Prsrt. Std U.S. Postage PAID , MA Permit No. …sturbridgetimes.com/images/june09.pdfsmaller projects, there are also benefits to calling early, though the timing is less cru-cial

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THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING2

Reinventing yourself?IS IT POSSIBLE THAT ALL ALONG YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN

Advertising SalesRepresentative

FOR US?

Local landscaper, A.J. Comerford of GreenBoys Landscapes answers common ques-tions about hiring a professional landscaper.

What are the benefits to hiring aprofessional landscaper vs. doing

the work yourself?

Often when a homeowner goes head-firstinto a project with s/he brings great inten-tions, a lot of positive energy and a finiteamount of time allotted to the project.Hidden issues often center on the amount oftime actually required to complete a projectproperly and the cost of the project.

A landscape professional knows exactlyhow long a project will really take, can offeradvice on materials best suited for the job,can provide truly healthy plant stock, andcan provide the proper care techniques forafter installation. Landscaping professionalscan actually save their clients money withtheir buying power and all-around expert-ise.

What should homeowners look for in alandscaper?

A good landscape professional is highlyknowledgeable in their field, stays current

with industry standards and the currentrules and regulations governing the servicethey provide.

A strong landscape professional will usuallyhave multiple industry-specific certificationsand licenses, will carry insurance, and obvi-ously will provide designs that incorporateyour ideas and goals for your landscape,while offering their expertise as well.

Your chosen landscaper should have theequipment necessary to do the job and willhave a knowledgeable and experienced staff.

When is the best time to call?

This depends on what you have in mind.With very large projects, you might want tocall your landscaper during late winter orearly spring. This will give you access toyour chosen landscaper’s schedule at theright time and will give you plenty of time towork on the details with the landscaper. Forsmaller projects, there are also benefits tocalling early, though the timing is less cru-cial. Spring is the busiest time of year in the-landscape industry so the sooner you call,the sooner they’ll be able to get you on theschedule and can get things going for you.tions.

Got a knack for working with a diverse assortment of people?Are you ambitious, organized and unusually bright?

You might just be who we’ve been looking for to help us reach new advertising customers

for The Sturbridge Times Magazine,the region’s monthly lifestyle publication.

This opportunity offers very generous commissions,resulting in great earnings to ambitious, tenacious,

outstanding professionals like you.Come on board. Help us help local small businessesincrease their bottom-lines by advertising smartly.

Call Paul Carr, Publisher508.347.7077 ext. 1

for more information

THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINETHE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING

When is the right timeto call in a pro landscaper?

Artful Friends RafflePaintings, framed photos, sculp-

ture, pottery, hand-made quilts, fab-ric art, jewelry, gift certificates fromlocal stores and restaurants….theseare some of the 40+ items on displayat the 4th annual Artful FriendsRaffle at Jacob Edwards Library, 236Main St., Southbridge, MA, duringthe month of June.

The opening reception for theArtful Friends Raffle will beThursday, June 4 at 6:30 pm.Entertainment will be provided byDan & Steve from The Weight ofGravity. The reception is free andopen to the public, refreshments willbe served.

The Artful Friends Raffle will beon display for the month, with thedrawing to take place on Thurs.,June 25 after the talk by documen-tary filmmakers, Brian Bolster andMark Jahns. Their film, “RazingFaith” is about the closing of Brian’shome parish in Woburn MA.

The film’s world premiere occurat the Jacob Edwards Library onThurs., June 18 at 6:30 pm.

THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINETHE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING 3

STURBRIDGETIMESMAGAZINE

THE

PUBLISHER & EDITORMANAGING EDITOR

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

CONTRIBUTORS

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MATTHEW KLINEKAREN ROTHWEILER

JEFF BURDICKTOM CHAMBERLANDA.J. COMERFORDJEFFREY DAVENPORTROBERT GEORGE, ESQ.RICHARD MCGRATHRICHARD MURPHYSTEPHANIE RICHARDS

THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE is published every month in Sturbridge, Massachusetts by Carr Media Group. We accept photos,opinions, short articles, stories, poems and drawings from the general public, but assume no responsibility for failure to publish a submission or fortypographic errors published or incorrect placement. The contents of this magazine consist of copyrightable material and cannot be reproducedwithout the expressed written permission of the author and the publishers ofº The Sturbridge Times Magazine.

ADVERTISING DEADLINE: Camera ready: the 20th of each month prior to publication. ADVERTISING OFFICE: Advertisers in Sturbridge, Charlton, Southbridge: 508-347-7077 ext. 2 (Karen)

Advertisers in other towns that surround Sturbridge: 508-347-7077 ext. 3 (Matt)

DELIVERED INTO EVERY HOME, BUSINESS AND POST OFFICE BOX IN STURBRIDGE, AND TO SELECTED HOMES IN BRIMFIELD, BROOKFIELD, CHARLTON, EAST BROOKFIELD, HOLLAND, NORTH BROOKFIELD, WALES, WEST BROOKFIELD, SOUTHBRIDGE, SPENCER. ALSO MAILED TO INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES ELSEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

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About 20 years ago Bill Simpson had an epiphany. TheCountry Curtains building in Sturbridge caught fire froma lightning strike. The realization came that a buildingwithout lightning rods was vulnerable in such celestial vis-itations.

Bill didn’t do much about it immediately. Maybe that’sbecause the first thing he did was rush into the structureto make sure everyone got out. A natural reaction for Mr.Simpson, then a volunteer fireman in Brookfield.

He then bid on and got the repair job for the chimneyand went on to repair and rebuild chimneys at SturbridgeVillage, including the beehive oven.

Over time it would happen and Bill, who has had othercareers met his next destiny about five years later. It couldbe considered a natural progression for him. He had beenfounding president of Massachusetts Chimney Sweep

It can be quite shocking sometimes, what can happen up onder.” This is ironic because lightning is the biggestcause of church fires.

That this is an old technology does not mean therehas been no progress in the art. Bill showed me threeexamples of the rods themselves. The oldest versionlooks a bit like a tree with small branches. The secondis in the shape of a spike. The third is a small blunt poleand is newest. Oddly enough, the dull ended modelworks best. To the consumer, the utility would beeverything, but to the technician who installs or servic-es it, there is a greater advantage. It is infinitely moredifficult to impale yourself on the blunt ended modelthan on the spike.

In making lightning rod work safer for the installer,Bill’s company, Smokestack Lightning Inc. itself, hasbeen on the cutting edge. Bill himself, however has notbeen the impetus behind the improvements.

Guild. So after spending years protecting chimneys fromcatching fire, he would protect them and their roofs fromlightning.

Of course, you don’t just one day say, I’m the local light-ning rod guy. It is, after all, a trade and one must learn it.The practitioners in Massachusetts were thin on theground so it would not be learned locally. To receiveinstruction, Bill had to go to Indiana.

Lightning protection is not a new practice. It wasinvented by Ben Franklin. Everybody knows about Benand the kite. His experiments and observation led himto see how, if the lightning connected to a conductor onthe roof, it could harmlessly be channeled to the ground.It was a lot better than if it hit the house and burned it.

Franklin faced opposition from the clergy. It wasthought by some, according to John Adams, that therods were, “An attempt to robb the almighty of his thun-

By Richard Murphy


a person’s roof — yes, even yoursActually, that is not completely true. Bill Simpson

has been the safety pioneer. Young Bill, who has thesame name as his dad is the man behind the innova-tions. And what was the motivation? Bill fils noted thatas a boy, he would watch Bill père up on a roof and “bescared out of his wits” with worries about dad’s safety.

So it is that the son has endeavored to come up witha system of harnesses and ropes that at worst will leavethe worker who loses his balance hanging around ratherthan falling to the ground. In these efforts he has beenassisted by an employee, Ed, who was formerly anarborist. That is also a trade where safety procedures canmake a difference between a long and short career.

To highlight the dangers, Bill Sr. noted how at profes-sional meetings in his past profession, some memberswould discuss how they had become crippled. Bill Jr.and Ed are always working on new safety measures.They are pioneers in the field.

It is easy to imagine lightning striking the top of abuilding and causing a fire. Ah, but that force of natureis more insidious than you think. Lightning need notstrike the house directly. It can hit a power line and fryyour electrical system and destroy all those computerfiles. That surge protector is hardly sufficient. This isnot something they had to worry about in Ben Franklin’sday. No matter, there are now devices available to pro-tect your wiring before it can be damaged.

The two Bills are dedicated to their craft. Thoughthoroughly professional, that is not the sum of their per-sonalities. They displayed a great affection for eachother and enjoy being a team. Not working, they playtogether in a Bluegrass band. Bill Sr. oft displayed a

pithy sense of phrase. Rather than give way to a long dis-course on how to price the services, he merely comment-ed, “We are the low bidders because we bid low.”

http://www.smokestackusa.com/

The height requirement for this kind of work has nothing to do with how tall you are. Worker installs a rooftop lightning rod.PHOTO COURTESY OF SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING, INC.


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parents, according to the Washington,D.C.-based Ross Center for Anxiety andRelated Disorders.

In Southern Worcester County,Harrington Hospital’s Employee Assist-ance Program offers counseling servicescovering a variety of personal and house-hold family situations to workers in busi-nesses that have established, as an employ-ee benefit, an arrangement with the hospi-tal. While the EAP isn’t a job-finding orresume-writing service, it does providehelpful support for the wider circumstancestriggered by the loss of employment.

Whether an employer subscribes tothe Harrington Hospital EAP can belearned at the employer’s humanresources office.

A privately-commissioned online sur-vey of teenagers, which was designed tofind out the extent of their understand-ing of the current economic downturn,showed that approximately three-fourthsof the boys and two-thirds of the girlsknew that a central cause was the pur-chase of homes by people who couldn’tafford them. Further, two-thirds of theyoungsters surveyed expected that theeconomic downturn would soon impacttheir own families negatively.

Child psychologists say that in dis-cussing a layoff with small children it iswise to avoid use of the word fired,

By Richard MurphyFriday, May 15th was as pleasant a day

in Spring as we’ve had so far. I arrived atHolland Elementary School a little before1:00 p.m. to see Beverly Gray and PeterZeh sitting on a bench in front of theschool. Though we had not been formallyintroduced, It was easy to surmise who theywere, being aware of their mission.

Peter and Beverly were there as part ofthe Dictionary Project , sponsored locallyby the Sturbridge Rotary. On this day, allthe Third Graders in teachers SheilaIandoli’s and Pat Proulx’s classes wouldeach receive a dictionary. According toPeter, third grade “seems to be the correctage where they are at the point where theycan use them, i.e. not too young, and nottoo old.”

Beverly, Peter and myself entered theclassroom and met the teachers and stu-dents and after a few introductory wordsthe children all came up and were present-

because little kids often confuse thatword with the action of a gun, and theyworry that a parent will be shot.

The experts in communicating withchildren also recommend that a familyconversation spell out clearly and simplythe facts of the situation in a way thatproduces a sense of security in the chil-dren, and the assurance that eventuallythings will turn out just fine.

Because children’s “radar” is superb,it is pointless for a parent to paste on asmile and mouth platitudes, the special-ists say. The best tone, they add, is one ofhopeful realism.

Accepting a youngster’s offer of help,however inconsequential it may seem tothe parent, is important to do because itenables a child to build the feeling ofpitching in and being a constructive partof making things better at home.

Some children may need repeated sit-downs, and these should be seen asopportunities to help a youngstermature, the psychologists note.

To the extent that a nation is a verylarge extended family, the economyaffects every household at least some-what. When a layoff strikes any particu-lar household, the family, including thelittle ones, can rally and work together,making that household and, ultimately,the nation, stronger.

ed with their books. Beverly explainedthat if they worked hard and attainedgood grades, Rotary provides scholarshipswhen they are ready to go on to college.

Holland Elementary is not the onlyschool to be visited by Rotarians. Thethird graders at Burgess Elementary inSturbridge, Brimfield Elementary, WalesElementary, and Heritage Elementary inCharlton will all receive dictionaries. 500will be handed out this year. This is thesecond year Sturbridge Rotary has partici-pated in the program.

The Dictionary Project started in1992. A woman named Annie Plum-mergave away 50 dictionaries to children froma school near her home in Savannah,Georgia. Annie kept at it and othersjoined her and since 1995 over 9.8 milliondictionaries have been distributed bycommunity groups all over the country.

What is hoped for in this work?

become aware of unusual emotions flow-ing through their home and that they canboth sense and undergo the tension asso-ciated with the loss of a job.

But keeping children in the dark,when they are aware that something isamiss, can undermine their trust in their

Delivering to children the unhappynews that a parent has been laid offis obviously difficult. It can prove

disruptive to a household.Experts at the nonprofit Families and

Work Institute, of New York City, adviseadults to recognize that even little children

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Discussing a job loss with children

The Dictionary ProjectWhat’s in a Word?

Continued on page 13


When I moved to Sturbridgealmost five years ago fromthe Midwest, I was excited

to find a historical museum in townthat captured New England life duringthe early 1800s. I can’t count howmany times I have visited OldSturbridge Village (OSV), whether tosee the new lambs, ice skate on theCommon or learn more about thework of a blacksmith.

Every visit involves a learningadventure of 19th Century life in NewEngland and the impact OSV has inthe local area and beyond. Recently, Ispent several days at the Village to getanother glimpse of life back then andtalk with staff and volunteers passion-ate about making history come alive.

Planting the seedsOSV sits on 200 acres of property

and the grounds are both educationaland beautiful. On a sunny day withlilacs in full bloom and smell, I met upwith Rebecca Robinson, OSV garden-ing expert for 10 years.

Robinson’s grandfather was a gar-dener, but most of her knowledge hascome from work at OSV. “The maindifference in gardening today is peopleuse a lot of annuals. In the 1800s, theyused more perennials and biennials,which is what you see at OSV. Youwould have seen shorter season plants,like tulips, peonies and sage,” theSturbridge resident said.

Many people are surprised thatvarieties of root vegetables existed inthe 19th century, like carrots, turnipsand beats, Robinson said. “Most peo-ple didn’t know what to do with thingslike tomatoes. Gardens had parsnips,salsify (tastes like oysters), beans andpeas, and fruits like currant or quince(size of an apple, hard and sour). Tablegrapes native to the area like Fox orConcord were popular too,” saidRobinson, who has a degree in photog-raphy. “To always have fresh fruit, suc-cession planting was done. Althoughthey had thermometers, sometimesthey would just use the air temperatureand basically feel the soil for how coolit was to determine planting.”

Seeds could be bought at the store

or through mail order companies, justlike today Robinson said. However,bulbs were expensive in the 1830s,from $1 to $3 per bulb, which was aday’s work. People would dig them upin the fall, clean them and put them insand to keep from freezing; replantingthem the next year. The museum hasheirloom varieties of certain species ofplants. For example, at one time, theFreeman Garden was the only locationyou could find Boston Marrow Squash.

Everyone in the family participatedin gardening, with men plowing anddigging in early spring, and ladies andchildren planting, sowing, weedingand watering. “Gardening was consid-ered a gentile way for women to getexercise. Ladies did a lot of stationarywork, like sewing, so gardening gotthem outside,” she said. “The gardenalso had a spiritual aspect because youwere close with God and creation.They would use it to teach a spirituallesson to children, studying God’screatures.”

There are several garden areas atOSV and Robinson was tending to thepleasure garden at the Towne House,which is very formal with ornamen-tals. She said it is named ’Pleasure’because of the variety of fragrant,pleasant smells and the quaint settingwith Gazebo by the water. Some othergarden areas include the Parsonage,which has a dooryard garden filledwith perennials and biennials; and akitchen garden, which is a progressivegarden with walks and beds. There isalso the Freeman Farm garden. “TheChildren’s Garden (Fitch House) is amodified version from a children’sbook of the period and plants encour-age curiosity in kids. For example,there is a sensitive plant that curls upwhen you touch it. Wild geraniumsnative to New England, morning gloryand sweet pea are also included in thepyramid shape design.”

So where does all the food that isgrown go? OSV uses it for cookingdemonstrations and the staff also getsto partake in consuming it. Robinsonsaid food is stored in the root cellaruntil needed, just as in the 19thCentury. Root cellars were used to

store spices, like sage and thyme,which were cut and dried. Root veg-etables, like carrots, were put in boxesbetween layers of sand to mimic theirnatural habitat and be preserved dur-ing the winter. “In 19th centry NewEngland, garlic was rare…only grownfor medicinal purposes. We were veryEnglish in our traditions in NewEngland,” she said.

Questions related to gardeninghave been on the rise as people aremore interested than ever in growingtheir own vegetables. “Most are ques-tions from beginners wanting to knowwhat grows best, planting tips, andhow to store food in a root cellar,”Robinson said. “I tell visitors theyneed to be patient,put time into itand mend the soilregularly. At OSV,we manure thebeds in the fall andspend time in thespring pulling outthe rocks. Raisedbeds really helptoo.”

If you want tolearn more, OSVoffers “SundayMorning in theGarden” at 10a.m., Sundays inJune, where visi-tors can learnabout gardeningpractices and historical plants. A vari-ety of other special gardening pro-grams are offered for OSV members,such as Take A Closer Look andGarden Thyme.

Speaking of FoodIt’s the only place in Sturbridge

where you can have a cup of Starbuckscoffee. Likewise, it is the only locationthat offers a historical atmosphere foreverything from weddings to corporateconferences.

Tracey McCormick has been gener-al manager of catering and diningservices at OSV for two years now,overseeing the food operations andspecial events like weddings, corporate

conferences and brunches. Ironically,McCormick worked at OSV in themid-1990’s when another companymanaged the food venues.

There is no typical day forMcCormick, who manages 50 peopleand several food and meeting loca-tions within OSV. “I oversee theentire operation and have my hands indifferent things from financial andmenu planning to meeting with cus-tomers and tasting food. If needed, Ican be a cashier or cook,” theSturbridge resident said. “I went toschool to be a teacher, but alwaysworked in the restaurant business. Ilove being part of an event and mak-ing it special for the people having it.

It is entertain-ing…this is yourhome when hostingan event.”

As we talked,the Village Caféhad visitors grab-bing cups ofStarbucks coffeeand cookies. TheCafé is located justoutside OSV, solocals and touristscan meet for sconesor turnovers in themorning or havesoup or sandwichesfor lunch. Theadjoining lunchroom seating area

was getting ready to open for the sea-son, offering a diversion from thechain food restaurant choices. Itsappeal is a varied menu of lobster rolls,fish and chips, salads, chicken pot pie,Yankee pot roast and macaroni andcheese.

Speaking of food, McCormick saidmore than 200 people partake in theSunday grand buffet, which includesbreakfast items, meats, salads, fruit anddesserts. Special buffets are also offeredthroughout the year, such asThanksgiving, and I was surprised atthe number served. “We served 1,000guests in our main building for our

THE WIZARDS OF OSVA LOOK INSIDE ONE OF NEW ENGLAND’S GREAT CULTURAL & EDUCATIONAL TREASURES

BY STEPHANIE RICHARDSFIRST IN A SERIES OF TWO

Tracey McCormick© 2009 STURBRIDGE TIMES PHOTO BY STEPHANIE RICHARDS



COUNTRY LIVING

Socialization is the single most important thing you cando to build self-confidence dogs and curtail their chances ofbeing fearful or aggressive, says Dog Trainer Donna Savoie.The key is training, and doing it as early as eight weeks old.

Savoie, who has achieved designation as a Certified PetDog Trainer (CPDT) by the Certification Council ofProfessional Dog Trainers, is the owner of Pack of Paws DogTraining. She offers basic and advanced individual classes forowners and their dogs as well as group classes at Noah’s ArkPet Shop in Sturbridge and Woof and Whisker Inn inSouthbridge. She also leads a dog walk at 10 a.m., Sundays,at Westville Dam in Sturbridge, where owners walk dogs onleashes for exercise and interaction. The walk is open to any-one provided they follow the rules posted on Pack of Paws

website. A full-time office manager by day, Savoie became

interested in dog training after getting her German shep-herd, Gretchen, at five months old. “When we gotGretchen, she was shy and had fear aggression. One dayshe pinned my neighbor into a corner…out of fear. I didtake her to dog training but it didn’t help,” said Savoie,who has Gretchen, now four, and another German shep-herd, Panzer, who is six. “So I went to MasterPeace DogTraining Center (Franklin, MA) and took classes foraggressive dogs. They focused on positive methods todeal with aggression and it was fascinating. However, itwas too far to travel. Animal Behavioral College is some-thing that kept coming up online, so I decided to take

classes. The school was a great beginning.” Savoie graduated with honors from Animal Behavior

College and continues her education and learningthrough seminars and specialty classes. “I have to have agoal…I’m a very driven person. I like to learn, especiallyabout behavior and continue to take classes.”

Four years ago, Savoie opened Pack of Paws DogTraining, offering several classes, including PawsitivePuppy with Play Group, Pawsitive Dog I and II, Out onthe Town, Backyard Agility, and Canine Good Citizen. “Ifocus on obedience training and the goal is to help dogsstay in the home. It really is about behavior modification;changing the emotional response to a stimulus. Traininghas gone from fear and intimidation to positive reinforce-

Pack of Paws Dog Training508.248.4677 www.packofpawsdogtraining.com

Donna Savoie barks up the right tree with ‘Pack of Paws’

BY STEPHANIE RICHARDS


ment, which is the way I train. Dogs basical-ly eat, sleep and play, so if those things arecontrolled, you will have a well behaveddog.”

In the beginning classes, puppies learn toleave and drop, and recall. They learn howto stay, walk on a leash and be comfortablearound other humans and dogs.“Socialization is important early on as a selfconfident dog has less chance of being a fear-ful, aggressive dog. Being in a group class asa puppy, they get exposure to differentsmells, and other dogs and humans in a pos-itive experience,” said Savoie. “The groupclasses are in good, controlled environ-ments. I try to limit beginning classes to fivebut no more than eight at a time. I’m carefulabout the number in each class because Iwant to be involved and have adequate timewith each person and their dog.”

Savoie recommends that family membersseven years of age and older come to theclass or participate in the training. “Overall,family members need to be involved intraining…it builds relationship. A dog is aliving, breathing creation that needs to betaken care of and training is important,” theCharlton resident said. “I give participantsan interactive assignment to do during theweek, incorporating training during the nor-mal course of each day. I also provide themwith handouts on nutrition; it is important

to behavior and attitude.” There are nine to 35 different physical

signals before a dog bites, Savoie said.Examples might be raised eye brows or ears,looking away or moving their tail a certainway. “Then the signals become audible toshow they are uncomfortable. It’s importantto say thank you and remove the dog fromthat situation and not correct the dog…it isa warning sign. The more you can under-stand the behavior of your dog the better.We love our dogs and sometimes we forgetthat they communicate differently.”

To educate children on dog safety,Savoie teamed up with Noah’s Ark PetShop and Dr. Kris Sklenak, veterinarian atSouthbridge Veterinary Hospital, to offersafety programs for Girl Scouts at theHamilton Rod and Gun Club. “Goodthings happen when pet professionals gettogether for the greater good of the commu-nity and the animals that live there,” shesaid. “Animal care and safety is importantto us all.”

Savoie believes it is important to giveback to the community in other ways too.Pack of Paws is doing a special dog trainingclass on Friday nights to raise money forCharlton Animal Shelter. Approximately$600 will be donated to the Shelter.

If you’re considering getting a dog,Savoie strongly recommends you research

the breed of dog and assess your home envi-ronment before making a final selection.For example, bulldogs are stubborn andwork independently and are harder to train.Labradors, as with all dogs, need room toexercise, so the physical layout of the homeand yard is important. Finally, there is alsothe evaluation of how busy your lifestyle isand how much time you spend at home,especially when considering getting apuppy.

At some point, Savoie hopes to train

dogs full-time as she loves playing a role inthe bonding that occurs between dogs andowners. “Seeing owners understand theirdogs is worth more than anything I am paid.The foundation work has to be done fortraining, and owners have to have patienceand enjoy what they are doing,” she said. “Ilove seeing people have fun with their dogsand laughing. Plus, I take what I learn fromclients and their dogs and apply it to myown dogs.”

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Thanksgiving buffet, which includedtraditional turkey roast, candied yams,Boston scrod and a 16 foot desserttable,” she said. “A few hundred morewere served a traditional Turkey platedinner the day after Thanksgiving inthe Bullard Tavern.”

There are a lot ofother uses for OSVoutside the realm ofmuseum purposes.Instead of the typicalcorporate picnic at atheme park, compa-nies can choose to usethe Museum Educa-tion building andgrounds for theirevent. “We can ac-commodate 500-800people and includethings like a boat ride,stage coach, hands-oncraft, and privatelunch,” McCormick said. “The secondfloor of the Bullard Tavern can accom-modate about 100 people for an eventand we also have a conference centerwith meeting rooms onsite that is per-fect for smaller businesses or staff train-ing for up to 100.”

Even though I knew it was a popularsite for weddings, OSV offers lots ofextra touches like renting costumesfrom the time period. They’re not thetypical wedding gown and tux of today--a woman’s best dress and a man’s besttailcoat. McCormick said some coupleschoose to have dinner at the OliverWight Tavern (which seats up to 225)and then go to the Bullard Tavern forcocktails to finish off the evening in thenostalgia of 19th Century NewEngland. Different packages are avail-able beginning at $75 per person, whichincludes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, anopen bar and plated meal. “One of themore unique events we had was a bridalshower at the Blacksmith shop, com-plete with tables, linens…the works.The bride was an equestrian. It was verycustomized.”

It’s a place to celebrate or just meetfriends and McCormick wants to con-tinue the trend. Over the winter, themenights were introduced like a Fridaynight rib room and became very popu-lar. Now she hopes to carry them overinto summer. “We would like to dosomething on Friday nights in July andAugust; maybe outside dining by theherb garden with live entertainment.”

Volunteers by the numbersOn a sunny Saturday morning,

a group of 14 to 17 year olds sat inthe district school house to learnabout 19th century educationwith Chip Leis, interpreter. The21 students were training to par-

ticipate in the junior intern pro-gram this summer.

A Rochdale resident who hasvolunteered for 19 years, Leis gavestudents a school lesson in

spelling in the 1830s usingWebster Spellers. As studentsapproached the teacher at thepodium, they would show man-ners-- girls would courtesy, boyswould bow. Then, they would saythe word, spell the word and say

the word again. Theinterns then had achance to practice role-playing, preparation fordressing in costume andeducating visitors.

Leis said students did-n’t have to walk miles toschool back then, maybea mile to mile and a half.The school year was quitedifferent because ofplanting and harvestingcrops. “School usuallystarted the Monday afterThanksgiving and endedin February or March.Then, it would start up

again at the end of May and go toAugust,” he said. “The Bible wasused in this time period to read,but they did not use it inSturbridge. Books were 20 or 25

cents...you either bought them outright or it was chargedagainst taxes.”

According to some returning interns, discipline is apopular topic from visitors. Leis said discipline was any-thing that would embarrass the student; sitting boys inthe girls section, or pulling the ears or nose. School mas-

Continued from page 7


The gathering talents who assemble the OSV mosaic

Chip Leis lectures OSV interns.© 2009 STURBRIDGE TIMES PHOTO BY STEPHANIE RICHARDS


FINANCIALFOCUS

JEFF BURDICK

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


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 FINANCIAL ADVISOR

During your working years, if you save money dili-gently and make wise investment choices, you have agood chance of enjoying a comfortable retirement. Butwill you be taking proper care of your family after you'regone? The only way to answer that question is to doproper estate planning - and trusts can be a key elementof your estate plan.

How do trusts work? As the grantor of a trust, you setup the rules and appoint a trustee, who manages thetrust and its assets. You and other donors then fund thetrust with securities and other assets. The trustee col-lects these gifts and invests the money according to therules of the trust, which will also determine the trust'sbeneficiary - the recipient of the trust's proceeds.

Different trusts have different objectives. When youdesign your estate plans, you may well need more thanone trust. Here are some of the most widely used ones:

Revocable Living Trust - A revocable living trust can help

you leave assets to your heirs without going through the cost-ly, time-consuming - and public - probate process. Whenyou set up a revocable living trust, you can control yourassets during your lifetime and determine how they willeventually be distributed to your heirs. You could, for exam-ple, have money distributed to your children or grandchil-dren in installments, over a period of years. Plus, a proper-ly established revocable living trust will carry out your wish-es if you become incapacitated.

Bypass Trust - If you're married, you can leave an unlim-ited amount of assets to your spouse, free of estate taxes andwithout using up any of your estate tax credit. But if yourspouse then dies with an estate worth more than the federalestate tax exemption- $2 million in 2007 - his or her estatewould be subject to the estate tax. Unfortunately, your orig-inal estate tax credit was unused and, in effect, wasted.Basically, a Bypass Trust allows both spouses' estate taxexemptions to be preserved, to the benefit of the survivingspouse and, ultimately, the children.

Special Needs Trust - If you have a family member with adisability, you might want to think about a Special NeedsTrust. People with mental or physical disabilities can hold an

unlimited amount of assets in a Special Needs Trust (some-times called a Supplemental Needs Trust) without havingthe assets count against eligibility for certain governmentalbenefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI),Medicaid, vocational rehabilitation and subsidized housing.

QTIP Trust - If you're married for a second time, but wantto make sure your children from your first marriage are pro-tected, you may want to think about a QTIP (QualifiedTerminable Interest Property) Trust. A QTIP trust enablesyou, as grantor, to provide for your surviving spouse andalso maintain control of how the trust's assets are distributedonce he or she also dies.

Of course, trusts are complex instruments, so youshould work with an attorney, in addition to a taxadviser to make sure you are using the right type of trustand then consider a financial professional for funding itwith the appropriate vehicles. By using trusts wisely,you can leave a legacy that benefits everyone.

This article has been submitted by Jeff Burdick,Financial Advisor, Edward Jones, 113 Main Street,Sturbridge, MA 01566. Jeff may be contacted at 508-347-1420 or at [email protected]

How does one determine whetheror not to establish a Trust?


The dictionary projectAccording to the Dictionary Project website The goal is“to improve the reading ability and comprehension of allchildren everywhere. It is our goal to encourage childrento use dictionaries so that they will be able to use theEnglish Language effectively.”

So how did Sturbridge Rotarians get involved withthe Dictionary Project? Again, Peter Zeh: “One of thenice things about Rotary is that you can go to any Rotarymeeting anywhere in the country or the world you hap-pen to be whether traveling on business or pleasure.Consequently you are always comparing notes with otherclubs on what other Clubs are doing for fund raising, andlocal projects for their communities. In our case, ourClub has developed many friends and contacts with thesurrounding area Rotary Clubs, and we even help eachother out with projects. At one of our dinner meetingstwo years ago, a member of the Brookfield Club was kindenough to come down and speak to us about theDictionary Project, and how great it was working for theirClub and the Brookfield Elementary school. Needless tosay, given the tight financial budgets all the schools areunder, any free school supplies they can get are greatlyappreciated. It just grabbed our members as a fun, usefullocal project that would be helpful for the community.One of our members, Lorraine Cavallaro, instantly said

she wanted to do this, and we were on our way.”I asked Peter what caused him to want to be part of

the project. He answered, “Rotary International doesa great deal of good all over the world, but I chose tojoin Rotary more for the good they do in local commu-nities. When I went to college (ages ago), I actuallyreceived a Rotary Scholarship. I’ve never forgottenthat, and I’ve always wanted to somehow thank themfor it. So joining Rotary, and getting involved in a localeducational type project like this was just the type ofthing that I could get excited about. Plus eight year oldsare a lot of laughs, and I couldn’t pass up a captive audi-ence for my jokes!”

Beverly also had a reason for her involvement, “Firstof all, I am a Rotarian and one of the fundamentals ofRotary is education. If we can help with programs thatwill educate youngsters than we have taken a step inensuring productive adults for the future.” With under-standable pride, Beverly reminded me of another greatRotary work, “One of the largest programs ever under-taken by Rotarians is the eradication of polio through-out the world.”

As we were leaving, the children were all thumbingthrough the pages of their new possessions. Peter isright, this is the right age to give them the Dictionary.They are not yet slaves to the Internet.


Check OutSturbridge Marketplace

This Weekend!


I never thought that I would ever own a high statusvehicle such as a Mercedes. For our not financially wellendowed family, the purchase of a new vehicle is an expe-rience of struggle and decision. We scrutinize ConsumerReports with the focus of a forensic detective. TheSunday paper’s automobile ads are dissected for a deal thatwill not put us in the poor house. Well, deeper in the poorhouse. Finally, there is the trip to the dealer and the sign-ing of the check in a ceremony that resembles the emo-tions felt in oral surgery. Extraction is the operative wordin both operations.

So how did I become Mr. Luxury? It is a long story thatbegins in my childhood. If you grew up in the workingclass burbs south of Boston, the Summer heat would drawyou like a magnet to Nantasket Beach. The morningwould be spent dipping yourself in the icy waters.Afternoons had families going on rides and playing skee-ball at Paragon Park across the way.

At the age of four, I liked nothing better than to wan-der off from the protective eyes of my dad and mom. Idon’t think parents were near as protective of childrenback then as they are today. So I traipsed about the beachuntil the thought that I had no knowledge of where myfolks were entered my head. I must have looked lostbecause a lady in a swimming suit asked me where mymom and dad were. When I said I did not know, sheasked other questions. One of the questions was whatkind of car we owned. My reply, “a Plymosis” she relatedto my parents after my reunion with them. Plymosisbecame a bit of family lore.

Eventually, I learned to call the car a Plymouth. Moreoften than not, when we traded in one car, it would besucceeded by another Plymouth. My parents were athrifty couple and the cost benefit analysis most alwaysfavored that product. There was the odd Chevy or Buick,but not often. Mom and Dad were never the type forbrand loyalty, it just worked out that way.

I remember most of the models. There was theValiant, the first one I learned to drive on. The Valiantpassed for a compact back then though it had six cylin-ders. I liked that car so much that I drove it with gustoand tested one of the laws of physics. I never thought myfolks would let me drive again. I have sense learned thatchildren with their licenses can be sent on a host oferrands and can drive themselves places the parent wouldhave had to before. There was no way my parents weregoing to resume chauffeurship.

Eventually, I went out into the world and brought a caras a grownup. Well, as grownup as I was at the time. My

J MUSINGS FROM LONG HILL J

BY RICHARD MURPHY

MY MERCEDES

Lessons AvailableViolins, Mandolins, Guitars,

Keyboards, Drums and BanjosSales and Service available

300 East Main St (Rt. 9)East Brookfield508-867-6600

www.fiddlecenter.com

THEFIDDLECENTER

Many people reach retirement owning their housefree and clear. Unfortunately, their house is all they

own, and they don’t have enough money do much morethan live in it until they die.

There is way for those who are house-rich, but cash-poor to cash in on their biggest asset without ever havingto pay it back. In fact, the bank will make payments toyou.

As in a traditional mortgage, a reverse mortgage allowslenders to give people money in exchange for a mortgagein their home. The home owners don’t have to pay theloan back until they die, sell the house, or move out.

The homeowners can take money out in a lump sum,as a monthly payment or as a line of credit. When theydie, the bank sells the house and takes back its moneyalong with accumulated interest.

As always, there are pitfalls for the unwary, and theCommonwealth requires home owners to complete a 45-minute counseling course before they become eligible toget a reverse mortgage.

Only people over the age of 62 are eligible. The lendercan foreclose on the loan if the homeowners don’t paytheir property taxes and keep the property well-main-tained. There are also hefty up-front fees and the interestrates can be high.

The biggest drawback is that your house, or a goodpercentage of it, goes to the bank, rather than the kids,when you finally die. Hopefully that’s many years afteryou’ve cashed in on the house and had time to share thewealth while you’re still alive.any people reach retire-ment owning their house free and clear. Unfortunately,their house is all they own, and they don’t have enoughmoney do much more than live in it until they die.

LEGALBRIEF

REVERSE MORTGAGES

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


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

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THINGS TO DOmembers are encouraged to attend thisimportant meeting and vote! You can findWoman in Business, Inc. online athttp://www.wibsturbridge.org/ or by calling(508) 764-1657. If you are interested injoining us for breakfast, please call aheadtwo days before the meeting to reserve aseat.

June 14. AMERICAN FLAG DISPOS-AL CEREMONY - Sunday June 14th, FlagDay, Sturbridge American Legion Post 109,with the assistance of Boy Scout Troop 161will be conducting an American Flag dispos-al ceremony starting at 3 pm at the postquarters on 507 Main St. American Flagsdetermined to be unserviceable will bedestroyed by burning. Any one holdingAmerican Flags that are torn and unservice-able are invited to turn those flags in for dis-posal at the collection box out side the rearof the post quarters before June 14th.

June 18. MOTOWN AND THE CIVILRIGHTS MOVEMENT- Holden-basedmusic historian Tom Ingrassia is celebratingthe 50th anniversary of Motown Records.Combining history, music and nostalgia,Igrassia places Motown and an analysis of itsmusic - within the larger context of themusical styles and societal changes of the1960s and 70s, in a way that the audiencewill be able to relate to. Lecture takes placeat the Joshua Hyde Library, Sturbridge, MAat 7:00 P.M. Contact: [email protected]

June 19 to 21. MY FAIR LADY - AMUSICAL - Each Friday & Saturdayevenings at 8:00pm and each Sunday at2:00pm, the STAGELOFT REPERTORYTHEATER presents the musical productionof MY FAIR LADY. The blockbuster musi-cal continues to please audiences every-where. Eliza may be uneducated, but she'still strong-willed. Can Professor Higginsteach her to speak correctly without suc-cumbing to her innocent charms?For more information and reservations, callEd Cornerly at (508) 347-9005. StageloftRepertory Theater, 450 Main Street, EdCornely: 508-347-9005 Sturbridge MA01566. www.stageloft.com Admission:Adults: $16.00 Seniors: $14.00 age 65+Children: $8.00 students 14 & younger.

June 20. MUSIC AND ART DAY ATOLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE- What did1830s New Englanders do for entertain-ment? Without the Boston Pops around,what kind of cultural atmosphere did theymaintain and enjoy? Our own artists, musi-cians, and dancers provide some of theentertaining answers. 1 Old SturbridgeVillage Road, Sturbridge MA 01566www.osv.org Admission: Adults: $20Seniors: $18 Children: $7 (3-17); under 3FREE. Contact: Mark [email protected]

June 20. ANNUAL STRAWBERRYSUPPER - The Strawberry Supper will beheld at the Charlton City United Methodist

Church located at 74 Stafford St. The sup-per will be on Saturday, June 20th, from 5:00to 7:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased at thedoor. Adults/$9.00, Children 6-12 yrs/$5.00,5 and under/free with a $35.00/max per fam-ily. Come join us for a wonderful baked hamdinner, followed by luscious strawberryshortcake. Contact: Martha at 508-347-8176

June 26. MURDER MYSTERY DIN-NER. “Who’s Killing the Greatest Chef's?”We are fortunate to have the traveling FoodNetwork television show, ‘Metal ChefThrowdown’ filmed at the Salem Cross Inn.Some of the most famous, flamboyant anddangerous chefs will be demonstrating theirculinary talents. Unfortunately, their cook-ing can be deadly! A limited number of tick-ets are available and must be purchased inadvance. ($51 per person). A limited num-ber of tickets are available and must be pur-chased in advance. 260 West Main St.,Route 9, West Brookfield MAhttp://www.salemcrossinn.com/Admission: Adults: $51.00 including taxand gratuity

Contact: Heather [email protected]

June 27. STURBRIDGE HISTORICALSOCIETY ANNUAL MILITIA RE-ENACTMENT “A Call to Arms” will beheld on the Sturbridge Town Common at6:30 PM. Volunteers and their families willre-enact two events from Sturbridge's past,A town wide mandatory muster ofDecember 1774 and the Towns response toApril 19,1775, Patriots Day. Program is nar-rated and includes period music and livemusket firing. Bring you own blanket orchairs for sitting. In case of rain event will becanceled. For more information contactTom Chamberland at 508-347-3386.

June 3, 10, 15, 17. FUNDRAISINGEVENTS AT THE PUBLICK HOUSE -Join us Monday Evenings for our family din-ner series offering dinner per month to raisefunds for different local community organiza-tions. June 3: TRADITIONAL THANKS-GIVING DINNER - Multiple SclerosisJune 10, SUMMER BARBEQUE - MultipleSclerosis. June 15: CHICKEN DINNER -Relay for Life. June 17: ITALIAN NIGHT -Multiple Sclerosis. These are All You CanEat Buffets served from 5pm – 7:30pm CashDonation ~ Adults $13 Children $5 (4-13)295 Main Street, Sturbridge, MA 01566 1-800-PUBLICK • www.publickhouse.com

June 6. SOUTHBRIDGE FEST 2009 -Southbridge FEST is a free, day-long celebra-tion of the town's history and cultural diver-sity. Enjoy all kinds of food, music, art, archi-tecture and fun, including a parade and blockparty with ethnic musicians and dancers onalternating stages, multi-ethnic cuisine, toursof historical points of interest, educationalactivities, art exhibits and individual streetperformers such as balloonists, face painters,and much more! Southbridge FEST 2009 issure to be non-stop fun for the whole family!Main Street, Southbridge MA 01550Admission: Free. Contact: AlexandraMcNitt [email protected] 508-347-2761

June 6. NATIONAL TRAILS DAY PRO-GRAM - The 2 Corps sponsored hikesplanned for June 6th are: a “hike” that isactually a paddle down the NationalDesignated Recreation Quinebaug River EastBrimfield Section water trail. Meet ParkRanger Matt Coleman at the launch ramp onPond Bridge Rd in Holland at 9 AM. Bringyour own canoe or kayak and life jackets arerequired. This 5.5 mile long paddle will lastabout 2 hours and end at the East BrimfieldLake boat ramp on US Route 20 at theBrimfield/Sturbridge Town Line. Participantsare advised to provide and preset their owntransportation. The second hike will start at1:30 PM from Shelter 1 in the Park atWestville Lake. This 1.8 mile hike of theWestville Lake Community Trail will be ledby Park Ranger Glenna Vitello. For moreinformation on the day’s event contact ParkRanger Tom Chamberland [email protected]

June 10. WOMAN IN BUSINESS, INC.JUNE BREAKFAST MEETING - ANNU-AL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS - On June10 Woman in Business, Inc. will hold theirmonthly breakfast meeting at the OliverWight Tavern at Old Sturbridge Village.During this meeting, officers will be electedfor a two-year term . The current President,Vice President and Treasurer have agreed toserve for another two year term, but there isstill an opening for the Recording Secretaryand the Corresponding Secretary. TheRecording Secretary takes the minutes at themonthly board meeting, held the firstWednesday each month. The CorrespondingSecretary takes care of the answeringmachine, responds to emails, and takes careof the mail at the Sturbridge post office. All

Submit YourThings to Do Listings

[email protected]


Effective control of invasive plants begins with us

YARDWORKSBy Tom Chamberland, ISASTURBRIDGE TREE WARDEN

Caring for what grows in your yard

If you are a regular reader of this columnyou already know that I have suggestedthe avoidance of using invasive plants

in our landscapes, and occasionally I havelisted a few of the plants that cause prob-lems. This month I will provide somebackground on invasive plants and why weneed to become active in their control aswe take care of our yards.

Many of us involved in horticulturalendeavors have known of some plants, notnative to this area, that have been intro-duced over the years for sale because oftheir commercial appeal or some that wereintroduced because they “solved a prob-lem” in the landscape, like Norway Maplestreet trees for example.

Over the years, observations of thesenon-native plants showed that many willproliferate in our local habitat and in somecases become monocultures quickly in agiven area.

To address this problem, the FederalDepartment of Agriculture (USDA) along

with officials from all 50 states formedadvisory committees and groups toaddress this issue.

In 1999, Massachusetts established aninvasive plant advisory group and afterseveral years of looking at this problem,

and working with the MassachusettsDepartment of Food and Agriculture,who worked closely with theMassachusetts Nursery and LandscapeAssociation, began a two step ban on theimportation and sale of invasive plants in

the commonwealth. The ban used theMassachusetts Prohibited Plant List andthe USDA Federal Noxious Weed list tostart a “phase-out” program inMassachusetts. The final stage of thephase-out occurred on January 1, 2009.

There are now some 14 species thatcannot be imported, propagated or sold inthe state. For a full listing of theMassachusetts prohibited plant list visit:http://www.mass.gov/agr/farmproducts/Prohibited_Plant_Index2.htm .

This is a great start, however the nextstep is to start an eradication program ofthese invasive plants by the residents andhomeowners through out the state.

The best way to control invasiveplants is to remove them by digging orpulling out the plant including the stumpand root. Large trees or stocky shrubs canjust be cut, but you will need to continu-ally suppress any suckering of the plantfrom the stump until the stored nutrientsin the root system are used and the plantdies. You will also need to rake up care-fully any seed stock and leaf litter to pre-vent re-growth.

The leafy plant material, and any rootstock from smaller shrubs and plantsshould then be bagged and disposed of inthe trash. Composting, or chipping ofthe leafy plant material will result in seedstock holding over and re-establishingitself when you go to use the compost ormulch.

Larger wood pieces can be chipped orcut up and used as fire wood. Outsideburning is an option but this option isonly viable during the months of Januarythru April when state laws allow openburning of brush.

Invasive plants are becoming an envi-ronmental issue we all can do somethingabout. In my walks along the trails of ouropen space lands I can routinely point outa variety of invasive plants.

Each time the town holds a volunteertrail day we have at least one crew pullingand removing invasive plants. For com-plete information on Massachusetts inva-sive and prohibited plants and there con-trol visit: http://www.massnrc.org/MIPAG/docs/STRATEGIC_PLAN_FINAL_042005.pdf

n Acer platanoides L. (Norway maple)n Berberis thunbergii DC. (Japanese barberry)n Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. (Oriental bittersweet;

Asian or Asiatic bittersweet)n Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. (Autumn olive)n Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb. (Winged euonymus;

Burning bush)n Lonicera x bella Zabel [morrowii x tatarica]

(Bell’s honeysuckle)n Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc. (Japanese knotweed;

Japanese or Mexican Bamboo)n Robinia pseudoacacia L. (Black locust)n Rosa multiflora Thunb. (Multiflora rose)

Common invasive plants in the Sturbridge area

To view 147 plants listed as invasive in Massachusetts, visit:http://plants.usda.gov/java/noxious?rptType=State&statefips=25


We’re right in the season for sneezing

THE HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL ADVISER

Q: I have suffered from seasonalallergies in the past. I am usuallyable to control the symptoms withmedication, but each year feelsworse than the last. What causesmy allergies and why do they seemto be getting worse over time?

A:The seasonal allergies you areexperiencing are known in themedical community as allergicrhinitis. You may have alsoheard allergies referred to as “hayfever,” though grasses — themain component of the generalterm “hay” —are not the onlyplants involved.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis comes and goes asvarious plants come into bloom. If your symp-toms occur in the spring, you are probablyallergic to tree pollen. In the summer, grassand weed pollens are the likely cause. In thelate summer and fall, ragweed is probably toblame. If your symptoms occur year-round(perennial allergic rhinitis), you are probablyallergic to indoor allergens, such as dust mites,mold or animal dander.

Generally, the allergic reactions that causesymptoms occur when you breathe in airborneallergens, either outdoors or indoors. An aller-gen is any substance that triggers the immunesystem to mount an inflammatory reaction. Inyour case, the inflammatory process startsright in your nose. Immune system mast cellsin the nasal tissue release chemicals such ashistamine and leukotrienes. Blood vesselsswell, causing nasal congestion, and mucusproduction soars, creating a runny nose.Sneezing and itchy eyes often accompanythese symptoms.Repeated exposure to aller-gens causes mucous membranes in your noseto become more and more sensitive to aller-gens over time. This means it takes smaller

and smaller amounts of allergens to spark theallergic reaction, and thus your symptoms,worsen over the years.

Seasonal outdoor allergies are caused bypollen — the male reproductive cells of treesand flowering plants. Some pollens are tooheavy to become airborne and rarely play arole in allergies. But the pollens of someflowers and many trees, grasses and weedsdon't attract insects to help them spread, sothey need to be light and dry to be carried bywinds. Once the pollen is airborne, it is eas-ily inhaled.

Pollen molecules are tiny and numerous.They contain allergens that dissolve whenthey come in contact with the moist mucousmembranes in the nose and respiratory tract.It takes only a very small amount of pollen totrigger an allergic reaction. The spores ofmolds cause allergies in much the same wayas airborne pollen.

Unless your allergies are very minor, it's agood idea to treat your allergic rhinitis with

medication rather than suffer through it.Apart from helping you feel better, well-timed treatment will lessen the likelihoodof complications arising from chronicallergic rhinitis, such as sinus infectionsand blocked ears. If you also have asthma,you may find that your asthma willimprove if you treat your allergic rhinitis.About 38 percent of allergic rhinitis suffer-ers also have allergic asthma, which canadd wheezing and breathing problems tothe already annoying sneezing and snif-fling.

Seasonal hay fever can be very debili-tating. To reduce hay fever symptoms, starttaking your allergy medicines (antihista-mines, nasal steroids and so forth) severalweeks before you anticipate allergy seasonwill start. Research has shown that thisapproach is more effective than startingthe medicines after you have alreadydeveloped symptoms. In addition, makesure you take practical steps to reduce your

exposure to outdoor molds andpollens.

Here are some ways to min-imize your pollen exposure:

• Stay indoors when thepollen count is high, especiallyon dry, windy days.

• Stay indoors between 5a.m. and 10 a.m., when air-borne pollen is likely to be at itshighest each day.

• Keep home windowsclosed at night, and turn on theair conditioner.

• Keep car windows closedwhen driving.

• Vacation at the coast during high-pollenseason.

• Don’t cut your grass; have someone elsedo it.

• Don’t hang clothing and bedding out-side to dry.

People who are very bothered by airborneallergens may wonder whether moving toanother part of the country would make a dif-ference. The answer is yes and no. In the shortterm, you can outrun your allergens and findtemporary relief from the pollens you've grownsensitive to. But this relief is usually short-lived. Eventually, you are likely to develop ahypersensitivity to the pollens in your newlocale and become subject to allergic attacksonce more. Ultimately, relocation isn't a solu-tion.

Fortunately, most cases of allergic rhinitisrespond well to simple medications, anddesensitization treatments (allergy shots) areavailable for people who need more help.

© 2009 the President and Fellows of HarvardCollege.

BY THE FACULTY OF HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL

A REGULAR FEATURE INTHE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE

THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE18

Today’s financial crisis could pale beside the poten-tial crisis the baby boom generation will face dur-ing retirement.

The Social Security system and Medicare are in dan-ger of becoming insolvent, and the national debt is ris-ing by trillions of dollars. Retirement savings, in manycases, have been depleted by the current bear market,and unemployment is at its highest rate in decades.

The U.S. Census Bureau says there are more than 77million baby boomers and the oldest are already in their60s. In the coming decades, a large number of them willneed long-term care.

The National Clearinghouse on Long-Term CareServices (NCLTCS) estimates that 70% of people overthe age of 65 today will need long-term care services.Baby boomers are living longer and the percentage need-ing long-term care may be even higher.

Long-term care is not covered by health insurance,Medicare or any other government program. Thatmeans most baby boomers will have to use their person-al savings to pay for long-term care.

Nationally, long-term care costs an average of $187 aday for a semi-private room and $209 for a private room,according to the NCLTCS. In Massachusetts, the aver-age cost is $279 for a semi-private room and $296 a dayfor a private room, which comes to more than $100,000even for a semi-private room.

As baby boomers age and demand for long-term careescalates, prices will likely surge higher. Medicaid paysfor long-term care when an individual becomes virtuallydestitute, but the net result will likely be that many inthe next generation will lose their inheritance and theMedicaid system will be under a tremendous financialstrain.

You’d think businesses would be lining up to buildmore nursing homes, but regulations governing theindustry are complex and it is difficult for companies tooperate profitably. Medicaid does not pay enough tocover the cost of care, so an increase in Medicaidpatients will not help matters. Labor is also an issue, as

there is already a shortage of qualified nurses and aides.

Addressing the CrisisIn years past, elders often gave away their assets to

their children so they would be eligible for Medicaidand could avoid depleting their wealth to pay for nurs-ing home care. Today, there is a five year look-backperiod and other provisions designed to preventMedicaid abuse.

To qualify for Medicaid, recipients cannot havemore than $500,000 in equity in their homes and theyare also required to disclose any interest in annuities.

Those who fail to qualify for Medicaid are facedwith spending down their personal assets - unless theyhave long-term care insurance.

Long-term care insurance is expensive, but if youbuy it when you are young and healthy, you can pur-chase it for a relatively low cost. Purchase a policy thathas fixed premiums and is guaranteed renewable forlife, and you will be covered as long as you pay yourpremium — assuming the company you chooseremains financially stable.

There are many variables to consider in a long-termcare policy, such as the type of care covered, the level

of coverage and any exclusions.Some policies cover only care in a nursing home, some

cover only home health care and some cover both.Consider the cost, but ideally the policy should coverskilled, intermediate and custodial care in your home, anassisted-living facility and a nursing home. Your policyshould not exclude coverage for dementia, which is a verycommon reason for needing nursing home care, and itshould provide increases in coverage adjusting for infla-tion.

You may be able to reduce costs by extending the wait-ing period before benefits begin, but make certain you canafford to pay for care during that period. A policy withunlimited days and unlimited stays is ideal, but may beexpensive.

Given the complexity of long-term care insurance, becertain to seek assistance from your insurance agency rep-resentative and other professionals.

Richard A. McGrath, CIC, LIA is President and CEO ofMcGrath Insurance Group, Inc. of Sturbridge, Mass. He canbe reached at [email protected].

This article is written for informational purposes only andshould not be construed as providing legal advice.

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

INSURANCEGUIDANCE

Long-term care crisis is coming

The Southbridge Credit Union’s Auburn branch,in the community Credit Union’s continuingCommunity Champions Fund program, hasawarded $1,000 to support the Auburn Councilon Aging’s van fare subsidy program. Receivingthe funds were Christina Silpe, second from left,the Council on Aging Director, and CarolLaPrade, second from right, the Council’sChairperson. Presenting the funds were JeffreyDavenport, left, President and CEO of theSouthbridge Credit Union, Robin Nashawaty,the Auburn Branch Manager, and Paul D. Raffa,Business Development Manager.

SCU supports Council on Aging Van Fare Subsidy


A Look InsideOld Sturbridge VillagePart-One

Murph’s Mercedes

ters/mistresses could hit or use moral persuasion. When their school lesson was complete, the

interns continued on with the rest of their day, gettinglessons in horticulture, cooking, dancing, playing1830s baseballs and finishing the day with costumefittings. They would return again the following day formore training, seizing a chance to be absorbed in his-tory.

For 17 year old Kristin Mulbery, the junior internprogram allows her to “learn so much more than aday’s visit. I love special event weeks and doing thingslike making cheese or dying yarns. It is my third yearas an intern and I would highly recommend it.Dealing with the public helps me with public speak-ing skills; it helps me be more confident,” theShrewsbury resident said.

For Sturbridge resident Eric Sanderson, the pro-gram sounded like something interesting to do. “I fre-quent the Village all the time and was looking forsomething fun to do. Plus, I do have a little interest inhistory,” said 15 year old Sanderson, who is beginninghis first year as an intern.

The junior intern program includes a commitmentto work 15 full days now through November. “The

program was brought back three years ago startingwith six kids. This year, we have 21 plus six, 4-Hinterns who will focus on agricultural areas,” said KimAdams, coordinator of Volunteers and Interns atOSV. “Kids had to complete an application, have let-ters of recommendation and answer questions in 45minute interview. We want to see that the studenttalks comfortably, and can work independently whilealso taking directions. Some applicants were turnedaway,” said Adams, who lives in Brimfield.

As you can imagine, scheduling is a big part ofAdams job as she also oversees 150 volunteers at OSV.“We have costume volunteers and general ones, whodo things like marketing, crafts, and assist with specialactivities. A lot of our volunteers are retired and somegive their time one or two days a week. Our oldest vol-unteer is 93 years of age,” the Brimfield resident said.“Volunteers help provide a much better impression ofwhat life actually looked like for visitors…with peoplein the garden, house, etc. doing things like chores orcooking. There is so much more that we can do atOSV if we have the hands to do it.”

Charlie Peters, who has been an OSV volunteer forseven years, drives three hours from his New Jerseyhome every other week. He was working the groundof the Freeman Garden when I caught up with him.“We never went to DisneyWorld when I was a kid; itwas about an education-based excursion. The inter-preters always made it come to life for me,” saidPeters, who works in law enforcement. “I enjoy thetasks themselves and the people I work with. I learn alot from it (working on the Freeman Farm) and applyit to home. So, if I have to travel to do it, fine.”

Not a typical response. Yet it’s this attitude that iscommonplace in an uncommon place…OSV.

Stay tuned.


Continued from page 14choice was a used Plymouth Duster. That vehicle tookme up and down the Eastern Seaboard several times. Ikept it longer than I should have but the repair bills onlystarted to mount up in its later years.

Eventually, I would commit matrimony and choice ofautomobile was determined by the number of childrenwe had. No problem with one kid. Two saw a tinyincrease in the degree of difficulty. Three could beendured while they were small. Once they all attainedthe use of language, they also showed evidence of siblingrivalry. Most of it was harmless “you’re not the boss ofme” stuff. A long ride in a not overly large car was a dif-ferent story. Something needed to be done. It was atthis point we bought the greatest vehicle ever invented,the Plymouth Voyager Mini Van.

Okay, I know the mini van is considered uncool bymost young people. Heck, it’s considered déclassé by carthieves. The salesman told us not to bother with antitheft devices as they were superfluous on the genre. Idid not care what the world thought. All our childrenhad a seat with enough room so we could be sure theycould not strangle each other on a trip.

That was not the best part. During the test drive, Inoticed something wonderful. It had the most comfort-able driver’s seat I had ever ridden in. Indeed, for thenext few years we would ride that car in peace and com-fort. Does it get any better?

Well, yes it did. About mid way into our ownership,Daimler Benz of Germany bought the ChryslerCorporation who made our Voyager. Daimler Benz isMercedes Benz and presto chango, my humble Plymosisbecame a Mercedes. Immediately, I had one upped allmy neighbors who had higher status vehicles. Did I getrespect for this? My kids rolled their eyes when I wouldsay, “We’re leaving, get in the Mercedes.”

Alas, a few years later we traded it in for a Toyotaproduct and the merger of Benz and Chrysler ended indisaster. My status seeking and social climbing was at anend. Sic transit Gloria Mundi.

And now a few words

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Prsrt. Std U.S. Postage PAID , MA Permit No. …sturbridgetimes.com/images/june09.pdfsmaller projects, there are also benefits to calling early, though the timing is less cru-cial