editor@southboroughnews.com

Archived Page 36

January 13, 2008  to  January 19, 2008

Faster!

January 19, 2008 - Today was the day to see if you had the fastest car if you were a Southborough Cubscout.   The Annual Pinewood Derby had it's trial run to see if you had to make adjustments to your vehicle before next Saturdays Derby.

Valentine's Day is coming up soon and Gulbankian Farms Garden Center and Florist Shop has new arrivals of unique gifts, chocolates, gourmet food, and Valentine gifts arriving daily.  Remember Gulbankian Farms Garden Center and Florist Shop for that special Valentine arrangement or bouquet of roses.

Click here for website

History

Poetry In Motion

January 19, 2008 - Trottier Middle School Students were surprised and entertained Friday during the performances in Poetry in Motion.  Here they see their teachers do their interpretation of the Dr. Seuss poem, "Oh the Places You'll Go".

January 18, 2008 - Engine 21 sits outside the Finn School this morning.  Firefighters were called to the school for the smell of gas.  This was the second call of the day for the odor of gas.  The first call was earlier in the morning at the Trottier Middle School On Parkerville Road.  At both schools the odor had dissipated upon the arrival of firefighters.

Main Street project

January 18, 2008 -  Linda Hubley

On November 29, 2007 the DPW held a public hearing on the reconstruction of Main Street from Sears Road to Park Street. The starting point of this process began many years ago with the failure of the Route 30 and 85 intersections. The subject was brought up many times at the Southborough Roads Safety Committee meetings, DPW talks, and various boards of the Planning and Selectmen over the years. In 2004 the DPW brought forth a plan for revisions and reconstruction of Main Street. At that time most of the funds would have been covered by the town and the State. But the state at that time held rigid restrictions on what can and cannot be done to the road and residents were not in favor of that plan.

Since that time, the Route 85 and 30 intersection has failed further continuing its F rating and witness to still more accidents. MA Highway has since the 2004 plan lessoned restrictions on road improvements and leave a lot to the imagination of the town and its residents on the look and feel of road improvements. Leaping at this new initiative the Southborough DPW had presented new plans at the November 2007 meeting. At the presentation of the drawings and information on what the DPW would like to see accomplished, they asked for town residents input on the plans.

The new plan called for new sidewalks on the south side of Route 30 from Deerfoot Road to Park Street and new sidewalks on the north side of Route 30 from the Library to Park Street. New roadway surfaces, on street parking and upgrade the drainage. There would be removal of trees, some widening of the roads, and possible reconfiguration of the Town Common wall and horse trough and the corner by the library along with the widening of the Route 30/85 intersection. Several residents voiced strongly their opinions about tree removal, stonewall removal and onsite parking. For this end, the Southborough DPW went back to the drawings to make changes to reflect some of the concerns residents had. Meanwhile former selectmen, David Parry, set up an informal neighborhood/residents meeting about the design phase of the Main Street reconstruction project.

That meeting took place last night at the Community House before an overflow crowd. DPW Superintendent Karen Galligan and DPW Engineer John Woodsmall presented three sets of plans to the residents. The three plans consisted of the first option which west of route 85 included thirteen parking spots and relocation of the common wall and horse trough, five foot six inch granite curb, two foot shoulder and two lanes. The second option does not touch the common wall, makes Common Street one way, and shifts the road and sidewalk closer to Morris Funeral home and Dr. Stone’s house (which would require a lot of regarding right to Dr. Stone’s house which the DPW did not like). The third option which is the Southborough DPW preferred option leaves the stonewall and trough alone, creates two eleven foot lanes, five foot sidewalk with granite curbs and they will work with Dr. Stone for the opening on the sidewalk to mesh with his new proposed driveway. The War Memorial would not be touched. East of Route 85 the plans shown had either all the parking spaces shown, no parking spaces shown or third a mix of parking and no parking spaces along the proposed sidewalks and curbs.

Throughout the meeting there was much talk about the pros and cons of the on street parking. Some residents along Main Street and Latisquama feel there is no need for the on street parking while others felt that during town functions these spaces are needed. Karen Challen of the ADA committee says people have come to them to complain that currently with vehicles parking on the sidewalks (because of the way the road and early sidewalks were created there is little curbing in place) forces pedestrians to move to the street to go around the vehicle. The majority of the residents at the meeting voiced concerns over the town common and do not want to see any changes to the landscape or stone wall features. Discussion on whether or not Route 30 and Route 85 fall under the scenic roads act adopted by the town several years ago are legal for Main Street. Don Morris of the planning board said that he would check on that status and report back to the group.

The subject of putting the utilities was also on the agenda but David Parry said there is so much to put utilities underground that it would most likely have to be discussed another night and possibly be a committee of its own. Residents in attendance were mostly in favor of putting the utilities underground. David further remarked that Open Space, Community Preservation Committee, the Historical Commission should probably make a proposal for an historical district which could help in finding grants and monies to put the utilities underground. Karen Galligan said there would be no funding through the DPW for that type of project but that they would work with a committee and utilities to have that work done at the same time as the roadwork, if that was what the residents want. David said work on both the road and utilities most likely would not start anyways until the year 2013 which would give a committee time to negotiate this venture.

Karen and John from the DPW, strongly suggested that residents look over the plans and make decisions on what they would like to see. They will be presenting the plans to the Southborough Planning Board and Selectmen in the coming weeks. When the plans are presented to the MA Highway department for the 25% design phase meeting, they would like to have a consensus as if they don’t MA Highway would most likely send the plans back until there is a consensus within town for the changes in the road. This would have Southborough lose funding and have to wait further in years for another shot at this. However the plans for the intersection itself would most likely proceed even if there is still controversy from Route 85 East to Park Street and from the Library West to Deerfoot Road. David Parry has scheduled another meeting with a possible power point presentation on the changes in the plans that have been made since the November 2007 meeting. That meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 31.

The Main Street plans will be available for any resident to look over at the DPW offices at Cordaville Road. They are also hoping to have the newer changes that are shown in color placed into a power point or adobe format for review on the town website.

Need more room or have been dreaming of making that single story home into a two story? Want to renovate current space in your home?  How about adding a garage with a master bedroom, walk in closets and spa bathroom? .  Contact Jeanette Thomson, AIA, a local Architect to help you with your plans. Click the ad to the left to find out more about Jeanette Thomson, AIA of Thomson Architects, Inc.

January 18, 2008 - A squirrel stops to check out the spot to see if any bird seed is left out. Another squirrel runs from the camera.

Letter to the Editor

Fire Log

Tuesday 1/8/08

08:03 EMS CALL,EXCLUDE VEH ACC W/INJ MAIN ST
A29 FF PIERCE FF KANE
C30 FF FRANKS

10:15 SCHOOL FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAM RICHARDS RD
A29 FF KANE FF PIERCE
C27 CAPT MAURO

11:04 UNINTENTIONAL ALARM SYS TRIP CENTRAL ST
E21 FF FRANKS FF AMENDOLA

14:00 TRAINING - EMS MAIN ST REVIEWED NEW STATEWIDE TREATMENT PROTOCOL EDITS
HQ3 F FF FRANKS FF KANE FF PIERCE FF AMENDOLA

14:00 MISC FD ENTRY MAIN ST
C1 CHIEF MAURO

15:00 TRAINING - FIRE MAIN ST IN SERVICE TRAINING ON THE FOUR GAS METERS
HQ3 FF FRANKS FF KANE FF PIERCE FF AMENDOLA

16:37 GAS LEAK (NATURAL GAS OR LPG) CHESTNUT HILL RD
E21 FF FRANKS FF AMENDOLA

17:55 CO DET. ACTIV. DUE TO MALFUNCT WILDWOOD DR
A29 FF PIERCE FF KANE
E21 FF FRANKS FF AMENDOLA

18:33 CO DET. ACTIV. DUE TO MALFUNCT CONSTITUTION DR
A29 FF PIERCE FF KANE
E21 FF FRANKS FF AMENDOLA

19:31 EMS CALL,EXCLUDE VEH ACC W/INJ BIGELOW RD
A29 FF PIERCE FF KANE
C30 FF AMENDOLA

21:53 EMS CALL,EXCLUDE VEH ACC W/INJ WARD RD
A29 FF PIERCE FF KANE
C30 FF AMENDOLA  For more Fire Log click here

January 17, 2008 - The crisp blue skies highlight the Southborough Town House after the new snow that fell just the other day.

About the Southborough News

January 17, 2008 - A big welcome to all the new Southborough News readers.  The Southborough News has been on a  steady daily and weekly climb in readership.  So for those that are fairly new to the Southborough News I'd like to point out a few things about the site.  The tabs at the top will take you to the fire and police logs with direct links to their websites.  The Library, Arts and Recreation tabs will take you to their websites.  At the Library and Recreation sites you would be able to register for classes and courses online.  The tabs for the Seniors and the Veterans have extra photos of their events and links to important websites.  Naturally Southborough has outdoor links, photos and information on parks and outdoor activities.  The Community link tab takes you to a page with all sorts of links for community groups, churches, committees and sports groups. The School link will take you to a page where all the Southborough schools are listed, click the photo and you will be taken to that school's website. If your club or group is not listed, please send the link to editor@southboroughnews.com and I will add it.  The weather tab will take you to weather underground for local and national weather information. The links in the middle at the top are pretty self -explanatory but they will provide you with information on the MBTA, the Ride, local news channels, Google, Google Maps and obituaries courtesy of Morris Funeral home.  If you have an obituary you would like put on the Southborough News you may send the write-up and photo and it will be posted free of charge.

The larger tabs are for Letters to the Editor, the letters will be posted on the Southborough News front pages and archived on the LtotE page. The Southborough News is done in Chronological order so Page 2 is normally last weeks news, events and photos.  Each week a weeks worth of photos, events and news is archived. To locate a page click the Archives page and then click what dates you are looking for in the Southborough News.  There is also a Google search box on the page to assist you.

The Southborough News is a one person operation. I own and edit the website.  Southborough News although it carries a lot of information out of the Southborough Town House is not affiliated as a town function or website.  Southborough News is independent of the Town of Southborough.  The Town of Southborough contributes no financial interest to the website.   I depend on my advertisers who help keep the Southborough News webpage up and running.  I thank all of my advertisers for taking a chance on my new business and having the faith that it will be an outstanding resource for the residents of Southborough and beyond.

Advertising can be as simple as a listing for personal items in the free classified ads, an upgrade from the Classified for a paid two week ad with photo on the front pages, a listing on the business card page, or our premier advertisements with links back to your website or if you don't have a website we will give you a free one page site hosted with Southborough News.  For more information on advertising at Southborough News please click here.

Any school, group, committee, business, church or organization in town is free to send their activity, fundraiser, event, press releases or photos for inclusion in the Southborough News. This is what makes the Southborough News such a great community resource. As mentioned before, the Southborough News is a one person operation, so if I have missed your event, activity, school play or sport or missed an important meeting and you would like to share that information or a photo, please do not hesitate to send it along to editor@southboroughnews.com   To let you know about the global reach of the Southborough News, we have viewers that have checked us out from nearly all the cities and towns in Massachusetts, all 50 states and twenty countries including England, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Sweden, Nigeria, India, France, Germany, Scotland and Italy to name a few.  I have received countless emails and phone calls from people that have moved from town but still have family and friends here and have discovered the website or are away at college and have called to say the site makes them feel right at home again.   

So I say Thank you to all the Southborough News readers, viewers and advertisers. Thank you!!

Linda

January 17, 2008 - This youngster was plowing his driveway before the latest storm. He's probably back out again and ready to go for another storm.

January 17, 2008 - Board members Richard Seder, Dr. Louis Fazen III and Nancy Sacco prepare to meet at the monthly Board of Health Meeting yesterday.  Discussion on Tramell Crow 40 B Residential Development waste water treatment plant system was presented by Mr. Phil Jenks and Matt Tryder. The design is in the preliminary phase with Matt Tryder explaining the system and asking for input and directions on how to proceed to the next step to comply with the town regulations. Board of Health Mr. Pisinski reminded the board that the Waste Water Treatment plant itself would fall under DEP but that the BOH could make comments on the collection system, force lines, tanks and manufacturer info among some other items. The board voted to look into having the town’s Engineer Consulting firm take a look at the completed plans when they are brought back to the board. In other business discussion centered on the tobacco licenses and a license renewal for The Tattoo Gallery. Update reports from the Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting were discussed. Mr. Seder reported on the reverse 911 and the Sheriff’s van and Mr. Pisinski talked about Mrs. Hubley’s presentation to the LEPC on taking care of the pets and livestock portion of the Town’s emergency plan. Dr. Louis Fazen reported on the necessity of preparing for the bird flu and other flu strains that could mutate and become deadly. Dr. Fazen would like to see more work completed on the town’s plans as far as triage centers, how well the state and local hospitals would coordinate with the local town’s, logistical and security issues if there were to be panic over hospitals being closed and would love to see the Medical Reserve Corps in town be beefed up. For more information on the Board of Health, fees, to locate licensed contractors for septic installations, repairs and pumping. Click here. For more information on the Medical Reserve Corps and what it is all about click here. If you decide that you would like to be a member of the MRC in Southborough, please contact the Board of Health.

January 17, 2008 - Prior to snowstorms, the post office trucks get moved out front in preparation for the post office snow removal operations.

no events scheduled

January 16, 2008 - 7th grade troop, 2766, at their last meeting had
guest speaker, Todd Palmer, who is a retired police officer and former K-9
handler.  He gave a presentation to the troop about the Police K-9 program
and introduced us to his newest German Shepherd, "Brodie."

Last Day to register to vote or change your political party for the primary is today, Wednesday January 16, 2008

January 16, 2008 - The front end loader sits idle in the parking lot of Gulbankian Gardens and Florist Shop at the corner of Mt. Vickery Road and Route 85.

Click the banner above to take you to the Town Website to see all the drafts for the Master Plan update.  This is your town, our town so take a part in it.  The plan now has drafts available for review in the following categories: Vision and Goals, Land Use Element, Housing Element, Transportation and Circulation Element, Open Space and Recreation Element, Natural and Cultural Resources and Economic Development.   Click photo below for the Main Street Reconstruction project.

Frosty Water

January 16, 2008 - Water flows over the small dam at Deerfoot Road.

Classic Calligraphy

Have you purchased your unique saying from Classic Calligraphy yet? If not you are missing a great opportunity.  These items make great, unique, unusual, personal and warm gifts to give loved ones, co-workers, neighbors, teachers and more.  Classic Calligraphy is done right here in Southborough by owner and creator Sandy Keiss.  You can purchase these sayings in a variety of sizes, mats and frames.  Sandy has been creating these unique and very personal messages since 1985.  What started out as a hobby has now become a full - fledged business created with her love of calligraphy and the messages that are created.   Thinking about something very personal check out Classic Calligraphy to see the wide array of verses that one can choose from.  Click for website

Mourning Doves

January 15, 2008 - Several Mourning Doves sit on branches awaiting warmer weather and the sun which really never appeared all day.

Coming Soon!!

 Southborough Rotary Club

Annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser

February 29     7:00 - 10:00 PM

$50.00 per person

St. Mark's Parish Hall

Contact: Pam O'Donnell for more information and tickets

email: pam@erakey.com  or call 617-901-1727

Artful Adventures @ the Southborough Library

January 22, 2008 @ 2:30 PM

Grades 1 through 5

Please Register Call: 508-485-5031

Book Nook

January 22, 2008 @ 6:30

Grades 4 - 6 welcome

We will compare the books the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan and Guardian of Ga'Hoole Book 2 by Kathryn Lasky; Pizza and soda courtesy of Dominos Pizza will be served.

Knitting Classes for grades three and up starting this January, inquire at Library

Tree on wire

January 15, 2008 - Power, phone and cable lines all found themselves holding up branches.  Several lines snapped around town yesterday from the added weight.

Snowdrops keep falling on my head

January 15, 2008 - Quarter Horse Chico Two Socks is all ears as he surveys his white surroundings yesterday.

The Deadline for application for an Absentee Ballot is 12:00 Noon on Monday February 4, 2008.

January 14, 2008 -  Southborough Firefighters inspect the roof of 205 Cordaville Road after a large tree limb came crashing down.  Several limbs from the tree went right through the roof and into the interior of the home.  Fire Chief Mauro called for the Town's Wiring Inspector and Building Inspector.  Firefighters cut up the branch and shoveled snow from the roof in preparation for tarping.

School's Out

January 14, 2008 - Sleds rather than school books took precedent today.

Sibyl Opdyke Tuma, 81

Sibyl Opdyke Tuma, of Montauk, Long Island, N.Y., died at Southampton Hospital on January 9, 2008, of complications following a pelvic fracture she had suffered last October, and Parkinson’s Disease. She was 81 years old.

An avid lover of antiques and the arts, she was a life-long painter who studied under several major local artists, and also took lessons at the Art Barge in East Hampton, N.Y.. Her paintings were exhibited at galleries including Guild Hall of East Hampton, and are also in private collections.

She was a long-time member of the Eastern Long Island Button Club, where she formerly served as President. She was an avid collector of antique buttons, dolls and doll houses, and many colonial period antiques. She opened her own gift and antiques store, called “The Sea Chest” on Main Street, Montauk, during the 1960’s.

She was also a talented seamstress who designed and sewed clothes for herself and family members, and created many quilts and pillows.

“Sibyl had lots of artistic talent—she could sit down at the piano and play just about anything,” said her sister, Ruth Opdyke Connelly, of Lakeland, Florida.

Throughout her life in Montauk, Mrs. Tuma was also a member of the Montauk Community Church, where she served as an Elder, sang in the choir, and was active in the Ladies Guild.

She was also a former member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Montauk Fire Department, and a former member of the Eastern Star.

Sibyl Opdyke Tuma was born in Boston, Mass., on April 4, 1926, to Emily Richard and William K. Opdyke, and grew up in Southborough, Mass. Her father was a campaign manager for Barry Goldwater, and her great great grandfather, George Opdyke, was the former Mayor of New York City from 1862-1864, during the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln, She graduated from the former Peters High School in Southborough, and later attended the French School of Fashion Design in Boston.

In the summer of 1947, she first came to Montauk, Long Island, with a girlfriend, and worked as a waitress at the Montauk Manor. She also worked as a model for local companies and at the former Montauk Surf Club.

That first summer, she met her husband, Robert Tuma, of Montauk, who was working on his father’s charter fishing boat, and going to college to earn an engineering degree. They were married on June 24, 1949, in Southborough, Mass. They built their home in Montauk in 1953, where they lived for 58 years, and her husband continued as a charter boat captain of the “Dawn.”

Mrs. Tuma was an avid reader, animal lover, decorator and designer. She loved the arts, theater and traveling.

“She was the sophisticated one in the family, and I always looked up to her,” said her sister, Sally Opdyke Covington, of Jacksonville, Florida.

She is survived by her husband, Robert, of Montauk; her daughters Debbie Tuma of Montauk, and Wendy Tuma Barnes of Asheville, N.C.; her granddaughter, Cahleigh Barnes of Asheville, N.C.; and her sisters, Ruth Opdyke Connelly of Lakeland, Florida, Sally Opdyke Covington, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Jeannie Opdyke Smith, of Vancouver, Washington. She was predeceased by her brother, Kenneth Opdyke, of Melbourne, Florida.

A memorial service will be held for Mrs. Tuma on January 17, 2008, at 10:30 a.m., at the Montauk Community Church. She will be interned at the Fort Hill Cemetery in Montauk.

Memorial donations can be made c/o of The Montauk Community Church or the World Wildlife Federation.

Southborough meetings

January 13 - January 18, 2008

January 14, 2008 - Driver's of the Southborough DPW snowplows have been kept busy this year as they plow for yet another storm.

January 14, 2008

No

School

Due to

Today's

Storm

@

Algonquin Regional

& Northborough

Southborough Schools

Norfolk County Agricultural High School

Assabet Valley Regional Tech High School, Marlborough

Fay School, Southborough

January 14, 2008 - Snowplows sit at the DPW Saturday.

Judith Evelyn Aldrich

Our beloved Judy left us on December 21, 2007 after a 30-year battle with M.S. Born February 17, 1945 in Massachusetts, she grew up in Southborough, and attended both Rockford College in Illinois and University of Alaska in Fairbanks. She earned a degree in accounting and became a licensed CPA. After moving to Tacoma, Judy was only able to work a few more years due to her M.S.; she then became active in the Tacoma Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and TACID (Tacoma Area Center for Individuals with Disabilities). For many years, she helped raise funds and MS awareness at the Puyallup Fair and around the State of Washington. Except for a few years in Lacey, WA, she lived in Tacoma the rest of her life. Judy's strength, courage, and lively spirit were an inspiration to all who knew her. We love her and will miss her dearly. Judy was preceded in death by her father, David Woods Aldrich. She leaves behind her daughters Kathryn Farrell and Rebecca Nesbit, grandchildren Leo Farrell, Nika Nesbit, and Liam Nesbit, mother Evelyn Betsey Merrill, brothers David Aldrich, Charles Aldrich, and Richard Aldrich, and sisters Betsy Demers, and Barbara Clews. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in Judy's name be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, or to the Tacoma Lutheran Home. Memorial Services will be held at the Tacoma Lutheran Home 1301 N. Highlands Pkwy, Tacoma, WA 98406 on Thursday, January 10, 2:30pm. Please leave condolences online at www.GaffneyCares.com . Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home 253-572-6003.
Published in the News Tribune (Tacoma) on 1/6/2008.

Sweet Music

January 13, 2008 - Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman of Aztec Two-Step performed last night at the Steeple Coffee House.  Rex and Neal have been together as a duo since 1972 signing with Elektra Records later that year. They have several CDs that are available on their website www.aztectwostep.com  Aztec Two-Step has appeared on the David Letterman show and performed with such notable performers such as  Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Talking Heads, Bill Cosby, The Beach Boys, Jackson Browne, Bette Midler, Heart.  They belted out several songs from their CDs including Faster Gun, the Highway Song and songs from their Simon and Garfunkel songbook.  Several members in the audience have been to their concerts all around the country.  One person I talked to has tried to make one of their concerts for every year they have performed and has made 34 of them. An amazing duo who performed to a packed audience despite the New England Patriots playoff game.  Members of the Steeple Coffeehouse did keep us up to date on the scores.

Also on Stage

January 13, 2008 - The Blackstone Valley Bluegrass Band with members Bob, Ken, Dan and Dave performed during the second half of the Steeple Coffeehouse last night.  Their music is a riveting bluegrass mainstay.  They have performed with acts around the country but can be found many times playing just to the west of us in Blackstone Valley where they are located.  The Blackstone Valley Bluegrass Band has CDs available at their website www.blackstonevalleybluegrass.com

January 13, 2008 - Girl Scout cookies are now on sale around town. Clickf or more information on how and where to buy cookies. http://www.ptgirlscouts.org/cookies/buy-girl-scout-cookies.html

Editorial

You could sense it in the air, like a snowstorm before it spreads its blanket of snow. We had begun to notice little differences in mom. My dad died in 2000 and mom wanted to remain in the home she and dad had purchased in 1953. Mom turned 76 this year. But about three years ago my brother, sisters and I began to notice she was becoming more forgetful and less in tune with what was around her. She stopped using the computer to email or chat with us. The radio was never turned on and the televisions became unplugged. The new oven she needed was only used twice. Soon the microwave no longer made food. My sister lived in the same town and for most of 2007 would stop and make mom her dinner and a sandwich for the next day.

(Photo: mom and our daughter about 10 years ago, mom's parents were from Scotland and this is what she mostly remembers now) Mom at 75 really began to forget things. By August of 2007 she didn’t even know how to make a cup of tea anymore. She forgot that her children were older or married with children of their own. She forgot how to call us and had to struggle to remember our names. She was always active, working in the yard or taking walks. Worried, we all called mom each night to make sure she was in the house safe. We had started to discuss at least getting mom into Senior housing for the winter. But like a stealth bomber gliding through the air for its target, memory loss descended on mom like nothing else we had seen in our lives. At the doctor’s she could only remember her name and part of her address. More tests were done with mom screaming at us that she would rather die than see another doctor. The diagnosis: an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s.

In October of 2007, we began our search looking for the right assisted living facility that could take care of mom. It was a hard choice even to do that. We had all tried to have mom at our homes but she has what is called the sundowner syndrome. She would either never sleep or awake at anytime and be nervous, crying and upset about not knowing where she was and fearing we would abandon her. We had taken her out of her little routine and home life or what you could call home life. The choice to find the right facility was quickened with the more frequent calls we would get from neighbors, strangers and even the police that mom was found quite a distance from the home. She would be scared, agitated and looking for her lost or stolen children (she thought of my siblings and me as about four and six year olds). With winter and the colder weather approaching the search heightened and we were able to locate a beautiful and caring facility close to her home.

The holidays came and went and with them we saw more downhill changes in mom. Although she seemed to like the facility at first, she became more like a trapped animal trying to get out. We would take her out for short visits and back to our homes for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This past Christmas was a heartbreaker for me. I was talking to her and I could see from the expression in her face she had no clue what I was talking about. She asked if I was Linda, I said yes. Then she asked why all the people at the house, I said Christmas. I don’t think she knew what I was talking about as she repeated it several times. Mom was there physically but the mom I know and love was hidden as if stolen from us.

We have had to go through so many transitions. Mom who never even took an aspirin is now on medications to ease her mood swings. She currently is recognizing my sister and brother when they visit and the doctors hope that these medications can help mom relax and enjoy life a little better. But the disease will always be progressing; we know the prognosis will never reverse itself. Our lives have had to adjust to this new level.

Why do I write such a personal editorial? For me this is my way of coping with having a family member diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Having the website is a way that I can express my sorrow, anger and tears about a hideous disease that stealthily claims a loved one. It is a way that I can help Alzheimer’s patients by spreading the word about the symptoms, the support groups and charity causes that will benefit Alzheimer’s research.

There are now more than 5 million people in the United States living with Alzheimer’s. Every 72 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s. The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias amount to more than $148 billion annually. There are seven levels of Alzheimer’s: Stage 1: No impairment (normal function); Stage 2: Very mild cognitive decline (may be normal age-related changes or earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease); Stage 3: Mild cognitive decline; Stage 4: Moderate cognitive decline (Mild or early-stage Alzheimer's disease); Stage 5: Moderately severe cognitive decline (Moderate or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease); Stage 6: Severe cognitive decline (Moderately severe or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease); Stage 7: Very severe cognitive decline (Severe or late-stage Alzheimer's disease).

The Alzheimer's Association has developed a checklist of common symptoms to help you recognize the difference between normal age-related memory changes and possible warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

The 10 warning signs of Alzheimer are:

1. Memory loss
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
3. Problems with language
4. Disorientation to time and place
5. Poor or decreased judgment
6. Problems with abstract thinking
7. Misplacing things
8. Changes in mood or behavior
9. Changes in personality
10. Loss of initiative

Click Alzheimer’s Association for more information or click the Alzheimer’s ad Voices of Champions to learn more about the disease.

Alzheimer’s Advocacy Action Day
9:30 a.m. January 16
State House, Boston

In the meantime I would like to thank my advertisers and readers for your dedication to the Southborough News and look forward to many years of continued growth at the Southborough News. I apologize if I've been remiss in missing your event or reporting on a meeting that you would have liked to have known what happened at it. A special thank you to photographers Carol Willoughby and Lisa Tommaney who have contributed photos to the Southborough News during my absences from local events. Linda Hubley.