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STURBRIDGETIMESMAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2018THE

THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING

THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING2

TAXUPDATE FOR 2018By Tom Dubrey, CPA

Tax has been a hot news topic recently for

good reason, the changes are substantial.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is the largest tax re-

form bill since 1986 with changes impacting in-

dividuals and businesses alike. Most of the

changes take effect in 2018 and beyond with

limited exception. To start, let’s take a look at

what will change for the tax returns you are fil-

ing right now, the 2017 tax year:

Threshold for deducting medical expenses For the past few years, a person under age 65

could only deduct medical expenses that ex-

ceeded 10% of their adjusted gross income. Be-

ginning in 2017, that limit has been dropped

down to 7.5%. This change is important to fam-

ilies suffering from rising out of pocket health

care expenses and increasing deductibles.

Relaxed rules for business expensingBeginning in 2017, businesses have the oppor-

tunity to immediately expense certain major

purchases like equipment and fixtures under a

new provision. Historically, this law only qual-

ified to purchases of new equipment, and has

now been expanded to include used. For most

small businesses, this law will have limited im-

pact as immediate expensing for small busi-

nesses was expanded years ago.

2018 ChangesThe true scope of the tax reform begins in

2018 with 3% rate reductions, doubling standard

deductions, disappearing exemptions and limits

on deductions we have taken in years past. The

good news for most of my local clients is that the

changes net out to a small reduction in tax. I

feel that some people will benefit, while others

will not, depending on the specific details of

their life. The big changes come for businesses,

both large and small.

Doubling standard deduction; eliminating exemptions

The standard deduction for 2018 has been

nearly doubled to $24,000. This change goes a

long way towards tax return filing simplification.

Taxpayers have always been able to choose be-

tween itemizing their deductions like state and

local taxes, mortgage interest and charity or tak-

ing the standard deduction if it is higher. The

new law caps state and local deductions at

$10,000 and eliminates miscellaneous deduc-

tions like employee business expenses and union

dues. Between the state tax cap limiting deduc-

tions and the increased standard deduction, I

feel that most local taxpayers will benefit from

the new standard deduction. The bad news is

that the personal and dependency exemptions

have been eliminated. Historically, each mem-

ber of the home, including children would re-

ceive an exemption of $4,050. With this

exemption going away and being replaced withPage 7

THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINETHE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING 3


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FEBRUARY 2018STURBRIDGEAREALIVING

PUBLISHER & EDITOR..................................PAUL CARRMANAGING EDITOR.....................................JOHN SMALLACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE .....................ELISA KROCHMALNYCKYJ

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION.....................NANCY HAYCIRCULATION.................................................HARRY SUNDERLAND

WRITERS ...........................................................THOMAS CHAMBERLAND............................................................................TOM DUBREY. CPA............................................................................ROBERT GEORGE, ESQ............................................................................JULIE GERRISH............................................................................ELISA KROCHMALNYCKYJ............................................................................KATHY MENARD............................................................................RICHARD MORCHOE............................................................................G.E. SHUMAN

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So, recently, my brother Steve, who lives inFlorida and I were having a bit of a ‘cli-

mate’ contest, which went on for a few days.The little game went like this. Steve would textme a picture of his outdoor thermometer, andI would answer back with a picture of mine.Or, he would text with a comment on theweather ‘down there,’ and I would answerwith one about how things were, ‘way uphere.’ One of Steve’s pics was accompanied bya note of “I think I can… I think I can…” as theneedle slowly climbed to fifty degrees. (I lovemy brother, I just hate his thermometer.)

In reality, my brother doesn’t brag, andseemed very concerned for us when I sent thepicture of our weather situation with the bignumerals showing -20 degrees. Yes, if youdon’t live around here, that was MINUS twentydegrees. What fun.

Our texting soon stopped, and I had to gooutside and try to start up my stupid snowblower anyway. Steve likely went out to checkon his posies or something.

I suppose I need to watch my adjectives.There really can’t be anything particularly stu-pid about a snow blower. I like mine because itworks, and I hate it because it only works if I’mout there with it, like it gets lonely or some-thing. Maybe that’s the part that’s stupid. Wehave remote controls for everything in ourcountry, from turning on the AC in the summerto starting the car in the winter. And Elon Muskcan land a rocket back on the launch pad with-out even touching it. (Oh yes, that’s also inFlorida.) Still, why can’t my snow blower simplyrun itself up and down the driveway withoutme? I would be happy to watch it from thekitchen window. (There is no justice, other than

in the picture my daughter just sent me of asnow-covered palm tree.)

Those of us up here in the Arctic reaches ofNew England all know it has been just a tadchilly of late. Yes, we are supposed to be toughup here, and yes, I still see delivery peoplewearing shorts, even as their knees are proba-bly knocking together, but, personally, I’m get-ting somewhat tired of being cold. It could bejust me, but lately I have felt a real chill whenthe sun goes down, and find myself in my re-cliner covered with a comforter on many ofthose dark evenings. It helps a lot that it getsdark shortly after lunchtime around here lately.

I do have the privilege of spending manyevenings with my 18-month-old granddaugh-ter, Nahla. She comes over to babysit me quitea bit. Nahla also seems to like cuddling up on

A tad chilly

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Page 7


By Richard Morchoe

Imagine setting yourself an impossible task.If one had tried to write the definitive historyof the United States before the RevolutionaryWar ended, it could only be a joke.

At first glance it might seem that RobertKyncl is trying something similar. His Stream-punks: YouTube and the Rebels RemakingMedia, written with Maany Peyvan, is a chron-icle of an institution that is a mere 12 years old.YouTube metamorphosizes almost daily and itwould seem any book would be obsolete imme-diately.

That is not so. Granted, there will be moreto report as time goes on, but Mr. Kyncl hasone fact completely right. The old mediagatekeepers are becoming obsolete. Beforethe internet, if you wanted to get on a screen,you had to do it by getting to the networksand there were only a few of them. Even withcable, there are not many outlets.

That changed with the internet and moreso with YouTube. The number of possiblechannels seems infinite and so much hashappened on an entity that is in its infancy.

This is big. The author notes that “Watch-ing video is the number one way human be-ings spend their free time.” It averages fivehours a day. As there is no end to possiblevideo to be displayed, this would seem agoldmine for advertisers and they have no-ticed and are fighting for the available eye-balls.

Kyncl explains: “Every advertiser, everynetwork, every news publisher, every weboutlet, every content creator, every app has

BOOKREVIEWSteampunksBy Robert Kyncl with Maany PeyvanHarper Business, 2017Hardcover, 272 PagesISBN-10: 0062657739ISBN-13: 978-0062657732List: $29.99 Amazon: $18.38

YouTube and the Rebels remaking media

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Page 7


restaurants, food, fun

General Excellence Restaurant — Avellino

Breakfast Restaurant— Churchill’s

American Style — BT’s Smokehouse

Comfort Food Restaurant —Churchill’s

Italian Restaurant— Avellino

Asian Restaurant—Kaizen

Vegetarian Choices— Thai Place

Vegan Choices —Tip Top Country Store

Steak — Kaizen

Budget Restaurant—Churchill’s

Gourmet Quality Food —Cedar Street Grille

Bakery — Publick House

Seafood Restaurant—Sturbridge Seafood

Fish Market — G&R

Wine & Cheese—Winebuyer’s Outlet

Bar Menu — The Duck

Cocktail —The Duck

Appetizer/Tapas — Cedar Street Grille

Pizza — Enrico’s

Small Quick Market — Micknuck’s

Cup of Coffee — Sturbridge Coffeehouse (tie)

Sturbridge Coffee Roasters (tie)

Healthy Food — Tip Top Country Store

Soup — Sturbridge Coffee Roasters

Deli — Micknuck’s

Ice Cream —Howard’s Drive-In

Dessert — Publick House

Farmer’s Market — West Brookfield Farmers’ Market

Family Entertainment — Bogie Lanes

Late Night Dining — Salem Cross Inn

Live Theater—Stageloft Repertory

Gathering Place—Rapscallion Brewery

Neighborhood Bar—Rapscallion Brewery

shopping

Clothing/Women’s — Paradise Found

Clothing/Children — Klem’s

Clothing/Consignment—Sadie Green’s

Clothing/Work — Klem’s

Antiques/Collectibles—Sturbridge Antique Shops

Place to Buy Art — Framer’s Gallery (Auburn)

Gifts — Sadie Green’s

Jewelry—Cormier Jewelers (Southbridge)

Artisan Jewelry—Sadie Green’s

Primitives —Handmaiden Décor

Sporting Goods — Klem’s

Furniture—Charlton Furniture

Lawn & Garden — Lamoreaux Greenhouses

Greenhouse—Lamoreaux Greenhouses

services

Aesthetic Spa—Simple Indulgence

Personal Trainer—Paula Patruno

Yoga—The Centered Place

Pet Store—Compatible Canine

Pet Boarding—Woof ‘n Whisker

Financial Advisor—Jeff Burdick-Edward Jones

Insurance Agency—McGrath

Dental / Orthodontist—Dr. Sabelis

Gym—Julie Gerrish Fitness

Pet Trainer—Kathy Menard, Compatible Canine

Pet Groomer—Tub Time

Hair Salon/Barber—Hair Gallery

Manicure/Pedicure — Simple Indulgence

Bank/Credit Union—Savers

Accountant—Tom Dubrey (Dubrey, Culliton, Steglitz)

Auto Dealer — Lamoreaux Ford

Auto Mechanic—C&R Tire

Fine Cabinetry—Fine Lines

Electrician—James Butler Electric

Fix-It Person—Steven Carroll

Law Office—George & Davis

Landscaper—The Green Boys

Plumber—Jos. Blanchette

Painting Contractor — Michael Wales

Veterinarian—Bay State Mobile Vet

congratulations readers’ poll winners

— the best of greater sturbridge 2018

well done!


Concludes on page Next Page

the higher standard deduction, I see

the benefit going to smaller families

with larger families missing out.

Child Tax CreditThe good news for families with

children is the increase in the child tax

credit to $2,000 per child. The phase

out of this credit has also been in-

creased to $200,000 of income. Many

local families who have been phased

out in the past will be eligible to take

this credit in 2018. This law change

will likely offset the loss of exemptions.

Big changes for small businessSo much of the hype we have been

hearing about the new law is focused

on big business. Although those

changes are real, small business own-

ers have benefited as well. The new

law allows certain pass through busi-

nesses like S-Corporations and Part-

nerships to deduct 20% of their profit

and never pay tax on it. This law

change equates to a tax rate reduction

for small business owners. The rules

are still emerging and are likely to be

complex, but this tax relief will likely

make small business owners the big

winners in this tax reform. If you have

been considering striking out on your

own, there has never been a better

time to do it from a tax standpoint. u

Thomas A. Dubrey, CPA, MST is aCertified Public Accountant and manag-ing partner of Dubrey, Culliton &Steglitz, LLC with offices at 139 MainStreet, Sturbridge. 508-347-3495

From Page 2

Tax changes

the couch with that old comforter and olderPapa, just as much as old Papa does. (I alsosneak some of her snacks of popcorn orCheerios. She doesn’t seem to mind.) Wewatch her favorite toddler-appropriate TVshow, (It’s something we both can relate to.)and both of us usually fall asleep as she lis-tens to the music and I listen to the furnace

attention, it can sell you a product or serviceor sell advertising that might convince you tobuy a product or service. It is only with yourattention that you can be monetized.”

So, if it is all out there, what are peoplelooking at and why?

The author highlights a couple of YouTu-bers who have helped people with personalissues. Adam Oakley and Lily Singh are onyour cell phone if you need them. They havedealt with coming of age issues for genderand depression. There are others who pro-vide community for any number of problemspeople of all ages face.

Do you need or want to learn something?YouTube may have the course of instructionbest fitted to your style of learning. Whether

it is repairing an old Soviet era Lada automo-bile, or making cookies, there is an instruc-tor for you who has uploaded a mini course.

That is another advantage to learning onYouTube. Video length does not have to beoverly long. It can be just the amountneeded. As YouTube Vlogger Hank Green putit, “people might be more open to sittingthrough three minutes on fractions thanthirty.”

Green and his brother, John should know.They have built a video channel on YouTubeknown as vlogbrothers, and have extendedthat into educational shows. Kyncl’s de-scription of the brothers’ work is almost aYouTube tutorial in itself.

gulping down fuel in the cellar. Fellow New Englanders, winter is far from

over, and if you’re like me, you probablydidn’t like my reminding you of that fact. (Iwish I would just be quiet.) Still, I do intendto make the best of it. God has blessed mewith a big old sturdy house to take shelter in,and a beautiful child to share the comforterand the popcorn with. What more couldanyone ask for? u

From Page 4

Chilly

Book Review

YouTube and the Rebels remaking medianow become the equivalent of amiddle child, desperately seekingyour attention. And once it has your

From Page 5


Rebels remaking mediaIf the Green Brothers have made an impres-

sive enterprise online, Jenny Doan has built anindustry and restored a whole town withYouTube. Impoverished by the successful can-cer treatment of a child, the Doan family werefacing a possible job loss for the breadwinner.Something had to happen.

What happened was the Missouri Star QuiltCompany, begun in 2008. In the beginning, itwas slow, the first sale coming after threeweeks. Eventually, son Al suggested doing a tu-torial with primitive equipment and uploadingit to YouTube.

Over time the videos progressed in quality.Orders began coming in and people came from

far away to the shop. It was a surprise to Jennyto find out folks were watching. Growth led Alto quit his job and work on growing MissouriStar full time.

They would buy a building and by 2016 wouldbe operating 17 storefronts in the formerlymoribund hamlet.

The rise of Missouri Star and saving of thetown is a remarkable accomplishment for theDoan family and could only have been donethrough the medium they utilized. One can as-sume there are a lot more successful busi-nesses, even if not on as grand a scale.

Information and entertainment are also pi-oneering on YouTube.

Vice Media is big and it predates YouTubeboth in print and online, but that does notmean it lacks a presence there. As a newssource, it exploited millennials disillusion withmainstream media. Much of broadcast andpress ingested a lot of Kool Aid in support ofour Iraq adventure. Whether it was toutingColin Powell’s UN assertions at the WashingtonPost or the New York Times’ acceptance of Bushadministration Weapons of Mass Destructionpropaganda, big media lost credibility. Viceand other upstarts, often on YouTube, werethere to take up the slack.

Now, even TV based news can be seen onYouTube after it has been broadcast on tradi-tional channels.

Overwhelmingly, people, especially theyoung, think of YouTube as a venue for enter-tainment. Your reviewer got to speak with sen-iors taking a marketing class at a regional high

school in Charlton. Asking them what theywatched on YouTube, they all said music.The genres included Emo, Country, Rockand Gangsta Rap. In all probability, they useit for more, but to be entertained comes first.

For that, there is an ocean of diversion onYouTube, from the sublime to the ridiculous.In the chapter on the music business, Kynclwaxes eloquent on the phenomenon ofGangnam Style. This was a video of a Koreanentertainer performing under the name Psywho dances and sings in native language. Tosay it was a huge YouTube hit is understate-ment. It was watched by millions worldwidewho could not understand a word of it.

The author is chief business officer atYouTube, so one can only expect him to be acheerleader and that is not unfair. Still, thenew medium is a time sink, take it fromsomeone who has wasted his fair share ofminutes, well maybe hours watching videosthat could have, without loss, been skipped.Does one need to see whom Tony shot in theepisode of the Sopranos that you did not payperfect attention to? Yet there are a lot ofdocumentaries that have been learned fromas well.

The late Neil Postman, in his book Amus-ing Ourselves to Death, saw television asSoma, that is the recreational drug in Hux-ley’s Brave New World. It is not unreasonableto think that Postman would have extendedthe analogy to YouTube. However, YouTubeis not going away unless it is to be replacedby a future competitor. u

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OURNEIGHBORS

By Elisa Krochmalnyckyj

Beneath the story of how ittook a village to find the “USSMissouri” Navy hat that 90-year-old veteran Bob Wiles lost,there’s an even deeper story.

That story is about a man whocares for the town, and a townwho cares for him.

“People are awfully good tome. I tell you, I’m so blessed byso many people and so manythings,” said Wiles, who is knownto many — in earlier days as pas-tor of His Gathering ChristianCenter, and most recently as thekindly man who walks up anddown Main Street picking uptrash.

His familiar face, fluorescent-yellow vest and garbage-grabberhave endeared him to passers-byand business owners aroundtown.

“Bob stops here to rest, and wegive him something cold to drinkor coffee, and sometimes we givehim rides home when he’s tiredfrom walking,” said Lisa Kosinskiof Park Place Hair Salon. “Otherbusinesses look out for him too.I know that he goes to Kaizenand they give him soup. He goesto BT’s Smokehouse, and theytake care of him too. Everyonedoes.”

During one of his trips on MainStreet, Wiles realized he had lostthe hat he wore so proudly for solong, and had become as familiaras his grabber and vest.

“I have had that hat every sinceI was on the ‘Mighty Mo,’” Wilessaid, speaking of the two-week-long training cruise he took onthe USS Missouri, which was thelast battleship commissioned bythe United States. “In fact, whenWorld War II ended, the Japanesesurrender was signed on that

ship.”The hat meant a lot to Wiles, and

he wore it often — until he lost it inearly November. Figuring he left itat Park Place, he asked them aboutit, only to learn it wasn’t there.

That’s when Park Place stylistKim DelPriore — who is the mostsocial-media savvy of the group,Kosinski said — posted on theSturbridge, MA Community Face-book Page: “Our town friend BobWiley is missing his Navy hat. Hasanyone by any chance in our localbusinesses seen this hat? Thankyou for your help!”

The post was met with an out-pouring of responses.

“Bob is the kind soul you seewalking Route 20 in all kinds ofweather picking up trash. I hopehe finds his hat. I will share.” “We’llkeep an eye out for it.” “Love thisman! He’s so adorable. I some-times pay for him to get a drink atCumby’s and let him know he hasa suspended drink waiting forhim.”

Another thread of responsesdiscussed buying Wiles a new hat:“I have a friend who says he will gethim a hat.” “If he did not find it,could you find out if it was authen-tic, or just something I could buyhim online?”

Within days, two replacementhats had been delivered to Wiles.

“I don’t know who gave them tome,” he said. “I found them hang-ing on my doorknob one day, in aplastic bag. I felt happy andblessed.”

The fact that the hat donationwas a result of a Facebook postamazes him.

“Two days later I got a phonecall from my daughter in Oregon,”he said. “She said ‘Daddy I sawyour picture on Facebook!’ Shesaid someone saw it and asked ifthey were related, and she told

them ‘that’s my Daddy!’”Shortly after that, his hat was

found at the Cafe of Life, a chiro-practic office on Main Street.

It was another response to theFacebook post that led Wiles to thehat — or, technically, led the hat toWIles.

“Is there any chance his hat is atThe Cafe of Life? There has beenone hanging on their coat rack fora few weeks now,” the responsesaid.

DelPriore, marveling at the levelof community support she waswatching unfold, followed the lead— and much to Wiles’s relief, pro-duced the hat.

“One of the beauticians at ParkPlace — Kim — was taking me

‘Search and Rescue’ efforts net new hat for Navy veteran

Bob Wiles happily wears his USS Missourihat, which had been lost and found, whileholding other hats given to him in conso-lation by his many friends around town.

© 2017 Sturbridge Times photos by Elisa Krochmalnyckyj


Setting up your home gym

HEALTH&FITNESSBy Julie GerrishPERSONAL TRAINERJULIE GERRISH FITNESS, STURBRIDGE

sturbridge’s fitness expert

Twenty-eighteen is here, and as it’s time

to tackle those New Year’s resolutions.

I’m writing this during the January blizzard,

and I had to close up the studio today and

head home during the storm. My daughter

and I worked out at home, and it got me

thinking about what you need to set up a great

home exercise area. There’s nothing like tak-

ing a class or working out at the gym, and I of

all people don’t want people to stop coming

to work out. But there are times when it’s

easier to work out in the comfort of your own

home, or you need to bring stuff to workout

with on vacation (yes, there is no vacation

from the workouts!). I train a couple of my

clients by Skype, and you really don’t need a

lot of equipment or even space to get a great

home workout.

The BasicsA mat: for home use it’s best to get one that

rolls or folds up small, and because a lot of

people are working out on a hardwood floor,

a cushiony mat is nice. Mats can be very ex-

pensive; I think your best bet is to go to a dis-

count store like Marshall’s or TJ Maxx and

check out the mats in person, looking for a

thick, cushiony surface that still rolls or folds

up, isn’t slippery and is durable.

A foam roller, tennis balls and a portable

massage stick are great to loosen up the mus-

cles before a workout, and help reduce sore-

ness after a workout.

— 1.6 inch round roller: $10.95— 18 inch “The Stick” self-roller

massager is $29.95 performbetter.com

Dumbbells can take up a lot of space and

eat into your budget, so you may be better off

investing in a suspension trainer.

— TRX suspension trainer. $199.95trxtraining.com

Resistance bands (performbetter.com), can

give you a great full-body strength and cardio

workout using limited space.

As a longtime TRX user and certified TRX

instructor, I can tell you it is well worth the

cost. The suspension trainer can be attached

to the ceiling and it has a door attachment as

well, and TRX includes a workout video and

brochure of basic exercises. It’s very portable

so you can also bring it with you on vacation.

Resistance bands are also portable, and un-

like the TRX, they provide the same levels of

resistance as dumbbells do but with the extra

dynamic component of stretch.

You should get a green and blue mini band

(performbetter.com, $2-3 each) and a couple

of resistance bands with handles (First Place

Exercise Tubing with handles, $6-10, per-

formbetter.com).

Sliding discs add an extensive component

to your workout, which forces your body to

work harder to fight the extension on exer-

cises like planks and bridges. You can pur-

chase sliding discs on Amazon, or just use a

couple of washcloths on your hardwood floor

to get the same effect.

All of this equipment should only set you

back about $300.00, and will give you a great

home or vacation workout. Taking a class or

two or working with a trainer can help you

create some great workouts you can do at

home to help you reach those New Years’

goals in no time!

Bob Wileshome, and she pulled into the Cafe of Life,went inside and came out carrying my hat,”Wiles said. “Everybody is so nice to me.”

Wiles’s stint with the Navy only includedthe brief training on the USS Missouri. Still,it left an impression on him that is still clear,defying his age, which has blurred othermemories.

“I was totally impressed with the magni-tude of that ship,” he said. “It had bookstores.It had barber shops. It had movie theaters. Ithad drug stores. All the things the men couldneed. All on board the ship.”

Wiles’s years of service started right afterWWII and included the Korean War — heworked to rebuild the USS Lloyd and was onboard when it was reclassified as an APD 63from a destroyer.

Wiles’s friendship with Park Place Salonstarted one hot summer day, when he hadbeen picking up trash and needed a break.

“I walked by and saw one of their comfort-able chairs in there, and asked ‘can I sit downfor a minute?’” he recounted.

Kosinski, who is the salon’s owner, remem-bers the day well. “I used to see him walkingdown the street, and one day he walked in

and said how tired he was,” she said, smilingas she remembered. “I had him sit down, I gothim a cold glass of water, and he rested. He’sbeen coming in ever since.”

Park Place even makes sure Wiles is well-coiffed, and cuts his hair as needed, Kosinskisaid.

“If he can clean our town, we can cut hishair,” she said, again stressing how manyother people in town — especially along MainStreet — look out for Wiles. “This is about acommunity coming together, and doing whatwe can.” u

From preceding page


By Elvis DyerOwner/RosterSturbridge Coffee RoastersSouthbridge and Dudley

Have you ever noticed the tiny labels on

the bags of coffee you buy? The U.S. De-

partment of Agriculture (USDA) sets stan-

dards that must be met for a product to be

labeled “organic” and carry a certified or-

ganic seal.

The USDA National Organic Program

(NOP) sets regulations for organic agricul-

tural products that are either produced in

the U.S. or imported for sale in this country.

In addition to setting requirements for how

organic agricultural products are grown,

processed and handled, the NOP also sets la-

beling requirements for these products.

Labeling requirements are based on the

percentage of organic ingredients in a prod-

uct. If coffee is labeled “organic,” at least 95%

of the beans must have been grown under

organic conditions, and producers cannot

use synthetic substances such as most pes-

ticides, herbicides and fertilizers. However,

organic-certified coffees can be treated with

pesticides; the pesticides used are organic

(natural) vs. synthetic. Some research sug-

gests that natural pesticides can be as toxic

as synthetic ones and runoff from natural

pesticides can also be just as harmful to

water-based ecosystems.

How does the coffee you buy get certifiedas organic? Various non-profit organizations

and for-profit companies offer inspection

services. Inspectors visit farms to confirm

the standards for organic certification are

being followed. On the flip side, some critics

do note that it can be hard for even a diligent

inspector to ensure that no synthetics are

ever used, based on a once-a-year inspec-

tion. By regulation, coffee cannot be labeled

organic unless synthetics have not been ap-

plied to that plot for at least three years prior

to the harvest that’s labeled as organic.

Are there Environmental Standards? The

organic standard’s purpose is to assure the

customer that the product has no synthetic

ingredients or additives, rather than showing

that it was produced in an environmentally

friendly way. In many cases, the two are cer-

tainly integrated. At one time, all farming was

organic. Organic practices on coffee farms

today reduces the amount of herbicides, pes-

ticides and fertilizer entering the ground,

maintains partial forest canopy, and reduces

erosion, among other things.

Are there Labor Standards? Again, the or-

ganic standard is not aimed at improving

working conditions in the coffee-producing

countries, however, it does help. Pesticides

used on coffee farms really don’t make it to the

consumer. What little residue isn’t removed in

the processing of the coffee beans is burned off

by roasting. However, the use of pesticides and

herbicides is a health concern for workers.

Is my coffee organic even without the or-ganic label (or vice versa)? There are costs

involved, as with any of the third-party cer-

tification programs. Many small, family-

owned coffee farms are organic by necessity.

They can’t afford chemical pesticides and

fertilizers anyway. Or many coffee farmers

don’t need to use pest control tactics because

their coffee is grown at high enough eleva-

tions, where pest problems aren’t an issue.

Other farmers cannot afford to pay for in-

spections to achieve certification. What that

means is that many of the coffees you are

purchasing are organically grown but not

certified due to the expensive cost of the cer-

tification process.

In addition, coffee is not consumed in its

raw form. The bean is the seed of a fruit. The

flesh of this fruit is discarded. Along the way,

the seed is soaked, fermented, and subject to

a thorough drying process. Non-organic cof-

fee may not be 100% free of impurities, but

because of the roasting process coffee beans

undergo (roasting to high temperatures of

anywhere between 350-450 degrees F, then

Organic coffee: with and without the label

Page 12


Sturbridge as a dining destination helped by technology

� ��

Coupon Savings

Organic CoffeeFrom preceding page

being split apart), research shows

that the vast majority of any pesti-

cides are broken down by the high

heat the beans are exposed to during

roasting. This means that the levels

of potentially harmful chemicals or

toxins permitted by law in green,

non-organic coffee are so low, if at

all, by the time they come in con-

tact with the end user.

In addition to certified organic,

you may see additional labels in-

cluding Fair Trade, Direct Trade,

Rainforest Alliance Certified,

Shade-grown Certified, Bird

Friendly, and Utz Kapeh or Utz

Certified coffee. Each has either

more specific standards, or over-

lapping standards in common with

organic labels. However, as with

other certifications, there are is-

sues with expensive certification

programs while also dealing with

the costs of running a conventional

farming program.

Does organic labeling impact

the quality of the coffee? The qual-

ity of a coffee is determined by

many factors, such as elevation,

soil, harvest and processing tech-

nique, the roasting process, the

freshness of the coffee, the quality

of the water, and the cleanliness of

the brewing equipment, for exam-

ple. Organic isn’t necessarily syn-

onymous with better coffee. The

best coffee is one that’s produced

with a dedication to quality first. In

my opinion, the quality of the cof-

fee is directly related to the

amount of love the coffee bean re-

ceives – from the farm to the

roaster to the staff who brew your

cup. Your money may be better

spent on other organic items in-

stead of paying a premium for or-

ganic coffee. u

By Elisa Krochmalnyckyj

With everything from high-end

steakhouses and authentic

Italian markets to retro sandwich

shops and convenient family chains,

Sturbridge has emerged as the din-

ing hub of Central Massachusetts.

Kevin Filchak, Sturbridge’s Eco-

niomic Development and Tourism

Coordinator, says: “What’s great

about driving through Sturbridge is

that if you’re thinking ‘I want barbe-

cue,’ we have that; ‘I want sushi,’ we

have that; ‘I want a breakfast place,’

we have that.It would take weeks to

eat through every kind of restaurant

we have.”

Key to Sturbridge’s abundance of

restaurants is that the town can issue

as many liquor licenses as it wants,

said Town Planner Jean Bubon.

“That’s a big benefit,” she said.

“Some years back we were declared

a tourist community by the state leg-

islature, and that gave us unlim-

ited liquor licenses — not for

package stores, but pouring li-

censes for restaurants.”

In other towns, the number of

liquor licenses is determined by

the number of residents. Stur-

bridge, despite being a relatively

small town of 9,400 people, has

no such restrictions. That has a

bigger impact than most people

realize, Bubon said.

Having unlimited liquor li-

censes is especially important

when dealing with higher-end

restaurants, which are becoming

more prevalent in Sturbridge.

“If you think about all the fine-

dining establishments, most, if

not all, serve spirits to go along

with the food,” Bubon said. “You

rarely see a restaurant without it.

So between that and our location,

we attract a lot of great chefs.”

Daniel Gonya, business devel-

oper for the Table 3 Restaurant

Group, which includes Cedar

Street Grille, Cedar Street Cafe,

Avellino, the Duck, and The Barn at

Wight Farm, cited other factors

that have created the perfect storm

for Sturbridge restaurants’ suc-

cess.

One factor is the increasing

prevalancy of dining out compared

to eating at home. Another factor is

the on-the-road access to restau-

rant recommendations and re-

views that technology allows,

Gonya said.

“Back in 2010 if you asked me

how to drive business, I would have

said ‘If I could have a sign on the

Mass Pike, that would be unbeliev-

able. I would have hundreds of

thousands of people coming right

by the intersection where our

restaurants are,’” he said.

That wish didn’t come true, but

its technological equivalent did,

Gonya said.

“Now we have phones that have

apps like Open Table, Yelp, Trip

Advisor, so all those hundreds of

thousands of people coming right

by the intersection are looking at

those sites for places to dine,” he

said. “Those apps are the modern

version of signs on the Mass Pike.”

The other huge factor in the

growth of restaurants is the

heightened interest in food and

eating.

“Dining is now a form of enter-

tainment,” Gonya said. “People

watch cooking shows, they love to

eat, and they love to go out to eat.

There is an enormous amount of

interest in dining out.”

Sturbridge has been able to

draw far more than just people in

town or passing through town.


“If you draw a 25 or 30 mile circle around

Sturbridge, we are pulling a lot of people in here

to eat — people who might have before favored

going to a city,” he said. “Now they are coming

to Sturbridge and finding excellent restaurants,

not only ours, but gems like Sturbridge Seafood

and Kaisen. Even traditional guys like the Public

House, they’re upping their game, because

there’s a lot of business to be had.”

In addition to providing menus that satisfy

any palate and budget, having so many restau-

rants generates income for the town through

the restaurant tax the town has been collecting

since 2010. Sturbridge charges an extra .75 per-

cent — three-quarters of one- percent — of all

restaurant bills. All of that money goes straight

to the town’s General Fund.

Last year, the town collected $457,000 from

the restaurant tax, according to Town Account-

ant Chris Christopher Geraghty.

Of the 42 eateries in town, the ones that re-

ally set Sturbridge apart and draw people from

around the region are the one-of-a-kind chef-

owned restaurants that can’t be found any-

where else, Filchak said.

“We have incredibly dedicated chefs and

owners who pour their heart and souls into

producing food that is just phenomenal,” he

said. “And maybe the best part is that the food

is so diverse.”

Keith Valley, of Monson, said that when it

comes to eating out, more often than not, his

family heads to Sturbridge.

“Probably nine out of 10 times, if we’re eating

out, we’re going to Sturbridge,” he said, adding

that whatever they’re in the mood for, there’s a

Sturbridge restaurant that makes it — and

makes it great.

“For seafood, it’s Sturbridge Seafood — we

really like that place,” he said. “If we’re in the

mood for Thai food, we go to the Thai restau-

rant. We also go to Cedar Street Grille. And we

definitely enjoy Enrico’s for oven-fired pizza —

in fact, we’re meeting friends there Tuesday.”

Sturbridge is the best when it comes to din-

ing, Valley said.

“We love Monson, but Sturbridge is be-

coming more and more attractive for din-

ner,” he said. “We

love going over

there. Usually,

when we go out

with friends, we

pick a place out in

Sturbridge.”

Filchak said

successful restau-

rants go hand-in -

hand with many of

the other things

that makes Stur-

bridge a popular

destination, in-

cludingOld Stur-

bridge Village, the

established mer-

chant shops, its

trails, and the growing number of antique

shops that piggyback on the Brimfield Flea

Markets.

“It’s all symbiotic,” he said. “When you

look at some of the most successful towns,

the common theme is that people go there

for the experience. That is what the younger

generation is looking for. With the diversity

of our restaurants and the culture of Stur-

bridge, you don’t just have a good meal, you

have a good experience.”

In addition to all the other reasons that it’s

“the more the merrier” when it comes to

restaurants in Sturbridge, there is still the

most simple reason, Bubon said.

“Location, location,” she said. “Whether

you’re looking for a place for a wedding, or if

you are just going to meet a friend, we are

centrally located, and really easy to get to.

Sturbridge is the perfect location.” u

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All the restaurantsare upping their game

because there’s a lot of business to be had.


r MUSINGS FROM LONG HILL s

BY RICHARD MORCHOE

FREE AT LAST

LEGALBRIEF

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.

It happens all too often. Your columnistblithely holds to a worldview until he real-

izes he has been wrong all along. I have al-ways looked at the world as a step away from,if not a catastrophe, at least an extendedmeltdown.

Such an outlook is the result of being ababy boomer. Our parents, at least mine, hadtales of a long period of privation known asthe Depression. There is no dearth of litera-ture and film about the difficult days of the1930s. The song “Buddy, Can You Spare aDime” captures the desperation.

The 1950s, when I grew up, were econom-ically tranquil. Our working-class familymoved to the suburbs and a fair-sized housewith a large yard. Still, why not another de-pression? After all, they’ve happened peri-odically in the history of the republic.

In the decades since the middle of the lastcentury, we have had our ups and downs, butthe world-ending debacle has not occurred.True, there were times it seemed on the hori-zon. When Arab oil exporting nations im-posed an embargo during the Yom Kippurwar, Americans had to sit in long lines waitingfor gas. It was unnerving, but that was a cardthat could only be played once.

Through the 1970s, inflation rose afterPresident Nixon closed the Federal ReserveGold Window. Late in the decade, prices sky-rocketed and gold soared to over $800 and

As bad as it is to have your diamond en-gagement ring turned down by the one

you love, it’s even worse when the one youlove says yes, then reconsiders and decidesto keep the ring.

So bad, in fact, that you might get a judgeto order the return of the ring.

The rules governing the giving a gift, onthe surface, seem straightforward. A gift isgiven once three things happen. First thegiver, known as the donor, delivers it to thetaker, known as the donee. The donor thenexpresses an intent for it to be a gift. And,finally, the donee accepts it.

The giving of engagement rings are oneof the gifts that befuddle the rules. Thedonor delivered that ring right onto thatfinger, so delivery looks good. And thedonee took it home that night, so there’s ac-ceptance.

But judges can deploy their equitablepower in a situation such as this. This is thepower to right a wrong even when there’sno law specifically saying that the wrong isillegal.

Most would agree that is wrong to seesomeone lose a diamond ring to the personwho broke their heart. To remedy such anunjust outcome, judges in the Common-wealth, as in many other jurisdictions, havedeemed an engagement ring a conditionalgift. Under this theory, the donor only in-tended to give a gift if the donee followedthrough on the promise to marry.

In other words, the ring’s not a gift untilthe “I will” is followed up by an “I do.”

ENGAGEMENT RING

some feared hyperinflation. A strong Fedchairman was installed and gold collapsed.Today an ounce of the precious metal goes forthousands and there are few who fear the de-mise of the dollar on that score.

The halving of the Dow that occurredaround 2008 and is known as the Great Re-cession looked to be the end of the world,again. There was disaster in the mortgagemarket, but nothing compared to what thecountry went through in the 30s.

So, should I go against type and become anoptimist. It appears that we may be on theprecipice of, dare one say it, unending abun-dance.

Your columnist has missed all the signalsgoing back to the 70s. While misspending myyouth driving a cab, I picked up several pas-sengers from an exclusive women's’ club inBoston. It was just about the time foreign lux-ury vehicles had replaced the Cadillac as thecar of choice among the wealthy.

A Mercedes cut me off on a turn and I saidto the grande dame in the front seat of theChecker Mogul, “Boy, you see a lot of thosenow.” She replied with a grin, “They are socommon.” Of course, they weren’t, which wasthe point of her humorous remark.

It became noticeable over time that high-end cars were proliferating on Americanstreets. There are relatively more amongstthe driving population than in the days when


the Caddy was the brand of the moniedclasses. I drew no conclusions until recentlywhen on TV, an ad for a car lease came upthat caught my attention. I do not usually lis-ten as my vehicle is a low-end late model thatis great on gas and fits a not ostentatiouslifestyle. With luck, it will last the same225,000 miles the last one did.

What caught my ear was the deal on offermeant that almost anyone, including moi,could drive a luxury model. The slick ad of-fered a Mercedes at a price that almost allgainfully employed people could afford ifthey wanted to. For the cost of an averageSUV, one could have what was previously onlyfor the wealthy. Not only that, the accouter-ments that come standard with the adver-tised model are far advanced over that of say20 years ago.

If even those of us among the proletariat can af-ford to drive large, has the Post-Scarcity society ar-rived ahead of the prediction?

What is post-scarcity? The economist J.M.Keynes came up with the idea in 1930. Pro-duction would automate to the point thatabundant goods could be produced so inex-pensively that people would have to work verylittle, if at all, and could still afford as much asthey needed and wanted. Keynes saw the ar-rival of this state of affairs around 2030.

Want some evidence of post-scarcity? It’sall around you. Consider that phone in yourpocket. You might complain about the expen-sive plan you’re on and how costly it will be to

upgrade, but there are a few things to contem-plate. That is not a phone you are carrying, itis a computer, information and entertainmentcenter, as well as device to talk to mom on.Less than half a century ago, most families gotby with a single line and that had only voice.Now, with cell technology, there is almost aphone for everyone in the country, more evi-dence post-scarcity is almost upon us.

Remember that old Kodak? You snappedthe picture, took the film out of the cameraand sent it away. A week later, it came backand you paid a good bit of change for thephotos. Well, you got a camera with your cellphone and the pictures are free and better,with no wait time.

Free is what is coming for all of us. PeterDiamandis, the most well-known prophet ofthe post-scarcity age, says that we are headedto a world of “demonetization,” that is every-thing at a cost of nothing. Should we believehim? Maybe one would want to debate thepoint by calling him on Skype, the videophone service that is...free.

Living the life of a Swamp Yankee, onetends to be frugal (or cheap, if you must). Theidea of a Mercedes seems a frivolous extrav-agance to someone who looks for transporta-tion as the best mileage at the lowest price.Good as the deal sounds on the German car,we’re not biting up on Long Hill. No, we arecontent to wait until a Bentley is offered for$125 a month. u

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Cold weather hiking With the very cold winter temperatures upon

us, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy hiking in

cold weather, it does mean one needs to take just

a little extra care before you leave. Please - don't

be overconfident – here are some tips to enjoy

and have fun out there!

Dress in layersAvoid wearing just one big, fluffy parka. In-

stead, wear several layers you can peel off or put

on when you stop and go on the trail. Your base

layer should be a wicking fabric that will pull

your sweat away from the skin. Overheating is a

dangerous threat since excessive moisture that

isn't allowed to escape can freeze and cause hy-

pothermia. If your jacket has zippers in the

armpits, it's a good idea to unzip them when

you're active. Fleece is very good layer wear with

a nylon or polyester outer layer to break the

wind.

Wear a hat and gloves!During the colder months it is important to

keep your head and hands covered to maintain

function and not lose precious body heat. You

may want to bring a warmer/heavier hat and

gloves for rest periods and wear a lighter one

while actually hiking.

Keep your water bottle warm. Whether you

Safe winter hiking

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THE

are at the campsite or on the trail, a foam sleeve

like a koozie will help prevent the water from

freezing in a bottle. You can also keep water

from freezing by keeping your water bottle on

the inside of your jacket - properly sealed, of

course.

Don’t forget the sunscreen While this is most important if you are hik-

ing in a snowy region, winter hikers often for-

get about the sun's glare reflecting off of white

snow.

Plan for usable daylight hours With winter, dusk settles earlier and more

quickly than in the summer. Have a good idea

of the usable daylight hours before going hik-

ing. Always carry a headlamp or flashlight with

extra batteries.

Share your route Let someone else know your hiking route

and times, and make a point to check in with

them at the end of your hike, if they do not hear

from you they can initiate safety measures.

Upcoming events Remember you can always find out the most

up-to-date information on Sturbridge trails by

visiting: Our website: http://www.sturbrid-

getrails.org/index.html or like us on Facebook:

www.facebook. com/pages/Friends-of-Stur-

bridge-Trails

Tom Chamberland is a retired Park Rangerwith over 18 years’ experience in trails and traildevelopment. He is certified in Universal TrailAssessment, an associate member of the Stur-bridge Trail Committee, and a member of theState of Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advi-sory Board. Email your trail questions to [email protected]

BY RETIRED PARK RANGER AND TRAIL ADVOCATE TOM CHAMBERLAND


PETQ&AWITH KATHY MENARD

Q. I recently adopted a dog that we have no

background on. He is very social and sweet

with the exception of his meals. He shows

his teeth and I believe he would bite if we go

tried to take the food away. He is fine with

everything else, including toys and treats.

Do you have any suggestions?

A. First I recommend you contact a profes-

sional trainer to help with this. In the in-

terim, have two bowls at meal time. Place an

empty bowl on the floor and keep the full

bowl either on the counter or in your hands.

With your hand, grab a handful of food and

place it in his bowl. Stay still while he eats.

When he finishes add another handful. The

idea is to convince him that hands coming

toward the bowl are bringing good things. If

even that is too stressful for him you could

start by hand-feeding him without a bowl

nearby then work up to placing a handful in

his bowl. By working with a professional

they can help you work through this issue as

well as help identify any other issues that

may be brewing.

Q. I have always had golden retrievers grow-

Training for nervous dogs; canine aggression; bad breath

ing up and as an adult. About a year ago we

bought a german shepherd puppy. Unfortu-

nately she does not like people and is aggres-

sive. We have it somewhat under control if out

in public as long as nobody approaches us, but

she will bite people who come in our house. No

matter how much we try to reassure her that it

is ok or even scold her not to do it the behavior

just gets worse. I wanted another golden and

my husband wanted the shepherd. I feel we

made a big mistake. Help!

A. Since she is a year old and the problem is es-

calating this is not something you can fix by

yourselves. Please contact a professional who

is experienced with aggressive issues in Ger-

man Shepherds. German Shepherds go

through several fear periods. It is very easy to

unknowingly create aggression at this time. A

trainer will help keep your messages consis-

tent...i.e. you don't want to reassure the dog but

there is also a fine line with correcting. In the

meantime I recommend keeping her on a leash

under your immediate control when people are

coming into your house. Do not allow anyone

to just walk in as that will trigger her territorial

response. Consider leaving a bag of treats out-

side your door and have anyone who does

come into your home toss her a few treats.

When she stops her aggressive display and

starts looking forward to people coming be-

cause she wants a treat, with her at your side,

on leash, have people hand her several treats

while not looking at her. Do not allow them to

pet her after they hand her a treat as she may

react by snapping. Consider also joining an

obedience classs which will help teach you how

to control her out in public.

Q. My dogs breath is terrible. Are there any

products to help?

A. There are numerous products on the market

that can help, but I would first recommend

having your vet check him out. Bad breath can

be a sign of other problems that you want to

rule out. Kathy Menard has been a dog trainer for over 35 yearsand is certified through the Certification Council forProfessional Dog Trainers. She has trained under threeworld-renowned Schutzhund trainers for 14 years andhas competed in the American Kennel Club and thesport of Schutzhund, earning over 15 titles. Kathy is theowner of Compatible Canine in Fiskdale, MA.


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YARDWORKSBy Tom Chamberland, ISA

Caring for what grows in your yard

Winter insect mortality

With the winter of 2018-19 about ½ way “in

the books” several people have inquired

if the cold weather we have experienced will

have any affect on various insect populations

this spring and summer. So, I have checked

with a few folks I know who know bugs and

trees say there could be an upside to the sus-

tained freezing temperatures, besides providing

ideal conditions for ice fishing and pond hockey.

The daunting cold could tamp down insect pop-

ulations that threaten backyard landscapes and

woodlands according to entomologists and tree

experts.

HibernationIn science class we learned that like many

other types of animals, some insects will go into

one of two types hibernation to avoid cold tem-

peratures. Called diapause, these hibernation-

like states of torpor cause the insect to go

dormant. This dormant period allows the insect

to slow its metabolism and conserve energy and

revive when temperatures rise again. In general,

insects of our area fall into two broad cate-

gories, freeze tolerant and freeze avoidance.

This month I will focus on several freeze avoid-

ance types which is probably the most popular

cold-temperature defense mechanism of the

insect world. Freeze avoidance is a fancy term

for “hunkering down for the winter.” These in-

sects will retreat into rotting trees, bury them-

selves in the soil, hide inside a rotting log, and

sneak into human-built structures to ride out

the cold temperatures - a favorite tactic of la-

dybugs.

Winter Moth & Hemlock Wooley Adelgid

The devastating winter moth and hemlock

woolly adelgid may be susceptible to subzero

temperatures that set in just after Christmas

thru New Years. Unfortunately, pesky and

sometimes disease-carrying ticks, mosquitoes

and fleas likely won’t be affected. They’re either

hitching a ride on warm-blooded creatures,

dormant in ice-covered swamps and ponds, or

hidden in topsoil beneath the snow, whereas al-

ready suggested, decomposing leaf litter can

keep temperatures just above freezing.

However, insects above ground or in trees

could be affected, the cold isn’t doing anything

to insects that overwinter deep in the ground.

Except for a few days last week when tempera-

tures rose into the 50s, (our January thaw?) we

have been stuck in a deep freeze since Christ-

mas Day, kicking off 2018 with a run of record-

setting lows. A stretch of below-freezing

temperatures that continued into mid-January.

For the winter moth, their mating season,

runs from Thanksgiving through January. About

half of their mating season has been disrupted,

which could mean about half as many eggs have

been laid. Winter moths – whose caterpillars

hatch in the spring to feed on oak, maple, ash,

elm and fruit tree leaves – typically emerge

from the ground to mate and lay eggs whenever

the temperature rises above freezing. But win-

ter moth traps have been empty since Dec. 20,

when temperatures dropped below 32 degrees

and pretty much stayed there. Also, the icy

crust and significant snow cover also stymy

winter moth activity, but eggs laid in November

thru early December will not be harmed by the

cold temperatures we have experienced, thus

their name, “Winter Moth”

Constant freezing temperatures also could

impact the hemlock woolly adelgid, an aphid-

like insect that is killing our graceful ever-

greens. Known for their cotton-white coverings,

the tiny insects attach themselves to young

hemlock branches and feed through the winter.

Left unchecked, they can destroy a towering

hemlock in a few years.

Because woolly adelgids are on tree

branches, exposed to the elements, there’s a

chance that some of the insects will be killed by

severe cold. However, without targeted pesti-

cide applications or other interventions, an

adelgid infestation will rebound from any


losses. Extreme cold sets them

back, but it won’t get rid of them.

Ticks and Mosquitoes

As for Ticks, the deep cold likely

won’t affect insects that live/hiber-

nate in the ground covered by snow

or for mosquitos, water covered by

ice – both typical winter conditions

in our yards. However, some re-

search has shown extreme warm

ground thawing temperatures fol-

lowed by extreme cold tempera-

tures with no snow cover may

provide some mortality or die-offs

for ticks.

And while severe cold with our

more normal rain fall patterns

probably will not impact mosquito

populations, recent dry summers

will, the drought conditions the last

two summers, drying up swampy

areas where the insects typically

flourish, along with extended

deep-freezing conditions would

freeze the ground in shallower wet-

land areas, killing off mosquito lar-

vae. With normal rainfall, the

insulation effect of deeper water

would prevent any die off. Although

drought is not good for our plants,

seeing fewer mosquitoes overall be-

cause of drought is a benefit.

And one final word on Gypsy Moths

No, this cold weather has not

been cold enough to affect the egg

masses of the gypsy moth. It takes

temperatures down to minus 20 to

kill off the egg masses. The collapse

of the moth late last June, and re-

sulting egg mass count give good

indication that this outbreak is over,

however, there is still some egg

masses, and it drought conditions

return in the spring a building pop-

ulation may occur again. u

508-347-7

540

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