for a three day workshop at the Center for Arts & Spirituality at the First Universalist Church of Woonsocket. This workshop was so highly extolled that the decision was made to continue meeting on a bi-weekly basis as an outlet for writers of all leanings: poetry, journaling, prose, short story, sermon, script writing, puppets, comedy and more. After a year, changes were made to accomodate a weekly schedule and a site change to Woonsocket Harris Public Library. The group has thrived ever since. A small group of 8-10 weekly participants consistently share their works, ideas and passion for the written word. On a Thursday night visit in October, writers read several haikus, generally a three line poem derived from Japanese culture that doesnt rhyme but which follows strict rules using 17 syllables over three lines (5/7/5). Simple words in a very compact form must paint visual imagery in the readers mind. Certainly, a tricky but intriguing quest! A well-written and amusing short story about dining on an airline trip came next followed by a very compelling piece on an old cowboy whose

Journeys

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About the Woonsocket Harris Public Library The Woonsocket Harris Public Library was originally known as the Harris Institute Library. Situated on the second floor of the Harris Institute Building in the Harris Block on Main Street, the Harris Institute Library opened its doors to the public on October 3, 1868. The Harris Institute Library has the distinction of being the first public library in the state of Rhode Island. The library was located directly below Harris Hall, where Abraham Lincoln delivered an anti-slavery address in 1860. The founder of the library was Mr. Edward Harris, who was a noted Woonsocket woolen manufacturer and philanthropist. The first branch library in the city was the Social Branch Library, which opened on January 13, 1927. The Social Branch was located on the second floor of the Dulude Building near Social Corner, in the heart of Woonsocket 's most densely populated district at the time. The Social Branch Library remained in operation until 1974. After it was decided that the library had long outgrown its space in the Harris Institute Building , a new building to house the library was constructed in the Social Flatlands on Clinton Street beginning May 17, 1973. Construction was completed in 1974. Renovations and a major expansion were completed in 2001. The Fairmount Branch was opened in January 1998 to serve the children of the Fairmount section of the city who might not have regular access to the Main Library on Clinton Street. For more information, go to www.woonsocketlibrary.org About Edward Harris Harris, born in 1801, worked his way up to become owner of six mills producing satinets and high quality cashmeres. In 1856, Harris constructed the Harris Block for community use and he also donated land for Woonsockets first high school and the majestic Oak Hill Cemetery. He was an active anti-slavery advocate and was a State Representative. He employed up to 1000 workers and built eighty brick tenement houses to serve his immigrant workers workin for the Privilege Mill. Many houses still stand on Farm and North Main Streets. He died in 1872, truly loved by all.

Gov. Deval Patrick expressed hope for strengthening Massachusett's future as he spoke before hundreds at the Blackstone Vally Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting held at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton on November 14th. He recognized local businesses for their "spirit of partnership" after the devastating fire at Bernat mill in Uxbridge and thanked community banks for stepping up to loan almost $500,000 to local businesses in need. Governor Patrick expressed the need to push innovative ideas and not just money to strengthen our educational system and marketable skill sets from kindergarten through higher education. He spoke of the 125,000 unemployed, while 90,00 jobs stand unfilled..a skills gap that needs to be addressed by collaborative efforts of schools, business and

Governor Patrick Speaks At Chambers Annual Meeting

political leadership. He spoke of the major opportunities in the life sciences and alternative energy that could establish Massachusetts as a leader throughout the world in these growing industries. "The proposal for resort casinos is fundamentally a job proposal," said Patrick as he continued that there is a social downside, yet the effects are smaller than allowing drinking while potentially creating 20,000 jobs and up to $2 billion to the state's economy. Jan Reitsma from the John H. Chafee National Heritage Corridor presented Governor Patrick with a one-day pass to visit the region and tour Blackstone Valley with a Ranger. A basket of Sutton Beauty apples from Keown Orchards was given to the

way of life had died long before he did. This writer hails from Texas, enhancing the imagery into a very powerful reality. Ezra Pounds oft-used definition of imagery as an intellectual and emotional complex in an instant of time" bore success within several genres of creative work by writers in this group as works continued to be read and discussed. Linda Hill, who works at Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge in Smithfield, is the informal leader of the group, offering assignment suggestions as a way to get creative thoughts flowing. Each member reads one to several pieces of varying styles of creative work each week, often eliciting strong praise from listeners. Critiques are not part of the meeting though members stated that they often see selfimprovement as time goes on. The members were very jovial and interested in each other's creativity, all for the love of writing, though of course, some look forward to or are being published one day. All are welcome to share their creative energy and the lovely spirit of the Written Word Writing Group which meets at 7 p.m. on Thursdays at the Woonsocket Harris Library, 303 Clinton Street, Woonsocket. 401-232-3307.

Governor. Joseph Deliso, the Chamber's executive director, called it a thrilling day for the Blackstone Valley, noting that it has been a long time since a Governor spoke at a Chamber event. Several awards were given by the Chamber's Board Director, Joe Barbato of Millbury Credit Union, before the Governor arrived, including: the Gerry Gaudette Extra Mile award to Paul Metzger of Sutton and Cornerstone Awards to Unibank and Alternatives of Whitinsville. Charles Thompson, who is retiring, was also recognized for his 34 years of work as Executive Director of the Whitin Center. Photos can be found on page 24.

YouTube, the online video site, revolutionized U.S. presidential debates this summer by using Internet technology to bring voters and candidates closer together. Now, Alternatives, a nonprofit organization in the Blackstone Valley, is transforming its fundraising by using online video to raise the last $600,000 needed to achieve its $4.2 million capital campaign goal to complete the renovation of the original Paul Whitin Mill. The Whitin Mill project will turn an out-of-work mill into an inclusive community treasure, featuring a theater, restaurant, riverfront plaza, artisan studios and an employment program and affordable apartments for people served by the organization. The complex also features cutting-edge green technology through hydro, solar and geothermal renewable energy sources. The movie, viewable on Alternatives' website, highlights the

Building the Dream

organization's mission, the Whitin Mill renovation project, and also provides a link to "Help Pave the Way!" This is an opportunity for the community to become personally involved in the project by purchasing an engraved paver stone that will be placed within the riverside community plaza. By having a favorite quote, family or business name inscribed on a paver stone, people will be supporting the Whitin Mill project while leaving a legacy for generations to come. Historian Don Gosselin was the first individual to buy a tax deductible paver. "We added it up and discovered that between my family and my wife's family," says Gosselin, "we have over 250 years of service in The Shop. This is a terrific opportunity to honor their memory and the Whitin name." Recently the Northbridge High School class of 1957 held their 50th reunion. There were forty-four people in attendance, some from as far away as Florida. As part of the celebration, they toured the complex they knew as the Spinning Ring Shop. Walter Convent, speaking for the Reunion Committee said when buying their paver, "Everyone was very impressed with the history of the complex and the important work being done there. Our committee voted unanimously to purchase a paver with 'Class of 1957' engraved on it." "Using this new video, email, banners, and special inserts are just some of the ways we're getting the word out about the 'Help Pave the Way' cam-

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Journeys

paign," said Lee Gaudette, volunteer campaign chair. "We need community involvement and support to complete this exciting project that the entire region will enjoy." Alternatives is a non-profit agency serving more than 550 adults with developmental and psychiatric disabilities in 45 programs throughout central Massachusetts. To see the movie, visit www.alternativesnet.org and click on Building the Dream.
To read over 30 articles on Whitin history by Don Gosselin, go to: www.Blackstonedaily.com/whitinintro.htm

Snapshots:Building Community
Despite the chilly weather, nearly 60 turkeys were collected, along with various canned and boxed foods, and over $175 in gift certificates and cash. These were all donated to the local food banks to help those families in need to enjoy a delicious holiday dinner. A special thank you to those who came out to play and support our local food banks! grades 7-12. As long as space and leadership are available, girls are welcomed throughout the year and prior and ongoing membership is not necessary. Girl Scouting builds character, confidence and leadership. Girls profess the Girl Scout Promise and Law; they are willing to help all and are very visible in serving the community. In September, 120 girls and 30 adult leaders enjoyed a camping weekend at Camp Green Eyrie, in Harvard, Massachusetts. The experience provided girls with silly fun and games, laughter and giggles, outdoor cooking and mounds of spaghetti and meat-

Golfers brave cold for families in need at Blissful Meadows Golf Club
On Thursday, November 8, 2007, "Mr. Turkey" made a visit to Blissful Meadows Golf Club to commemorate their annual "Turkey Day" event. Each year on "Turkey Day", Blissful Meadows offers a free round of golf to any players who donate a 12+ lb. turkey, or a $25 gift certificate to a local grocery store.

Girl Scouting is alive and well

Girl Scouting is alive and well in the Northbridge Community. The 2007-2008 year is underway with 12 troops registering with more to come. The Daisy Girl Scout troop serves girls in Kindergarten, with Brownies being enjoyed by girls in grades 1,2 & 3. Junior Girl Scouting encompasses grades 4,5 & 6. Cadette and Senior Girl Scouting is for girls in

Who Cares?
A Letter to The Editor

balls. They slept in tents and hiked the trails. They built campfires, sang a lot of songs and they especially made lasting friendships. Leadership is always needed. Training and support are necessary and available. If you are looking for a meaningful experience for yourself and you daughter, please look into the Girl Scout Community. Join Girl Scouting! For further information, kindly contact Fran Gauthier, Service Unit Manager, Northbridge Girl Scouting at 508-2348194.

As the United States military is deployed around the world, hardships are touching more and more of our friends, neighbors and relatives. Yet, I wonder if many think the blood, battles and body bags are what happens to others or that its just an interruption on the evening news. This Veterans Day, I had the honor of marching in Milfords parade with family members who have loved ones in harms way. As we walked along, we were truly touched by the size, enthusiasm and applause of the crowd. Larger and louder it seemed than in years past. It meant so much to families to know that people do care; a moment of peace and pride for those who live every day with the fear of the dreaded knock on the door or the ring of the phone. My sincere thanks to all who walked and watched. The veterans,

bands, local politicians, public service groups, John Pilla and everyone who made the effort to be there on that special day. Also a thank you to Milford Sign-A-Rama whose policy of free welcome home signs for military families is an act of kindness that means so much to so many. So who cares? It seems that many local people do. No matter your opinion of the war, it is important that we always respect, revere and remember not only those who have volunteered to defend us but the families they leave behind. Rest assured that I care and I feel blessed that my friends and neighbors do as well.

Alternatives' Whitin Mill Artisan/Restaurant Space Available Alternatives seeks tenants for their newly renovated Whitin Mill abutting the Mumford River and Ring Shop Dam. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of an important new project in the Blackstone Valley. Spaces include a riverside restaurant, artisan/retail space in the historic Brick Mill and the historic Forge, a space that would be perfect for a glass blower or blacksmith. Square footage varies from 330sf to approximately 900sf for artisan space. Restaurant space is 1300sf. For rates, additional information and a tour contact: Tom Saupe or Phil Ingersoll-Mahoney at Alternatives (508) 234-6232.

Mik e S hain
Please send letters to the editor to: Blackstonedaily@aol.com or BD News, 23 Fay Mt Rd, Grafton, MA 01519. Depending on space, they will be printed in Journeys or www.BlackstoneDaily.com

There is a wonderful tour for biking or walking, created with funding by the John H. Chafee National Heritage Corridor years ago which highlights: 1. Adin Ballou Park - site of the statue and original site of Ballou home 2. Community Square - site of former school / meeting house 3. The Adin Ballou House - moved but current site of Ballou home (privately owned) 4. The Little Red Shop - currently undergoing renovations - one of the early Community shops 5. Hopedale Village Cemetery - burial site of com-

Adin Ballou Walking Tour

munity members 6. Nelsons Grove - site of the annual Abolitionist picnic / gathering 7. Current Town Center - with Draper built Unitarian Church Draper built Town Hall Bancroft Memorial Library, repository of the Early Community newspaper plus artifacts and writings of Adin Ballou This walk, with map, can be found online: www.adinballou.org/walktour.shtml
(Photos by Ellen Onorato - family gravestones - son Augustuss stone at right.)

Journeys

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Adin Ballou
Hopedales Bancroft Library. He also wrote "The History of Milford" in 1880 to honor the town's Centennial. Though it is mostly recognized by historians that American abolitionism evolved from religious origins, of which Ballou and the Hopedale Community were key figures, the disposition of the slavery issue through violence and war, forever changed the way in which history was recorded. Ballous distinction of living in a way that would end slavery by conversion, guided by the majesty of God, creating a network of communities that could change the world for the new millennium, fell victim to the the histo-

, continued from page 6

ry of the Civil War. However, Tolstoy and others of high repute speak of Ballous writings as distinguished by the clearness of their thought and eloquence of exposition. In an interview of Tolstoy by Andrew Dickson White, Leo Tolstoys Autobiography, Vol. II, asked who, in the whole range of American literature, he thought the foremost. To this he made an answer which amazed me, as it would have astonished my countrymen. Indeed, did the eternal salvation of all our eighty millions depend upon some one of them guessing the person he named, we should all go to perdition together. That greatest of American writers was--Adin Ballou! Evidently, some of the philanthropic writings of that excellent Massachusetts country clergyman and religious communist had pleased him, and hence came the answer. The Blackstone Valleys Dale of Hope has become famous for the Draper Corporation and their "shuttleless" textile looms which created an empire and tremendous paternalism within town, but Ballous influence can be seen in the street signs, the magnificent Unitarian Church and writings still significant today. More photos (color) and bibliography

found online at www.blackstonedaily.com/adin.htm For Hopedale history, visit Dan Malloys site at www.geocities.com/daninhopedale

Former home of Adin Ballou

Bu sin ess & P rofession al Directory

"Yippee!" I heard my sister scream as I came up from the cellar embracing two fluffy, six week old kittens. "What's up? " I looked up asking. She exclaimed "No church today, look outside...the snow is over your head. We can all stay home and play with the kittens for hours." My heart started pounding. It was not that we didn't like church, although we always timed my father's sermons and kidded him if they went longer than 15 minutes, but half the pleasure was the pure serendipidity of missing it (or school) plus we would have an extra week to play with the six kittens who would soon be headed to new homes or Worcester's Animal Rescue League. Back in the 1950s, before most cats were spayed, we had a tradition of finding good homes for our kittens by standing behind my Rector Dad in the church foyer as he shook everyone's hand. We would offer the delightful kittens to kindly members of the congregation and this usually assured homes for most of them. Plus we could often get updates from congregants on our very favorites as they grew up. Just then, my Dad walked in the

Miss Lydia Slater

back door, smiling as he wiped his cold, wet face after pulling off his galoshes. You might be right, he said. "No one showed up for the 8 a.m. service except Mr. Burgess. He said driving was very slippery and snow was still falling. "Yippee" came in chorus which roused my brother, usually the last to sleep in although he often read quietly for hours in his room before breakfast. "No church, no church!" as my sister and I danced around the hallway. Then my Dad stated "On the other hand, there is Miss Lydia! No way, she's in her 90s, we thought before blurting she won't make it. Shes way too old and Fritz never comes to church anyway!" My Mom continued in her orderly fashion preparing a full breakfast before reviewing the music for her choir and church organist duties. She seemed unaware of the deepening snow outside until she left saying " I'll see you all in about 20 minutes. Wear your boots and coats! We soon marched through the snow to the parish hall next door, with our fingers half-crossed that the church

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The Best Gift Of All...

would be empty. Soon after, my Dad came over to the parish hall with Mr. Burgess, who had been shoveling before staying to usher for the 10:45 service. "Church is on" exclaimed my Dad. "We have one in attendance!" As our hopes and glee fell, we wondered who it could possibly be....as the roads were mostly unplowed and still piling up. We couldnt believe it would be Miss Lydia, though we knew her tenacity. But when we peeked in, there she sat, as calmly as could be. How could she get here, we wondered. Miss Lydia Slater, in her 90s and physically frail had done it again! She had trudged through the high, heavy snow in her galoshes and heavy coat, to wait until a snowplow came up the main street and "demand" that he take her to church immediately! He did! So, the choir had only four of us but the organist, rector and usher carried on the communion service in full and we were all the better for it seeing the fortitude and religious commitment of a ninety something year old not falter - even with an easy excuse so available! No excuse from us ever came so easily after that!

Journeys

Sharing Memories with Loved Ones

There he was, standing as a magnificent Norse god, as I opened the heavy rectory door. Dressed in casual corduroy and tweeds, he asked me, yes me, if I had wanted to help him walk his dogs at the cabin. For many years, I had thought so kindly of this charming, mustached fellow, but now I felt a bit uncomfortable. "Could my brother come, I asked?" and he replied "Of course." So I ran to my Mom and asked if it would be alright and I next remember walking down the dirt path towards the lake, with the springer spaniels leaping from one side to the next. I don't quite recall if there was much conversation but I felt honored, though a bit intimidated to be here at this moment. His kindness had really been towards my Mom, as my Dad had died suddenly early that morning and there was much to tend to, as we had been up much the night with vestrymen called in to assure Sunday services and the sad news would be prepared for parishioners in the morning. But here I was, with my brother in tow, enjoying a brief escape from the unstable future we understood was ahead. My beloved Dad was richer than most in friends yet hardly had tended to the business of life insurance, leaving two daughters in college, a son at Pomfret Academy and me still at home. We all felt two immediate burdens...one of losing our most beloved Dad, our spiritual guide, mischievious friend and mentor. Secondly, we fully understood the need to leave the rectory soon along with the entire parish family to allow a chosen rector to start anew. As we sauntered down the lovely path and majestic early spring woods with their fresh sounds and scents, my mind jumped from childlike wonders

The Dashing Fritz Brown

to glimpses of the evening before. My brother and I had attended a Mrs. Walker dancing cotillon that Saturday night in Worcester, meant to add a little culture to a total tomboy for me while helping my brother gain a little gentlemanly social confidence. We had mixed feelings about attending these dances where the gentlemen wore the white gloves, which seemed so odd and silly to us. But on the other hand, it was a wonderful time to see buddies and still give a quick kick or arm twist when Mrs. Walker had turned her head. It was obvious the cultural osmosis had not quite taken yet. If my tomboyish wrestling ways had been caught, it would have been quite a disgrace for all, as my brother and I were given free passage as children of the music director at a prestigious private school (which paid much less, of course, than the public schools). We were not poor, probably middle income but much of it depended on free housing from the church and my Dad's additional part time jobs of teaching at Nichols College and being Rector in Oxford, too. We were certainly not in the wealth circles of those with whom we danced, yet our parents certainly had equal or higher educational footing which was wellreceived by Mrs. Walker. As I looked out silently, in another world, over the ripples of the lake, I recounted the hours after the dance that would forever change our lives. The evening had been so much fun, once my brother and I got over having to dress up for the occasion. It was made even better knowing that my parents were going out on a rare date movie while we danced, giggled, gossiped or wrestled a bit on the dance floor. Everything seemed so perfect and

In the past, we often lived in the same town or community and saw extended family members. We would hear stories and share dinners, customs and recipes. Wed go to the barber and perhaps hear about our Dad or attend church and hear stories of our Moms apple pie or volunteerism. Each day, we were getting messages, sometimes subtly, of how our ancestors comported themselves or even got into mischief as kids. Today, in our mobile society, many of us barely get a glimpse, much less a thorough knowledge, of our extended family. Even if we do, many stories are often left untold. Learning our roots and traditions can be sustainable during hard times, yet in our more sophisticated life, the feeling of emptiness often pervades, particularly for some, during the holidays. Whether you are a grandparent, parent or totally isolated, it is important to share by starting a notebook of old memories. Many of these thoughts and stories can bring insight to younger generations of another era in life. Perhaps a greater understanding of the sacrifices made to make this country great will evolve and thinking back to these memories can make the sharers life enriched, too! By considering topics such as Roots, Childhood, Teenage Years, Entering Adulthood and so on, these pages will probably becomeone of the most special presents ever received. Admittedly, it might not create immediate excitement for a young child, but as time passes, they will cherish this more than any other high-cost present, long forgotten. And they will forever have a fuller understanding of the past and how your lifes stories connects to theirs.

joyful as we headed home to Webster, even as my Dad rolled down the window on a chilly April night. As the wind blew in our faces amidst the giggles, we hardly realized he was fighting for his life. Then, I heard the deep coughing, gagging sounds and my Mother demanded that he pull over to the old Yankee Drummer Inn. Ambulances were called while my brother and I were shepherded off to a room with a tv. Not the place we wanted to be, but we were all more polite and obedient back then. I saw a ghastly sight on my Dad's face but knew he would be alright. He always was. After about an hour, the manager came and got us and quickly stated that my brother would have to be the man of the house "for now". Whew, thank you, God, it was just temporary. My Mom gathered us up and it was not until we arrived on North Main Street in Webster before we understood that there was nothing temporary about it. Our most beloved father was gone! One of the springer spaniels came bounding past me, running after a stick thrown by his master. I looked down and saw the sun bursting through the leafless limbs onto some tiny buds emerging from under some old leaves. Usually, I'd be investigating further for some lizards or other treasures, but dirty clothes would not be welcome by my Mom today. And my mind was elsewhere, too. The memories came pouring back....this property was next to one we enjoyed almost daily in the summer with my Dad, yet we never wandered over here at all because the fields and intriguing wonders, from puff balls to wild blueberries, lady slippers and even tennis or baseball could keep us busy for hours after swimming on the Bartlett cabin property next door. I do remember crossing

into the field where the dirt path we now journeyed down starts one summer several years ago. My dog and I had tossed around happily in the back seat as my Dad patiently taught my sister how to tackle a stick shift, with all the attendant jerks and stops. One other time, we had been invited to this unusual cabin for a cookout. It was larger than many houses of pals in the neighborhood, but I remember it mostly for its unusual interior where you could peek over the upstairs railing and hear what the adults were saying. I was glad we didn't go inside, even with it empty, because today was a day I wanted to escape what the adults were saying and Mr. Brown knew it. He probably was more determined to ease the responsibilities on my Mom that Sunday as parishioner after parishioner came sobbing to her door, but it forever showed such a caring side to the dashing, charming Mr. Fritz Brown that I will never forget. (Mr. Frederick Brown, known as Fritz
was the great, great, great nephew of Samuel Slater. He lived with his Aunt Lydia in the George Basset Slater granite mansion on North Main Street in Webster. He had a large wonderful garden and raised bonsai and springer spaniels as a hobby. My sister, Susan, would stay with the very elderly, yet very capable Lydia Slater (Samuel Slater's great granddaughter) when Fritz attended dog shows,which was quite often. Also, there is a wonderful story online about Fritzs brother William, who was thrown in jail in France with best friend, e.e. cummings during the War. Read some surprising anecdotes at: www.gvsu.edu/english/cummings/Collier 6.htm by writer Jim Collier, Newbury Honor book author and relative of Lydia and Fritz, all of whom came from the lineage of the Father of the Industrial Revolution, Sam Slater.)

Journeys

The First Congregational Church in Uxbridge was gathered in 1727 from the Mother Town of Mendon. The first meetinghouse was the Coronet J. Farnum House. The first church was called the Church of Christ and was located on the present town common. In 1830 during the religious orthodoxy controversy separated many town churches into Unitarians and Trinitarians. The First Evangelical Congregational Church became

manufacturing.

The Gift

Trinitarians and built the present meetinghouse in 1833. The church has had a long history of presence in the community and is the oldest church. The Robert Taft Community House houses the town's Food Pantry and the New Ministries Group who worship there in Spanish and English. The Community House is in good condition but the exterior of the main church needed serious attention to the Steeple which is presently underway. The remaining front faade of the church is a serious problem which needs immediate attention. The remaining portion of the church needs to be sided. The membership of the church has declined slowly over the past 10 years. From September 2006 until this September only guest preachers provided services. In June of this year, the small but dedicated group of members chose to make a "New Beginning" as opposed to closing the church and selling the buildings. They are committed to continuing the 280 years of this church in the community of Uxbridge. They asked the Rev. Gordon C. Merten to return to the First Evangelical Congregaional Church

A New Beginning

Page 22 by Douglas Merten

The church is inspired and confident that the commitment of those who accepted the challenge of this new beginning is undaunted. With our attendance growing each week, we are looking to fulfill our commitments to the community. Each Monday, folks have gathered to work together. There is an inspired spirit which continues to bless and sustain the church. Uxbridge has suffered enough losses this past year and these people are committed to making sure that this church remains a vital part of the community. The Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ is also committed to keeping a strong presence in the south central Massachusetts. People who have a strong interest in historical buildings being kept in good repair are invited to stop by and view the work being done. All contributions to the work are tax deductible and will be recorded as part of the New Beginning at the church. For further information, contact the church by calling 508-278-3071 or Email: 1stevanglcongo@gmail.com or gordonmerten@hotmail.com
(Photo of steeplejack Chris Burgess courtesy of Denise Merten)

which was his first pastorate in 1965. Now some 42 years later, he has returned in an effort to help the church make a "New Beginning." The core group of committed members made some wise decisions that have given the church a great start. As part of the Historical Center in Uxbridge, they believed it is important that we care for our facility and return its vital ministry to the town. We are presently in the process of having the Steeple scraped and painted ($25,675) with money set aside to do this in hand. Gifts from a Living Memorial Fund have had the Weathervane restored and placed atop the steeple once again. We expect this first project to be completed before Thanksgiving. The next phase of the project is the renovation to the front of the church including the pillars, fixing several leaks and removing the front faade that is in danger of falling on to the granite steps. The Burgess Company of Pembroke has a storied history of helping churches restore and renovate with historical integrity and accuracy. Cost of this project is $33,000. In the spring of 2008, we hope to side the remaining sides and back of the church at a cost quoted at $16,000.

, continued from page 1

The disabilities formerly suffered by these people, and their singular patience and fidelity in the great crisis of the nation, establish a just claim on the sympathy and good will of humane and patriotic men. Slater donated $1 million dollars to help develop private black colleges and four-year high schools for blacks and stimulate vocational and industrial training. Slater also established a firm accounting system to utilize the funds as effectively as possible, thus creating the first system for public reporting with a detailed annual listing distributed each year to the Library of Congress and state libraries. The fund was distributed annually among many schools in the South by an Agent and overseeing Trustees, including ex-President Rutherford B. Hayes. There was resentment by some white southerners claiming northern interference and since schools were segregated, white schools, though better, were often not very highly regarded. Tensions and competition for funding and other issues was fierce. By 1990, the state of Mississippi approved a plan to use literacy and understanding tests to disenfranchise African American citizens. Other southern states followed, especially as black illiteracy fell to 58% from 70% and white illiteracy was at 31%. One example of the annual disbursements was in 1884, when the Slater Fund appropriated $16,250 to twelve institutions to promote the training of African American teachers. By 1893, the Slater Fund supported most of the Souths Black colleges, including Atlanta University, Spelman, Slater Museum

Post Civil War reconstruction, US Congress was petitioned to provide federal aid for education in the South as a vital necessity. Yet, another 80 years passed before federal monies were granted for public education in America. John F. Slater, in 1882 at the age of 78, became the first philanthrpist to create a fund devoted solely to the education of African Americans, who at the time were 70% illiterate due to the lack of opportunity and historical opression. Inspired by the Peabody Fund which provided funding for the education of both races in the South, Slaters founding letter states the general object is the uplifting of the lately emancipated population of the Southern States, and their posterity.

Talladega College, Hampton, Philander Smith, Jackson College, Meharry Medical College, and Benedict Institute.

Grand Marnier French Toast

For an early morning treat for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years or any special day, try this favorite: Ingredients: 4 large eggs 3/4 cup half and half 1/4 cup Grand Marnier or frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon grated orange peel 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 8 3/4-inch-thick French bread slices (use a great bread slightly stale for best results!) 4 tablespoons(1/2 stick) butter Powdered sugar Warm maple syrup Directions: Whisk first 6 ingredients to blend in medium bowl.

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Journeys

Dip each bread slice into egg mixture and arrange in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Pour remaining egg mixture evenly over bread. Let stand until egg mixture is absorbed, overnight is best, turning after 2 hours. 30 minutes minimum. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Place baking sheet in oven and preheat to 350 F. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 bread slices to skillet and saute until cooked through and brown, about 3 minutes per side. Place on baking sheet in oven to keep warm. Repeat cooking with remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 4 bread slices. Transfer French toast to 4 plates. Sprinkle powdered sugar and/or maple syrup over toast. For added flavor, drizzle with:

Orange Butter: 6 oz. butter Juice of one orange 1 Tbsps Grand Marnier 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar Orange zest from one orange Soften butter. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Form a ball and refrigerate.

508-839-6500

1-877-839-6500

www.pu m pseptic.com

This Thanksgiving, many families in the Blackstone Valley area are thankful for something special: the gift of their friendship with a New York City child. Through The Fresh Air Funds Friendly Town program, local families open their hearts and homes to innercity children as volunteer hosts for two weeks during the summer. By volunteering as a host family in summer 2008, the spirit of Thanksgiving can continue throughout the year. One child recounts the activities he tried in Friendly Town during his visit in 2007. We went hiking, swimming and rode horses. I wish I could spend the whole summer there because I never get bored! Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from lowincome communities. Nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. For more information on hosting a Fresh Air child next summer, please contact Elaine Melinski at 508-278-3652 or The Fresh Air Fund at (800) 367-0003. You can also visit The Funds Web site at www.freshair.org.

Get into the Holiday Spirit: Become a Fresh Air host family

Governor Speaks at Blackstone Valley Chamber Annual Meeting

Journeys

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For the full story of the Governors visit, go to page 18.