STTHUE RBRIDGE TIMES HE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE C MAGAZINE · magazine june,2012. 2 the sturbridge...

THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVINGSTURBRIDGETIMES

THE

MAGAZINE

JUNE, 2012

THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING2

STURBRIDGETIMESMAGAZINE

THE

PUBLISHER & EDITORMANAGING EDITOR

STORY EDITORSENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

AD PRODUCTION & DESIGN

WRITERS

PAUL CARRJOHN SMALLSTEPHANIE RICHARDSKAREN ROTHWEILER

TERRI RACCA

CYNTHIA ALLEGREZZAJEFF CANNONTHOMAS CHAMBERLANDROBERT GEORGE, ESQ.ANDREA JOHNSONPETER KASLAUSKASRICHARD MCGRATHKATHY MENARDRICHARD MURPHY

THE STURBRIDGE TIMESMAGAZINE is published 11 times a year, with a combined January-February issue, in Sturbridge, Massachusetts by Carr,Quinn& Small, Inc.We accept photos, opinions, short articles, stories, poems and drawings from the general public, but assume no responsibility forfailure to publish a submission or for typographic errors published or incorrect placement. The contents of this magazine consist of copyrightable mate-rial and cannot be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the author and the publishers ofThe Sturbridge Times Magazine. We reservethe right to refuse any advertising for any reason.We reserve the right to require editing to any advertising that is accepted for publication. Opinionprinted herein report views of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the magazine, its publisher or Carr, Quinn&Small, Inc.We invite varying opinions and information from our writers and readers, wishing to provide a public forum for well-tempered, well-reasonedthoughts, ideas and opinion.ADVERTISINGDEADLINE: Camera ready: the 20th of each month prior to publication. The 17th of the month for Nov. and Dec.ADVERTISINGOFFICE: 508-347-7077 ext. 2 (Karen). If your business is inWorcester, 508-347-7077 ext. 3 (Jessica).EDITORIAL DEADLINE: The 21st of each month prior to publication.

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4 THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVINGTHE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE

The two children were there to pick outa puppy. It should have been a pleasant oc-casion, but the kids were terrified. One 15months old and the other two and a half,they were screaming and would not leavedad who was holding both. The puppieswere not even close to them. This would re-quire some assistance to overcome theyoungsters’ fear.

Quietly, the therapist entered the roomand went to the far end and lay down. Hestayed there several minutes. He wouldmove around the room and watch the reac-tion of the children, stop, observe and movecloser. His influence calming, the twowould be put down, but still clung to dad’slegs.He continued to move around, backing

off if the kids were anxious. Closer andcloser eventually brushing up to them.Then he sat next to them. Finally, the fa-ther asked if the children wanted to pethim. Marko, the gifted therapist is a dog.By the time they left, they were crawlingall over him. He would honor them aswell, by offering them the toy that is usu-ally carried in his mouth.Marko is owned by Kathy Menard. Of

course with dogs, who owns whom is al-ways in question. An 11-year-old Germanshepherd, Kathy has used him to workwith dogs having aggression or fear issues.Treatment of humans is only a sideline.Even if you doubt a dog can be a psy-chologist, one meeting with him and youknow his personality can only be de-scribed as “simpatico.”He works with all sizes. Kathy related

the case of a Chihuahua named Bean witha Napoleon complex. You know the type.The little guy who wants to take on theworld. This particular diminutive caninewas notorious for clearing out his vet’swaiting room. He would be no match forMarko. Marko in a calm non-threateningway walked up to the lunging and barkingBean and looked down at him with tailwagging. Bean, a bit nonplused, ran be-hind his owner. Our hero trotted off andBean ran out and tried to bite Marko’slegs. Marko’s only reaction was to ignorethe little dog.Marko toured around the room, check-

ing out Bean’s reaction and circled closerand closer. After several laps, Marko sat soBean could check him out. A few moresessions and the next time at the vet’s,Bean near sends the waiting room into

MeetMARKO,the caninedogwhispererByRichardMurphy

EXTRAORDINARY

5THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE

shock with his gentlemanly conduct.We think of humans as “gifted” if they

pursue an art with the brilliance of, say, YoYo Ma. The ability of border collies to herdsheep we marvel at. Though our own dogsare unique to us, we never see them as beinggifted as individuals pursuing a craft.Though the ability Marko has is not un-known, it is rare enough to make him, inthe words of Monty Python, somethingcompletely different. More so, in that hisbreed is known for the particular calling ofpolice dog.Indeed, Marko might have been in law

enforcement himself. His litter was bred forworking dogs. He has numerous offspringwho work as K9s. More probably, hewould have participated in Schutzhund, thecompetition for police dog traits. WithoutKathy, he might have been a completely dif-ferent dog. She relates that when young he

showed signs he might have become diffi-cult in the wrong hands.Poor Marko would miss the boat. Be-

cause of a family crisis due to a relative’shealth, Kathy had to put dog training onhiatus. He may have become a great com-petition dog, but of course, there are manyof them. Few, if any, can do what Markodoes.Kathy in her own right is an expert

Schutzhund trainer, and known for gentlingdogs. Yet, she is in awe of Marko. What hedoes and his dedication could not betaught.Whether or not it was her destiny to

raise Marko, Kathy shares the same sympa-thetic nature. Folks who have had her inclass have loved her work. She, also, canbond with people and dogs. The feeling fordogs arose at a young age when she wouldmake leashes for her stuffed animals and try

to teach them tricks. There is no record ofany of those pets attaining best in show.She did have a period of intense fear of

dogs at seven years old culminating whenshe saw a barking schnauzer behind a fenceand could not move. Mom had to be calledto save her. Yet the next year, on her own,she climbed a fence to meet a cantankerousGerman shepherd and make friends, givinghim presents and treats. Kathy was now adog person with an affinity for the breed.She would study for 14 years under world-renowned trainers.She has been training in our neck of the

woods for decades. At Merryfields andother local venues she became well knownto folks who needed a class for their dogs.Whether it was puppy kindergarten or theaforementioned Schutzhund, she couldchange your dog, always for the better.In 2008, she started Compatible Canine

in Fiskdale just up from where Routes 20and 148 intersect. This was an outgrowth ofher interest in canine nutrition. Kathy hadbeen studying the effect of raw food on dogsand had been dealing with a company thatproduced it. As she became involved inmarketing it, it occurred to her, she might aswell open a store. It began originally inrented space in Ware.In Fiskdale, there is retail space where

Kathy is happy to talk about nutrition. Ofcourse, there is a room for her to train, orfor Marko to treat your pet.This is not to take anything away from

Kathy. I can attest, our beloved yellowlab was enthralled with her. But anotherlab owner said it all about Marko, “Oh, hefixes everything.”In addition to owning Compatible Ca-

nine, Kathy also owns KT’s Pet Stop inPalmer.

Apparently, it’s been in the family for a long time.Judy Melanson, the store’s co-owner, is no strangerto the swimming pool business. Interestingly, she tellsus that nearly 37 years ago she was the “first personbetween Boston and Springfield to run a free wateranalysis lab for testing swimming pool and hot tubwater to check sanitization, clarity, and balance.” It is

the balanced water Melanson says that will save youmoney and extend the life of your pool and spa in-vestment. “Clean, clear water is easy with the right in-formation and equipment,” she adds. Melanson andher team of skilled technicians take advantage of on-going training and educational opportunities to re-main knowledgeable and current about all matters

THE SHOPPING NEWS

The Melanson family sure knows a thing or twoabout fun. After all, they have been in the business ofselling good times in Auburn for more than 19 years.And when you step inside their Pools + Cues + Spas,Too showroom—the Route 12 building painted withthe whimsical bright blue waves—you absolutely no-tice they do take fun seriously.


BY CYNTHIA ALLEGREZZA

POOLS + CUES + SPAS, TOO760 SOUTHBRIDGE STREET, ROUTE 12AUBURNTUES.-FRI. 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M.SAT. 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M.SUN. NOON TO 4 P.M.508.832.6566POOLSCUESSPAS.COM

An array of items covering home recreation can be found at Pools & Cues.© 2012 Photo by Cynthia Allegrezza

Fun for sale at Pools +Cues+ Spas, Too

pertaining to helping their customersachieve this delicate water balance.It is this enthusiasm for customer

service that is at the heart of the busi-ness Judy and her husband Bryan havenurtured and grown over the years.“We jump through hoops for our cus-tomers,” she says enthusiastically. Theypride themselves on having a “very ded-icated, professional staff” to install andservice in-ground and above-groundpools as well as Jacuzzi hot tubs. “Wesell quality products at reasonableprices,” she emphasizes.Pools & Cues & Spas, Too special-

izes in standard and custom in-groundvinyl liner swimming pools. “We canbuild the pool of your dreams or some-thing economical and simple,” Melan-son says, “We do it all from theexcavation and installation as well asthe concrete and fence work.”Prefer an above-ground pool for

your backyard? “Whether you choosethe traditional strength of our steelpools or our technologically advancedresin construction pools, all of ourpools are constructed to give you yearsof enjoyment and styled to enhance thebeauty of your backyard,” she explains.“And when it is hot, your pool isthere.”What’s more, installation of an in-

or above-ground pool is not subcon-tracted. “When it comes to our pool in-stall and construction teams, each teammember takes part in rigorous, yearly,hands-on training from our swimmingpool manufacturer and foreman, mak-ing them more knowledgeable and ex-perienced,” Melanson says.Ever wonder if a spa, hot tub, and

Jacuzzi are really the same things? Wedid and asked Melanson to explain theterms. It appears that spas and hottubs are the same thing. These are aportable unit with an internal filtrationsystem, including pumps, heater, andplumbing. A spa or hot tub is made tostay filled for months at a time andtreated chemically, like a swimmingpool, and unlike a "whirlpool bath tub"(typically drained after each use).“More people use the word Jacuzzi

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actually using the words ‘spa’ or ‘hottub,’ but many people do not under-stand what Jacuzzi actually means,”she points out. “Jacuzzi is the nameof the company that invented andcreated the first spa or hot tub in1968.“We sell Jacuzzi because of its his-

tory, value, quality, and warranties. Itinvented the hot tub industry andcontinues to be an innovator with itsnewest LX models that are the mostenergy-efficient in the industry,” shesays. At Pools + Cues + Spas, Too,there is a 30 percent off discount onJacuzzi and purchasers receive a free$1,600 deluxe package that includesdelivery. The store also services allhot tubs brands and sells covers, fil-ters, spa pads, parts, chemicals, ac-cessories, winterization and spamoves, and free water analysis.The store’s inventory is not lim-

ited to only water-based merchan-dise. Several years ago, in an effort to“keep the register ringing in the win-ter months,” Melanson says with alaugh, the store began selling billiardand dart equipment and accessories.

“Bryan’s interest is in billiards so itmade sense to add pool tables, cues, ac-cessories, and darts to our productmix,” she adds.The well-stocked showroom does

not disappoint when it comes to itsvast array of billiard tables, supplies,and accessories. According to Judy,Pools + Cues + Spas, Too is the area'slargest billiards retailer. Whether youare a novice player or a professionalshooter, there is a table here to suityour gaming ability. What’s more, de-livery, professional installation, and adeluxe accessory package are includedwith every pool table purchase. Thestore has a large pro-shop with an im-pressive selection of cues, cases, and ac-cessories—even gloves and chalk in awide array of colors. Of course, theMelanson’s full-service operation of-fers billiard service and repair, whichincludes re-clothing pool tables, re-tip-ping cues, repairing or replacing cueferrules, cleaning cue shafts, and mov-ing tables.Don’t quite have the space for a full-

scale pool table? Consider a dartboard. “It takes up less room in your

home and is very popular with collegestudent in dorms,” Melanson says.There are more than 15 different

styles of boards and 25 styles of backboards and cabinets to choose fromhere, and more than 50 sets of dartsthat you can try out before you make apurchase. She points out that thestore’s extensive selection of cues anddarts are always priced 10 to 30 percentbelow list.Pools + Cues + Spas, Too also car-

ries a large selection of tables forbumper pool, foosball, air hockey, pingpong and shuffle board as well as sup-plies and accessories for these game ta-bles.Melanson encourages visitors to

“stop by our store and see all of ourgreat products up close.” Chances areyou will find something fun here —priced at a great value—that is certainto be a welcome and fun addition toyour home or yard.Store hours do change seasonally

here, so for up-to-date informationplease call 508.832.6566 or visitwww.PoolsCuesSpas.com


BY STEPHANIE RICHARDS

Tucked away on 86 acres on a secluded neighborhoodstreet in Hopkinton, sits a 91,000 square foot complexthat has become a mecca for safety research. It’s not partof a university but ironically, an insurance company andit publishes all its findings in peer-reviewed scientific jour-nals.The Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety

(LMRIS) was begun in 1954 and exists “To advance sci-entific, business-relevant knowledge in workplace andhighway safety, and work disability.” The LMRIS is partof Boston-based Liberty Mutual Insurance (establishedin 1912), a diversified global insurer and the third largestproperty and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on A.M.Best Company's report of 2010 net written premium.Each June, the National Safety Council (NSC) ob-

serves National Safety Month to educate and influencebehaviors around leading causes of preventable injuriesand deaths. Every week of the month has a differentfocus including ergonomics, preventing slips, trips and

falls, and driving safety.It is in these three areas where you find LMRIS sci-

entists working, conducting original research throughdata analysis and lab and field studies to determine the

causes and mechanisms of work-related accidents and in-juries. Subsequently, they identify appropriate interven-tions and improve return-to-work outcomes. “In myopinion, we are the gem of Liberty Mutual… the re-sponse to Liberty’s commitment to ‘help people livesafer, more secure lives.’ It is about advancing scientificknowledge through research, subject to peer review, toreduce the overall injury risks for all people,” said Dr.Ian Noy, Director of LMRIS since 2006.LMRIS includes four multidisciplinary centers, in-

cluding the Center for Injury Epidemiology, Center forPhysical Ergonomics, Center for Behavioral Sciences,and Center for Disability Research. Beyond publishingtheir own work, staff also review for and in some casesserve as editors or editorial board members of scientificjournals. In addition, a close relationship is maintainedwith corporate loss control and managed care units, andinput is gathered from customer advisory boards, whichtypically are composed of risk managers. These are justsome of the inputs that researchers use to assist them inidentifying potential gaps in the science of safety and pos-sible research projects.Beyond its internal research program, LMRIS collab-

orates extensively with other prominent health and safetyresearch organizations to exchange ideas and technolo-gies while working toward a shared goal of enhancingworkplace safety. Research partners include the HarvardSchool of Public Health and the University of Massa-chusetts-Lowell as well as governmental and non-gov-ernmental research institutions around the world. Tofurther promote the science of occupational safety,LMRIS has a Visiting Scholars Program, postdoctoral fel-lowship programs, and research awards in conjunctionwith other safety organizations and scientific journals.In 2011, 69 research papers were accepted and/or

published. “Each of our projects has to meet specific cri-teria including business relevance, originality, creativity,innovation and cross-disciplinary thinking (involvingother centers). Our research and outcomes are publishedin scientific journals and shared with policymakers, prac-titioners and other researchers as well as presented at na-tional and international conferences. A LMRIS

A look inside Liberty Mutual’s extraordinary Research Institute for Safety

LMRIScollaborates extensivelywith other prominenthealth and safety

organizations including theHarvard School of PublicHealth

andUMass Lowell

Hopkinton facility has been studying workplace and highway safety for over 50 years.

Area residents conduct research,improve workplace safety


newsletter is also published three times a year withfindings,” Dr. Noy said. “There is no one else in thebusiness doing the safety research that LMRIS is con-ducting and we share it with everyone.”Scientists contributing to research being done at

LMRIS are Charlton residents Ray McGorry and TedCourtney and Sturbridge resident Melanye Brennan.

Slips, trips and fallsLMRIS’s Center for Injury Epidemiology (CIE)

conducts original epidemiological (medical sciencedealing with incidence, distribution and control of dis-ease or injury in a population) research to examine in-jury risk factors and better understand the burden ofworkplace injury. For the last 19 years, Courtney hascontributed to making an impact in this area and be-came the Center’s Director in 2008.CIE is responsible for the annual compilation of

Liberty Mutual’s Workplace Safety Index (WSI), whichidentifies top causes of serious non-fatal workplace in-juries in the U.S. each year. The WSI is based on in-formation from Liberty Mutual workers compensationinsurance claims, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS), and the National Academy of Social Insurance.In 2009, topping the list was overexertion (injuries dueto excessive lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying,and throwing). Falls–a major focus area for NationalSafety Month- accounted for 25.4 percent of disablinginjuries according to the WSI. Other causes in the top10 included bodily reaction (injuries from bending,climbing, reaching, standing sitting, slipping or trip-ping without falling), and being struck by object (suchas tool falling on a worker from above). The WSI is asignificant tool used by organizations dedicated tohealth and safety as well as industry professionals.“The WSI looks at workplace injuries and the deter-minants that cause them. The results help us identifyresearch that can lead to changes in the workplaceaimed at reducing injuries,” Courtney said.

LMRIS Senior Research Scientist and Charlton resident Ray McGorry demonstrates _cutting edge_ research in the BiomechanicsLab at Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety

© 2012 Sturbridge Times photo by Stephanie Richards

Continued on next page


“It’s really about looking at what’s changing in theworkforce and in the nature of work itself nationallyand globally. For example, in many countries, peopleare increasing working remotely and there have beenreductions in permanent jobs, which has expandedthe role of temporary jobs. Another issue is multiplejob holding, where workers have two or more jobs.The question is how do these factors, and others, af-fect the risk of injury,” Courtney said. “We are alsoheavier (obesity) now in the U.S. and the age distri-bution continues shifting as the population getsolder.”Courtney said the research is an expression of Lib-

erty Mutual’s corporate social responsibility and thatit impacts global health, making the workplace saferand overall quality of life better for workers and thegeneral population. “It motivates me to know one ofthe end results is that we are achieving Liberty Mu-tual’s goal to help people live safer, more secure lives.No other insurance company is doing injury researchlike this, and we share our findings with everyonethrough scientific journals” he said. “I also must admitthat I enjoy the scientific discovery process and grow-ing/mentoring other researchers.”

Getting a grip on ergonomicsNational Safety Month also focuses on ergonomics

or the designing of the job environment to fit the per-son. The LMRIS Center for Physical Ergonomics(CPE) investigates the causes and mechanisms of work-place injuries and illnesses with an emphasis on mus-culoskeletal disorders. Scientists conduct research onthe physical demands and human capabilities associ-ated with workplace tasks in order to identify inter-ventions and job safety enhancements.The impact from the research has contributed to

One of the focuses of National Safety Month is pre-venting falls in the workplace and at home. Falls are amajor focus of research for the CIE. “Falls are themost frequently treated injury in U.S. emergency de-partments each year in almost every age group,”Courtney said. “We conduct original field studies,such as our project that looked at the slip and fall riskof 475 fast food workers across 36 sites involving sixmajor chains,” Courtney said. “Our research hasshown that modest increases in the level of floor fric-tion (the resistance between an employee’s shoes andthe floor) can resulted in a 21% reduction in the rateof slipping. We also found that workers who wore slipresistant shoes had 54% lower slipping risk than theirco-workers.”The field research process is time intensive and in-

volves several different facets. As field research coor-dinator, Brennan coordinates all aspects of projectsfrom start to finish, including planning travel, writingsurveys, interviewing participants, collecting data, andassisting in some analysis. “I’m a compulsive organ-izer, so my job is the perfect niche to use my skills.There are a million things to organize and I work onseveral projects at once,” she said. “I act as the liaisonbetween the Research Institute and the companieswhere field research is conducted. I also assist investi-gators who are doing data collection research. I reallyenjoy my job as I learn something new everyday.”CIE currently has many other projects underway,

including a study of falls among health care workers aswell as a study of fatigue and its affect on work, look-ing at things like hours, stress and sleep.As for the future, the Center is moving to the next

level focusing on the context of the injury and hashired a full-time demographer to conduct research.

Continued from previoius page

Inside a safety research institute


such things as the National Institute of OccupationalSafety and Health (NIOSH) safe-lifting criteria and es-tablishing maximum acceptable forces for repetitive wristmotion, selected wrist postures and grip.For 19 years, McGorry has been at the CPE and now

is a senior research scientist. In his position, he collabo-rates with other researchers on clinical investigations ofwork-related injuries and disorders and on projects,which involve the development of work measurement in-strumentation. His research includes biomechanics, themeasurement of force during hand tool use, and the de-velopment of rehabilitation evaluation techniques.McGorry has investigated a variety of areas in physical

ergonomics, including how fluid pressures within the carpaltunnel change with different hand activities, and potentialtreatment techniques for those with lower back pain. “Backinjuries account for about one-third of claims in the work-place. You can’t just look at the actual claims; it is multi-faceted, multi-dimensional. The goal is to identify what thecauses are and engineer the workplace design to remove therisk factors,” said McGorry, who has a background in phys-ical therapy and biomedical engineering.Some of the CPE research proposals are initiated on-site

while others build on previous initiatives. For example, Mc-Gorry said he read an article about four years ago that talkedabout the forces and pressures in wrist postures. He saw pos-sible areas to investigate further and developed a researchproposal.Another project was initiated by the CPE related to meas-

uring gripping forces of hand tools when pressed on anothersurface. The meat packing industry has a big problem withcarpal tunnel syndrome and strain to upper extremities, Mc-Gorry said. “We looked at the body’s response (when doingthe tasks) and then what could be done to change it (therisk),” he said. “We fashioned an instrumentation deviceonto a knife and monitored participants while they worked.We found that they were using an average of 25 to 30 per-cent of their maximum capacity over the course of a day.Guidelines say greater than 10 to 15 percent may be a riskfactor. By using a fresh blade, there was a 20 to 30 percentreduction in the worker’s exertion.”Things have come full circle on one project for McGorry.

Early on, he was mentored by Dr. Stover Snook, an Insti-tute pioneer in physical ergonomics. “About 50 percent ofback pain is non-specific, meaning there is no finger on thecause. Dr. Snook’s theory was that a disc itself could be thecause of the pain and there were self-help strategies to easechronic lower back issues.”

After conducting research, it was found that bend-

ing forward first thing in the morning stresses the tissuearound the disc, impacting lower back pain. Participantswho began the day standing straight up for a period oftime showed a decrease in pain. However, that was difficultto implement in everyday life. Today, 19 years later, Mc-Gorry is advancing the study to see if sitting has the sameaffect; shrinking the disc. “When ergonomics works rightit not only increases worker safety but increases produc-tivity, and ultimately, improves people’s lives. The most ex-citing thing (of my job) is that I can contribute to a littlepiece of that through improving scientific research andknowledge (that can result in changes to the way we work,live),” McGorry said.

Driving distractions and impact on safetyDriving safety, whether for work or pleasure, is another

focus by NSC during National Safety Month. For exam-ple, it is estimated that almost 25 percent of all crashes in-volve cell phone use while driving (NSC Attributable RiskEstimate).The LMRIS Center for Behavioral Sciences (CBS) stud-

ies the impact of behavioral, cognitive, and organizationalfactors on workplace injuries and highway collisions. Re-searchers examine individuals in their work environmentsand identify how factors can contribute to injuries. Find-ings provide the scientific basis for guidelines and recom-mendations designed to help reduce or prevent injuries atworksites and on roadways.The impact of their research cannot be overstated. In

1957 and 1961, LMRIS worked with Cornell University tocreate two “Survival Cars” designed to showcase how in-novative safety features could prevent automobile crashesand injuries. The results of this joint research has been theautomobile industry’s incorporation of 17 standard auto

Continued on page 13

“We conductoriginal field studies,such as our project that

looked at theslip and fall risk

of 475 fast food workersacross 36 sites involvingsix major chains.

Our research has shownthat modest increases inthe level of floor frictioncan resulted in a 21%reduction in the rate ofslipping. We also foundthat workers who woreslip-resistant shoes had54% lower slipping riskthan their co-workers.”

TED COURTNEYOF CHARLTON,

LMRIS RESEARCH SCIENTIST


principal. If you make investments ratherthan pay off debt and your investmentsincur losses, you may still have debts to pay,but will you have the money needed to paythem?

Some other considerationsWhen deciding whether to pay down

debt or to save and invest, you might alsoconsider the following.What are the terms of your debt? Are

there any penalties for prepayment?Do you actually have money that you

could invest? Most debts have minimumpayments that must be paid each month.Failure to make the minimum payment canresult in penalties, increased interest rates,and default. Are your funds needed tomake those payments?How much debt do you have? Is it a

problem? How do you feel about debt? Is itsomething you can easily live with or does itmake you uncomfortable?If you say you will save the money, will

you really invest it or will you spend it? Ifyou pay off the debt, you will have assuredinstant savings by eliminating the need tocome up with the money needed to pay theinterest on the debt.Would you be able to borrow an addi-

tional amount, if needed, and at what in-

pay deductible interest of 6%. If your in-come tax rate is 28%, your after-tax cost forthe mortgage is only 4.32% (6% x (1 - 28%)).You would generally need to earn an after-tax rate of return greater than 4.32% to con-sider making an investment rather thanpaying off the debt. So, if you have $10,000available to invest or pay off debt and theoutlook for earning an after-tax rate of re-turn greater than 4.32% is good, it may bebetter to invest the $10,000 rather thanusing it to pay off the debt.Of course, it isn't an all-or-nothing choice.

It may be useful to apply a strategy of payingoff debts with high interest rates first, andthen investing when you have a good op-portunity to make investments that may earna higher after-tax rate of return than theafter-tax interest rate on the debts remaining.Say, for example, you have a credit card

with a $10,000 balance on which you pay18% nondeductible interest. You also havea mortgage with a $10,000 balance on whichyou pay deductible interest of 6%, and yourtax rate is 28%. So, if you have $20,000 avail-able to invest or pay off debt, it may makesense to pay off the credit card with $10,000and invest the remaining $10,000.When investing, keep in mind that, in

general, the higher the rate of return, thegreater the risk, which can include the loss of

There are certainly a variety of strategiesfor paying off debt, many of which can reducehow long it will take to pay off the debt andthe total interest paid. But should you pay offthe debt? Or should you save and invest? Tofind out, compare what rate of return you canearn on your investments versus the interestrate on the debt. There may be other factorsthat you should consider as well.

Rate of return on investmentsversus interest rate on debtProbably the most common factor used to

decide whether to pay off debt or to make in-vestments is to consider whether you couldearn a higher after-tax rate of return on theinvestments than the after-tax interest rate onthe debt if you were to invest your money in-stead of using it to pay off the debt.For example, say you have a credit card

with a $10,000 balance on which you paynondeductible interest of 18%. You wouldgenerally need to earn an after-tax rate of re-turn greater than 18% to consider making aninvestment rather than paying off the debt.So, if you have $10,000 available to invest orpay off debt and the outlook for earning anafter-tax rate of return greater than 18% isn'tgood, it may be better to pay off the debt thanto make an investment.On the other hand, say you have a mort-

gage with a $10,000 balance on which you

Pay down debt or saveand invest?

terest rate, if you paid off current debt? Doyou have an emergency fund, or other sourceof funds, that could be used if you lose yourjob or have a medical emergency, or wouldyou have to borrow?If your employer matches your contribu-

tions in a 401(k) plan, you should generallyinvest in the 401(k) to get the matching con-tribution. For example, if your employermatches 50% of your contributions up to6% in a 401(k) plan, getting the 50% matchis like getting an instant 50% return on yourcontribution. In addition, there are tax ad-vantages to investing in a 401(k) plan.

Should you pay off debt or should yousave and invest? To find out, compare whatrate of return you can earn on your invest-ments versus the interest rate on the debt.There may be other factors that you shouldconsider as well.

Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communications So-lutions, Inc. Mr. Kaslauskas is the Infinex Investment Ex-ecutive for Savers Bank, access to investment services isoffered through Savers Financial Services.

Investment and insurance products and services are of-fered through INFINEX INVESTMENTS, INC. Mem-ber FINRA/SIPC. Savers Financial Services is a tradename of the bank. Infinex and the bank are not affiliated.Products and services made available through Infinex arenot insured by the FDIC or any other agency of the UnitedStates and are not deposits or obligations of nor guaran-teed or insured by any bank or bank affiliate. These prod-ucts are subject to investment risk, including the possibleloss of value.

INSIDE BANKING

P R O F E S S I O N A L A D V I C EF R O M A L O C A L

B A N K I N G E X E C U T I V EF O R R E A D E R S O F

T H E S T U R B R I D G E T I M E SM A G A Z I N E

By PETER KASLAUSKASINVESTMENT EXECUTIVE, SAVERS BANK


Local residents involvedin safety research

Continued from page 11

safety features in the U.S. They include col-lapsible steering columns, arm and headrests, special brakes, air bags and safety belts.In its early years, the Institute focused on

crash worthiness, or how vehicles protectedthe occupants in the event of collision, ac-cording to Dr. Noy. In the 1980s, the researchshifted its focus to crash avoidance, or study-ing how behavioral sciences can help reducecollisions, for example through a better un-derstanding of human errors or factors suchas visibility and glare. “Now CBS researchersare investigating how drivers assess their levelof distraction from in-vehicle devices like cellphones or navigation devices in relation totheir actual level of impairment from thesedevices,” he said. “Specifically, we are inter-ested in how we can improve driver calibra-tion; i.e., the discrepancy between theirestimate of distraction and the actual level ofdistraction.”CBS investigates cognitive questions, such

as task interruption and how it impacts driv-ing performance. For example, in the secondsit takes to look at a navigation device, how isshort-term memory affected and what is theimpact when you put your eyes back on theroad. “Driver distraction is a major focus,”Dr. Noy.Monitoring systems are now available that

can measure how well an individual is driv-ing, including how instances of things likehard braking or swerving are occurring. “Weare very interested in the potential benefit ofthe technology and if it has a positive impacton behavior. Everyone has episodes wherethey may have to swerve to avoid a pothole,but the technology looks for patterns. The re-

sults of such research can be important forfleet management to check on drivers aswell as parents of teenage drivers to talkabout safety. In addition, driving patternscan affect fuel economy too, so there are alot of benefits to investigating the use ofthese systems and their impact,” Dr. Noysaid.

The changing face of researchDr. Noy said the LMRIS is interested in

expanding horizons into sociotechnical sys-tems. “In the past we have looked at indi-vidual workers. Now there is more attentionto the larger context of the entire organiza-tion, from teamwork to communicationbreakdown. It’s the complex combinationof how people and machines work in har-mony without the risks.”

He also emphasized the new focuson CIE’s research in occupational demog-raphy. “We know the basic impairments dueto aging but not the occupational safetyones—no one has put the two together.There is also the cultural diversity in theworkplace--obesity, type of work (now moreservice-oriented), and telecommuting avail-ability. We don’t know enough about theseissues and how they impact worker safety.We have a decade of data from theWSI andcan describe the impact…but we need bet-ter knowledge on the factors shaping thatinjury experience through collecting infor-mation or data, and analyzing and inter-preting it,” said Dr. Noy. “Ultimately, thegoal of the Liberty Mutual Research Insti-tute for Safety is to do research that has pos-itive outcomes to improve safety in theworkplace and globally, for everyone.”


By Stephanie RichardsNew England native Mark Adam has al-

ways been captivated by the movie theaterexperience, but he remembers one instance

Cinemagic to blend big-screen entertainment with community involvementthat clinched his desire to bring films fromdistributors to the big screen. He was a the-ater manager when one of the sequels tothe Raiders of the Lost Ark movies was re-


leased and needed to adjust a thermostat inone of the theaters.Adam recalls, “It was a sold out house and

as I walked back up the aisle, the audience was

memorized when Indiana Jones came onthe big screen--I just felt good. I want tokeep trying to repeat that experience eachweek for people.”As President and CEO of Zyacorp Com-

panies, which include Zyacorp Entertain-ment and Cinemagic Stadium Theatres,Adam gets to recreate that experience nowin Sturbridge. Cinemagic will open its sev-enth stadium theatre at The Center atHobbs Brook, bringing the latest first runmovies to the area. In addition to a full-time and assistant manager, they will em-ploy other supervisory and floor staff, aswell as several part-time employees (num-ber will fluctuate seasonally).Renovation work on the 30,000 square

foot space (former Linens-n-Things) beganin March and is being completed by PMConstruction Co., Inc. of Saco, ME. Thespace is being designed as a 1,200-seatmovie theater and will feature eight audi-toriums with all digital projection, DolbyDigital sound and Dolby Digital 3D capa-bility. The stadium seating auditoriums willboast wide high back rocking seats with re-tractable cup and tray holders. The theaterwill feature self-service ticketing kiosks, andadvance online ticket sales at www.cin-emagicmovies.com. “Our contractors are


Projectinga Good Timefor Everyone

Photos taken during theconstruction phase in lateMay show, at left, a sta-dium area taking shapeand the erection of aframe that will support amovie screen. © 2012 Sturbridge Times photos by Stephanie Richards

THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING

working overtime to open for the July4th holiday (very tentative opening endof June). The stadium steps are finishedas well as the initial theater spaces,”Adam said.Cinemagic is a family-owned com-

pany based in New Hampshire that

began with its first theater in Salisbury,Massachusetts in 1999. The company hasseven small and large theaters (includesSturbridge) in Maine, New Hampshireand Massachusetts and 300 plus em-ployees (majority part-time). IMAX the-aters have been added to the Saco,Maine and Hooksett, NH venues.

The company’s success has not goneunnoticed. Zyacorp Entertainment hasbeen named in Entrepreneur Magazine’s“Hot 500 Fastest Growing Companies”and has been a two-time finalist in Ernst& Young’s Entrepreneur of the YearAwards Program.The Sturbridge location is the Cin-

emagic’s first theater built specifically tohouse a totally digital operation – there isno film involved. “Our other theaterswill all be digital as well. Movies will bedelivered two different ways – either byhard drive, where we will plug in anddownload, or sent over a satellite feed.Everything is protected with digital keys

SturbridgeeagerlywelcomesCinemagicStadiumTheaters

THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE16

Continued from page 14


through the process,” said Bob Collins,Cinemagic Marketing Director. “Digitalalso provides the availability of more inde-pendent type films since it is easier to dis-tribute. We pride ourselves on beingup-to-date (on all levels); our first theater inSalisbury, MA has already been totally ren-ovated.”The attraction to Sturbridge was based

on personal experience and opportunity,with the availability of space and an un-derserved market for a movie theatervenue, Adam said. “My wife and I hadfriends in Sturbridge and stopped by thereon many occasions. I was somewhat capti-vated by the area. When opportunity pre-sented itself to bring a Cinemagic toSturbridge, we wanted to be a part of it. Itis a unique, warm community and we lookforward to being here,” said Adam, who isoriginally from Maine and now resides inNew Hampshire.As with any business, success in the

movie theater industry comes throughbuilding relationships with everyone fromfilm distributors to customers, Adam said.“We have the facility to host their product.Through the efforts of our film buyer andmarketing departments, we work with filmcompanies to successfully bring movies toour venues,” he said. “Customer service isimportant too. We have established an em-ployee culture that the customer is alwaysright. Employees do the best they can tomeet customer needs with a happy face, nomatter what the circumstances. We wantcustomers to leave the theater with a smileon their faces.”Local, community involvement is also a

part of the overall culture at Cinemagic.Managers are encouraged to get involved inlocal chambers and pursue work with non-profit organizations that are important tothem. “We do have limited resources, butlike to support charitable organizations. Itis important to not just be a business in thecommunity but become part of it,” Adamsaid.In addition to managers, Adam and his

staff are involved in organizations on locallevels as well. For example, Collins workswith chambers and the local American RedCross. Adam himself is involved in severalcharitable organizations. In addition, alltheaters participate in blood drives threetimes a year, with donors receiving a freemovie ticket. Adam says, “In any business,you need to give back as well as take.”Collins has attended The Chamber of

Central Mass South events and talked with

people at The Center for Hobbs Brook andsays the excitement is building to have amovie theater in town. Town officials havebeen very cooperative as well. “The Town ofSturbridge has been exceptionally profes-

sional to deal with and responsive to ourneeds and questions,” Adam said.“Every day in business is a challenge, es-pecially in recent times. You put forthyour best efforts combined with faith,

and hopefully persevere. Our hope is thatthe community is inspired to treat us as wellas we treat them.We look forward to a long,happy relationship bringing entertainmentto Sturbridge.”

THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE18

By Richard McGrath, CIC, LIAPRESIDENT & CEO, McGRATH INSURANCE GROUP

INSURANCEGUIDANCE

Pay attention!Distracted driving can be deadly

Americans are driven to distraction.They text, talk on their cellphones, eat, drink, read, pro-

gram their GPS, adjust their radio, change CDs, groom them-selves and talk to passengers while they drive. In many cases,they pay more attention to their cellphones than they do tothe highway.The results can be deadly. Nearly 6,000 people are killed

each year due to multitasking behind the wheel and hun-dreds of thousands are injured. Distracted driving accountedfor 16% of fatal crashes and 20% of driving injuries in 2009,

according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-tration.The National Safety Council’s Transportation Safety

Group found that distracted driving accounts for nearly 80%of car crashes, making it the leading cause of motor vehicleaccidents.Driving while distracted is a lot like driving while drunk.

Arbella Insurance Company says it’s the equivalent of drivingwith a blood alcohol level of 0.08; just below the legal limitof 0.10.

At best, distracted driving is an annoyance. Who has-n’t driven behind a self-absorbed cellphone user whoslows to a crawl in the passing lane, clogging rush hourtraffic? Distracted drivers swerve into the wrong lane,rarely use blinkers and roll through stop signs.Of course, given that distracted driving results in so

many injuries and fatalities, it also significantly increasesauto insurance premiums.Texting the Greatest RiskDistracted driving activities can be visual (taking your

eyes off the road), manual (taking your hands off thewheel), or cognitive (taking your mind off what you aredoing).Texting may be the biggest problem, as it combines all

three forms of distraction. It’s been getting worse, as theamount of texting has increased. In June 2009, nearly100 billion text messages were sent. That may seem likea mindboggling amount of text, but by June 2011, thenumber of text messages increased 50% to 196 billion.In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

found that 9% of drivers surveyed overall reported thatthey text or e-mail “regularly or fairly often” while driv-ing, but that number increases to 25% for drivers whoare 18 to 29 years old. In addition, 52% of U.S. driversin that age group reported texting or e-mailing while driv-ing at least once in the last 30 days.Even more troubling, the number of people who text

while driving appears to be increasing. A 2011 survey byHealthDay found that 18% of drivers text or e-mail regu-larly while driving; 13% said they have surfed the Internetwhile driving.


Federal government research found thattexting increases the probability of a crashby a factor of 23 – that’s 2300%. Sendingor receiving a text takes the driver’s eyes offthe road for an average of 4.6 seconds; forsomeone driving at 55miles an hour, that’sthe equivalent of driving the length of afootball field while blind.Young drivers, who are the newest and

most inexperienced drivers, are most apt tobe distracted while driving and are most aptto be in a serious accident as a result.While 25% of drivers in the United

States reported to the Centers for DiseaseControl (CDC) that they talk on their cellphones “regularly or fairly often” while driv-ing, the number increases to nearly 40% fordrivers 18 to 29 years old. In addition, 75%of U.S. drivers in that age group reportedthat they talked on their cell phone whiledriving at least once in the past 30 days.Teen drivers are also especially likely to

be involved in a fatal crash when distractionis a factor. The NHTSA reported that 16%of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes weredistracted. Overall, the proportion of driv-ers known to have been distracted at thetime of a fatal crash increased from 7% in2005 to 11% in 2009.When asked whether driving feels safer,

less safe or about the same as it did five yearsago, more than a third of drivers surveyedsaid they feel less safe today. Distracted driv-ing, cited by three out of 10 of those whofeel less safe, was the single most commonreason given for feeling less safe today.What Can Be Done?Given the magnitude of the problem, a

growing number of states are taking actionagainst distracted driving by banning cer-tain behavior, such as cell phone use or tex-ting. In Massachusetts, texting whiledriving is banned, as is cell phone use fornovice drivers and bus drivers.In addition to creating legal disincen-

tives, additional action is needed, as studiesshow that such laws are often ignored.Adults, of course, should know better, butyoung drivers need to be educated aboutthe risks of distracted driving.To help educate young people about the

risks, McGrath Insurance Group will bebringing the state-of-the-art Distractology101™ Tour to McGrath Insurance Group,258 Main St., Sturbridge, from Monday,July 16, 2012 through Friday, July 20, 2012.Distractology 101 is an interactive pro-

gram developed by the Arbella InsuranceGroupCharitable Foundation to teach newdrivers the dangers of distracted driving. Itfeatures a 36-foot-long, neon-yellow mobileclassroom outfitted with high-tech drivingsimulators that give new drivers a real-life

look at the potentially disastrous effects ofdistracted driving. It’s an interactive expe-rience designed to create a new generationof safe drivers.During the driving simulator training,

called “Distractology 101: A Crash CourseonDistractedDriving,” teens and other newdrivers will face a number of scenarios basedon real-world examples that illustrate thedangers of distracted driving and teach par-

ticipants how to anticipate hidden hazards,react to the road and avoid accidents. Par-ticipants will also be asked to complete theonline portion of the curriculum to rein-force what they learn in the classroom andto complete the training by taking a safedriving pledge.To register for a free 45-minute training

session or for more information, contactElissa Boos ofMcGrath InsuranceGroup at

508-347-6850, x 105 or [email protected].

Richard A. McGrath, CIC, LIA is Pres-ident and CEO of McGrath InsuranceGroup, Inc. of Sturbridge, Mass. He can bereached at rmcgrath@mcgrath insurance.com.

This article is written for informationalpurposes only and should not be construed asproviding legal advice.


learning to make the sauce it was time to in-vite friends over for the taste test. With thegood reviews, the Village Hotdog was born.Now to the menu, the best selling item is

the Village Dog. It’s a hot dog with the fam-ily Coney Sauce along with mustard andonion.Patrons suggested a dog with coleslaw.

Slaw dogs are big and originated in theNorth Carolina and Virginia area. Thus,Greg names his the Cedar Slaw Dog afterCedar Lake right behind the shop. It is thesignature Village Dog with Coleslaw.Then there is the Chicago Dog with a

slice of half sour pickle and sport peppers.Other entries include the New Yorker, theWarrior and the All American Dog. Afterall, it’s the all American food.The menu is not limited to the dogs. A

bowl of Beantown Knockout Baked Beansis a specialty not to be missed. He also car-ries Hangtime Hot Sauce in two varieties.For the wimps, there is a jalapeno/anaheimpepper mix. The courageous will love thehabanero with honey.Michigan may have been where Greg

learned to love the dog, but that is notwhere he gets them. Everything that goesinto a Village Hot Dog is locally sourced.From the above-mentioned hot sauce toMassachusetts’ own Kayem hot dogs. TheRolls are made in Worcester. Also featuredare Wachusett chips and Polar sodas. Mick-nucks Market and Big Bunny provide theproduce.As to method, the dogs are prepared on

a unique grill. The technique is called“round up.” It is such that the dogs arecooked in their own juices. Buns are

When does the epiphany occur in life?At what point does a person know theyhave to do something? For Greg Hudzik,there may not have been one exact ah hamoment, but over time, the realization wasinescapable. If he was constantly goingfrom Brooklyn, Connecticut to Worcester,Ma for the purpose of consuming Coney Is-land hot dogs, something should change.That is why Village Hot Dog is in Stur-bridge.One might think this madness and sug-

gest giving up the habit. For Mr. Hudzik, it’sculture. No, he is not from that seasidepeninsula of the Big Apple, Coney Island.Greg hails from the home of the actualConey Island Hot Dog, Michigan. It beganin 1914 in the town of Jackson near wherehe grew up. We like our dogs here, but theyare a staple item there. Out in the GreatLakes State, hot dog eateries abound.If, as the author Thomas Wolfe said,

“You can’t go home again,” you can at leastbring some of home with you. Greg left his

native state and spent 12 years in the Navy.After the service, he relocated to New Eng-land, married and spent a few years in Con-necticut. He and his wife and kids came toSturbridge not just to be wiener entrepre-neurs, but also, because they liked thequaintness of the town and the easy accessto major highways.So how does one get into the hot dog

game? Call Mom of course. She is thekeeper of the coney hot dog sauce recipethat is a well-guarded family secret. After


FUNFOOD

a blissful, no-apologies duck into sturbridge’s finest hot dog emporiumBY RICHARD MURPHY


PETQ&AWITH KATHY MENARD

Q. Why do dogs bark?

A. Dogs bark for a variety of reasons. A few of the rea-sons are as follows: Dogs that spend lots of time alone arevery often bored and lonely and will bark to try and get at-tention. Dogs that bark in response to other dogs barkingare actually communicating with the other dogs. Dogs willalso bark to announce the arrival of guests or intruders.

Q. We adopted a five-year-old Lab Mix who has beenshy about her "bathroom habits" ever since she moved inlast week. She will not poop on the lawn, but will only doso on the sidewalk when I walk her. We want to be able towalk her for the enjoyment, not walk her so she'll poop.Any advice?

A. Do you know what her history is? Dogs becomecreatures of habit. If she came from a city, she may havebeen trained to go on concrete or tar. Try eliminating herwalks for a short time, unless she poops in the areayou have chosen for elimination purposes. When she

is in the act of going, calmly praise her, using the word youwant to mean "go poop" (example: Good girl get busy).You can then reward her with a walk.

Q. Our 11 week old Toy Poodle was doing fine withhouse training until he got a stomach bug and sufferedwith diarrhea. Now he will not do any of his business out-side. As soon as we come in after him not doing anything,he'll pee right in front of me. He'll head into a closet to

Barking, bathroomhabits and puppy size

poo. He's on a regular feeding and outside schedule, andI don't know what else to do.

A. If you know he is due to "go" outside, and he does-n't, bring him back in and put him back in his crate.Bring him back outside a short time later (10 minutes). Ifhe goes, he can be loose in the house, if he doesn't puthim back in his crate for another short period. Keep try-ing until he does go outside. When he is in the act ofgoing outside, calmly put a word to it (i.e. good boy getbusy) to teach him to eliminate on command. Be sure tosay the word while he is actually going, as he will learn toassociate the word with what he is doing when he hearsit. Be sure NOT to scold him if you catch him in the act.Dogs don't understand right or wrong, they understandsafe or dangerous. You don't want to teach him it is notsafe to go in front of you, as that will just cause him tosneak off to another room out of your sight.

Q. I have a 3 months old black lab puppy, he is beau-tiful and very energetic (except he loves to bite). I have afriend who also has a 3 months old lab puppy, it's yellowbut it's bigger than my lab. Yesterday I saw another labpuppy, also bigger than mine.Does size depends only on genetics or by amount of

food? I feed him 3 times a day, with 50-60g. Is that smallamount? I am also giving him calcium tablets. I am tryingnot to overfeed him, because labs can get fat easily andthen problems with skeleton and hips can occur. I have a3 months old black lab puppy, he is beautiful and veryenergetic (except he loves to bite). I have a friend that alsohave 3 months old lab puppy, it's yellow but it's biggerthan my lab. Yesterday I saw another lab puppy, also big-ger than mine.

A. Please do not supplement with calcium withoutfirst checking with your veterinarian. There is a certainratio of calcium to phosphorus that your pup needs, andif you unbalance that with supplements you could po-tentially cause bone/joint problems.To answer your question, size is controlled by genetics

and environment/nutrition. I have found certain foodsforce more growth, which is a bad thing. You want a largebreed pup to grow slowly. He will still reach his geneticpotential, it will just take a little longer, and his joints willbe healthier for it.

Kathy Menard has been a dog trainer for over 35 yearsand is certified through the Certification Council for Profes-sional Dog Trainers. She has trained under three world-renowned Schutzhund trainers for 14 years and hascompeted in the American Kennel Club and the sport ofSchutzhund, earning over 15 titles. Kathy is the owner ofCompatible Canine in Fiskdale, MA and KT’s Pet Stop inPalmer, MA.


This monthly feature focuses on our trails and open space and relatedactivities in the region, with an emphasis on enjoying the outdoors safely.

The Art and Science ofTrails and the town-wide draft of Master PlanByTom Chamberland, Park Ranger andAssociate Member of SturbridgeTrails Committee

Master PlanOn Thursday June 7 at 7 PM in the Stur-

bridge town hall the Recreation Trails MasterPlan steering committee (RTMPSC) will bepresenting is final draft townwidemaster planfor recreation trail development before theBoard of Selectmen and Conservation Com-mission. This plan has been 3 years in themaking, four previous publicmeetings, a townwide survey and a reach out session with otherlarge landowners and stakeholders in thisprocess.The plan is being assembled by Scott Lin-

nenburger of Kay Linn Enterprises. Kay Linn

was awarded a $ 49,260.00 contract to assistthe RTMPSC in developing this plan. TheRTMPSCwas created by the Bd. of Selectmenin July of 2009 and is made up of representa-tives from the Trail, Community Preservation,Conservation, and Economic Advisory Com-mittees, as well as a local business representa-tive and community representative.Their work and deliberations over the past

three years has been guided by the Town Plan-ner Ms Jean Bubon, and follows the basic for-mat use by the Town in developing its overallMaster Plan.The draft plan will present an overall Vi-

sion to guide the town in recreation trail de-

velopment and will list several goals withmore specific details and designs for thetown to use inmoving forward with trail de-velopment not only on its open space lands,but in partnership with the various otherlocal private property owners, lands trusts,and State and Federal landowners in Stur-bridge.After the presentation the Board of Se-

lectmen andConservationCommissionwillhave the time they need to review, discussand accept or make final recommendationsto plan before it will be finalized. The pub-lic will also have the opportunity to offer anycomments or suggestions to these Boards fortheir consideration. If you have any interestin how Sturbridge moves forward with itstrail development, this is the time to beheard.Thismaster planwill guide the Town and

the trail committee forward in its planningand construction of trails for the foreseeablefuture. In acquiring our open space landsmany of you supported this effort because ofthe recreational aspects of trails on theselands. With thisMaster Plan that effort willnow have a “roadmap” of not only where toproceed, but how to proceed.

The Art & Science ofTrailsThis trail training is going to be held on

June 7 -9. This three day training program willinclude a day and ½ of classroom training in-cluding grade, slope, width, dealing with largerocks and boulders, various types ofwetland/stream crossings,multiple types of trailsand trail use, as well as using GPS and GIS tomap out your trail route. The remaining dayand½will be outdoors on the Sturbridge Lead-mine Mt Conservation property actual “handson” design, layout and construction of a¾mile“gateway” trail. If you can’t make the three daycourse, you can sign up for the Saturday only ses-sion.This trail construction training, will be con-

ducted by three of the nation’s premiere trailconstruction experts, Scott Linnenburger, of Kay– Linn Enterprises, Woody Keen of Trail Dy-namics and Jeremy Wimpey PhD of AppliedTrails Research, all members of the ProfessionalTrail Builders Assoc. Cost is $40.00 and in-cludes lunch for two days and a copy of IMBA’s“Trail Solutions guide book”. To register com-plete the form below and mail with $40.00payable to: The Grand Trunk Trail Blazers,Patrick McGarrah - President, 29 Library LaneSouth, Sturbridge MA 01566. If signing up for“Saturday Only” please write this on the regis-tration form. Forms are available at the TownHall and on line at: http://www.grandtrunk-trailblazers.org/ then click on “the art and sci-ence of trails” link on the left side of the page.


CHAMBERNEWS

The Chamber of Central Mass South has received a do-nation of $3,100 on behalf of EF Educational HomestayPrograms as a contribution to the Chamber’s Tornado Re-lief Fund. (EF is an acronym for ‘Education First’).Founded in 1965, EF Homestays operates in over 50

countries offering a range of educational programs fromlanguage training, educational travel, and academic degreesto cultural exchanges. With a mission to break down bar-riers in language, culture and geography, EF has helpedpeople of all ages and nationalities become citizens of theworld. Last year, EF was searching for host families in thegreater Sturbridge area right at the time the tornadowreaked havoc on much of our region. Seeing the need for

EF Educational Homestay Programs donates to tornado relief

assistance, EF offered a fundraising opportunity for thosewho were able to host.The organization’s New England area manager, Chris-

tine Habermann said: “EF EHP strongly believes in build-ing communities within our program and we wanted todo something for the residents of the greater Sturbridgearea. However, we don’t want to stop our efforts with thisone-time donation. For every family who hosts a studentor students this summer, EF will donate $50 toward thetornado relief fund in 2013.”EF is looking for host families to host international

exchange students for three or four weeks during the sum-mer. All students are ages 13 to 18 and speak some Eng-lish. The students are fully insured and have their ownspending money.Interested families can find out more about EF’s Ed-

ucational Homestay Program by visiting www.ef.com/ehpor call Diane Sullivan, EF Site Director-Program Leaderat 978-407-6046. Those completing host applications whomention the EF’s tornado relief donation will have addedanother $50 donation in their name in 2013.

Charlie Berkinshaw (EF Operations Manager); Diane Sullivan (Charlton SiteDirector); CMS Chamber Executive Director, Alexandra McNitt; DeniseMcGee (EF Marlborough Program Leader); and Christine Habermann.


r MUSINGS FROM LONG HILL s

BY RICHARD MURPHY

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

All sorts of bad things happen when police charge youwith drunk driving – fines, probation, random testing ---but that’s not what worries a lot of the accused. They worrymost about losing their license.How long they lose it often depends on whether they

take a breathalyzer test. Take it and fail and, in most cases,you lose your license, but only for 30 days. Refusing canhave more dire consequences for your license.You start with a six month suspension for the first time

you refuse. If you’ve admitted to driving drunk in a previ-ous case, that jumps to three years. From there it goes tofive years, then a lifetime suspension.It’s even more severe if you aren’t old enough to be

drinking in the first place. Get charged for the first timewith drunk driving when you’re under 21 and you get athree-year suspension for refusing a breathalyzer.Of course by the time someone has been charged with

driving drunk three times, the prospect of jail usually out-weighs any concerns they may have about losing their li-cense. And we can probably agree that it’s a not such a badidea to keep repeat offenders off the road. They probablyshould refuse the test, lose their license and try to win incourt.It’s the first time offenders -- people whomay have made

one bad mistake they aren’t likely to make a second time --who worry most about losing license. Often, there’s a job atstake, kids to pick up after soccer practice, groceries to buy.For them, the question of whether to take a breathalyzer

is toughest of all. Take it, and you may lose whatever de-fense you have. Refuse it, and lose your license for sure.

LEGALBRIEF

LICENSE SUSPENSION

M O N T H L Y L E G A L A D V I C E

F O R R E A D E R S O F

T H E S T U R B R I D G E T I M E S M A G A Z I N E

STURBRIDGE ATTORNEY

ROBERT A. GEORGE, ESQ.

There is a groupwebsite,CollegeMisery, of thatmost afflictedof callings, professors. It seems they whine a lot. True their par-ticular gulag does not have guard towers with searchlights andmachineguns trained on them. That just speaks to their charac-ter in remaining at their posts nomatter the privation.Okay, the paragraph above is a bit unfair. I doubt all profes-

sors arewhining that teaching in college is hell. What setmeoffis the author went after one of my favorite institutions, Com-munity College.It seems one of the profs was upset that his nephewwas not

going to be served at CC. Nephew was a student at a four-yearstate school that “likes to project the image of a private school.”During the summer, he wanted to take courses at the local CCthat fit his needs.The community college informed the young man that they

couldnot servehimas theywere providing for theneeds of theirown demographic. What is that CCdoing that they cannot bebothered tohelpnephew? They are “re-mediating“ the students.By re-mediate, I believe the author of the article means coursesthat make up for the deficiencies of the students. He or she,who goes by the name of Emergency Mathematical Hologrammakes the point that community college should have studentsthat are ready for college. "If you can't add fractions by the timeyougraduatehigh-school thenmaybe youhavenobusiness beingin college.” In theory, I agree with him. If it’s college, don’tshow up if you’re not ready. Reality is that is not who comes toCommunity College.Back in the StoneAge,when Iwas in school, I didnot know

anyone who got to the eighth grade without knowing fractions.We all got through it. Includingmoi. I wasn’t an overachiever.Actually, I overachieved at underachieving. So sure it’s a prob-lem that there has been an apparent devolution.

Emergency Mathematical Hologram’s point is, to useWin-ston Churchill’s construction, “true, but not exhaustive. “ Ifthere is less rigor in secondary education, that is to be lamentedand should be remedied. InMassachusetts, supposedly it can’thappen due to theMCAS testing. Yet, grade inflation is every-where, includingHarvard according to ProfessorHarveyMans-field.Instead of lamenting the fact that someone already in col-

lege couldn’t havehis lifemade easier,we should look at the suc-cess and value of community college. I personally know of twoyoung people who have profited from a local institution. Wehome schooled our kids through grammar school and trieddoing it with high school for the two oldest. When it becameobvious, we had gone as far as we could, we brought our son toQuinsigamond Community College. To attend, he was givendiagnostic tests on a computer that placedhim in the classes thatsuited him.Itwas a stroke of fortune that hewas atQuinsigamond. The

home school environment is not a classroom. CommunityCol-lege gave him space to learn in that environment. It was notperfectly smooth, but it worked.Our boy always had an interest in science. It was a fascina-

tion that he consistently expressed. Youmight think anobscureCCthe least likely place to foster that. Well,Quinsigamondhasa feeder program to Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Take allthe required courses, pass themsatisfactorily, and you can goonto an excellent technical college. The student will get a goodbackground, andmom and dad will save cash.There were some benefits that we, as parents got from our

son’s educational odyssey. Even thoughhe is an engineer, hehasno secondary school diploma. We never introduce him as any-thing but our son the high school dropout. —>

THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE 25

Community college

Another child made good use of whatQuinsig had on offer. Many parents use su-perlatives todescribe their offspring. Knowingour biases, I shall forego such comments otherthan to say we believe our daughter is brightand curiouswith awonderful sense of humor.Having said that, it must also be noted thatschool did not excite her. In that quality, shereplicates her oldman.It was a different journey. Our daughter

was not as enthusiastic about going to school,but shewas, on thewhole, a good sport. Won-ders, there were actually classes she enjoyed.Shemade friendswith students sharing similarinterests. It took no little tenacity on her partand ours to get through. It was a good daywhen she collected her diploma at the DCU

Center. Then it was on to her next school ex-perience that is in a course of study more toher liking.A community college is not for everyone.

If your child maxed the SAT or won the IntelScience Talent Search, by all means, theyshould head off for Harvard or MIT. Maybethekid starts atCCanddecides a trade is a bet-ter fit. Knowing what you want is wonderful.Unfortunately, not everyone has a vision ofwhat that is just after high school. Commu-nity college can give the perplexed some spaceto find out.Plus,momanddad, not tomention junior

or juniorette can save a small fortune.There is a local option for Quinsigamond

CommunityCollege just down the street at theSouthbridge Hotel andConference Center.

From previous page

Shop and have lunch at the same time ...

Sturbridge Marketplace!

YARDWORKSBy Tom Chamberland, ISA

Caring for what grows in your yard

Consider edible landscaping for your yardTo those of you my age, you may remember a book

from back in the 1960’s; Stalking theWild Asparagus, byEuell Gibbons, and though you may not be into makingElderberry Sumac jelly, one of the many recipes in hisbook, youmay be interested in going out to your yard andpicking a handful of fresh blueberries for your breakfastcereal, or how about making concord grape jelly fromvines growing in your yard or even picking a late Augustfresh peach from a tree in the front lawn on your way outto the newspaper box? While some of these may be avail-able in the wild, these and more can all be grown in ouryards right here in the Sturbridge area. One of the morehighly regarded books on this subject is The CompleteGuide to Edible Landscaping by Rosalind Creasy pub-lished in the early 1970’s which coincided with a “backto the land” movement of that era. “Growing your own”was popular back then and today is enjoying a renewed in-terest to bring these plants into the front yard, combiningboth the edible and ornamental properties of these plantsfor all to see.The edible part of an edible plant, is fairly self evident.

Many plants produce seed bearing fruit that is edible: suchas blueberries, apples, or grapes. Basically a plant producesfruit for distribution to contribute to the longevity of thespecies. The benefit to us is enjoying the fruit in both nu-trition and visual attractiveness. Of interest also is thatthe berries incorporate another benefit in that antho-cyanins, the pigments that create the color in the fruit inmaking it so visually noticeable and attractive are ex-tremely healthful, containing high levels of antioxidantsand other health promoting compounds. So the fruiting

plant keeps us healthy, living a long time to continue eat-ing and distributing the seeds. Good for us and good forthe plant, ingenious!Now anything that produces fruit also produces flow-

ers, andmost berries, with the exception of grapes, rely oninsects to pollinate the flowers, so the flowers are generallyquite showy. Finally, some of these plants have leaf andbark color or texture and branch structure that can addbeauty to the home landscape. When you combine all ofthese aspects the result is a wide variety of possibilities forintegration into foundation plantings, container gardens,living fences, border gardens, arbors, ground covers andor display gardens.Here are some suggestions: High or Low bush blue-

berries (Vaccinium corymbosum), Lingonberries, also

known as upland cranberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) bothof which love our acid soil. Gooseberry (Ribes uvacrispa) orthe new variety of Black Current ‘Crandall’ ( Ribes aureum)require less acid soil. A favorite small tree of mine, ServiceBerry (Amelanchier canadensis) might well be used as ananchor for a display garden or island. Climbing vines likegrapes or spreading ground cover like strawberries can alsobe considered. Raspberries make good borders and come inseveral varieties. If considering peaches, almonds, or hazelnuts, remember to plant at least two for good pollination.Edible landscaping not only adds a new dimension to

your yard, but also offers health benefits too. These bene-fits range from “working the land” in exercise and stress re-lief to the addition of eating healthy foods. You can also gainsome satisfaction is saying “I grew this myself” as you shareyour fruits with your neighbors. Even if you don’t harvestthe fruit for your consumption, you are providing naturalfood for wildlife, reducing the need for artificial feederswhich can attract possibly unwanted wildlife into your yardlike bears, raccoons, and the like. But most importantly,your children may be the ones who benefit the most fromlandscaping and gardening with edible plants. Through theearly experience of popping a handful of ripe raspberriesinto their mouths with juice running down the sides, manywill develop a lifelong love of gardening, not because it is“cost effective” or practical (usually it’s not), but because itfeels great. Kids can learn about pruning, honey bees andweeding, good and bad bugs, and mulching. They can seethe cycles of the seasons, and the effects on the plants, aswell as other interactions of nature.A good source for fruiting plants that can grow in our

area is an organization I strongly support, the NationalArbor Day Foundation. Visit their site at: http://www.ar-borday.org/ and visit their “tree store”. Visit several of ourlocal nurseries and compare the varieties they carry. Blue-berries area plant you may want consider several varieties asthey can have different maturity dates, thus spreading out heblueberry season and we all know there are many differenttype of apples to choose from, many which now come is a“dwarf” variety to save space in your yard.

For more information on edible plants visit:http://www.plantea.com/edibleland.htmSo try a couple of edibles in your yard. Don’t be afraid

to plant them right out front. Your neighbors won’t laugh,and even if they do, just bring them a pint of berries, andthey will come around.

Tom Chamberland is the Tree Warden for the Town ofSturbridge and a Certified Arborist. He enjoys caring for plantsthat grow in his yard and welcomes reader suggestions for fu-ture articles. Email him at: [email protected]



Fatty liver

THE HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL ADVISERBY THE FACULTY OF HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL

A REGULAR FEATURE IN THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE

Q. My doctor just diagnosed mewith fatty liver disease. She says in mycase it has nothing to do with drinking al-cohol, which makes sense since I rarelydrink. But I still don't understand it.Why do I have a problem that's usuallycaused by heavy drinking? She says it hasto do with the fact that I've been over-weight most of my life.

A. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) was rarely diagnosed before1980. But today, NAFLD is believed toaffect as many as 30 percent of adultAmericans.NAFLD is actually not a single dis-

ease. Instead, it's a spectrum of disor-ders, all marked by the accumulationof fat inside liver cells. Under the mi-croscope, this fatty buildup looks justlike alcohol-induced fatty liver disease,but it occurs in people who consumelittle or no alcohol.NAFLD usually causes no symp-

toms and few, if any, complications.However, some people with NAFLDgo on to develop serious problems,which we'll discuss shortly.The exact cause of NAFLD is un-

known. But its emergence as a recog-nized and increasingly commondisorder coincides with the epidemicsof obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Both ofthese are associated with insulin resist-ance.Obesity and insulin resistance, in

turn, are implicated in "metabolic syn-drome," a group of risk factors that in-crease the risk of cardiovasculardisease, including a large waist andhigh triglycerides (a type of blood fat).Some experts consider NAFLD asymptom of metabolic syndrome.The leading theory about NAFLD

is that it's a result of metabolic changesdriven by insulin resistance. More fatstays in the liver, accumulating in tiny

advanced stage of NAFLD. Cirrhosis is ir-reversible and can lead to liver failure orcancer.NASH is most closely associated with

obesity, Type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia(high blood levels of triglycerides or choles-terol) -- conditions that, along with hyper-tension, constitute metabolic syndrome.But not everyone with obesity, Type 2 di-

abetes and abnormal lipids has NASH.And some people with NASH have none ofthese risk factors. This suggests that genesand other factors play a role.There's no cure for fatty liver disease or

NASH. Treatment is aimed at reducing orpreventing further fatty buildup and ad-dressing underlying risk factors, such asobesity, diabetes and hyperlipidemia.Lifestyle changes such as weight loss and

a healthy diet can help. You may also wantto talk to your doctor about medications tolower blood sugar and cholesterol and vita-min E supplements. Although there issome evidence that these measures mayhelp, it's far too early to recommend any forroutine treatment of fatty liver disease.And perhaps it goes without saying, but

to be clear on the issue of alcohol: Peoplewith NASH should not drink at all. Andpeople with simple fatty liver -- that is,steatosis -- should at the very least minimizetheir alcohol consumption.It also makes sense to avoid exposure to

other liver toxins and to get immunizationsagainst hepatitis B and A. But the most im-portant measure of all is slow, steady weightloss -- and that requires a balanced, calorie-restricted diet along with regular exercise.It's another example of how healthfullifestyle choices actually improve health.

© 2012. The President and Fellowsof Harvard College.

sacs in the liver cells.In its simplest form, NAFLD is just fat

in the liver cells. This condition is calledsteatosis. While steatosis is not normal, itcauses no symptoms and by itself is usu-ally harmless. However, 5 percent to 20percent of people with steatosis will de-velop a more serious form of NAFLDcalled nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, orNASH. In NASH, the fattened cells causeinflammation, swelling and cell death.We don't know the cause of this more

serious, inflammatory form of NAFLD orwho is most likely to develop it, but it isnot simply related to the amount of fat inthe liver cells.NASH is usually a relatively stable con-

dition with few symptoms. Most peopledon't know they have it unless it showsup during a blood test or imaging proce-dure performed for other reasons. Butunlike steatosis, NASH is not harmless.In some people, it progresses slowly,

over years to decades, sometimes causingvague complaints, such as fatigue, dis-comfort in the upper right abdomen oran overall sense of being unwell. Under-lying these complaints may be a cascadeof serious damage to the liver that culmi-nates in massive scarring and impairedliver function called cirrhosis, the most


The truth about Core Training

HEALTH&FITNESS

By Andrea Johnsonof Everybody’s Fitness, Auburn and Sturbridge

Almost every day at work I hear some com-bination of the following sentence. “I needto strengthen my core.” Or, “My doctor/chi-ropractor/physical therapist says my core isweak and I need to make it stronger.” There'squite a bit of buzz around core training. Al-most everyone knows they should have astrong core, but people aren't exactly surewhy, and there is even some confusion aboutwhat muscles make up your core.Why is there such a focus on core train-

ing? The answer is actually pretty simple.Our modern lifestyle has had a profound neg-ative impact on our waistlines. Both from a

weight perspective and also from a corestrength perspective. Hours spent in the carcommuting back and forth to work, or sit-ting all day hunched over computer key-boards and smartphones has made us softaround the middle. And as a result we havepoor posture, lower back pain and overallweakness.

Defining your core.In order to develop a strong core, it is im-

portant to know what area of the body ac-tually makes up your core. For most people,core means abdominals. The abs are only

one part of the much larger picture. Pic-ture your body, then remove your armsand legs and head. Your entire torso,front and back, makes up your core.This includes your abdominal muscles,as well as your upper and lower backmuscles, hip muscles, and glutes. In anutshell, all of your spine and hip sta-bilizing muscles make up your core.Our core is important for many rea-

sons. First, all movement originates inthe core. When you sit up straight,stand tall, walk, run, or bend over topick something up, your core musclesactivate. Our core is also our power-house. Try to throw a ball withoutusing your stomach and back muscles.It won't get very far. But tighten yourmidsection and use those muscles toproduce some power and you will throwthat ball quite far. This is why athleteswork with strength coaches to increasetheir core strength. They know a strongcore will make themmore powerful andincrease their performance.A strong core is the most effective

way to prevent back pain and reduceyour risk of injury.The primary job of your core is to

stabilize your spine. If your core mus-cles are strong, you will experience lesslower back pain, have better posture,and have more overall strength and bet-ter mobility when performing basic

movements like lifting, carrying, twist-ing, reaching, and bending.Back pain is the the most common

symptom that is related to having a weakcore. And if you look into the occur-rence of lower back pain in the UnitedStates, you will find that lower back painis reported to occur at least once in 85%of adults below the age of 50. Nearly allof them will have at least one recurrence.Back pain is also the second most com-mon illness-related reason given for amissed workday, and the most commoncause of disability. Also, work-relatedback injury is the number one occupa-tional hazard. Total costs of the condi-tion are estimated at greater than $100billion annually; two-thirds of which aredue to decreased wages and lost produc-tivity.The physical, social and economic

costs of chronic low back pain are star-tling. However, there are things you cando to protect your spine and reduce yourrisk of becoming a statistic. As the say-ing goes, an ounce of prevention isworth a pound of cure. When it comesto back pain, it rings true.

The PlankTestThere is a very simple test you can try

to determine if you have a strong or aweak core. The test also doubles as oneof the most useful exercises you can startwith to strengthen your core muscles.The plank test is simple, and you can doit anywhere.

In order to perform a plank test youneed to have enough space to lie facedown on a firm surface, and a watch ortimer to count seconds.

• Lie face down with your fore-arms on the floor, palms down. Checkthat your elbows are directly below yourshoulders. Make sure that your legs arestraight behind you and your feet areclose together.


• Engage your core by pulling your belly button intoyour spine.• Come up onto your toes, and lift your body off the

floor. Your weight should be evenly distributed betweenyour forearms and your toes. You should maintain astraight line from your head and shoulders, to your hips,knees and ankles. Do not let your stomach sag, and donot flex your hips and allow them to rise up.• Start timing how long you can hold a plank,

while maintaining the proper body alignment. Onceyour form breaks, stop timing and return to the start po-sition. —>Note your time. This is your starting block. Repeat 2-

3 more times. Practice this 3-4 times a week. Once youcan hold the plank (with proper alignment) for oneminute, seek out more challenging variations.When you have better overall core strength, you feel

better every waking hour. The benefits of having a strong

core will increase your quality of life, especially if you areable to reduce your suffering from back pain. And hav-ing a strong core will help prevent future back injuries.So what are you waiting for? Turn your timer on and getplanking.

Where can I learn more?For more instructions on how to perform a plank on

your elbows and toes go to http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_10.htm

References:h t t p : / /www.h e a l t h c ommun i t i e s . c om/ba ck -pain/overview-of-back-pain.shtmlhttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/138422.ph

From previous page


Keep ticks andmosquitos away while enjoying outdoors

OUTDOORLIVING

While warmer weather brings many op-portunities to enjoy outdoor living spaces, italso ushers in unwanted pests like ticks andmosquitos.A mild winter often triggers an early

emergence and larger populations of theseinsects. Frequent accounts of tick sightingsand bites have been documented in manystates, and the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention (CDC) reports a steady in-

crease in the prevalence of tick-borne ill-nesses like Lyme disease and Rocky Moun-tain spotted fever each year.About 75 percent of all reported Lyme

disease cases are acquired from ticks pickedup during activities in backyards and aroundthe home, according to the CDC website.The site also notes that homeowners can

reduce the population of ticks that can causeLyme disease and the like by 68 to 100 per-cent with as little as one application of anappropriate outdoor insecticide spray.Another pest-spread illness, West Nile

virus, is transmitted through the bites of in-fected mosquitos. West Nile poses healthrisks to humans and pets alike during thewarm summer months.While incidents of West Nile virus have

declined over the past 10 years, the CDC re-ports it to be an established seasonal epi-demic that can cause severe illness and resultin permanent neurological damage.The best way to prevent an outbreak of

the disease, according to the CDC, isthrough the use of an integrated pest man-agement (IPM) approach to control bothadult mosquitos and their larvae before theycan hatch and mature.The Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) describes IPM on its website,www.epa.gov, as "an effective and environ-mentally sensitive approach to pest manage-ment that relies on a combination ofcommon-sense practices."The EPA points out that the IPM ap-

proach, which takes insects' life cycles intoconsideration as well as currently availablepest control methods, is a good way to man-age pests economically and with the leasthealth and environmental hazards.

In addition to the efforts and communityeducation by organizations like the EPA,there are many simple, preventative stepsthat individuals can take to ensure their ownlawns, gardens and patios are a safe envi-


Son or daughter sense an attractionPull of flower to the lightStretch of hand to the cookie jarA spark jumps legs and feet towards the knowingThat fills the toddler’s flesh with airLater a bicycle pump to lift the flattened faceFrom the sidewalk cracked with failure

That and so muchmore only a dad knowsHis shoes have more milesHis soul replaced so many timesSmiles a house of battered lightIts faint pulse glows a beacon in the nightBy day its shining replenishes weary bonesWith the radiant image of furrowed achievement

Tender hooks of fingers poke into those canyon riversSnag something elemental, tastySobering splash of refreshment not wiped awayBut left alone, sinks in deep to claim the other threadThat keeps together the growing nameExpanding with each passing year from exhaling old toysInhaling new demands

Despite the weather that kept him off shoreThe forest devouring him in thickets of worryThe cause that left a space at supperThe look that spelled exhaustionThe turn that could not speakThe shoes that fell a 1000miles intoDry ravens of ancient dreamsBreathing quietly the pace of seasonsWashing their faces in an aging mirror

The daughter leaps a deer into the clearingThe son a squirrel jumps to the tree that stands again with the dawn

This day’s light spruces up and polishes the hammered handThe paper cut palmTo find the life line son& daughter share across the table, the skyBefore the tilted photographMemory hanging from the ceiling, a car window

Keys dangling from a side pocket open windows of echoesSounding the walking up beside to get strong enoughTo walk ahead, beyond into the journey, the questionThe pause that stalls motion long enough forThe breathe to catch up to itselfAnd resting, find a bit more of the puzzle, hearA tattered bit of history that bangs around the back seatTelling stories, talking in its sleep

A reminder wonders up and down the staircase of my bones

A shepherd not a hunter, not a ghost searching for a key

A shepherd of star eyes contently watchingNodding from amountaintop, the edge of a songA whiff of after shaveThat tugs my arms in opposite directionsThe same landscape that held youBe-deviled you into an eggHard or soft depended on the day

Thanks for the gift, Dad, you left discreetlyIn a favorite place where I would see itTo always find some food from you

r A JUNE POEM s

Forthe Father

BY JEFF CANNON

STTHUE RBRIDGE TIMES HE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE C MAGAZINE · magazine june,2012. 2 the sturbridge...

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